Zheng Zhu
Encyclopedia
Zheng Zhu (died December 18, 835), probably né Yu Zhu (魚注), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
. He became a trusted advisor to Emperor Wenzong
due to treatments he provided Emperor Wenzong for the emperor's illnesses, and thereafter plotted with Emperor Wenzong and Li Xun
to slaughter the powerful eunuchs. However, after the plot (later known as the Ganlu Incident
) failed, Li Xun and he were both killed, along with many other officials that the eunuchs suspected of being complicit.
capital Chang'an
. (As Yu means "fish" in Chinese
, eventually, when Zheng became powerful, he was sometimes obliquely referred to as "the one from the water.")
In 818, when the general Li Su
served as the military governor of Shannan East Circuit (山南東道, headquartered in modern Xiangfan
, Hubei
), Zheng went to serve under Li Su, and as Li Su received medical services from Zheng, he became trusting of Zheng and commissioned Zheng as a guard commander. Later, when Li Su was moved to be the military governor of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern Xuzhou
, Jiangsu
), Zheng followed him, and became even more involved in the decisions. It was said that Zheng was treacherous but well-spoken, and was capable of detecting what people desired, and therefore, the suggestions he made Li Su were the ones that pleased Li Su. As a result, he became quite powerful at the headquarters, and the officers feared him. At that time, the eunuch Wang Shoucheng
served as the monitor of Wuning, and Wang disliked Zheng immensely, and, on one occasion, Wang pointed out how the army was resentful of Zheng. Li Su stated to Wang, "Although it is true, Zheng is an amazing man. You, general, should meet him. If you disagree, then he can be removed." Li Su then had Zheng meet Wang. Wang initially did not want to and refused to seat Zheng, but once Zheng began talking with him, Wang was pleased with Zheng's analyses, and invited Zheng in to talk further. Thereafter, Zheng became a close associate of Wang's.
As of 831, then-reigning Emperor Wenzong
was plotting with the chancellor Song Shenxi
to eliminate the powerful eunuchs. Song involved the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region), Wang Fan (王璠), in the planning, and as part of the planning, Wang was to have Zheng killed. Wang, however, leaked the plan to Zheng, who in turn informed Wang. At Zheng's suggestion, Wang, who was then the commander of one of the Shence Armies (神策軍), had one of his officers submit an accusation that Song and Emperor Wenzong's brother Li Cou
the Prince of Zhang were plotting to remove Emperor Wenzong and replace him with Li Cou. Emperor Wenzong believed the accusations and had Song and Li Cou arrested. Emperor Wenzong initially were set to execute Song, but the other officials urged a thorough investigation. Zheng was fearful that a thorough investigation would show that the accusations were not true, and therefore had Wang suggest to Emperor Wenzong that Song and Li Cou be spared; however, both were demoted and exiled.
Subsequently, the imperial guard general Meng Wenliang (孟文亮) was made the military governor of Binning Circuit (邠寧, headquartered in modern Xianyang
, Shaanxi
), and he requested that Zheng be made commander of in his army. Zheng, however, refused to accompany him to Binning. Only after the deputy chief imperial censor Yuwen Ding (宇文鼎) submitted an accusation against Zheng for insubordination did Zheng depart toward Binning, but he never reached Binning before turning back to Chang'an. The imperial censor Li Kuan (李款) submitted a harshly-worded accusation against Zheng, but as the chancellor who received the accusation, Wang Ya
, had himself ingratiated Zheng and been commissioned due to Wang Shoucheng's recommendation, Wang Ya suppressed the accusation and did not act on it. The military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi
, Shanxi
), Liu Congjian
, wanted to remove Zheng and his influence from the capital, and therefore recommended Zheng to be his deputy military governor. After only a few months, however, Emperor Wenzong suffered a stroke and, for some time, was unable to speak. Wang Shoucheng recommended Zheng to him, and so Zheng was recalled to treat Emperor Wenzong. Zheng was able to help Emperor Wenzong's conditions to improve, and Emperor Wenzong thereafter associated closely with Zheng.
. As a result, Emperor Wenzong treated him as an advisor and a friend, not as a subject.
Meanwhile, Li Zhongyan
, who met Wang Shoucheng through Li Fengji
, was also recommended by Wang to Emperor Wenzong, based on Li Zhongyan's knowledge of the I Ching
. Thereafter, Li Zhongyan also became a close associate of Emperor Wenzong's, despite the opposition of the chancellor Li Deyu
. Soon thereafter, because Zheng, Li Zhongyan, and Wang all resented Li Deyu, they persuaded Emperor Wenzong to recall Li Deyu's political enemy, the former chancellor Li Zongmin
, to Chang'an to again serve as chancellor. Li Deyu was subsequently removed from his chancellor position.
Around the new year 835, Emperor Wenzong commissioned Zheng as the minister of agriculture (太僕卿, Taipu Qing). As the advisory official Zheng Chenggu (鄭承嘏) opposed the appointment harshly, Zheng Zhu initially declined it, but eventually accepted in summer 835. Meanwhile, he was grateful to Wang Fan for having revealed Song Shenxi's plan to have him killed, and because Wang Fan was also friendly with Li Zhongyan (whose name was changed by this point to Li Xun), they jointly recommended that Wang Fan be recalled from his position as the governor of Zhexi Circuit (浙西, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang
, Jiangsu
) to serve as one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).
In spring 835, Zheng Zhu informed Emperor Wenzong that he believed that the signs were that the lands of the old Qin
region (i.e., the Chang'an region) would suffer disaster, and it could only be averted with major construction. As a result, Emperor Wenzong ordered 1,500 Shence Army
soldiers to dredge Qu River (曲江) and Kunming Pond (昆明池). Meanwhile, Wang Fan and Li Han (李漢) accused Li Deyu of having conspired with Li Cou and Li Cou's wet nurse
Du Zhongyang (杜仲陽). Emperor Wenzong thereafter summoned the chancellors, Zheng, Wang, and Li Han to discuss this matter further. Emperor Wenzong initially believed Li Deyu's guilt and was incensed, but after the chancellor Lu Sui
spoke in Li Deyu's defense, Li Deyu was reduced to an honorary post but not further punished. (Lu himself, however, would soon be demoted to be the military governor of Zhenhai Circuit (i.e., Zhexi Circuit) as a result of his defending Li Deyu.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Jingzhao, Jia Su
, was a political enemy of Li Deyu's and friendly with Li Zongmin and Zheng. At an imperial feast, Jia was supposed to get off his horse and bow to the imperial censors, but Jia refused to do so. The junior censors Yang Jian (楊儉) and Su Te (蘇特) pointed this out and argued with him, and when he cursed them, submitted an accusation against Jia. As a result, Jia was given a fine. Jia, humiliated, initially requested an assignment outside the capital, but before he could depart, Emperor Wenzong promoted Jia to be chancellor. (According to comments by the modern historian Bo Yang
, this commission was Zheng's way of showing that he had the power to make people chancellors.)
In summer 835, there was a rumor that spread throughout Chang'an that Zheng was making immortality
pills for Emperor Wenzong, and the ingredients included infants' hearts and livers. The public fell into a panic. Emperor Wenzong was incensed by the rumors, and as Zheng had long disliked the new mayor of Jingzhao, Yang Yuqing (楊虞卿), he and Li Xun accused Yang's family members of having started the rumors. Emperor Wenzong arrested Yang. Li Zongmin tried to defend Yang, but as he had refused to allow Zheng to have a position in either the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng) or examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng), Zheng had also become resentful of him. Thereafter, when Li Zongmin tried to personally intercede on Yang's behalf, Emperor Wenzong had Li Zongmin removed from his presence and demoted to be the prefect of Ming Prefecture (明州, in modern Ningbo
, Zhejiang
).
By this point, however, even though Zheng and Li Zongmin were recommended by Wang Shoucheng, Emperor Wenzong, who had long been resentful of the powerful eunuchs, was discussing with them what to do about the eunuchs — particularly because they, due to their association with Wang, would not draw the suspicions of the eunuchs. They thereafter began planning how to slaughter the eunuchs. At Zheng's and Li Xun's suggestion, Emperor Wenzong diverted some of the military power from Wang by giving command of one of the Shence Armies to Wang's enemy, the eunuch Qiu Shiliang
, while demoting three other powerful eunuchs, Wei Yuansu (韋元素), Yang Chenghe (楊承和), and Wang Jianyan (王踐言), to circuit eunuch monitor positions. Eventually, Emperor Wenzong ordered the three to commit suicide. Meanwhile, Li Xun and Zheng mapped out a three-step plan for Emperor Wenzong to pacify the empire — first eliminate the eunuchs, then recover the lands lost to Tufan, and then wiping out the warlords north of the Yellow River
, with details. Emperor Wenzong was impressed and trusted them even more.
Zheng also further revealed that Li Zongmin's initial commission as chancellor in 829 was due to his association with the female iperial scholar Song Ruoxian (宋若憲) and Yang Chenghe. Li Zongmin was thereafter further demoted, while the official who was in charge of the investigation against Yang Yuqing, Shu Yuanyu
, was promoted to be chancellor. It was said that Li Xun and Zheng also used to opportunity to take vengeance on anyone they disliked — by accusing any such person to be an associate of Li Deyu's or Li Zongmin's.
In fall 835, Zheng requested to be the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
, Shaanxi
), but the chancellor Li Guyan
refused. Emperor Wenzong reacted by making Zheng the military governor of Fengxiang and Li Guyan the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
, Shaanxi
).
Meanwhile, Zheng's predecessor Li Ting (李聽), who was a son of the famed general Li Sheng
(and a brother of Li Su's) and who looked down at Zheng, was disrespectful to him. After Zheng arrived at Fengxiang, he submitted a report that accused Li Ting of being cruel and corrupt. As a result, Li Ting was stripped of his post as the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang
, Henan
). Zheng also suggested that the way to make the state and the people wealthy was to collect tea taxes. Emperor Wenzong thus made Wang Ya assume the additional post as the collector of tea taxes, and while Wang Ya knew that tea taxes would create problems for the people, he nevertheless collected the taxes. Also, at Li Xun's and Zheng's suggestion, Emperor Wenzong had poison wine sent to Wang Shoucheng to poison him to death.
Wang Shoucheng's death was a part of further planning by Emperor Wenzong, Li Xun, and Zheng — the plan was that when Wang was set to be buried on December 20, 835, Zheng, who claimed that he was grateful to Wang, would take his personal guards, who were armed with sharp axes, with him to attend the funeral. At the funeral, the guards would then surround the eunuchs and slaughter them. However, Li Xun discussed the plan with his associates, and he concluded that if that were to happen, Zheng would receive all of the credit, and therefore he resolved to act before Zheng would, planning to kill Zheng as well after he succeeded.
On December 14, Li Xun acted. He had the imperial guard general Han Yue (韓約) claim that sweet dews (甘露, ganlu in Chinese
) had formed on trees on a pomegranate
tree outside his headquarters. Then, he had Emperor Wenzong order the eunuchs to examine the sweet dews. When the eunuchs, led by Qiu Shiliang and fellow Shence Army commander Yu Hongzhi (魚弘志), arrived at the scene, Han's anxiety, as well as sounds of arms clanging, gave away the fact that the soldiers under Han, Li Fan, and another associate of Li Xun's, Guo Xingyu (郭行餘), were about to act against the eunuchs. Qiu and the other eunuchs immediately returned to Hanyuan Hall (含元殿), where Emperor Wenzong was at the time, and seized Emperor Wenzong, taking him back to the palace. They then mobilized the Shence Armies, and the Shence Armies slaughtered the troops aligned with Li Xun, and then killed a large number of governmental officials, including Li Xun, Wang Ya, Shu Yuanyu, and Jia Su
, under the claimed crime that they were planning to overthrow Emperor Wenzong and support Zheng as the new emperor.
Meanwhile, Zheng had already departed from Fengxiang, heading toward Chang'an, and was at Fufeng (扶風, in modern Baoji). The magistrate of Fufeng County, Han Liao (韓遼), became aware of Zheng's plan, and therefore refused to supply him and fled to Wugong (武功, in modern Xianyang). When Zheng received news that Li Xun had failed, he returned to Fengxiang. His subordinate Wei Hongjie (魏弘節) suggested to him that he kill the eunuch monitor of Fengxiang, Zhang Zhongqing (張仲卿), as well as a number of officers, but Zheng, terrified, did not know what to do. At the same time, Qiu had an edict in Emperor Wenzong's name delivered to Zhang ordering Zhang to act against Zheng. Zhang initially also was not sure how to act, but under suggestion from the officer Li Shuhe (李叔和), Zhang invited Zheng to a feast. LI Shuhe gave Zheng's guards food and drink, and then, at the feast, while Zheng was not paying attention, killed and decapitated him. He then had Zheng's guards, Zheng's household, as well as a large number of Zheng's staff members, slaughtered. Zhang had Li Shuhe deliver Zheng's head to Chang'an — where the eunuchs had readied the troops in case of an attack by Zheng, causing much panic in the people of Chang'an. Only after Zheng's head was hung on Xing'an Gate (興安門) was it said that the people were calmed somewhat. It was said that very few of Zheng's relatives survived the incident.
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...
. He became a trusted advisor to Emperor Wenzong
Emperor Wenzong of Tang
Emperor Wenzong of Tang , personal name Li Ang , né Li Han , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 827 to 840. Emperor Wenzong was the second son of Emperor Muzong and younger brother of Emperor Jingzong...
due to treatments he provided Emperor Wenzong for the emperor's illnesses, and thereafter plotted with Emperor Wenzong and Li Xun
Li Zhongyan
Li Zhongyan , known as Li Xun in 835, courtesy name initially Zixun , later Zichui , pseudonym Hermit Wang during the mourning period for his mother, was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
to slaughter the powerful eunuchs. However, after the plot (later known as the Ganlu Incident
Ganlu Incident
The Ganlu Incident referred to an incident on December 14, 835, where then-reigning Emperor Wenzong of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, angry about the power that the powerful eunuchs had, conspired with the chancellor Li Xun and the general Zheng Zhu to slaughter the eunuchs...
) failed, Li Xun and he were both killed, along with many other officials that the eunuchs suspected of being complicit.
Background
It is not known when Zheng Zhu was born. His family name was originally Yu, but he changed his name to Zheng at some point. He was skilled in medicine, and with his skills, he was able to associate with the powerful people in the Tang DynastyTang 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...
capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
. (As Yu means "fish" in Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
, eventually, when Zheng became powerful, he was sometimes obliquely referred to as "the one from the water.")
In 818, when the general Li Su
Li Su
Li Su was a military general serving under the warlord Dong Zhuo during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history.Li Su originally served as a Commandant of Cavalry under Dong Zhuo. He later assisted Lü Bu, who was from the same village as him, in the assassination of Dong Zhuo...
served as the military governor of Shannan East Circuit (山南東道, headquartered in modern Xiangfan
Xiangfan
Xiangyang is a prefecture-level city in Hubei Province of the People's Republic of China. It was formed from two famous ancient cities, Xiangyang and Fancheng...
, Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
), Zheng went to serve under Li Su, and as Li Su received medical services from Zheng, he became trusting of Zheng and commissioned Zheng as a guard commander. Later, when Li Su was moved to be the military governor of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern Xuzhou
Xuzhou
Xuzhou , otherwise known as Pengcheng in ancient times, is a major city in and the fourth largest prefecture-level city of Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
), Zheng followed him, and became even more involved in the decisions. It was said that Zheng was treacherous but well-spoken, and was capable of detecting what people desired, and therefore, the suggestions he made Li Su were the ones that pleased Li Su. As a result, he became quite powerful at the headquarters, and the officers feared him. At that time, the eunuch Wang Shoucheng
Wang Shoucheng
Wang Shoucheng was a powerful eunuch of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, wielding substantial powers during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Muzong, Emperor Jingzong, and Emperor Wenzong...
served as the monitor of Wuning, and Wang disliked Zheng immensely, and, on one occasion, Wang pointed out how the army was resentful of Zheng. Li Su stated to Wang, "Although it is true, Zheng is an amazing man. You, general, should meet him. If you disagree, then he can be removed." Li Su then had Zheng meet Wang. Wang initially did not want to and refused to seat Zheng, but once Zheng began talking with him, Wang was pleased with Zheng's analyses, and invited Zheng in to talk further. Thereafter, Zheng became a close associate of Wang's.
Association with Wang Shoucheng
Wang Shoucheng was later recalled to Chang'an to serve as one of the directors of palace communication (樞密使, Shumishi) and became very powerful. Zheng Zhu maintained close association with Wang, and it was said that those who wanted positions could bribe Zheng and have him persuade Wang to have them commissioned, such that people were anxious to ingratiate him.As of 831, then-reigning Emperor Wenzong
Emperor Wenzong of Tang
Emperor Wenzong of Tang , personal name Li Ang , né Li Han , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 827 to 840. Emperor Wenzong was the second son of Emperor Muzong and younger brother of Emperor Jingzong...
was plotting with the chancellor Song Shenxi
Song Shenxi
Song Shenxi , courtesy name Qingchen , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong...
to eliminate the powerful eunuchs. Song involved the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region), Wang Fan (王璠), in the planning, and as part of the planning, Wang was to have Zheng killed. Wang, however, leaked the plan to Zheng, who in turn informed Wang. At Zheng's suggestion, Wang, who was then the commander of one of the Shence Armies (神策軍), had one of his officers submit an accusation that Song and Emperor Wenzong's brother Li Cou
Li Cou
Li Cou , formally Crown Prince Huaiyi , was an imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who became implicated in an alleged plot that the chancellor Song Shenxi was supporting him to be emperor. He was, as a result, demoted by his brother Emperor Wenzong...
the Prince of Zhang were plotting to remove Emperor Wenzong and replace him with Li Cou. Emperor Wenzong believed the accusations and had Song and Li Cou arrested. Emperor Wenzong initially were set to execute Song, but the other officials urged a thorough investigation. Zheng was fearful that a thorough investigation would show that the accusations were not true, and therefore had Wang suggest to Emperor Wenzong that Song and Li Cou be spared; however, both were demoted and exiled.
Subsequently, the imperial guard general Meng Wenliang (孟文亮) was made the military governor of Binning Circuit (邠寧, headquartered in modern Xianyang
Xianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
, 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...
), and he requested that Zheng be made commander of in his army. Zheng, however, refused to accompany him to Binning. Only after the deputy chief imperial censor Yuwen Ding (宇文鼎) submitted an accusation against Zheng for insubordination did Zheng depart toward Binning, but he never reached Binning before turning back to Chang'an. The imperial censor Li Kuan (李款) submitted a harshly-worded accusation against Zheng, but as the chancellor who received the accusation, Wang Ya
Wang Ya
Wang Ya , courtesy name Guangjin , formally Duke of Dai , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong and Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor Wenzong...
, had himself ingratiated Zheng and been commissioned due to Wang Shoucheng's recommendation, Wang Ya suppressed the accusation and did not act on it. The military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi
Changzhi
Changzhi is a prefecture-level city in Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It lies between the city of Huozhou in Shanxi and the city of Hebi in Henan....
, 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....
), Liu Congjian
Liu Congjian
Liu Congjian , formally the Duke of Pei , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who is most known for his term as the military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit , during which he was viewed as a warlord who maintained a tight hold on the circuit but also as someone who served as a...
, wanted to remove Zheng and his influence from the capital, and therefore recommended Zheng to be his deputy military governor. After only a few months, however, Emperor Wenzong suffered a stroke and, for some time, was unable to speak. Wang Shoucheng recommended Zheng to him, and so Zheng was recalled to treat Emperor Wenzong. Zheng was able to help Emperor Wenzong's conditions to improve, and Emperor Wenzong thereafter associated closely with Zheng.
Association with Emperor Wenzong
It was said that Zheng Zhu wore clothes made of deer skin, and considered himself a hermitHermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
. As a result, Emperor Wenzong treated him as an advisor and a friend, not as a subject.
Meanwhile, Li Zhongyan
Li Zhongyan
Li Zhongyan , known as Li Xun in 835, courtesy name initially Zixun , later Zichui , pseudonym Hermit Wang during the mourning period for his mother, was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, who met Wang Shoucheng through Li Fengji
Li Fengji
Li Fengji , courtesy name Xuzhou , formally Duke Cheng of Zheng or Duke Cheng of Liang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Muzong, and grandson Emperor Jingzong...
, was also recommended by Wang to Emperor Wenzong, based on Li Zhongyan's knowledge of the I Ching
I Ching
The I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
. Thereafter, Li Zhongyan also became a close associate of Emperor Wenzong's, despite the opposition of the chancellor Li Deyu
Li Deyu
Li Deyu , courtesy name Wenrao , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of brothers Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wuzong and their uncle Emperor Xuānzong...
. Soon thereafter, because Zheng, Li Zhongyan, and Wang all resented Li Deyu, they persuaded Emperor Wenzong to recall Li Deyu's political enemy, the former chancellor Li Zongmin
Li Zongmin
Li Zongmin , courtesy name Sunzhi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving twice as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong...
, to Chang'an to again serve as chancellor. Li Deyu was subsequently removed from his chancellor position.
Around the new year 835, Emperor Wenzong commissioned Zheng as the minister of agriculture (太僕卿, Taipu Qing). As the advisory official Zheng Chenggu (鄭承嘏) opposed the appointment harshly, Zheng Zhu initially declined it, but eventually accepted in summer 835. Meanwhile, he was grateful to Wang Fan for having revealed Song Shenxi's plan to have him killed, and because Wang Fan was also friendly with Li Zhongyan (whose name was changed by this point to Li Xun), they jointly recommended that Wang Fan be recalled from his position as the governor of Zhexi Circuit (浙西, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang
Zhenjiang
Zhenjiang is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Jiangsu province in the eastern People's Republic of China . Sitting on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the west, Changzhou to the east, and Yangzhou across the river to the north.Once...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
) to serve as one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).
In spring 835, Zheng Zhu informed Emperor Wenzong that he believed that the signs were that the lands of the old Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
region (i.e., the Chang'an region) would suffer disaster, and it could only be averted with major construction. As a result, Emperor Wenzong ordered 1,500 Shence Army
Shence Army
The Shence Army was a Tang Dynasty Chinese army unit based in Chang’an City which formed the primary imperial guard responsible for protecting the emperor. It was set up in 754 CE by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and placed under the command of Longyou Military Governor Geshu Han...
soldiers to dredge Qu River (曲江) and Kunming Pond (昆明池). Meanwhile, Wang Fan and Li Han (李漢) accused Li Deyu of having conspired with Li Cou and Li Cou's wet nurse
Wet nurse
A wet nurse is a woman who is used to breast feed and care for another's child. Wet nurses are used when the mother is unable or chooses not to nurse the child herself. Wet-nursed children may be known as "milk-siblings", and in some cultures the families are linked by a special relationship of...
Du Zhongyang (杜仲陽). Emperor Wenzong thereafter summoned the chancellors, Zheng, Wang, and Li Han to discuss this matter further. Emperor Wenzong initially believed Li Deyu's guilt and was incensed, but after the chancellor Lu Sui
Lu Sui
Lu Sui , courtesy name Nanshi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong.- Background :...
spoke in Li Deyu's defense, Li Deyu was reduced to an honorary post but not further punished. (Lu himself, however, would soon be demoted to be the military governor of Zhenhai Circuit (i.e., Zhexi Circuit) as a result of his defending Li Deyu.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Jingzhao, Jia Su
Jia Su
Jia Su , courtesy name Zimei , formally the Baron of Guzang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong...
, was a political enemy of Li Deyu's and friendly with Li Zongmin and Zheng. At an imperial feast, Jia was supposed to get off his horse and bow to the imperial censors, but Jia refused to do so. The junior censors Yang Jian (楊儉) and Su Te (蘇特) pointed this out and argued with him, and when he cursed them, submitted an accusation against Jia. As a result, Jia was given a fine. Jia, humiliated, initially requested an assignment outside the capital, but before he could depart, Emperor Wenzong promoted Jia to be chancellor. (According to comments by the modern historian Bo Yang
Bo Yang
This article is about the Chinese writer. His name in Western languages is homonymic with Bó Yáng .Boyang , also sometimes called Baiyang, was a Chinese language writer based in Taiwan...
, this commission was Zheng's way of showing that he had the power to make people chancellors.)
In summer 835, there was a rumor that spread throughout Chang'an that Zheng was making immortality
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
pills for Emperor Wenzong, and the ingredients included infants' hearts and livers. The public fell into a panic. Emperor Wenzong was incensed by the rumors, and as Zheng had long disliked the new mayor of Jingzhao, Yang Yuqing (楊虞卿), he and Li Xun accused Yang's family members of having started the rumors. Emperor Wenzong arrested Yang. Li Zongmin tried to defend Yang, but as he had refused to allow Zheng to have a position in either the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng) or examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng), Zheng had also become resentful of him. Thereafter, when Li Zongmin tried to personally intercede on Yang's behalf, Emperor Wenzong had Li Zongmin removed from his presence and demoted to be the prefect of Ming Prefecture (明州, in modern Ningbo
Ningbo
Ningbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
).
By this point, however, even though Zheng and Li Zongmin were recommended by Wang Shoucheng, Emperor Wenzong, who had long been resentful of the powerful eunuchs, was discussing with them what to do about the eunuchs — particularly because they, due to their association with Wang, would not draw the suspicions of the eunuchs. They thereafter began planning how to slaughter the eunuchs. At Zheng's and Li Xun's suggestion, Emperor Wenzong diverted some of the military power from Wang by giving command of one of the Shence Armies to Wang's enemy, the eunuch Qiu Shiliang
Qiu Shiliang
Qiu Shiliang , courtesy name Kuangmei , formally the Duke of Chu , was an eunuch official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, becoming particularly powerful after the Ganlu Incident — an event in which Emperor Wenzong tried, but failed, to seize power back from powerful eunuchs by slaughtering...
, while demoting three other powerful eunuchs, Wei Yuansu (韋元素), Yang Chenghe (楊承和), and Wang Jianyan (王踐言), to circuit eunuch monitor positions. Eventually, Emperor Wenzong ordered the three to commit suicide. Meanwhile, Li Xun and Zheng mapped out a three-step plan for Emperor Wenzong to pacify the empire — first eliminate the eunuchs, then recover the lands lost to Tufan, and then wiping out the warlords north of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
, with details. Emperor Wenzong was impressed and trusted them even more.
Zheng also further revealed that Li Zongmin's initial commission as chancellor in 829 was due to his association with the female iperial scholar Song Ruoxian (宋若憲) and Yang Chenghe. Li Zongmin was thereafter further demoted, while the official who was in charge of the investigation against Yang Yuqing, Shu Yuanyu
Shu Yuanyu
Shu Yuanyu was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong...
, was promoted to be chancellor. It was said that Li Xun and Zheng also used to opportunity to take vengeance on anyone they disliked — by accusing any such person to be an associate of Li Deyu's or Li Zongmin's.
In fall 835, Zheng requested to be the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
Baoji
Baoji is a prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province, China.-Geography:The prefecture-level city of Baoji has a population of 3,716,731 according to the 2010 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of . The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills,...
, 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...
), but the chancellor Li Guyan
Li Guyan
Li Guyan , courtesy name Zhongshu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong.- Background and early career :It is not clear when Li Guyan was born...
refused. Emperor Wenzong reacted by making Zheng the military governor of Fengxiang and Li Guyan the military governor 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...
).
Ganlu Incident and death
Zheng Zhu's commission as the military governor of Fengxiang, unknown to the others, was part of his plot with Li Xun and Emperor Wenzong — with the plan being that Zheng would be able to gather troops at Fengxiang and use it in an eventual confrontation with the eunuchs. However, at this point, unknown to Zheng and Emperor Wenzong, Li Xun himself had become suspicious and jealous of Zheng, and therefore, when Li Xun was selecting a staff for Zheng, he chose those who were moderate in their behavior for Zheng. Meanwhile, at the suggestion of Li Xun and Zheng, Emperor Wenzong gave Wang Shoucheng the highly honored title of monitor of the Shence Armies, in order to actually strip him of the power of commanding the Shence Armies. Soon thereafter, Shu Yuanyu and Li Xun were both made chancellors.Meanwhile, Zheng's predecessor Li Ting (李聽), who was a son of the famed general Li Sheng
Li Sheng
Li Sheng was a Chinese landscape artist. His brush painting Saying Farewell by the Lake Dianshan is popular in the west, as exemplified by its widespread availability.- See also :* Chinese painting in the Song and Yuan dynasties...
(and a brother of Li Su's) and who looked down at Zheng, was disrespectful to him. After Zheng arrived at Fengxiang, he submitted a report that accused Li Ting of being cruel and corrupt. As a result, Li Ting was stripped of his post as the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang
Xuchang
Xuchang is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province in Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe to the southeast, and Pingdingshan to the southwest....
, 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...
). Zheng also suggested that the way to make the state and the people wealthy was to collect tea taxes. Emperor Wenzong thus made Wang Ya assume the additional post as the collector of tea taxes, and while Wang Ya knew that tea taxes would create problems for the people, he nevertheless collected the taxes. Also, at Li Xun's and Zheng's suggestion, Emperor Wenzong had poison wine sent to Wang Shoucheng to poison him to death.
Wang Shoucheng's death was a part of further planning by Emperor Wenzong, Li Xun, and Zheng — the plan was that when Wang was set to be buried on December 20, 835, Zheng, who claimed that he was grateful to Wang, would take his personal guards, who were armed with sharp axes, with him to attend the funeral. At the funeral, the guards would then surround the eunuchs and slaughter them. However, Li Xun discussed the plan with his associates, and he concluded that if that were to happen, Zheng would receive all of the credit, and therefore he resolved to act before Zheng would, planning to kill Zheng as well after he succeeded.
On December 14, Li Xun acted. He had the imperial guard general Han Yue (韓約) claim that sweet dews (甘露, ganlu in Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
) had formed on trees on a pomegranate
Pomegranate
The pomegranate , Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall.Native to the area of modern day Iran, the pomegranate has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times. From there it spread to Asian areas such as the Caucasus as...
tree outside his headquarters. Then, he had Emperor Wenzong order the eunuchs to examine the sweet dews. When the eunuchs, led by Qiu Shiliang and fellow Shence Army commander Yu Hongzhi (魚弘志), arrived at the scene, Han's anxiety, as well as sounds of arms clanging, gave away the fact that the soldiers under Han, Li Fan, and another associate of Li Xun's, Guo Xingyu (郭行餘), were about to act against the eunuchs. Qiu and the other eunuchs immediately returned to Hanyuan Hall (含元殿), where Emperor Wenzong was at the time, and seized Emperor Wenzong, taking him back to the palace. They then mobilized the Shence Armies, and the Shence Armies slaughtered the troops aligned with Li Xun, and then killed a large number of governmental officials, including Li Xun, Wang Ya, Shu Yuanyu, and Jia Su
Jia Su
Jia Su , courtesy name Zimei , formally the Baron of Guzang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong...
, under the claimed crime that they were planning to overthrow Emperor Wenzong and support Zheng as the new emperor.
Meanwhile, Zheng had already departed from Fengxiang, heading toward Chang'an, and was at Fufeng (扶風, in modern Baoji). The magistrate of Fufeng County, Han Liao (韓遼), became aware of Zheng's plan, and therefore refused to supply him and fled to Wugong (武功, in modern Xianyang). When Zheng received news that Li Xun had failed, he returned to Fengxiang. His subordinate Wei Hongjie (魏弘節) suggested to him that he kill the eunuch monitor of Fengxiang, Zhang Zhongqing (張仲卿), as well as a number of officers, but Zheng, terrified, did not know what to do. At the same time, Qiu had an edict in Emperor Wenzong's name delivered to Zhang ordering Zhang to act against Zheng. Zhang initially also was not sure how to act, but under suggestion from the officer Li Shuhe (李叔和), Zhang invited Zheng to a feast. LI Shuhe gave Zheng's guards food and drink, and then, at the feast, while Zheng was not paying attention, killed and decapitated him. He then had Zheng's guards, Zheng's household, as well as a large number of Zheng's staff members, slaughtered. Zhang had Li Shuhe deliver Zheng's head to Chang'an — where the eunuchs had readied the troops in case of an attack by Zheng, causing much panic in the people of Chang'an. Only after Zheng's head was hung on Xing'an Gate (興安門) was it said that the people were calmed somewhat. It was said that very few of Zheng's relatives survived the incident.