In Chinese history, the evaluation of many emperors is always controversial. Tang Dezong, as an emperor of the Tang Dynasty, also has a controversial image in history. Some people believe that he is a wise emperor, while others consider him a foolish emperor. So, what kind of emperor is Tang Dezong? Why do Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu think he is a foolish emperor?

First, we need to understand some policies and behaviors during Tang Dezong's reign. During his reign, Tang Dezong was committed to reforming the politics and system to revitalize the Tang Dynasty's national strength. He implemented the "Two Taxes Law", trying to lighten the burden of the people by simplifying the tax collection method. At the same time, he also established the position of "Advisor Doctor" to encourage ministers to speak frankly and better discover and solve problems. These measures reflect Tang Dezong's concern for people's livelihood and his determination to reform.

However, there were also some problems during Tang Dezong's reign. He performed passively in dealing with the separatist rebellion in the fiefdoms and adopted a lenient attitude towards the separatist forces. This led to the gradual strengthening of the separatist forces and eventually evolved into the chaotic situation of "Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms". In addition, Tang Dezong also made some mistakes in personnel appointment, such as favoring eunuchs and appointing traitors, which affected the political stability and social harmony of the Tang Dynasty.

For the evaluation of Tang Dezong, different people have different views. Two famous scholars in the Northern Song Dynasty, Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu, both believed that Tang Dezong was a foolish emperor. They believed that Tang Dezong was indecisive in dealing with national affairs and unable to effectively solve the separatist rebellion in the fiefdoms. At the same time, they also pointed out Tang Dezong's mistakes in personnel appointment, believing that he was unable to distinguish between right and wrong, leading to severe corruption in the court. These viewpoints all illustrate the inadequacies of Tang Dezong in governing the country.

In summary, Tang Dezong is an emperor with a controversial image. During his reign, he had both reform measures and many problems. As for whether he is a wise emperor or a foolish emperor, perhaps different people will have different answers. However, it is this controversy that makes Tang Dezong a worthy emperor to pay attention to and study.

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