The detailed process of Wei Hou rebellion

On May 23rd, the year of Heishengyuan (AD 684), several wagons were driving slowly on the country road from Zhou Jun (now Xunxian County, Hubei Province) to Fangling (now Fangxian County, Hubei Province). A young man sitting in the first carriage, gloomy and glassy-eyed, seemed to have a heavy heart and infinite grief. This is Tang Zhongzong Li Xian. After Wu Zetian proclaimed himself emperor, Li Xian was abolished as the king of Luling and put in an abandoned courtyard in the palace. Later, he was exiled to the far south. At this time, Li Xian was in exile. He looked at the green Yuan Ye and deeply felt that the vibrant earth was so incongruous with his mood. His wife Webster's car is behind him. Thinking of his wife, Li Xian couldn't help looking back. Wei was accepted as a princess when Zhongzong was a prince, and was made a queen in Shengyuan, and Zhongzong was abolished. She was also demoted and went to Fangling with her entourage. Webster just gave birth to a girl, and she is still very weak. The constant jolting of the car during the journey increased her pain. Because they gave birth to a baby on the road and had no time to prepare, Li Xian and Webster had to wrap the girl in their own clothes, so they named the baby "Bao". Unlike parents who can't sleep because of pain, Bao Er is often in a deep sleep state. There are several cars behind Webster's house, carrying their adult children, slaves and some things. Li Xian and Webster settled down after they arrived at Fangling. During their stay in Fangling, Wu Zetian sent envoys to visit them many times.

Whenever he heard the news of the special envoy's arrival, Li Xian was always nervous, fidgeting and even wanted to commit suicide. On the contrary, Webster is more open-minded. She advised Li Xian, "Happiness depends on misfortune, and misfortune always changes. Why do you want to die? You don't have to be so scared. " In this way, Li Xian and Webster lived together and spent more than ten years of hard life in Fangling, and the feelings between husband and wife became deeper. Whenever night comes and the sky is full of stars, Li Xian will look at the starry sky and return to the life of the prince in the palace in the past 100 million years. He assured Webster that once she returned to the throne, she would be happy in every way. Because Renjie, an old minister in the DPRK, often advised Wu Zetian to think more about the love between mother and son, Ji Xiang, Li Zhaode and other ministers also talked about resetting Li Xian, who was in her seventies, and because Wu Zetian was sickly and always thought of Li Xian, who was far away from home, so in the first year of the holy calendar (AD 698), he welcomed Li Xian back to the palace, and Webster also returned with him. When Li Xiangang returned to the palace, he kept it a secret. He was hidden in a big tent by Wu Zetian.

One day, Wu Zetian summoned Emperor Renjie and talked about Li Xian, king of Luling. Di Renjie made a big speech, and she was in tears and very excited. Wu Zetian sent someone to call Li Xian out of the account, pushed him to the emperor, and said, "I'll give you back Chu Jun." When the emperor saw it, he hurried back to the stage and saluted while crying. After a while, Emperor Renjie said to Wu Zetian: "When the prince returns to the palace, everyone doesn't know, and it is inevitable that someone will talk about it." Wu Zetian thought that Di Renjie had a point, so she publicly welcomed Li Xian into the palace from Longmen with grand etiquette. In this regard, the civil and military officials are very happy.

In the first year of Shenlong (AD 705), on the second day of the first month, Zhang Jianzhi, assistant minister of Fengge, Cui Xuanwei, assistant minister of Luantai, and General Zuo Yulin (1) paid tribute to you. General Right Yulin and Huan, who was in charge of punishing Yuan, took advantage of Wu Zetian's illness to launch a palace coup, killing her cronies and welcoming the Crown Prince to visit the country. Seeing the tide ebbing, Wu Ze surrendered to Li Xian on the third day of the first month. On the fourth day, Li Xian was placed in Tiantong Palace. Soon, he restored the title of the Tang Dynasty, and all etiquette systems were restored to the old style during the reign of Emperor Gaozong Yongchun.

A few months later, 82-year-old Wu Zetian passed away. In this way, Tang Zhongzong Li Xi 'an became emperor for the second time, and Webster was made queen. During Zhongzong's second accession to the throne, disasters continued year after year and border incidents continued. In April of the first year of Shenlong, there was a rainstorm and hail in Tongguan County (now Tongchuan, Shaanxi Province), which flooded more than 400 families and killed many birds. In March of the third year of Shenlong (AD 707), a plague occurred from Shi Jing to Shandong, killing countless people.

This summer, more than 20 states in Shandong and Hebei suffered from drought again, and thousands of people died of hunger and disease. However, for all this, Zhong Zong and Wei Hou didn't take it to heart. Wei Houhui said to Zhongzong: "We have had enough suffering for more than ten years, and now we have to live a free life.

With Wei Hou's encouragement, in that year 1 1 month, when Zhongzong ascended the throne, they went to the south gate building of Luoyang City to watch the Cold War. At that time, it was freezing, the north wind was cold, and the northern conference semifinals waved naked and danced freely. Zhongzong and Wei Hou wore light fur clothes and worked tirelessly from morning till night. In February of the third year of Shenlong, Zhongzong and Wei Hou boarded Xuanwu Gate together with the near ministers to watch the ladies-in-waiting party drinking. Wei Hou was still unhappy, and asked Zhongzong to order the left and right maids to fight each other to decide the outcome.

They also sent ladies-in-waiting to set up stalls and let officials or officials pretend to be businessmen to trade. Because of unfair trade, ministers and ladies-in-waiting abused each other and swore at each other. Zong and Wei Hou both laughed after watching it.

On the Lantern Festival in the first month of the fourth year of Shenlong (AD 708), Zhongzong and Wei Hou took off their robes of dragons and phoenixes, put on people's costumes, and led ministers to mingle with Chang 'an citizens to watch lanterns in the street in front of Huadu Temple. That night, according to Wei Hou's suggestion, Zhongzong released thousands of ladies-in-waiting to watch the lights, and more than half of them ran away. In February, Zhongzong, Wei Hou and the princesses came to Liyuan Stadium in Jincheng (now Xingping, Shaanxi) to watch the tug-of-war. In March, they visited the Peach Blossom Spring. In April, I went to the Peach Blossom Garden to enjoy cherry blossoms, decorated lanterns in Qin Long Pool and took a boat trip. Zhongzong and Wei Hou really tasted the happiness of Tian Zi. The drama tour of Zhongzong and Wei Hou and his obedience to Wei Hou made political affairs more corrupt. Shortly after he ascended the throne for the second time, at the request of Wei Hou, Zhongzong made his father Wei king. In this regard, Jia Xu, the minister, objected to the laws that did not conform to our ancestors, saying, "Different surnames are not kings, and this has been the case since ancient times. As soon as the emperor was reset, he sealed his descendants and broke his promise to the world. " It turns out that according to the rules of the imperial court, only people with the same surname as the emperor can be crowned king. However, Zhongzong didn't listen to Jia Xu at all. At this time, Zhongzong remembered his previous promise: Wei Hou can ask for anything as long as he is happy. After the restoration of Zhongzong, Wu Zetian passed away, but Wu's influence in North Korea was still very strong. Wu Sansi, the nephew of Wu Zetian, was named King of Dejing County at this time. Officials worshipped the third from the left and often rode horses. At first, Zhang Jian, Cui Xuanyong and others killed Zhang Yizhi. After Zhang Changzong, Xue Jichang, chief historian of Mingzhou (now Yongnian, Hebei), once said to Zhang Jian and others, "Although they have been eradicated, Wu Sansi and his gang are still there. We should use the situation to eradicate them and the country will be stable. " However, Zhang Jianzhi did not listen to this opinion. Wu Sansi is smart and good at watching the wind and steering. He saw Zhang Jian and others dispose of Zhang Yizhi, and left him alone for the time being. Through various relationships, his eldest son Wu Chongxun married Wei Hou's youngest daughter Princess Anle. In this way, Wu Sansi's position in North Korea was further consolidated. When Wu Zetian was alive, there was a woman named Shangguan Waner in the palace. She was very fond of Wu Zetian because she knew poetry and songs and had a gentle personality. After the restoration of Zhongzong, Shangguan Waner continued to gain trust and was in charge of drafting orders. Soon. Also known as Zhao Rong (female official name). When Wu Zetian was alive, Shangguan Waner had an affair with Wu Sansi. After Wu Sansi and Wei Hou became their children's in-laws, the relationship between Wu Sansi and Wei Hou also developed into an abnormal state through the collusion of Shangguan Waner.

At this time, Wei Hou completely degenerated. Wu Sansi often entered the palace and played chess with Wei Hou, while Zhongzong watched. Sometimes Wu Sansi and Wei Hou sit on the dragon bed and play games together, while Zhongzong stands aside and makes suggestions. People outside the imperial court soon learned about these scandals. Wu San-si-yi didn't enter the palace for two days. After Wei, he asked Zhongzong to visit him. Because of the collusion between Wu Sansi and Wei Hou, Zhongzong listened to Wei Hou, and even what happened in North Korea, Zhongzong had to discuss with Wu Sansi. According to Wei Hou's opinion, Zhongzong appointed Wu Sansi as prime minister, which made Wu Sansi's power in North Korea much more prominent than that in Wu Zetian's period.

Zhongzong's fatuity, Wei Hou's chaotic politics and Wu Sansi's favor made the DPRK minister Zhang Jianzhi and others very uneasy. They repeatedly advised Zhongzong to get rid of Wu Sansi, weaken the power of Wu and strengthen the imperial power. However, at this time, Zhongzong will not listen to what they say anyway. Prior to this, Cui Jiao, the supervisor of the army, protested to Zhongzong, but Zhongzong didn't listen. Instead, he told Wu Sansi what he said. As a result, Cui Jiao was quickly demoted. Wu Sansi knew that Zhang Jianzhi and others wanted to get rid of him. So I discussed the countermeasures with five people, namely, Yu Shizhou, Ran, Guang Lucheng, Song Zhixun, Tai Fujun and Yao Shaozhi. These five people are Wu Sansi's eyes and ears, and they were called "think twice and five dogs" at that time. Five dogs gave Wu Sansi a lot of bad ideas. Later, Wu Sansi came to the palace to discuss with Wei Hou. When they made a plan, they spoke ill of five ministers, namely, Zhang Jianzhi, Jing Hui, Yuan, Cui Xuanyong and Huan. They criticized the five ministers for monopolizing power and scheming by relying on their achievements.

Zhongzong believed it and asked them what to do. Wei Hou and Wu Sansi suggested that Zhong Zong establish five people as kings and take the method of promotion and demotion to seize their real power, and Zhong Zong agreed. In this way, Zhongzong named Huan as king of Fuyang county, Jing Hui as king of Pingyang county, Zhang Jianzhi as king of Hanyang county, Cui Xuanyong as king of Boling county and Yuan as king of Nanyang county. At the same time, he also gave the five ministers a lot of dyed colors, splendid flowers, gold and silver, and pommel horses. These five ministers are called You Chong. Really seized power. Wu Sansi dominates the state affairs, and Webster is behind him, which is even more domineering. Anyone who opposed him was expelled from the capital, and anyone who worked for him was entrusted with a heavy responsibility. Soon, Wu Sansi thought the time was ripe, so he listed charges through Tang Zhongzong and issued imperial edicts on the grounds that five ministers framed Wei Hou. Exile five ministers to distant frontiers. Huan was exiled to Guizhou (now Guixian, Guangxi) and died of clubbing. Jing Hui was exiled to Yazhou (now southeast of Haikou, Hainan Island) and murdered; Cui Xuanyong was imprisoned in Shirakawa (now Xibobai County), only halfway there; Zhang Jianzhi was demoted to Xiangzhou (now Xiangfan, Hubei) and died of anger; Yuan Shu was exiled to Zhou Huan (now northeast of Guang Hechi), and was killed after being driven crazy. Wu Sansi got rid of five ministers after colluding with Wei, and his arrogance became even more arrogant. He once proudly said to his cronies, "I don't know what a good man is and what a bad man is." As long as I am good, I am a good person. " At that time, all adulterers were snared by him.

Wei Hou's daughter Princess Anle is also an ambitious person. She wants to be the second Wu Zetian. With the connivance of Wei Hou, she dominated the court, humiliated ministers, ignored the king's laws and did whatever she wanted. Especially for the eldest son Li Zhongjun is jealous. She once wrote the imperial edict herself, covered the first part, and let Zhongzong cover the emperor's seal. Zhong Zong smiled and agreed to her request. She also claimed that she was Wei Hou's own daughter, and Li Zhongjun was not born to Hou Wei, and asked Zhongzong to be the wife of the emperor to replace the position of Crown Prince Li Zhongjun. Wei, the left servant, expressed his opposition to Zhongzong. Princess Anle said, "For Yu Lu, we have no right to discuss state affairs. A warrior (the name of Wu Zetian in the palace) can still be an emperor. Can't the emperor's daughter be an emperor? " Not only that, Princess Anle also proposed to Zhongzong that Kunming Pool should be his own private lake, which was politely rejected by Zhongzong on the grounds that there was no precedent. So Princess Anle was furious and ordered people to dig a Dingkun Lake for miles. Princess Anle also sent slaves to rob women among the people and act as handmaiden of her family.

Someone reported this situation to Yuan, the left captain. Yuan enforced the law impartially and arrested Princess Anle's slave. Anle Palace asked Zhongzong to order his release, but the weak Zhongzong actually agreed, so that Yuan Congyi said angrily, "Why did the emperor do this?" Princess Anle was bent on being the emperor's wife and son of heaven, and she was in cahoots with Wu Sansi and others, which made Prince Li Zhongjun feel extremely threatened and deeply dissatisfied. On July 11th, the third year of Shenlong, Li Zhongjun, together with Yulin General Li Duozuo, led 300 Yulin soldiers to rush into Wu Sansi's house and kill Wu Sansi's father and son. Later, he led the troops into the palace from Sumen, trying to capture and kill Wu Sansi's accomplices Shangguan Waner, Princess Anle and Queen Wei. At this time, the banquet had just ended. General Liu Yu-lin reported that the prince had rebelled, and hurriedly led Princess Anle and Shangguan Waner to Xuanwu Gate. Because Liu mobilized the right-wing feather forest army, and others were outnumbered, and because Zhongzong issued an imperial edict on Xuanwu Gate, announcing the pardon of the insurgents, one hundred feather forest troops were shaken and lost their morale. As a result, Prince Li Zhongjun failed to attack Xuanwu Gate. Zuo Yulin's general Li Duozuo was killed by his men, and Li Zhongjun also killed his men after he fled to Gambu County (now Lu Xian County, Shaanxi Province). After the pacification, Princess Anle and Queen Wei became even more unscrupulous. Whenever Zhongzong came to the court to listen to politics, Wei Hou also sat behind the curtain of the court and gave orders. In February of the first year of Jinglong (A.D. 709), Wei Hou claimed that there were five-color auspicious clouds rising from her skirt in her suitcase, and ordered the painter to draw the following picture for civil and military officials to see.

Wei Hou also instructed Xiao Wei, the right general, to know about the Taishigong incident. Ye Jia's ruling middle school said: "At the beginning, Gaozu did not claim to be the emperor, and the world sang' Taolizi'; Before he proclaimed himself emperor, the world song "The King of Qin breaks the array"; Before Emperor Gaozong became emperor, the world sang "side opening"; Then before the emperor became an emperor, the world sang "Wu Meiniang", before he became an emperor, the world sang "Wang Shizhou", and after he became an emperor, he sang "Mulberry Number", which shows people's hearts. Now that the Emperor and anxious to return, the Empress of Rende, have unified the whole country, I would like to enter the Twelve Sangs. Please declare China and foreign countries and enter Yuefu. " Zhongzong readily agreed. So ... Twelve sang songs praising Wei Hou are widely circulated. The ambitions of Queen Wei and Princess Anle have been exposed, and the ministers of the DPRK are furious and have been talking about it. At this time, the former Xuzhou (now Xuchang, Henan Province) soldiers joined the army, and Yan Qinrong wrote to Zhongzong, accusing Wei Hou of interfering in state affairs, and Princess Anle of endangering the country, exposing their conspiracy and warning the emperor that it was impossible to prevent. After seeing it, Zhongzong called Yan Qinrong to court and asked him face to face. Yan Qinrong boasted and showed no fear. Zhongzong pondered many things and had nothing to say, so he let Yan Qinrong step down temporarily. Who knows that Yan Qinrong hasn't walked out of the door, Wei Hou instructed his cronies, the Ministry of War, Shangshu Zongchu, to send someone to recover Yan Qinrong, and threw him to death on the court stone in the main hall in front of Zhongzong. ,

Wei Hou and Princess Anle conspired to enter the game and poisoned Tang Zhongzong Wei Hou, but he didn't plan too carefully. In particular, she felt even more uneasy at the thought of the comments, speculations and accusations that North Korean ministers might make about China's death in short. Therefore, Wei Hou didn't mourn the secret of Zhongzong, but first called his cronies into the palace to discuss the strategy of settling down. After discussion, they decided that Pei, the minister of punishments, would speak, and the minister of Xiaohong would handle the failure of state affairs and stay in the East Palace. General Zhao Chengen of Sargingo and General Xue Chongjian of Zuojian Army were ordered to take 500 elite soldiers to Junchuan to guard against the death of Wang Chongfu. Li Zhongfu, the second son of Zhongzong, was founded by Wei Hou. As early as the beginning of his reign, Zhong Zong was banished to Zhou Jun to take charge of local defense. He is not allowed to ask questions about state affairs or come to the capital. Wei Hou had a ghost in his heart, and he was afraid that Li Tongfu would make trouble after the death of Zhongzong, so he took preventive measures. Empress Wei also agreed with her brother Wei Wen, who was appointed as Prince Shaobao (an official who assisted the prince) and established Li Zhongmao as the Crown Prince.

Li Zhongmao is the fourth son of Zhongzong. In addition, Wei Hou ordered 50,000 troops from all over the country to be stationed in Beijing, with Wei Wen in charge. The son of Wei Wen and his other brothers were divided into Jin Zuo, You Ying and Yu, who guarded the palace, and everything was arranged properly. Wei Hou began to make a will for Zhongzong in Taiji Hall, announcing that he would be in charge of the government in the near future. Three days later, the 16-year-old prince ascended the throne in front of the coffin, and the Zunwei queen was the empress dowager, who faced the Regent. Wei's children were appointed to command the official armies in the north and south, and they wanted to emulate Wu Zetian's usurpation. Li Longji, the king of Linzi (later Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty) and Princess Taiping (the daughter of Wu Zetian) launched an imperial army to attack Miyagi, killed Queen Wei, Princess Anle, Shangguan Waner and all Wei's children, forced the young emperor to make way and made Li Dan (his father) emperor. The rebellion in Wei Hou is finally over.