Anecdote of the Fifth Queen Mother

Chapter 21 Empress Wu (9)
After Wu Zetian entered old age, on the one hand, she indulged in sensuality, and on the other hand, like all other emperors, she pursued immortality.In the first year of Yanzai (AD 694), an old nun in Linzhi Temple in Luoyang, who claimed to be the Buddha of Jingguang, colluded with Wei Shifang of Mount Hao and another monk from the Western Regions who claimed to have lived for more than 500 years. Confused.Wu Zetian believed in them very much, gave Wei Shifang the surname Wu, and named Wei Shifang a senior official who was admonishing the doctor and working with Ping Zhangshi, and sent him to Lingnan to collect medicine to make longevity medicine.Soon, the old nun's wanton adultery was exposed. Wu Zetian realized that he had been fooled and arrested them. Wei Shifang committed suicide and died.

Wu Zetian did not give up on the fact that the elixir of longevity hadn't been prepared yet.In the first year of Jiushi (AD 700), "The Empress Dowager (Wu Zetian) ordered Hu Chao, a monk from Hongzhou, to combine the longevity medicine, which was made in three years and cost a huge amount of money" (Volume [-] of "Zi Zhi Tong Jian").Although the elixir was taken, it didn't work. Wu Zetian felt weaker and weaker day by day. She had to think about her successor.

It was a custom in feudal society for fathers to die and sons to succeed, but Wu Zetian, as a female emperor, complicated this issue.Wu Zetian hesitated for a long time whether it was the descendants of the Wu family or the Li family.At that time, Ruizong Li Dan was still the heir of the emperor in name, but in fact he had been under house arrest for a long time.Seeing this scene, Wu Chengsi, Wu Sansi and others were all coveting the position of crown prince.Wu Chengsi also ordered Zhang Jiafu, a member of Fenggeshe, to ask Luoyang native Wang Qingzhi to lead hundreds of people to the table, asking Wu Chengsi to be the crown prince.Wu Zetian did not agree, she had her own considerations.If the throne is passed on to a son surnamed Li, wouldn't Wu Zhou's foundation be ruined; and if Wu's nephew takes over, where will his descendants be placed?

Most of the courtiers firmly advocated that Li Xian, who had been deposed as King of Luling, should be crown prince.In the second year of Tianshou (AD 691), when Wang Qingshang invited Wu Chengsi to be the crown prince, Li Zhaode, the servant of Fengge, once "said to the queen mother: "The emperor is the husband of your majesty; the heir of the emperor is the son of your majesty. Your majesty has In the world, the sons and grandchildren who should be handed down are the inheritance of all generations, how can you let the nephew be the heir! Since ancient times, it has never been heard that the nephew is the son of the emperor and the one who established the temple! And your majesty is entrusted by the emperor. If the world and the heir are inherited, the emperor will not eat blood Do.'" (Volume [-] of "Zi Zhi Tong Jian").Wu Zetian adopted Li Zhaode's opinion, and Li Zhaode killed Wang Qingzhi.

In the first year of the holy calendar (AD 698), Wu Chengsi and Wu Sansi used the reason that the emperor did not use people with different surnames as the heirs of the emperor since ancient times, and asked to be the heirs of the emperor.Ji Xu, the servant of the Tianguan, strongly opposed it. He also persuaded Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi to suggest to Wu Zetian that Li Xian or Li Dan be the heir.But it was Di Renjie, a famous minister, who really made Wu Zetian determined to welcome Luling King Li Xian as the prince.

One day, Wu Zetian dreamed that a parrot had broken its wings at night, which frightened her awake, so she asked Di Renjie to inquire.Di Renjie said: "Your majesty's surname is the rotten bird; if two wings are broken, your majesty's second son is Luling and Xiangwang. Your majesty's two sons have both wings." moved the very superstitious queen.In March of the first year of the holy calendar (AD 698), Wu Zetian issued an order to welcome back the King of Luling.In August, Wu Chengsi died in dismay because he failed to be crowned prince.In September, Li Xian, king of Luling, was re-established as crown prince.

The reason why Wu Zetian decided to establish Luling King as his heir was not only because of the advice of everyone, but also for objective reasons.The main reason was that the hearts of the people at that time had not yet returned to Wu Zhou, but still turned to Li Tang.For example, when the rebellious Khitan leader Sun Wanrong besieged Youzhou, he put forward the slogan: "Why don't you return to me, the king of Luling?" As a concubine, she silently said: "I want to marry the Li family as a daughter, and I will use the Wu family's son to be evil! Is this the son of the emperor! I have been favored by the Li family in the Turkic world. I heard that the Li family was wiped out, but the two sons are here. I ordered the soldiers Support them." (Volume 5 of "Zi Zhi Tong Jian") When the Turks captured Zhao, Ding and other prefectures, Wu Zetian ordered Jixu to inspect the governor of the prefecture and recruit troops to retreat from the enemy, but very few people responded.Later, I heard that the crown prince Li Xian was ordered to be the marshal, and the applicants came in droves. In just a few days, [-] to [-] people were recruited, which shows the appeal of the Li Tang royal family.

Wu Zetian made Luling King the crown prince, but she was not at ease. "The queen mother (Wu Zetian) is high in age, and she is worried that the prince after her death will not be compatible with other martial arts. Renyin ordered the crown prince, Xiang Wang, Princess Taiping and Wu Youji as oaths, Tell heaven and earth in the Ming Hall, and the inscribed iron coupons are hidden in the Museum of History" (Volume [-] of "Zi Zhi Tong Jian").This attempt to make the Li and Wu clans coexist peacefully behind her is just Wu Zetian's wishful thinking.How can a small iron coupon resolve this sworn hatred?Before Wu Zetian died, a coup against Wu Zetian broke out.

The leader of the coup, Zhang Jianzhi, was recommended by Prime Ministers Di Renjie and Yao Yuanchong.In the first year of Jiushi (700 A.D.), Wu Zetian asked Di Renjie to recommend a virtuous person. Di Renjie said that Zhang Jianzhi, the governor of Jingzhou, was a prime minister, but Wu Zetian only used him as Sima of Luozhou;In the fourth year of Chang'an (704 A.D.), Wu Zetian ordered Yao Yuanchong, the prime minister, to be the pacification ambassador of Lingwu Dao. Your Majesty needs it urgently." ("Old Tang Book·The Biography of Zhang and Cambodia") Wu Zetian summoned him immediately after hearing this, and soon used him as a chancellor.Zhang Jianzhi was already in his 80s when he paid homage to the prime minister.

At this time, Wu Zetian was seriously ill and was living in Yingxian Palace to recuperate. There were only two servants around her, and even the prime minister could not see her for several months.Er Zhang knew that the courtiers hated him deeply, so he was secretly preparing for the emergency.After Zhang Jianzhi became prime minister, he accelerated the pace of the coup d'état. His first step was to control the imperial guards guarding the palace.He first found Li Duozuo, the general of the Jitian tribe, the general of Youyu Linwei.Li Duozuo has been in charge of the Forbidden Army for more than 20 years and guarded the Xuanwu Gate. He is a key figure.Zhang Jianzhi used Gaozong's old kindness to influence him and persuaded him to support Gaozong's son as emperor. Li Duozuo swore to the sky and was willing to do his best.Then, Zhang Jianzhi recommended fellow party members Yang Yuanyan, Yan Yanfan, and Jinghui as the generals of Zuo Yulin, Li Zhan of Zuo Yulin, and Xue Sixing of Zuo Weiwei, and basically took command of the imperial army.At the same time, in order to deceive others and dispel the other party's doubts, he also specially recommended Wu Youyi, who is attached to the second Zhang of the party, as General You Yulin.

After the military power was in hand, Zhang Jianzhi formally formed a coup d'état group with Fengge servant Cui Xuanwei, Zhongtai Youcheng Jinghui, Si Xing Shaoqing Huan Yanfan, and Prime Minister Sima Yuan Shuji, and the behind-the-scenes supporter of this group was Yao Yuanchong. .They sent Yan Yanfan and Jing Hui to meet the prince Li Xian secretly, and obtained the approval of the prince. The prince's younger brother Li Dan and Princess Taiping also expressed their firm support. The time for the coup was ripe.

On the 705nd day of the first month of the first year of Shenlong (22 A.D.), Zhang and Cambodia's soldiers divided into two groups and entered the Luoyang Palace.He himself, Cui Xuanwei, Yan Yanfan, Xue Sixing and others led the Yulin soldiers and more than 23 thousand riders to occupy the Xuanwu Gate first, guarding the key point.At the same time, he sent Li Duozuo, Li Zhan and his son-in-law Duwei Wang Tongjiao to the East Palace to welcome the prince.Prince Li Xian was timid, but now he was hesitant and refused to leave.Wang Tongjiao said excitedly: "The first emperor paid His Royal Highness with a divine weapon, and he was ruined. Humans and gods were angry together. It has been [-] years. Today, to lure his heart, the North Gate and the South Ya will work together to punish the evil and restore the Li family. May your Highness come to Xuanwu Gate temporarily to serve the public's expectations." (Volume [-] of "Zizhi Tongjian") The prince still hesitated and hesitated, and Li Zhan said angrily that the general risked the danger of exterminating the family in order to revive the Tang Dynasty Room, is the prince going to send everyone into the frying pan?So Wang Tongjiao couldn't help but put the prince on the horse and rushed to Xuanwu gate.

After the two groups of people joined forces, they immediately rushed into the inner palace. Zhang Jianzhi beheaded Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi in the outer corridor of Jixian Hall.When they rushed into Wu Zetian's recuperating and welcoming fairy palace, Wu Zetian was taken aback. She sat up from the sick bed and asked, "Why are you making trouble?" The answer was to punish Er Zhang.Wu Zetian said again: "Now Erzhang is dead, you should go out of the palace!" Yan Yanfan said: "The prince will return home in peace! In the past, the emperor entrusted His Majesty with his beloved son. This year's teeth have grown, and he has lived in the East Palace for a long time. God's will, I have thought about the Li family for a long time. The officials did not forget the virtues of Taizong and the Emperor, so they enshrined the crown prince and punished the villains. May your majesty pass on the crown prince to obey the wishes of heaven and man!" Wu Zetian did not understand until this time that the officials wanted to step down by themselves.She stared fiercely at Li Zhan, who took part in the coup, and said, "You are also the evil general who punished Yi! I am not inferior to your father and son, but today!" (Volume [-] of "Zi Zhi Tong Jian") Li Zhan is The son of Li Yifu, his father was a powerful general who supported Wu Zetian, and he was kind to Wu Zetian, but his son was the main participant in the coup that overthrew Wu Zetian. This is really a historical irony.

On the day of the coup, Zhang Changqi, Zhang Tongxiu, and Zhang Changyi were about to be beheaded and displayed in the south of Tianjin Bridge.On the second day of the coup, an amnesty was announced, and Prince Li Xian supervised the country.On the third day, Wu Zetian was forced to pass to Li Xian.On the fourth day, Li Xian officially ascended the throne. This is Tang Zhongzong.On the second day of February, Tang Zhongzong restored the country to Tang, changed the capital of the gods to Dongdu, and changed the northern capital to Bingzhou. According to the system before the first year of Yongchun (682 A.D., the reign name of Tang Gaozong), the ancestral temple, banners, official titles and Clothes color etc. change back.Five people, including Zhang Jianzhi, were named kings. This coup that overthrew Wu Zetian was known as the "Five Kings' Change" in history.

The Shenlong Revolution succeeded, and the short-lived Great Zhou Dynasty fell. Wu Zetian, who founded it with his own hands, saw its demise with his own eyes. It is conceivable how he felt.The woman who fell from the emperor's throne could no longer bear the desolation and neglect, her journey was over.On November 705, the first year of the Tang Dynasty Shenlong (26 AD), the only female emperor in Chinese history died of illness in the Xianju Hall of Shangyang Palace in Luoyang at the age of 82.In May of the second year of Shenlong (706 A.D.), Emperor Zhongzong of Tang resisted all opinions and buried Wu Zetian and Gaozong together in Qianling. Her identity was no longer the emperor of Wu Zhou but the queen of Li.

She came and she went again.She succeeded, and she failed again.A generation of empresses has passed away, but the crisis behind her has not been eliminated. Tang Zhongzong's wife Wei Hou and Princess Taiping both wanted to follow Wu Zetian's footsteps. Wu Sansi and others were also eager to try. Wu Zetian's "legacy"!

[-]. Grass rustling at sunset
One day in the early years of Zhenguan (627 A.D.), the setting sun was like fire on the banks of the Jialing River, and a group of people galloped along the rugged ancient Shu road.They dismounted in front of the governor's office in Lizhou, and the new governor, warrior Xun, greeted them at the door.The leader was a man of great character, and he was Yuan Tiangang, a famous Xiangshi in Yizhou who rushed to the capital under the order of the emperor.

Samurai Sui entertained Yuan Tiangang and others graciously, and sincerely asked Yuan Tiangang to look after his family.Yuan Tiangang said that his wife Yang's bones were extraordinary, and she would have a son; he also said that his sons Yuan Qing and Yuan Shuang could both become governors, and his eldest daughter (later Mrs. He Lan) could also be his wife, but it was rare to die well.When the nurse brought the second lady (Wu Zetian) in men's clothes to Yuan Tiangang, he was shocked.Yuan Tiangang asked the young Wu Zetian to walk a few steps on the ground. He looked back and forth, "He said: 'The dragon's eyes and wind neck are extremely precious.' Turning to look at it, 'If it is a woman, it should be the emperor'" ("Da Tang Xin Yu· Notes ").

Later, Yuan Tiangang's prophecy turned out to be completely fulfilled, as if he was a god who came down to earth and was able to predict the future.In fact, the more effective this prophecy is, the more it shows that it is a lie fabricated later.It is not difficult for a discerning person to see that this kind of thing is non-existent, and it is obviously attached to people with good things. However, in the old feudal China, this kind of myth was used to promote Wu Zetian as the "true dragon emperor", saying that her rise to power was caused by "destiny". return.In fact, the reason why Wu Zetian was able to become the only queen in China was just an accident of history. It was an accidental opportunity that made this young woman step into the palace of male emperors; Due to the lack of such opportunities, the average person cannot follow in the footsteps of Wu's family, which also explains the accidental nature of Wu Zetian's proclaiming emperor from another aspect.

The chance of Wu Zetian becoming emperor is closely related to Tang Taizong.It was Tang Taizong who called the 14-year-old Wu Zetian into the palace because he heard that Wu Zetian was beautiful, and created a chance for her to enter the palace.In order to prevent his sons from killing each other, Emperor Taizong finally abolished his eldest son Chengqian as the crown prince in order to prevent his sons from killing each other. ", the third son of "Yingguo" Wu Wangke ("New Book of Tang Yulin Wangke Biography"), against his will, chose the ninth son of Jin Wang Li Zhi who lacks decisive style, cowardly personality, and quite different from himself. .The chance of Li Zhizhi becoming the prince is obvious, and it was Li Zhi who later became Tang Gaozong who paved the way for Wu Zetian to become emperor.

(End of this chapter)