Zheng Congdang
Encyclopedia
Zheng Congdang (died 887
?), courtesy name Zhengqiu (正求), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, twice serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong
.
, and his grandfather Zheng Yuqing
served as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Dezong
and Emperor Dezong's grandson Emperor Xianzong
. Zheng Congdang's father Zheng Guan (鄭澣) was himself a long-time imperial official, although he was never chancellor, dying while serving as the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
, Shaanxi
) in 839
at the age of 63. Zheng Congdang had three older brothers, Zheng Yunmo (鄭允謨), Zheng Maoxiu (鄭茂休), and Zheng Chuhui (鄭處誨), each of whom served in the imperial government as well. (A third cousin, Zheng Yanchang
, would be a future chancellor.)
Zheng Congdang himself passed the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi class in 842
, during the reign of Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor Wuzong
. He started as his governmental career as a copyeditor (校書郎) at the archival bureau (秘書省, Mishu Sheng), and thereafter served as an advisory official, and then a supervisory official at the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), eventually becoming responsible for drafting edicts. As the chancellors Linghu Tao
and Wei Fu
both passed the imperial examinations while Zheng Guan oversaw the imperial examinations, they both felt indebted to Zheng Congdang and thus enhanced Zheng Congdang's reputation. As a result, Zheng was subsequently promoted to Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng).
, by which time Emperor Wuzong's cousin Emperor Yizong
was emperor, Zheng Congdang was made deputy minister of rites (禮部侍郎, Lǐbu Shilang) and put in charge of the imperial examinations. He was later made deputy minister of justice (刑部侍郎, Xingbu Shilang) and then deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Lìbu Shilang, note different tone). It was said that he selected appropriate officials while overseeing the civil service, but that, as a result of refusing to bow to powerful individuals' wishes, was sent out of the capital to serve as the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
) as well as the mayor of its capital Taiyuan Municipality. After he served there for a year, he requested a return to the capital, but the request was not accepted; rather, he was transferred to Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
, Henan
) to serve as its military governor and the prefect of its capital Bian Prefecture (汴州). He was said to have governed Xuanwu well, causing the powerful individuals at that time to be apprehensive that he would be promoted. He was thus transferred to Lingnan East Circuit (嶺南東道, headquartered in modern Guangzhou
, Guangdong
) to serve as its military governor and the prefect of its capital Guang Prefecture (廣州). While at Guang Prefecture, he had to dealt with many incursions and non-Han
rebellions with few troops available to him and no reinforcements from the north, but he managed the situation by commissioning non-Han tribal chiefs to deal with the military matters. It was said that despite the large number of rebellions, Guang Prefecture was safe.
and was succeeded by his young son Emperor Xizong
. Zheng Congdang, who did not want to remain in Lingnan East longer, submitted repeated petitions, offering even to accept an honorary position at the eastern capital Luoyang
. Emperor Xizong then recalled him to Chang'an to serve as minister of justice (刑部尚書, Xingbu Shangshu). In 878
, when Zheng was referred to at the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Lìbu Shangshu), he was made Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau, and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto.
rebels led by the chieftain Li Guochang
and Li Guochang's son Li Keyong
. After a mutiny in 880
led to the death of the military governor Kang Chuangui (康傳圭), the imperial government decided that it would take someone as senior as a chancellor to deal with the situation, so Zheng was commissioned as the military governor of Hedong and allowed to select his own staff members. Zheng thus invited many well-known individuals to serve on his staff, and his staff was described as a miniature imperial government. He retained the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title.
In late 880, with Chang'an under the threat of attack by the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
, Zheng was ordered to transfer his soldiers to Zhuge Shuang
and Zhu Mei
and have Zhuge and Zhu head south to try to help defend the capital, although the capital fell apparently before Zhuge and Zhu could actually do so. Huang took the throne as the emperor of a new state of Qi, but Zheng, along with other Tang generals, continued resisting. Meanwhile, in 881
, Li Keyong, claiming that he was coming to the imperial government's aid, requested that Zheng allow him transit through Hedong. Zheng did not refuse, but declined to supply his troops (besides giving Li Keyong a small amount of food) and prepared for a siege of Taiyuan, causing Li Keyong to respond by pillaging Hedong Circuit. Zheng sought aid from Qibi Zhang (契苾璋) the military governor of Zhenwu Circuit (振武, headquartered in modern Hohhot
, Inner Mongolia
); Qibi came to his aid with ethnic Tujue and Tuyuhun troops, and Li Keyong withdrew north, capturing Xin (忻州, in modern Xinzhou
, Shanxi
) and Dai (代州, also in modern Xinzhou) Prefectures.
In 882
, Qibi Zhang received imperial permission (from Emperor Xizong, who was then at Chengdu
) to attack Li Keyong, and Emperor Xizong further ordered Zheng to assist Qibi. However, by winter 882, the eunuch monitor of the armies against Huang, Yang Fuguang
, had convinced the imperial government that it was necessary to enlist the Shatuo to defeat Huang. The chancellor in charge of the operations against Huang, Wang Duo
, thus issued an edict in Emperor Xizong's name pardoning and summoning Li Keyong to the imperial cause, and further ordering Zheng not to interfere. Still, as Li Keyong was leading his troops south, he instructed his troops to avoid Taiyuan, but personally went to Taiyuan to greet Zheng. Zheng gave him a gift of horses and treasures. Li Keyong then continued south to join the imperial cause against Huang.
After the Tang forces recaptured Chang'an in spring 883
— a battle in which Li Keyong's contribution was instrumental — Li Keyong returned to Dai Prefecture briefly, but soon, Emperor Xizong issued an edict to reward Li Keyong by making him the military governor of Hedong, while summoning Zheng to Emperor Xizong's presence. Zheng accepted the edict and yielded Hedong to Li Keyong. Zheng was then made Sikong (司空), one of the Three Excellencies
, as well as Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng), as well as chancellor again with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi.
, he was given the greater chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中, i.e., the head of the examination bureau), as well as Taifu (太傅). In 887
, he offered to retire, and he was made a senior advisor to the Crown Prince
— an entirely honorary title since there was no crown prince at the time. He died soon thereafter. He was given the posthumous name
Wenzhong (文忠, "civil and faithful").
887
Year 887 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The city of Toledo rises against the Umayyad leader....
?), courtesy name Zhengqiu (正求), was an official of the Chinese
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, twice serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
.
Background and early career
It is not known when Zheng Congdang was born. His family claimed ancestry from the ruling house of the Spring and Autumn Period state ZhengZheng (state)
Zheng （) was a vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty located in the centre of ancient China in modern day Henan Province on the North China Plain about east of the royal capital at Luoyang. It was the most powerful of the vassal states at the beginning of the Eastern Zhou...
, and his grandfather Zheng Yuqing
Zheng Yuqing
Zheng Yuqing , courtesy name Juye , formally Duke Zhen of Yingyang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Dezong and Emperor Dezong's grandson Emperor Xianzong.- Background :Zheng Yuqing was born in 777, during the reign of...
served as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Dezong
Emperor Dezong of Tang
Emperor Dezong of Tang , personally name Li Kuo , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the oldest son of his father Emperor Daizong. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty...
and Emperor Dezong's grandson Emperor Xianzong
Emperor Xianzong of Tang
Emperor Xianzong of Tang , personal name Li Chun , né Li Chun , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty...
. Zheng Congdang's father Zheng Guan (鄭澣) was himself a long-time imperial official, although he was never chancellor, dying while serving as the military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
) in 839
839
Year 839 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Louis the Pious attempts to divide his empire among his sons.* Ethelwulf succeeds Egbert as king of Wessex....
at the age of 63. Zheng Congdang had three older brothers, Zheng Yunmo (鄭允謨), Zheng Maoxiu (鄭茂休), and Zheng Chuhui (鄭處誨), each of whom served in the imperial government as well. (A third cousin, Zheng Yanchang
Zheng Yanchang
Zheng Yanchang , courtesy name Guangyuan , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background :It is not known when Zheng Yanchang was born...
, would be a future chancellor.)
Zheng Congdang himself passed the imperial examination
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
s in the Jinshi class in 842
842
Year 842 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* February 14 – Charles the Bald and Louis the German sign a treaty....
, during the reign of Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor Wuzong
Emperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
. He started as his governmental career as a copyeditor (校書郎) at the archival bureau (秘書省, Mishu Sheng), and thereafter served as an advisory official, and then a supervisory official at the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), eventually becoming responsible for drafting edicts. As the chancellors Linghu Tao
Linghu Tao
Linghu Tao , courtesy name Zizhi , formally the Duke of Zhao , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was the leading chancellor during the last nine years of the reign of Emperor Xuānzong, but was removed from his chancellor position after Emperor Xuānzong's death, subsequently...
and Wei Fu
Wei Fu
Wei Fu was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong....
both passed the imperial examinations while Zheng Guan oversaw the imperial examinations, they both felt indebted to Zheng Congdang and thus enhanced Zheng Congdang's reputation. As a result, Zheng was subsequently promoted to Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng).
During Emperor Yizong's reign
In 862862
Year 862 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ashot I becomes the first king of Armenia's Bagratuni dynasty.* Aed Finliath is crowned High King of Ireland....
, by which time Emperor Wuzong's cousin Emperor Yizong
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
was emperor, Zheng Congdang was made deputy minister of rites (禮部侍郎, Lǐbu Shilang) and put in charge of the imperial examinations. He was later made deputy minister of justice (刑部侍郎, Xingbu Shilang) and then deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Lìbu Shilang, note different tone). It was said that he selected appropriate officials while overseeing the civil service, but that, as a result of refusing to bow to powerful individuals' wishes, was sent out of the capital to serve as the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
) as well as the mayor of its capital Taiyuan Municipality. After he served there for a year, he requested a return to the capital, but the request was not accepted; rather, he was transferred to Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
) to serve as its military governor and the prefect of its capital Bian Prefecture (汴州). He was said to have governed Xuanwu well, causing the powerful individuals at that time to be apprehensive that he would be promoted. He was thus transferred to Lingnan East Circuit (嶺南東道, headquartered in modern Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
) to serve as its military governor and the prefect of its capital Guang Prefecture (廣州). While at Guang Prefecture, he had to dealt with many incursions and non-Han
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
rebellions with few troops available to him and no reinforcements from the north, but he managed the situation by commissioning non-Han tribal chiefs to deal with the military matters. It was said that despite the large number of rebellions, Guang Prefecture was safe.
Prior to first chancellorship
Emperor Yizong died in 873873
Year 873 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings raid Dorestad.* Al-Andalus: Second uprising of Toledo due to ethnic tensions in two years.- Asia :...
and was succeeded by his young son Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
. Zheng Congdang, who did not want to remain in Lingnan East longer, submitted repeated petitions, offering even to accept an honorary position at the eastern capital Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
. Emperor Xizong then recalled him to Chang'an to serve as minister of justice (刑部尚書, Xingbu Shangshu). In 878
878
Year 878 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :...
, when Zheng was referred to at the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Lìbu Shangshu), he was made Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau, and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto.
First chancellorship
Not much was recorded about Zheng Congdang's acts as chancellor in his first term. At this time, Hedong Circuit had been plagued by repeated mutinies, as well as the danger of being attacked by ShatuoShatuo
The Shatuo were a Turkic tribe that heavily influenced northern Chinese politics from the late ninth century through the tenth century. They are noted for founding 3 of the 5 dynasties and 1 of the kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period....
rebels led by the chieftain Li Guochang
Li Guochang
Li Guochang , né Zhuye Chixin , courtesy name Dexing , posthumously honored by Later Tang Dynasty as Emperor Wenjing with the temple name of Xianzu , was a leader of the Shatuo Turks during the waning years of the Tang Dynasty.- Background :Zhuye Chixin's ancestors had been hereditary chiefs of...
and Li Guochang's son Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
. After a mutiny in 880
880
Year 880 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Religion :* Pope John VIII issues the bull Industriae Tuae, creating an independent ecclesiastical province in Great Moravia with Archbishop Saint Methodius as its head...
led to the death of the military governor Kang Chuangui (康傳圭), the imperial government decided that it would take someone as senior as a chancellor to deal with the situation, so Zheng was commissioned as the military governor of Hedong and allowed to select his own staff members. Zheng thus invited many well-known individuals to serve on his staff, and his staff was described as a miniature imperial government. He retained the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title.
Between the chancellorships
Back at Hedong, Zheng Congdang was described as apparently mild in disposition, but was full of strategies and decisive. He was able to discover mutiny plots well, and he executed those who planned mutinies, while comforting the rest. For example, the officer Zhang Yanqiu (張彥球), who was forced by his colleagues to participate in the mutiny that killed Kang Chuangui, was someone that Zheng comforted and entrusted with military commands.In late 880, with Chang'an under the threat of attack by the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
Huang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
, Zheng was ordered to transfer his soldiers to Zhuge Shuang
Zhuge Shuang
Zhuge Shuang was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Heyang Circuit for some time and who vacillated between allegiance to Tang and to the Qi state of the agrarian rebel Huang Chao.- Background and early career :It is not known when Zhuge Shuang was born, but it is...
and Zhu Mei
Zhu Mei
Zhu Mei was a warlord of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Disillusioned with Emperor Xizong and the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi, he tried to support Emperor Xizong's distant relative Li Yun the Prince of Xiang as the new emperor, but was soon thereafter killed by his own officer Wang Xingyu.-...
and have Zhuge and Zhu head south to try to help defend the capital, although the capital fell apparently before Zhuge and Zhu could actually do so. Huang took the throne as the emperor of a new state of Qi, but Zheng, along with other Tang generals, continued resisting. Meanwhile, in 881
881
Year 881 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Charles the Fat is crowned Western Emperor.* Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu: Louis III of France routs Norman pirates....
, Li Keyong, claiming that he was coming to the imperial government's aid, requested that Zheng allow him transit through Hedong. Zheng did not refuse, but declined to supply his troops (besides giving Li Keyong a small amount of food) and prepared for a siege of Taiyuan, causing Li Keyong to respond by pillaging Hedong Circuit. Zheng sought aid from Qibi Zhang (契苾璋) the military governor of Zhenwu Circuit (振武, headquartered in modern Hohhot
Hohhot
Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....
, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
); Qibi came to his aid with ethnic Tujue and Tuyuhun troops, and Li Keyong withdrew north, capturing Xin (忻州, in modern Xinzhou
Xinzhou
Xinzhou is a prefecture-level city of the People's Republic of China province of Shanxi.-Administrative Divisions:- Education :Xinzhou has numerous public schools, including Xin Zhou Yi Zhong Xue , which is considered the most prestigious of public high schools in the region.Another public high...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
) and Dai (代州, also in modern Xinzhou) Prefectures.
In 882
882
Year 882 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Carloman, King of the West Franks, becomes sole king upon the death of his brother....
, Qibi Zhang received imperial permission (from Emperor Xizong, who was then at Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
) to attack Li Keyong, and Emperor Xizong further ordered Zheng to assist Qibi. However, by winter 882, the eunuch monitor of the armies against Huang, Yang Fuguang
Yang Fuguang
Yang Fuguang , formally Duke Zhongsu of Hongnong , was an eunuch general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who was considered a major contributor to the Tang cause in finally defeating Huang Chao's rebellion.- Background :...
, had convinced the imperial government that it was necessary to enlist the Shatuo to defeat Huang. The chancellor in charge of the operations against Huang, Wang Duo
Wang Duo
Wang Duo , is a Chinese calligrapher, painter, and poet in Ming Dynasty.Wang was born in Mengjin in the Henan province. His style name was 'Juesi' or 'Juezhi' and his sobriquets were 'Songqiao', 'Chi'an', or 'Yantan Yusou'...
, thus issued an edict in Emperor Xizong's name pardoning and summoning Li Keyong to the imperial cause, and further ordering Zheng not to interfere. Still, as Li Keyong was leading his troops south, he instructed his troops to avoid Taiyuan, but personally went to Taiyuan to greet Zheng. Zheng gave him a gift of horses and treasures. Li Keyong then continued south to join the imperial cause against Huang.
After the Tang forces recaptured Chang'an in spring 883
883
Year 883 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Oldest known mention of the city of Duisburg.* Monte Cassino is sacked and burned down by the Saracens....
— a battle in which Li Keyong's contribution was instrumental — Li Keyong returned to Dai Prefecture briefly, but soon, Emperor Xizong issued an edict to reward Li Keyong by making him the military governor of Hedong, while summoning Zheng to Emperor Xizong's presence. Zheng accepted the edict and yielded Hedong to Li Keyong. Zheng was then made Sikong (司空), one of the Three Excellencies
Three Excellencies
The Three Ducal Ministers , also translated as the Three Dukes, Three Excellencies, or the Three Lords, was the collective name for the three highest officials in ancient China...
, as well as Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng), as well as chancellor again with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi.
Second chancellorship and death
Not much was recorded about Zheng Congdang's acts as chancellor in his second term. In 886886
Year 886 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :...
, he was given the greater chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中, i.e., the head of the examination bureau), as well as Taifu (太傅). In 887
887
Year 887 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The city of Toledo rises against the Umayyad leader....
, he offered to retire, and he was made a senior advisor to the Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
— an entirely honorary title since there was no crown prince at the time. He died soon thereafter. He was given the posthumous name
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
Wenzhong (文忠, "civil and faithful").