Zheng Tai

Zheng Tai (鄭泰, ? – ?) was an official of the late Eastern Han. His courtesy name was Gongye (公業), and he was a native of Kaifeng County (開封縣) in Henan. He was the great-grandson of the Grand Minister of Agriculture Zheng Zhong.

Life

From a young age he was highly talented and resourceful. In the late Yanping era, he foresaw that the realm would soon fall into chaos, and he secretly cultivated close ties with heroes and men of ability. His family was wealthy, owning more than 400 gyeong of fields, but he supported a large number of retainers, so there was always a shortage of food, and his reputation spread throughout Shandong.

He was recommended as a xiaolian (孝廉) and was also recommended to the Three Ducal Offices, but he refused every summons. Later, when Emperor Ling died, He Jin sought assistance in governing and appointed him, together with Xun You and Hua Xin, making Zheng Tai Shangshu shilang and adding the post of Fengju duwei. When He Jin, who was contending for power with the Ten Attendants, attempted to summon Dong Zhuo, Zheng Tai opposed this. He also presented other urgent matters for consideration, but when He Jin did not accept them, he told Xun You, "He Jin is not easy to assist," and abandoned his post and left.

As expected, He Jin was killed and Dong Zhuo seized his position. Zheng Tai, together with He Yong and Wu Qiong (伍瓊), connected with Yuan Shao and induced the rise of the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition. When Dong Zhuo tried to respond by mobilizing a large army, no one dared to oppose him. As Dong Zhuo's military strength grew, his arbitrary rule would also become more severe, so Zheng Tai alone stood forward and said, "Governing is done through virtue, not through numbers." When Dong Zhuo, displeased, asked whether soldiers were meaningless, Zheng Tai was momentarily frightened, but he deceived him by saying the following:

Dong Zhuo was moved and appointed Zheng Tai as a general to oppose the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition army. However, someone advised, "Zheng Tai's wisdom is beyond that of ordinary people, and he is colluding with Shandong to plot. If you now entrust him with troops, he will surely join that faction. In the end, he will become a source of trouble for Your Excellency." Dong Zhuo then withdrew the appointment and kept Zheng Tai at court by appointing him Gentleman of the Yilang (議郎).