Wu Zetian rose from a low-ranking concubine to the most powerful ruler in Chinese history through a combination of genuine political genius and absolute ruthlessness. She ruled the Tang Dynasty effectively for decades, first through her husband and son and then in her own name from 690 AD. Her domestic and foreign policies were largely successful — she expanded the empire, reformed the civil service, and promoted talent over aristocratic birth. But her path to power was carved through rivals, fa

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