Zi Zhi Tong Jian

Chapter 45
【Translation】

The tenth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty (636 A.D.)
Empress Changsun is benevolent and respectful by nature, diligent and simple, and likes to read books. She often discusses history with Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, and takes the opportunity to advise Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty on good practices and put forward many useful opinions.Once, Tang Taizong lost his temper with the court lady for no reason. The queen also pretended to be very angry and asked to intervene in person, so she ordered the court lady to be tied up. plead.Since then, there has never been any excessive punishment in the harem.Princess Yuzhang's biological mother died early, and the queen adopted her, loving her more than her own.When anyone below the concubine gets sick, the queen will go to visit them in person, and also give them her own medicine and diet. Therefore, everyone in the harem loves the queen very much.She admonished her sons, often making modesty and frugality the main topics.Mrs. Sui'an, the prince's nurse, once told the queen that there were too few utensils in the East Palace, and she asked the queen to ask the emperor to add more.The queen did not agree, she said: "As a prince, what you should worry about is that you will not be virtuous and have a bad reputation. How can you worry about not having utensils and utensils?"

Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was suffering from a disease, which had not been completely cured for many years. The empress took good care of him and often stayed around him day and night.She also often tied the poison on her belt, saying: "If something happens to your Majesty, I can't live alone." The queen has suffered from asthma for many years, and visited the Jiucheng Palace with Tang Taizong the year before.Chai Shao and others reported something urgent late at night. Tang Taizong walked out of the palace in armor to inquire about the situation. How can I calm down inside?" Immediately, his condition worsened.The prince said to the queen: "All the medicines have been used, but the condition has not improved. I ask His Majesty Qizuo to let him issue an edict to amnesty the prisoners in the world and save the common people to become monks. Maybe they can get the blessings of the underworld."

[Original text]

Later he said: "Death and life have their own destiny, and they are not moved by intellect. If it is good and blessed, then I will not do evil; otherwise, what good is it to ask for it! The great affairs of the country of forgiveness cannot be counted. The teachings of Taoism and interpretation heresy are the disease of the country. People, all of you are not doing what you have always done, but why do you think I am a woman who makes you do what you do? You must do what you say, I would rather die quickly!" The prince dared not play, and privately spoke to Fang Xuanling, Xuanling was in vain , I mourn for it, I want to forgive it, and I will stop it later.

And Ji Du, and Shang Jue.At that time, Fang Xuanling returned to the throne with reprimand, and later said to the emperor: "Xuanling has been with His Majesty for a long time. He has been careful and careful, and has plotted secrets. He has never vented. If there is no serious reason, I hope not to abandon him. The concubine's family is due to fate. It is not virtuous for Jiajia to lead to a position of wealth, and it is easy to cause danger. If you want to preserve your children and grandchildren, you should be careful not to deal with power, but it is enough for your relatives to serve the court. Concubine life is not beneficial to others, and death is not allowed to harm others. Qiulong labors the world, but because the mountain is a tomb, the utensils are just tiles and wood. I still hope that your majesty will be a gentleman, stay away from a villain, accept loyalty and advice, resist slander, save work, and stop traveling. Although my concubine is not in Jiuquan, I am sincere. Nothing to hate. The children don’t need to be ordered to come. Seeing their sorrow is just disturbing people’s will.” Because he took the poison in his clothes as a sign, he said: “On the day when Your Majesty does not hesitate, I swear to die to obey Chengyu, and I cannot be Queen Lu’s wife. Dier." Jimao collapsed in the Lizheng Palace.

【Translation】

The queen said: "Death and life are fate, which cannot be changed by human intelligence. If doing good deeds will bring blessings, then I have done no evil; if not, then what good is it to ask for blessings randomly? Amnesty for the world It is a major matter for the country, and such edicts cannot be issued many times. Taoism and Buddhism are heresies, which harm the country and the people. These are things the emperor has always been unwilling to do. Why should the emperor be unwilling to do it because I am a woman? What are you doing? If I have to do what you say, then I might as well die right away!" The crown prince didn't dare to go up to the emperor again, but just talked about it with Fang Xuanling in secret, and Fang Xuanling told Tang Taizong truthfully.Tang Taizong was very sad and planned to issue an edict for the empress to amnesty the world. The empress resolutely dissuaded him when she knew about it.

When the queen's condition was very serious, and when she said goodbye to Emperor Taizong, Fang Xuanling had already been condemned to go home for a while. If there is no major fault, I hope His Majesty will not abandon him. My relatives in the same family, who got the position because of kinship, since they did not rise to the high position because of virtue, they are easy to suffer disaster. , if you want their descendants to be preserved, I hope His Majesty will not place them in powerful positions anymore, as long as they are foreign relatives and pay respects to His Majesty on a regular basis. I am not good for others when I am alive, and I cannot be harmful when I am dead. As for people, I only hope that your majesty will not overhaul the mausoleum and waste people's money, but only use the mountain as a tomb and use tiles and wood as funeral utensils. I still hope that your majesty can be close to gentlemen and alienate villains, accept honest advice, abandon slander and tricks, and save money. Labor and hunting are prohibited, so that even if I go to the Nine Springs, I will have no regrets. I don’t need to let my sons and daughters come to visit, seeing them mourning will only disturb people’s hearts in vain.” After saying that, he took out the poison on his clothes and gave it to him. Tang Taizong looked at it and said: "When your majesty was ill, I swore to die to go to Huangquan with your majesty Ding. I can't follow in the footsteps of Empress Lu." On October 21, the empress died in the Lizheng Hall.

[Original text]

Later, I tried to collect thirty volumes of "Women's Rules" from ancient women's gains and losses. I also tried to refute Han Mingde's horses, because they couldn't restrain their relatives, so that the dynasty was rich and prosperous, and they only warned their cars like running water and horses like dragons. The source of its misfortune and failure is to prevent its end.And the collapse, the palace secretary and "Nv Ze" played it, Shanglan's grief, to show his neighbors: "The queen's book is enough to set an example for the world! I am not ignorant of the destiny and feel sad for nothing, but I will no longer hear the rules when I enter the palace. I have lost a good assistant, so I can't forget my ears!" Fang Xuanling was summoned to restore his position.

Winter, November, Geng Wu, Empress Wende was buried in Zhaoling.Emperor Fu is a stone inscribed with inscriptions, saying that "the queen is thrifty, and her last words are buried lightly. She thinks that 'the heart of a thief should stop seeking treasures. If there are no treasures, what else can I ask for.' My original intention is the same. The king takes the world If it is a home, why should things be in the mausoleum? It is for oneself. Today, because Jiuyi Mountain is a mausoleum, there are more than a hundred people who chisel the stone, and it takes dozens of days to complete it. Gold and jade are not hidden. People, horses, and utensils are all made of civil engineering. It's just a tool, and the traitors and thieves will rest their minds, and they will live without fatigue. It should be taught to the generations of generations."

After thinking about it, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I made a layered view in the garden to look at Zhaoling, and tried to invite Wei Zheng to climb it together so that I could see it.Zheng Shu looked at it and said: "I am so faint that I can't see it." I instructed it, and Zheng said: "I think your majesty looks at the mausoleum if it is Zhaoling, so I will see it." Weeping and destroying the view.

【Translation】

Empress Changsun once compiled [-] volumes of "Women's Rules" by collecting all kinds of things about women's gains and losses since ancient times. To warn against their crime of running like a horse like a dragon is actually to open the source of the disaster and guard against its weak branches.After the queen died, the secretary of the Shangyi Bureau in the palace presented the book "Women's Rules". After reading it, Emperor Taizong of Tang was very sad. A model. It is not that I do not know the fate of heaven and indulge in useless sorrow. In fact, I will never hear words of remonstrance in the palace. I have lost my virtuous wife, so I will not forget it for a long time!" Immediately, Fang Xuan was recruited. age, and reinstated him to his original post.

In November, Emperor Taizong buried Empress Wende in Zhaoling.Tang Taizong personally wrote an inscription for the queen. He wrote: "The queen was frugal all her life, and her will was buried lightly. She thought that 'what the thieves are trying to plot is just treasures. Since there are no treasures, what do they want?" My original intention is exactly the same. So. The king regards the world as his home, so why put the treasures in the mausoleum, so that he can claim it as his own? Now, the Jiuyi Mountain is used as the mausoleum, and there are only more than 100 stone-cutting craftsmen, and it only takes dozens of days The work is finished. No gold, silver and jade objects are hidden. The terracotta warriors and utensils are made of clay and wood, but only have a slight shape. This can dissuade the thieves, and it will not be a burden to the living or the dead. It should be Let future generations follow this as an example.”

Tang Taizong often missed the queen, so he set up a viewing platform in the back garden to look at Zhaoling. He also led Wei Zheng to the viewing platform together for him to wait and see.Wei Zheng looked at it for a long time, and said: "My old eyes are dim, I can't see." Tang Taizong then pointed to him, and Wei Zheng said: "I thought your majesty was watching Xianling. If it was Zhaoling, I would have seen it a long time ago." " Tang Taizong was deeply saddened, so he ordered the observation tower to be demolished.

[Comment and Analysis]

Tang Taizong Wende Empress Changsun is a famous and rare virtuous empress in history. She likes to read since she was a child.When Li Shimin was still the king of Qin, he was at odds with the prince Li Jiancheng and the king of Qi Li Yuanji. The Changsun family served Li Yuan wholeheartedly, handled the relationship with the prince and the concubines of the king of Qi, and tried to create a harmonious atmosphere between Li Shimin and his son. , It was of great help to Li Shimin.After becoming the queen of the mother of a country, the Changsun family practiced strict frugality and was deeply respected by Tang Taizong.As a queen, she never seeks her own personal gain.Even his elder brother always refused to let Tang Taizong reward him.

Queen Zetian
[Original text]

Tang Gaozong Emperor Dasheng Dahongxiao Emperor Yonghui Five Years
He was the crown prince, who served Emperor Taizong and was delighted to see the talented Wu family.Taizong collapsed, and the Wu family became a nun in the Ganye Temple along with the crowd.On the day of the death, I went to the temple to hold incense, and when I saw it, the Wu family wept, and I also wept.When the queen heard about it, she ordered Wu's hair to grow long, and persuaded her to go to the inner harem, hoping to be favored by Concubine Shu.The Wu family is clever and intelligent, and has a lot of power. When he first entered the palace, he humbly resigned and condescended as an afterthought;Not long after, I was honored as Zhaoyi, and the favor of the concubine Shu and the later concubine all declined, and they even got along with each other, and none of them accepted it.Zhaoyi wanted to posthumously present his father, but he was unknown, so he entrusted him with rewarding meritorious officials, and presented Qu Tutong and others extensively, but the warrior Xun Yanyan.Empress Wang, concubine Xiao Shu and Wu Zhaoyi even complained to each other. They did not believe what the empress and concubine Shu said, but only believed in Zhaoyi.Later, I couldn't tell the right and wrong things. My mother, Mrs. Liu of the State of Wei, and her uncle Zhongshu ordered Liu Xun to visit the Sixth Palace, which was not polite.Those who Wu Zhaoyi does not respect after serving him will definitely fall in love with them, and share the rewards they get.From then on, Zhaoyi must know the movements of Concubine Shu and Concubine Shu, and all of them have heard of it.

【Translation】

Tang Gaozong Yonghui five years (AD 654)
When Emperor Gaozong was still the prince, he entered the palace to serve Tang Taizong, and he liked the talented Wu family very much.After the death of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, the Wu family went to Ganye Temple to become a nun with all the concubines.On the anniversary of Emperor Taizong's death, Emperor Gaozong went to Ganye Temple to pay homage to the Buddha. When he met Wu, Emperor Wu cried, and Emperor Gaozong also shed tears.After Queen Wang heard the news, she secretly let Wu's hair grow, and persuaded Gaozong to accept Wu's entry into the harem, in an attempt to use Wu's to alienate Gaozong from favoring Concubine Xiao.Wu was born well-behaved and smart, and was good at playing tricks. When she first entered the palace, she served the queen humbly; the queen liked her very much because of this, and praised her in front of Emperor Gaozong many times.Soon, the Wu family was greatly favored by Emperor Gaozong, and was worshiped as Zhaoyi. Both the empress and concubine Xiao fell out of favor, and the two began to falsely accuse the Wu family together.Wu Zhaoyi tried to posthumously present his father, the warrior Xun, as an official title, but he suffered from the injustice of his reputation, so he pretended to reward thirteen meritorious ministers, including the warrior Xun.Queen Wang, Concubine Xiao Shu, and Concubine Wu Zhaoyi falsely accused and slandered each other. Gaozong never believed the words of Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu, but trusted Wu Zhaoyi very much.Queen Wang would not flatter Gaozong's right and left ministers. Her mother, Mrs. Liu of Wei Guo, and her uncle Zhongshu ordered Liu Shi to meet the concubines of the sixth palace, and they did not pay attention to etiquette.Wu Zhaoyi spied on someone whom the Queen hated, so she fell in love with him and shared the rewards she got with them.Therefore, every move of Empress Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu could not escape the control of the Wu family, and she also reported to Gaozong everything she saw and heard.

[Original text]

Although the post-favorite declined, the emperor did not intend to abolish it.When Zhaoyi gave birth to a daughter, she pityed her and teased her, and then she came out. Zhaoyi secretly strangled her and covered her with a quilt.At the top, Zhaoyiyang laughed happily, and when he saw that the girl was dead, he cried out in shock.Ask the left and right, and they all said: "The queen is here." The emperor said angrily: "I will kill my daughter!" Zhaoyi complained about her crime because of tears.There is no self-evident in the future, and the emperor has the ambition to abolish and establish.Fearing that the minister would not follow, they had a great drink with Zhaoyi Xing Taiwei's eldest grandson Wuji, and worshiped Wuji's favorite concubine at the table.Shang calmly said that the empress had no children to satirize Wuji, but Wuji's words to others were not in accordance with the order, so both Shang and Zhaoyi were displeased and let it go.Zhaoyi also ordered her mother, Yang Shi, to become the No. [-] Wuji. She prayed repeatedly, but Wuji finally refused.Xu Jingzong, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, also advised Wuji several times, but Wuji was harsh.

In June of the sixth year of Yonghui, Wu Zhaoyi falsely accused the Queen and her mother, Mrs. Liu of the State of Wei, of being victorious, and banned her stepmother, Liu, from entering the palace.Autumn, July, Wuyin, Liu Xun, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, was appointed as the governor of Suizhou.When Xun traveled to Fufeng, Yu Chengsuxi, the governor of Qizhou, ordered Xun to leak the forbidden Chinese language, and demoted the governor of Rongzhou again.Due to the Sui system in the Tang Dynasty, there were noble concubines, concubines Shu, concubines De, and virtuous concubines in the harem, all of whom were regarded as first-class.The emperor wants to set up a special concubine Chen, with Wu Zhaoyi as the leader, Han Yuan and Lai Jijian, thinking that there is no story, so stop it.

【Translation】

Although Queen Wang had fallen out of favor, Gaozong did not intend to abolish her.It happened that Wu Zhaoyi gave birth to a girl at this time, and the queen loved her and teased her.After the queen went out, Wu strangled the baby girl to death while no one was watching, and covered her with a quilt.At this time Gaozong just arrived, Wu pretended to laugh, opened the quilt to look at the baby together, but found that the baby girl was dead, Wu immediately cried loudly.Asked what happened to the left and right maids, they all said: "The queen has just been here." Gaozong was furious after hearing this, and said, "The queen killed my daughter!" Wu Zhaoyi took the opportunity to cry and blame the queen for her sins.The queen could not defend herself, and Gaozong had plans to abolish the queen and make Wu Zhaoyi his queen.But he was afraid that the ministers would not accept it, so he and the Wu family visited the mansion of Taiwei Zhangsun Wuji, and after the wine was full, he named the three sons of Changsun Wuji's favorite concubine as Chaosan doctors at the banquet. He also asked people to load ten carts of gold, silver, treasures, silk and satin, etc., as rewards to Zhangsun Wuji.Gaozong took the opportunity to mention that the Queen had no heirs, in order to imply Changsun Wuji, but Changsun Wuji talked about him, and did not obey Gaozong's will.Gaozong and Wu's two ended the banquet in an unhappy manner.Wu Zhaoyi asked her mother Yang to come to Changsun Wuji's mansion and asked repeatedly, but did not get Changsun Wuji's permission.Xu Jingzong, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, also tried to persuade Changsun Wuji many times, but was severely reprimanded by Changsun Wuji.

In June of the sixth year of Yonghui (AD 655), Wu Zhaoyi framed the queen and her mother, Mrs. Liu of the State of Wei, and begged the witch to cast a curse on Wu Zhaoyi. Therefore, Emperor Gaozong ordered the queen's mother, Liu, to be strictly prohibited from entering and leaving the harem.On the tenth day of the seventh month, Liu Xun, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, was demoted to the governor of Suizhou.When Liu Xun took office and went to Fufeng County, Yu Chengsu, the governor of Qizhou, tried to figure out the holy will. He reported that Liu Xun had leaked the secrets of the palace ban, and demoted him as the governor of Rongzhou.The Tang Dynasty inherited the system of the Sui Dynasty, and the harem noble concubines, concubines Shu, concubines De, and concubines Xian were all genuine.Gaozong then planned to set up a special concubine Chen to entrust Wu Zhaoyi, Han Yuan and Laiji advised him to stop, saying that there was no such precedent before, so Gaozong had no choice but to give up.

[Original text]

Raoyang Li Yifu, a native of Zhongshushe, was hated by Changsun Wuji, so he moved left to Sima of Bizhou.Before the edict came to the door, the Yifu knew it secretly, and asked Wang Dejian of Youzhou, a member of Zhongshushe, who was planning to plan. If you establish it, you will turn misfortune into good fortune." Yi Fu said so, and on this day, Dai Dejian went straight to the house, knocked on the pavilion, and asked to abolish the queen Wang's family, and establish Wu Zhaoyi, with the heart of disgusting common people.Shangyue, summoned, talked with, gave a bucket of pearls, and stayed in the old post.Zhaoyi also secretly sent an envoy to labor Mianzhi, Xunchao worshiped the Minister of Zhongshu.So Wei Weiqing Xu Jingzong, Yuyi doctor Cui Yixuan, and Zhongcheng Yuan Gongyu all laid their hearts on Wu Zhaoyi.

(End of this chapter)