What is the reason behind Li Ji’s support for Wu Zetian to become empress

In the sixth year of Yonghui reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty (655 AD), after a series of arduous struggles, Wu Zetian finally defeated Empress Wang and ascended to the throne.
There was a serious disagreement between Emperor Gaozong of Tang and two ministers, Sun Wuji and Chu Suiliang, regarding the matter of deposing the empress. At that time, Changsun Wuji held the reins of power in the court, and although Li Zhi was considered the emperor, he did not have much say.
In this situation, the ministers all chose to take the side of the leader Sun Wuji, leaving Li Zhi and Wu Zetian isolated and helpless. At a critical moment, Li Zhi sought help from Li Ji, but Li Ji did not clearly state his position and only casually said, ‘This is Your Majesty’s family matter.’,
Why bother asking outsiders? ”
It was this sentence that made Tang Gaozong determined to depose the king and establish martial arts.
What kind of powerful strength does Li Ji possess that can give Li Zhi peace of mind with just one sentence?
Li Ji was a famous general in the early Tang Dynasty, originally from the rank of a surrendered general. He was once a subordinate of Li Mi. When Li Mi surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, Li Ji took the initiative to avoid him and gave all the credit to Li Mi. Later, Li Mi rebelled against the Tang Dynasty and was killed. Li Ji did not avoid suspicion and buried Li Mi in mourning,
I have earned myself a good reputation.
Therefore, Li Zhi received high praise from Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, and Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin. He was not only granted high official titles, but also given the surname Li as a sign of favor.
At the same time, he was also one of the ministers who entrusted Li Shimin with his life on his deathbed.
Before his death, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, arranged for two main and deputy staff members to assist Li Zhi. The main positions are Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang, and the deputy position is Li Ji.
Li Shimin’s painting style was still very normal when he was with Changsun Wuji to support him. He just called Crown Prince Li Zhi, Changsun Wuji, and Chu Suiliang to his side and told Li Zhi that with these two people around, you don’t have to worry about governing the world. When Li Ji arrived, Li Shimin’s painting style began to become more unique.
Firstly, Li Ji fell ill with a prescription that stated ‘Xu Hui can be treated’. Li Shimin cut off his own beard to prepare the medicine for him, and Li Ji was moved to the point of bleeding from his head. As a result, Li Shimin calmly said to him, “I’m doing this for the sake of the country.” This was tantamount to insinuating Li Ji that he would have to pay more attention to national affairs in the future.
At another banquet, Li Shimin said in front of everyone, “I am looking for someone among the courtiers who can take care of me, and I found that there is no one who can surpass you. You have lived up to Li Mi before, so you cannot disappoint me“
Li Shimin’s behavior is quite strange. He had already entrusted Li Zhi to Changsun Wuji before, and now he says’ there is no way to surpass the Duke ‘. No one except himself understands Li Shimin’s intentions.
Li Ji’s reaction was also quite ambiguous. First, he said ‘thank you with tears’, then’ bleeding from biting his fingers’, and finally ‘intoxicated by drinking’. He simply drank himself down, not knowing whether it was moved or too much pressure in his heart.
Before the death of Emperor Taizong of Tang, he made special arrangements for Li Ji.
Li Shimin told Li Zhi that Li Ji is a talented person, but if you don’t show him kindness, he may become unruly in the future. I demoted him to an official position and released him. If he leaves without hesitation, you can call him back as a servant after I die, so that you will have kindness towards him. If he wanders and refuses to leave, you immediately kill him.
As a result, Li Ji’s performance was quite impressive, and he took office without even returning home after being ordered.
The two of them seemed to be playing a guessing game, and on the surface, Li Ji did not fully gain the trust of Emperor Taizong of Tang. However, after being demoted, he behaved too perfectly. If something went wrong, there would always be a demon. He was not skilled in scheming, so it was certain that he had obtained the standard answer in advance. As for the provider of the answer, it was either Li Shimin or Li Zhi.
After Li Zhi ascended to the throne, Li Ji remained on the sidelines for a long time.
Although he was appointed as Sikong by Li Zhi and held a first-class official position, on an equal footing with Changsun Wuji, Sikong was a nominal position with little actual power, completely incomparable to Changsun Wuji.
Li Ji is like a human sperm, and he knows very well that even if he is tough with Changsun Wuji, he cannot make it to the top. Therefore, he adopts an observer’s attitude towards the confrontation between Li Zhi and Changsun Wuji.
At first, Changsun Wuji had a strong suppression of Li Ji, with all top-level decisions excluding him and actively seeking out his mistakes.
Later, Changsun Wuji discovered that Li Ji couldn’t organize any decent resistance, and coupled with Li Ji’s cautious words and actions, he couldn’t pick out any mistakes, and even appeared harmless to humans and animals. Gradually, Changsun Wuji relaxed his vigilance towards him.
However, at the peak of the struggle between Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, and Changsun Wuji, Li Ji chose to stand on Li Zhi’s side, which should be related to the painstaking arrangements made by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, before his death. Li Ji was a chess piece planted by Emperor Taizong of Tang, who never showed signs of leaking water in his daily life, but could turn the whole situation around in critical moments.
In fact, Li Ji’s statement ‘Your Majesty’s family matters, why bother asking outsiders?’ may seem like an excuse, but it actually indicates an attitude that the military is on the side of the emperor.
Li Ji is a prominent figure in the military industry and a pillar of the military. As soon as this statement was made, Emperor Gaozong relieved his worries and immediately disregarded the opposition of the two ministers who were in charge of his orders, deciding to depose the empress.
Li Ji’s decision to support Wu Zetian as empress was actually a result of deep consideration.
Seemingly supporting Wu Zetian, but actually supporting imperial power
Li Ji’s brilliance over Changsun Wuji lies in his exceptional political sensitivity. Changsun Wuji was blinded by power and underestimated Li Zhi, believing that he was just a weak monarch who controlled everything and had a contempt for imperial power.
And Li Ji is a highly loyal person, from his former owner Li Mi to Li Shimin, he has never betrayed anyone. Of course, he also belongs to the group of repaying kindness and gratitude. Li Shimin and Li Zhi, father and son, were really good to him and regarded him as a trusted minister. When the emperor was troubled, the courtiers naturally had to share his worries and solve his problems.
So, his high loyalty to imperial power was reflected in his actual actions as he would support the emperor’s decision. When Li Zhi decided to depose the king and establish Wu, he followed suit and strongly supported Wu Zetian.
He supports the emperor, and if Li Zhi wants to appoint someone else as empress, he will also fully support it. Of course, he never imagined that this seemingly gentle and dignified woman would become the dominant empress of the empire in the future.
Seeking personal benefits
The abolition of the empress was also a reflection of the power struggle between the nobility and commoners within the ruling group at that time. Li Ji represented the interests of the common people, while Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang opposed the abolition of Queen Wang simply because she came from a noble family in Guanlong,
Once Wu Zetian came to power as a representative of the aristocratic class, it would deeply harm their interests.
Li Ji, who also came from a commoner background, naturally sided with Wu Zetian emotionally in order to maximize his own interests.
It has to be said that Li Ji, as a famous military strategist, has a keen insight into the current situation and is truly a talented person who understands the situation. Result in stubbornness
Changsun Wuji, who exercised authoritarian power, was soon falsely accused by Xu Jingzong and sent to the border, where he was eventually forced to commit suicide; Chu Suiliang was demoted to the position of Governor and Governor of Bianzhou, and after his death, he would be “stripped of his official title and his descendants would be exiled to Guzhou
On the other hand, Li Ji served as a high-ranking official in the frontier during his lifetime, ranking among the Three Excellencies. After his death, he was buried with him in the Zhaoling Mausoleum and was also granted the imperial temple.
Personality determines destiny, it’s not an empty statement.