During his tenure as an official, he was deeply trusted by the emperor, and Tang Xuanzong even made a bold statement, saying that he would like to let him live in the palace. In the court, he also enjoyed the power he deserved, and often responded to it, and no one dared to compete with him.
So why would such a powerful man betray his son? The world says that the father of the tiger has no dog, but what mistake did his son make?
Yao Chong, who served as the ruler of Wu Zetian, Tang Ruizong, and Tang Xuanzong, was also the prime minister of the three dynasties, and was also known as the "Prime Minister of Saving Time", along with Fang Xuanling, Du Ruyi, and Song Jing, and was known as the "Four Great Sages of the Tang Dynasty".
In the first year of the reign of Wu Zetian, when the Khitan rebelled on the border and successively attacked several prefectures in Hebei, the military affairs were busy at that time, because Yao Chong's handling of government affairs properly, was appreciated by Wu Zetian, and the official position was promoted. Although Wu Zetian had also been cruel and cruel to Li's loyal subjects in order to ascend to the throne, she also knew how to recruit wise people and appoint meritocracy.
After being appreciated by Wu Zetian, he became the prime minister within two years and concurrently served as the chief historian of the Xiang Dynasty.
In 704, the fourth year of Chang'an, Yao Chong, because of his mother's old age, wanted to return home to serve, so he asked to resign. When Wu Zetian learned of this, he was touched by his filial piety and agreed to his request to dismiss him from the post of chancellor, but retained the position of governor of the Xiang Dynasty.
Soon after, however, Wu Zetian wanted Yao Chong to be made a Xia official Shangshu (武 Zetian changed the military department to Xia Guan when he was in power). Yao Chongshi resigned: "Xia Guan is in charge of military power, and the subject is a subordinate official of the Xiang King's Palace, and concurrently serving as a Xia official is not conducive to the Xiang King." Wu Zetian was deeply impressed, so he changed him to Chunguan Shangshu (Wu Zetian changed the ceremonial department to Chunguan when he was in power).
"Old Book of Tang, Yao Chong's Biography": In the fourth year of Chang'an, Yuan Zhi took his mother as an old man, asked for dismissal and service, and said very sadly, then it was difficult for heaven to go against his will, worship the long history of the royal palace, dismiss the government affairs, and get his support. In the month of Qi, he also ordered Yuan Zhi to know the Xia Guan Shang Shu Shi and the Tongfeng Pavilion Luantai Sanpin. Yuan Shang said: "The subject is the king, and it is inconvenient to know the soldiers and horses." The subject is not sorry to die, I am afraid that it will not benefit the king. Then Tiantian was deeply aware of his words and changed it to Chunguan Shangshu.
In the first year of Shenlong (705), due to his participation in the coup d'état, Zhang Kamzhi and Huan Yanfan and others launched the Shenlong coup d'état, supporting Emperor Zhongzong of Tang as emperor and restoring the Tang Dynasty.
In the first year of the new century, that is, in 713 AD, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, launched a coup d'état and murdered Princess Taiping and her henchmen. Afterwards, Yao Chong, summoned, the two of them discussed the world's major events, talked freely, tirelessly, tang Xuanzong intended to appoint him as prime minister.
After Yao worshipped Xiangxiang, he vigorously developed the social productive forces, promoted the advantages and eliminated the disadvantages, curbed the power of the emperor's relatives and state relatives and heroes, and laid the political foundation and economic foundation for the prosperous era of the Kaiyuan Dynasty.
Although Tang Xuanzong worshiped several prime ministers during his time, no one could come out of Yao Chongzhi's right in terms of handling affairs.
In 715, Yao Chong, because of family affairs for fifteen days, did not handle government affairs, and Lu Huaishen, who was also the prime minister, did not dare to make his own opinion, so he entered the palace to apologize to Tang Xuanzong, and Tang Xuanzong not only did not blame him, but also said: "Yao Chong, who is entrusted with the affairs of the world, sits in ya and vulgar ears with Qing." ”
Sure enough, when Yao Chong returned to the imperial court, it only took a short time to handle this mountain of government affairs. Qi Han, a member of the Ziwei She, commented on him: "Although the Law of Guan and Yan cannot be applied to the rear, it can still be lost. The law of the public office, as it is repeated, seems to be inferior. The public can be said to be the ear of the times. ”
Although Yao Chong was an ancient, his thinking was ahead of his time. In the fourth year of the new century (716), when Shandong suffered a locust plague, the people thought that this was a punishment from heaven, so they burned incense and set up altars to worship at the edge of the field, Yao Chong proposed to hunt locusts, but the ministers thought that killing locusts would damage the yin and yang qi.
At that time, Lu Huaishen (one of the prime ministers), the superintendent of the Yellow Gate, said: "Locusts are natural disasters, and they cannot be eliminated by human beings." Moreover, there are too many insects, which hurt the sky and the peace. ”
Yao Chong, quoting the scriptures, said: "Xi Chuzhuang swallowed leeches and healed, and Uncle Sun killed snakes and blessed him, so why can't bear the locusts and endure the starvation of the people?" If there is a curse in killing locusts, please deserve it! ”
For the safety of the people, Yao Chong, dared to overthrow the faith, and made a military order, if there is a disaster from heaven, I Yao Chong alone will bear it. He is a rare and good official.
Although Yao Chong is a generation of sages, he has no way to teach his son. His sons Yao Yi and Yao Yi made friends with guests, recruited power and bribed, and caused criticism.
Yao Chong, who had always been kind to Wei Zhigu (who was tied with Yao Chong), took advantage of their friendship to secretly seek an official position from Wei Zhigu. There was no apparent harmony between Wei Zhigu and Yao Chong, and in order to target Yao Chong, Wei Zhigu turned his head and told Tang Xuanzong about it.
New Book of Tang, Yao Chong's Biography: Wei Zhigu, Chongsuo, and Tonglie, slightly lighter, out of the regent Shangshu, Zhidong Duxuan, Zhigu Regret Yan. Shi Chong's second son was in Luo, and the guests were given to the will, and the old ones were entrusted. Know the ancients, know the smell.
Although Tang Xuanzong trusted Yao Chong, he could not let his son do anything wrong, so he summoned Yao Chong, asking about his son's recent situation. Yao Chong said impartially: "The subject has three sons, two sons are in Dongdu, and they are more lustful and imprudent than wei zhigu, and the subject has not asked the ear." ”
Tang Xuanzong also did not expect that Yao Chong would be so direct, without the slightest partiality, and generously admit his son's crimes, compared to Yao Chong's bright and honest appearance Wei Zhigu's ungratefulness. Tang Xuanzong did not want to see his courtiers fighting with each other, and originally wanted to directly demean Wei Zhigu, but was stopped by Yao Chong, but Tang Xuanzong thought about it and deposed Wei Zhigu's official position in 714.
Everyone in the world has a partial heart, why does Yao Chong not protect his son at all?
First of all, although Yao Chong and Wei Zhigu were both prime ministers, Yao Chong's power was greater than his, would the two sons have borrowed their father to ask for help from an outsider? After careful consideration, Yao Chongding had rejected his son, and with his bright and upright character, he would certainly not allow his son to commit such an act.
Secondly, although Yao Chong's power is great, he will never be greater than the emperor, and sooner or later the two sons' request for office will be known to the emperor, rather than waiting for someone to be impeached, it is better to take the initiative to admit it. Moreover, from the fact that Wei Zhigu was deposed, it can be known that Tang Xuanzong's character of not allowing sand in his eyes, if the two monarchs and subjects have a disagreement because of this trivial matter, then Yao Chong's post will not be far from being demoted.
In the end, Yao Chongsu looked down on Wei Zhigu, how could he let him keep his own handle in his hands?
Yao Chong's betrayal of his son seemed to be self-disorder, but in fact he was saving himself, and he was so righteous and killed his relatives, not only retaining his reputation as loyal and virtuous, but also further increasing his trust with Tang Xuanzong.
So that every time Yao Chong entered the palace, Tang Xuanzong personally greeted him, and this special honor can be described as unique to Yao Chong.
In the ninth year of the new century (721), Yao Chong's illness died at the age of seventy-two, and he was posthumously awarded the title of Governor of Yangzhou, and eight years later, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang posthumously awarded Yao Chong the title of Crown Prince Taibao.
Li Longji once commented on Yao Chong: This is not a thief. If Yao Yuanchong is there, the thief will not be destroyed.
References: Zizhi Tongjian, Old Book of Tang, Volume 96, Liewei No. 46, Old Book of Tang, Yao Chongchuan, New Book of Tang, Volume 124, Liechuan No. 49, etc