(Vientiane History Special Author: Ling Kongzi)
Emperor Gaozong of Tang: The cowardly emperor who complemented Wu Zetian and opened up the largest territory of the Tang Dynasty
My name was Li Zhi and I was born on July 21, 628. His father was Emperor Li Shimin and his mother was Empress Changsun. I am the third son of my father's concubine, and I have the eldest brother Li Chengqian and the second brother Li Tai on it. In the Xuanwumen Rebellion two years ago, the father killed his two brothers, forced his grandfather to abdicate, and became emperor.
I was born a prince and have a prominent position. My eldest brother Li Chengqian was the crown prince, and my second brother Li Tai was the King of Wei, and I was also crowned king of Jin from the age of 3. In 636 (at the age of 8), my mother died of illness, so I lived with my father and was raised by my father himself.
The father was shrewd and strong, and arranged his successor very early, that is, my eldest brother and crown prince Li Chengqian. The eldest brother participated in the government very early and trained as a successor, but he also offended a group of courtiers. The second brother, Li Tai, was intelligent and capable, and wanted to be literate and martial, and his father loved it very much and often rewarded him greatly. Li Tai then co-opted a group of courtiers, and with great intentions, he had the potential to seize the position of crown prince.
In 642 (14 years old), the threatened eldest brother, very uneasy, first tried to assassinate Li Tai, failed and then plotted a rebellion, and was captured by his father Li Shimin. The evidence was conclusive, and the father was furious and deposed the eldest brother as a commoner. Seeing that the second brother would become the new prince, I did not expect that my uncle's eldest grandson's words made my father change his mind.
Uncle Sun Wuji said: "If Li Tai is established, it is equivalent to encouraging the princes to conspire for the throne!" "The father emperor who personally led the change of Xuanwu Gate, of course, is a point of understanding. For the sake of his descendants, the Father emperor had no choice but to drive his second brother Li Tai out of the capital and in the seventh month of April 643 (at the age of 15), he changed me to crown prince!
(Li Tai's Compilation of the Chronicle of The Lands)
I was loyal, kind, indecisive, and young and lacked prestige, and I was not a "good material" to be an emperor. My father was well aware of my shortcomings, and he took pains to make elaborate arrangements for my future succession.
He helped me choose a very strong "auxiliary" team, including the eldest grandson Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Li Ji and so on. He helped me choose the crown princess, the daughter of the powerful family and the Taiyuan Wang clan.
In order to make me neutral in the army, my father, who had not fought in battle for more than 10 years, actually led a large army to conquer Goguryeo in 644 (at the age of 16). I am in charge of the rear of the temple and receive it in Hebei. You know, it is very rare for the emperor and the crown prince to leave the capital. Unexpectedly, Goguryeo was really difficult to nibble, and the father and emperor returned without success, and lost many lives in vain.
(Li Shimin's conquest of Goguryeo)
After the defeat of Goguryeo, his father's health deteriorated and he often lay ill in bed. From time to time, I went to the palace to take care of my sick father. One of his father's concubines, named Wu Meiniang, was young and beautiful, and often served on the side. The two of us were about the same age, and after a few meetings, we had a secret affection.
The father was obsessed with Goguryeo and always wanted to go to it again. In 649 (at the age of 21), the father decided to use the strength of the whole country to attack Goguryeo again, but he fell ill and died!
On the first day of June, I ascended to the throne, and the year name was Yonghui, which was called Emperor Gaozong of Tang. The plan to conquer Goguryeo had to be stopped for the time being.
(△ The majestic Nine Mountains - Tomb of Emperor Taizong of Tang)
I became the emperor, and before my father died, he had already arranged for me to be an assistant minister, including the eldest grandson Wujie, Chu Suiliang, and so on. They are all founding heroes and have a high prestige. In front of them, I was just a young man who had not done anything big and had not dried up. At the imperial meeting, I didn't have the right to speak at all, and they didn't listen when they said it. But I am the emperor, and I held my breath in my heart, but I did not dare to get angry!
The following year, in 650 (at the age of 22), on the day of my father's death, I went to Ganye Temple to incense and met Wu Meiniang, who had cut her hair as a nun. She didn't want to stay in the lonely and lonely Ganye Temple, clutching my hand, pear blossoms with rain, pitiful. I softened my heart and wanted to take her back to the palace, but would my queen agree?
(Stills of Li Zhi and Wu Meiniang in the TV series "The Legend of Wu Meiniang")
Empress Wang is from a family family and is the marriage match designated by my father, but I don't like her at all, I prefer the beautiful and moving Concubine Xiao. After Empress Wang knew that I had stolen Wu Meiniang, she did not get jealous, but took the initiative to take Wu Meiniang into the palace. It turned out that she wanted to use Wu Meiniang to suppress Concubine Xiao Shufei!
Empress Wang's purpose was soon achieved. I was completely fascinated by Wu Meiniang and ignored Concubine Xiao shufei anymore. Wu Meiniang is not only beautiful as a flower, but also very politically minded, and more importantly, she comes from a small military family, and she always stands with me without hesitation and firmness. In the DPRK, I was angry with the auxiliary elders, and only when I saw Wu Meiniang could I spit it out. I can't live without her!
In 655 (at the age of 27), I ignored the objections of my uncle and other elders, and abolished Empress Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu as concubines and established Wu Meiniang as empress! Empress Wang could not have dreamed that she would actually lift a stone and drop it on her own foot.
Then, Wu Meiniang and I joined hands, turned the clouds and rain, and began to deal with these "hateful" founding ministers. We strategized and deposed Prime Minister Chu Suiliang, Han Yan, Yu Zhining, Lai Ji and other old ministers one after another. In 659 (at the age of 31), we even knocked down the deep-rooted uncle, the eldest grandson, to the ground.
I finally raised my eyebrows and breathed out, and I could say one thing at the court like a real emperor. Wu Meiniang, who is by my side, is indispensable. It can be said that the father and emperor only gave me the throne, and it was Wu Meiniang who made me a real emperor!
(△ Liu Xiaoqing version of Wu Zetian)
Wu Meiniang is my good helper. The affairs of the imperial court, many things must be handled by her. Especially after 660 (32 years old), I sometimes had headaches, and Wu Meiniang was in charge of more and more things, and her power was getting bigger and bigger, which also made me a little dissatisfied.
In 664 (at the age of 36), after the minister Shangguan Yi proposed to abolish it, I agreed. However, before the edict was issued, Wu Meiniang suddenly appeared in front of me, frightening me and causing me to panic, and I had no idea at all. In the end, he had to rely on Shangguan Yi to cut off his house. After that, Wu Meiniang sat with me on the top of the imperial court, discussed things together, and called her "Second Saint".
(TV series "The Legend of Wu Meiniang" Second Saint Linchao)
Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, it has developed peacefully for more than 40 years, and the national strength has rapidly become stronger. The Tang Dynasty eliminated the invincible Eastern Turks (629) and occupied The Southern Desert; it also destroyed Xue Yantuo (646) and occupied the Northern Desert; and established the Anbei and Shan Yu Capitals respectively.
The Tang Dynasty also defeated Tuguhun (635) and adopted it as a vassal state, then destroyed the State of Gaochang (640) and established the Anxi Capital Protectorate. The Tang Dynasty continued to march west, eliminating the Western Turks (657) and expanding its power into Central Asia. In 660 (at the age of 32), the Tang Dynasty united with Silla to eliminate Baekje and conquer Goguryeo (668).
On the first day of the first lunar month in 666 AD, I went to Mount Tai with Wu Meiniang to seal Zen and tell the heavens and the earth. As an empress, Wu Meiniang led female officials to participate in this solemn ceremony for the first time.
In 668 (at the age of 40), the 80-year-old veteran general Li Ji eliminated Goguryeo and established the Andong Capital. The sound of data is far and wide, and the four seas surrender! I have completed the unfinished ambition of the three generations of Sui and Tang Dynasty heroes! I built the most vast territory of the Tang Dynasty! I have built a great achievement unprecedented in The history of China!
In 674 (at the age of 46), I issued an edict proclaiming myself Emperor, and Wu Meiniang was called The Queen of Heaven. Later, an island nation in the east stole this "title" and called their king "emperor".
(Tang Dynasty territory in 669)
On December 27, 683 (at the age of 55), I died of illness and was succeeded by Li Xian, the son of Wu Meiniang and me. I left a testament: "If there are those who cannot be decided on major military and state affairs, please deal with the decision after the queen of heaven." ”
Unexpectedly, it didn't take long for Wu Meiniang to abolish Li Xian, and she was in charge of the dynasty herself. Later, she simply established herself as emperor and became the only female emperor of China (690-705), and everyone called her Wu Zetian.
Now, I just want to say one word, and it can't be up to me.
(The 744th work of the Vientiane History and Biography Writing Camp, and the 55th work of the camper "Lingkongzi")