Wu Zetian is seventy and eighty, why is he looking for the first face to enter the palace to serve? The reason behind this is simple and straightforward
Wu Zetian came from humble beginnings, but rose to prominence at the Tang court and eventually ascended the throne as the first and only empress in Chinese history. Her legendary life is still remembered today.
1. Wu Zetian's bitter cold life.
In 624 AD, Wu Zetian was born into a family of declining eunuchs. His father, Wu Zetian, supported Tang Gaozu Li Yuan in his rebellion, and became the Duke of Ying after the establishment of the Tang Dynasty. However, he died soon after, leaving only one clan in the Wu family, and Wu Zetian and his mother lived in dire straits.
I remember when I was a child, Zetian and his mother often came to our village to ask for food, and they were as thin as two kittens"。An old man in the village recalled"They wouldn't have survived without the food we gave them. Wu Zetian and his mother went to live in a foreign country, and they could no longer see the glory of the Wu family, how could he not be sad in his heart. But he was born different from ordinary people, he never easily showed his true emotions, and he always maintained a calm and calm smile on his face, so that people could not see the ups and downs of his heart.
According to the regulations at that time, Concubine Wu Zetian could not inherit the family name. She can only temporarily live in the capital and rely on her mother's relationship to survive. However, the good times did not last long, at the age of 14, Wu Zetian's mother and daughter were expelled from the house for various reasons, and if it were not for the help of relatives, she would probably have become a street beggar.
These changes made Wu Zetian, who was still a girl, soft on the outside and rigid on the inside. In order to survive, she has to learn various life skills, always pay attention to her words and deeds, and carefully face this complex society. She realizes how cruel and unforgiving the world can be for a helpless woman. To survive in this maelstrom, she must be strong.
ii.Court career: From lonely genius to ruler.
When Wu Zetian was 16 years old, he had a rough life and was selected as a prostitute by Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, and was named because of his outstanding talent"Wu Mei"。
Although she successfully entered the palace, Wu Meiniang's life was not satisfactory. She was just one of many concubines with a humble status. She is almost not valued in the palace, and her life is uneventful. When she learned that she had been elected to the palace, she was extremely excited and excited. She thought she could finally get rid of the past and live a decent and happy life. But she soon realizes that the struggle in the palace is just as fierce and ruthless. She must be vigilant and carefully consider her every step.
According to the palace maid eunuch, Wu Mei has a simple personality, does not compete with other concubines for favor, and usually likes to read books in her spare time to improve herself, giving people a feeling of purity and decadence. This is very different from the atmosphere in the palace.
Don't look at Zetian's later power, there is no main god in the palace, she doesn't like to dress up, she doesn't like to chat, and she doesn't like to participate in the emperor's banquet. If it weren't for her beauty, she would have been sent out of the palace a long time ago"。The old eunuch said. In fact, Wu Meiniang just deliberately created a different image, she knew that she could only spend her old age quietly in this messy palace.
After the death of Tang Taizong, Wu Meiniang's fate took a turn. According to the rules, she was supposed to shave her hair like other concubines, but with the consent of the new emperor Li Zhi, she re-entered the palace as a talented person and was reused. At the same time, Wu Mei could not hide the joy in her heart, because she felt that she was approaching the center of power. Under Li Zhi's trust, Wu Mei gradually gained power, first helping Li Zhi eradicate the gate valve forces represented by the eldest grandson Wuji, and then successfully eradicating the forces of Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu. At this point, Wu Zetian sat firmly on the throne of power.
3. Empress: Wu Zetian's secret of fighting for the throne and head.
In 683, Li Zhi died, and Wu Zetian became the de facto ruler. To consolidate her power, she deposed two emperors in succession, ascending the throne in 690, becoming the first female emperor in Chinese history.
During his reign of nearly 30 years, Wu Zetian adopted a series of reform measures, selecting and appointing talents, cleaning up the bureaucracy, maintaining stability on the frontier, and restoring the Tang Dynasty's short-lived glory. She was admired by many ministers and the people of the time. As empress, Wu Zetian took many wise steps to win the support of his subjects. She actively investigates the people's feelings, severely punishes the most corrupt officials, and reuses virtuous ministers. Under her rule, the Tang Dynasty was socially stable, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment.
I have visited His Majesty, and although he is old, he still has the aura of a maiden, and he is very erudite and erudite, beyond the reach of any mortal"。An old friend told me. In everyone's eyes, Wu Zetian not only governs the country well, but also has an extraordinary personal bearing, not only indifferent to Hongchen, but also resolute and resolute. This kind of political talent, as long as he is in power for a long time, can participate in the chaos of the world.
However, in the last period of Wu Zetian's reign, he did something that surprised future generations. He is over sixty years old, and he still selects young and talented people to serve as young people"The chief of a hundred officials"。The most famous of them are Xue Huaiyi, Zhang Zongchang and Zhang Yizhi, who are no less popular than the emperor's favorite concubines. There is a lot of speculation about this. One view is that Wu Zetian, as a woman, also has normal physiological needs. Another view is that Wu Zetian psychologically wanted to have the same power as the male emperor, so she emulated the emperor's harem life.
It is said that Wu Zetian once united with the Li Tang clan and merged the two families, favoring the Zhang brothers. Later, Wu Zetian abdicated, and Li Shimin did not abolish the Wu family. There are all kinds of indications that the sect leader is part of Wu Zetian's conspiracy. People have all kinds of speculations about this, whether they are jealous or envious, or secretly happy or not surprised. Few people can see through the mystery.
From humble background to ascending to the throne, Wu Zetian's legendary experience has amazed future generations. Not only did she overcome her inherent flaws, but she also emerged from the power struggle and achieved a brilliant life. Although her actions in her later years were controversial, the legendary empress left an indelible mark on Chinese history.
In that era of machismo, she worked miracles with extraordinary perseverance and political talent, challenging conventional notions and becoming a true pioneer of feminism. Wu Zetian set a precedent in Chinese history for women to become emperors and rulers, leaving a profound impact on future generations. Despite the flaws of Wu Zetian's reign, her feminist spirit has inspired millions of women to follow their core values and pursue their dreams in life.