Wu Zetian, the only empress who officially proclaimed the emperor in China's five thousand years of history, during the decades of her rule, Datang has a stable society and a prosperous economy. This period can be described as inheriting the "rule of Zhenguan" and the beginning of the "kaiyuan heyday". Economically, she drastically eliminated the current disadvantages, rewarded agricultural mulberry, developed production, rapid social and economic development, and a large increase in household registration; politically, she pioneered the palace test, The system of martial arts examinations and examination of officials, eclectic appointing talented people, and at the same time promoted the "court politics" to consolidate the political power; militaryly, the four towns of Anxi were recovered, and the post-Turks once surrendered. In his later years, Wu Zetian gradually became extravagant and arbitrary, and gradually became corrupt.
01 First entered the court
In the eleventh year of Zhenguan (637), 14-year-old Wu Zetian was taken into the harem by Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty for "Rong Zhimei" by Li Shimin, and was given a gift. No. "Wu Mei". Although Wu Zetian looked like an immortal, she was not favored by Li Shimin until the death of Taizong in the 23rd year of Zhenguan (649). She was only . During the twelve years of entering the palace, her status was Never been promoted. After Taizong's death, 26-year-old Wu Zetian went to Chang'an Ganye Temple with other concubines who had no children.
Wu Zetian is a very scheming woman. There is no grace in Taizong. Seeing the aging emperor, she focused on the prince Li Zhi. During Taizong's illness and attendance, she relied on her beauty to make eyebrows with Prince Li Zhi who came to visit. During the period of Taizong's severe illness, Wu Zetian and Prince Li Zhi gradually formed a relationship.
Later, even though Wu Zetian went to the Ganye Temple, she and the newly succeeded Gaozong Li Zhi were always disconnected.
02Re-enter the court
Yong Hui first year (650) May, to commemorate the anniversary of Li Shimin's death, Li Zhi went to Ganye Temple for incense,Unsurprisingly, I met Wu Zetian. The two talked to each other about their feelings of longing after parting. All of this was seen in the eyes of the king and queen of , who fell out of favor due to childlessness. After returning to the palace, the Queen voluntarily suggested that Li Zhi bring Wu Zetian into the palace, in an attempt to combat her love rival 萧淑妃 .
In fact, Li Zhi had this intention a long time ago, but it was not easy to come forward to handle the matter. Seeing the queen's initiative, he was overjoyed and immediately agreed. Empress Wang immediately set about handling the matter. At that time, she would never have thought that Wu Zetian, who seemed to be weak, was a real opponent who brought her to death.
Therefore, under the single-handed operation of the king and queen, in May of the second year of Yonghui (651), Wu Zetian, who was pregnant, entered the palace again, and soon after entering the palace gave birth to his son Li Hong. After Wu Zetian returned to the palace, he was quickly favored by Li Zhi. In May of the second year (652), Wu Zetian was named the second product Zhaoyi by Jin.
Wu Zetian is not only scheming, he is also very appropriate and generous in his life. He always smiles at court ladies and eunuchs, and often rewards some items. Span9span uses this to win people's hearts. Slowly, everyone in the palace says she is good. At that time, Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu were on the same line. They often said in front of Li Zhi that Wu Zetian was not wrong. At first, Li Zhi believed a little bit, but the words of the attendants around him dispelled his doubts, so they always favored Wu Zetian alone.
03 After the difficult seal
According to "New Tang Book" and "Zi Zhi Tong Jian" records, in the fifth year of Yonghui (654) Wu Zetian gave birth to the eldest daughter Andingsi Princess. When the princess was full of the moon, the Queen and Queen came to visit. After the Queen stayed for a while and left, Wu Zetian immediately dismissed the maids and eunuchs beside him, strangled the princess cruelly, and then covered it with a quilt.
When Li Zhi came, Wu Zetian pretended to laugh and took Li Zhi to watch the child together. When he opened the quilt, he found that the princess was dead. Wu Zetian was heartbroken and wept. Li Zhi immediately asked the attendants. The attendants all said: "The queen just came." Li Zhi furiously said, "The queen killed my daughter!" Wu Zetian cried and said that the queen was wrong, because at that time Without anyone else, the Queen and Queen couldn't explain it clearly for a while.Under the bewitching of Wu Zetian, Li Zhi has since then planned to "abolish Wang Liwu". But because many ministers headed by Changsun Wuji opposed Li Zhi's "abolishing Wang Liwu", the matter was repeatedly stranded.
In the sixth year of Yonghui (655 years), Li Yifu played the sign of supporting Wu Zetian as the queen, and thus gained Wu Zetian's favor and promoted him to Zhongshu's assistant and became Wu Zetian's Cronies. When Xu Jingzong, Cui Yixuan, Yuan Gongyu and other ministers acted on the occasion, they all turned to support Li Wu Zetian as the queen. Seeing the support of many people, Li Zhi renewed the intention of abolition.
Then, the ministers headed by Changsun Wuji again expressed their opposition. Just as Li Zhi and Wu Zetian were at a loss, the court veteran Li Ji stated: "Why ask outsiders about your majesty's family affairs." A word to wake up the players, Li Zhi and Wu Zetian's unfavorable situation in the abolition of the queen was reversed.
In the sixth year of Yonghui (655 years), on October 13th, Li Zhi issued an edict on the charge of "conspiracy to poison" and deposed the Queen and Concubine Xiao Shu as generals and imprisoned them in another hospital. Their parents, brothers, etc. were also deprived of officials and exiled to Lingnan. Seven days later, Li Zhi once again issued an edict to make Wu Zetian the queen; at the same time, he demoted Chu Suiliang, the prime minister who opposed the most. On the first day of November, a ceremony was held to establish Wu Zetian as queen.
In October of the fifth year of Xianqing (660), Li Zhifeng had a violent attack, dizzy and unable to deal with major national affairs, so Wu Zetian was asked to deal with the affairs of the state. In the beginning, Wu Zetian was able to follow Li Zhi's will to deal with major national affairs. Gradually, as his power increased, Wu Zetian slowly acted arbitrarily, which aroused Li Zhi's dissatisfaction.
Prime Minister Shangguanyi noticed the contradiction between the emperors and queens, so after requesting abolition, Li Zhi heard it and felt it made sense, and immediately ordered Shangguanyi to draft the post-abolition edict. When the attendants around Li Zhi knew the news, they turned around and told Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian immediately ran to Li Zhi and cried,Facing Wu Zetian at this time, the weak and incompetent Li Zhi panicked, and immediately said: "I didn't have this intention at the beginning, and I was taught by Shangguan Yi."
From then on, whenever he is in dynasty, Wu Zetian will do it. When the curtain hangs behind, the government is not big or small, and it is heard. The power of the world is to be returned to the palace, and it is up to its mouth." In the first year of the Yuan Dynasty (674), he was given the sign of "The Queen of Heaven", and he was called the "Two Saints" together with Gaozong, and participated in the prefectural government.
04 Changed to be the emperor of the week
In December of the second year of Yongchun (683), Emperor Gaozong of Tang passed away. Prince Li Xian ascended to the throne. The queen mother ruled. Less than two months after Li Xian succeeded to the throne, in February of the first year of the heirloom (684), Li Xian planned to appoint Queen Wei’s father Wei Xuanzhen as the servant. He was prevented by Pei Yan. Li Xian said angrily: The whole world gives Wei Xuanzhen to Wei Xuanzhen, why not? Do you still care about a servant?"
Wu Zetian felt that this son was too incompetent, and just by this incident, he deposed Li Xian’s throne of Zhongzong and demoted him to Luling King. , moved to Fangzhou, and made his fourth son Li Dan, the king of Yu, as the emperor, namely Tang Ruizong. Wu Zetian was still in the dynasty. In fact, Tang Ruizong is just a decoration, and Wu Zetian alone is in charge of all affairs in the DPRK.
After a long period of imperial administration, in Wu Zetian's heart, Datang Jiangshan is already his own. As a result, Wu Zetian appointed Zhou Xing and other cruel officials to force Han Wang Li Yuanjia, Lu Wang Li Lingkui, Huang Guogong Li Zhuan, Dongguan Jun Gong Li Rong, and Princess Changle to commit suicide. Their cronies were also killed. At this time, everyone around him has seen Wu Zetian’s heart to be emperor. Wu Zetian’s nephew Wu Chengsi was the first to claim that a stone engraved with "Mother of the Mother, Yongchang Emperor" was found in Luoshui and dedicated to Wu Zetian. Glad, named this stone "Treasure Map".
The four years of hanging arches (688) in May,Wu Zetian added the honorary name as "The Holy Mother of God". In 690 AD, the 67-year-old Wu Zetian abolished Tang Ruizong, changed the name of the country to "Zhou", called herself "Holy Emperor", and became the only female emperor in Chinese history.
05 The transfer of power
After Wu Zetian became emperor, the Wu clan people were all ready to move, especially seeing Wu Zetian getting old and the crown prince has been hanging in the balance, and even more anxious. In the first year of Shengli (698), Wu Chengsi, and Wu Sansi sent people to Wu Zetian several times to advance and said: "Since ancient times, the emperor has not used the different surname as the heir of ." The implication is that Wu Zetian can stand. The descendants of the Wu family are the princes.
Regarding this, Wu Zetian hesitated to decide who to pass the throne to. Prime Minister Di Renjie said to Empress Wu: "Which nephew is closer to the mother and son (Wu Chengsi and Wu Sansi are the nephews of Wu Zetian, and Li Xian and Li Dan are the sons of Wu Zetian)? Your majesty will establish a son, so after the ages , Will worship as an ancestor in the Taimiao; if you establish a nephew, you have never heard that your nephew became the son of the emperor and enshrine your aunt in the Taimiao."
Wu Zetian felt that it made sense. Parents, how can I worship my aunt? Seeing that Wu Zetian was moved, Di Renjie persuaded Wu Zetian to call back Li Xian. Since then, Wu Zetian has no intention of making Wu Chengsi and Wu Sansi the prince, and secretly took Li Xian back to Luoyang . After many trade-offs, Wu Zetian finally appointed Li Xian as the crown prince.
After Wu Zetian solved the heir’s problem, he became very proud and, as he grew older, he began to indulge in enjoyment and overhauled palaces and Buddhist temples. On the first month of the first year of Shenlong (705), the prime ministers Zhang Jianzhi and Cui Xuanwei launched a coup. Wu Zetian was forced to meditate in Prince Li Xian and moved to Shangyang Palace. After Li Xian was restored, he was given the title of "Zetian Great Sage Emperor" again. From then on, the Zhou Dynasty established by Wu Zetian came to an end.
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