The Struggle for the Throne
Following the reign of Wu Zetian, the ambition for imperial power spread among the women of the court, notably her daughter Princess Taiping, her daughter-in-law Empress Wei, and her granddaughter Princess Anle. Empress Wei and Princess Anle poisoned Emperor Zhongzong, plotting to install a child emperor so that Wei could rule as empress and Anle as crown princess. However, before their plan could fully materialize, Li Longji, the nephew of Zhongzong and son of Emperor Ruizong, launched a coup. Allied with Princess Taiping, Li Longji eliminated Wei and Anle, restoring his father Ruizong to the throne. Soon after, Ruizong abdicated in favor of Li Longji, who became the renowned Emperor Xuanzong. Enraged by being sidelined, Princess Taiping attempted her own coup to seize power but was swiftly suppressed by Xuanzong, forcing her to commit suicide. With these internal threats neutralized, the Tang Dynasty finally stabilized, allowing Xuanzong to focus on governance.
The Ten Proposals of Yao Chong
Emperor Xuanzong initially adhered to the effective policies of Emperor Taizong: distributing land, encouraging agriculture, clearing census records, and building irrigation systems. Within a few years, granaries were full, and trade flourished. Unlike Wu Zetian, who promoted anyone loyal to her, Xuanzong emphasized merit and integrity, abolishing frivolous titles and restoring the system of remonstrance officials. His most crucial decision was appointing Yao Chong as prime minister. Yao, previously dismissed for suggesting that imperial relatives live away from the capital to prevent interference, was recalled by Xuanzong during a hunting trip.
Yao Chong agreed to serve only if the Emperor accepted ten specific proposals: implementing benevolent rule over harsh punishments; avoiding unnecessary wars for decades; barring eunuchs from politics; preventing imperial relatives from holding high office; enforcing laws equally starting with close associates; abolishing excessive taxes; halting the construction of temples to save resources; treating ministers with respect; encouraging criticism of the throne; and banning external relatives from interfering in state affairs. Xuanzong agreed to all ten. Yao immediately began purging “slant-sealed officials” – appointees bought through bribery by imperial women – and enforced the law even against the Emperor’s own relatives, such as punishing Wang Xiantong, the uncle of a prince, despite imperial pleas for clemency.
Combating the Locust Plague
A severe locust plague struck the central plains, devouring crops while superstitious locals believed the insects were divine and refused to kill them, opting instead for prayer. Yao Chong insisted that the locusts were pests, not gods, and must be destroyed to prevent famine. Despite opposition from officials who feared offending heaven, Yao took personal responsibility, stating, “If disaster strikes, dismiss me from office.” He organized a campaign where pits were dug at night and fires lit to attract and burn the swarms. When the prefect of Bianzhou, Ni Ruoshui, resisted, claiming virtue alone would dispel the plague, Yao rebuked him sharply: “If virtue stops locusts, then your lack of virtue caused this disaster. How can you watch people starve without acting?” Ni Ruoshui complied, and the plague was eradicated, earning Yao the title “The Prime Minister Who Saved the Times.”
Integrity and Succession
Yao Chong lived with remarkable simplicity, often residing in a temple rather than a official residence due to the distance from his home. When the Emperor offered him lodging in the prestigious Sifang Pavilion, Yao declined, citing the presence of state documents there, though Xuanzong insisted he move in for the sake of the nation. Yao’s integrity extended to his family; when his sons sought promotion through Wei Zhigu, an official Yao had recommended, Wei reported the attempt to the Emperor. Yao praised Wei’s impartiality, admitting his sons were mediocre. Later, when a trusted subordinate, Zhao Hui, was caught taking bribes, Yao felt compromised and voluntarily resigned, recommending his friend Song Jing as his successor. Song Jing continued Yao’s policies of diligence and fairness, ensuring political stability and economic growth throughout the “Kaiyuan” era (713–741), the golden age of the Tang Dynasty.
The Shadow of Li Linfu
As the years passed into the “Tianbao” era (742–756), Emperor Xuanzong grew weary of governance, preferring leisure and leaving state affairs to his ministers. This shift allowed the rise of Li Linfu, a man infamous for being “honey-mouthed but dagger-hearted.” Li Linfu secured his position by currying favor with the harem and flattering the Emperor, eventually ousting capable chancellors like Pei Yaoqing and Zhang Jiuling. When Zhang advised delaying the Emperor’s return to Chang’an to avoid disrupting the autumn harvest, Li Linfu privately told Xuanzong that the Emperor’s movement should not be restricted by seasons, thereby winning the Emperor’s favor while painting his rivals as obstructive.
Once in power, Li Linfu silenced dissent, telling remonstrance officials that silence was rewarded like well-fed horses, while speech led to expulsion. He systematically eliminated potential rivals through deceit. For instance, he tricked the capable Li Shizhi into suggesting the mining of Mount Hua, only to later claim the mountain was the Emperor’s spiritual protector and thus sacred, making Li Shizhi appear foolish. In his later years, Li Linfu employed thugs to fabricate treason charges against opponents, creating a climate of terror. Although he eventually fell from grace due to exposure by Yang Guozhong and died in disgrace, the damage was done. The court’s moral fabric was shattered, and Yang Guozhog, a man of even lesser virtue, seized power, setting the stage for the catastrophic collapse of the Tang Dynasty.
Leave a Reply