| 摘要: | 武則天是中國歷史惟一以女主君臨天下的傳奇性人物，不僅延續了大唐盛世，其御下技巧與處事謀略也為後人所津津樂道。但在武則天統治期間，理論上對她治國影響最大的宰相人選，卻多半是為了因應時事所做的權變抉擇，能真正獲其信任又有辦事能力者鳳毛麟角，以致其所用宰相非但人數眾多，且往往相位頗為短暫。
從才人、皇后、皇太后乃至開國女皇，這前無古人的舉動，顛覆當時臣民的認知，使得武氏政權始終有揮之不去的反撲陰影。為了穩定自身的權力，以防他人兵變奪位或權臣干政，所以武則天不斷調整政權型態，從太后臨朝，到稱帝，最後立皇太子李顯；其間更製造恐怖政治，令酷吏殺害異己，從而令部份宰相身陷牢獄，甚至殞於刑場。原因無他，都是為了嚇阻他人顗覦權力罷了。
由於早自皇后時期即已參政，武氏本身的執政能力並未受到懷疑，但她仍然必須面對歸政李氏聲浪的挑戰，故武氏初期頗尊崇高宗時期即任事，又不公然反對她的重臣，繼而拉攏前朝名臣後裔以及世家大族子弟，還有自己武氏家族或親信人選參政，與此同時再輔以恐怖統治鎮壓異己，這種多管齊下的統治手腕，就勾勒出武則天初期任相的基本準則。
等到權力漸趨穩固後，武氏開始以各種調度與名義來調控宰相的行政權力，更越過原本的制度積極參與拔擢人才，這不僅令朝中原有的舊勢力被新進權貴所稀釋，從而讓武氏更能隨心所欲，卻也同時弱化了本應擔任此職務的天官(吏部)與宰相的功能。短期內雖看似人才輩出，行政效率也有一定水準，可一旦武氏年老體衰，親身任事的頻率降低，便將面臨政府流動趨於停滯、甚至空洞化的惡果。
武則天個人頗嫻熟於以恩威並用的方式來駕馭宰相與諸臣工，所任用宰相也不乏敢於積極任事者，但基於憂心權力旁落的深層恐懼，武氏除了刻意控制宰相掌權範圍與在位時間外，也多次引進如武氏家族與張易之兄弟等爪牙，期望他們能夠協助朝政。然而這些人缺乏政治才幹，還不時惹事生非，反倒更增加了武氏與宰相重臣間的緊張氣氛。
儘管武氏憑藉個人的才能掌控皇權達廿二年之久，可是人皆有老死，終需面對接班的難題；武氏家族論親不及自己親生之子，論才幹威望也沒有能服眾之處，武氏別無選擇，最後還是得傳位給親子李顯，等於親手將政權又交還給了李唐。
此時武則天老病纏身，她為自己量身打造的制度也立即出現破綻。這時朝中既無深受武氏信任又能彈壓群臣的重量級宰相，各方勢力也都蠢蠢欲動，在憂慮皇太子未來接班可能出現危機的態勢下，迫使歸政派發動神龍兵變擁立李顯，讓武氏親眼目睹自己的大周皇朝宣告終結。
雖然因為其後的李唐皇帝均是她的子孫，使得終唐一代對武則天依舊尊崇，且她所拔擢的人才也多為其後的李唐政權所用。但武則天機關算盡的用相策略，既難以為後世所師法，也令自己含恨以沒，所以武氏的手腕心思雖頗有機巧之處，也曾任用過幾位名相，但以整體而言，恐怕還是只能說是落得失敗的下場。
Wu Zetian was the legend in Chinese history, who was the only sovereign governing China. She not only continued the flourishing age of Tang Dynasty, but also her royal skill and strategy in handling affairs were praised by posterity. But, during the governance of Wu Zetian, theoretically, the prime minister candidate possessing the highest influence to her governance, she chose such candidate for the current events with adaptability in tactics, and the capable prime minister could obtain her trust was few. The consequence was, her prime ministers were numerous, and also, those prime ministers only could keep their positions for very short time.
In the beginning, as a talent, then a queen, empress dowager and became the country sovereign, this unprecedented behavior subverted the cognition of officials and people at the time, making Wu’s regime had counter attack shadow all along that was lingering. To stabilize her own power, preventing other people from their munity and snatch imperial power, or preventing powerful ministers interfering the imperial power, so, Wu Zetain continuously adjusted the regime model. Form as the mother of emperor to regin the country and establish the system, afterwards, to become the sovereign, finally, she ordered “Lee Xian” to become the crown prince; during the afore mentioned periods, she made horrible politics and commanded ruthless officials to kill dissidents, thus, some of the prime ministers were imprisoned, even some of them were executed to death. The only reason was just to frighten others not covet imperial power.
Since Wu Zetian already participated in politics when she was a queen, her own governing ability was not been doubted, but, she still had to face the challenge in asking her to return the imperial power to Lee, therefore; in the start, Wu highly respected the important ministers who did not object to her in public, and these important ministers already held a post during the reign of Emperor Kao, and then, she built up the close relationship with famous ministers of former dynasty, as well as the children from aristocratic families, furthermore; she invited Wu’s families or trusted followers to participate politics, at the same time, she used horrible politics to quell dissidents. This kind of governing and simultaneous artifice was to outline the basic principle of Wu Zetian when she was the prime minister in the early days.
After the imperial power was gradually steady, Wu started to regulate and control the administrative power of the prime ministers with various assignment and reasons, further; she surpassed the original system, selected and promoted the talented persons positively; thus, the original and old force in the dynasty were lowered by new coming dignitaries, moreover, Wu could do anything she wanted, however; in the meantime, the function of the ministry of officials and the prime ministers who should hold this post has been weakened. In short term, it looked like that great talents appeared successively, the administrative efficiency also had certain level, but, once Wu was old and feeble, she could not personally govern the country very often, and then she had to face that the governmental flow tended to stop developing or making progress, even it would become hollow; this was the evil consequence.
Wu Zetian, herself, was highly skilled in applying the carrot and stick judiciously in order to dominate the prime ministers, all ministers and officers. So, many prime ministers appointed by Wu Zetian fulfilled their duties faithfully and energetically, but, in their inner hearts, they feared that their power would be taken away by others. Besides, Wu sedulously controlled the power range of the prime ministers. During the reign of Wu Zetian, she also introduced Wu’s families and Chang Yi’s brothers to be her minions for many times and anticipated that they could assist her to handle affairs of the state, yet, these people were lack of political competence, even more, they got in trouble frequently, thus, the atmosphere between Wu and prime ministers were more tense.
Despite Wu could rely on her personal ability to control imperial power for twenty-two years. But, all people will get will get old and die. Finally, the succession problem must be confronted; her own son was more close to her than Wu’s families, and their abilities and prestige could not convince the public. Wu had no choice, at last, she still demised her crown to her own son, Lee Xian, i.e., she personally returned the regime to Lee Tang.
At present, Wu Zatian was old and sick; and the system specially made for herself appeared weak point immediately, and there were on major prime ministers who could be deeply trusted by Wu that could quell all ministers, in addition, all forces were ready to make trouble. Because Wu Zetain worried that when the crown prince succeeded, maybe the crisis would appear, hence; she compelled normalized political faction to launch “Shen Long Mutiny” to crown Lee Xian, let Wu see with her own eyes that her own dynasty, “Da Chou”, has been proclaimed to be ended.
Although the later emperor of Lee Tang were all her children and grandchildren, the generation of last Tang dynasty still revered Wu Zetian, and most of the talented persons selected and promoted by her were also appointed by the following regime, Lee Tung. But, Wu Zetian played many tricks in appointing prime minister, it was very difficult to learn her strategy by later generation, also, she died with regret. Hence , though Wu’s artifice and thoughts were quite adroit, and she has appointed several famous prime ministers. However, in conclusion, probably we still only say her final outcome is failure. |
