Salt was critical in medieval Tang China, not just for nutrition and food preservation but also economically and politically. The Tang dynasty heavily regulated salt to control the economy and maintain power, creating a lucrative illegal trade. This backdrop saw salt smugglers like Huang Chao rise, challenging the weakened dynasty post-An Lushan Rebellion. The government's monopoly on salt, aiming to stabilize finances, ultimately contributed to societal discontent and the dynasty's eventual decline.