Text丨 Weisheng Xiaoyun
Editor丨Weisheng Xiaoyun
Preface
In the long history of ancient China, Wu Zetian's rise is like a picture of conspiracy and ambition, she is not because of her wisdom and bravery, but because of her unscrupulous skills, she pushed many people into the abyss of misery.
The woman weaves a tapestry of power in the harem, carrying persecution throughout her throne.
Gaozong miscalculated
With the passage of time, Wu Zetian's ambitions became more and more inflated, and he stepped into the court from the harem and gradually stepped onto the political stage.
The reason why she was able to listen to the government at the pinnacle of politics was not through the usurpation of power, but because the emperor Li Zhi at that time was frail and sickly, unable to handle the burden of court politics, and it was in this context that she was able to step by step to the peak of power.
In the fifth year of Xianqing, Li Zhi suffered from wind disease and lived in the shadow of illness, he was tormented by illness, dizzy, and his eyes gradually lost the ability to recognize objects, and he could not continue to effectively handle the affairs of the court.
Although the crown prince Li Hong existed, he was immature, only eight years old, and was not up to the great responsibility of ruling. While the old and important ministers were purged one after another, the court and China had lost people to rely on.
In this situation, Li Zhi had little choice but to hand over government affairs to the intelligent and capable Empress Wu Zetian, who showed her political wisdom, keen insight and political sensitivity, and her political struggle was experienced and courageous, and she dared to adopt drastic reform methods.
It was precisely because of Li Zhi's trust in her that she had the opportunity to take over the power of the court and began her unique chapter in the long river of history, this woman, with her wisdom and determination, became one of the few female emperors in Chinese history, leaving an indelible political mark.
When they first met, Wu Zetian looked extremely low-key, she wore elegant makeup in front of Li Zhi, and she was respectful like a spring breeze, deliberately suppressing the power of her relatives, like a quiet lake, these actions were deeply appreciated by Li Zhi, like the drizzle of early spring moistening the palace.
Wu Zetian cautiously maintained her humble image, and when Li Zhi first proposed to let her review the recital on her behalf, she pretended to be prevaricating, and her tone was modest and subtle, claiming that the harem was not suitable for government affairs.
Li Zhi pleaded again and again, and she reluctantly agreed to share her husband's worries, and this drama was staged in the court, like a faint ink painting, revealing Wu Zetian's precise control of power and conspiracy.
The unspoken rules in the court, like a fine gauze tent, skillfully conceal Wu Zetian's true intentions, her low-key and tactful, like a shy flower in the palace, makes it elusive to find out her true thoughts in the depths of her heart, on the stage of court scheming, her every step is cautious and exquisite.
The Empress Wu wanted to listen to the government, and this decision made the government and the opposition in an uproar, like a boulder thrown into a calm pond, causing ripples, and the courtiers, dressed in gorgeous court clothes, stepped between the carved beams and paintings, and protested one after another.
Their words were full of deafening momentum, fearing that the country would fall into a stormy and unstable, and the wanton rhetoric of the powerful ministers shook the whole palace like thunder. Li Zhi's eyes were nearly blind, and he seemed helpless in the face of this surging and surging opposition.
In the palace, the candlelight reflected on Li Zhi's pale face, his eyes wandered in confusion among the ministers, and the decision of the Empress Wu to listen to the government made him fall into a dilemma of not being able to find a suitable successor.
At this moment, he seemed to be in a dark labyrinth, looking for a ray of light, no matter how impassioned the courtiers were, he remained silent and firmly supported Wu Zetian.
The wheel of history rolls forward a little heavily at this moment, and the history of the Tang Dynasty ushered in a profound change, and in the court, power and intrigue were intertwined, and controversy was agitated.
Although Li Zhi relinquished some of his power, he still maintained the dignity of the emperor, and the dragon robe on his body seemed to be a solid city, standing unshakable, and the history of the Tang Dynasty entered a new stage, an era known as the "two sages" co-governance, in which power and intrigue were intertwined and the court was unpredictable.
Although Li Zhi conceded, he remained the top decision-maker. Empress Wu had to consult with him on major matters, which became a new landscape in the political pattern of the Tang Dynasty.
Empress Wu regency took power
Li Zhi personally sat at the wide imperial table, facing Wu Zetian, patiently teaching her how to review the chapters and how to deal with the government, Wu Zetian listened attentively, her mind was like a mirror, under the careful guidance of Li Zhi, she gradually understood the way of the court.
In this teaching, Wu Zetian gradually explored her own way of governance, her eyes gradually sharpened, and the jade pen in her hand danced, writing her unique views on the government and politics.
When Empress Wu listened to the government, she seemed to be a dancer with ease, shuttling between intricate issues with ease and ease, and each piece of music was like a storybook, in which Empress Wu focused, capturing the meaning of the officials' words from between the words, and sorting out the ins and outs of government affairs.
When dealing with all kinds of complex issues, she was at ease, had clear thinking, was not chaotic in the face of danger, and showed outstanding political wisdom.
Over time, Empress Wu became more than just a puppet who listened to politics, her abilities gradually climbed and she became a skilled politician.
When dealing with difficult problems, she no longer relied on Li Zhi's guidance, but relied on her own intelligence and experience to solve them satisfactorily, as if she was a master who mastered the dynasty and led the country to prosperity with ease.
Li Zhi was hovering between joy and sorrow, he saw the talent of the martial queen, and his heart was relieved, but he was worried.
He was worried that Empress Wu would monopolize the court in the future and gradually elevate himself, and this contradictory emotion churned in his heart, like an undercurrent, revealing the inextricable threads of the court's power schemes.
On the temple, between the government and the government, Li Zhi's worries were not groundless, when Li Zhi was seriously ill, Wu Zetian took advantage of the situation and was able to manipulate the country's major politics, as if a palm was in her hands.
Although she still needs to ask Li Zhi for instructions on the surface, she has actually ignored all Li Zhi's opinions, and once she holds the supreme authority, Wu Zetian will be unable to extricate herself.
In this game of scheming, Wu Zetian quickly became the master of the imperial court, she was unwilling to let go, and her control of power became more and more tight. Li Zhi's health improved slightly, and he was bent on re-intervening in government affairs, but Wu Zetian always tried to block any of his actions.
Li Zhi felt helpless, he once suddenly asked the eunuch who served beside him, but the question was quite strange: "What do you think of the Empress Wu's character?" This little eunuch had already been bought by Wu Zetian, and he gave Wu Zetian a thumbs up without hesitation, praising the emperor for having such an outstanding and capable wife, which was really lucky.
In the face of this flattery, Li Zhi remained silent, his eyebrows could not hide deep thought, his eyes seemed to be looking for a trace of truth in this political debate.
He also asked who had been in and out of the queen's dormitory frequently recently, and the eunuch replied respectfully: "The ministers of the court and the central government have been there, and there is also a Taoist priest Guo Xingzhen, who has entered the palace many times." Li Zhi's face suddenly became gloomy when he heard this.
Guo Xingzhen had been ordered to go to Mount Tai to pray for blessings, pray for him and the Empress Wu, and even set up a double-bouquet monument for the couple with his own hands, at this moment he frequently went in and out of the queen's bedroom, ignoring the emperor at all, such a move in Li Zhi's view, it was really a great disrespect to the imperial power.
The atmosphere of the palace became solemn, Li Zhi frowned slightly, the dragon pattern fan in his hand was gently closed, and Guo Xingzhen's behavior became a torch that ignited, igniting disputes inside and outside the court. His frequent comings and goings seem to be a political wave, quietly setting off and having a far-reaching impact.
In the palace, sandalwood is permeated, the light and shadow of the palace are intertwined, Li Zhi is sitting in front of the imperial case, his eyes are looking at the palace through the jade window, Guo Xingzhen's figure is like a fog in his thinking, so that he can't understand his intentions, the political situation is gathering at this moment, and the queen's bedroom has become a place of power and conspiracy.
Li Zhi's heart was surging with doubts and uneasiness, he knew that the undercurrent of power inside and outside the court was turbulent, and every step involved the context of the court, Guo Xingzhen's mysterious behavior, like a mystery that was difficult to dismantle, shrouded the entire court in a shadow of unease.
In this political maelstrom, unease and secrecy permeated every corner of the court.
Li Zhi's eyes were deep, and he realized that in order to solve this mystery, it was necessary not only to collect intelligence, but also to make precise decisions, and a political chess game gradually unfolded in his hands, and the queen's bedroom became the key place for this complex chess game.
The power is on the sidelines
The dragon couch on the throne reflected the faint palace lamp, the room was filled with a faint fragrance of medicine, Li Zhi was lying on the embroidered brocade quilt, although his face was still slightly pale, but it was not as weak as before, his closed eyes revealed contemplation and firmness, as if after a long night, finally ushered in the morning light.
A few days passed, the dragon body gradually stabilized, the momentum of recovery became more and more obvious, in the court, the news spread, every palace person and courtiers were looking forward to new changes, Li Zhi felt this expectation, and decided to usher in a new era, an era led by him personally.
In the early morning, the golden light sprinkled on the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City, a quiet and solemn atmosphere enveloped the entire palace, Li Zhi hurriedly sat up from the sickbed, felt the gradual recovery of his body, a resolute determination surged into his heart, he unfolded the brocade robe, dressed neatly, and revealed a high-spirited atmosphere between his steps.
Above the court, the civil and military officials have already stood respectfully, waiting for His Majesty the Emperor to come, Li Zhi walked to the dragon seat step by step, followed by the attendants, the whole hall seemed to be boiling because of his stepping, Li Zhi sat on the imperial couch, raised his eyes and looked down on the courtiers, a look of anticipation appeared in their eyes.
The tyranny and domineering of the Empress Wu, the cloud of monopolistic power, finally in this early morning was washed away by a ray of sunshine, the courtiers could not hide their joy, they did not like the arrogance of the Empress Wu, but also felt that women were not in line with the etiquette system, and now, His Majesty the Emperor personally ascended the throne, listened to the government in the court, and gave them a glimmer of hope.
And at this moment, a minister stepped forward to play, and his words were awe-inspiring: "The minister heard that the Taoist priest Guo Xingzhen was doing things in the queen's palace, and he practiced the technique of disgust with victory, and wanted to harm His Majesty the Emperor." Your Majesty, please be aware of it. ”
Li Zhi frowned slightly, his heart sank, this sudden danger made him realize that the struggle for power was far from over. He took a deep breath, determined to secure his position and eliminate all potential dangers.
In the gorgeous palace, the courtiers were divided into courtesies, and there were many discussions, and under the heavy court clothes, they exchanged their heads and whispered, and a tense atmosphere permeated the palace. The situation in front of him made everyone aware of it, and in front of everyone's eyes, Empress Wu became the target of everyone.
Li Zhi already had a clear answer in his mind, and he decided to listen to the advice of Prime Minister Shangguan Yi, who was a well-versed strategist who had always adhered to the traditional Gangchang ideology and had a lot of criticism about women's involvement in the political field.
He didn't like to see women show up and interfere in court politics, believing that this was a manifestation of not abiding by women's morals and a disaster to the court, and under Li Zhi's questioning, Shangguanyi did not hesitate to criticize Empress Wu bluntly and advocated the deposition of her position.
When the courtiers heard the prime minister's remarks, they echoed that they believed that Shangguanyi's views were to the point, in line with traditional concepts, and of great significance for maintaining the imperial program.
epilogue
Under the governance of Wu Zetian, the Tang Dynasty went through twists and turns, from the co-rule of the "two sages" to the moment when Empress Wu monopolized power, Li Zhi handed over government affairs to Empress Wu for health reasons, but felt unable to control Empress Wu after gaining power.
Empress Wu gradually showed outstanding political talent with her smart and capable skills, which made the government and the opposition admire her, and under the power and strategy, Empress Wu gradually ignored the existence of Li Zhi and monopolized power, which made people worried.
Li Zhi tried to depose the military queen, but fell into the power plot of the military queen, resulting in the sacrifice of Shangguan Yi, the military queen mastered the imperial program, Li Zhi gradually retired, and the court regime conspiracy came to an end, leaving a bloody history. The display of Empress Wu's ability to govern the country established her dominance in the Tang Dynasty, and this history is also full of the darkness of power and power.