Li Chen, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, was the son of Emperor Xianzong of Tang and the uncle of Emperor Wuzong of Tang.
His original name was Li Yi, and he changed his name to Li Chen after he became emperor. During his reign, Tang Xuanzong ruled the country diligently and frugally, reduced taxes, paid attention to the selection of talents, and was considerate of the people, and the people's lives became increasingly prosperous, so that the corrupt Tang Dynasty presented a well-off situation of "Zhongxing".
During Xuanzong's reign, he burned three fires, one to make "Quan Hao trace", two fires to make "traitors fear the law", and three fires to make "Khotan Temple deaf", so he was called "Little Taizong".
Was Tang Xuanzong really a fool?
In fact, although Tang Xuanzong behaved confusedly, his heart was like a mirror. But why should he pretend to be stupid?
This also begins with his life.
Li Chen was the son of Emperor Xianzong of Tang, and his mother, Zheng Shi, was a lowly palace maid.
Due to the humble status of Shu Chu and his mother, Li Chen could not become emperor.
Although he was later crowned the King of Light, he grew up alone in an unnoticed corner.
From an early age, he appeared depressed and sluggish, living in groups with other princes and often living without saying a word.
In the palace, most people ridiculed Li Chen for being stupid, but only his brother Tang Muzong knew his cleverness and once stroked his back and said, "This is my family's treasure."
As Li Chen grew up, his dementia became more and more serious. Speculation has been raised that this may be related to a fright he encountered during the years of Muzong.
At that time, Li Chenren's palace met the empress dowager, but unexpectedly bumped into someone to carry out an assassination.
Although the incident did not cause any casualties, the Light King became more reticent from then on. So the royal clan members decided that this person who was already dumbfounded must have been frightened and stupid.
Since then, no matter how big or small, Li Chen has become an object of special ridicule and teasing.
In fact, Li Chen was not stupid, he knew that he was born not to be an emperor, and only in the chaotic world could he seize power.
After Muzong succeeded to the throne, he was mediocre, and partisanship, feudal power, and eunuch power made the Tang Dynasty's rule precarious. Li Chen pretended to be stupid and asked the eunuch to let down his guard against him, and he was waiting for an opportunity to seize power.
When Tang Wuzong found out that there was something wrong with this emperor, he wanted to put him to death. However, at this moment, the eunuch Qiu Gongwu rescued him and sent him out of the palace.
In the sixth year of Huichang (846 AD), Emperor Wuzong of Tang was critically ill, and Li Chen, surrounded by eunuchs Qiu Gongwu and Ma Yuanzhen, unexpectedly returned to Chang'an.
Qiu Gongwu and others decided to appoint Li Chen as a puppet emperor and then naturally control the government.
But when Li Chen began to deal with government affairs, Qiu Gongwu was dumbfounded.
Because to him, the fool Li Chen suddenly became incomparably strange, he looked majestic, his eyes were calm, his speech and demeanor were calm and powerful, and his decision to govern affairs was orderly, and he was like the two of them before.
Qiu Gongwu
It was only at this time that Qiu Gongwu suddenly realized why Emperor Wuzong had put this "stupid" emperor to death, because under his foolish appearance, there were talents and strategies that ordinary people could not reach. Unfortunately, Qiu Gongwu understood too late.