Chinese traditional culture has a long and profound history! Today, the editor of the History Encyclopedia has compiled relevant content about the Tang Dynasty Prime Minister Yao Chong. May I help you expand your knowledge?
In 705 AD, the Tang Dynasty’s Fengge attendant Zhang Jianzhi and five others launched a coup, enthroned Crown Prince Li Xian ahead of schedule, and forced Wu Zetian to abdicate. Because it was the first year of the Divine Dragon era, this coup was called the ‘Divine Dragon Coup’. The Shenlong Coup ended Wu Zetian’s reign as emperor and also allowed the Li Tang royal family to ascend to the throne again, which was of great significance to the Tang Dynasty.
In the process of the “Divine Dragon Coup”, there were five people who made significant contributions, namely Zhang Jianzhi, Jinghui, Huan Yanfan, Yuan Shuji, and Cui Xuanwei. After Li Xian ascended to the throne, these five people were successively crowned kings, so people collectively referred to them as the “Five Kings”. The ‘Five Kings’ made great contributions in restoring imperial power to the Li family, but they all ended up tragically. Besides the “Five Kings”, there was also a minister who participated in the Shenlong coup. However, unlike the Five Kings, he became the big winner through a public cry, and this person was the famous Tang Dynasty prime minister Yao Chong.
Let’s briefly talk about the Shenlong Coup. After the death of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, Wu Zetian deposed her two sons, Li Xian and Li Dan, and declared herself emperor. Becoming the first true female emperor in Chinese history. After Wu Zetian ascended to the throne, she not only ruthlessly executed members of the Li Tang royal family, but also favored the two brothers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Zongchang, and even intended to pass the throne to her nephew Wu Sansi. Later, with the dissuasion of Di Renjie and others, Wu Zetian reinstated her son Li Xian as the crown prince. However, Li Xian has been suppressed by his mother for many years and has always been cautious. Wu Zetian’s two heads also bullied Crown Prince Li Xian, even forcing him to kill his own son and daughter. This situation was unbearable for the ministers loyal to Li Tang.
In the first year of the Shenlong era, Wu Zetian fell seriously ill, and Zhang Yi’s brothers roamed the court and the people. Zhang Jianzhi and the “Five Princes”, together with the Yulin Guard, decided to take the opportunity to eliminate Zhang Yi’s brother and allow Crown Prince Li Xian to ascend the throne again. The Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government states:
The Empress Dowager was seriously ill. Zhang Yizhi, the supervisor of Lintai, and Zhang Changzong, the deputy minister of Chunguan, were appointed as intermediaries. Zhang Jianzhi, Cui Xuan, Jing Hui, the Right Deputy Minister of Zhongtai, Huan Yanfan, the Minister of Justice, and Yuan Shuji, the Sima of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, conspired to execute her.
On the 22nd day of the first lunar month, Zhang Jianzhi and others entered the palace through Xuanwu Gate. On the one hand, they controlled the Changsheng Hall where Wu Zetian lived, and on the other hand, they quickly welcomed Li Xian to preside over the overall situation. Li Xian was not aware of this matter beforehand. He was extremely scared when he heard that everyone was going to pull him to launch a coup. Finally, under everyone’s persuasion, Li Xian came out trembling to take charge of the overall situation. Because if Li Xian does not come forward, Zhang Jianzhi and others would have controlled Wu Zetian, which would be a rebellion. But when the Crown Prince stepped forward, Zhang Jianzhi and others supported the enthronement of a new emperor, which had a completely different meaning.
In this way, Zhang Jianzhi and others entered the Changsheng Hall to kill the brothers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Zongchang. When Wu Zetian woke up, she saw the Crown Prince surrounding the Changsheng Hall with troops until the situation had passed. Therefore, she agreed to abdicate in advance to Li Xian and “enjoy her later years”.
Yao Chongben, a famous Tang Dynasty official, was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the army in Lingwu. He returned to the capital just before the Shenlong coup, and Zhang Jianzhi recruited Yao Chongben to participate in the coup together. The Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government states:
When Yao Yuanzhi arrived from Lingwu, the ministers of Cambodia and Yan Fan praised him, saying, “The matter is in order!” He then informed him of his plan.
So, Yao Chong participated in this coup without any preparation. After the success of the event, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian, ascended to the throne, and Zhang Jianzhi and five others were conferred the title of “Five Kings”. Yao Chong was then granted the title of Marquis of Liang County for his contributions.
In the Shenlong coup, although Yao Chong did not have the high achievements of the “Five Kings”, he was smarter than the Five Kings.
Empress Wu moved to Yanggong, and Emperor Zhongzong led a hundred officials to inquire about daily life. Celebrating the Five Excellencies, admiring the One and shedding tears.
After Wu Zetian abdicated, she moved from the Changsheng Palace to the Shangyang Palace, which meant that Wu Zetian lost control of the court. In order to demonstrate his benevolence and filial piety, Emperor Tang Zhongzong Li Xian specially led civil and military officials to bid farewell to Wu Zetian. Upon seeing Wu Zetian’s abdication, Zhang Jianzhi and the other “Five Kings” were filled with joy and celebrated with each other. After all, they created history. However, only Yao Chong did not celebrate with everyone. He was crying, and crying in front of everyone.
In theory, Yao Chong was a hero who participated in the Shenlong coup. When Wu Zetian abdicated, he should be happy. Why did he cry. Yao Chong’s crying attracted the crowd’s attention, and Zhang Jianzhi asked Yao Chong:
Lao Yao, now that the Empress Dowager has abdicated and returned power to Your Majesty, it is time for the whole country to celebrate. If you cry at this time, you will get into trouble
Unexpectedly, in front of everyone, Yao Chong said:
Although I launched a coup with you, I didn’t make much contribution. I had a fight with the Empress Dowager (Wu Zetian) and now, as we part ways, I can’t help but cry
When everyone heard Yao Chong say this, no one blamed him, but praised Yao Chong for his kindness and righteousness. Many people expressed their incomprehension with Yao Chong’s move, but a year later, they realized: Yao Chong is really smart! Because after all the “Five Kings” who launched the Divine Dragon Coup passed away (either killed or demoted to death), only Yao Chong was still alive.
Originally, after Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian ascended to the throne, his wife Empress Wei usurped power and joined forces with Princess Anle, Wu Sansi, and others to control the court.
Who is Wu Sansi? He was the nephew of Empress Wu Zetian, the father-in-law of Princess Anle, and also the in laws of Emperor Tang Zhongzong. So, Zhang Jianzhi and the other “Five Kings” were quickly excluded by Wu Sansi. Zhang Jianzhi was exiled to Guangdong at the age of 82 and died of anger, while the other four kings were killed. Many ministers involved in the Shenlong coup were implicated, but Yao Chong was not, as he had publicly cried for Wu Zetian.
Feng Menglong once praised Yao Chong’s move as very clever:
Chongni knew that he would think twice before swallowing his navel, but he didn’t listen like the Five Kings did. Wow, I admire true wisdom!
The meaning is that Yao Chong understood in his heart that although Wu Zetian abdicated, her nephew Wu Sansi still held great power, and he was the father-in-law of Princess Anle, the beloved daughter of Emperor Tang Zhongzong. Therefore, Wu Sansi would not fall from power in the short term. Since Wu Sansi is still in power, he will surely retaliate against the officials who launched the coup. Empress Wu Zetian abdicated, and the “Five Kings” celebrated with their crowns. Wu Sansi must not tolerate it. And Yao Chong publicly cried for Wu Zetian, showing that he still had a trace of loyalty to her. So, Yao Chong is the smartest person and the ultimate winner.
Yao Chong was highly valued during the reigns of Emperor Ruizong and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, and became a famous prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, one of the “Four Great Prime Ministers of the Tang Dynasty”. He not only had superb political abilities, but also had a clever mind.
