The Political Chessboard of Early Tang Dynasty

In 655 AD, Emperor Gaozong of Tang (Li Zhi) made a historic decision that would reshape the Tang court—divorcing Empress Wang to elevate his favorite consort, Wu Zhao (later Empress Wu Zetian). This was no simple marital dispute but a calculated political maneuver against the powerful faction led by his uncle, Grand General Zhangsun Wuji.

The early Tang period operated under a delicate balance of power. Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin) had carefully arranged his son’s succession, surrounding Gaozong with trusted advisors like Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang. These ministers saw themselves as guardians of Taizong’s legacy, believing they had the right—even duty—to guide the young emperor.

The Marriage Crisis as Political Battleground

Empress Wang’s inability to produce an heir became the public justification for her removal, but the real conflict ran deeper. When Gaozong and Wu Zhao personally visited Zhangsun Wuji’s mansion—lavishing his family with titles and treasure—they were testing the waters. The emperor’s comment about the childless empress was unmistakable: he wanted his uncle’s support in deposing her.

Zhangsun Wuji’s refusal to engage spoke volumes. As the architect behind Empress Wang’s adoption of a crown prince (Li Zhong), supporting her removal would undermine his own political credibility. More crucially, he recognized that after the empress, he would be next in Gaozong’s sights.

The Systematic Undermining of Opposition

Gaozong’s strategy unfolded with precision:
1. Neutralizing the Empress’s Family: He first demoted her uncle Liu Shi from chancellor to minister of personnel, then exiled him to remote Sichuan on fabricated charges of leaking state secrets.
2. Creating New Positions: Attempting to invent a “Consort Chen” title (using the imperial character 宸) for Wu Zhao, Gaozong tested bureaucratic flexibility. When ministers blocked this, he turned to alternative supporters.
3. Recruiting Outsiders: Officials marginalized by Zhangsun Wuji—like the notorious Li Yifu (“The Smiling Dagger”) and historian Xu Jingzong—became Wu’s staunchest allies. Their willingness to defy establishment figures demonstrated Gaozong’s growing confidence.

The Climactic Showdown

The September 655 court debate laid bare the conflict’s stakes. Chu Suiliang invoked Taizong’s dying wish to protect Empress Wang, even banging his head bloody on the steps. Wu Zhao’s furious shout from behind a screen—”Why not execute this old traitor?!”—marked the point of no return.

Critical to Gaozong’s victory was General Li Ji’s calculated neutrality. His comment—”This is Your Majesty’s family matter; why consult outsiders?”—gave the emperor both permission and political cover to proceed. With the military aristocracy staying neutral, Zhangsun Wuji’s faction lost its leverage.

Bloody Aftermath and Lasting Consequences

The deposed empress and Consort Xiao suffered gruesome deaths—beaten, amputated, and drowned in wine vats on Wu Zhao’s orders. Their brutal fate served as warning to any remaining opposition.

More significantly, this episode:
– Redefined Imperial Authority: By overcoming his uncle’s faction, Gaozong asserted that emperors, not ministers, held ultimate power.
– Paved Wu Zetian’s Path: The methods used here—exploiting bureaucratic divisions, controlling narratives through history offices, and ruthless elimination of rivals—became hallmarks of Wu’s eventual reign as China’s only female emperor.
– Transformed Governance: The purge of Taizong’s old guard allowed new elites to rise, fundamentally altering Tang dynasty politics.

Conclusion: A Watershed in Tang History

What began as a marital dispute became a masterclass in political realignment. Gaozong’s victory over Zhangsun Wuji didn’t just change the imperial household—it broke the system of shared governance established after the turbulent Sui-Tang transition, recentralizing power in the throne. The consequences would echo through Wu Zetian’s unprecedented rise and the Tang dynasty’s later instability, proving that sometimes, the most transformative revolutions begin in the bedroom rather than the battlefield.