Tang Xuanzong's ability to open the "Kaiyuan Prosperous Era" was not only related to his own talents, but also closely related to several key figures. The most important of these was his prime minister, Yao Chong.
Yao Chong, real name Yuan Chong, character Yuanzhi, Shaanzhou Jiaoshi people, ancestral home of Wu Xing, a famous politician of the Tang Dynasty, the son of Yao Yi, the governor of YaoZhou. Yao Chong's life has had lows and peaks, and he has been an official for many years and three times, and his ability to govern can be seen, and Yao Chong's first time as prime minister was during the Wu Zetian period. As the only female emperor in Chinese history, Wu Zetian attached great importance to the selection of talents, and could entrust talented people with heavy responsibilities, which was quite a bit of the "taste" of the relics of Chastity.
In the first year of the Long Live Tongtian, the Khitan invaded Hebei, and the situation was critical. Wu Zetian asked the courtiers to write a letter proposing coping strategies. This crisis against the Tang Dynasty (Wuzhou Dynasty) was precisely Yao Chong's opportunity. At that time, Wu Zetian discovered from the performance of the group of ministers that Yao Chong's analysis of the problem was thorough, and the reasoning was so exquisite that he was surprised and promoted Yao Chong to the position of Xia Guan (Bingbu) Attendant. From then on, Yao Chong stepped into the center of power and became an important courtier of the imperial court.
Although Yao Chong, who was deeply respected by Wu Zetian, did not blindly "only ascend" and obey Wu Zetian. In response to Wu Zetian's measures of encouraging whistle-blowing, reusing cool officials, indiscriminately punishing people, and killing innocents, Yao Chong's heart was always dissatisfied. To this end, he also wrote a letter pointing out that the reuse of cool officials and the cruelty to innocents are "more harmful than those of the Han Party." In response to Yao Chong's criticism, Wu Zetian was still very measured, and instead of blaming him, he said very happily: "In the past, the prime ministers all went along with their own deeds and became the lord of adultery. What Qing Qing said is very much in line with the heart." Yao Chong's silver was immediately rewarded with 1,000 taels. Two years later, Wu Zetian promoted Yao Chong to the position of Xia Guan Shilang and Fengge Luantai Pingzhang
Soon after, Yao Chong became the chancellor of the late Wu Zetian period, assisting Wu Zetian in handling military and political affairs. Unfortunately, Yao Chong's first offense offended Wu Zetian's favorite brothers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong, and was eventually released by Wu Zetian to be the commander of the lingwu dao, and later changed to the ambassador of the lingwu dao appeasement.
In the first month of the first year of shenlong, the chancellor Zhang Kamzhi conspired with Yao Chong, joined forces with Huan Yanfan, Cui Xuanwei, Jinghui, and Yuan Shuji, and launched a military coup d'état while Wu Zetian was seriously ill, overthrowing Wu Zetian and supporting the restoration of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang. In this coup d'état, Yao Chong, because of his support, was given the title of Marquis of Liang County, with 200 households. Unfortunately, this favored Tang Zhongzong was incompetent, and the power of the government was controlled by Wei Hou and Wu Sansi, and if it were not for Wei Hou's death and poisoning of Tang Zhongzong, there might not have been a place for Yao Chong' turnaround.
Later, under the leadership of Li Longji and Princess Taiping, another palace coup d'état eliminated Wei Hou and other forces. The newly appointed Tang Ruizong worshipped Yao Chong as bingbu shangshu and tongzhongshu menxia sanpin, and Yao Chong was the second time. This time, Yao Chong faced a power struggle between the crown prince Li Longji and princess Changping. In order to help Li Longji capture, Yao Chong secretly went to Emperor Ruizong and requested that the King of Song and the King of Feng be released, and that Princess Taiping and her horse be placed in Luoyang, and that the Yulin army under the command of King Qi and King Xue be reclaimed. Unfortunately, this matter was still known to Princess Taiping, and under pressure, Tang Ruizong ordered yao chong's position of prime minister to be deposed and Yao Chongwai to be appointed as an assassin.
Although the crown prince Li Longji did not save Yao Chong, he also remembered Yao Chong's grace and talent for assistance. In the first year of the first century, Emperor Ruizong gave way to Li Longji for Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. After Tang Xuanzong succeeded to the throne, he quickly extinguished the coup planned by Princess Taiping. Without the power of Princess Taiping, Tang Xuanzong began his own efforts. He first appointed Yao Chong as bingbu shangshu and tongzhongshu menxia sanpin (thus Yao Chong's third time as xiang). Yao Chong, who had been a third-time minister, made ten well-thought-out suggestions to Emperor Xuanzong in response to the maladministration since Emperor Zhongzong:
First, implement benevolent government and abolish severe punishment laws;
Second, put an end to the truce and do not seek side merit;
Third, the law is close to the law and fair law enforcement;
Fourth, eunuchs were not allowed to interfere in politics;
Fifth, refuse to contribute outside the lease;
Sixth, relatives of the Emperor and the State shall not serve as officials of Taiwan Province;
Seventh, treat courtiers with courtesy;
Eighth, humble and humble.
Ninth, no more Taoist temples and Buddhist temples will be added;
Tenth, the exclusive power of the two Han foreign relatives is used as a warning.
Tang Xuanzong accepted Yao Chong's suggestion, and from then on, "the affairs of the military state are visited by Yu Chong." Yao Chong also lived up to Tang Xuanzong's trust. Since the worship of the prime minister, he has conscientiously relied on the administration of the dynasty, reformed the old and the new, vigorously carried out social reforms, and promoted the advantages and eliminated the disadvantages. Starting from the rectification system, he removed redundant posts, selected officials, suppressed the power of the emperor, state relatives, and meritorious officials, paid attention to the development of production, and laid a political foundation and economic foundation for the prosperous era of the New Century. It can be said that the "Kaiyuan Prosperous Era" can appear, and Yao Chong, who has the greatest merit among the ministers of the imperial court.