The Martyrdom of Yan Zhenqing
At the onset of Li Xilie’s rebellion, Prime Minister Lu Qi, harboring a deep personal grudge against the venerable Yan Zhenqing, maliciously recommended the seventy-year-old statesman as an envoy to persuade the rebel to surrender. Yan Zhenqing, a hero of the An-Shi Rebellion and a model of integrity whose calligraphy (the “Yan Style”) mirrored his upright character, knew this was a death sentence. Yet, for the sake of the empire, he traveled to Huaixi. As predicted, Li Xilie, determined to usurp the throne, refused to listen and imprisoned Yan. Despite threats and coercion to join the rebellion, Yan remained unyielding and was eventually strangled, becoming a martyr for loyalty.
The Decline of Dezong and the Rise of Eunuch Power
After finally suppressing the rebellions of the “Four Kings and Two Emperors,” Emperor Dezong lost his earlier ambition to curb the regional warlords (Jiedushi). Instead, he grew increasingly reliant on eunuchs, appointing them as commanders of the imperial guard. Having suffered greatly during his exile, Dezong abandoned his initial frugality, greedily demanding monthly tributes from local regions despite his earlier promises to abolish them. In Chang’an, he empowered eunuchs as “Palace Market Commissioners,” who looted goods from merchants under the guise of imperial procurement, often paying nothing or offering worthless scraps in return. The notorious “Five Workshop Boys,” young eunuchs raising hawks and dogs for the emperor, terrorized the populace, extorting money and leaving baskets of snakes in restaurants as collateral until bribed. The poet Bai Juyi famously exposed these abuses in works like The Old Charcoal Seller, depicting the plight of commoners exploited by the palace.
The Crown Prince’s Resolve and Sudden Illness
Crown Prince Li Song, a man of talent and integrity, deeply detested the eunuchs’ corruption. He often ignored or scolded them, earning their fear and resentment. His close advisors, Wang Shuwen and Wang Pi, both from humble backgrounds, shared his frustration with the court’s decay. When they discussed the atrocities of the Palace Market and the Five Workshops, Li Song vowed to rectify them upon ascending the throne. However, fate intervened cruelly; before he could succeed his father, Li Song suffered a severe stroke at age forty-five, leaving him paralyzed and unable to speak clearly. Upon Emperor Dezong’s death, powerful eunuchs attempted to delay the succession, but scholar Wei Cigong insisted that the sick crown prince was the legitimate heir. Thus, Li Song ascended as Emperor Shunzong, though he could only communicate through gestures and writing.
The Yongzhen Reform: A Brief Dawn
Despite his physical limitations, Emperor Shunzong, guided by Wang Shuwen and Wang Pi, initiated a series of radical reforms known as the “Yongzhen Reform.” Key measures included abolishing the oppressive Palace Market and the Five Workshops, ending forced monthly tributes to the emperor, releasing over nine hundred palace women and musicians, and banning the purchase of commoners’ daughters as wet nurses. These actions won immediate popular support. The reformers also targeted corrupt officials, most notably the hated Li Shi, who had exploited drought-stricken farmers and embezzled military rations. Li Shi was dismissed and fled the capital amidst public fury. The boldest move was attempting to strip eunuchs of their control over the imperial guard by appointing General Fan Xichao as commander. However, the eunuchs, led by Ju Wenzhen and Liu Guangqi, conspired with resistant generals to sabotage the transfer, leaving Fan Xichao isolated and powerless.
The Coup and the Tragedy of the “Two Wangs and Eight Simas”
The reform movement faced fatal obstacles. Emperor Shunzong’s condition worsened, rendering him completely mute and dependent on eunuchs to convey his will. Meanwhile, Wang Shuwen and Wang Pi alienated potential allies by arrogance and exclusivity, rejecting an alliance with the powerful Xichuan Jiedushi Wei Gao when he demanded expanded military authority. Seizing this opportunity, Wei Gao petitioned for the Crown Prince to assume regency. The eunuchs collaborated with senior officials to force Shunzong to abdicate in favor of his son, Li Chun (Prince of Guangling). Li Chun was enthroned as Emperor Xianzong. Immediately, Wang Shuwen and Wang Pi were exiled; Wang Pi died soon after, and Wang Shuwen was forced to commit suicide. Their eight key supporters, including famous literati Liu Zongyuan and Liu Yuxi, were demoted to lowly positions as “Simas” in remote prefectures. This group became historically known as the “Two Wangs and Eight Simas,” marking the abrupt end of the short-lived Yongzhen Reform. Emperor Shunzong died the following year, widely believed to have been murdered by the eunuchs.
Xianzong’s Restoration and the Lesson of Governance
Emperor Xianzong, indebted to the eunuchs for his throne, initially maintained their power but proved to be a diligent ruler concerned with state affairs. In a conversation with Prime Minister Du Huangchang, he asked about the balance between imperial diligence and delegation. Du Huangchang advised that while diligence is virtuous, the true key to governance lies in selecting the right ministers and trusting them, citing the successes of Tang Taizong with Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, and the failures of Xuanzong with Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong. Inspired by the records of the Zhenguan and Kaiyuan eras, Xianzong resolved to emulate Taizong’s approach: encouraging remonstrance, promoting capable officials, and delegating authority wisely. This shift in strategy brought a renewed vitality to the Tang court, setting the stage for a period of relative stability known as the “Yuanhe Restoration.”
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