Sui and Tang · Official and Statesman

Yuan Zai 元載

Attested AD 762 - AD 779

Passages: 4
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Yuan Zai was an official and Statesman.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 762 to AD 779 代宗
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 146, passage 40

Career and standing

chief minister dominating the government 當國
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 146, passage 40
Held
Overbearing minister
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 146, passage 40

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 146, passage 40

Assessments and attributes

Item rare goods worth hundreds of thousands 瑰貨數十萬 · Relation Received · With Xu Hao (徐浩)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 146, passage 48

References in the histories

New Book of Tang, Chapter 146Volume 146 Biographies 71: Two Li's · 4 passages

元載當國久，益恣橫，代宗不能堪，陰引剛鯁大臣自助，欲收綱權以黜載。 Yuan Zai had long dominated the government and grew ever more overbearing; Emperor Daizong could endure it no longer and secretly enlisted stern, upright ministers to help him recover authority and remove Zai.

會李少良、陸珽等上書劾載陰事，詔御史問狀，延賞稱疾，不敢鞫，少良、珽覆得罪死。 When Li Shaoliang, Lu Ting, and others memorialized accusing Zai of secret wrongdoing, an edict ordered the Censorate to investigate; Yanshang pleaded illness and dared not conduct the inquiry, and Shaoliang and Ting were in turn condemned and put to death.

始，浩罷嶺南節度使，以瑰貨數十萬餉載，而濟方為京兆，邕吏部侍郎，三人者，皆載所厚，棲筠並劾之。 Earlier, when Xu Hao left the Lingnan command he had sent Zai rare goods worth hundreds of thousands; Du Ji was then intendant of the capital, Xue Yong was vice minister of personnel—all three were favorites of Zai—and Qiyun impeached them together.

帝比比欲召相，憚載輒止。 Again and again the emperor wished to appoint a chancellor, but fear of Zai always stopped him.