In ancient Chinese history, Wu Zetian's name was full of controversy and legend. Her life is the ultimate pursuit of power, and it is also a sad portrayal of the deep struggle for power.
During her reign, she ruled with iron and blood, stepped on the blood and bones of countless people to ascend to the throne, and even sacrificed her son's life for the sake of imperial power.
However, in 705 AD, Prime Minister Zhang Cambodia and others launched the "Shenlong Coup", forcing Wu Zetian to abdicate and supporting the restoration of Tang Zhongzong Li Xian. The coup marked the end of Wu Zetian's power and heralded the end of her life.
The King of Power: Wu Zetian
Entering the palace at a young age, Wu Zetian was selected as the concubine of Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. She has a strong personality and is very intelligent, and she is deeply loved by Li Shimin. However, Li Shimin knows how to make good use of people, and knows that if Wu Zetian is in power, the harem will make waves. Therefore, although he loved Wu Zetian, he did not give her too much power.
"Wu'er, your intelligence is very comparable. Li Shimin commented.
Wu Zetian responded with a smile: "Your Majesty has a good reputation, and the concubine is only willing to serve quietly." ”
After Li Shimin's death, Wu Zetian was forced to become a nun. However, unlike the other concubines, she had already paved the way for herself. She had an unusual relationship with the then crown prince Li Zhi.
"When I ascend the throne, I will surely rescue you. Li Zhi once promised Wu Zetian.
Sure enough, after Li Zhi succeeded to the throne, despite the strong opposition of the courtiers, he rescued Wu Zetian from the nunnery and named her queen. This decision caused a strong reaction from the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, this is really inappropriate. One of the ministers admonished.
Li Zhi said firmly: "No matter what, I have to do this." ”
Wu Zetian's wisdom and skill were vividly displayed in the harem. As a woman of great intellect, she navigated the power struggles of the court.
Her every move is carefully planned in order to steadily rise in the harem and eventually rise to supreme power.
The most shocking scene occurred when she strangled her own daughter with her own hands and then blamed the queen for the crime. The cruelty and ruthlessness of this action showed Wu Zetian's determination to do whatever it took to achieve his goal.
It is said that in the dead of night, she personally entered her daughter's palace and tightly choked the innocent baby's neck with her cold fingers until the child stopped breathing.
Subsequently, she skillfully weaved a series of lies and succeeded in putting the blame on the queen.
Under her careful planning, the queen's position gradually wavered, and Wu Zetian took the opportunity to ascend to the throne and finally sat on the throne of the queen. In the process, she has demonstrated extraordinary political skill and ruthless determination.
When Li Zhi, that is, Tang Gaozong's body was weakening day by day, and he was gradually tired of the government, Wu Zetian saw the opportunity and offered to share state affairs for Gaozong.
In an evening conversation, she whispered to Li Zhi: "Your Majesty, the state affairs are heavy, and you are not feeling well, let the concubines help you share some of the burdens." ”
Li Zhi had deep trust in Wu Zetian's intelligence and ability, so he handed over the power of reviewing and reviewing the folds to her. This move is undoubtedly a huge increase in her power.
Since then, Wu Zetian's authority in the court has been unparalleled, and she has begun to participate directly in political decision-making, influencing all aspects of the country.
After Gaozong's death, Wu Zetian's ambition was even more revealed. She deposed two emperors successively, Tang Zhongzong and Tang Ruizong, and skillfully used various means to consolidate her power.
Her wrists appear more skillful and decisive in the process, and she clears all possible threats and obstacles.
Finally, in 690 AD, Wu Zetian established herself as the emperor, she changed the name of the country to Zhou, set the capital Luoyang, and established Wu Zhou. At this moment, she became the only female emperor in Chinese history, the pinnacle of her power.
The Lord of the End: Wu Zetian's indulgence
At the pinnacle of power, Wu Zetian's life gradually detached himself from reality and indulged in extravagant pleasures. Her court was once a place where talents were born, but in her later years, it became a stage for male pets to compete for favor and power struggle.
Xue Huaiyi and the Zhang brothers, as Wu Zetian's favorite male pets, enjoy supreme privileges. They are unscrupulous in the palace, and sometimes they even play tricks in front of Wu Zetian.
The competition for favor between the Zhang brothers and Xue Huaiyi made the court full of suspicion and unease. The palace maids and eunuchs walked in this atmosphere, walking on thin ice.
With the passage of time, Wu Zetian's control over the government gradually weakened. She spent more time indulging in the pleasure of male favorites, and her negligence in the government made state affairs increasingly abandoned. Her preference for male favorites also made them intervene in the government, resulting in a bloody storm in the court.
"Your Majesty, the government cannot be so wasted. A loyal minister whispered persuasion.
Wu Zetian didn't care: "How can you understand my fun." ”
However, the good times were short-lived. In 705 AD, Zhang Cambodia and others launched the "Shenlong Revolution", a coup d'état that completely changed the fate of Wu Zetian. Tang Zhongzong was supported and restored, and Wu Zetian had to abdicate.
According to the "Old Tang Book", Wu Zetian no longer dressed up in Shangyang Palace, and his body was getting weaker and weaker. Tang Zhongzong Li Xian was shocked to see his mother so haggard.
Wu Zetian wept and complained: "I welcome you from Fangling, and I will give you the title of the world, and the five thieves are greedy for merit, which shocks me so far." This sentence reveals her dissatisfaction with the coup and her deep affection for her son.
Although he was deposed, Li Xian still had a deep filial piety to his mother Wu Zetian.
He retained her honorific title "Emperor Zetian Great Sage", maintained the dignity of her family, and regularly visited her in Shangyang Palace.
These actions were extremely courteous to the previous emperor at the time.
"Mother, you look very tired. Li Xian said worriedly during a visit.
Wu Zetian responded with vague tears in his eyes: "I wanted to entrust the world to you, but I was made like this by those greedy kings." ”
Li Xian bowed down to the ground in grief and thanked him: "Queen Mother, it is the unfilial piety of the sons and daughters who failed to keep you peaceful." ”
The Lord of Decay: The Collapse of Wu Zetian
After the restoration of Tang Zhongzong Li Xian, a series of measures were taken to abolish the system established by Wu Zetian. This is tantamount to a heavy blow to Wu Zetian. The Wu Zhou Dynasty she had worked so hard to establish was wiped out in an instant. Li Xian's actions are undoubtedly a great blow to her desire for power.
"After the mother, everything will be restored to the system of the Tang Dynasty. Li Xian said in announcing the decision.
Wu Zetian's reaction was full of powerlessness and frustration: "Has everything I built disappeared like this?"
This kind of psychological gap in losing power is undoubtedly fatal to Wu Zetian, who is over eighty years old. Her mental state deteriorated rapidly, and her body aged with it.
In addition, Wu Zetian's loneliness and loss in her later years were also an important reason for her spiritual collapse. In her harem, there are many male favorites, among which Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong are her spiritual sustenance. However, after the "Shenlong Coup", the two male pets she cherished the most were brutally killed.
"The second one is gone. A palace maid wept and reported.
Wu Zetian cried bitterly: "They are my last consolation, and now even they are leaving me." ”
Losing power and losing a lover, these two blows made Wu Zetian's mental state deteriorate sharply. Her life became extremely lonely, and the old age and emaciation of her old age were a testament to the rapid passage of her life.
"I have been an emperor all my life, and I have never had a day of peace. Wu Zetian sighed at the last moment of his life.
Wu Zetian fell into a deep melancholy. Her health deteriorated dramatically, and she spent her days depressed. In the end, this generation of empress quietly died in the palace at the age of 82.
brief summary
Wu Zetian's life, although brilliant, ended in a tragedy. Wu Zetian's story is not only a successful example of women in ancient society, but also a profound warning about power, loneliness and spiritual collapse.
History records her as an unusual empress, but in her later years, in an indescribable way, her legendary life ended.
This may be the final evaluation of her lifelong pursuit of power and masculinity. Wu Zetian's story has become an eternal topic in history, reminding the world of the price of power and desire.