Cui Yin (崔胤) (854[1] – February 1, 904[2][3]), courtesy name Chuixiu (垂休),[1][4] nickname Zilang (緇郎), formally the Duke of Wei (魏公), was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.
He was one of the controversial figures in the late Tang period, who ruthlessly tried to destroy the powerful eunuchs at court and whose actions in that regard had traditionally made him regarded as one of the persons causing the demise of the dynasty at the hands of the warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan) (who would overthrow Tang and establish his own Later Liang).
)[6] After Cui Yin passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi (進士) class,[7] he served on the staff of Wang Chongrong the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi).
Emperor Zhaozong initially approved Li Keyong's request and made Wang Ke the military governor of Huguo but, subsequently, trying to settle the dispute, named Cui the military governor of Huguo, still carrying the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi designation as an honorary title.
[11] This failed to settle the dispute, however, and, at Cui Zhaowei's instigation (as Cui Zhaowei was allied with Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu), the three military governors who supported Wang Gong marched on the imperial capital Chang'an, killing the chancellors Li Xi and Wei Zhaodu and forcing Emperor Zhaozong to accede to their demands.
Cui, however, secretly sought aid from Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan)—and suggested to Zhu that he could posture by preparing the palace at the eastern capital Luoyang and petitioning Emperor Zhaozong to move the capital to Luoyang.
Zhu did so (along with his ally Zhang Quanyi the mayor of Henan Municipality (河南, i.e., the Luoyang region)) and also mobilized his troops; his petition also indicated his belief that Cui, as a faithful servant to the emperor, should not be sent away.
[11] Cui continued to serve as chancellor until 899, by which time Emperor Zhaozong had returned to Chang'an; Cui assumed just his regular posts of Zhongshu Shilang and minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu); Lu, who had been recalled by this point and was serving as the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu), replaced him.
Wang Tuan, fearing the repercussions of such a plot, urged moderation, pointing out that a major confrontation between imperial officials and eunuchs would have uncertain results.
)[13] In 900, Cui Yin was sent out of the capital to serve as military governor of Qinghai Circuit (清海, headquartered in modern Guangzhou, Guangdong), carrying the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi as an honorary designation.
Wang was initially demoted to be the deputy minister of public works, while Zhu Daobi and Jing were sent out of the capital to serve as eunuch monitors; soon, all three were ordered to commit suicide.
[13] The most powerful eunuchs—the commanders of the Shence Armies Liu Jishu and Wang Zhongxian (王仲先) and the new directors of palace communications Wang Yanfan (王彥範) and Xue Qiwo (薛齊偓)—fearing the next steps that Cui and Emperor Zhaozong—whose behavior had become increasingly erratic after his return from Zhenguo, apparently fueled by alcoholism—might take, began to plan a coup to overthrow the emperor and replace him with his son and crown prince Li Yi.
Cui also sent his secretary Shi Jian (石戩) to persuade the Shence Army officer Sun Dezhao (孫德昭) to plan a countercoup.
Sun subsequently persuaded his fellow officers Dong Yanbi (董彥弼) and Zhou Chenghui (周承誨) to join the countercoup as well.
Emperor Zhaozong thus instead put the eunuchs Han Quanhui and Zhang Yanhong (張彥弘) in command of the Shence Armies.
In desperation, the eunuchs sent out edicts in Emperor Zhaozong's name, ordering the other military governors to attack Zhu, but only Wang Shifan the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Weifang, Shandong) responded by planning a series of guerrilla attacks against a number of Zhu-held cities, including Hua Prefecture.
Cui, initially fearing that it was a trap by Li Maozhen, refused, but Zhu, asking him to broker a peace agreement, persuaded him to do so.
In spring 904, Zhu submitted a petition to Emperor Zhaozong, accusing Cui and his associates Zheng Yuangui (鄭元規) the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region) and the army officer Chen Ban (陳班) of treason.
Emperor Zhaozong, apparently under duress from Zhu, thereafter issued an edict demoting Cui to be an advisor to the Crown Prince, with his office at Luoyang.