The famous "Niu Li Party Struggle" in history is not only a personal grudge, it involves the operation of the entire Tang Dynasty and affects the political pattern of ancient China for 40 years. You may ask: What kind of struggle is the "Niu Li Party Struggle"?
From Tang Xianzong to Tang Xuanzong, this turmoil, which was called the "Niu Li Party Dispute" by later generations, was actually not only a duel between two people, but also a complex contest involving multiple forces and multiple interests. Niu Shengru and Li Deyu, two important figures in history, represented different political forces and social classes, and their opposition became almost the epitome of the political struggle of the entire late Tang Dynasty.
Let's take a look at these two. Niu Monk and Child, he was born in the imperial examination, and can be said to be a typical representative of the emerging scholar clan of that era. Li Deyu, on the other hand, was born in the Shandong scholar family, and his background is more inclined to the traditional scholar family. Curiously, despite their solid political and academic backgrounds, their conflicts went far beyond the individual level and involved the political factions of the entire imperial court.
On the surface, the struggle between the Niu and Li factions looks like a power struggle between individuals, but in fact it involves a class struggle between the Shi and Shu clans. There were two ways to select officials in the Tang Dynasty, one was "Menyin", that is, relying on family background; The other is the "imperial examination", which relies on individual talent. These two approaches are like two very different paths, representing different social classes and interest groups.
The conflict between Niu and Li Deyu also reflects the conflict of interest between the two selection mechanisms. In both the Niu Party and the Li Party, there were officials from the "Menyin" and the "Imperial Examination", but they each represented different political interests and social classes. For example, Niu Shengyu, although he was born in the imperial examination, his influence in the court is often regarded as a representative of the Shu people. Li Deyu, on the other hand, is regarded as a supporter of the Shi clan.
But history is always so complicated, although Li Deyu was born in the scholar family, he also has no lack of support for the Shu people. Niu Monk and Child, although representing the Shu people, often transcended simple class interests in his political behavior. This kind of complex interaction has turned the "Niu Li Party Dispute" into a political game full of variables.
Are there any other players in this game? The answer is yes. In addition to the Niu Party and the Li Party, there is another force that cannot be ignored, and that is the eunuch group. Eunuchs played an increasingly important role in the politics of the late Tang Dynasty. On the one hand, they controlled the forbidden army and influenced the military power of the imperial court; On the other hand, they have also intervened in politics in various ways and have become a force to be reckoned with in the government. In the Niu Li party dispute, which side are the eunuchs on? The answer to this question is not simple. Sometimes, they may support the cow monks and children in order to protect their own interests; At times, they may turn to Lee for greater power and control.
In this seemingly civilian-official infighting, it is actually a wrestling between many forces, including eunuchs. Each role is not simply black and white, and every choice and decision they make is based on complex interests and strategic layout. This is why, even after 40 years, the Niu-Li party struggle is still a hot topic for historians to study, because it shows the complexity of human nature and the temptation of power.
Another aspect of this party struggle is the conflict between the imperial examination system and the door shadow system. The imperial examination system allowed more commoners the opportunity to pass the examination to enter the bureaucracy, which was a relatively fair system at the time, breaking the monopoly of the noble clan lords on high-ranking official positions. The door-shade system is a traditional hereditary system, which ensures that the children of noble families can directly inherit official positions. In a sense, the Niu Li party struggle is also a manifestation of the conflict between these two systems. The opposition between Niu Shengyu and Li Deyu, who was born in the imperial examination, is also the opposition between the old and new forces, and it is a kind of competition for the direction of China's political system in the future.
Let's take another look at the specific implications of this partisan feud. It not only led to instability within the imperial court, but also seriously consumed the country's political resources and affected the country's long-term development through prolonged political struggles. The decision-making of the imperial court was mostly influenced by party struggles, and in many cases, the formulation and implementation of policies could not truly serve the long-term interests of the country, but became a tool for the struggle of various factions. This political model, centered on party strife, not only weakened the emperor's authority, but also affected the government's effectiveness and credibility.