How powerful is Tang Gaozong Li Zhi in the official history?

Li Zhi, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty. The current historians generally believe that he was a seriously underestimated emperor.

Because during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty successively destroyed the Western Turks, Baekje, and Goguryeo, reversing the decline of the war situation in Liaodong during the Taizong period, and the Tang Dynasty's territory reached its largest.

Tang Gaozong inherited the "Government of Zhenguan", and the national power continued to grow, laying the foundation for the "Kaiyuan Prosperous Age" and serving as a link between the past and the future.

However, it is not accurate to say that Tang Gaozong was underestimated by history. Because the emperor Li Zhi is somewhat similar to King Qin Zhaoxiang in the history of Qin State. He was great during his reign, but how much does it have to do with him?

During the "Yonghui Rule" in the early days of Li Zhi's reign, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, the government was mainly controlled by his uncle Changsun Wuji. After 660 AD, Li Zhi was often in poor health, and the government was gradually controlled by Wu Zetian.

If all the achievements during Tang Gaozong's reign were attributed to Li Zhi, it would be obviously an exaggeration to say how great he was! During the reign of Yonghui, the decision-making of the Tang Dynasty temples depended on Changsun Wuji, Chu Suiliang, and Li Ji

In the 23rd year of Zhenguan, before his death, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty entrusted the benevolent and filial prince Li Zhi to Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang. At the same time, he asked Li Zhi to reuse and promote Li Ji after he succeeded to the throne.

On June 10th of the same year, Changsun Wuji was appointed as Taiwei and concurrently inspected the three departments of Zhongshu Ling and Kaifu Yitong. Li Ji served as the third minister of Yitong in Kaifu. In August, he was promoted to the third rank of Shangshu Zuopushe and Tongzhongshu, with the two of them assisting the government.

The rule of Yonghui was in the early years of Tang Gaozong's accession to the throne, and basically followed the policies formulated during the Tang Taizong period. It achieved unprecedented expansion of the territory of the Tang Dynasty, and the people were prosperous and prosperous, bringing great order to the world.

In the second year of Yonghui, Ashina Helu of the Western Turks rebelled, proclaimed himself Shabolo Khan, and invaded Tingzhou of the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty sent Liang Jianfang to conquer the Western Turks.

The Tang Dynasty used troops against the Western Turks for many years. In the third year of Yonghui, the Tang army defeated Ashina Helu in the Battle of Laoshan. Cheng Zhijie and Su Dingfang were successively dispatched to lead their troops to attack the Western Turkic Shabolo Khan.

In the second year of Xianqing, general Su Dingfang led his army to defeat the Western Turks. Ashina Helu fled to Shiguo and was captured alive. The Western Turks were destroyed. The territory of the Tang Dynasty extended to the hinterland of Central Asia and expanded unprecedentedly.

In the second year of Yonghui, Baekje invaded Silla and occupied a large area of ??territory. Silla sent envoys to plead with Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty to issue an edict to return the territory to Baekje, and ordered Goryeo and Baekje to ensure local stability, otherwise they would bear the consequences. .

In the sixth year of Yonghui, Goguryeo and Baekje turned a deaf ear to Tang Gaozong's words, jointly attacked Silla, and at the same time asked Japan for help.

Silla asked for help from the Tang Dynasty, and Li Zhi sent troops to attack Goguryeo and Baekje. The war lasted until the third year of Longshuo. General Liu Rengui defeated the Japanese army supporting Baekje at the mouth of the Baijiang River. The Tang army captured all of Baekje. Territory, Baekje was destroyed.

Depose the king and establish Wu, the beginning of Tang Gaozong's sole power

In the second year of Yonghui, after the period of filial piety expired, Tang Gaozong couldn't wait to take his old lover Wu Zetian into the harem . Wu Zetian, who had just entered the palace and lacked a foundation, had to bend her knees to please all parties and win praise.

Wu Zetian was deeply favored by Li Zhi. In the third year of Yonghui's reign, she was granted the title of Second Grade Zhaoyi. Li Zhi's favor with Wu Zetian deepened day by day. In the end, it was decided to abolish the original wife, Queen Wang, and make Wu Zetian the queen.

When Li Zhi sought the opinions of the ministers assisting the government, Sun Wuji, Chu Suiliang, and Li Ji, only Li Ji said that this was the emperor's family matter and there was no need to ask outsiders.

Perhaps Li Ji himself did not expect that because of his words, his Xu family would be destroyed, and his own grave would be dug up and his coffin destroyed. If he was given another chance, would he be ashamed of himself.

Both Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang fiercely opposed it. Chu Suiliang even threw away the wat board, took off his hat, and broke his forehead to express his lifelong opposition. Li Zhi completely ignored the opposition of his ministers and resolutely appointed Wu Zetian as queen.

In the sixth year of Yonghui, Wu Zetian was appointed queen, and together with Xu Jingzong, they began to frame Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang who opposed making him queen. In the same year, Chu Suiliang was expelled from the court. In the fourth year of Xianqing, Changsun Wuji was demoted to Qianzhou and forced to commit suicide.

After the deposing of Wang Liwu, Li Zhi, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, began to take charge of the government alone, acting decisively and becoming the real leader of the Tang Dynasty. But this time did not last long, and his powerful wife took away his power. The emperor and the empress share the same dynasty: the uncle withdrew, and the wife stepped onto the stage

The wolf was driven away by the front door, and the tiger came in by the back door. This is a true portrayal of the Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. In the fourth year of Xianqing, Wu Zetian and Xu Jingzong demoted Changsun Wuji to Qianzhou in the name of treason, and took the opportunity to force Changsun Wuji to commit suicide.

The power of the imperial court was finally restored to the hands of Tang Gaozong Li Zhi. As a result, after five years of Xianqing, Li Zhi often felt dizzy, which affected his ability to handle government affairs.

Wu Zetian took the opportunity to intervene in government affairs and began to participate in the central decision-making of the Tang Dynasty. In order to further control the government, Wu Zetian began to slowly eliminate dissidents and cultivate her own power.

Li Zhi once discovered Wu Zetian's intentions and saw that Wu Zetian had a tendency to dominate the court. For the sake of Li Tang's country, Li Zhi began to make plans to abolish her.

But Wu Zetian knew about it in advance. Wu Zetian found Li Zhi, cried, made trouble and hanged himself, and managed to make Li Zhi submissive. Li Zhi gave up the idea.

But there must be someone who takes the blame for the post-abolition matter. Unfortunately, Shangguan Yi, who assisted Li Zhi in drafting the edict, was pulled out to take the blame, and was executed for dissuading him. Later, because of his granddaughter Shangguan Wan'er He was rehabilitated only after being favored by Zhongzong Li Xian.

After that, Li Zhi no longer had any reason to suppress Wu Zetian, and soon after, Li Zhi's condition became more and more serious, and his eyesight became a little bit blind, and Wu Zetian was able to take control of the government.

At this time in the Tang Dynasty, there was a strange phenomenon of emperors and empresses in the same dynasty. As for whether Li Zhi was really ill, Wu Zetian probably knew better than anyone else. Li Zhi might be cured by changing to another empress. .

Throughout the dynasties, if the emperor was unable to manage the government, he would usually train the prince to supervise the country, and then he would tutor the prince to take over the affairs of the country.

But Li Zhi handed over the government affairs to Wu Zetian, saying that he was a great and conservative king. He didn't know where the greatness was and where the qualifications were? Tang Gaozong's civil and martial arts were concentrated in the early stage, and working with the people was his main political achievement

In terms of martial arts, Tang Gaozong destroyed the Western Turks, Baekje, and Goguryeo, making the Tang Dynasty's territory the largest. These wars were concentrated from the second year of Yonghui to the third year of Longshuo, a period of nearly twelve years.

Although Li Ji’s last war to conquer Goguryeo lasted until the first year of Zongzhang five years later, in fact, in the Battle of Baijiangkou in the third year of Longshuo, the Tang army won and captured the entire Baekje. The victory of the battle against Goguryeo has basically been sealed.

In addition, Su Dingfang, Li Ji, Liu Rengui and others, the main generals in the Western Region battlefield and Liaodong battlefield, were all famous generals who had already become famous in the Taizong Dynasty. Li Zhi was more like a peach picker.

In terms of cultural affairs, the "Yonghui Code" and "Tang Code Commentary" compiled during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty were all completed in the early Yonghui period and were revised under the leadership of Changsun Wuji. At that time, the government was controlled by Changsun Wuji. In Ji's hands, Li Zhi's role is quite average.

One of the most important policies during the reign of Emperor Gaozong and Li Zhi of the Tang Dynasty was to adhere to the national policy of levying light corvees and low taxes and resting with the people. Based on the principle of less trouble, it greatly alleviated the social conflicts caused by successive battles in the early Tang Dynasty, reduced the crime rate in the society, and made the society stable and prosperous.

Another important measure is to attach importance to the imperial examination system. In order to effectively select outstanding talents, Li Zhi adopted more of the imperial examination system during his reign.

At that time, the number of people participating in the imperial examinations increased greatly. Even several of Li Zhi's prime ministers had participated in the imperial examinations and had titles.

However, the imperial examination selection system of the Tang Dynasty was far from being comparable to that of the later Song Dynasty. The selection of most officials still relied on family recommendations, but Li Zhi's contribution to the promotion of the imperial examination cannot be denied.

On the whole, the political achievements of Tang Gaozong and Li Zhi were very dazzling, but it seems that many of them have little to do with him.

If we insist on adding some political achievements to him and positioning him, I personally think that his historical status will not be higher than that of Emperor Jing of Han Dynasty.

As for comparing with his father, there is a huge difference!