What is history: it is the echo of the past to the future, the reflection of the future on the past. - Hugo
In Chinese history, Wu Zetian was an absolute miracle. A woman, in a society where men are inferior to women, not only can stand out, but also started a dynasty and became emperor for fifteen years, which has to be surprising.
So, the reason why Wu Zetian was able to achieve such brilliant achievements, what did she rely on? Scheming? courage? wrist? conspiracy? I'm afraid there are. However, if it is simply summed up in one word, then this word must be - "fierce". How fierce is Wu Zetian? Look at these few things and you'll know.
First thing: train horses
When Wu Zetian was still the talented person of Tang Taizong Li Shimin, once, the envoys of the Western Regions presented Li Shimin with a thousand-mile famous colt, known as the "Lion Horse". However, although the horse was good, his temper was unusually grumpy, and for a time, he actually stumped all the horse training masters in the palace, and just when Li Shimin began to be a little disappointed, Wu Zetian stood up.
Wu Zetian went forward and told Li Shimin that as long as she was given three things, she would definitely be able to tame the "Lion Horse", and the three things that Wu Zetian needed were: iron whip, iron hammer, and dagger. In wu Zetian's words, if it disobeys, it will be whipped with an iron whip, and if it is not obedient, it will be smashed with an iron hammer, and if it is disobedient, it will be cut with a dagger!
The second thing: kill Empress Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu
Wu Zetian's murder of Empress Wang and Concubine Xiao Shufei has long been a foregone conclusion, but the means used by Wu Zetian cannot help but be creepy in the rumors of later generations. According to legend, Wu Zetian ordered that the hair of Wang and Zhen be shaved, their noses and ears cut off, their limbs cut off, and finally, the half-amputated bodies of the two were soaked in a large wine tank, causing Wang and Zhen to die tragically in extreme humiliation and pain.
Of course, some people say that this unusually cruel method was only used on Xiao Shufei's body, not on Empress Wang; others believe that in fact, Wu Zetian did not use such means against Wang and Zhen. But no matter what, Empress Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu, who were originally good, did indeed die at the hands of Wu Zetian.
The third thing: strangle your own daughter with your own hands
Cruel, it is enough to use it on others, but Wu Zetian's treatment of his own daughter is also cruel. At that time, Wu Zetian, in order to marry and frame Empress Wang, did not hesitate to personally strangle and kill her own daughter Princess Anding, who was less than one year old. The so-called "tiger poison does not eat children", so it seems that Wu Zetian is fiercer than the tiger!
Fourth thing: force the death of his own son
In addition to killing his daughter, Wu Zetian treated his son equally fiercely than a tiger. During his lifetime, Wu Zetian had four sons, namely, the eldest son Li Hong, the second son Li Xian, the third son Li Xian, and the fourth son Li Dan. According to legend, in order to be able to ascend the throne as emperor himself, Wu Zetian did not hesitate to poison his eldest son, the crown prince Li Hong. Of course, there are also different theories about Li Hong's death, for example, some people believe that Li Hong died of a violent illness, not at the hands of Wu Zetian. Even if Li Hong's death has nothing to do with Wu Zetian, the death of Li Xian (Prince Zhanghuai) is very consistent among posterity, that is, Li Xian, the prince of Zhanghuai, was forced to die (given death) by Wu Zetian.
The above is Wu Zetian's "fierceness", such "fierceness", throughout the ages, even if it is a man, there are probably few who can be compared with it, let alone women.