Yao Yuanzhi

Yao Chong

Yao Chong (651-721), whose real name is Yuanchong, has the character Yuanzhi. Xiashi, Shanzhou (now Shanxian County, Henan Province) people. He was the son of Yao Yi, a famous prime minister and statesman in Tang Dynasty. He once served as Prime Minister of Empress Wu, Ruizong and Xuanzong and served as Minister of the Ministry of war.

Yao chongchu became an official and moved to the army as a doctor. Long live the first year of Tongtian (696), Khitan invaded Hebei, even trapped several States, complicated military affairs, such as snow. Yao Chong's analysis of ruolu was well organized, which was appreciated by Wu Zetian. He promoted the Minister of the Ministry of war, Tongping Zhangshi, moved to the Minister of the Ministry of war, and ranked among the prime ministers. In the first year of Shenlong (705), she helped Zhang Cambodian to launch the Shenlong revolution, eliminate Zhang Yizhi's brothers and their clique forces, and forced Wu Zetian to be still located in Zhongzong of Tang Dynasty and was granted the title of Marquis of Liang county. He sympathized with Wu Zetian and became the governor of Bozhou. It is quite effective to get rid of the maladministration. Unwilling to attach Princess Taiping, he was demoted as governor of Shenzhou. After Emperor Xuanzong came into power, he worshipped the Minister of the Ministry of war and Zhang Shi of Tongping, moved to the middle of the country and granted the title of Duke of Liang. He put forward "ten things to say" and advocated the implementation of the new deal and social reform. The political and economic foundation for the emergence of "Kaiyuan flourishing age" was established by promoting advantages and eliminating disadvantages, rectifying the administration of officials, eliminating redundant posts, selecting officials and obtaining talents, restraining the powerful and developing production. During his three years in power, he was known as "Prime Minister of saving the time", and was also known as "the four most virtuous prime ministers of the Tang Dynasty" together with Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui and song Jing.

In 721, he died at the age of 71. He was awarded to Taibao and Dudu of Yangzhou with the posthumous title of Wenzhen.

Overview picture source: < / I >

Life of the characters

Early experience

Yao Chong's ancestral home is Wu Xingjun (now Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province). When he was young, he was free and easy. He paid attention to integrity, practiced martial arts and amused himself by hunting. When he was 20 years old, he studied hard and entered the official career as a filial piety to the Emperor (Li Hong). He was awarded Puzhou Secretary Cang to join the army and moved to Xiaguan doctor.

Prime Minister Wu Zhou

Long live Tongtian first year (696), Qidan Li Jinzhong, sun Wanrong rebellion, captured several states in Hebei. At that time, military affairs were very busy. Yao Chong handled them properly and methodically. He was highly appreciated by Wu Zetian and was promoted to the official servant of Xia Dynasty.

In the first year of the holy calendar (698), Yao Chong was promoted to tongfengge luantaiping Zhangshi and became prime minister. Later, he was changed to Fengge Shilang and also served as the chief historian of xiangwangfu.

In the fourth year of Chang'an (704), Yao Chong asked to resign because his mother was old. Wu Zetian then removed him from the post of prime minister, but retained the post of head of the prime minister's mansion and let him support his mother. Before long, Wu Zetian let Yao Chong concurrently serve as the official Secretary of Xia Dynasty and the third grade of luantai in Fengge. Yao Chong refused: "the Xia official is in charge of military power, and the minister is an official in the prime minister's mansion. It's not good for the prime minister to be a Xia official at the same time." Wu Zetian thought it was so, so she changed him to minister of spring.

In Wu Zetian's later years, Zhang Yizhi, a male pet, wanted to transfer ten monks from Dade temple in Chang'an to Dingzhou to enrich the private temple, which led to the monks' appeal. In spite of Zhang Yizhi's repeated intercession, Yao Chong stopped the affair. As a result, he offended Zhang Yizhi and was demoted to Sipu Siqing, but he still retained the title of prime minister. In September, Yao Chong went out of Lingwu town to serve as the commander-in-chief and pacifying Ambassador of Lingwu Road, and recommended Zhang Cambodian as prime minister.

Mutual responsibility between the government and the opposition

In the first year of Shenlong (705), Zhang Cambodian and Huan yanfan launched the Shenlong coup, supported Tang Zhongzong as emperor, and restored the Tang Dynasty. Yao Chong just returned to the capital at this time, and was able to participate in the coup plot. He was awarded the title of Marquis of Liang County for his meritorious service, and was granted 200 family titles. Soon after, Yao Chong was released as the governor of Bozhou, and then successively served as Songzhou, Changzhou, Yuezhou and Xuzhou.

In 710, Emperor Ruizong of Tang Dynasty succeeded to the throne. Yao Chong was called back to the imperial court, served as the Minister of the Ministry of war and the junior officer of tongzhongshu, and was promoted to Zhongshu. Yao Chong and song Jing worked together to get rid of the bad government in the period of Zhongzong, appointed the loyal and good, demoted the evil, gave clear rewards and punishments, and put an end to asking for entrustment, so that all kinds of laws were straightened up again. Both the government and the opposition thought that the country had the style of chastity and eternal emblem.

After the restoration of emperor Ruizong in Tang Dynasty, Princess Taiping interfered with the government, and the kings held military power, which threatened the Crown Prince Li Longji. In the second year of Jingyun (711), Yao Chong and song Jingmi played the role of Ruizong. They suggested that Li Chengqi, the king of song, and Li Shouli, the king of Chen, should be released as assassins, that Li longfan, the king of Qi, and Li Ye, the king of Xue, should be changed from general Yulin to a subordinate official of the East Palace, and that Princess Taiping should move to the east capital. Princess Taiping was furious and accused Li Longji. Li Longji had no choice but to play the emperor, saying Yao Chong alienated his clan. As a result, Yao Chong was demoted to be the governor of Shenzhou. Later, he served as the governor of Yangzhou, the inspector general of Huainan, and the governor of Tongzhou. He was simple in politics and law, clear in administration, and praised by the people.

Assistant administration Kaiyuan

In the first year of Kaiyuan (713), Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, launched a coup to kill Princess Taiping and her party members. Later, he went to Xinfeng (now in the northeast of Lintong, Shaanxi Province) to inspect the army. At that time, Yao Chong was serving as an assassin in Tongzhou, less than 300 li away from Xinfeng. According to the regulations, he should go to Xingzai to see Jia, and Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty also called Yao Chong to come. After Yao Chong arrived, he talked with Tang Xuanzong about the world affairs, and he was tireless. Tang Xuanzong intended to appoint him as prime minister. Yao chongsui put forward ten political propositions. Tang Xuanzong readily accepted it. The next day, Yao Chong was appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of war and the Minister of tongzhongshu. He was granted the title of Liang Guogong, and then promoted to ziweiling.

After Yao worshiped the prime minister, he assisted the government, reformed the old and reformed the new, vigorously carried out social reform, and promoted the advantages and eliminated the disadvantages. Starting from straightening out the system, he dismissed redundant posts, selected officials, restrained the power of imperial relatives, relatives and meritorious officials, and paid attention to the development of production, which laid a political and economic foundation for the heyday of Kaiyuan.

Locust control and disaster relief

In 716, a plague of locusts occurred in Shandong Province. The people only knew how to offer sacrifices and worship, but they did not dare to kill locusts and let them chew on the seedlings. Yao Chongshang said: "the book of songs says:" hold the thief, pay the fire. " Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty also issued an imperial edict: "we should be encouraged to follow the current political situation and urge the governor to take charge of farming and mulberry. "We're going to get rid of them." All these prove that it is right to kill locusts. Locusts are afraid of people and easy to drive away. Every field has its owner, so they must work hard to save their crops. If you burn a fire at night, dig a pit nearby and bury it while burning, then the locusts will be destroyed. In ancient times, there were people who could not exterminate locusts because they did not do their best. " So he sent the censor as a locust catcher to urge all localities to exterminate locusts.

At that time, the court argued that locusts should not be killed, and Emperor Xuanzong hesitated. Yao Chongjin said: "Yong Confucianists are rigid and don't know how to adapt. The development of things is often against the classic and in line with the trend, but also against the trend and in line with expediency. In ancient times, there was a plague of locusts, but because they refused to kill, there was a famine, and the people ate each other. Today, locusts are everywhere, reproducing repeatedly. There is no food in Henan and Hebei. If there is no harvest, the people will be displaced, which is related to the safety of the country. It is better to exterminate locusts, even if they cannot be completely exterminated, than to stay and form a disaster! " Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty thought it was.

Although Emperor Xuanzong was convinced, all the officials were still suspicious and uneasy. Lu Huaishen, the supervisor of Huangmen, said: "locusts are natural disasters, which can not be eliminated by human power. What's more, there are too many pests to kill, which will hurt Tianhe. " Yao Chong said: "King Hui of Chu cured his chronic disease by swallowing vermiculi, and sun shuao got a blessing by beheading snakes. Now locusts can be driven away. If they are allowed to cause disasters, food will be eaten up. What will the people do then? If the disaster comes from heaven, I, Yao Chong, will bear it. I will never pass the buck to you. " Lu Huaishen is speechless.

Local officials are still opposed to the locust control. Ni Ruoshui, the governor of bianzhou, said: "only by virtue can natural disasters be eliminated. The former Zhao and Liu Cong failed to eliminate locusts, but caused greater harm." He refused the censor's command and would not exterminate the locusts. Yao Chong wrote and reproached: "Liu Cong's usurpation of the rebellious monarch is more virtuous than demons, your Majesty's sage and wise master is more virtuous than demons. In ancient times, there were good guards in the state, and locusts did not dare to enter. If Xiude could avoid locust plague, was the locust plague caused by immorality? " Ni Ruoshui did not dare to resist, so he had to cooperate in killing locusts. Under Yao Chong's insistence, the harm of locust plague was reduced to the minimum, although locust plague did not cause large-scale famine in successive years.

Glory in old age

Yao Chong had no residence in the capital, but lived in Wangji temple. He was bedridden because of malaria. Every day, Emperor Xuanzong sent dozens of envoys to visit his patients. Every time he met with serious military and national affairs, he ordered yuan Qianyao, the yellow gate supervisor, to seek his advice. Later, Emperor Xuanzong adopted yuan Qianyao's suggestion, ordered Yao Chong to move into sifangguan, and allowed his family to serve the disease. Yao Chong thought that there were official documents in sifangguan, which was not the place where patients lived, so he strongly refused. Tang Xuanzong said: "setting up the Sifang Pavilion is to serve the officials. I arrange you to live here for the sake of the country. If possible, I'd like you to live in the palace. Don't refuse! "

Although Yao Chong is a good prime minister, he has no way to teach his children. His sons Yao Yi and Yao Yi made friends with many guests and were criticized by the public. Zhao Xu, the owner of Zhongshu, accepted bribes from Hu people. Because of the disclosure, he was convicted of death by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty. Yao Chong also tried his best to rescue him. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty was very displeased about this. When he pardoned the prisoners in the capital, he specially noted in the imperial edict that he exiled Zhao Jiao to Lingnan. Fearing this, Yao Chong resigned several times and recommended song Jing, the governor of Guangzhou, as the prime minister. Soon after, Yao Chong was dismissed from the prime minister's post and changed to Kaifu Yitong's third division.

Although Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty dismissed Yao Chong as prime minister, he still held him in high esteem. He went to court once every five days and consulted him on major political affairs. In 720, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty granted Yao Chong the title of Prince Shaobao, but he didn't accept it because of illness.

In 721, Yao Chong died of illness at the age of 72. He was awarded to the governor of Yangzhou as a posthumous title. In the 17th year of Kaiyuan (729), Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty gave Yao Chong as the crown prince and crown prince.

Main achievements

Politics

At the beginning of Tang Xuanzong's accession to the throne, he prepared to appoint Yao Chong as prime minister. Yao Chongzhen put forward ten opinions on the current situation and asked Xuanzong if he agreed,

Chinese PinYin : Yao Yuan Zhi