Zhao Zongru - Service Under Emperors Shunzong and Xianzong

Service Under Emperors Shunzong and Xianzong

In 805, Emperor Dezong died, and Li Song succeeded him (as Emperor Shunzong). Emperor Shunzong put Zhao Zongru in charge of drafting the mourning text for Emperor Dezong.

Early in the Yuanhe (806-820) era of Emperor Shunzong's son Emperor Xianzong, Zhao was made the defender of the eastern capital Luoyang. He was later recalled to serve, successively, as the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Lǐbu Shangshu) and then minister of census (戶部尚書, Hubu Shangshu). He was thereafter made the military governor (Jiedushi) of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou, Hubei) as well as the mayor of its capital Jiangling Municipality (江陵). While serving there, he released 2,000 soldiers who were not needed from their commissions. In 811, he was recalled to serve as the minister of justice (刑部尚書, Xingbu Shangshu). In 813, he was made the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) as well as the mayor of its capital Xingyuan Municipality (興元). In 814, he was recalled to serve as chief imperial censor (御史大夫, Yushi Daifu), but soon was made the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) as well as the mayor of its capital Hezhong Municipality. While there, there was an occasion when he was accused of wrongly spending money allocated for soldiers' salaries, and he was fined one month's worth of his own salary. In 816, he was recalled to serve as the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu). Shortly after, he was made an advisor to Emperor Xianzong's crown prince Li Heng, but was also acting minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Lìbu Shangshu, note different tone than the minister of rites). In 819, he became full minister of civil service affairs.