The Rise of Empress Wu and Her Opposition

In the turbulent political landscape of early Tang Dynasty China, few figures loom as large as Empress Wu Zetian. After securing her position as Emperor Gaozong’s consort through ruthless maneuvering, she immediately set about eliminating those who had opposed her ascent. One by one, her adversaries found themselves removed from court—all except the most formidable obstacle of them all: Zhangsun Wuji, the emperor’s uncle and chief minister.

Zhangsun Wuji was no ordinary opponent. As the brother of Emperor Taizong’s empress and a veteran statesman who had served three decades as chancellor, his influence was unparalleled. Yet Empress Wu, known for her strategic patience, bided her time before making her move against this powerful figure.

The Scholar in Retreat: Zhangsun’s Political Withdrawal

As Wu Zetian and Emperor Gaozong consolidated power through purges in both court and harem, Zhangsun Wuji made a surprising choice: retreat. Embracing the Confucian ideal of “withdrawing to cultivate oneself when the world rejects one’s talents,” he turned to scholarship during the Xianqing era (656-661 CE). His academic output was staggering—compiling the 130-volume Xianqing New Rites, editing 80 volumes of state histories from the Wude and Zhenguan periods, and contributing 30 volumes to what would become the institutional records of the Book of Sui.

This scholarly retreat might have seemed a safe harbor, but in Tang politics, no one—especially not someone of Zhangsun’s stature—could truly escape the currents of power. Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu were determined to reshape the court in their image, and Zhangsun represented the old guard that needed removing.

The Precursor Strikes: Isolating the Target

Wu Zetian’s approach to eliminating Zhangsun Wuji demonstrated her characteristic blend of patience and precision. Before striking at the center, she methodically removed his support network:

– Political Allies: Key figures like Chu Suiliang, Han Yuan, and Lai Ji—all opponents of Wu’s rise—were exiled from the capital.
– Family Connections: Even Zhangsun’s maternal cousin Gao Lüxing, who had sheltered him in childhood after his father’s death, was demoted to a provincial post.

These moves left Zhangsun increasingly isolated, setting the stage for the final confrontation.

The Pretext: A Manufactured Conspiracy

The opportunity came in October 659 CE with a seemingly minor case—a reported “factional conspiracy” involving two mid-ranking officials: Wei Jifang (a tutor to the crown prince) and Li Chao (an imperial censor). The accusation? That they had conspired with an unnamed high-ranking patron.

Wu Zetian immediately recognized the case’s potential. Through her ally Xu Jingzong—newly appointed as chancellor—the investigation took a sinister turn. Under torture, Wei Jifang was pressured to implicate Zhangsun Wuji. When Wei refused, his attempted suicide was framed as “guilty conscience,” allowing Xu to claim discovery of a grand conspiracy: Zhangsun Wuji plotting rebellion through these petty officials.

The absurdity was glaring—why would a chief minister conspire with minor bureaucrats to overthrow the throne? Yet Emperor Gaozong’s reaction was telling. Rather than questioning the allegations, he lamented, “My family is unfortunate that relatives repeatedly harbor rebellious intentions,” referencing the earlier case of Princess Gaoyang.

The Shadow of Princess Gaoyang’s Case

The 653 CE case of Princess Gaoyang—Emperor Taizong’s daughter executed for alleged treason—haunted these proceedings. Originally a minor scandal involving her adulterous affair with a monk, the case had been expanded by Zhangsun Wuji into a sweeping purge that eliminated political rivals, including the capable Prince Li Ke.

Now, history repeated itself in cruel symmetry. Just as Zhangsun had used Gaoyang’s case to eliminate threats to Emperor Gaozong, Wu Zetian and Gaozong used the Wei Jifang affair to remove Zhangsun. Xu Jingzong explicitly cited Gaoyang’s case as precedent, arguing Zhangsun’s rebellion would be far more dangerous given his experience and influence.

The Final Act: Death in Exile

Emperor Gaozong performed the expected rituals of reluctance, tearfully declaring he could never execute his uncle. Instead, Zhangsun was stripped of titles and exiled to Qianzhou (modern Pengshui, Sichuan)—the same remote region where disgraced Crown Prince Li Chengqian had been sent. Officially, he retained the treatment of a first-rank official, but the message was clear.

The purge didn’t stop there. Wu Zetian’s faction ensured no remnants of opposition remained. Officials were dispatched to extract confessions from exiled opponents. Yuan Gongyu, a Wu loyalist, arrived to “interview” Zhangsun and bluntly advised suicide. The once-mighty chancellor complied.

The Larger Transformation: Reshaping Tang Politics

This was more than personal vengeance—it marked a seismic shift in Tang governance:

1. Decline of Aristocratic Power: The elimination of Zhangsun Wuji and his faction shattered the Guanlong aristocratic bloc that had dominated since the dynasty’s founding.
2. Rise of Bureaucratic Class: Newcomers like Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu—men who rose through merit rather than noble birth—filled the vacuum.
3. Imperial Authority Unshackled: For the first time since the Han Dynasty, emperors broke free from the “shared governance” tradition with powerful clans, establishing more autocratic rule.

Legacy: The Making of China’s Only Female Emperor

Wu Zetian’s triumph over Zhangsun Wuji was a watershed. By 660 CE, with opponents purged, allies in key positions, and Emperor Gaozong’s complete trust, her position was unassailable. But this was merely a stepping stone—her ambitions would soon propel her toward unprecedented power as China’s only female emperor.

The fall of Zhangsun Wuji thus represents more than a political vendetta; it encapsulates the broader transition from aristocratic coalition politics to centralized imperial authority—a transformation that would define Chinese governance for centuries.