Zheng Tian
Encyclopedia
Zheng Tian courtesy name Taiwen (臺文), formally Duke Wenzhao of Xingyang (滎陽文昭公), was a chancellor of late Tang Dynasty
, serving two terms as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong
. He was heavily involved in the Tang campaign against the agrarian rebel Huang Chao
and Huang Chao's state of Qi.
, he might have been born in either 821
or 825
. His family was originally from Xingyang (滎陽, in modern Zhengzhou
, Henan
), but his traceable ancestry only went as far back as his great-grandfather Zheng Shaolin (鄭少鄰), who served as a civil service official under the prefect of Zheng Prefecture (鄭州, in modern Zhengzhou). Zheng Shaolin, as well as Zheng Tian's grandfather Zheng Mu (鄭穆) and Zheng Tian's father Zheng Ya (鄭亞), all passed the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi class, and while Zheng Mu served only as a county magistrate, Zheng Ya became well known for his abilities, and he became a close associate of the chancellor Li Deyu
, who was particularly powerful during the reign of Emperor Wuzong
, eventually serving as a high level imperial consultant. Other than Zheng Tian, Zheng Ya had at least two younger sons, Zheng Jun (鄭畯) and Zheng Pi (鄭毗).
Zheng Tian himself passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class when he was 17, and thereafter served as a staff member under the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
, Henan
). When he was 21, he further passed a special examination for those who made good rulings, and he was made the sheriff of Weinan County (渭南, in modern Weinan
, Shaanxi
) and a historian who would edit imperial histories. Before he could serve in those positions, however, in 847
, due to his association with Li Deyu, who had lost power during the reign of the then-reigning Emperor Xuānzong
(Emperor Wuzong's uncle), Zheng Ya was demoted to be prefect of Gui Prefecture (桂州, in modern Guilin
, Guangxi
), and Zheng Tian followed his father to Gui Prefecture, where Zheng Ya would die, probably around 849
. (This chronology appeared to make it more likely that Zheng Tian was born in 825 or later, as he would have been 22 in 851 if born in 825, whereas he would already be 26 if born in 821.) As, during Emperor Xuānzong's reign, the court scene was dominated by the chancellor Bai Minzhong
and then Linghu Tao
, both of whom had no liking for Li Deyu and ejected Li Deyu's associates, Zheng Tian was not given an imperial government office for a long time.
-874
) of Emperor Xuānzong's son Emperor Yizong
, after Linghu Tao had left the office of the chancellors, Liu Zhan
, who was then the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
), invited Zheng Tian to serve on his staff. Subsequently, Zheng Tian was recalled to the capital Chang'an
to serve as Yubu Yuanwailang (虞部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of public works (工部, Gongbu). However, at that time, Zheng Xun (鄭薰), one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), which the ministry of public works belonged to, was a follower of Linghu's, and he prevented Zheng Tian from actually taking office by making false accusations against Zheng Tian, and Zheng Tian left Chang'an again to serve on a governor staff (possibly under Liu). Not until 864
was Zheng Tian again recalled to Chang'an to serve as Xingbu Yuanwailang (刑部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of justice (刑部, Xingbu).
After Liu became chancellor in 869
, Liu recommended Zheng Tian, and Zheng became an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi) as well as Hubu Langzhong (戶部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of census (戶部, Hubu). He was soon also put in charge of drafting edicts, and also made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). During the imperial armies' campaign against the rebel Pang Xun
, who occupied Xu Prefecture (徐州, in modern Xuzhou
, Jiangsu
) in 869, Zheng was largely in drafting the numerous edicts involved in the military maneuvers, and it was said that his colleagues admired him for the speed and the elegance with which he wrote. He was soon promoted to be both deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and, after Pang's rebellion was suppressed, chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi).
In 870
, after the death of Emperor Yizong's favorite daughter Princess Tongchang (同昌公主), Emperor Yizong, in grief, executed the imperial physicians who were unable to save her and further arrested some 300 of their family members. Liu tried to intercede on their behalf and drew Emperor Yizong's anger. With the chancellor Lu Yan
and Princess Tongchang's husband Wei Baoheng
making false accusations against Liu, Liu was exiled. When Zheng was ordered to draft the edict announcing Liu's exile, he used language that outwardly rebuked Liu but instead praised Liu. Lu thus had Zheng exiled and demoted to be the prefect of Wu Prefecture (梧州, in modern Wuzhou
, Guangxi
).
and was succeeded by his young son Emperor Xizong
, Zheng Tian was gradually moved closer to the capital — first to Chen Prefecture (郴州, in modern Chenzhou
, Hunan
) and then to Jiang Prefecture (絳州, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). He was then recalled to Chang'an to serve as You Sanqi Changshi (右散騎常侍), a high-level advisor at the legislative bureau.
In 874
, by which time he had become the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang), he was again made chief imperial scholar and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. At that time, typically, the armies posted to the southern circuits (i.e., Lingnan East Circuit (嶺南東道, headquartered in modern Guangzhou
, Guangdong
), Lingnan West Circuit (嶺南西道, headquartered in modern Nanning
, Guangxi
), and Jinghai Circuit (靜海, headquartered in modern Hanoi
, Vietnam
)) were supplied with food supplies from five circuits to the north, and the supplies had to be shipped by sea ships, which were frequently wrecked at great loss of life and resources. At Zheng's suggestion, the imperial control over the salt and iron monopolies in the region was transferred to Wei He (韋荷) the military governor of Lingnan East, who was authorized to boil water to produce salt for sale, and then use the proceeds to buy food supplies from the prefectures in the southern parts of Jiangxi Circuit (江西, headquartered in modern Nanchang
, Jiangxi
). It was said that it was after this that the food supplies for the armies posted to the southern regions became fuller. Thereafter, the general Wang Shifu (王師甫), who served as Wei's deputy in Wei's role as the commander of the Lingnan East army, requested to be made the commander of the Lingnan East army and offered the imperial treasury a large amount of tax supplies, Zheng pointed out the absurdity — that Wang was proposing to replace Wei despite Wei's contributions by offering money. As a result, Wang was removed from his office. Thereafter, Zheng was created the Marquess of Xingyang.
By 876
, the central/southern Tang realm was being overrun with agrarian rebellions, the chief of which was led by Wang Xianzhi
. Zheng's suggestions regarding how to react to the rebellion were largely ignored. As a result, he offered to resign, but Emperor Xizong did not accept his resignation. In 877
, a dispute erupted between Zheng and his chancellor colleagues Wang Duo
and Lu Xi
— as Wang Duo and Lu wanted to put the general Zhang Zimian (張自勉) under the command of Song Wei (宋威), who oversaw the operations against Wang Xianzhi, but Zheng, believing that, because of a pre-existing rivalry between Zhang and Song, that Song would find an excuse to have Zhang killed if Zhang came under Song's command, refused to endorse the petition that Wang Duo and Lu drafted. The dispute became so great that Wang Duo and Lu offered to resign, and Zheng offered to retire. Emperor Xizong did not approve any of these resignations. (The disagreement between Zheng and Lu was despite the fact that they were cousins, as their mothers were sisters to each other and the official Li Ao (李翱).
In 878
, Zheng and Lu had another major dispute — over whether a Tang princess should be sent to Dali to marry Dali's emperor Longshun (隆舜) to end the war between the two states, as proposed by the general Gao Pian
. Lu supported the marriage proposal, while Zheng opposed. As they argued, the dispute became so vehement that Lu threw an inkstone onto the ground, breaking it. When Emperor Xizong heard about this, he commented, "When the great officials curse each other like this, how can they govern the other officials?" As a result, both Zheng and Lu were removed from their chancellor posts and given the entirely honorary titles as advisors to the Crown Prince
(there being no crown prince at the time), and they were both further sent to the eastern capital Luoyang
. They were replaced with Doulu Zhuan
and Cui Hang
.
, Shaanxi
). While at Fengxiang, he conscripted 500 elite soldiers, and it was said that it was because of these soldiers that the banditry in the circuit subsided.
In 880
, the agrarian rebel leader Huang Chao
attacked and captured Chang'an. Emperor Xizong fled toward Chengdu
. On the way, as he was going through Luo Valley (駱谷, in modern Xi'an
, Shaanxi
), Zheng intercepted him and begged him not to leave Chang'an's vicinity, requesting that he go to Fengxiang instead. However, Emperor Xizong, apprehensive of further attacks from Huang, refused, and told Zheng that he would entrust Zheng with the responsibilities of defending against further attacks by Huang. At Zheng's request, Emperor Xizong further authorized him to carry out actions without first seeking imperial approval.
Meanwhile, though, when Zheng returned to Fengxiang, the Fengxiang army was fearful of an attack by Huang, and thus there were murmurs that Zheng should submit to Huang. Huang, who had declared himself the emperor of a new state of Qi, further sent emissaries to Fengxiang to declare a general pardon (i.e., to pardon Zheng and the Fengxiang forces for resisting him). Zheng refused to meet with Huang's emissaries, and instead entered a pledge with the soldiers to defend Tang. At that time, many of the imperial guard soldiers could not catch up with Emperor Xizong on his flight to Chengdu, and Zheng summoned them to Fengxiang to have them join his army, spending his own personal wealth to placate them. When Huang further sent his general Wang Hui (王暉) to Fengxiang to try to persuade Zheng to submit, Zheng had Wang beheaded. Thereafter, Emperor Xizong bestowed the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title on Zheng again, as an honorary title, and made him the overall commander of Tang forces in the Chang'an region.
In spring 881
, Huang had his generals Shang Rang
and Wang Bo (王播) launch a major attack on Fengxiang. As the Qi army viewed Zheng as a civilian who did not know about military matters, they took few precautions. Zheng counterattacked with his ally Tang Hongfu (唐弘夫), and they dealt the Qi forces a major defeat at Longwei Slope (龍尾陂, in modern Baoji). Zheng subsequently issued a declaration calling for the armies of the entire empire to attack Qi. It was said that it was only because of Zheng's declaration that the people of the empire found out that Emperor Xizong was still alive.
In summer 881, with Zheng, Tang Hongfu, Cheng Zongchu (程宗楚), Wang Chongrong
, Wang Chucun
, and Tuoba Sigong
converging on Chang'an, Huang abandoned it. However, after Tang forces entered Chang'an, they began pillaging the capital, such that they became bogged down. Qi forces then counterattacked, killing Cheng and Tang Hongfu, and dealing the other Tang forces major losses. Tang forces were forced to again abandon Chang'an, allowing Qi forces to retake it.
As the campaign waged on, the Fengxiang storage became depleted. In winter 881, the Fengxiang officer Li Changyan
, who was then stationed at Xingping (興平, in modern Xianyang
, Shaanxi
), provoked the soldiers and led them to return to Fengxiang in order to attack Zheng. Zheng, not wanting to see a battle between Tang soldiers, surrendered the city to Li Changyan, and fled south toward Chengdu as well. Once he reached Feng Prefecture (鳳州, in modern Baoji), he submitted a report to Emperor Xizong explaining what had occurred and offering to resign. Emperor Xizong made Li Changyan the military governor of Fengxiang, while making Zheng an advisor to the Crown Prince, with his office at Luoyang.
, Emperor Xizong summoned Zheng to Chengdu, making him chancellor again, along with the titles of Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies
) and Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎, deputy head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng)), giving him the most key responsibilities over the military matters. It was said that despite the imperial government's exile status, Zheng insisted on proper adherence to regulations — such that, by 883
, by which time Huang had again abandoned Chang'an and Emperor Xizong was preparing to return to Chang'an, Zheng had offended the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi
and Tian's brother Chen Jingxuan
, the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu), as he rebuffed Tian Lingzi's request to have his assistant Wu Yuan (吳圓) promoted and Chen's desire to receive greater honors than chancellors. Tian Lingzi and Chen thus instigated LI Changyan into submitting a petition that stated, "The soldiers are apprehensive. Therefore, when Your Imperial Majesty goes through Fengxiang, Zheng Tian should not follow." Zheng thus submitted his resignation. He was thus removed from his chancellor post and made a senior advisor to the Crown Prince. His son Zheng Ningji (鄭凝積) was made the prefect of Peng Prefecture (彭州, in modern Chengdu), and Zheng was sent to Peng Prefecture to recuperate from an illness that he was apparently having at the time. He died soon thereafter.
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 two terms as 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...
. He was heavily involved in the Tang campaign against the 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...
and Huang Chao's state of Qi.
Background and early career
Assuming that Zheng Tian died in 883883
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....
, he might have been born in either 821
821
Year 821 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Tang Mu Zong becomes emperor of China.* First recorded session of the Parliament of Croatia- Byzantine Empire :...
or 825
825
Year 825 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Egbert of Wessex defeats Beornwulf of Mercia at Ellandun. Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Essex submit to Wessex and East Anglia acknowledges Egbert as overlord.* Emperor Louis the Pious of the Franks wars against the Wends...
. His family was originally from Xingyang (滎陽, in modern Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou , is the capital and largest city of Henan province in north-central China. A prefecture-level city, it also serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational centre of the province, as well as a major transportation hub for Central China...
, 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...
), but his traceable ancestry only went as far back as his great-grandfather Zheng Shaolin (鄭少鄰), who served as a civil service official under the prefect of Zheng Prefecture (鄭州, in modern Zhengzhou). Zheng Shaolin, as well as Zheng Tian's grandfather Zheng Mu (鄭穆) and Zheng Tian's father Zheng Ya (鄭亞), all 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, and while Zheng Mu served only as a county magistrate, Zheng Ya became well known for his abilities, and he became a close associate 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...
, who was particularly powerful during the reign of 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...
, eventually serving as a high level imperial consultant. Other than Zheng Tian, Zheng Ya had at least two younger sons, Zheng Jun (鄭畯) and Zheng Pi (鄭毗).
Zheng Tian himself passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class when he was 17, and thereafter served as a staff member under 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 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...
). When he was 21, he further passed a special examination for those who made good rulings, and he was made the sheriff of Weinan County (渭南, 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 a historian who would edit imperial histories. Before he could serve in those positions, however, in 847
847
Year 847 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Bari is captured by the Saracens....
, due to his association with Li Deyu, who had lost power during the reign of the then-reigning Emperor Xuānzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
(Emperor Wuzong's uncle), Zheng Ya was demoted to be prefect of Gui Prefecture (桂州, in modern Guilin
Guilin
Guilin is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of far southern China, sitting on the west bank of the Li River. Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city...
, 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...
), and Zheng Tian followed his father to Gui Prefecture, where Zheng Ya would die, probably around 849
849
Year 849 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* In the Tang Dynasty Chinese capital city of Chang'an, an imperial prince was impeached from his position by officials at court for erecting a building that obstructed a street in the northwesternmost ward in South...
. (This chronology appeared to make it more likely that Zheng Tian was born in 825 or later, as he would have been 22 in 851 if born in 825, whereas he would already be 26 if born in 821.) As, during Emperor Xuānzong's reign, the court scene was dominated by the chancellor Bai Minzhong
Bai Minzhong
Bai Minzhong , courtesy name Yonghui , formally Duke Chou of Taiyuan , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xuānzong and Emperor Xuānzong's son Emperor Yizong...
and then 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...
, both of whom had no liking for Li Deyu and ejected Li Deyu's associates, Zheng Tian was not given an imperial government office for a long time.
During Emperor Yizong's reign
During the Xiantong era (860860
Year 860 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ethelbert succeeds as king of Wessex.* The later Harald I of Norway becomes king.- Art :...
-874
874
Year 874 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ingólfur Arnarson arrives as the first permanent Viking settler in Iceland, settling in Reykjavík ....
) of Emperor Xuānzong's son 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...
, after Linghu Tao had left the office of the chancellors, Liu Zhan
Liu Zhan
Liu Zhan , courtesy name Jizhi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Yizong and Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong.- Background :...
, who was then 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....
), invited Zheng Tian to serve on his staff. Subsequently, Zheng Tian was recalled to the 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...
to serve as Yubu Yuanwailang (虞部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of public works (工部, Gongbu). However, at that time, Zheng Xun (鄭薰), one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), which the ministry of public works belonged to, was a follower of Linghu's, and he prevented Zheng Tian from actually taking office by making false accusations against Zheng Tian, and Zheng Tian left Chang'an again to serve on a governor staff (possibly under Liu). Not until 864
864
Year 864 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* July 25 – Edict of Pistres: Charles the Bald orders defensive measures against the Vikings....
was Zheng Tian again recalled to Chang'an to serve as Xingbu Yuanwailang (刑部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of justice (刑部, Xingbu).
After Liu became chancellor in 869
869
Year 869 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* May 26 – An earthquake and tsunami devastate a large part of the Sanriku coast near Sendai, Japan....
, Liu recommended Zheng Tian, and Zheng became an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi) as well as Hubu Langzhong (戶部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of census (戶部, Hubu). He was soon also put in charge of drafting edicts, and also made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). During the imperial armies' campaign against the rebel Pang Xun
Pang Xun
Pang Xun was the leader of a major rebellion, by soldiers from Xu Prefecture , against the rule of Emperor Yizong of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, from 868 to 869...
, who occupied Xu Prefecture (徐州, 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...
) in 869, Zheng was largely in drafting the numerous edicts involved in the military maneuvers, and it was said that his colleagues admired him for the speed and the elegance with which he wrote. He was soon promoted to be both deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and, after Pang's rebellion was suppressed, chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi).
In 870
870
Year 870 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Prague Castle is founded....
, after the death of Emperor Yizong's favorite daughter Princess Tongchang (同昌公主), Emperor Yizong, in grief, executed the imperial physicians who were unable to save her and further arrested some 300 of their family members. Liu tried to intercede on their behalf and drew Emperor Yizong's anger. With the chancellor Lu Yan
Lu Yan
Lu Yan was the oldest son of Lu Xun, a military general and politician of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He died at a young age.-References:...
and Princess Tongchang's husband Wei Baoheng
Wei Baoheng
Wei Baoheng , courtesy name Yunyong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He became extremely powerful late in the reign of his father-in-law Emperor Yizong, rising to the post of chancellor and becoming the most powerful official at court, but after Emperor Yizong's death was...
making false accusations against Liu, Liu was exiled. When Zheng was ordered to draft the edict announcing Liu's exile, he used language that outwardly rebuked Liu but instead praised Liu. Lu thus had Zheng exiled and demoted to be the prefect of Wu Prefecture (梧州, in modern Wuzhou
Wuzhou
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...
).
Before and during first term as chancellor
After 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 Tian was gradually moved closer to the capital — first to Chen Prefecture (郴州, in modern Chenzhou
Chenzhou
Chenzhou is a city located in the southern area of Hunan province, People's Republic of China. Its administrative area covers , 9.2% of the provincial area, and its total population reached 4,559,600 as of 2001, 26% of them living in urban areas, 74% of them live in rural areas.-History:Chenzhou...
, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
) and then to Jiang Prefecture (絳州, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). He was then recalled to Chang'an to serve as You Sanqi Changshi (右散騎常侍), a high-level advisor at the legislative bureau.
In 874
874
Year 874 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ingólfur Arnarson arrives as the first permanent Viking settler in Iceland, settling in Reykjavík ....
, by which time he had become the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang), he was again made chief imperial scholar and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. At that time, typically, the armies posted to the southern circuits (i.e., 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...
), Lingnan West Circuit (嶺南西道, headquartered in modern Nanning
Nanning
Nanning is the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. It is known as the "Green City" because of its abundance of lush tropical foliage.-History:...
, 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...
), and Jinghai Circuit (靜海, headquartered in modern Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
)) were supplied with food supplies from five circuits to the north, and the supplies had to be shipped by sea ships, which were frequently wrecked at great loss of life and resources. At Zheng's suggestion, the imperial control over the salt and iron monopolies in the region was transferred to Wei He (韋荷) the military governor of Lingnan East, who was authorized to boil water to produce salt for sale, and then use the proceeds to buy food supplies from the prefectures in the southern parts of Jiangxi Circuit (江西, headquartered in modern Nanchang
Nanchang
Nanchang is the capital of Jiangxi Province in southeastern China. It is located in the north-central portion of the province. As it is bounded on the west by the Jiuling Mountains, and on the east by Poyang Lake, it is famous for its scenery, rich history and cultural sites...
, Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
). It was said that it was after this that the food supplies for the armies posted to the southern regions became fuller. Thereafter, the general Wang Shifu (王師甫), who served as Wei's deputy in Wei's role as the commander of the Lingnan East army, requested to be made the commander of the Lingnan East army and offered the imperial treasury a large amount of tax supplies, Zheng pointed out the absurdity — that Wang was proposing to replace Wei despite Wei's contributions by offering money. As a result, Wang was removed from his office. Thereafter, Zheng was created the Marquess of Xingyang.
By 876
876
Year 876 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Births :* Henry the Fowler, the duke of Saxony from 912 and king of the Germans from 919 until his death...
, the central/southern Tang realm was being overrun with agrarian rebellions, the chief of which was led by Wang Xianzhi
Wang Xianzhi
Wang Xianzhi , courtesy name Zijing , was a famous Chinese calligrapher of the Eastern Jin.He was the seventh and youngest son of the famed Wang Xizhi. Wang inherited his father's talent for the art, although his siblings were all notable calligraphers. His style is more fluid than his father's,...
. Zheng's suggestions regarding how to react to the rebellion were largely ignored. As a result, he offered to resign, but Emperor Xizong did not accept his resignation. In 877
877
Year 877 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Danes take Exeter, England.* A flotilla of 120 Danish ships is lost in a storm off Swanage....
, a dispute erupted between Zheng and his chancellor colleagues 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'...
and Lu Xi
Lu Xi
Lu Xi , courtesy name Zisheng , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong...
— as Wang Duo and Lu wanted to put the general Zhang Zimian (張自勉) under the command of Song Wei (宋威), who oversaw the operations against Wang Xianzhi, but Zheng, believing that, because of a pre-existing rivalry between Zhang and Song, that Song would find an excuse to have Zhang killed if Zhang came under Song's command, refused to endorse the petition that Wang Duo and Lu drafted. The dispute became so great that Wang Duo and Lu offered to resign, and Zheng offered to retire. Emperor Xizong did not approve any of these resignations. (The disagreement between Zheng and Lu was despite the fact that they were cousins, as their mothers were sisters to each other and the official Li Ao (李翱).
In 878
878
Year 878 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :...
, Zheng and Lu had another major dispute — over whether a Tang princess should be sent to Dali to marry Dali's emperor Longshun (隆舜) to end the war between the two states, as proposed by the general Gao Pian
Gao Pian
Gao Pian , courtesy name Qianli , formally the Prince of Bohai , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
. Lu supported the marriage proposal, while Zheng opposed. As they argued, the dispute became so vehement that Lu threw an inkstone onto the ground, breaking it. When Emperor Xizong heard about this, he commented, "When the great officials curse each other like this, how can they govern the other officials?" As a result, both Zheng and Lu were removed from their chancellor posts and given the entirely honorary titles as advisors 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....
(there being no crown prince at the time), and they were both further sent to 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...
. They were replaced with Doulu Zhuan
Doulu Zhuan
Doulu Zhuan , courtesy name Xizhen , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong...
and Cui Hang
Cui Hang
Cui Hang , courtesy name Neirong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong. When the agrarian rebel Huang Chao captured the Tang capital Chang'an, Cui was unable to flee; he was then executed by Huang's new state of Qi.-...
.
Between first and second terms as chancellor
Shortly after Zheng Tian's demotion, however, he was recalled back to Chang'an to serve as the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu). The next year, he became the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern BaojiBaoji
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...
). While at Fengxiang, he conscripted 500 elite soldiers, and it was said that it was because of these soldiers that the banditry in the circuit subsided.
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...
, the agrarian rebel leader 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...
attacked and captured Chang'an. Emperor Xizong fled toward Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
. On the way, as he was going through Luo Valley (駱谷, in modern Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
, 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...
), Zheng intercepted him and begged him not to leave Chang'an's vicinity, requesting that he go to Fengxiang instead. However, Emperor Xizong, apprehensive of further attacks from Huang, refused, and told Zheng that he would entrust Zheng with the responsibilities of defending against further attacks by Huang. At Zheng's request, Emperor Xizong further authorized him to carry out actions without first seeking imperial approval.
Meanwhile, though, when Zheng returned to Fengxiang, the Fengxiang army was fearful of an attack by Huang, and thus there were murmurs that Zheng should submit to Huang. Huang, who had declared himself the emperor of a new state of Qi, further sent emissaries to Fengxiang to declare a general pardon (i.e., to pardon Zheng and the Fengxiang forces for resisting him). Zheng refused to meet with Huang's emissaries, and instead entered a pledge with the soldiers to defend Tang. At that time, many of the imperial guard soldiers could not catch up with Emperor Xizong on his flight to Chengdu, and Zheng summoned them to Fengxiang to have them join his army, spending his own personal wealth to placate them. When Huang further sent his general Wang Hui (王暉) to Fengxiang to try to persuade Zheng to submit, Zheng had Wang beheaded. Thereafter, Emperor Xizong bestowed the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title on Zheng again, as an honorary title, and made him the overall commander of Tang forces in the Chang'an region.
In spring 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....
, Huang had his generals Shang Rang
Shang Rang
Shang Rang was a major follower of Huang Chao, an agrarian rebel leader against the rule of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, and carried prominent titles after Huang declared himself the emperor of a new state of Qi. As Huang neared defeat in 884, Shang turned against him and submitted to the...
and Wang Bo (王播) launch a major attack on Fengxiang. As the Qi army viewed Zheng as a civilian who did not know about military matters, they took few precautions. Zheng counterattacked with his ally Tang Hongfu (唐弘夫), and they dealt the Qi forces a major defeat at Longwei Slope (龍尾陂, in modern Baoji). Zheng subsequently issued a declaration calling for the armies of the entire empire to attack Qi. It was said that it was only because of Zheng's declaration that the people of the empire found out that Emperor Xizong was still alive.
In summer 881, with Zheng, Tang Hongfu, Cheng Zongchu (程宗楚), Wang Chongrong
Wang Chongrong
Wang Chongrong , formally the Prince of Langye , was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Hezhong Circuit...
, Wang Chucun
Wang Chucun
Wang Chucun was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Yiwu Circuit in late Tang. He was one of the main contributors in Tang's eventual defeat of the agrarian rebel Huang Chao....
, and Tuoba Sigong
Li Sigong
Li Sigong , né Tuoba Sigong , formally the Duke of Xia , was an ethnically-Dangxiang warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who, for his contributions against the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao, was allowed to retain Dingnan Circuit as its military governor...
converging on Chang'an, Huang abandoned it. However, after Tang forces entered Chang'an, they began pillaging the capital, such that they became bogged down. Qi forces then counterattacked, killing Cheng and Tang Hongfu, and dealing the other Tang forces major losses. Tang forces were forced to again abandon Chang'an, allowing Qi forces to retake it.
As the campaign waged on, the Fengxiang storage became depleted. In winter 881, the Fengxiang officer Li Changyan
Li Changyan
Li Changyan was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Fengxiang Circuit from 881 to 884 as its military governor after overthrowing his predecessor, the former chancellor Zheng Tian.- Takeover of Fengxiang Circuit :Little is known about Li Changyan's background, as...
, who was then stationed at Xingping (興平, 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...
), provoked the soldiers and led them to return to Fengxiang in order to attack Zheng. Zheng, not wanting to see a battle between Tang soldiers, surrendered the city to Li Changyan, and fled south toward Chengdu as well. Once he reached Feng Prefecture (鳳州, in modern Baoji), he submitted a report to Emperor Xizong explaining what had occurred and offering to resign. Emperor Xizong made Li Changyan the military governor of Fengxiang, while making Zheng an advisor to the Crown Prince, with his office at Luoyang.
Second term as chancellor and aftermaths
In spring 882882
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....
, Emperor Xizong summoned Zheng to Chengdu, making him chancellor again, along with the titles of 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...
) and Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎, deputy head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng)), giving him the most key responsibilities over the military matters. It was said that despite the imperial government's exile status, Zheng insisted on proper adherence to regulations — such that, by 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....
, by which time Huang had again abandoned Chang'an and Emperor Xizong was preparing to return to Chang'an, Zheng had offended the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi , courtesy name Zhongze , formally the Duke of Jin , was a powerful eunuch during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang...
and Tian's brother Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese...
, the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu), as he rebuffed Tian Lingzi's request to have his assistant Wu Yuan (吳圓) promoted and Chen's desire to receive greater honors than chancellors. Tian Lingzi and Chen thus instigated LI Changyan into submitting a petition that stated, "The soldiers are apprehensive. Therefore, when Your Imperial Majesty goes through Fengxiang, Zheng Tian should not follow." Zheng thus submitted his resignation. He was thus removed from his chancellor post and made a senior advisor to the Crown Prince. His son Zheng Ningji (鄭凝積) was made the prefect of Peng Prefecture (彭州, in modern Chengdu), and Zheng was sent to Peng Prefecture to recuperate from an illness that he was apparently having at the time. He died soon thereafter.