Tang Zhongzong Li Xian: two emperors and two princes in his life, the worst emperor who was killed by three women

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1. Deposed by his mother

Tang ZhongzongLi Xian was born in November, the first year of Xianqing (656), and the following year he was named King of Zhou and granted the minister of Luozhou. For a young prince, this kind of official position is a remote leader, not a comer. In the second year of Yifeng (677), he was renamed King of England and renamed Li Zhe. Chapter pregnant with the prince Li Xian was abolished, so he was established as the prince. After Gaozong's death, the emperor was located in Luoyang, known as Tang Zhongzong in history.

In the first month of the first year of the Emperor's reign (684), Crown Princess Wei Wei was established as the queen, and Wei Xuanzhen, the father of Queen Wei, joined the army from Puzhou and was promoted to the prefect of Yuzhou. In just ten days, Zhongzong had to appoint Wei Xuanzhen as the Servant, that is, the prime minister, and he would also confer a fifth-rank official to the son of Zhongzong's wet nurse. At , Pei Yan was ordered by Emperor Gaozong to assist Zhongzong. He thought it was inappropriate to do so, so he came forward to fight. Zhongzong said angrily: "Why can't I take the world with Wei Xuanzhen, and I regret serving the evil!" ("Zizhi Tongjian" Vol. 203) After Pei Yan quit, he immediately went to Wu Zetian to discuss the abolition of the emperor.

Pei Yan advocated the abolition of the emperor because he was worried that offending the emperor would be detrimental to him. But he dared to openly go to the emperor's mother to discuss the matter, which shows that he has grasped Wu Zetian's psychology and knows that not only will there be no risk, but the empress dowager's strong support will be obtained.

Why would Wu Zetian agree to abolish his own son's emperor ?

This is completely incomprehensible to ordinary people, but for Wu Zetian, it is a rare opportunity.Although Wu Zetian had been in control of the imperial court as early as Emperor Gaozong, after his son ascended the throne, he could not influence her to control the government. The fundamental reason why she agreed to do so was that she was not satisfied with and listening to politics , but had to move from the background. The front desk, eventually ascended to the throne of the emperor.

There is one thing that can reflect Wu Zetian's psychological changes at this time. Emperor Gojong died on December 4 last year, and he bequeathed the crown prince to ascend the throne in front of the coffin. However, until the seventh day, there was still no news of the enthronement ceremony of the new emperor . Prime Minister Pei Yan was so anxious that he hurriedly went to Wu Zetian and asked her to order the two provinces of Zhongshu and Menxia to hold a ceremony as soon as possible, so that the new emperor could take the throne as soon as possible.

On the eleventh day of this month, the crown prince was able to become the emperor. This attitude of Wu Zetian on the issue of the new emperor's accession shows that she does not want a new emperor to appear, and she is waiting for some kind of change in the situation. Unfortunately, the conditions were not yet ripe at this time, and the power to support her as an empress had not yet been fully formed. No one dared to take the risk of the world and propose to make her the emperor to replace the son of Emperor Gaozong.

Objectively speaking, Zhongzong Li Xian is not an emperor with outstanding talents and hard work. It should be said that he is a rather dull emperor to a certain extent. His desperate attempt to elevate his father-in-law at the beginning of his ascension was undoubtedly a wrong decision. However, this alone is not enough to get rid of his emperor's position, and Wu Zetian has every right to correct his decision, but Wu Zetian did not do so.

On February 6th of this year, Wu Zetian, in the name of the Empress Dowager, summoned hundreds of officials to the Qianyuan Palace. Pei Yan and Zhongshu Shilang Liu Yizhi, Yulin generals Cheng Wuting, Zhang Qianxu and others led the forbidden army into the palace. Announcing the order of the Queen Mother, abolishing Zhongzong as King of Luling, and supporting his lower hall.Zhongzong was still not convinced and asked, "What's wrong with me?" Wu Zetian reprimanded: "You want to send the world to Wei Xuanzhen, why not be innocent!" He was ousted by his own mother.

Soon, Wei Xuanzhen was exiled to the remote Qinzhou (now northeast of Qinzhou, Guangxi), and the King of Luling was resettled in Fangzhou.

Second, re-establish the prince

Zhongzong Li Xian was deposed as the King of Luling, and was placed in Fangzhou, where he lived a life of anxiety every day. Its comeback was achieved entirely with the support of ministers such as , Di Renjie, and . In fact, when the two sides were vying for the crown prince, Ruizong Li Dan was in the position of the emperor's heir (prince), why did the courtiers headed by Di Renjie insist on taking back Li Xian, the king of Luling, instead of helping Li Dan? What about consolidating her position?

Judging from the situation at the time, although Li Dan was the emperor's heir, it was only Wu Zetian's expedient measure. Judging from her attitude of making Wu's children the crown prince, it showed that she had no intention of taking Li Dan as his heir and putting him on the throne. He is only a transitional figure. Judging from the long tradition of establishing heirs, Li Xian is older, and he was the heir chosen by Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty during his lifetime.

Li Xian was ousted from the emperor's position and confined to the remote Fangzhou. His tragic situation is easier to sympathize with. Whether it was Xu Jingye's rise to the army, or the military intrusion of the Khitans and Turks, all of them used the words of Kuangfu to restore King Luling. In the minds of the majority of subjects, King Luling seems to be a symbol of the Li and Tang royal family. Because of this, Di Renjie and other courtiers persuaded Wu Zetian to take back the King of Luling.

After his brother returned to Luoyang from Fangzhou, Li Dan already knew what he should do, not to mention that it is a tradition since ancient times to establish a direct descendant. So he offered to give way to King Luling, and his attitude was very firm. After careful consideration, Wu Zetian accepted his request and changed Li Xian as the prince and named Li Dan as the prime minister.

On September 15, the first year of the Holy Calendar (698), half a year after Li Xian returned to Luoyang, a grand ceremony was held to establish the crown prince. Li Xian returned to the East Palace after spending fourteen years in exile. Eighteen years ago, that is, the first year of Yonglong (680), he had been canonized as a prince, and this time he was registered as a prince for the second time. Being a prince twice and emperor twice in his life (he became emperor again in the first year of Shenlong), this experience of Li Xian can be regarded as a historical spectacle.

Three, the faint-hearted Zhongzong

After Tang Zhongzong ascended the throne, he made his wife Wei Shi as the queen, and posthumously presented the queen's father Wei Xuanzhen as the king of Shangluo, and mother Cui Shi as the concubine. Zhongzong's behavior was criticized by Jia Xuji, the Zuo Shiyi, but it did not attract Zhongzong's attention.

Empress Wei wanted to imitate Wu Zetian to intervene in government affairs. Every time Emperor Zhongzong sat in court, he would set a drapery to sit on the hall, which caused great dissatisfaction among courtiers. Huan Yanfan listed Zhongzong, asking not to let Empress Wei go abroad to interfere in state affairs, but Zhongzong would not listen. Besides Empress Wei, Princess Anle, Shangguan Wan'er, etc.

Princess Anle was born on the way of Zhongzong and Weiss to Fangzhou, so she was especially loved by Zhongzong, so she became more arrogant. Shangguan Wan'er was originally the granddaughter of Shangguan Yi, the prime minister of Emperor Gaozong's time. After Shangguan Yi was killed, her family was forfeited. When he grew up, he was very intelligent, learned about official affairs, and was good at writing poetry and prose, so he was loved by Wu Zetian and ordered him to be in charge of document performances in the palace, especially since the Holy Calendar, "a hundred official performances and more orders to participate in the decision". After Zhongzong ascended the throne, he still ordered him to be in charge of the life, and was named Jieyu, so that he could gain power in the ban.

After Tang Zhongzong Li Xian ascended the throne, he was abolished by his mother Wu Zetian, demoted to King Luling, and moved to another place. Due to Li Xian's special status, in the last years of Li Xian's reign, the people of the whole country placed high expectations on him, hoping that he could reorganize the chaotic political situation and create a new situation for Li Tang's rule. However, what he did after the re-emergence of the emperor greatly disappointed the ministers and the people, and instead made the politics at that time more chaotic. The prime minister is either a party of Empress Wei or Wu Sansi, or a traitor. Even a few upright people, such as Wei Yuanzhong and others, have changed their original positions due to repeated political persecution.

Therefore, during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong, politics was dark and state affairs were ignored, and there was a great political crisis lurking within the court.

The next month after Zhongzong ascended the throne, Wu Sansi Sikong , Tongzhongshumenxia three grades were awarded, and 500 households were actually sealed, which together with the previous seals reached as many as 1,500 households. The king of Ding'an and his consort Wu Youji were appointed as the king of Ding and Situ, and four hundred households were sealed by Jiashi, and together with those previously sealed, the number reached one thousand.

At this time, the Wu clan kings were notorious and the power was still in the hands of the heroes of the Shenlong coup, so Wu Sansi and Wu Youji had to resign their new titles, but Zhongzong's move still caused a very bad influence. In the hearts of many upright courtiers, Zong’s employment is entirely based on personal likes and dislikes, and does not act according to the imperial system, such as the warlock Zheng Pusi and Shang Yi Feng Yu Ye Jingneng, “all of which are believed to be delusional.”

So in April of the first year of Shenlong (705), "Mochi took Pu Si as secretary and supervisor, and Jing Neng sacrificed wine for the son of the state" (Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 208). The so-called "Ink Command" was issued directly from the palace, without passing through the Zhongshu and the two provinces under the door, nor was it stamped with the emperor's seal.Huan Yanfan and Cui Xuanwei insisted that they could not, but Zhongzong said that it had been promulgated and could not be changed.

In the second year of Shenlong, nine people, including monk Huifan, were added with the five-rank official rank, and they were given the rank of Duke Jun and Xian Gong; Taoist Shi Chong'en and others also increased the five-rank rank, and they were granted the position of being the same as the emperor of sacrificing wine. Its old staff in the East Palace are reused regardless of the wise and ignorant, such as Wei Yuanzhong, Wei Anshi , Li Huaiyuan , Tang Xiujing , Cui Xuan, Yang Zaisi, Zhu Qinming, etc., all of them worship the old staff of the East Palace at the same time. Mutually. Zuowei general Gua Jine married Wu Sansi's sister-in-law, and was promoted to the inspector of Taifu. As for eunuchs, there were more than 1,000 eunuchs who moved to the seventh rank and above.

Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the princess has not opened the government unless there are special circumstances, and does not set official . In the first month of the following year when Zhongzong ascended the throne, he ordered the princesses of Taiping, Changning, Anle, Yicheng, Xindu, Ding'an, and Jincheng to open their palaces and set up officials. Coupled with the sales of officials by Empress Wei, Taiping, Anle and others, the number of officials has increased significantly, which not only increased the financial burden of the government, but also caused a very bad historical impact.

What is even more absurd is that during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong, the imperial ban system disappeared. According to the "Old Tang Book - Wei Shuren Biography": "Introducing Wu Sansi into the palace, ascending the imperial bed, and the Hou Shuanglu, the emperor is the point of the plan, thinking that the laughter, the scandal is being heard day by day."

Zhongzong also allowed Thousands of palace maids went out to watch the lanterns at night, and some of them had illicit affairs with others and even escaped and did not return. He allows female officials who hold internal positions in the palace to enter and exit the forbidden center. Shangguan Wan'er and the palace servants who are favored by Zhongzong all have external residences. It rewarded rank, and even became an official" ("Old Tang Book: Biography of Wei Shuren").

He also "ordered the maids to be the stores, and the ministers to the merchants, and to trade with them. Because of sudden disputes and slanderous words, it was a pleasure to observe the superior and the later" ("Tongjian of Zizhi", vol. 209).

In the Tang Dynasty, although the social atmosphere was relatively open, the palace prohibition system was still quite strict, and condoning people like the Zhongzong period were relatively rare. Because of this, is unavoidable for court officials and concubines who are fornicating with court officials. For example, Shangguan Wan'er first granted Jieyu, and then added Zhaorong, but as the emperor's concubine, she had an affair with Wu Sansi and Cui Ti, the minister of officials. Later, Cui Ti was able to worship the prime minister because of the power of Shangguan Wan'er.

It is precisely because of the lax confinement of Zhongzong's palace that the concubine was able to gain power and intervene in politics, which inflated his political ambitions. Later, Zhongzong was murdered and died, to a certain extent, it was caused by himself.

Fourth, the death of Prince Li Chongjun

Li Chongjun, the third son of Zhongzong, was born to the palace. In the first year of the Holy Calendar (698), he was named King of Yixing County, and in the first year of Shenlong (705), he was named King of Wei and served as the shepherd of Luozhou. Soon he was promoted to General Zuowei and Governor of Yangzhou. Because Zhongzong's eldest son, Li Chongrun, had died, his second son, Li Chongfu, was demoted to a foreign official position. Among Zhongzong's sons, Li Chongjun was older, so he was established as the prince in July of the second year of Shenlong.

Shortly after Li Chongjun was established as the crown prince, Zhongzong appointed secretary Yang Dun and Tai Changqing Wu Chongxun as the prince's guests, Yang Wan, Yang Shenjiao, the consort of Princess Changning, and Wu Chongxun as the consort of Princess Anle. Gui Chong, "There is no academics, but dogs and horses run and play together" ("New Book of Tang Dynasty: Prince Chongjun Biography of Jiemin"). The guests of the prince "in charge of the rules and regulations, praise the etiquette of the ministers", and are important ministers of the East Palace.

Zhongzong did not know that he chose upright and upright worthy ministers as officials of the East Palace, but with such characters as assistants to the prince, he failed to fulfill his due responsibilities as a father. The prince's left concubine, Yao Shun, wrote a few remarks, and the right concubine Ping Zhenshen also presented the "Book of Filial Piety" and "Yangde Zhuan" as persuasion. Although Li Chongjun was pleased to accept it, he was unwilling to correct it.Li Chongjun was originally a resolute character. He lacked good education in his early years. After he became a prince, he had no righteous ministers to assist and teach. He was impatient, a little frustrated, and easy to take risks.

Because Li Chongjun was not Empress Wei's biological child, Empress Wei disliked Li Chongjun very much. In July of the first year of Jinglong (707), the prince and Zuo Yulin's general Li Duozuo, general Li Sichong, Dugu Yizhi, Sha Zha Zhongyi, etc., led more than 300 people of Yulin's thousand cavalry into Wu Sansi family, killed Wu Sansi and his son Wu Chongxun, and also killed more than ten members of his party.

Instructed General Zuo Jinwuwei, Cheng WangLi Qianli and his son Tianshui King Li Xi to divide troops to guard the gates of the palace, and then the prince and Li Duozuo led troops to enter through the Suzhang Gate, searching for Empress Wei, Princess Anle, Shangguan Wan'er and others. Zhongzong hurriedly boarded the Xuanwu Gate Tower with Empress Wei, An Le, Shangguan and others to escape, and at the same time ordered Liu Jingren, the general of the right wing forest, to lead more than 100 flying cavalry to guard downstairs. Prime Minister Yang Zaisi, Li Qiao, and the Minister of War, Zongchuke, and others supported their troops in the Taiji Hall and guarded themselves behind closed doors. Prince and Li Duozuo led their troops to the Xuanwu Gate Tower, but were stopped by the guards. In addition, seeing Zhongzong upstairs, they were at a loss for a while and did not fight.

Zhongzong saw that the prince's soldiers were hesitant to enter, and knowing that he had concerns, he shouted to the thousands of horsemen led by Li Duozuo upstairs: "All of you are the soldiers of the guards, what is the opposite of the Duozuo! If you can kill those who rebel, don't worry about not being rich!" So the thousands of cavalry fought against each other, beheading Li Duozuo, Dugu Yizhi, Sha Zha Zhongyi, etc., and the rest of the crowd scattered. Li Qianli and Li Xi attacked the right Yanming Gate, trying to kill Zong Chuke and others, but were defeated and died.

Prince Li Chongjun led the remaining soldiers to flee to Zhongnan Mountain, and went to the west of Hu County, with only a few horses remaining, and they were killed by left and right while resting in the forest.The faint-hearted Zhongzong actually used the crown of the crown prince to sacrifice to the spiritual pivot of Wu Sansi and Wu Chongxun, and then used it in the court.

Li Chongjun's attack this time was originally intended to kill Zhu Wu, Princess Anle, Shangguan Wan'er and others. The main reason for the failure of is that its party members are not popular. Prime Minister Wei Yuanzhong and General Li Dazuo, the main figures involved in this matter, hesitated at the critical moment and held both ends, resulting in the loss of the fighter .

5. The poisoned Zhongzong

Tang Zhongzong's condoning and appeasement to Empress Wei, Princess Anle and others caused their desire for power to expand greatly. In order to gain greater power and higher political status, they turned against Zhongzong It is regarded as the biggest obstacle on the road to its seizure of power, and it must be removed quickly.

In May of the 4th year of Jinglong (710), Xuzhou Soldier Yan Qinrong joined the army and said that Empress Wei was promiscuous, Princess Anle, Wu Yanxiu, Zong Chuke and others were in danger of being in danger, and they were killed by Zongchuke. . "Although I did not ask endless questions, I felt very unhappy and unhappy, so it was Empress Wei and his party that were worried." (Zizhi Tongjian, Vol. 209) reason.

The Sanqi regular attendant Qin Ke was quite skilled in medicine, and Guanglu Shaoqing Yang Jun was good at cooking. With these skills, he was able to enter and leave the imperial confinement, win the favor of Empress Wei, and fornicate with him. After all, there is a great risk in this matter, and "the fear of being punished for leaking things" also prompted the two of them to join the ranks of murdering Zhongzong. The main reason for

is that Empress Wei wanted to imitate Wu Zetian's approach to the dynasty, and this purpose could not be achieved unless Zhongzong was eliminated. As for Princess Anle's participation in this matter, it was Empress Wei who promised her that she would be crowned princess after she was appointed to the imperial court. In short, due to various reasons, these people colluded and planned a conspiracy to murder the emperor.

On June 2nd of this year, they poisoned the cakes that Zhongzong ate, and Zhongzong died of poisoning in the Shenlong Hall of Taiji Palace in Chang'an. He was fifty-five years old.

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