Wu Zetian's History

The 28th chapter of the second volume of Wu Zetian's Foreign History is titled "Buqi Shengzhu". Lithograph version, with "History of Wu Zetian" in the middle of the cover, "Ancient and Modern Romance" in the right column, and "Historical Novels" in the left column. The first preface is signed "Wen Tianshi is kindly recognized". Two episodes, each with four pictures, no comments. There are thirteen lines in the middle half of the text, with thirty-two words in each line. Wushufang and publication year. [Tianjin Library] "Novel Xiaohua" records "The History of Zetianwai", which says: "It is quite well-founded and written by Yao Ye, which can be compared with "The Romantic History of Sui Chang"." It is suspected that this is the book. In the second year of Yongchun (683), Gaozong died, Zhongzong Li Xian came to the throne, and Wu became the empress dowager. In the first year of Sisheng (684), Li Xian was deposed as King of Luling and Li Dan was made emperor. Empress Wu took charge of the dynasty, and from then on Wu Zetian began the era of truly dictatorial dynasty policy. In September of the same year, Xu Jingye (grandson of Li Ji) gathered 100,000 troops in Yangzhou and launched a rebellion against Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian sent 300,000 troops to quickly quell the rebellion. At the same time, Wu Zetian killed Gu Ming Minister Pei Yan and others, basically eliminating the opposition in the court; she also designed to force the Li Tang clan to rebel, and took the opportunity to go on a killing spree; removing the obstacles to becoming emperor. In order to combat those who were potentially dissatisfied with Wu Zetian, starting from March of the second year of Chui Gong (686), Wu Zetian began to reward informants and appoint cruel officials. While fighting against the opposition, Wu Zetian also created auspicious signs, built the Mingming Hall (Wanxiang Shrine), and found the basis for a woman to claim emperor in the Buddhist classic "Dayun Sutra", creating public opinion for her claim to be emperor. On May 18th, the fourth year of Chui Gong (688), Empress Dowager Wu gave her the title "Holy Mother God Emperor" and took a tentative step toward proclaiming herself emperor. In the first year of Zaichu (690), Wu Zetian deposed Ruizong, proclaimed himself Holy Emperor, changed the name of the country to Zhou, and made Luoyang, the eastern capital, the divine capital, and was known as "Wu Zhou" in history. Wu Zetian reigned supreme at the age of 67 and became the only female emperor in Chinese history.