In the history of the Tang Dynasty, the most concerned is Tang Taizong Li Shimin. As for his son Li Zhi of Tang Gaozong, because of Wu Zetian, many historical writers chose to play down and distort it intentionally or unintentionally. Some later generations of literati even attributed the problem of Wu Zetian's usurpation of Tang to Li Zhi's mediocrity.
However, in history, Li Zhi was actually a rather extraordinary emperor, and under his rule, the development of the Tang Dynasty reached its peak.
During this period, not only was the territory the most extensive among the emperors of the Tang Dynasty, but all the countries or foreign nationalities around them were also beaten to either complete worship or hear the wind. Li Zhi's achievements far exceeded Li Shimin's, and even a generation of strong women, Wu Zetian, was submissive by him.
Li Zhi was the third concubine of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and had been generous to others since childhood, and got along very well with other princes. However, his two older brothers, The Crown Prince Li Chengqian and Li Tai the Prince of Wei, were in a fight for the throne. At the suggestion of Li Zhi's uncle, Changsun Wuji, Li Zhi unexpectedly became the final victor in the struggle for the throne.
In the view of the eldest grandson Wuji, Li Zhi, who is known as an old and good man, became emperor, which was bound to be conducive to the maintenance of the interests of the family door valve. But in fact, whether it is the heart or ability, Li Zhi is not lacking.
For example, many historical sources mention that Li Zhi and Wu Zetian had a private affair when Li Shimin was alive, but no one thought deeply, with Li Shimin's great name, why was Li Zhi able to have an affair with the harem under his eyes? No one knows that this private affair is impossible, but no one reports to Li Shimin that this is Li Zhi's strength.
When Li Zhi first became emperor, the biggest restraining force in the court was the Guanlong clique headed by the eldest son Wuji. Since the Sui Dynasty, this political force has greatly influenced the changes in the government. From a certain point of view, the reason for the rapid defeat of the Sui Emperor Yang Guang was the result of the manipulation behind the Guan Long clique. And Li Shimin only restricted it and did not have the ability to completely eliminate it.
However, Li Zhi took advantage of the struggle between Wu Zetian and Empress Wang to quickly disintegrate the Guanlong clique in one fell swoop, and the leader of the group, Changsun Wuji, was also exiled to Qianzhou. What was particularly rare was that the court did not cause much waves, and Li Zhi easily swept away the opposition. Even when the eldest son Wuji was forced to commit suicide later, no one made any accusations against Li Zhi.
According to the New Book of Tang, Li Zhi was diligent in the government of the dynasty and often spent all night reading and reciting. A series of new policy measures promulgated after Li Zhi came to power have well solved the new problems that have arisen after the rule of Zhenguan. Li Zhi also improved the examination system and promoted many talented people from cold backgrounds.
The period of Li Zhi's reign, which historically became the rule of Yonghui, was the most brilliant stage of the economic and people's livelihood development of the Tang Dynasty after Li Shimin's death, and also laid a good foundation for the later "Kaiyuan Prosperous Era". In order to adapt to the progress of society, Li Zhi also specially organized and compiled the "Tang Law Neglect Discussion". This is by far the oldest and most systematic ancient written code. Later dynasties drew on this code when they wrote the law.
Li Zhi's most commendable achievements are military achievements. At the beginning of his reign, Li Zhi sent the general Gao Kan to pacify the north of the desert and capture the Eastern Turk Che-nosed Khan alive. Later, he sent Su Dingfang as a general, and in just five months, the Western Turks, which had been in trouble for a while, were wiped out. The remnants of the Western Turks fled all the way to Central Asia and Europe.
Neither the Sui Emperor nor Emperor Taizong of Tang conquered Goguryeo and was completely vulnerable to Li Zhi's army. The three countries on the Korean Peninsula were all defeated by Li Zhi, and Japan was frightened and sent envoys to surrender. In Japanese history books, Li Zhi is referred to as the First Emperor of the Ages.
During Li Zhi's reign, the Tang Dynasty's territory stretched east to the Korean Peninsula and the Far East, west to the Caspian Sea (including all of Central Asia), south to all of northern Vietnam, and north to Lake Baikal and the Mongolian Plateau, covering an area of more than 13.5 million square kilometers, larger than the territory of present-day China.
However, after Li Zhi's death, because Wu Zetian established himself as emperor, he established the only dynasty in history in which a female was an emperor. Literati who were accustomed to the inferiority of men over women deliberately smeared or degraded all the history related to Wu Zetian. Li Zhi also became nameless in the implicated and was erased of all glory.