In the first year of divine providence (69), Wu Zetian became emperor, changed her name to Zhou, made Luoyang her capital, and established Wu Zhou. Before and after the reign of Wu Zetian, the imperial clan of the Tang Dynasty was wantonly killed, and "cruel official politics" arose.
However, she is "observant and good at judging", has more power and can use people, which makes talented people come forth in large numbers. It also rewards agriculture and mulberry, reforms official management, and attaches importance to selecting talents. In his later years, he gradually became extravagant and arbitrary, and gradually became corrupt.
in the first month of the first year of Shenlong (75), Wu Zetian was seriously ill and bedridden, with only Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong as attendants. Prime ministers Zhang Jianzhi and Cui Xuan _ and ministers Jinghui, Huan Yanfan, Yuan Shuji, etc. made friends with the imperial army and commanded Li Duozuo, pretending to be two rebels.
So he launched a mutiny, led more than 5 imperial troops, rushed into the palace, killed two Zhang, and immediately surrounded Wu Zetian's bedroom, demanding that Wu Zetian abdicate. Wu Zetian was forced to abdicate the throne and Prince Li Xian, and then moved to Shangyang Palace (east of Luoyang Forbidden Garden). Li Xianshang Wu Zetian was honored as "the Emperor of Heaven", and the Wu Zhou Dynasty ended.
in February, the Tang dynasty was restored, and the officials, flags, costumes and characters were all restored to the old system, and the gods were called the eastern capital again.
Extended information:
Wu Zetian inherited the policy of rectifying official management and severely punishing corruption during the Zhenguan period, "tried to discuss with the prime minister the secretariat of history and county decrees", and sent "envoys to inspect prefectures and counties with six articles" to assess whether the officials of prefectures and counties were honest and competent.
All officials who take bribes and bend the law, regardless of their positions, are hell to pay. On the contrary, for talented people, they are unconventional. Wu Zetian attaches great importance to officials who are honest and upright, appreciates talented and knowledgeable people and can reuse them one by one.
Because Wu Zetian can pay attention to rectifying the official management, reward and punish strictly, reward them when they are rewarded, punish them when they are punished, observe and judge well, and know others wisely, she can promote talents from a wide range of talents for her own use.
As Zi Zhi Tong Jian commented, "Although the Empress Dowager abused her position to win the hearts of the people all over the world, those who are incompetent will be punished or punished. With the handle of punishment and reward to control the world, politics comes from oneself, and it is clear-sighted and good-judged, so the heroes also competed for it at that time. "
talk openly and pay attention to coachable
Wu Zetian has a deep understanding of the importance of coachable, and in the twelve suggestions, "talking openly" and "Du Wei's mouth" also occupy an important position. In March (686), he also set up a bronze plaque in the court to encourage his ministers to write and talk about things.
although Wu Zetian has strict decrees and severe penalties, "when she forbeares, although she loves her very much, she hides a lot". However, she has great respect for the subjects who dare to speak out and try to adopt their suggestions. Even if the words are offensive, she can be tolerant and exempt from investigation.
during her reign, few people were convicted of speaking out, so speaking out and daring to speak out became a common practice in the DPRK, which made the situation better, which played a great role in reforming malpractice and promoting political clarity.
Wu Zetian's achievements
1. The political clarity
This is mainly manifested in Wu Zetian's advocacy of science. Be able to use people differently. During her reign, she further developed the scientific system, founded palace examination and Wu Ju, and ordered people with more than nine grades to bootstrap for a hundred years. Wu Zetian passed the imperial examination.
bootstrapping and others' recommendation. A number of outstanding talents have been selected. Become the mainstay of the Wu Zhou regime. Such as Di Renjie, Yao Chong and Song _, and later became sages in the Kaiyuan period.
Lu, the prime minister in the mid-Tang Dynasty, praised Wu Zetian for being good at employing people, with clear rewards and punishments. Sima Guang, a historian in the Northern Song Dynasty, also believed that Wu Zetian's administration was his own. Seeing clearly and judging well. Therefore, it is debatable to think that Wu Zetian used cruel officials, consorts and Toy Boy, and her politics was in darkness.
2, the economy has developed
Wu Zetian attaches importance to agricultural production, and believes that the foundation of the founding of the People's Republic of China must lie in agriculture. "If there are enough people in the family, the country will be safe." Order people to write agricultural books <; Zhaoren's career > Promulgate the world.
she continued to carry out the system of land equalization, and carried out military reclamation and farming in remote areas, with remarkable results. Attach importance to and advocate the construction of water conservancy. In the twenty-one years of monopoly of political power, there were 19 local water conservancy projects. It also takes the quality of farmland in China as the standard of rewarding and punishing landlords and officials. These measures of Wu Zetian. Promoted the development of agricultural production.
firstly, the national warehouse is full of grain.
secondly, local grain storage is also very rich.
thirdly, the registered permanent residence has increased significantly.
the handicraft industry in the era of Wu Zetian was also developing. Mainly in the mining industry. The development of foundry and textile industry, agriculture and handicraft industry. It also promoted the prosperity of business. Mainly manifested in the increase of the city or the development of urban trade. Also developed accordingly (see my book <; Social economy during the reign of Wu Zetian >: Income <; Wu Zetian and Luoyang >: Sanqin Press, 1988.
3. The national strength is very strong
China has been a unified and multi-ethnic country since the Qin and Han Dynasties. Unity is the mainstream of history. The same aspirations of all ethnic groups. Therefore, to measure and evaluate the quality, merits and demerits of any emperor depends on how he handles the relations among all ethnic groups and whether he can safeguard the territory and sovereignty of the country.
The era when Wu Zetian was in power inherited the policy of national appeasement of Emperor Taizong and the strategy of "appease if you fall, and beg if you rebel". Disturbance and rebellion against Tubo, Qidan, Tuzha and other nobles. Take loyal opposition. A punitive attitude. It was a great success.
mainly in the first year of longevity (692). Wu Zetian approved the request of Tang Xiu, the governor of Xizhou, to recapture the four towns in Anxi, and recognized the hero. Among many generals, he promoted Wang Xiaojie as the commander of the whole army, the general manager of Wuwei Army, and led the army to defeat Tubo. Recover the four towns of Anxi in one fell swoop "(Qiuci. Khotan. Diligence. Broken leaves). Set Anxi as the capital of Qiuci. Send troops to guard. Strengthened the rule of the western regions.
in December of the second year of Chang' an (72), Wu Zetian set up the Northern Court Daduhufu in Tingzhou (the old city is now Jimsar County, Xinjiang), and they respectively administered the northern and southern roads of Tianshan Mountain with Anxi Daduhu, which safeguarded national sovereignty and territorial integrity and promoted economic and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. And enhanced friendship with the people of Central Asia.
4. The culture has developed
When Wu Zetian was in power, she edited literature and history, glorified literature and history, and attached importance to the construction of ancient buildings. The famous ones are Chang 'an Wild Goose Pagoda, Songshan Shaolin Temple, Luoyang Longmen Grottoes and Ganling, which are compatible with the three religions. To make it develop, Wu Zetian herself abides by Confucianism, loves Taoism and believes in Buddhism. She sent people to turn the essence of the three religions into a book <; The three religions and the British > . Develop the imperial examination, improve the cultural quality of the bureaucratic team, open palace examination, and increase the number of times and the difficulty of routine examinations.
Wu Zetian's story:
1. In order to consolidate her rule, Wu Zetian reused all kinds of talents. At first, she advocated informers, hired cruel officials such as Suo Yuanli and Zhou Xinglai, and killed many innocent people, causing public indignation.
Wu Zetian, in turn, killed the cruel officials to avenge the anger of the people. In fact, the cruel officials all follow her orders. On the surface, this is a political trick. It's not commendable, but it must be admitted that most of the people killed at that time were Li Tang's royal family and the founding fathers of the old dynasty, which objectively weakened the decadent gentry.
In order to maintain her power and position, Wu Zetian was cruel. She did not hesitate to kill a generation of loyal minister Changsun Wuji, killed her eldest son Li Hong with poisoned wine, and demoted the famous calligrapher Chu Suiliang, her second son Li Xian, her third son Li Xian and her fourth son Li Dan.
She came to the aid of the important officials in the DPRK who dared to disobey her, such as Han Yuan and Liu Bi. All hell to pay, for the queen. Sisters like Xiao Shufei. First, they were falsely accused of many crimes, and then they were subjected to inhuman torture. Finally put it to death. Even their daughters are spared. Therefore, there is a certain basis for saying that Wu Zetian is a tyrant. ?
2. The most disparaging thing about her in history is that she once owned several Toy Boy. This has become a scandal that she will never forget, and it has become a topic of discussion for literati. So that the outstanding political achievements she created were also submerged. Wu Zetian's favorite people are mainly Xue Huaiyi, Shen Nan, Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong.
Generally speaking, Wu Zetian is not only an outstanding female politician. But also an outstanding female military strategist. Zheng Qi opens Yuan Zhi Hong Zhen Guan.
She developed the rule of Zhenguan in all aspects, and laid the foundation for the prosperity of Kaiyuan.
Wu Zetian also had a dark side in politics and financial difficulties in economy, etc., but compared with her historical achievements, these are secondary after all. It should also be pointed out that the economy developed and the national strength was very strong at that time. It is not Wu Zetian's personal credit.
due to the election of the equal land system and the rise of the imperial examination system. The hereditary aristocratic forces declined rapidly. Small and medium-sized landlords have risen sharply. A large number of bachelor of arts towering into politics. This historical trend pushed Wu Zetian to the throne of the queen. Wu Zetian complied with the historical era and promoted the development of China's history.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Wu Zetian