Chapter 29 Wonderful half hour coup d'etat

Empress Wu is now seriously ill, and there has been no improvement in the whole twelfth lunar month, and Zhang Changzong's case is still delayed.After the New Year, Empress Wu's condition worsened.Ministers are not allowed to postpone the meeting, and parents and children are not allowed to meet.Only the two brothers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong are often at the bedside. Zhang Jianzhi decided to revolt.Everyone in the palace knew about the obscenity, and everyone reviled it, so Zhang Jianzhi's actions were easily supported by others.Zhang Jianzhi has appointed Yang Yuanyan as General Youyu Linwei.The palace guards and the Kyoto garrison each have several teams, including infantry and cavalry.Roughly speaking, the so-called Southern Guards are in charge of patrolling the capital to maintain law and order in the capital;

Outside the palace, there are various government offices of the imperial court.The Northern and Southern Guards were further divided into several ministries, led by six generals.Among them, Li Duozuo, General Zuo Yulinwei, is the most important.Zhang Jianzhi once spoke to Li Duozuo, secretly and carefully.Kampuchea said that as a minister of the Tang Dynasty, he should repay the emperor's kindness.Li Duozuo was upright and upright, resolutely participated in the quelling of the chaos, and swore to the Heavenly Alliance in Zhang Jian's mansion to restore the Tang Dynasty. Subsequently, Zhang Jianzhi appointed three close friends as generals of Habayashi Wei.Yao Chongben was a close friend of Zhang Jianzhi, and he was currently serving as the head of Lingwu Dao. Because Zhang Jianzhi sent someone to invite him, he just came to the capital from hundreds of miles away.

When Zhang Jianzhi heard Yao Chong's arrival, he said happily, "Everything is complete." Then he explained the plan to Yao Chong. The coup was scheduled to take place on the 22nd of the first lunar month, exactly one month after Empress Wu recalled Zhang Changzong to the palace from Yushitai.All the details are arranged properly.The Northern and Southern Guards Habayashi Army is scheduled to rise at the same time.The troops of the Southern Guard wanted to encircle Zhang Changzong's household and control his property and mansion; the Northern Guard had a thousand cavalry and five hundred infantry to surround the palace and force Empress Wu to abdicate.

On the morning of the 22nd day of the first lunar month in the first year of Chang'an, Empress Wu, the imperial guards outside the north gate of the palace gathered in one place.Zhang Jianzhi, Yan Yanfan, Li Duozuo and other important figures were present, including Wang Tongjiao, son-in-law of Zhongzong (Zhe). General Li Duozuo and Wang Tongjiao went to see Zhongzong first.Zhongzong must be involved in this coup, because the purpose of the coup is to restore Zhongzong.He didn't know it beforehand.Li Duozuo explained to him the reason for his visit, but he was at a loss and didn't know what to say under the confusion and a little bit of fear.

Li Duozuo couldn't hold back, and said: "Today is an extraordinary day. Does Your Majesty know what you are going to do? You want to restore the Tang Dynasty and Emperor Taizong's world! You don't hesitate to throw your head and blood for justice. Your Majesty only needs to come forward and lead the ministers to wait." Zhongzong still hesitated, trembling in his heart, and said: "I know the Zhang brothers deserve what they deserve. But the queen mother is seriously ill...and this is too unexpected..." Li Duozuo said: "Your Majesty just needs to go out and tell the officials that His Majesty has no objection. If the great achievement fails, the ministers and the whole family will be wiped out." If Zhongzong wants to refuse, the officials must accompany him to lead troops to calm the chaos and put him to death. pushed onto the throne.

Wang Tongjiao also begged: "Your Majesty, this matter is imperative, and there is no room for hesitation. Officers and soldiers are right outside the door, and they will immediately enter the palace to protect His Majesty's restoration of the great treasure. If today's matter is not successful, how can Your Majesty protect himself?" Zhongzong was hesitant, and everyone supported him on the horse. He still didn't know whether he was going to ascend the throne or die. The Prince's East Palace is connected to the North Gate by a garden.As soon as Zhongzong showed up, Zhang Jianzhi and others breathed a sigh of relief.

As soon as everyone entered the palace gate, they walked in various directions according to the predetermined plan. Li Duozuo led his troops straight to Yingxianyuan where Empress Wu lived. Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong heard the noise of people, came out to have a look, and knew that something was wrong.The guards, in bright armor, walked around the pond and entered as a whole team.A group of elite soldiers drove straight to Empress Wu's room.After passing the pond, they rushed down the corridor.Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong were recognized as soon as they were seen.The two knew that the end was coming, so they ran away.All the soldiers were ordered to pursue them, so they shouted loudly and drew their swords to give chase.It was too late, but sooner or later, all the soldiers surrounded Er Zhang, grabbed them, and chopped off the heads of the two boys who were wearing rouge and powder.

In front of more than 200 steps is Yingxianyuan. Yingxianyuan is half hidden by flowers and trees, and it leads to it from the south of Yingxianmen archway.In the Jixian Hall of Yingxianyuan, Empress Wu is sleeping on the bed. General Li Duozuo entered the courtyard and ordered all the guards to withdraw.Zhang Jianzhi waited in. Empress Wu asked: "Why are you so noisy? Why are you so bold to come in?" The tone was still commanding. Zhang Jianzhi said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong have committed treason, and I have come to punish them. They have already been punished. It is a pity that I couldn't hear about it in advance."

Empress Wu saw her son Zhongzong at a glance.shouted loudly: "There is you too! Go back quickly. They are dead, and you should be satisfied." Yan Yanfan stepped forward and said: "The prince dared to offend your majesty, the prince can't go back. The first emperor gave the prince to your majesty. Your majesty should have passed the throne to the prince. Now I beg your majesty to abdicate and the prince will ascend the throne." Hearing these words, Empress Wu was very calm, and looked at the row of officials standing in front one by one.said: "Why, Li Zhan, and you! You and your father (Li Yifu) have been greatly favored by me. And you, Cui Xuan. I personally promoted you. I really can't think of it! You are a group of traitors! A group of pigs and dogs!" Empress Wu I still seem to be in power.

Cui Xuandao: "Your Majesty, the ministers and others are grateful for His Majesty's deep kindness. Your Majesty naturally knows that what the ministers and others have done today is to repay His Majesty's kindness." Due to Zhang Jianzhi's careful planning, all actions were completed in less than half an hour.Zhang Jianzhi and other leaders left, leaving Li Zhan to guard Empress Wu. Several military officers took the heads of the two Zhang brothers out. Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi's henchmen were quietly rounded up, and their other brothers were also arrested.Soon Changzong Yizhi's head hung on the Tianjin Bridge in front of the palace, and a crowd of people crowded to see Zhang Changzong's brothers and cousins.

The next day, on the 23rd of the first lunar month, Zhongzong supervised the country with the crown prince, and on the 24th, Empress Wu officially abdicated.Rui Zongdan was the king of Xiang.The princes and grandchildren of the Tang family were all pardoned and returned to the court, and their original titles were restored.The courtiers and families exiled by Junchen Zhou Xing were all pardoned and returned to their hometowns, only the families of Zhou Xing and other executioners were not pardoned. On the twenty-seventh day of the first lunar month, Empress Wu moved to her residence in the imperial garden in the west of the city under guard.Zhongzong would pay respects to Empress Wu every ten days, as before.Empress Wu was guarded day and night.Day by day, Empress Wu felt that she would be happier if she died during the coup. Empress Wu, the tyrannical and domineering woman, now felt powerless for the first time in her life—defeated.Li Zhan is still guarding her now, just like a prisoner.Her majesty was gone.She is alone.Her lover is dead.She couldn't even see her own daughter, Princess Taiping.Princess Taiping had in fact turned her back on Zhongzong.To make matters worse, her filial son Zhongzong often came to tell her about new measures of the court.These new measures sounded to her like news of her defeats.Her dynasty week was abolished, her plans, her painstaking efforts were all in vain.If she was young and full of energy, if she could just get up and get out of bed, she would know how to deal with the scoundrels she had raised with her own hands and now returned good with bad. The blows to her came one after another.On February 1st, the official ceremony for the restoration of the Tang Dynasty was held.All flags, badges, official titles, and names of government offices have been restored to their original state in the early years of Emperor Gaozong.Bingzhou, Shanxi, the hometown of Empress Wu, was renamed "Beidu" after Empress Wu came to power, and this name was also cancelled.Luoyang was once renamed "Shendu" by Empress Wu, and now it has been restored to the old name of Dongdu. Wei Yuanzhong was relegated from Beijing because of Zhang Changzong, and because of popular expectations, he was recalled by Zhongzong to the court as a servant, and later as Zhongshu Ling.Empress Wu now recalls what Wei Yuanzhong said to Empress Wu when he was leaving Beijing: "In the future, it will be these two boys who will hurt Your Majesty. One day in the future, Your Majesty will think of Wei Yuanzhong, and what Wei Yuanzhong said!" But the worst news is yet to come.In March, the descendants of Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu were ordered to abolish the evil surnames "Python" and "Xiao" given by Empress Wu, and restore their original surnames.To make matters worse, in May, Empress Wu's ancestral temple was deprived of the name "Tai Temple", and Empress Wu's ancestors were also deprived of their titles!This is the present report.Buddha is really effective!Empress Wu actually saw it with her own eyes! When the news came that the descendants of Empress Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu had restored their old surname, Empress Wu couldn't help but think of the old things in her youth.Those evil spirits reappeared on her conscience.If she meets those ghosts underground, shouldn't she say that she has forgiven them?Would you like to be reconciled with them?But she is Maitreya Buddha!She taught people to recite the "Great Cloud Sutra" for her, and the melodious and peaceful sound of the Sutra next to her ears made her feel better.This sutra reminded her of those years spent with the Great Monk Feng Xiaobao.She can indeed say that she has lived happily all her life, and no other woman has enjoyed such a great blessing.How many people she has fooled!She laughed out loud at the thought.She was convinced that she was the most amazing and powerful woman who ever existed on earth.No matter whether she goes to hell or goes to heaven, she is still the most outstanding and greatest character.One thing she is very sure of is that Wu Zetian's name will be passed down through the ages. In November of the first year of Zhongzong Shenlong, Empress Wu died in a luxurious house arrest at the age of eighty-two.Because Empress Wu attached great importance to sacrifices after death, she said in her last words that future generations should worship her as a "queen", not as an "emperor", but as a good wife of her dear husband Gaozong (I think Gaozong I shudder at the thought of being reunited with her again).In her last words, she forgave Queen Wang, Concubine Xiao Shu, Chu Suiliang, Han Yuan, and Queen Wang's uncle Liu Shi.In this way, her journey to the underworld will not be too difficult or too embarrassing. The life of the most extravagant, voluptuous, vain, selfish, self-willed, and extremely notorious empress in Chinese history ended like this.She died, but the evil she had done left behind her.Later, after Zhongzong, Ruizong, and Xuanzong wiped out the Wuhou family, the last chapter of this book is considered to be over.