Zi Zhi Tong Jian

Chapter 49
【Translation】

On November [-]th, Xu Jingye led the army to defend Xia'axi by virtue of the natural danger. Su Xiaoxiang, the commander of the rear army, took advantage of the night and led [-] soldiers to cross the stream in small boats to attack first. As a result, the soldiers were defeated and died. More than half of them drowned while crossing the stream.Zuo Baotao, Wei Guoyi and Cheng Sanlang from Yuyang were captured alive by Xu Jingye. Tang Zhiqi deceived his followers and said, "This is Li Xiaoyi!" About to be beheaded, Cheng Sanlang shouted: "I am Guoyi Chengsanlang, not General Li The officers and soldiers have arrived in large numbers, and you are about to perish. After my death, my wife and children will be honored; but after your death, your wives and children will be confiscated as slaves, and you will eventually be inferior to me." Beheaded for public display.

Li Xiaoyi and other generals arrived one after another with their troops, and they were defeated in many battles.Li Xiaoyi was frightened and planned to withdraw his troops. Wei Yuanzhong and Liu Zhirou, the commander of the army, said to him, "Now is the wind, and the reeds are dry. It is a good opportunity to use the fire to attack." They insisted on a decisive battle.Xu Jingye's army formation has been arranged for a long time, the soldiers are so tired of waiting and watching, the battle formation cannot be cleaned up for a while; Li Xiaoyi took the opportunity to attack and set fire to Xu Jingye's sudden defeat, the soldiers were beheaded 7000 people, and even more were drowned. countless.Xu Jingye and others fled to Jiangdu with light clothes on horseback, and fled to Runzhou with their wives and children in an attempt to escape to Korea by sea; Li Xiaoyi led his army to station in Jiangdu, and sent generals to pursue Xu Jingye.On October [-], Xu Jingye and his party arrived at the boundary of Hailing, but were trapped by strong winds.His general Wang Naxiang beheaded Xu Jingye, Xu Jingyou and Luo Binwang to surrender to the army.The rest of Tang Zhiqi and Wei Siwen were also captured.After beheading, their heads were sent to the capital of the gods, and the rebellion in Yang, Run, and Chu states was put down immediately.

[Comment and Analysis]

After Wu Zetian became emperor, the Li family was very unwilling and always resisted from time to time. Among them, Li Jingye used the name of the dead prince Li Xian to attack the Wu family.This war didn't last long before it was settled down by Li Xiaoyi.However, King Luo Bin wrote for Li Jingye "On behalf of Li Jingye to spread the text of the world" has been handed down.This call-to-action essay is serious and upfront. It places Wu Zetian in the dock and lists her crimes, thereby announcing the world and raising troops together, which has played a great role in propaganda and agitation.According to historical records, when Wu Zetian read this article for the first time, he was still laughing freely. When he read the sentence "a piece of land is not dry, but a six-foot solitary is safe", he was surprised to ask who wrote it, and sighed: "There is such a thing." It’s the prime minister’s fault to make him fall into a position of talent!” It can be seen that the provocative power of this article is strong.

Webster's demise
[Original text]

Tang Ruizong Xuanzhen Great Sage Daxing Xiao Emperor Jingyun First Year
Sanqi often attends Ma Qinke with medical skills, and Guanglu Shaoqing Yang Jun is good at cooking. They all go to and from the palace. Fortunately, they are lucky to be empress Wei, and they are afraid of being punished. They conspired with each other and poisoned the cakes. In June, at Renwu, Zhongzong collapsed in the Dragon Palace.

Empress Wei did not mourn, but took charge of the general administration.At the end of Guiwei, all the prime ministers were summoned to enter the ban, and 5 soldiers from various governments were enlisted to garrison the capital. Lang led Gao Song and others.Sui, brother of Wen's clan; Bo, Congzi; Song, his nephew.Wei Yuankui, a member of Zhongshushe, patrolled the six streets.He also ordered 500 generals including Xue Sijian, the general of Zuojianmen and internal servant, to march to Junzhou to prepare for the heavy blessing of King Qiao.Pei Tan, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, Zhang Xi, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, and the third rank of the Zhongshu sect, still serve as Dongdu and stay behind.Zhang Jiafu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Cen Xi, Minister of Zhongshu, and Cui Shi, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, all worked together in Pingzhang.Xi, the son of Changqian.

Princess Taiping and Shangguan Zhaorong made plans to make a legacy, and made Wen Wang Chongmao the crown prince, the queen knew about political affairs, and Xiang Wangdan was advising on political affairs.Zong Chu Kemi called Wei Wen and said: "It is not reasonable for the king to assist the government; and the queen and sister-in-law don't know how to ask, why should I be polite when I listen to the court!" political affairs.Su Gui said: "How can the edict change the evil!" Wen and Chu Ke were angry, and Gui followed it in fear, and took the king of Xiang as the prince and grand teacher.

【Translation】

The first year of Emperor Ruizong Jingyun of Tang Dynasty (710 AD)
Sanqi's regular servant Ma Qinke, with his superb medical skills, and Guanglu Shaoqing Yang Jun, with their superb cooking skills, were allowed to enter and leave the harem at will, and became Empress Wei's male favourite. Zhusha; Princess Anle wanted to let Empress Wei come out to the court to listen to the government, so that she could be the empress dowager herself; so they jointly planned to kill Tang Zhongzong, and put poison in the cakes dedicated to Tang Zhongzong. On the second day of June, Tang Zhongzong He died in the Dragon Palace.

Empress Wei kept the news of Tang Zhongzong's death a secret, and she herself was in charge of the affairs of the court.On the third day of June, Empress Wei summoned all the prime ministers to the palace, and recruited a total of 5 soldiers from various prefectures to station in Chang'an City. Lang Jiang Wei Qi, Chang'an Ling Wei Bo, Lang Jiang Gao Song and others commanded these troops separately.Wei Sui is Wei Wen's younger brother; Wei Bo is Wei Wen's nephew; Gao Song is Wei Wen's nephew.Empress Wei also ordered Wei Yuan, a member of Zhongshushe, to inspect the six streets in the city, and ordered the general of Zuojianmen and servant Xue Sijian to lead [-] troops to Junzhou to guard against Li Chongfu, the governor of Junzhou.Empress Wei appointed Pei Tan, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, and Zhang Xi, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, as the third rank of Tongzhongshu's sect, and let them continue to serve as the east capital.Empress Wei also appointed Zhang Jiafu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Cen Xi, Minister of Zhongshu, and Cui Shi, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, as Tongping Zhangshi.Cen Xi is the nephew of Cen Changqian.Princess Taiping and Shangguan Zhaorong planned to draft Tang Zhongzong's edict, making Wen Wang Li Chongmao the crown prince, Empress Wei presiding over the government, and Xiang Wang Li Dan as a consultant for political affairs.Zong Chuke secretly said to Wei Wen: "It is unreasonable for the king of Xiang to assist the government. Besides, the relationship between the king of Xiang and Queen Wei is uncle and sister-in-law. They should not greet each other. When they deal with the affairs of the court together, the rules of etiquette will How to implement it?" So Zong Chuke led the prime ministers to jointly submit a letter to Shu, requesting Empress Wei to take charge of all the affairs of the court and dismiss the prime minister, Li Dan, from the position of adviser to political affairs.Su Gui asked: "How can the late emperor's edict be changed at will?"

[Original text]

In Jiashen, Zi Palace was moved to Yutaiji Hall, where officials were assembled, funerals were held, the Empress came to reign as regent, pardoned the world, and changed the Yuan Dynasty to Tanglong.The Prime Minister Wang Dan Taiwei, Yong Wang Shouli was the King of Bin, and King Shouchun Chengqi was the King of Song, so they were respected by others.Order Wei Wen to know the matter of guarding soldiers and horses inside and outside.Ding Hai, Emperor Shang came to the throne, at the age of sixteen.Respect the queen as the empress dowager; establish the concubine Lu as the queen.Renchen, Najijie Governor Guannei Road, Cenxi South Road, Zhang Jiafu North Road.Zong Chuke, Taichangqing Wu Yanxiu, Si Nongqing Zhao Luwen, Guozi Jijiu Ye Jingneng and Zhu Wei all persuaded Empress Wei to follow the story of Empress Wu. Gathering parties, connecting China and foreign countries.Chu Ke also secretly wrote a letter saying that he quoted the prophecy, saying that Webster should change Tang Ming.He murdered Emperor Shang, deeply jealous of King Xiang and Princess Taiping, and conspired secretly with Wei Wen and Princess Anle.

Prime Minister Linzi Wang Longji, let go of Luzhou first, and stay in the capital to gather talented and brave men to seek to restore the country.At the beginning, Emperor Taizong selected officials and brave men from Fankou, wearing tiger clothes, straddling leopards, from hunting, shooting animals in front of horses, they were called hundreds of horses; then the weather was slightly increased to thousands of horses, and they belonged to the left and right feather forests; Zhongzong called it Wanqi, and sent envoys to lead them.Longji is thick with its heroes.

Cui Riyong, the servant of the Ministry of War, attached Wei and Wu, and was kind to Zong Chu's guests. He knew the plans of Chu's guests and was afraid of disasters.Longji and Princess Taiping and the princess's son Wei Weiqing Xue Chongyu, the director of the garden Zhong Shaojing from Gan, Wang Chongye from Shangyifeng, Liu Youqiu, the former lieutenant of the court, and Zhechong Ma Sizong of Lirenfu planned to punish him first.Wei Bo and Gao Song beat Wanqi on several lists, wanting to establish their prestige, but Wanqi complained.Guoyi, Ge Fushun, and Chen Xuanli saw Longji sue, and Longji satirized Zhu Wei, and they all enthusiastically asked for their own death.Wanqi Guoyi and Li Xianfu also pre-planned.Or it is said that Longji should be the king of Enlightenment, Longji said: "For this reason, I, Cao, want to favor the country, and all success and blessings will be attributed to the king. I can't die with my body, and I don't want to tire the king. If you see and obey today, the king will be in danger; If you don't follow, you will lose the plan." Then he refused.

【Translation】

On the fourth day of June, Empress Wei moved Tang Zhongzong's coffin to the Taiji Hall, summoned civil and military officials to mourn Zhongzong, and announced that she would be the regent herself, amnesty the world, and changed the reign name to Tang Long.Empress Wei also promoted Prime Minister Li Dan to Taiwei, changed Yong Wang Li Shouli to Bin King, and changed Shouchun King Li Chengqi to Song King, so as to comply with people's wishes.In addition, Empress Wei also appointed Wei Wen to be in charge of the affairs of guarding soldiers and horses inside and outside the court.

On the seventh day of June, Emperor Shang of Tang came to the throne, and Emperor Shang was only 16 years old at the time.Emperor Shang of Tang respectfully called Empress Wei Empress Dowager, and conferred the title of Concubine Lu Empress.On June [-], Empress Wei ordered Ji Chuna to inspect Anfu Guannei Road, Cen Xi to inspect Anfu Henan Road, and Zhang Jiafu to inspect Anfu Hebei Road with Fujie.Zong Chuke, Taichangqing Wu Tingxiu, Si Nongqing Zhao Luwen, Guozi Jijiu Ye Jingneng and many relatives of the Wei family persuaded Empress Wei to follow the precedent of Wu Zetian proclaiming emperor.At that time, the Northern and Southern Imperial Guards of the imperial court and the important divisions of the Shangshu Province were all under the single-handed control of Wei's children. They gathered extensive party members and colluded with each other inside and outside the imperial court.Zong Chuke secretly visited Empress Wei again, citing prophecies to persuade Empress Wei to replace Datang as emperor.Zong Chuke wanted to murder Emperor Tang Shang again, but he was deeply afraid that Prime Minister Li Dan and Princess Taiping would not agree, so he secretly conspired with Wei Wen and Princess Anle to get rid of them.

Prince Xiang's son, King Li Longji of Linzi, was previously dismissed from his official position in Luzhou Biejia. At this time, he was secretly gathering those brave and virtuous talents in the capital to try to revive the Tang Dynasty.At first, Tang Taizong selected brave and good fighters from the official households and the Tibetans, and asked them to wear clothes painted with tiger skin patterns, use saddles with leopard skin patterns, and go out hunting with Emperor Taizong. For Baiqi.When Wu Zetian was in power, these people gradually increased to Qianqi, who were under the command of the Left and Right Habayashi Army.During Tang Zhongzong's reign, he called this army Wanqi, and set up special officials to manage it.Li Longji became close friends with every hero in Wanqi.

Cui Riyong, the minister of the Ministry of War, has always been attached to Webster and Wu's group, and has a very good relationship with Zong Chuke.After he learned of Zong Chuke's conspiracy, he was afraid that it would harm him, so he immediately sent Purun, a monk from Baochang Temple, to secretly report to Li Longji, and advised Li Longji to raise troops quickly.Li Longji conspired with Princess Taiping and her son Wei Weiqing Xue Chongyu, the director of Xijingyuan Zhong Shaojing from Ganxian County, Shangyi Fengyu Wang Chongye, the former Yiwei Liu Youqiu, Lirenfu Zhechong Ma Sizong and others conspired to preemptively kill the Webster gang .Wei Bo and Gao Song whipped the Wanqi soldiers many times in an attempt to establish their own prestige, but in the end they aroused the great resentment of the Wan cavalry soldiers towards them.After Guo Yi, Ge Fushun and Chen Xuanli saw Li Longji, they told him the dissatisfaction of their Wanqi soldiers, and Li Longji hinted that they should kill Webster's gang.After hearing this, the two cheered for joy, expressing their willingness to die in return.Wanqi Guoyi and Li Xianfu also participated in the planning of this matter.Someone said to Li Longji that his father, Xiangwang Li Dan, should know about this matter. Li Longji replied: "This move is for the sake of the country of the Tang Dynasty. The blessing after the success of the matter belongs to the Xiangwang. Once it fails, we will It is better not to implicate the king. If you tell him that he allows us to do this, then even he is involved in the planning of this dangerous thing; if he does not agree, it will ruin our event. "So Li Longji did not tell his father about this plan.

[Original text]

Gengzi, in the afternoon, Longji Weifu and Youqiu entered the garden, and met with Shaojing's house; Shaojing regretted and wanted to refuse, his wife Xu said: "Forget yourself and serve the country, the gods will help him. And the accomplice has always been determined." Even if it doesn’t work now, it’s a no-brainer!” Shao Jing went out to pay his respects, and Longji held his hand and sat down.At that time, all the Yulin soldiers were stationed at the Xuanwu Gate, and at night, Ge Fushun and Li Xianfu all went to Longji's office, asking for a number to go.Xiang Ergu, the stars scattered like snow, Liu Youqiu said: "It is God's will, time must not be lost!" Fushun drew his sword and went straight into the Yulin camp, beheading Wei Yun, Wei Bo, and Gao Song, saying: "Empress Wei killed the first emperor with poison. , To endanger the country, tonight we will punish all Wei, all above the whip; establish a prime minister to make the world safe. Those who dare to help the rebels with both ends of their hearts will be guilty of the three clans." The scholars of the feather forest all readily obeyed their orders.Nai sent Sui and others to Longji, and Longji took fire to look at it, so he and Youqiu and others went out of the south gate of the garden. Shaojing Shuai Ding craftsmen, more than two hundred men, held axes and saws to follow.Fushun sent Zuo Wanqi to attack Xuande Gate, and Xianfu sent You Wanqi to attack Baishou Gate. They made a date in front of Lingyan Pavilion, that is, Da Noise, Fushun and others killed the gatekeeper and entered.Longji led troops outside the Xuanwu Gate, three drums, heard the noise, the commander-in-chief and Yulin soldiers entered, and all the guards who stayed in the Taiji Hall and stayed in the Weizi Palace heard the noise, and they were all answered by armor.Empress Wei walked into the flying cavalry camp in panic, and some flying cavalry beheaded her and offered it to Longji.Princess Anle Fang looked in the mirror and thrushed her eyebrows, and the sergeant chopped it off.Kill Wu Yanxiu outside the gate of Suzhang, and kill the internal general He Lou's family in the west of Taiji Hall.

【Translation】

On June 200th, at dusk, Li Longji entered the Forbidden Garden with Liu Youqiu and others in casual clothes, and met Zhong Shaojing's residence. His wife, Mrs. Xu, said to him: "God will definitely help such a person who sacrifices his life for the country and the country. Besides, you have been involved in planning this matter all along. Even if you don't participate now, you will still be involved in it!" Zhong Shaojing heard. After Xu's words, he hurried out to greet Li Longji and others, and Li Longji sat down together holding his hand.At this time, the soldiers of the Yulin Army gathered at the Xuanwu Gate.After dark, Ge Fushun and Li Xianfu went to Li Longji's residence one after another and asked for a signal to act.When it was almost the second watch, meteors in the sky were scattered like snowflakes. Liu Youqiu said: "It is God's will, this opportunity must not be missed!" Ge Fushun immediately drew out his sharp sword and rushed straight to the Yulin Army barracks. The three of Song beheaded, and shouted loudly: "Empress Wei poisoned the first emperor and conspired to endanger the country. Now everyone is working together to kill Wei's gang. Anyone who is higher than the whip will be executed; The king is the son of heaven, so that the world can be stable from now on. If anyone dares to have two minds, plot wrongdoing, and help the tyrant to abuse, immediately kill the three clans!" Therefore, all the soldiers of the Habayashi Army obeyed their orders happily.Therefore, Ge Fushun showed the heads of Wei Ying and others to Li Longji. After Li Longji asked someone to fetch a torch to see, he walked out of the south gate of the Forbidden Garden with Liu Youqiu and others. Zhong Shaojing led more than [-] craftsmen, holding axes and saws tightly. follow.Li Longji asked Ge Fushun to lead Zuo Wanqi to attack Xuande Gate, and sent Li Xianfu to lead You Wanqi to attack White Beast Gate. They agreed to meet in front of Lingyan Pavilion and immediately made a loud noise.Ge Fushun and others killed the gatekeepers separately, and passed through the pass to enter the palace.Li Longji led the troops to guard outside the Xuanwu Gate. When it was three o'clock, he heard the sound of drums in the palace, and led the director and Yulin soldiers into the palace.The Nanya guards guarding the coffin in the Tai Chi Hall heard the noise of the drums, and they all put on their horses to respond to Li Longji.After hearing the noise of drumming, Queen Wei knew that something had happened outside, so she hurriedly fled into the flying cavalry camp. A flying cavalry took the opportunity to kill Queen Wei, and cut off her head to offer to Li Longji.Princess Anle was thrushing her eyebrows in the mirror at that time, and was beheaded by the soldiers who came.In addition, Wu Yanxiu was also beheaded outside the Suzhang Gate, and the internal general He Lou was also beheaded to the west of the Taiji Hall.

[Comment and Analysis]

Li Xian, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang Dynasty, was a mediocre person with no political sense. He put all the power in the hands of Queen Webster and let her dictate.Her daughter, Princess Anle, wanted to be the second empress, but she didn't have Wu Zetian's means and knowledge.The mother and daughter conspired to poison Tang Zhongzong Li Xian.This is really a terrible court tragedy. The husband and wife turned against each other, and the daughter killed her father, all for the throne of the emperor.But they never expected that "the mantis catches the cicada, and the oriole follows", Li Longji led troops into the palace, killed both mother and daughter Wei, and seized the throne.

(End of this chapter)