The Second Zhenguan: the Success and Failure of Tang Xuanzong's ZTE

In the twilight of the late Tang Dynasty, there was a brief but dazzling light - that was the "Government of Dazhong" created by Li Chen, Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. This prince, who was once regarded as a "fool" by the government and the public, used his forbearance for decades to keep a low profile and ascended to the throne in the troubled times when eunuchs were monopolizing power and parties were fighting endlessly. He imitated Zhenguan, rectified the official administration, suppressed the eunuchs, and regained Hehuang, which ushered in the last renaissance of the precarious Tang Dynasty and earned him the reputation of "Little Taizong". However, this governance, praised as the "Second Zhenguan", was ultimately just a reflection of the late Tang Dynasty. After the death of Xuanzong, the empire quickly fell into deeper darkness, the separatism of vassal towns became more and more intense, the eunuch disaster reached its peak, and the Tang Dynasty was irreversibly destroyed. This book takes the life of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty as the main line, connecting the complex political structure and social landscape of the late Tang Dynasty. It not only uses a popular and clear writing style to tell the legend of the "Emperor Pretending to Be Foolish" from being a lonely figure in the cold palace to a generation of virtuous kings, but also uses a rigorous academic perspective to analyze the glorious achievements and hidden dangers of the "Government of Dazhong" - why did Xuanzong's diligent governance fail to save the Tang Dynasty? What are the fatal shortcomings of his statecraft? What kind of dilemma of the times is hidden behind the so-called "ZTE"? Based on historical facts, this book breaks away from the simple biography of emperors and takes the Xuanzong Dynasty as an aspect to examine the logic of the rise and fall of the late Tang Dynasty, presenting readers with a historical picture that is both story-telling and speculative. It is suitable for history lovers, readers of popular history, and the general public who are interested in the political history of the late Tang Dynasty.