Why did Wu Zetian spare no effort to protect the Zhang brothers in her later years despite public anger? Let’s take a look together!
In the first year of the Shenlong era (705 AD), ministers led by Prime Minister Zhang Jianzhi launched the “Shenlong Coup”, forcing Wu Zetian to abdicate. The main reason for the “Divine Dragon Coup” was that Empress Wu Zetian sheltered her male pets Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong brothers in her later years, which led to a change in the established arrangement of “restoring Li Tang artifacts”.
It is strange that Wu Zetian began playing with male pets after the death of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, but she always maintained a good balance between doting on male pets and governing the world. Since that’s the case, why did Wu Zetian, in her later years, spare no effort to provoke public anger and protect the brothers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong who committed suicide?
Firstly, although Wu Zetian was an unparalleled empress, she was ultimately an individual. With the aging of her body, Wu Zetian experienced problems of neglect of politics and indulgence in pleasure in her later years. Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong were important tools for Wu Zetian to enjoy herself, and in her later years, she couldn’t do without them.
Secondly, in the first year of the Holy Calendar (698 AD), Wu Zetian appointed Li Xian as the Crown Prince, marking the return of the world to Li Tang. With Wu Zetian’s decision to “restore the Li Tang artifact”, the previously suppressed Fu Tang faction regained its momentum, and the development of the court showed a tendency towards “one sidedness”, weakening Wu Zetian’s imperial power.
Although Wu Zetian decided to ‘restore the Li Tang artifact’, it did not mean that she had to give up her power. Faced with the revival of the Tang dynasty faction, Wu Zetian must support other forces to balance it. And Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong were the new forces used by Wu Zetian to balance the Tang Restoration faction, and of course, they should be protected.
Unfortunately, aging led to a decline in Wu Zetian’s judgment and control over the court, and the political tactics of supporting Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong to balance the pro Tang faction ultimately failed, triggering the “Divine Dragon Coup”. Wu Zetian’s glorious political career came to a tragic end.
