Today, the History Encyclopedia editor has prepared for you: Wu Zetian and Cheng Yaojin. Interested friends, come and take a look!
Wu Zetian was the first empress in Chinese history, and her life could become a legend. In that era of male superiority and female inferiority, Wu Zetian, as a woman, was able to become a female emperor naturally due to her unique means. During the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, she killed many important officials of the court. Why didn’t she kill Cheng Yaojin? Don’t believe it if you say it.
Why not kill Cheng Yaojin?
The rise of Empress Wu Zetian occurred during the reign of Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi of Tang Dynasty, who was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin created a once-in-a-century prosperous era of the Zhenguan Reign, laying the foundation for Emperor Gaozong’s stable rule. Wu Zetian was deeply loved by Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi. Since being selected to the harem, Wu Meiniang’s status has continued to rise, and she eventually became the first person in the harem.
During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty, Wu Zetian had already begun to participate in some government affairs, making decisions on behalf of Emperor Gaozong. In order to consolidate her power, she killed many important officials of the Tang Dynasty, especially the descendants of the founding heroes of the Tang Dynasty. She killed many of them. But only Cheng Yaojin, a veteran of the Three Dynasties, was not persecuted by Wu Zetian.
Cheng Yaojin
The reason why Cheng Yaojin was able to escape was mainly due to his own reasons. Cheng Yaojin himself did not care about high officials and high salaries, so he basically did not participate in political struggles within the court. He just does his job steadily, he doesn’t want to seize power, nor does he want to interfere with anyone’s conspiracy, so no one wants to provoke him for no reason.
On the other hand, Cheng Yaojin is a very intelligent person, and pretending to be confused is his forte. He clearly knows Wu Zetian’s intention to seize power, but he just pretends to be ignorant because letting others know that he will not threaten his position is the best way to save his life. Cheng Yaojin was an old minister of three dynasties with a high status, and since he did not threaten Wu Zetian’s position, there was no need for her to exterminate him.
