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Emperor Taizong of Tang, one of the illustrious rulers in Chinese history, his reign is hailed as the golden age of Chinese history and has profoundly influenced future generations. This article will review the life of Emperor Taizong, his political reforms, military conquests, and the story of the Wu clan, showing the legendary life of an outstanding emperor.
1. Li Shimin: The rise of Emperor Taizong
Emperor Taizong of Tang, whose real name was Li Shimin, was born in 598 AD and was Li Yuan's second son. His father was a general of the Sui Dynasty, but the country was in trouble in the face of corruption at the end of the Sui Dynasty and constant conquests by the army. At this critical moment, Li Yuan led a rebellion that overthrew the Sui Dynasty and proclaimed himself Gaozu, the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin played an important role in his father's cause to overthrow the Sui Dynasty, and was made the Duke of Qin, stabilizing the country.
Emperor Taizong's ability and contributions earned him more trust and he was made King of Qin. During this period, he crushed resistance to Gaozu's rule and stabilized the country. Although Gaozu implemented some good policies, the King of Qin was welcomed by the population for his military campaign against Sui loyalists. However, his brother Li Jiancheng, fearing that the King of Qin might be trying to seize the throne, plotted to eliminate him. Although Emperor Gaozu had clearly designated an heir, the rise of Emperor Taizong complicated the situation and the relationship between the brothers became increasingly tense.
2. The coup d'état and Emperor Taizong's accession to the throne
Emperor Taizong heard that his brothers were going to stage a coup d'état to overthrow Emperor Gaozu and seize the throne. He sent soldiers loyal to him close to the Xuanwu Gate of the palace, ready to attack as the brothers passed. In 626, Emperor Taizong succeeded in seizing the throne and forcing Emperor Gaozu to abdicate and become emperor of China. After becoming emperor, he proclaimed himself Emperor Taizong, executed his opponents, and declared that all those killed were now his heavenly masters.
Emperor Taizong quickly demonstrated great ruling ability, not only inheriting Gaozu's policies, but also reforming some policies, including the bureaucracy. He accepted various suggestions and even accepted more than 200 mistakes made by Prime Minister Wei Zheng and corrected them. Emperor Taizong was also an accomplished poet and writer, producing important political documents that provided a valuable resource for future generations of rulers.
3. Emperor Taizong's foreign policy and religious tolerance
Emperor Taizong was a devout Buddhist who advocated religious tolerance and believed that all faiths should coexist peacefully. He allowed not only Buddhism to spread, but also Christianity, Zoroastrianism and other religions to enter China. Under his rule, religious tolerance and pluralism flourished in China, and various faiths were passed on and developed in society.
Emperor Taizong's foreign policy was also in the spotlight, and he signed a peace treaty with Tibet to maintain the stability of the country's borders. Although many governments asked him to intervene in the war on Islam, he refused to avoid getting involved in religious conflict. He also took a series of measures to strengthen the country's security measures to prevent espionage and rebellion.
4. Wu Clan: Emperor Taizong's personal secretary
Under Emperor Taizong's rule, there was an important female character, and she was Wu Shu. Initially, Wu Shu was sent to do laundry, but she quickly showed a remarkable talent, not only for washing clothes, but also for music, dance, poetry, and politics. Attracted by her talents, Emperor Taizong promoted her to his personal secretary. Wu Shu became a right-hand man in Emperor Taizong's government, participating in important policymaking and foreign affairs.
However, Wu Shu's beauty and wisdom also attracted Emperor Taizong's son Li Zhi. Although Li Zhi is married, he falls deeply in love with Wu Shu, and the private relationship between the two gradually develops. This love story added a touch of drama to the Taizong period and left a strong mark on later history.
5. Emperor Taizong's military conquest
Emperor Taizong's reign also saw Chinese military conquests. He mainly fights against the green known as "Goturks"
Continental states, these military campaigns mainly took place between 640-649 AD. Emperor Taizong deeply understood that professional military strength was essential for the country's defense and territorial expansion. Therefore, he took a series of important military measures to ensure the security and stability of the country.
Emperor Taizong created 600 militia units, each consisting of 800 to 1,200 soldiers, which could be seconded to the capital or on the border for a short period of time to deal with different threats. He also retained a standing force, the elite Northern Army, which was stationed outside the capital and was responsible for the country's security. These military measures, while costly, allowed the empire to expand steadily in commerce and territory during the 150 years of Emperor Taizong's reign without being disturbed by internal rebellion.
Emperor Taizong's military campaigns also included the conquest of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate in the Tarim Basin. He had a good relationship with Gaochangcheng, but hostilities broke out over a dispute that led Emperor Taizong to declare war on Gaochang. The town of Yanqi became a bone of contention because this important trade route was closed and Gaochang merchants were forced to enter China through Gaochang. Emperor Taizong reopened the path, but this angered Gao Chang and led to a series of conflicts. Eventually, Emperor Taizong sent the general Hou Junji to break Gaochang's power and force them to obey the Tang edict. After the Gaochang issue was resolved, Emperor Taizong continued to expand, conquering the Tarim Basin, eventually declaring the entire region part of his territory.
6. Emperor Taizong's successor and Empress Dowager Wu Zetian
In 649, Emperor Taizong died of dysentery, ending his reign. His son Li Zhi succeeded him as emperor, named Emperor Gaozong. Emperor Gaozong faced the continuation of his father's war in the Tarim Basin as the Turks revolted and the Tang army was sent to quell the rebellion. After Emperor Taizong's death, his concubines were sent to monasteries for the rest of their lives, most notably Emperor Taizong's personal secretary, Wu Shu.
Wu Shu had always played an important role under Emperor Taizong's rule, and her influence gradually expanded. She was also very close to Emperor Gaozong and became the first concubine. After Emperor Gaozong's death, Wu Shu seized power and became Empress Wu Zetian. Although her reign was heavily criticized by historians, she continued Emperor Taizong's policies and made improvements in several respects.
Summary:
Emperor Taizong of Tang was one of the most prominent rulers in Chinese history, and his reign is regarded as a golden age that left a lasting impact. His rise to power was marked by coups and ascensions, and his political reforms and military conquests demonstrated his outstanding leadership. Wu Zetian, who co-founded the Tang Dynasty with Emperor Taizong, also played an important role in politics. Emperor Taizong's reign set an example for future generations of rulers, and his policies and decisions occupied an important place in Chinese history, forging a great legend of rulers.
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