Li Zhi (李治) (21 July 628 – 27 December 683), courtesy name Pheasant Nu (雉奴), courtesy name Shan, was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty, the ninth and third son of Emperor Taizong of Tang.
In the impression of most of us, Li Zhi seems to be an emperor who has not done anything, which actually has a lot to do with some TV dramas we often watch. In fact, the real Li Zhi was not an emperor who did not do anything, and when he was in power in his early years, he followed the system of Emperor Taizong, thoroughly implemented the various political and economic systems formulated by Emperor Dazong, and appointed various sages, such as Li Ji and Changsun Wuji. Because Li Zhi was diligent in government affairs for many years, the Tang Dynasty was able to continue the prosperity of the rule of Zhenguan, which is known in history as the "rule of Yonghui".
Li Zhi's talent can actually be summed up in his life experience. The history books record that Li Zhi was born handsome, tall and tall, and very meek and kind in terms of personality, and his style of life was even more low-key and frugal, and he did not love to build a large number of civil engineering. I think it was these reasons that led Emperor Taizong Li Shimin to decide to pass the throne to Li Zhi!
A king knows whether he is incompetent in two ways, one is internal and the other is external. Internally, Emperor Gaozong of Tang once ordered: "Strike the Battle of Liaodong and the merits of various civil engineering." And in the second year of his reign, he ordered the return of all the occupied people's farmhouses to the people, and under his administration, the Guanlong Gate Valve was severely weakened and dealt a blow. Externally, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi successively destroyed the Western Turks, Baekje, and Goguryeo, thus maximizing the territory of the Tang Dynasty.
Unfortunately, there are no perfect people, Li Zhi's personal health in his later years was very bad, he had headaches and eye diseases for a long time, and in his old age, his eyes could not even see anything clearly. This big reason also laid the groundwork for Wu Zetian's usurpation of power in the future.