Cui Zhaowei
Encyclopedia
Cui Zhaowei (d. 896), courtesy name Yunyao (蘊曜), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong
. According to traditional histories, he was disloyal to Emperor Zhaozong and manipulated the court scene by conspiring with the eunuchs and the warlords Li Maozhen
the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
, Shaanxi
) and Wang Xingyu
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang
, Shaanxi
). After Li Keyong
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
) defeated Wang and forced LI Maozhen into submission, Emperor Zhaozong exiled Cui and later had him executed.
and the New Book of Tang
both indicated that he was from the prominent Cui clan of Qinghe, which was descended from the Spring and Autumn Period state Qi; and the table of the chancellors' family trees in the New Book of Tang further traced him specifically to the "Southern Ancestor" branch of the clan, which included officials of Han Dynasty
, Cao Wei
, Jin Dynasty (265-420)
, Later Zhao
, Liu Song, Northern Wei
, Northern Qi
, Northern Zhou
, and Tang Dynasty
. According to Cui Zhaowei's biography in the Book of Tang, his grandfather Cui Bi (崔庇) served as a county sheriff, while his father Cui Yan (崔巘) served as the governor of Eyue Circuit (鄂岳, headquartered in modern Wuhan
, Hubei
), but the table of the chancellors' family trees in the New Book of Tang do not describe Cui Bi and Cui Yan as having those offices, and Cui Zhaowei's biography in the New Book of Tang omitted references to them altogether. Cui Zhaowei had at least two older brothers, Cui Zhaofu (崔昭符) and Cui Zhaoyuan (崔昭原), and at least one younger brother, Cui Zhaoju (崔昭矩).
Apparently at some point prior to the reign of Emperor Zhaozong
, Cui Zhaowei passed the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi (進士) class. During Emperor Zhaozong's reign, he served (unclear if successively or concurrently) as Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng); imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi); and deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang). In 891
, in the aftermaths of an imperial defeat in a campaign against the warlord Li Keyong
the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
), the chancellors Zhang Jun
and Kong Wei
, who were the main proponents of the campaign, were removed from their offices, and Cui, who was at that time the chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi) and deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang), was made a chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), along with Xu Yanruo
.
the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit and Wang Xingyu
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit, two warlords who were geographically close to the imperial capital Chang'an
. Thus, when Emperor Zhaozong began to plan a campaign against Li and Wang in 893
and put the chancellor Du Rangneng
in charge of planning the campaign, it was said that whatever Du said in the morning would be found out by the two warlords in the evening. Later in the year, when Emperor Zhaozong commissioned Xu Yanruo as the military governor of Fengxiang to try to replace Li and commissioned Li Sizhou (李嗣周) the Prince of Qin as the commander of an imperial army to try to escort Xu to Fengxiang, Li Maozhen and Wang resisted and defeated Li Sizhou. At Cui's instigation, the two military governors then marched on the capital. Cui, who was jealous of Du, informed them that the campaign was Du's idea, and at their insistence Emperor Zhaozong was forced to order Du to commit suicide and kill the eunuchs Ximen Junsui (西門君遂), Li Zhoutong (李周潼), and Duan Xu (段詡), who were also considered proponents of the campaign. It was said that from this point on, Emperor Zhaozong could no longer rule independently of Li Maozhen and Wang, due to the close connection between Cui and the two warlords — in particular, if there were any proposals by other chancellors that Cui opposed, Cui would have his clansman Cui Ting (崔鋌), who served on Wang's staff, inform Wang, and have Wang Chao (王超), who served on Li Maozhen's staff, inform Li Maozhen. The two warlords would then submit petitions opposing the proposals, and if Emperor Zhaozong even hesitated at rescinding the proposals, they would next submit petitions threatening the emperor. Meanwhile, in 893, at Cui's recommendation, his distant relative Cui Yin
(a son of the deceased chancellor Cui Shenyou
) was made a chancellor as well.
Later in 893, the major warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
, Henan
), requested that the directorate of the salt and iron monopolies be relocated to his headquarters at Bian Prefecture (汴州). Cui, citing the fact that Zhu had just recently dealt major defeats to Shi Pu
the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (感化, headquartered in modern Xuzhou
, Jiangsu
) and Zhu Xuan
the military governor of Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an
, Shandong
) and arguing that allowing Zhu Quanzhong to hold the directorate would make him impossible to control, opposed. Emperor Zhaozong agreed and issued an edict declining Zhu Quanzhong's proposal.
In 894
, Emperor Zhaozong was set to make then-chief imperial scholar Li Xi
, from whom he learned writing, a chancellor. As the edict naming Li Xi chancellor was being read, the official Liu Chonglu (劉崇魯), at Cui's instigation — as Cui was fearful that Li Xi would divert power from him as co-chancellor — stepped out of his place at the imperial meeting, grabbed the edict, and began to weep, claiming that Li Xi was a wicked man who associated with the eunuch Yang Fugong
and Ximen. Emperor Zhaozong, faced with this unprecedented display, was forced to put off naming Li Xi chancellor, and in fact for a time demoted Li Xi to the honorary post of advisor to the Crown Prince
. However, in 895
, Emperor Zhaozong named Li Xi chancellor anyway. Displeased with this development, Cui had Cui Ting, who had become Wang Xingyu's deputy military governor by this point, inform Wang that Li Xi and fellow chancellor Wei Zhaodu
were part of the emperor's faction against him and Li Maozhen. Wang and Li Maozhen therefore repeatedly submitted petitions objecting to Li Xi's chancellorship; Emperor Zhaozong was thereafter forced to remove Li Xi again. That, however, did not placate Li Maozhen and Wang, who were also displeased that Emperor Zhaozong was accepting Li Keyong's proposal to have, after the death of Wang Chongying
the military governor of Huguo Circuit (護國, headquartered in modern Yuncheng
, Shanxi
), Wang Chongying's nephew Wang Ke
(Li Keyong's son-in-law) succeed Wang Chongying, rather than Wang Chongying's son Wang Gong
, who was allied with Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu. They marched on the capital again along with a third ally, Han Jian
the military governor of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered in modern Weinan
, Shaanxi
), and they executed Li Xi and Wei over Emperor Zhaozong's protest.
In reaction to Li Xi's and Wei's deaths, Li Keyong launched an army and headed for Chang'an, preparing to attack Li Maozhen, Wang Xingyu, and Han. Subsequently, a rift developed between Li Maozhen and Wang, as both wanted to take Emperor Zhaozong to his circuit. Emperor Zhaozong, knowing that they wanted to seize him, instead fled into the Qinling Mountains
. Cui, as well as the other chancellors Xu and Wang Tuan
, followed. Meanwhile, Li Keyong defeated Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu, and subsequently put Wang's capital Bin Prefecture (邠州) under siege. Wang tried to flee out of the siege, but was killed by his own subordinates in flight. In fear, Li Maozhen and Han outward submitted to the imperial government, and Emperor Zhaozong, who also did not want Li Keyong to grow overly strong, ordered Li Keyong to end his campaign against Li Maozhen. Still, for the time being, Cui had lost his warlord allies, and, after Emperor Zhaozong returned to Chang'an, Cui was stripped of his chancellorship and made You Pushe (右僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), but no longer chancellor.
, Guangxi
). On the way to exile, Cui wrote Zhu Quanzhong, hoping that Zhu would intercede on his behalf. Instead, Emperor Zhaozong issued an edict ordering Cui to commit suicide. The eunuch delivering the edict intercepted Cui at Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou
, Hubei
, not the same circuit that Wang Xingyu ruled) and had him beheaded.
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...
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
. According to traditional histories, he was disloyal to Emperor Zhaozong and manipulated the court scene by conspiring with the eunuchs and the warlords Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen , né Song Wentong , courtesy name Zhengchen , formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin , was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Qi...
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...
) and Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Jingnan Circuit from 887 to his death in 895...
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, 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...
). After 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...
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....
) defeated Wang and forced LI Maozhen into submission, Emperor Zhaozong exiled Cui and later had him executed.
Background
It is not known when Cui Zhaowei was born. His biographies in the Book of TangBook of Tang
The Book of Tang , Jiu Tangshu or the Old Book of Tang is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. The book began when Gaozu of Later Jin ordered its commencement in 941...
and the New Book of Tang
New Book of Tang
The New Book of Tang , is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi and other official scholars of the Song Dynasty. The emperor called for a revision of the former Book of Tang in 1044. The New Book was presented to the throne in 1060. It was given its...
both indicated that he was from the prominent Cui clan of Qinghe, which was descended from the Spring and Autumn Period state Qi; and the table of the chancellors' family trees in the New Book of Tang further traced him specifically to the "Southern Ancestor" branch of the clan, which included officials of Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
, Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
, Jin Dynasty (265-420)
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
, Later Zhao
Later Zhao
The Later Zhao was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the Shi family of the Jie ethnicity...
, Liu Song, Northern Wei
Northern Wei
The Northern Wei Dynasty , also known as the Tuoba Wei , Later Wei , or Yuan Wei , was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 . It has been described as "part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change"...
, Northern Qi
Northern Qi
The Northern Qi Dynasty was one of the Northern dynasties of Chinese history and ruled northern China from 550 to 577.-History:The Chinese state of Northern Qi was the successor state of the Chinese/Xianbei state of Eastern Wei and was founded by Emperor Wenxuan...
, Northern Zhou
Northern Zhou
The Northern Zhou Dynasty followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. It was overthrown by the Sui Dynasty.Northern Zhou's basis of power was established by Yuwen Tai, who was paramount general of Western Wei, following the split of Northern Wei into Western Wei and...
, and 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...
. According to Cui Zhaowei's biography in the Book of Tang, his grandfather Cui Bi (崔庇) served as a county sheriff, while his father Cui Yan (崔巘) served as the governor of Eyue Circuit (鄂岳, headquartered in modern Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
, 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...
), but the table of the chancellors' family trees in the New Book of Tang do not describe Cui Bi and Cui Yan as having those offices, and Cui Zhaowei's biography in the New Book of Tang omitted references to them altogether. Cui Zhaowei had at least two older brothers, Cui Zhaofu (崔昭符) and Cui Zhaoyuan (崔昭原), and at least one younger brother, Cui Zhaoju (崔昭矩).
Apparently at some point prior to the reign of Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
, Cui Zhaowei 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 (進士) class. During Emperor Zhaozong's reign, he served (unclear if successively or concurrently) as Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng); imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi); and deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang). In 891
891
Year 891 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Arnulf of Carinthia defeats the Normans at the Battle of Leuven....
, in the aftermaths of an imperial defeat in a campaign against the warlord 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...
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 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....
), the chancellors Zhang Jun
Zhang Jun (Tang Dynasty)
Zhang Jun , courtesy name Yuchuan , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
and Kong Wei
Kong Wei
Kong Wei , courtesy name Huawen , formally the Duke of Lu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong.- Background and early career :Kong Wei's family was descended from the Spring...
, who were the main proponents of the campaign, were removed from their offices, and Cui, who was at that time the chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi) and deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang), was made a chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), along with Xu Yanruo
Xu Yanruo
Xu Yanruo , courtesy name Yuzhi , formally the Duke of Qi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background and early career :...
.
As chancellor
It was said that, as a chancellor, Cui Zhaowei was treacherous and jealous of others with seniority or ability. He formed alliances with eunuchs and nearby warlords to further enhance his power at the imperial court. He was particularly in close communications with Li MaozhenLi Maozhen
Li Maozhen , né Song Wentong , courtesy name Zhengchen , formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin , was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Qi...
the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit and Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Jingnan Circuit from 887 to his death in 895...
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit, two warlords who were geographically close to the imperial 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...
. Thus, when Emperor Zhaozong began to plan a campaign against Li and Wang in 893
893
Year 893 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Council of Preslav: Simeon I succeeds Vladimir as prince of Bulgaria; the capital is moved from Pliska to Preslav....
and put the chancellor Du Rangneng
Du Rangneng
Du Rangneng , courtesy name Qunyi , formally the Duke of Jin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
in charge of planning the campaign, it was said that whatever Du said in the morning would be found out by the two warlords in the evening. Later in the year, when Emperor Zhaozong commissioned Xu Yanruo as the military governor of Fengxiang to try to replace Li and commissioned Li Sizhou (李嗣周) the Prince of Qin as the commander of an imperial army to try to escort Xu to Fengxiang, Li Maozhen and Wang resisted and defeated Li Sizhou. At Cui's instigation, the two military governors then marched on the capital. Cui, who was jealous of Du, informed them that the campaign was Du's idea, and at their insistence Emperor Zhaozong was forced to order Du to commit suicide and kill the eunuchs Ximen Junsui (西門君遂), Li Zhoutong (李周潼), and Duan Xu (段詡), who were also considered proponents of the campaign. It was said that from this point on, Emperor Zhaozong could no longer rule independently of Li Maozhen and Wang, due to the close connection between Cui and the two warlords — in particular, if there were any proposals by other chancellors that Cui opposed, Cui would have his clansman Cui Ting (崔鋌), who served on Wang's staff, inform Wang, and have Wang Chao (王超), who served on Li Maozhen's staff, inform Li Maozhen. The two warlords would then submit petitions opposing the proposals, and if Emperor Zhaozong even hesitated at rescinding the proposals, they would next submit petitions threatening the emperor. Meanwhile, in 893, at Cui's recommendation, his distant relative Cui Yin
Cui Yin
Cui Yin , courtesy name Chuixiu , nickname Zilang , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
(a son of the deceased chancellor Cui Shenyou
Cui Shenyou
Cui Shenyou , courtesy name Jingzhi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong.- Background and early career :It is not known when Cui Shenyou was born...
) was made a chancellor as well.
Later in 893, the major warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of 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...
), requested that the directorate of the salt and iron monopolies be relocated to his headquarters at Bian Prefecture (汴州). Cui, citing the fact that Zhu had just recently dealt major defeats to Shi Pu
Shi Pu
Shi Pu , formally the Prince of Julu , was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Ganhua Circuit as its military governor...
the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (感化, 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...
) and Zhu Xuan
Zhu Xuan
Zhu Xuan was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who, from 882 to 897, controlled Tianping Circuit as its military governor...
the military governor of Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an
Tai'an
Tai'an is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, People's Republic of China.Centered around Mount Tai, the city borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the north, Laiwu to the northeast, Zibo to the east, Linyi to the southeast, Liaocheng to the extreme west and Jining to the south...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
) and arguing that allowing Zhu Quanzhong to hold the directorate would make him impossible to control, opposed. Emperor Zhaozong agreed and issued an edict declining Zhu Quanzhong's proposal.
In 894
894
Year 894 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Northumbrians and East Angles swear allegiance to Alfred the Great, but promptly break their truce by attacking the south-west of England.* Mojmír II becomes King of Great Moravia after the death of his father...
, Emperor Zhaozong was set to make then-chief imperial scholar Li Xi
Li Xi
Li Xi or Li Qi , courtesy name Jingwang , nicknamed Li Shulou , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
, from whom he learned writing, a chancellor. As the edict naming Li Xi chancellor was being read, the official Liu Chonglu (劉崇魯), at Cui's instigation — as Cui was fearful that Li Xi would divert power from him as co-chancellor — stepped out of his place at the imperial meeting, grabbed the edict, and began to weep, claiming that Li Xi was a wicked man who associated with the eunuch Yang Fugong
Yang Fugong
Yang Fugong , courtesy name Zike , formally the Duke of Wei , was an eunuch official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, playing key roles in the imperial administrations of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
and Ximen. Emperor Zhaozong, faced with this unprecedented display, was forced to put off naming Li Xi chancellor, and in fact for a time demoted Li Xi to the honorary post of 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....
. However, in 895
895
Year 895 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The seven tribes of the Magyars settle in the Carpathian Basin under the leadership of Árpád...
, Emperor Zhaozong named Li Xi chancellor anyway. Displeased with this development, Cui had Cui Ting, who had become Wang Xingyu's deputy military governor by this point, inform Wang that Li Xi and fellow chancellor Wei Zhaodu
Wei Zhaodu
Wei Zhaodu , courtesy name Zhengji , formally the Duke of Qi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
were part of the emperor's faction against him and Li Maozhen. Wang and Li Maozhen therefore repeatedly submitted petitions objecting to Li Xi's chancellorship; Emperor Zhaozong was thereafter forced to remove Li Xi again. That, however, did not placate Li Maozhen and Wang, who were also displeased that Emperor Zhaozong was accepting Li Keyong's proposal to have, after the death of Wang Chongying
Wang Chongying
Wang Chongying was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who was known for his successive rules of Shanguo Circuit and Huguo Circuit as military governor .- Background :It is not known when Wang Chongying was born, and the official...
the military governor of Huguo Circuit (護國, headquartered in modern Yuncheng
Yuncheng
Yuncheng is the southernmost municipality in Shanxi province, China. It borders Linfen and Jincheng municipalities to the north and east, and Henan and Shaanxi provinces to the south and west....
, 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....
), Wang Chongying's nephew Wang Ke
Wang Ke (Tang Dynasty)
Wang Ke was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Huguo Circuit as its military governor from 895 Wang Ke (王珂) was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Huguo Circuit (護國, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) as its military governor...
(Li Keyong's son-in-law) succeed Wang Chongying, rather than Wang Chongying's son Wang Gong
Wang Gong
Wang Gong was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Baoyi Circuit from 887, when he succeeded his father Wang Chongying, to his death in 899.- Background :...
, who was allied with Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu. They marched on the capital again along with a third ally, Han Jian
Han Jian (Tang Dynasty)
Han Jian , courtesy name Zuoshi , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who eventually became a subject of the succeeding Later Liang Dynasty...
the military governor of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered in modern Weinan
Weinan
Weinan is a Municipality in the province of Shaanxi, PRC. The Grand Historian Sima Qian was born in Weinan.-Administration:...
, 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 they executed Li Xi and Wei over Emperor Zhaozong's protest.
In reaction to Li Xi's and Wei's deaths, Li Keyong launched an army and headed for Chang'an, preparing to attack Li Maozhen, Wang Xingyu, and Han. Subsequently, a rift developed between Li Maozhen and Wang, as both wanted to take Emperor Zhaozong to his circuit. Emperor Zhaozong, knowing that they wanted to seize him, instead fled into the Qinling Mountains
Qinling Mountains
The Qin Mountains are a major east-west mountain range in southern Shaanxi province, China. The mountains provide a natural boundary between the North and South of the country, and support a huge variety of plant and wildlife, some of which is found nowhere else on Earth.To the north is the...
. Cui, as well as the other chancellors Xu and Wang Tuan
Wang Tuan
Wang Tuan , courtesy name Zhaoyi , formally the Duke of Lu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor from 895 to 900, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
, followed. Meanwhile, Li Keyong defeated Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu, and subsequently put Wang's capital Bin Prefecture (邠州) under siege. Wang tried to flee out of the siege, but was killed by his own subordinates in flight. In fear, Li Maozhen and Han outward submitted to the imperial government, and Emperor Zhaozong, who also did not want Li Keyong to grow overly strong, ordered Li Keyong to end his campaign against Li Maozhen. Still, for the time being, Cui had lost his warlord allies, and, after Emperor Zhaozong returned to Chang'an, Cui was stripped of his chancellorship and made You Pushe (右僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), but no longer chancellor.
Exile and death
Shortly after Cui Zhaowei was stripped of his chancellorship, Emperor Zhaozong further exiled him to be the military advisor to the prefect of Wu Prefecture (梧州, in modern WuzhouWuzhou
Wuzhou , historically known as Wuchow, is a prefecture-level city in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.-Geography and climate:Wuzhou is located in eastern Guangxi bordering Guangdong province. It is at the confluence of the Gui River and the Xun River where they form the Xi River; 85% of all...
, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
). On the way to exile, Cui wrote Zhu Quanzhong, hoping that Zhu would intercede on his behalf. Instead, Emperor Zhaozong issued an edict ordering Cui to commit suicide. The eunuch delivering the edict intercepted Cui at Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou
Jingzhou
Jingzhou is a prefecture-level city in Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. The city is located on the banks of the Yangtze River.Its population is 5,691,707 at the 2010 census whom 1,154,086 in the built up area made of 3 urban districts.-Geography:Jingzhou occupies an area of...
, 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...
, not the same circuit that Wang Xingyu ruled) and had him beheaded.