In the long history of China, there are few examples of women reaching the pinnacle of power, and Wu Zetian is undoubtedly the most dazzling star. With her extraordinary political wisdom, firm determination, and complex interpersonal skills, she gradually rose from an ordinary harem talent to the empress throne of the Tang Empire, and finally became the only female emperor in Chinese history. This journey is full of power struggles, emotional entanglements and wits battles, vividly demonstrating Wu Zetian's outstanding political talent and tenacity. Based on historical documents such as the Book of the New Tang Dynasty, the Book of Zizhi Tongjian, and the Book of the Old Tang Dynasty, this article will describe in detail how Wu Zetian became Empress Li Zhi step by step in a complex court environment, revealing the historical context and personal strategy behind it.
1. At the beginning of entering the palace: talented people are martial arts
Wu Zetian was born in a family of eunuchs in Wenshui, Bingzhou (now Wenshui, Shanxi). According to the "New Tang Dynasty Book: Biography of Foreign Relatives", his father was a warrior. In the eleventh year of Zhenguan (637), Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, heard that Wu Zetian was beautiful and outstanding, so he summoned him to the palace, named him a talented person, and gave him the name "Wu Mei". At that time, Wu Zetian, who was only 14 years old, showed extraordinary calmness and determination in the face of parting with her parents, and she said to her mother Yang: "Seeing the Son of Heaven, how can I know if it is blessed?
2. Initial involvement in the court: dormant and gaining momentum
After entering the palace, Wu Zetian did not immediately gain Taizong's favor, but experienced a relatively dull time. After Taizong's death, according to custom, she became a nun with other concubines who had not given birth and was placed in Ganye Temple. However, a turning point in fate crept in. "New Tang Dynasty Book" recorded: "On its day, the emperor passed the Buddha's house, and only people saw and wept, and the emperor was moved." Gaozong Li Zhi went to Ganye Temple to make incense on the day of Taizong's death and reunited with Wu Zetian. The two complained to each other, tears in their eyes, and this scene touched the deep emotions in Gaozong's heart. At this time, Wu Zetian had keenly grasped this opportunity, and with the help of Queen Wang's jealousy of Concubine Xiao Shufei, she was successfully admitted to the harem and started a new chapter in her power field.
3. The battle of the harem: wits and counterattack
Wu Zetian, who entered the harem, showed amazing political wisdom and scheming methods. She knows very well that although Empress Wang has a respected status, she has no heirs, and Concubine Xiao Shu is deeply favored by Gaozong, which constitutes the core contradiction of the power structure of the harem. As a result, Wu Zetian adopted the following strategy:
1. Humble service, win trust: Wu Zetian "clever and wise, many powers, the first to enter the palace, humble resignation to the aftermath, after the love, the number of its beauty on the top." Through his humble and low-key attitude, he won the love of Queen Wang, quickly improved his status, and was named Zhaoyi.
2. Divide the opponent and use it skillfully: In the face of the contradiction between Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao Shufei, Wu Zetian skillfully used it. On the one hand, she "will join with those who serve the unrespectful, and share the reward with them." On the other hand, she took advantage of Gaozong's favor to constantly squeeze out Concubine Xiao Shu and weaken her position in the harem.
3. Create trouble and frame opponents: In the "New Tang Dynasty Book" and "Zizhi Tongjian", it is recorded that Wu Zetian designed a major event to frame Empress Wang. "New Tang Dynasty Book" said: "Zhaoyi gave birth to a daughter, and then took care of it, went, Zhaoyi sneaked to kill his son, served the emperor, Yang was happy, and he looked at his son, and died." He asked left and right in surprise, and they all said, "The latter is right." "Zhaoyi is sorrowful, and the emperor can't detect it." She killed her daughter with her own hands and then blamed Empress Wang, successfully arousing Gaozong's anger against Empress Wang and laying the groundwork for the dethronement of Empress.
4. Win over courtiers and consolidate his position: In the process of abolishing the post, Wu Zetian actively sought the support of courtiers. When Gaozong's desire to promote Wu Zetian to "Concubine Chen" was opposed by Han Ying, Laiji and others, Wu Zetian was not discouraged, but with the help of Li Yifu, Xu Jingzong and others, he pushed Gaozong to make up his mind to depose the queen and clear the way for himself to ascend to the throne.
Fourth, to the top of the queen: the pinnacle of power
In the sixth year of Yonghui (655), Gaozong finally issued an edict to depose Empress Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu on the grounds that they "plotted to commit poison" and demoted them to concubines. Subsequently, Gaozong issued an edict, praising Wu Zetian for "being honored and yong, the land is gorgeous, and he was elected to the back court with his talents, and he was honored with Jiao Jiao, and he was deguang Lanye", and decided to make him the queen. In October of the same year, hundreds of officials requested the establishment of the Central Palace, and Gaozong officially canonized Wu Zetian as the empress. So far, Wu Zetian has gone through hardships and finally achieved a gorgeous transformation from a talented person to a queen.
5. Brutal Reckoning: Consolidation of Power
Wu Zetian, who became the empress, was not satisfied, she knew that the stability of power required the complete eradication of potential threats. For the deposed Empress Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu, Wu Zetian took extremely cruel measures to retaliate. The "New Tang Dynasty Book" and the "Old Tang Dynasty Book" record that she "sent people to the Wang family and the Xiao family with 100 canes, cut off their hands and feet, and caught the wine in the middle of the wine, saying: "Make the second concubine drunk!" and even changed her surname to "python" and "owl" after her death to show humiliation. In addition, Wu Zetian also carried out a large-scale purge of the Wang and Xiao families, and their families were either exiled or executed, ensuring the absolute stability of his power.
summary
Wu Zetian's process of ascending to the queen's throne step by step from an ordinary harem talent can be called a textbook of palace struggle. With her resourcefulness, tenacity, political judgment, and thirst for power, she managed to stand out in the intricacies of the court. Although her methods sometimes appear ruthless, her ability to control power and govern the country has undoubtedly left a deep mark on history. Wu Zetian's legendary experience not only reveals the cruelty and complexity of ancient court politics, but also provides a valuable historical mirror for us to understand how women challenged gender constraints and pursued their personal ambitions in traditional societies.