In a fashionable phrase: "Who uses this thing is confused", not to mention that women use crying and begging for forgiveness, and the masters can not stand it.
The old feudal society liked to engage in torture and rule the people of the world with severe punishment, and did not understand the importance of being able to subdue people with virtue and rule the country by law.
As the only female emperor in history, Wu Zetian did not rely solely on luck, but also accounted for a large part of the reason. Wu Zetian's character and means are more of a fierce strong woman.
It was this that led to her not being welcomed by Li Shimin, but it was also because of this that she became a fragrant bounty in Li Zhi's arms.
Wu Zetian's path to the throne
Wu Zetian's original name was Wu Cao, and after marrying Li Shimin, he was given the name Wu Meiniang by Li Shimin. Wu Meiniang was able to accompany Li Shimin in her later years for several years.
Li Shimin has been leading the army to fight since he started his army in Taiyuan, and his personality is naturally stronger, and his machismo is very deep, especially when he has been the emperor for so many years, his personality is even stronger.
However, Li Shimin's throne was not inherited in order, so he was particularly concerned about his reputation, and in this case, above the court, he could not come by nature, but had to converge.
As the saying goes, the outside is angry, the house is on fire, Li Shimin returns home, what he needs is love and care, which is exactly what Wu Meiniang lacks. This can be seen from the fact that she has served Li Shimin for many years and has not given birth to a child, and Li Shimin does not like her.
But Wu Meiniang also knew in her heart that if this situation continued, as soon as Li Shimin died, she would have to be arranged to accompany the Green Lantern Yellow Scroll at the Ganye Temple. The young Wu Meiniang came into the palace to enjoy the blessings, not to become a nun. She also felt that in Li Shimin's place, she didn't seem to have a chance.
Just at this time, the eldest boy Li Zhi walked into Wu Meiniang's vision. Because the brothers were too eager to make quick gains, the throne unexpectedly fell to Li Zhi's head. Li Zhi's characteristics are obvious, that is, innocence, simplicity and kindness.
Li Shimin chose Li Zhi as the heir for this reason, and it was also because of this reason that he was not assured of Li Zhi. Therefore, Li Shimin often asked Li Zhi to go to the palace and teach him how to be a good emperor. It was at this time that Li Zhi came into contact with Wu Meiniang.
Wu Meiniang and Li Zhi formed a deep friendship, and later, Li Zhi successfully ascended the throne, and Wu Meiniang was sent to the Ganye Temple. Later, Li Zhi was overwhelmed by empress Wang's rivalry with Consort Xiao Shufei. At this time, Wu Meiniang wrote a letter to Li Zhi.
Li Zhi went to the Ganye Temple and let Wu Meiniang get rid of the sea of suffering. Since then, Wu Meiniang has begun to emerge.
Wu Meiniangxiu's flight took off Empress Wang in a row, became the empress herself, and also joined forces with Li Zhi to overthrow the eldest son Wujie, and used the convenience of her power to support many confidants in the court, which also laid the foundation for her subsequent usurpation of power.
Later, Li Zhi was not in good health, and Wu Meiniang helped Li Zhi to approve the recital. Wu Meiniang has a strong personality and often makes the cowardly Li Zhi miserable, but he also has no way.
After that, the Second Saint Came to the Dynasty, and the power of Wu Meiniang could not be underestimated. Later, Li Zhi died, and the throne passed to Li Xian's hands, and Wu Meiniang continued to command behind her back.
Wu Zetian invented a new punishment, and the jade girl ascended the ladder became his masterpiece
When Li Xian ascended the throne, Wu Zetian continued to "point fingers" behind his back, and the clans and ministers above the imperial court were often suppressed by civil and military officials and clans. You must know that in feudal society, harem interference in politics is a particularly taboo thing.
But Wu Zetian didn't care about that set, what she wanted to do, she must do well. Since the hundred officials in the court did not obey, they had to find a way to deter them.
In this case, Wu Zetian began to order the study of the new punishment, with the sole purpose of making those who opposed her taste the early.
There was a cool official named Suo Yuanli, who was dedicated to studying new punishments. He also invented many names that sound elegant, but in fact make people feel painful punishments, the most representative of which is "Jade Girl Climbing the Ladder".
It is very elegant to hear the name, "Jade Girl Climbing the Ladder" requires the prisoner to take off his clothes first, and then tie a rope from his neck and tie a loose knot. If nothing else, this punishment is obviously insulting, and in ancient times it was a great blow to the physiology and psychology of the prisoner.
Then, a high wooden ladder is placed in front of it, and under the wooden ladder is placed a sharpened wooden stake, and the jailer pulls the rope around the prisoner's neck, and if the prisoner does not follow, he will eventually be strangled alive.
As a result, most prisoners are also led up the ladder in front of them, and as the ropes are shortened further, the prisoners wear shackles and can only lift their toes to breathe some air. But after a long time, it can't be supported.
In the end, in a little fear, he was either strangled or persisted until he was exhausted, fell off the ladder and was poked to death by wood.
postscript
This kind of torture really played a lot of roles, Wu Zetian tortured, coupled with her planting eagle dogs in the court, she really sat on the throne.
During his reign, Wu Zetian killed many of Li Tang's clan blood relatives, even his own sons. But she was a woman after all, and after pondering for a while, the throne was still back in Li Tang's hands.
After Wu Zetian's death, she erected a wordless monument for herself, and the merits and demerits were left to posterity to comment.