Who was Yuan Zai in the Tang Dynasty?

Yuan Zai was the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty. Yuan Zai was born in poverty and loved reading. Sensitive personality, proficient in Taoism, after he acceded to the throne, he made friends with Li, the right official, worshipped assistant minister Zhongshu and Tong Pingzhang as companions, conferred the title of Xuchang county magistrate and became prime minister, which won him great favor.

Yuan Zai served as prime minister for fifteen years, but was finally sentenced to death for autocratic corruption. However, during his tenure as prime minister, he made great contributions, helped Tang Daizong eradicate eunuchs Li and Yu Chaoen who were in power in the ruling and opposition, and promoted and appointed famous finance ministers such as Yang Yan. Yuan contains ten volumes of Selected Works and ten volumes of South China Tongwei.