Today, the History Encyclopedia editor brings you a story from Yuanzai. Interested readers can follow the editor to take a look together.
The An Lushan Rebellion is well-known to everyone, with Tang Xuanzong, Tang Suzong, Tang Zongzong, An Lushan, Shi Siming, and military generals Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi among them. In addition, it also revealed the true face of a group of eunuchs and treacherous officials, including Li Fuguo, Yang Guozhong, and Yu Chao’en. However, only he not only accompanied the three emperors, but also eliminated two generations of powerful eunuchs in the struggle in the officialdom. He thought he was superior, but in the end, he could not escape the arrangement of fate – Yuan Zai.
Yuan Zai was born into poverty, but had extraordinary talent in reading. Coupled with his diligence and eagerness to learn, he passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi in the first year of Tianbao. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, Yuan Zai served as a judge in the Eastern Capital Garrison and a direct judge in Dali. However, in a stable and prosperous era, it was difficult to cultivate alternative talents. The An Lushan Rebellion broke out, and Yuan Zai’s turning point finally appeared.
After the outbreak of the An Lushan Rebellion, due to his sensitive nature, Yuan Zai was highly valued by Emperor Suzong of Tang and quickly promoted to the position of Jianghuai Transport Commissioner. In the second year of the Shangyuan era, Yuan Zai was once again promoted to the position of Assistant Minister of Revenue, and later to important positions such as Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner. Of course, all of this was not entirely due to Yuan Zai’s own efforts. The key was that he had a relationship with the wife of Li Fuguo, who was a powerful courtier. With Li Fuguo’s strong recommendation, his official fortune was prosperous. But would Yuan Zai really be grateful and virtuous?
Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Suzong passed away one after another, and Emperor Li Yu succeeded to the throne. As Li Fuguo played a crucial role in Li Yu’s succession, he was also appointed as Shangfu and became the Prime Minister. Li Fuguo was arrogant and often did not respect the decisions of Emperor Daizong Li Yu. He had a tendency to turn to the left and even cultivated many followers to resist the emperor. This was discovered by Yuan Zai, who was good at observing words and colors. Soon after, Yuan Zai took the initiative to help Emperor Daizong secretly send people to assassinate Li Fuguo.
After the assassination of Li Fuguo, the second eunuch, Yu Chao’en, rose to power. This person had served three emperors, especially being highly valued by Emperor Suzong of Tang. The key was that Yu Chao’en also had a divine army in his hands, and the eunuchs held military power. It can be imagined that there would be no peaceful division? He was arrogant and reckless in discussing court affairs, and did not take Yuan Zai, the prime minister, seriously. He repeatedly belittled Yuan Zai’s abilities in front of his courtiers.
The arrogance of Yu Chao’en also made Tang Dynasty Emperor Zong feel threatened, so Emperor Daizong Li Yu and Yuan Zai decided to cultivate a group of trusted followers and die hard soldiers, ready to take a risk. In the fifth year of the Dali era, Emperor Tang invited Yu Chao’en to celebrate the Cold Food Festival, and this long-awaited banquet was the Hongmen Banquet of Yu Chao’en. The dead rushed forward and killed Yu Chao’en.
After serving three emperors and helping the royal family eliminate two generations of powerful officials, Yuan Zai did not summarize the lessons of history. Instead, he amplified his desires infinitely, monopolizing the court, fighting against differences, forming factions for personal gain, and forming cliques. However, since this is the Tang Dynasty, how could Prime Minister Yuan Zai cover the sky with his own hands? In the twelfth year of the Dali era, Yuan Zai was caught by General Wu Cong of the Left Jin Dynasty without any warning, and was subsequently ordered to die, implicating his family and followers.
Accompanying the king like accompanying a tiger, Yuan Zai Ji was too clever in his calculations to deal with the powerful eunuchs in the court and ultimately deterred them from following in their footsteps. The ending is truly lamentable.
