Chapter 25 Chapter Twenty-Five

The number of old officials continues to decrease and the number of new officials increases, so the number of people framed by cruel officials also increases.When the newly appointed officials and those who were promoted were summoned by the emperor in Wucheng Hall, the servants guarding the palace gate immediately cast their contemptuous eyes on the comers, with a mocking smile on the corners of their mouths.After guiding the female officer to bring him into the palace gate, the maidservants spit at his back: "Gui Pu!" That is, "Send the ghost to death", which means that he will become the target of the cruel officials' purge in the near future.As a matter of fact, within ten and a half months, those officials were often arrested, and even their entire families were massacred.Some people put forward a "lamp oil theory" about life, which means that there are generally three types of people living in the world: 1. Ordinary, slow and leisurely life, just like setting the wick to the brightness that can barely be seen, so that its Burn slowly.2. It is short-lived, causing the lamp to emit a strong light suddenly, the oil is quickly exhausted, and the lamp goes out.3. It is bright when it should be bright, and dark when it should be dark. When the light is on, it shines brightly. When it is dark, it can consume less lamp oil, and the maintenance time is obviously longer. At the same time, it shows its own value.The supervisory censor Yan Shansi belongs to the third situation.After being mocked by the maidservants once, he couldn't sleep at night, thinking about it, sorting out the cruel deeds of the cruel officials one by one, and gave a memorial.At that time, there were too many informers to count, and Wu Zetian was tired of it, so she handed it over to Yan Shansi to investigate.Yan Shansi organized a review team to find out that more than 850 people were innocent based on the attitude of seeking truth from facts.Most of them were due to the personal grievances of the whistleblowers, or the means of retaliation for failing to ask for bribes.The cruel officials headed by Lai Junchen hated this "traitor" so much that they attacked him in groups.

Wu Zetian thought over and over again, one was afraid of excessively dampening the enthusiasm of the cruel officials, and the other was to protect Yan Shansi from being plotted against, so he was exiled to Rongshi, Vietnam, Xiangzhou.After a period of time, Yan Shansi was called back and appointed as the supervisor of the armillary sphere. Wu Zetian issued instructions for commuting the sentences of more than 850 people, and issued a decree: "All criminals exiled in the six realms who can be exempted from the death penalty will be released together with their families and returned to their places of origin."

Youbuque Zhu Jing wrote a letter to start: "The foundation of the Great Zhou Dynasty is consolidated, and the world is peaceful. In order to let the common people rest in peace, it is necessary to suppress the gangsters and rebuild the judicial system." Wu Zetian rewarded him with three hundred bolts of silk cloth for his outspokenness.The censor, Zhou Ju, once wrote a letter to Chen's cruel officials, suggesting that the criminal law should be eased, and now he has further asked the emperor to implement a benevolent government. Wu Zetian adopted his suggestion, the power of cruel officials was restrained, and the number of prisoners in the prison gradually decreased.On April 1st in the third year of Tianshou, a solar eclipse occurred.

Empress Wu Zetian was afraid of people's anger, so from this day onwards, it was changed to the first year of Yuan Ruyi, and all prisoners except political prisoners were pardoned. She ordered Xue Huaiyi, Faming and other eminent monks to do a large dojo in the palace, praying for the prosperity of the country, the happiness of all people, and the longevity.Send an imperial edict to the newly built Dayun Temple in all states in the world, and hold rituals at the same time.On May 1, a decree was promulgated to ban the slaughter of livestock throughout the country, and even the predation of wild poultry, animals, birds and fish was also prohibited.This edict was extremely arbitrary, and the impact it caused was worse than the purge.

Wu Zetian was like a devout Buddhist. She took the lead in eating only vegetarian meals and not eating meat.The royal kitchen canceled meat and aquatic products, and the kitchen in the palace also cut off the supply of meat dishes.All over the country, from the princes and ministers to the common people, "monk" meals are all practiced.Vegetables, fruits, beans are in short supply and prices are skyrocketing.Butchers, fishermen, and hunters are all unemployed, running around, looking for other jobs, and even selling their children and girls, and falling into the green forest in desperation.Floods occurred in the Jianghuai area, dikes collapsed, and fishing and shrimping were not allowed. The number of hungry people increased day by day, and hunger and plague continued to kill people.The governors in the Jianghuai area were anxious like ants on a hot pot. The imperial court organized disaster relief, and the victims did not return to their homes until the flood receded.

Wu Zetian was smart all her life, but she was confused for a while, I really don't know what she was thinking. "Prohibition of killing animals" is originally the so-called benevolent heart of Buddhism, but one does not know how many people will be killed indirectly in such a one-size-fits-all world.There was also chaos in the officialdom. Someone lost his official position and even lost his life for stealing a meal of fish.The criminals used to be blinded by money, but now they are blinded by the naked eye.The soldiers of the Jinwu Guard who were in charge of the ban gradually relaxed due to malnutrition and turned a blind eye.The fish and meat confiscated by patrols are only destroyed a little bit for show, and a large amount is divided and eaten.Princess Taiping, Wu Chengsi, Wu Sansi and people from the Wu clan couldn't stand it anymore, they were vegetarian on the surface, but meat in secret.It has become an open secret that Wu and Yue are in the same boat.Zuo Shiyi Zhang De got a son in his old age and bought a sheep from the black market at a high price. On the day of the "three dynasties" of the baby, he entertained his colleagues.Bu Que Du Su is a close friend of Zhang De. He licked his lips and smacked his lips while eating mutton, and immediately reported it after eating.

Wu Zetian summoned Zhang De and asked, "The Qing family is happy to have Lin'er. I don't know if they have been in the three dynasties?" "How did you get the mutton for the banquet?" "Bought it, bought it." Zhang De quickly knelt down, kowtowed and confessed. "People often say that if you don't have hair on your mouth, you can't do things well. Hey, you've lived to this age, you're a handsome man, why don't you pay attention to things? You don't treat the guests first, and you don't judge the object first." Wu Zetian expressed some emotion, and then ordered Wan'er to take out Du Su's whistleblower and hand it to Zhang De.Zhang De repeatedly kowtowed: "Capital crime, capital crime!"

"Get up. You have to be more cautious in doing things in the future. Knowing people and faces doesn't know the heart." Wu Zetian did not punish Zhang De.Slaughtering and hunting are prohibited, in fact, they are prohibited. Wu Zetian's intelligence network spread all over the country and penetrated into every corner. There was nothing she didn't know.In the past, the purpose of rewarding informants was purely to cleanse the Li royal family and political enemies.Now that the overall situation has been settled, she is also indifferent to the whistleblowing.In particular, the vast majority of whistleblowers are not benevolent and moral people, and have lost their use value. From now on, they need to be rectified.Most of the informers are reporting enemies, but Du Su is betraying friends, which is even more despicable and shameful.

Wu Zetian is not a person without emotions, her characteristic is precisely the clear distinction between grievances and resentments.That's why Du Su's behavior was made public and made him ugly.Du Su couldn't lift his head up anymore.The courtiers were all ashamed of being with him, and cut off their robes and seats, forcing him to resign and leave the capital.Zhang De was so moved that tears filled his eyes, and he talked about "the emperor's grace is mighty".Sometimes the news spread faster than the wind, and the subjects were all moved by the empress's kindness and humanity.On the other hand, her ignorant fasting of meat has also become nominal.At that time, informers were commonplace, cruel officials ran amok, civil and military officials were frightened and frightened, and they didn't even dare to walk loudly.Only Li Zhaode was more and more trusted by Wu Zetian, and many things were directly handed over to him, almost obeying.

When Wu Zetian summoned him alone, he said bluntly: "Wei Wang Wu Chengsi is too powerful, Your Majesty is wise, you should be aware of it." "He is my nephew, so I regard him as my confidant." Wu Zetian replied. "Nephew and aunt, how can the degree of intimacy be compared with son and father? There are sons who kill their fathers and usurp the throne, let alone nephews? Now, Wu Chengsi is not only His Majesty's nephew, but also a prince, and a prime minister. It's the same as the monarch. I have to worry, I'm afraid His Majesty may not be able to sit on the throne of the Son of Heaven for a long time."

"Oh," Wu Zetian showed a shocked expression, "I never thought of a deeper level." She decisively reorganized the imperial team, Wenchang Zuoxiang, Tongfengge Luantai third-rank Wu Chengsi, adjusted to be a special advance, Wen Sanguan second-rank and second-rank.Nayan and Wu Youning were adjusted as Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.Xia Guan Bingbu Shangshu, Tongping Zhang Shi Yang Zhirou adjustment ~ local official household department Shangshu.All three were dismissed from their posts.Cui Yuanzong, the servant of the autumn official, was promoted to be the servant of Luantai, Li Zhaode, the servant of Xiaguan, was the servant of Fengge, Yao Tao, the servant of Tianguan, was the Zuocheng of Wenchang, Li Yuanyuan, the servant of the local official of the school, was the right minister of Wenchang, and Cui Shenji, the Secretary of State, were all promoted. Promoted to Tongping Zhangshi.He also promoted Wang Yi, the minister of construction and renovation, as the official minister of Xia and Tongping Zhangshi. Wu Chengsi was so angry that he blew his beard and stared at his eyes. He speculated that it was the result of Li Zhaode's advice to Wu Zetian, so he slandered Li Zhaode in front of Wu Zetian: "This person is frivolous and arrogant. He thinks he is smart and cannot be reused." "I use Li Zhaode to sleep soundly. Why not do the work for me?" Wu Zetian refuted Wu Chengsi's words. Wu Chengsi felt bored, and retreated dejectedly.Li Zhaode is sharp, capable, hearty, unpretentious, and his speech often hits the nail on the head.Someone presented a white stone with red patterns on it, and the official in charge asked him what was the strangeness?The man replied miraculously, "It has a heart." "Chixin, what Chixin?" Li Zhaode felt a fire of ignorance and karma in his heart. "Only this stone has a heart, so are the other stones all rebellious hearts?" Wu Zetian pursed his lips and smiled.Seeing that the emperor smiled, all the ministers laughed too.Rare!Since the implementation of the politics of terror, civil and military officials have been in danger day and night, and their spirits have been depressed. This smile, which can be described as a smile, breaks the dull atmosphere.Hu Qing, a native of Xiangzhou, presented a big tortoise with the words "Ten Thousand Years of the Son of Heaven" on the bottom plate.In front of the emperor, Li Zhaode snatched the tortoise from the hand of the official in charge of the tribute, scraped the bottom plate a few times with a knife, and immediately found that the characters were written in raw lacquer.He frowned and threw the tortoise out of the hall, and scolded: "It's shameful and abominable to create falsehoods to deceive the Holy One!" "Don't get angry," Wu Zetian stopped, "He has no malicious intentions, let him go back." This time, no one laughed, their expressions were extremely serious, and they were all sweating for Li Zhaode: it is a disrespectful act to actually scrape off the handwriting of "Ten Thousand Years of the Son of Heaven" in front of the Son of Heaven. Wu Zetian glanced at Li Zhaode, but did not blame him.Everyone knows that the Emperor of the Holy Spirit likes things with mysterious colors and auspiciousness.Some people cater to her psychology, or play tricks, or present some fake things, at least they don't have the intention of harming anyone, why should they expose it in public, it makes it very disappointing.However, Li Zhaode has always been opposed to falsification and deceit, and hates evil like a hatred.It is precisely because of his straightforwardness, selflessness and broad-mindedness, iron bones, and righteousness that he has won Wu Zetian's high trust. Let him perform with confidence and let him display his talents.During the Shangyuan period, when Prince Hong died suddenly in Hebi Palace, Si Nongqing Wei Ji was ordered by order to move the middle bridge of Luoshui from the southwest corner of Lidefang to the left street of Anzhongfang, and build it on the bridge directly leading to Changxia Gate. position.However, the newly built middle bridge did not pay attention to the flow of water. When Luoshui flooded, it suddenly hit the bridge pier and damaged the bridge. It was almost necessary to repair the bridge every time the flood rose. People were very annoyed and helpless.During the Changshou period, after the autumn water receded, the bridge was severely damaged. Li Zhaode recommended himself to direct the restoration of the bridge.He led engineering and technical personnel to start from the survey, redesign from the root, mobilize the public to offer suggestions, repeated experiments and demonstrations, and finally decided to pile up stones on the upstream of the bridge to reinforce the pier, and build an equilateral triangle against the water to separate the flowing water.In this way, the flood no longer rushes directly to the bridge pier, and when it flows to the bridge pier, its strength is also weakened.Since then, no bridge destruction has occurred, and the task of bridge repair has been greatly reduced accordingly.The outer city of Luoyang has not been renovated since the Sui Dynasty. The city walls are dilapidated and riddled with holes.Li Zhaode presided over the renovation, re-planning, careful design, and meticulous construction. The appearance of Luoyang, the capital of the gods, has a new look, magnificent, solemn and magnificent.During the Chang'an period, the reconstruction of Wenchang Terrace and Dingding Gate were all designed by Li Zhaode.In the twelfth lunar month of the second year of longevity, Li Zhaode became the chief prime minister.Lou Shide, the sixty-four-year-old servant of Xia Guan, was also promoted to be a member of Tongping Zhangshi and joined the prime minister's team.Lou Shide was born in Yuanyang County, Henan Province, Yuanwu County, Zhengzhou. He was a Jinshi when he was young and weak, and he was first appointed as the governor of Yangzhou City, Jiangdu.Chief Minister Lu Chengye especially appreciated him: "This young man has outstanding talent and extraordinary bearing, and he is a prime minister." At the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, Leiqian served as the supervisory censor, and Tubo invaded the country. Lou Shide joined the army in response to the imperial conquest, and Li Zhi and Wu Zetian bestowed on him the post of Chaosan doctor.After returning triumphantly, he was appointed as the censor in the palace.In the first year of Tianshou, he was promoted to General Zuo Jinwuwei and Governor of Fengzhou.A year later, he was promoted to the high position of prime minister.At the same time, his younger brother Lou Chang was promoted to the governor of Dai County in Shanxi Province.Before taking office, Lou Shide asked: "The emperor values ​​our brothers so much, jealous people will follow one after another. How do you plan to deal with it?" "Brother, don't worry," Lou Chang replied earnestly, "If someone spits on my face, I will just wipe it off with my hands, and I won't let my brother worry about it." "Wrong! Cough, this is what makes me worry. When people spit on your face, they are angry with you. You wipe off the saliva to show resistance. Remember, the saliva on your face cannot be wiped off." , but smile all over your face and spit out as others do.” "I understand brother's intentions. If someone spits on this side of the face, I'll show him the other side. When he spitting out, there will be no grudges." "You are smart and have progress." With the growth of age, Lou Shide's vigor has been exhausted, his body is fat, his chest is wide and his body is fat, his movements are slow, and he walks slowly, as if he is afraid of trampling ants to death. elder gesture.His demeanor was in stark contrast to Li Zhaode's.Li Zhaode was in the prime of life, with broad shoulders and long arms, a strong physique, like a leopard, with big eyes, straight nose, broad lips, and beard. Such a hearty character and fast pace.His eyes were stern and self-assured, but he had an agreeable smile, the corners of his mouth curled up, the arrogance disappeared, and his whole face glowed with humor, wit, and appeal.When the two prime ministers went to court together, Lou Shide faltered, and Li Zhaode, who moved quickly, had to stop and wait from time to time.He got impatient with waiting, and became irritable, snorting and mockingly said: "Hurry up, country bumpkin." "I'm not a bumpkin," Lou Shide raised his swollen eyelids, "Who should be a bumpkin. Cough, I also know that I'm dumber than a bumpkin, as stupid as a pig." He helped Li Zhaode to scold himself harder, and explained a little humbly.Li Zhaode had a strange temper of helping the weak but not the strong, so he felt sympathy for him, slowed down his pace, and walked slowly up the hall with him. Wu Zetian was very dissatisfied with the increasingly flashy atmosphere, and issued an imperial edict to prohibit officials and people from wearing brocade clothing. "Sesame Cake Censor" Hou Sizhi violated the prohibition and secretly stored brocades.Li Zhaode could not get used to these scoundrels acting as dominance, and wanted to get rid of them, so he volunteered to interrogate Hou Sizhi.When the court came down early, Li Zhaode called Hou Sizhi to stop in the courtyard in front of the hall, and asked angrily, "Hey, Hou, are you guilty of violating the imperial court's ban and storing brocades?" "I, I, big, probably wow, nothing." Hou Sizhi's nature is bullying and fearful. Seeing that Li Zhaode's background was wrong, he felt guilty again. He replied vaguely, shrank his neck into his collar as if afraid of the cold, and shivered slightly. In fact, the firewood burning in the courtyard was not exhausted. temperature. "You are stubborn!" Li Zhaode said sternly, "You interrogate people, and you beat people up to confess. Today I ask you, you don't tell the truth, you tell lies, it seems that you won't confess if you don't beat me. Come here, Beat me to death with sticks!" Everyone hated cruel officials.The prime minister issued an order, and the imperial guards and guards surrounded him, and within a moment, Hou Sizhi was beaten to pieces and died.The courtiers dispersed on their own.Li Zhaode ordered Hou Sizhi's body to be carried out of the palace gate.Beat the dog to bully the master.After killing Lai Junchen's subordinates and right-hand man, Lai Junchen gritted his teeth with hatred, and swore in his heart: "Even if I lose all my money, I will take revenge and fight him to the end!" This super big gambler secretly made up his mind Determined to join hands with Wu Chengsi to deal with Li Zhaode, he must be killed. In Wu Zetian's life, he did a lot of good and bad things, and all of them were successful, outstanding, unique and creative.As far as changing the yuan is concerned, the yuan was changed thirteen times in the 28 years of being a queen, six times in five years of being a queen mother, and twelve times in fifteen years of being an emperor.She has been in power for nearly half a century, and the Yuan has been changed as many as 31 times.The year with the most yuan changes was the year of Li Zhi's death, and the year was changed three times. Wu Zhou Tianshou three years, and changed Yuan twice.On April 1st, it was changed from the third year of Tianshou to September 9th of the first year of Ruyi, which is the Double Ninth Festival. Empress Wu Zetian visited Zetian Gate Tower, the main gate of Luoyang Palace, and announced to all officials that the first year of Ruyi was changed to the first year of longevity.Amnesty for common criminals in the world.In the year when the yuan was changed three times, three emperors were changed mainly in two months, and the new emperor had to change the year name when he ascended the throne.Tianshou's three-year change of Yuan was quite funny, from which we can see Wu Zetian's inner emptiness and anxiety. The change of Yuan on April 1 was due to a solar eclipse, and the change of Yuan on September 9 was just because she had new teeth.Changing the reign title, Wu Zetian seldom explained the reasons, and seldom discussed with others.Even if she asks for opinions, whether she agrees or disagrees, she still goes her own way.On September 9th, she revealed a secret of herself to the left and right, that the lost teeth had grown new ones.The courtiers shouted happily: "Long live Shengshou!" She changed this year again to the first year of longevity.It is really rare for the elderly to lose their teeth and grow new teeth. Wu Zetian himself created a miracle.This year, she is already sixty-nine, and the years are not in control!Wu Zetian's physical fitness is very good, her complexion is healthy, coupled with ingenious and careful makeup and maintenance, when she wears a crown and a purple gown inlaid with jewels and jewels, from this pair of men's emperor's attire, she reveals The unique charm of women is simply dazzling.Who dares to look closely, who can see her aging phenomenon?However, physiological phenomena cannot be controlled or hidden after all.From birth to death, from growth to aging, is an irresistible law of nature, just like wind and rain erode objects.Without metabolism, there would be no world, and there would be no human beings themselves.Life's desires are hard to fill, and I want to be a god after becoming an emperor.Qin Shihuang annexed the six kingdoms, ruled the world, and became an emperor through the ages. He was not reconciled. In order to seek the elixir of life, he sent alchemist Xu Shi to lead thousands of virgins and virgins to the East China Sea to seek gods.Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty Liu Che, who only respected Confucianism and rejected all kinds of schools, imagined immortality, respected alchemists, and was superstitious about ghosts and gods. In order to seek immortals, he even married the princess to alchemists. Wu Zetian's achievements in pioneering, creativity and career are not inferior to the accomplished monarchs of the past dynasties, and even comparable to Li Shimin who created the foundation of the early Tang Dynasty and created the "Government of Zhenguan".But she is also not free from the absurd desire for immortality, and the fear of time is no exception.In fact, the waves of aging, sometimes violently and sometimes gently, constantly attack her body and mind. The tiredness, irritability, and sadness complex are almost the same as those of Li Shimin, but the way of expression is different.Of course, her careerism predominates.While preventing aging, the main energy is still on preventing coup d'état, preventing it from happening in the near future, resolutely suppressing it as soon as there is a sign, and even using all means, regardless of whether it is true or not. "White Rabbit Censor" Wang Hongyi also denounced a group of ministers. Among them: Prime Minister Wang Xuan, Li Youdao, Yuan Zhihong, Li Yuansu, Cui Shenji, Kong Siyuan, Minister of Rites of Chunguan, and Ren Linghui, Governor of Yizhou, were all exiled to Lingnan.Also Zuo Yulin Army Zhonglang General and cruel official Lai Zixun were also revoked the "Wu" surname bestowed by the emperor, deprived of all official positions, exiled to Qinghua County, Vietnam, Aizhou, and died of illness in that barren land.Every year on New Year's Day, the emperor would hold a grand ceremony to worship heaven and earth as usual.On the New Year's Day of the second year of longevity in the weekly calendar, that is, November 1st in the lunar calendar, Empress Wu Zetian held a sacrifice to heaven in the Vientiane Shrine.She presided over the first offering, Wei Wang Wu Chengsi replaced Huang Sidan, and won the honor of hosting the Asian offering, and Wu Sansi presided over the final offering.In the early morning of midwinter, the sky was not yet bright, the sky was freezing, the wind was howling, and no fire was allowed in the hall. I don't know if it was because of the cold weather or the cold heart, but when he stood hunched over, his body seemed to be radiating a chill.Although he has given the surname "Wu", he is actually a direct descendant of Li Tang. Wu Chengsi is a descendant of the Wu surname, the eldest grandson of Wu Zetian's late father, the warrior Si.After repeated weighing of which of the two is the most suitable heir, it seems that the empress has leaned towards Wu Chengsi.The sacrifice is a signal, conveying Wu Zetian's heart in a wordless way.The majestic emperor didn't seem to care what the court officials thought.At the end of the ceremony, a large-scale "character dance" will be performed in the courtyard as usual.People are also willing to relax, especially if there is a burning fire in the square, which can warm up the body and mind, so as not to freeze.The performance this time is the imperial "Shen Gong Da Yue Wu", which is high in specifications, large in scale, elegant in style, and graceful in dance postures. The colors of the clothes form different glyphs, expressing wishes for happiness and auspiciousness.In the early morning of the next day, Concubine Liu and Concubine Dou De, the heirs of the emperor Wudan, went to the Shangjiayu Palace to meet the emperor and congratulate the new year.However, when the second concubine withdrew from the imperial court, they all disappeared strangely. The attendants waited and waited, but there was no one, and they asked the servants, but they didn't know.He didn't go back to the East Palace that day, day after day, like a stone sinking into the sea, and he never found his whereabouts.Concubine Liu entered the Xiangwang Palace as a female official during the Yifeng period, and later gave birth to a child and became a princess.Emperor Li Xian was deposed, and Li Dan was made emperor, and she followed her to be the empress.Once she is reduced to the heir of the emperor, she is also reduced to the crown princess.She also gave birth to the eldest daughter Shouchang and the sixth daughter Daiguo for Dan.Concubine Dou De also entered the palace as a female official in the era of King Xiang. When Dan was the emperor, she was named one of the four wives.Once she became the emperor's heir, she was demoted to Liangdi, and the concubine De was born in a famous family, and she had the noble blood of the Tang clan.She is the great-granddaughter of Li Shimin's biological mother Dou Kang, the cousin of Empress Dou's Taimu. Her grandfather Dou Dan's wife is Li Shimin's half-sister, Princess Xiangyang, and her father, Dou Xiaochen, was born to Princess Xiangyang.She gave birth to Dan's third son, Lu Ji, who later became Emperor Xuanzong, and Dan's tenth daughter, the Princess Yangcheng, who was later Princess Jinxian, and her eleventh daughter, Princess Chongchang, who was later Princess Yuzhen. .The mystery of the second concubine has never been solved.Longji became the emperor, and "digged three feet" inside and outside the Jiayu Palace, but found no traces, not even a clue.The people in the Eastern Palace advocated going to the Jiayu Palace to search, but once they knew it was to touch the tigress' ass, they insisted on refusing, and they forbade the people in the Eastern Palace to mention this matter again.He thought that this matter had something to do with Longji's use of "my family's court" when he came to the court when he was seven years old. The emperor felt bad about his young grandson, so he vented on him and the second concubine.There is also a direct reason that he didn't expect. Wu Chengsi bought Wei Tuan'er, Wu Zetian's confidant maid, and Wei Tuan'er reported to the emperor that Concubine Liu and Concubine Dou De begged God to play ghosts behind their backs, and cast spells to curse the Holy Majesty . Wu Zetian believed Wei Tuan'er's words, and Wu Chengsi replaced Dan's position in the sacrifice at the beginning of the year.Dan's concubine must be full of complaints, complaining about her, scolding her, praying for her early death, all possible.Once she dies, Dan can ascend the throne immediately.Not long after the second concubine disappeared, Wu Zetian and Wei Tuan'er were talking and laughing, and suddenly became furious, and asked the eunuch to drag her out and give him a stick, and she was beaten to death just like that.Disasters came one after another to Huang Sidan's house.His eldest son, Cheng Qi, was deprived of his status as emperor's grandson and reduced to King Shouchun.Dan's second son Heng Wang Chengyi was reduced to Hengyang King, his third son Chu King Longji was reduced to Linzi King, his fourth son Wei Wang Longfan was reduced to Baling King, and his fifth son Zhao Wang Longye was reduced to Pengcheng King.In the code system of the Tang Dynasty, one word for king, such as Hengwang, Chuwang, etc., is equivalent to two characters for king, such as Hengyang king and Linzi king, which are county kings.At the same time, the five princes were ordered to abandon their respective palaces and enter the palace again.Chengqi's biological mother is Concubine Liu, and Longji's biological mother is Concubine Dou De, and the two were born together by their biological mothers.And the other three princes were joined by brothers.From this we can see the harshness of continuous sitting.At that time, Chengqi was fourteen years old, Longji was nine years old, and the youngest, Longye, was only four years old.The five princes were immediately imprisoned in the palace, as if they had fallen into the underworld, crying with their heads in their arms, sobbing choked up.Fortunately, among the three bereaved sons of the late Prince Xian, the second son, Shouli, was still alive and was also locked up together. He was in his early twenties.The five cousins ​​all regard him as a big brother, as if they have found a support.In loneliness, Shouli is also willing to take care of his five younger brothers, especially Longye, who even asks him to help with excrement and urine.Although this disaster was unfortunate, it set a good example of brotherly harmony for future generations.Among brothers born to the same mother in the royal family, killing each other is not uncommon. Yang Guang killed his brother Prince Yong, and Li Shimin killed his brothers Jiancheng and Yuanji.And these five half-brothers, as well as their cousin Shouli, have never had any major disputes between the six people from the time they got together to share the worrying years until they shared the glory and wealth.Even if Li Longji became the emperor, he was not overbearing in front of these brothers, and was always humble.Concubine Dou De's misfortune also brought a catastrophe to her natal family and affected others.Her father, Dou Xiaochen, served as governor of Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province at that time.The servants of his family conspired with professional informers to report on the mistress Pang's secret practice of Gu. Wu Zetian ordered the censor Xue Jichang to go to Runzhou to investigate.Xue Jichang felt that this was an extremely rare opportunity for promotion. He traveled around Runzhou, based on his imagination, and processed the report. He said that Pang and his daughter Concubine Dou echoed each other from a distance. To use witchcraft to curse the death of the Holy Majesty, so that her son-in-law Dan can ascend the throne early and revive the Tang Dynasty.The whistleblower gets a big bonus.Xue Jichang jumped three ranks from the official eighth-rank supervisory censor, and was promoted to the fifth-rank supervisor.Ponzi was arrested and sent to death row.His eldest son, Dou Xijian, risked his life and went to Beijing to find Xu Yougong, the censor, and cried out his mother's innocence and innocence.Based on his years of experience in handling cases, Xu Yougong deduced that there must be wrongs and falsehoods. He went to the hall to meet Wu Zetian and declared that Pang was innocent.Xue Jichang followed closely to the hall, and played forcefully: "I have actually found out what Pang did, and the evidence of the crime is convincing. Xu Yougong used his emotions, talked nonsense, covered up treason, and should be executed according to the law." Sima Hong, the imperial servant in the palace, learned that Xu Yougong had committed a capital crime, so he rushed to the door and told him: "Xu Shilang, you have already been sentenced to death." "Death is death, as long as you have a clear conscience." Xu Yougong didn't take it seriously.He was eating at that time, but he still ate and drank in front of Sima Hong with a calm expression. "Hey, insects are greedy for life and afraid of death, let alone people!" "Your family, Taishi Company, Ma Qian, said: Humans are mortal, whether they are heavier than Mount Tai, or lighter than a feather. To die for justice, to be upright, I think it can be regarded as a worthy death." "You are too straightforward and stubborn, my brother, don't be too stubborn and willful. Sometimes you have to wait and see." "Hey, the sky changes for a while, but people's hearts are hard to change, and I can't change it." Drunk and full, Xu Yougong lay down on the bed and slept with a fan covering his face.Sima Hong thought he was nervous, depressed, lost confidence in life, and pretended to be asleep. "Can a person who knows that he has been sentenced to death sleep?" After a while, Xu Yougong's well-proportioned snoring sound could be heard.He actually fell asleep. Wu Zetian understood Xu Yougong's virtue, admired his uprightness and justice, and didn't want to beat him to death with a stick, so she decided to summon him again before sentencing, so that he could die without complaint. "I have always regarded you as a loyal minister, with a high degree of trust, and great trust. But you are usually imprisoned when you end up in prison, what is your intention?" Released after acquittal. Wu Zetian's attitude and tone all contain the meaning of blame.Xu Yougong realized that this was the last time the emperor received him, and there would be no more chances after that.He calmed down, held his wat in both hands, and replied solemnly: "The minister is no more than a drop in the ocean. Whether it is wrong or good, fortunate or unfortunate, you have your own opinion, and it does not harm the overall situation. Your Majesty does not need to think about it. But I hope that your majesty will put the country's interests first. Ethical governance and enlightenment. If this is the case, the world will be blessed and the people will be blessed.” "Are you really not afraid of death?" "I'm not a plant, so I don't feel it. It's just that for the sake of justice and straightness, I'm willing to take risks and sacrifice my life. For example, in the case of Ponzi, I obviously threw stones into a well, but I didn't agree with it. I would rather exchange my life for hers. , to recover justice and the emperor's favor." Wu Zetian wrinkled his forehead thoughtfully.Moved by his words, she exempted Ponzi from the death penalty and commuted his sentence by one grade, and exiled to Lingnan together with his sons Xijian, Xiqiu and Xijin.Dou Xiaochen was also demoted to Luozhou [a in Lianjiang County, Guangdong Province] as a Sima.Xu Yougong was also dismissed as a civilian. He left the difficult officialdom and returned to nature, floating like a white cloud, wandering through the years, chic and happy.Once his name is still the heir of the emperor, he is actually placed under house arrest, and contact with the outside world is prohibited, and contact with courtiers is prohibited.Shangfang supervisor Pei Banditong and internal servant Fan Yunxian sneaked into the East Palace to meet Huang Sidan.The cruel officials immediately got the news, and they arrested Pei and Fan and imprisoned them for inciting the emperor's heir to rebel.Pei Jiegong knew that he would inevitably die, so he pleaded guilty without torture.Fan Yunxian wanted to survive from death, and told him that he had served several emperors in a row, and there was no evil scheme.Lai Junchen was furious and cut off his tongue.All the officials and the people were heartbroken, and no one dared to speak.Lai Junchen brought out the capital punishment, which had been abandoned for a long time, and beheaded the two of them in half. Wu Chengsi saw that there was a gap to be exploited, and ordered Lai Junchen to play: "This year, the atmosphere in the East Palace is very abnormal. I am afraid that it will cause Xiao Qiang, and a great rebellion will break out." "what do you mean?" Wu Zetian asked casually. "I want to go directly to the East Palace, first check the people around Huang Sidan." Wu Zetian nodded and said: "Be careful, so as not to cause adverse effects." Lai Junchen obtained the emperor's imperial edict, excitedly led his most capable team of cruel officials, and stormed into the East Palace aggressively.At present, there are no officials around Dan to speak of, only some maidservants, eunuchs and servants.When they learned that the person who came was Lai Junchen, the inventor of the Luo Zhijing and the murderous executioner, they were all trembling with fright, and they knelt on the ground obediently, not even daring to pick up their heads.Lai Junchen's blood-red eyes were wide open, showing his ferocious appearance, and there were little cruel officials on both sides to cheer him on. He was so arrogant that he almost turned the East Palace into the Palace of the King of Hades, and he himself was even more vicious than the King of Hades in the Five Palaces. "What is the East Palace doing? What did Dan tell you? Also, what do you think about the disappearance of the second concubine? Well, let me tell you the truth! If you don't tell the truth, you will be guilty of the conspiracy and rebellion." The interrogation became more and more severe, and the situation became more and more tense.The people being interrogated were so frightened that they almost collapsed into a state of collapse.Lai Junchen was about to succeed, and his confession was about to be obtained.However, at this juncture, success was on the verge of failure, and suddenly a strong man jumped up, and with a fearless air, he exploded his throat and shouted: "No, this can't be done. Everything in the East Palace is normal, there is absolutely no illegal act, let alone Do something illegal!" "Who are you?" Lai Junchen's eyes pointed at the strong man like two sharp swords, "How dare you yell in front of me in the East Palace!" "My name is An Jinzang, and I am a servant of the Eastern Palace. I never mess around in the Eastern Palace, and I abide by the rules. Everyone can testify to me." "Who told you to keep talking?!" "Isn't your lord interrogating us? We don't speak, where does your statement come from?" "Du, bold, you dare to contradict me! Come on, pull this kid down for me and bring him back to Lijing Gate!" "Slow! I was born as a member of the East Palace, and I will die as a ghost of the East Palace. Without the emperor's order, I will not go anywhere, and no one will touch me!" After finishing speaking, An Jinzang took out his saber and said, "I am a A stupid worker only knows that one is one and two is two, so he won’t cheat. If Master Yushi doesn’t believe me, I can show you my heart to prove that I didn’t tell lies, and the emperor’s heir never rebelled.” He opened his chest, stabbed himself with a knife, dragged it down, cut open the abdomen, and the intestines flowed out, blood gushed out, and the person fell into a pool of blood.The people present were stunned by his action at first, and then they woke up like a dream, and there was a commotion, the palace maids screamed in fright, and several bold eunuchs ran into the palace in disorder. Some of the remaining eunuchs and servants surrounded An Jinzang, some tore their clothes to help him temporarily cover the wound, some collected incense burner ashes, and some carefully applied the incense ash on the wound to stop the bleeding.Lai Junchen panicked and quietly withdrew from the East Palace with his officials.When the news reached Wu Zetian's ears, she was so shocked that she ordered the imperial doctor to rush to the East Palace for rescue.The imperial doctors gently removed the incense ash from An Jinzang's wound, disinfected it with white wine, sewed up a long wound with mulberry bark fibers, and applied Wanyingjin wound ointment.After a while, An Jinzang gradually came to his senses, sucking in big gulps of air while groaning weakly in pain.When bandaging the wound with a white cloth, Wu Zetian rushed over surrounded by a group of eunuchs and maids, and she saw An Jinzang lying on the rope bed at first sight.An Jinzang's face was as white as a piece of paper, the ground around him was clotted with jet-black blood, the laparotomy saber dropped aside gleamed coldly, and the smell of blood and medicine choked his nostrils. 武则天几十年来处死过的人数以千计，但那只不过是在死刑状上批示一下而已，像今天这样近距离地见到流血场面，却是头一次。她心里很不好受，只想呕吐，一只手扪着接近喉咙的地方，弯腰弓背，温和地说道：“多谢你，安金藏，你不顾性命救了我的儿子，朕现在一切都明白了。安心养好伤，朕不会忘记你的。” “谢谢圣恩。” 旦代替安金藏跪下行礼谢了恩。 “有如此忠贞的人在你身边，实在幸运，朕也放心了。一定要好好对待此人，皇儿，人心难得啊！”武则天如释重负般地叹了口气，启驾返回了嘉豫殿。这件事使武则天深受感动。如果说她平生忏悔过，这事该算一次。她每天都特别派遣玉兰到东宫看望安金藏，又吩咐御医尽快让安金藏恢复健康。安金藏伤好后，她厚加赏赐，优待他当东宫行走，陪伴武旦。玉兰和安金藏建立了感情，武则天非常高兴，以出嫁皇家县主的礼仪，大办喜事，让他们结成了夫妻。李旦复位后，破格提拔安金藏当右武卫中郎将。李隆基即位，擢升他当右武卫将军，并命史官将他的忠勇事迹载入史册。四十年后，也就是开元二十一年，特封安金藏当代国公，以表彰其忠诚和以身救主的功绩，安金藏获得了忠臣与功臣的双重荣誉。 武承嗣的太子梦又一次被东宫一名小小的仆役打破了，他气极败坏，攥紧拳头在室内兜圈子。踱着踱着目光一闪，想起了去年九月，奏请圣神皇帝，增加“金轮”的尊号时，武则天那高兴的样子。当时他向皇帝呈上洛阳五千民众的签名请愿书，请加“金轮”尊号，武则天于九月九日重阳节，在万象神宫正式接受了这个尊号：“金轮圣神皇帝”。所谓金轮，按照佛教的说法，有一佛叫作转轮佛，以金、银、铜、铁四轮镇服天下。四轮中，金轮可以借着风力使天下顺从。 女皇还敕命制作了金轮宝、白象宝、女宝、马宝、珠宝、主兵臣宝、主藏臣宝等七宝，陈列于殿前，接受百官早朝时膜拜。现在，武承嗣又决计如法炮制，递呈洛阳二万六千余人的签名请愿表，请求再冠以“越古”的尊号。然则，武则天并没有作出任何反应。她对皇嗣的事伤透了心思，在她的心灵深处，旦和承嗣是两个相反的互不相容的极端，但却同时在她的心目中存在着，争斗着。自古以来，被喻为明君或英雄的人，在功成名就时，那股奋发向上的朝气和魄力往往会骤然消失，代之而来的却是与前者切然相反的疲惫、空虚和莫名其妙的烦恼。 武则天业已创建了大周帝国，但却和众多的男皇帝不一样，一没有造陵，二没有选“妃”一仅仅只有一个公开的情夫薛怀义，这不能不说是她高人一筹的明智之处，也许是她那种锲而不舍的改革和进取精神继续支撑着她。当然，她也想为晚年凭添几分活力和欢乐，然而她想得最多的一直是如何让自己所开创的事业发扬光大，后继有人。偏偏皇嗣人选始终定不下来。旦虽然一直留在皇嗣的位置上，其实正是她考虑不成熟的表现，暂时维持现状，过渡一下，到时候再说。往哪一方面过渡，过渡到谁呢？往李姓方面过渡，等于复辟。而武氏宗族中又无人堪当此任。素来精明果决的武则天居然举棋不定，莫衷一是，委实令人难以置信。不过，又恰好说明了武则天有识人之明，看到了武氏家族未来的悲剧。索尽枯肠，冥思苦想，实在伤神，也没有什么意义。欲罢不能，求之不得，她不知不觉地走进了另一个玄妙的神秘世界，借此从苦恼中超脱出来。洛阳麟趾寺的住持是河内河南温县老尼姑，跟嵩山河南登封县北人韦什方等，互相呼应，装神弄鬼，迷惑世人。老尼自称“净光如来”，又来了一位胡人，自称已活了五百岁，未卜先知，预知未来。胡人的年事已髙，而脸容却如美少年一般白面红颜，光彩照人。韦什方说自己出生于四百五十年前的三国东吴的赤乌年代。三个人都能施展妖术，惑众本领非凡。 武承嗣三顾鳞趾寺，求三位世外髙人下山助一臂之力。经他牵线搭桥，武则天接见了三位高人。老尼和胡人迎合武则天的爱好与心意，口吐莲花，高谈阔论妙理玄机。语言不通，或者听不懂的地方，武承嗣和韦什方充当翻译。胡人说：“圣神皇帝加上金轮，所以天下太平。” 老尼说：“如今四方进贡，万国来朝，皇上千古一帝，大周万古千秋，必须再加上越古二字。” 他们就这样说服了女皇。 武则天御驾则天门楼，向天下宣布尊号增加“越古”二字，以“越古金轮圣神皇帝”作为天子的名称。照例大赦一般罪犯。女皇对三位高人愈来愈感兴趣，常常召见他们，和他们一起瞎胡扯。薛怀义虽然脾气古怪，但比较务实，听不惯他们这些“海外奇谈”和“阿谀”之词，显得有些不耐烦。韦什方灵机一动，装出惊讶的样子指着薛怀义说：“噢呀，国公原来是金尊罗汉转世，两百年前我见过你，你吃了长生不老药，愈活愈年轻。陛下有你护驾，自然国泰民安。” “过誉啦，过誉啦。” 薛怀义顿时张开了笑脸，前嫌尽释。 “还有天机，”韦什方故弄玄虚，接着又耍了一个花招，“鄙人不敢泄露。” “鬼老头，你少来这一套糊弄我，爽快点，有话就说，有屁就放。” “啊呵！哈哈哈哈！”武则天带头一笑，哄堂大笑起来。她见韦什方道德高深，善解人意，恩赐武姓，任命他当正谏大夫、同平章事，聘为宰相，辅佐朝纲。韦什方做了一个月宰相，由于不懂政务，议事时插不上嘴，处理政务不能单独作战，宰相们都瞧不起他，他也和他们合不来，十分苦恼，坚请回嵩山。 武则天免除了他的官职，让这位山人返回了山里。 武承嗣想方设法讨皇帝喜欢，频频得手。 武三思眼红起来，心里很不服气：“让承嗣袭承祖父的爵位，本来就是一种错误的选择。他的父亲元爽是祖父的次子，只不过他的年龄比我大一点。我的父亲是袓父的长子，以此下推，我才是嫡派长孙咧。” 人心不足，如今他也一心想成为皇太子。 “与其选择他，倒不如选择我。只有我才有这个资格，同时又具备这方面的条件。不是吹，真正博学多才的是我，文史知识与姑母不相上下，其他方面还有特长。看上去承嗣显得文质彬彬，忠厚老实，其实老实鼻子空，肚里耍灯笼。从小没有读过多少书，仅仅一点小聪明，在姑母面前卖乖弄巧。哼，这样的事谁不会干？”韦什方一走，武三思立刻联系各国使节和部落酋长署名，奏请用铜铁铸成天枢象征天的中心，上面刻载着奉天承运以周代唐，以及赞颂圣神皇帝的文字，置于端门之外。端门乃洛阳官衙街的正门，直通驿道。名曰天枢，实际上等于纪念碑。 武则天早就想为自己树碑立传，把一生的丰功伟绩留传下去，即刻准其所奏并诏命纳言侍中姚涛兼建立天枢的督作使。酋长们遵循武三思的指令分别向住在两都的胡人募捐。胡人大都经商，虽迫不得已，但是当作税金的一部分，总算交出了一百亿钱。 铜铁不够，又强迫农民捐献锄头犁耙等锏铁农具和锅盆器皿，凑足了所需的重量。狡狯的武三思手段高明，一举三得：既没有惊动朝廷，自己又没有破费，而功劳为他所独占。内史豆卢钦望想讨好武则天，比起武三思来，显然逊色多了，弄巧成拙，以至搞得自己下不了台。近些年边疆一直不安宁，战争频繁，庞大的军费开支对国库压力甚大。作为辅佐国政的执宰，在国库告罄之前，必须想出对策，尤其首席宰相一内史更是责任重大。当时的宰相班子有李昭德、豆卢钦望、韦巨源、姚涛、杨再思、杜景俭、苏味道、陆元方等人。其中内史的员额有二，一为李昭德，一为豆卢钦望。 武则天信任李昭德，大小事情都交他办理，宰相和朝臣们大都听他的。豆卢钦望没有发挥什么作用，在众人的心目中也没有地位，很不甘心。他的祖父宽，是隋文帝杨坚的外甥，和炀帝是表兄弟。隋亡，豆卢宽投靠唐高祖李渊，后来李世民升其担任礼部尚书兼左卫大将军，封芮国公，死于永徽元年，陪葬昭陵。豆卢钦望的父亲仁业，髙宗朝当左卫将军。 武则天登上帝座以来，这位贵族出身的豆卢钦望官运亨通，长寿二年替代宗秦客升任内史。他仪表堂堂，举止大雅，处处表现出一种贵族政治家的风度，伹是缺乏实际才能，只想寻找机会表现一回，抬高身价，至少让人知道他和李昭德的地位是平等的。对于国家不断增加的各项开支，见李昭德似乎没有反应过来，他便直接向武则天密奏，九品以上的京官，奉献两个月的薪俸，支持对突厥作战。 武则天默许后，豆卢钦望喜出望外，搬出许多爱国的典故和大道理，“呵呵啊啊”大肆抒情，凑成了一篇闪炼其辞的文章，叫朝臣们签名上奏。左拾遗王求礼为人处世不含糊，他连续看了几遍，才看出文章的用意，是要大小京官“乐意”捐献两个月的俸禄作军费开支。早朝时，他当面戳穿了豆卢钦望的把戏。 “阁下爱国的高调实在非同凡响，可惜我们这样的穷官可望而不可及，一家老小等着粑粑要火烧，每月的薪俸还难以维持一个月的生活。” “爱国嘛，多少都得克服一点因难。” 穿戴整洁的豆卢钦望耸了耸肩膊，摆出一种冠冕堂皇的样子。 “假设都和大人的条件差不多，那就好喽，”王求礼仿模着豆卢钦望的腔调，“三朝勋贵，家资丰厚，吃不尽的山珍海味，穿不完的绫罗绸缎，即使一年不拿薪水也无所谓。” 豆卢钦望袓孙三代历经隋朝、唐朝和当今的周朝，都没受到什么挫折，所以王求礼讥刺他家“三朝勋贵”。那时俸禄的大体情况是：三品宰相每月计有本俸五千一百钱，食物津贴一千一百钱，杂费九百钱。五品官的本俸三千钱，食物津贴及杂费六百钱。九品官本俸仅一千五百钱，食杂费四百五十钱。殿堂顿时静了下来，寂寂无声。纳言姚涛觉得王求礼态度过于生硬，言语唐突，还带着一种冷嘲热讽的腔调。他心里很不是滋味，站出来批驳道：“王拾遗对于天下大势，也许不甚了解吧？” “像姚相爷如此了解天下大势的人，也许不作第二人想。” 王求礼毫不示弱，反唇相讥，旁敲侧击，点出了姚琦为制作天枢，竟然强迫农民献出生产工具和生活用具。姚琦的出身历史与豆卢钦望大不一样。他的父亲曾任豫州属官。本人幼年即丧失父母，还要耐心照料比他年纪更小的弟妹，同时又勤奋学习。永徽年间由明经科及第，踏人官场。因才学出众选任太子宫门郎。中书令许敬宗、中书侍郎上官仪等，为太子弘编撰《瑶山玉彩》五百卷，他也是其中之一。书成，升秘书郎。 武则天称制，累迁至夏官侍郎。其堂弟姚敬节参加了徐敬业的叛乱，姚琦受株连，左迁为贵州都督府长史。而他并不灰心丧气，根据太后素喜祥瑞的个性，积极收集与“武”字有关的山川地理和草木名称，汇整上奏，甚至称武姓为“国姓”。他的作法有利于易世革命，受到武则天的青睐，召回神都，擢升天官侍郎。延载元年，升任纳言，有人仍纠缠其堂弟叛逆之事进行谏阻，姚琦也向皇帝提出辞呈。 武则天反过来安慰他：“朕心中有数，你放开手脚去干吧。” 即命他当建造天的督作使。这时候，酷吏内部大闹分裂，分化瓦解。来俊臣先发制人，举报“白兔御使”王弘义贪赃枉法。王弘义被革除左台侍御史之职，流放琼州海南琼山县。常言道，祸不单行。流放途中，王弘义假装接到了武则天命他返回京师的诏书，走到汉水北岸，却碰上了奉敕命出使岭南的侍御史胡元礼。胡元礼曾经要杀一名囚犯，同司刑丞李日知发生争执遭失败，内心责怪王弘义帮了倒忙。如今受命当“天使”，正想显示显示自己，停下来盘问王弘义。 “白兔御使，你为何犯下了流放罪？” 他眉梢挑起一丝嘲笑。 “呃，呃。” 王弘义有口难开，不敢说出为来俊臣所害。 “怎么，嘴巴打封条了？” “大人高抬贵手，饶了我吧，好歹看在我俩以前是同事的份上。” “谁跟你共过事？胡说八道！你当御史时，我仅仅是一名小小的洛阳尉。眼下，胡某是钦差。你呢，却成了阶下囚，可耻的流放犯。你这臭名昭着的无赖，竟敢花言巧语在老子面前耍滑头。来呀，给我搜！”一盘问一搜查，露出了真相。胡元礼双脚跳起来，朝王弘义猛扑过去，双手扼住他的喉咙，把他活活掐死了。东窗事发。御史中丞来俊臣犯索贿罪，贬逐到同州陕西大荔县当参军。监察御史纪履忠弹劾御史中丞来俊臣贪图财色、徇私舞弊五大罪状，来俊臣被捕下狱，应该处死。 武则天念他有功，由参军贬作平民。此后，他倒是又翻过身来了，东山再起，又大干了好几个回合，狂妄到了翻江倒海的程度，最后败在太平公主和武氏家族的手上，结束了罪恶可耻的一生。内史李昭德，仗恃武则天的倚重及信任，盛气凌人，独揽大权，意气用事，招来了许多人的非议和僧恨。前鲁王府功曹参军丘愔上疏猛烈抨击说：“陛下在天授年间以前，政事由自己决断，长寿年间之后，委任李昭德，让他参与机密，最后裁定。一些对国家便利的事，他事先不参与商议，待到批示执行时，才另外提出不同意见，节外生枝展现自己的才华，炫耀自己的权力。人说善事归君王，过失自己承担，他却不遵循这种君臣关系的常理。” 又进一步夸张说：“我看他的胆子比身体还大，鼻孔朝天喷出的气，上冲霄汉。” 再加上形象的比喻，“蚂蚁小小的洞穴，可以使堤岸崩溃针尖轻轻的一戳，能使气球干瘪。大权旁落，收回很难。” 长上果毅地方武官邓注，编写《石论》数千言，描绘李昭德专断独行的状态。凤阁舍人逢弘敏，把它呈递给武则天。 武则天遂对李昭德产生了厌恶的感觉，但是沉吟不决，心里徘徊瞻顾。她想多听一听不同的反映，试探性地对姚琦说：“李昭德才气横溢，然而缺乏修养，凡事都率直进谏，说话不加思索，妄自尊大，目中无人，难免不遭来嫉恨，引起是非。” “微臣也觉得他有些浅露，爱出风头，哗众取宠。他那种与众不同之处，我一时还说不清楚，表达不出来。” 姚琦态度暗昧，说话闪烁其辞。 武则天也想拖一段时间再说，可是薛怀义却不肯放过他。年初敕令薛怀义当代北道行军大总管，李昭德当长史，凤阁舍人苏味道当同司马，统率十八名将军和二十万大军，征讨东突厥。李照德却因此得罪了薛怀义。长期以来，朔北马背上的游牧民族，一旦产生了国家意识，便会南下，对中原构成严重的威胁。唐初曾一度向东突厥俯首称臣，求其援助，统一中国。李世民对于东突厥的狂傲忍无可忍，集中兵力打败了东突厥。东突厥反过来向大唐称臣纳贡，尊李世民为“天可汗”。李世民接着又征服了西突厥，贞观四年在哈密设立伊州，十四年设立西州与庭州。到了七世纪后半叶，突厥重新抬起头来，西突厥部族之一的突骑施，摆脱了唐朝的统治，自行独立，大唐对它的统治已名存实亡。调露元年，西突厥全面叛乱，裴行俭给予迎头痛击，又获得了一时的安定。永淳元年，东突厥首领阿史那骨咄禄可汗建立了游牧国家，乘势叛乱，进攻云州山西大同市，被薛仁贵击退。尔后，东突厥仍不断进犯定河北定县、蔚山西蔚县、朔山西朔县》、昌平北京市昌平县等州，名将程务挺与黑齿常之尚可随时将他们赶跑。洛阳朝廷不像李世民那样重视突厥，武则天和大多数朝臣都没有把突厥放在眼里。周历长寿三年正月，即夏历长寿二年十一月，东突厥骨咄禄可汗病故，其弟默辍继承汗位，亲领大军突然袭击灵州宁夏灵武县。