In March of the second year of Chui Gong (686), Wu Zetian ordered a bronze box (a small copper box) to be made and placed in front of the Luoyang Palace to receive comments from ministers at any time. At the same time, the door to whistle-blowing is wide open, stipulating that anyone can whistle-blower. For anyone who informs someone, the state will provide the station with carriages, horses, and food. Even farmers and woodcutters were received personally by Wu Zetian. If the things told are in line with the will, you can be promoted to an unusual position. Wu Zetian planned to seize the state of Li Tang and eliminate the Tang clan. The kings were uneasy and wanted to raise troops to fight. Before a consensus could be reached, Li Chong, the governor of Bozhou, Langxie King, raised troops in August of the fourth year of Chui Gong (688) in Bozhou (now northeast of Liaocheng, Shandong). Li Zhen, the governor of Yuzhou and the king of Yue, raised troops in Yuzhou (now Runan, Henan) to respond. Wu Zetian sent Qiu Shenji and Wei Chongyu to attack them. Li Chong, the king of Langye, was defeated and died within seven days of raising his army; in September, Li Zhen, the king of Yue, was defeated and committed suicide. Wu Zetian wanted to get rid of all the kings of the Li family, and asked Zhou Xing and others to interrogate them, forcing Han Wang Li Yuanjia, Lu Wang Li Lingkui, Huang Guogong Li Zhuan, Dongguan County Duke Li Rong, Princess Chang Le, etc. To commit suicide, and their close relatives were all executed.
A revenge comes quietly...