Zheng Zhong, a native of Lushan, Nanyang, was a powerful eunuch of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the creator of many records in the history of Chinese eunuchs, and a good friend of the eunuch Cai Lun.
He was not dependent on foreign relatives and was loyal to the royal family, so he was favored by Emperor He. With the help of Zheng Zhong, all the state power was put into the hands of the emperor, ending the situation of foreign relatives interfering in politics, so he was able to be crowned a marquis, and from then on the eunuch forces began to gain power and grasp important positions in the dynasty, but the crisis of the rulers of the Eastern Han Dynasty was far from over.
Zheng Zhong served five emperors in his lifetime, from Emperor Ming of Han to Emperor An of Han, he went from having no background to being under one person and above ten thousand people, and his life's achievements were as great as Huo Guang's.
During the Yongping period of the Han Ming Emperor, Zheng Zhong was deeply liked by his superiors because he was industrious and resourceful. Later, he was recommended to serve Emperor Hanming, who also felt that Zheng Zhong was trustworthy, so he asked him to take care of the crown prince at that time, that is, the later Emperor Zhang of Han.
When Emperor Zhang of Han ascended the throne, Zheng Zhong moved to Zhongzhong changshi with Xiaohuangmen and participated in the decision-making of the empire. Emperor Zhang of Han also often listened to Zheng Zhong's advice in decision-making, like an adviser to the emperor, with great power.
Emperor Zhang of Han died, and the crown prince Liu Zhao ascended the throne for Emperor He of Han.
Zheng Zhong was once again promoted and was directly responsible for the procurement of the imperial palace and the living and living of the royal family.
Emperor Han he was only ten years old when he ascended the throne, and the Dou clan controlled the government, and Zheng Zhong became the most trusted person of Han he emperor.
Empress Dowager Dou was unwilling to return power to the ten-year-old emperor, and continued to grasp state power on the grounds that the emperor was too young to handle government affairs correctly.
Empress Dowager Dou also oversaw the imperial government and placed her family in important positions in the empire, such as her brother being appointed as a servant. Empress Dou's younger brother was sent to be the commander of the imperial army. So much so that at that time, the world was not so much surnamed Liu as it was dou.
Although Zheng Zhong was dissatisfied, he was patient, waiting for the opportunity, and advised the Han and emperor to learn to be patient and wait for the opportunity to regain power.
Empress Dowager Dou's clan was arrogant and arrogant, and often acted recklessly, harming the people. Empress Dowager Dou's brother also forcibly seized the field that Princess Qinshui, the daughter of Emperor Ming of Han, was rewarded with, and Princess Qinshui dared to be angry but did not dare to speak. Empress Dou's younger brother was even more excessive, insulting women in the streets and robbing women, and the government did not dare to do anything to them.
What's more, most of the courtiers at that time were inflammatory, secretly calling Dou Xian Long Live, fortunately, the courtiers at that time were loyal to the Han, and this title was stopped after repeatedly reprimanding others.
In the third year of Yongyuan, after Dou Xian broke the Xiongnu, the power fell to the opposition, and The Yin Plot usurped.
In the fourth year of Yongyuan, Emperor He learned of Dou Xian's conspiracy and conspired with Zheng Zhong to murder Dou Xian, just in time for Dou Xian and Deng Dieban to return to Beijing, and emperor Zhao Dahongluo held the festival to greet him in the suburbs and reward the soldiers. Emperor He personally came to the North Palace, ordered Ding Hongtun to guard the South and North Palaces, arrested Deng Die, Deng Lei, and others, and went to prison to die. He also deposed Dou Xian as a great general, renamed him the Marquis of Champions, and gave him death when he arrived at Dou Xian's land.
Dou Xian died, and the first era of foreign monopoly in the history of the Eastern Han Dynasty came to an end. Zheng Zhong was promoted to the post of Grand Changqiu in the fourteenth year of Yongyuan (102), and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Xiang and controlled the imperial government. Zheng Zhong," who "devoted himself to the royal family and did not do anything to the hao party", was quite trusted by the emperor, but it was he who opened the eunuch dictatorship, "by being often and deliberating." The use of power by the middle officials begins with the masses. He was also the first eunuch to adopt a son.
Although Zheng Zhong had ambitions, he did not forget that he was loyal to the Han Dynasty, and he was still loyal to assisting the emperor and did not do what he thought.
With the help of Zheng Zhong, Emperor Han and Emperor gradually became able to handle government affairs independently and familiarly, sympathize with the people, rectify the government of the dynasty, do everything himself, dare not slack off half a step, and also reform the employment system, recruit talents, regardless of origin, and recruit talented people nationwide.
Later, when the Yellow River flooded, Zheng Zhong helped Han and Emperor to open warehouses for disaster relief, relief for refugees, and help them rebuild their homes and restore farmland.
These measures made the Eastern Han Dynasty usher in another prosperous era, guotai and civil security, economic and political stability. It is a pity that Heaven is jealous of talents, such a diligent and loving emperor, died at the age of twenty-seven.
In 107 CE, because the eunuchs Zheng Zhong and Cai Lun interfered, Empress Deng also established Emperor Liu Hu and Emperor Liu Sheng, and wanted to launch a coup d'état and make Liu Sheng emperor. But the timing was not secret, and Zhou Zhang committed suicide.
Zheng Zhong died in the first year of the Yuan Dynasty, and his adopted son Zheng Hong inherited the title. After Zheng Hao's death, his son Zheng An inherited the title. Later feudal states ceased to exist. In the second year of Yanxi, Emperor Huan of Han continued to make Zheng Zhong's great-grandson Zheng Shiyan the Marquis of Guannei.
Zheng Zhong had the courage to do so, but he never trespassed and committed adultery. He was praised by later generations for assisting and pro-government with the emperor and creating the "Yongxing Long".