During Northern Wei

Wei Xiaokuan was born in 509, during Western Wei's predecessor Northern Wei (which Western Wei and its rival Eastern Wei were divided from) -- specifically, during the reign of Emperor Xuanwu. His clan was a prominent one in the Sanfu (三輔, greater Chang'an) region, and both his grandfather Wei Zhenxi (韋真憙) and father Wei Xu (韋旭) were commandery governors during Northern Wei.

In Wei Xiaokuan's youth, he was described to be studious and calm. When the general Xiao Baoyin rebelled in 527 and seized the Chang'an region, he was at the capital Luoyang, and he volunteered to serve in the army against Xiao. He served as an officer under Zhangxun Chengye (長孫承業) the Duke of Fengyi and contributed to the army's success, and he was given a post as a teacher at the national university in Luoyang, and then an acting commandery governor. He later served under the prominent official Yang Kan (楊侃), guarding the Tong Pass, when Yang, impressed by him, gave a daughter to him in marriage. Wei became a general during the reign of Emperor Xiaozhuang (528–530) and was created the Baron of Shanbei. During the subsequent reign of Emperor Jiemin (531–532), he served under the official Yuan Zigong (源子恭), the governor of Jing Province (荊州, modern southern Henan) as a commandery governor. It was at this time he became friends with fellow general Dugu Xin, who was also a commandery governor in Jing Province.

In the subsequent reign of Emperor Xiaowu (532–535), Wei was given the task of defending Jing Province, although he was not then governor. Subsequently, when Emperor Xiaowu, seeking to evade the influence of the paramount general Gao Huan, fled west to Chang'an, then controlled by Yuwen Tai, in 534, the empire became divided into Western Wei (with Emperor Xiaowu as emperor) and Eastern Wei (with Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei, whom Gao declared emperor, as emperor). It is unclear when or how, but Wei eventually joined the Western Wei regime in Chang'an, but it is not clear whether that happened before or after Emperor Xiaowu's death (probably by Yuwen's orders) in 535 and replacement by his cousin Emperor Wen of Western Wei.

During Western Wei

In 538, during a major campaign between Western Wei and Eastern Wei, Wei Xiaokuan accompanied Emperor Wen, and he was made the governor of Hongnong Commandery (弘農, roughly modern Sanmenxia, Henan). He subsequently entered Luoyang (which Western Wei temporarily captured) with Dugu Xin, and for some time tried to defend the city, but eventually they were forced to withdraw from the vicinity of Luoyang. As Wei was then stationed on the borders with Eastern Wei, he became concerned that the Eastern Wei general Niu Daoheng (牛道恆) was capable at drawing the common people of the border region to join Eastern Wei's cause. Wei employed a tactic that he would reuse later—first sending spies to steal samples of Niu's handwriting, and then employing forgers to forge letters purportedly from Niu to Wei offering to defect to Western Wei. He then intentionally allowed spies sent by Niu's superior Duan Chen (段琛) to steal the forgeries, causing Duan to suspect Niu's loyalty and begin to refuse to follow Niu's suggestions. Once Wei was sure of the dissension within the Eastern Wei forces, he made a surprise attack and captured both Duan and Niu, taking the locale for Western Wei.

In 539, Emperor Wen promoted Wei's title from baron to marquess.

In 542, Wei was made the governor of Jin Province (晉州, roughly modern Linfen, Shanxi), and by the recommendation of the prominent general Wang Sizheng (王思政), was given by Yuwen Tai the responsibility of defending the important fort of Yubi (玉壁, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), which Wang himself had defended earlier. He managed to pacify the province against raids by the ethnic Xiongnu tribesmen in the area.

In 546, Gao Huan launched a major attack on the Western Wei, starting the . He built earthworks to surround the city, hoping to be able to breach Yubi's defenses on top of the walls, but Wei managed to build on top of the towers on top of the walls, always maintaining a higher vantage point than the earthworks and therefore stopping the Eastern Wei attack. Gao then tried digging tunnels below the walls, but Wei was able to anticipate this and dig tunnels himself to connect with Eastern Wei's tunnels, and then setting fires within the tunnels, burning the Eastern Wei soldiers to death. He further set fires to the Eastern Wei army's battering rams, and for every offensive strategy Gao was able to think of, Wei was able to counter it. Gao had his secretary Zu Ting write a letter to Wei, urging him to surrender, but Wei refused. Gao was unable to capture the fort after 60 days of siege, and he grew angry and ill and was forced to withdraw. For Wei's contributions, he was created the Duke of Jianzhong.

In 553, during the reign of Emperor Wen's son Emperor Fei, Wei was made the governor of the capital region, Yong Province (雍州, roughly modern Xi'an, Shaanxi). In 554, Wei participated in the campaign commanded by Yu Jin (于謹) against the Liang dynasty, which eventually captured its capital Jiangling and its emperor Emperor Yuan. (Western Wei eventually put the Liang emperor to death around the new year 555.) After this campaign, Wei's title was changed to Duke of Rang, and as at the time, Yuwen Tai was choosing prominent Han generals to have their names changed to Xianbei names, Wei's name was changed to Yuwen, probably as a sign of respect and endearment on Yuwen Tai's part. In 556, when Yuwen Tai was carrying out a tour of the northern provinces, he returned Wei to the responsibility of defending Yubi.

During Emperors Xiaomin and Mings reigns

Yuwen Tai died later in 556, leaving his son and heir Yuwen Jue under the guardianship of his nephew Yuwen Hu. Around the new year 557, Yuwen Hu forced Emperor Gong of Western Wei to yield the throne to Yuwen Jue, ending Western Wei and founding Northern Zhou, with Yuwen Jue taking the throne as Emperor Xiaomin, but with the alternative title of "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang). Wei was made the deputy minister of the interior. After Yuwen Hu removed and killed Emperor Xiaomin later in 557 and replaced him with another son of Yuwen Tai, Yuwen Yu the Duke of Ningdu (as Emperor Ming), Wei took on the additional responsibility as an imperial researcher. (It might have been the case that this was Yuwen Hu's way of removing Wei from a military command without dishonoring him, for Wei's great friend Dugu Xin opposed Yuwen Hu and, in 557, was forced to commit suicide on account of that opposition.) In 560, Yuwen Hu poisoned Emperor Ming to death, and Emperor Ming's brother Yuwen Yong the Duke of Lu became emperor (as Emperor Wu).

During Emperor Wus reign

In 561, in recognition of Wei's great victory at Yubi previously, Yubi and the surrounding area was made into Xun Province (勳州 -- "Xun" meaning "achievement"), and Wei was made its governor. During this tenure, Wei was said to be gracious to the people of the province while continuing to effectively employ a network of spies. For example, when his officer Xu Pen (許盆) defected to Northern Qi, Wei sent spies after him, and was quickly able to have him killed.

Around this time, Xun Province continued to be plagued by raids by the ethnic Xiongnu who, while not submitting to either Northern Zhou or Northern Qi, were based within Northern Qi territory and cut off river traffic on the Fen River (汾水, flowing through modern Linfen). In order to cut off the route of their raids, Wei sent his officer Yao Yue (姚岳) to build a fort near the Fen River. Yao initially was fearful that as his troops were building the fort that Northern Qi would launch an attack against him, but Wei warded off Northern Qi attacks by setting up bonfires in the surrounding hills, making Northern Qi forces believe that Yao was being reinforced by a large army, and therefore did not attack Yao, allowing Yao to complete the fort.

In 564, Wei helped negotiate an agreement where Northern Qi returned Yuwen Tai's sister and sister-in-law (Yuwen Hu's mother) to Northern Zhou in exchange for peace. When, late in 564, Yuwen Hu nevertheless was preparing to launch an attack on Northern Qi (in order to placate the northern ally Tujue), Wei sent his secretary Xin Daoxian (辛道憲) to try to dissuade Yuwen Hu, but Yuwen Hu nevertheless launched the attack, which was unsuccessful. In 570, the two states were stalemated while fighting for the control of the city of Yiyang (宜陽, in modern Luoyang). Wei, believing that Yiyang was not worth the effort and instead was apprehensive that Northern Qi would encroach on territory north of the Fen River, sent a proposal to Yuwen Hu to build forts north of the Fen River to guard the territory. Yuwen Hu, however, responded, "While Duke Wei has many descendants, they do not yet number a hundred. Who will be able to guard those forts?" Thereafter, the forts were not built.

Later in 570, Wei's title was promoted to Duke of Xun. That winter, as forewarned by Wei, the Northern Qi general Hulü Guang encroached on Northern Zhou territory north of the Fen River and built forts there, seizing substantial territory. Wei personally met Hulü on the border to try to dissuade him from the campaign, but Hulü did not relent. The armies stalemated after Yuwen Hu sent reinforcements commanded by Emperor Wu's brother Yuwen Xian the Duke of Qi, but territory was already lost.

By 572, however, Hulü was in conflict with the powerful officials Zu Ting and Mu Tipo, both of whom were trusted by the Northern Qi emperor Gao Wei. Wei, hearing this, wanted to create further suspicions in Gao Wei's mind against Hulü, and he decided to try to create a sense that Hulü would rebel. He wrote two songs in couplets, one of which read:

:A hundred sheng a measurement unit -- and 100 sheng made up one hu (斛)) will fly up to the heavens,

:A bright moon mingyue, Hulü's courtesy name) will shine over Chang'an.

The other read:

:The high gao) mountain will collapse on its own,

:The daimyo oak hu) will stand straight on its own.

He sent spies to spread the songs near Northern Qi's capital Yecheng, and the songs soon became popular. Zu, exploiting the situation himself, added two more lines:

:The blind man will bear a great axe,

:The talkative woman will be unable to speak.

Both Zu, who was blind, and Mu's mother Lu Lingxuan (Gao Wei's wet nurse and presumably the "talkative woman") both discussed the songs with Gao Wei, and Gao Wei, his suspicions having been aroused, eventually agreed to have Hulü put to death, greatly weakening the Northern Qi military efforts.

After Hulü's death, Emperor Wu (who had ambushed and killed Yuwen Hu earlier that year and assumed power himself) became particularly ambitious at conquering Northern Qi, and seeing this, Wei submitted three strategies for conquering Northern Qi to Emperor Wu. Also around this time, on account of his old age, Wei repeatedly made offers to resign and retire, but Emperor Wu repeatedly responded with edicts of kind words requesting him to stay.

In 576, when Emperor Wu launched a major attack on Northern Qi, he visited Yubi and praised Wei for his defense of the fort. Wei offered to be the forward commander for the attack, but Emperor Wu declined on reason that he needed Wei to defend Yubi still. However, he sent Wei to assist his brother Yuwen Zhao (宇文招) the Prince of Zhao in a secondary campaign near Yubi. After Emperor Wu conquered Northern Qi in 577, he returned to Yubi and took Wei back to the capital Chang'an with him, promoting Wei to the post of minister of agriculture. Subsequently, however, Emperor Wu made Wei the governor of Yan Province (延州, roughly modern Yan'an, Shaanxi), in charge of the surrounding provinces.

During Emperors Xuan and Jings reigns

Emperor Wu died in 578, and his son Yuwen Yun the Crown Prince succeeded him (as Emperor Xuan). In 579, Emperor Xuan passed the throne to his young son Yuwen Chan the Crown Prince (as Emperor Jing), although he held onto power as retired emperor (with the atypical title of "Emperor Tianyuan" (天元皇帝, Tianyuan Huangdi). Later that year, Emperor Xuan made Wei Xiaokuan in charge of Xu Province (徐州, roughly modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu) and the surrounding provinces, and Wei subsequently participated in the campaign against rival Chen dynasty that allowed Northern Zhou to seize the region between the Yangtze River and Huai River from Chen. Wei's contribution was in capturing the important city of Shouyang, and when Emperor Xuan's cousin Yuwen Liang (宇文亮) the Duke of Qi, angry and fearful that Emperor Xuan had recently raped his daughter-in-law Yuchi Chifan, tried to ambush Wei to seize his troops to further act against Emperor Xuan, Wei defeated Yuwen Liang. For these achievements, one of Wei's sons was created the Duke of Hua.

In 580, Emperor Xuan died, and Emperor Xuan's father-in-law Yang Jian the Duke of Sui—the son-in-law of Wei's great friend Dugu Xin—became regent. Yang, suspicious that the general Yuchi Jiong (Yuchi Chifan's grandfather), in charge of Xiang Province (相州, roughly modern Handan, Hebei) and the surrounding regions, tried to replace Yuchi with Wei. Yuchi, however, was suspicious that Yang was intending to usurp the throne, decided to rise against Yang. When Wei approached Xiang Province, he realized this, and he pretended to be ill, and instead tried to flee to Luoyang—on the way, leaving instruction to each post to give feasts to Yuchi's soldiers if they gave chase. Yuchi indeed sent soldiers after Wei, but the soldiers were slowed by the feasts given to them, and were not able to track Wei down. Once Wei reached Luoyang, he carefully guarded the city, and although the ethnically Xianbei soldiers in the city considered rising in support of Yuchi, they ultimately did not do so.

Yang then put Wei in charge of the army against Yuchi. He first defeated Yuchi's general Xue Gongli (薛公禮), who was attacking Huai Province (懷州, roughly modern Zhengzhou, Henan), and then crossed the Yellow River north. He defeated Yuchi's son Yuchi Dun (尉遲惇) near Yuchi's headquarters at Yecheng and then put Yecheng under siege. The city soon fell, and Yuchi Jiong committed suicide. Wei slaughtered the core troops that remained loyal to Yuchi to the end. Wei returned to Chang'an victoriously, and died in December that year.

Family

Consorts and their respective issue(s):

• Lady Yang, of the Yang clan of Hongnong clan(弘農楊氏), daughter of Yang Kan, Duke of Jibei (济北国公 杨侃)

　• Wei Nali, Duke of Zhongping (中平国公 韦那罹), 1st son

　• Wei Changying, Princess of Pu'an (韦长英普安郡公主 ), 1st daughter

　　• Married Huangfu Dao (皇甫道) and had issue (a son)

• Lady of Anle County, of the Zheng clan of Xingyang (安樂郡君氏, d. 22 July 553), personal name Piluo (毗羅)

　• Wei Zong, Duke of Nanjun (南郡开国公, 549 – 20 January 577), 3rd son

　• Wei Shou , Duke Xiang of Yun (韦寿郧国 襄公 552 – 7 January 593), 4th son

• Lady Yuan, of the Yuan clan (元氏), personal name You'e (元幼娥)

　• Wei Ji, Earl of Anyi (安邑县开国 韦霁), 5th son

• Unknown

　• Wei Chen, Duke Jing of Huan (静禳国公 韦谌, 541 – 29 January 590), 2nd son

　• Wei Jin, Duke of Wuyang (武阳郡开国公 韦津, 562 – 3 May 629), 6th son

　• Wei Wulou, Marquis of Yong'an (永安縣開國侯 韋長英), 7th son

生平

早年

韋孝寬家族世代為三輔望族，祖父韋真憙是北魏馮翊郡、扶風郡二郡太守，父親韋旭是右將軍、南豳州刺史。韋孝寬聰敏且和順端正，涉獵了經書和史書，虛歲十五時，就有豪壯的志向，善于謀劃計算，有見識的人稱讚他。當時韋孝寬和崔彥穆、邢子才一起進入中書學，三人之間特別友好。韋孝寬二十歲左右，恰逢蕭寶夤在關中地區叛亂，韋孝寬就拜謁朝廷，請求擔任軍隊前鋒。朝廷讚賞韋孝寬，當即任命他擔任統軍，跟隨馮翊公長孫承業西征，韋孝寬每次戰鬥都有功勞，出任國子博士，代理華山郡太守。當時侍中楊侃為大都督鎮守潼關，引薦韋孝寬擔任司馬。楊侃為韋孝寬的才華感到驚異，把女兒嫁給了韋孝寬。永安年間，韋孝寬擔任宣威將軍、給事中，很快獲賜爵山北縣男。普泰年間中，韋孝寬擔任都督跟隨荊州刺史源子恭鎮守穰城，以軍功擔任淅陽郡太守。當時獨孤信擔任新野郡太守，同時隸屬荊州，獨孤信與韋孝寬感情很親密，兩人的行政都屬于優等，荊州官吏和百姓稱兩人為連璧。

歸附西魏

大統三年（537年），隨宇文泰赴雍州，攻占潼關後，即授恆農郡守。沙苑之戰中兼任大行台左丞，與獨孤信入洛陽，為陽城郡守，複與宇文貴、怡峰接應潁川義軍，破東魏大將任祥、堯雄于潁川。又進平樂口，下豫州，獲東魏豫州刺史馮邕。大統四年（537年），河橋之戰中西魏戰敗，轉任持節、鎮東將軍，行宜陽郡事。不久遷車騎大將軍、南兗州刺史。大統五年（538年），進爵為山北縣侯，又加通直散騎常侍。

鎮守玉璧

大統八年（541年），韋孝寬出任大都督、晉建汾三州正平郡諸軍事、晉州刺史。鎮守玉璧（今山西稷山附近），兼代理南汾州刺史。大統十二年（545年），玉璧之戰爆發，韋孝寬作為玉璧守將，固守城池兩月（苦戰六旬），東魏傷及病死者十之四五，高歡最終急怒而致病，退軍後病發身亡。韋孝寬以功封建忠郡開國公，食邑一千五百戶。授驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司，加侍中。

東征西戰

西魏廢帝二年（553年），為雍州刺史。西魏恭帝元年（554年），以使持節、大將軍與燕公于謹平定江陵，以功別封一子韋諶為穰縣開國公。回師後拜尚書右僕射，賜姓宇文氏。西魏恭帝三年（556年），宇文泰北巡，命韋孝寬再次鎮守玉壁。北周孝閔帝元年（557年），拜小司徒。北周明帝元年（557年），參麟趾殿學士，考校圖籍。又為延州（陝西延安）總管。北周武帝保定元年（561年），以韋孝寬立勛玉璧，在玉璧設置勛州，仍授勳州總管。北周武帝保定四年（564年），進位柱國。北周武帝天和五年（570年），進爵鄖國公，食邑五千戶。北周武帝建德年間，上「平齊三策」。北周武帝建德五年（576年），周武帝征討北齊，韋孝寬為行軍總管，晉州平定後，鎮守晉州(治白馬城今山西臨汾境)。577年，北齊滅亡，周武帝班師回朝，韋孝寬隨駕還京。拜大司空，出為延州總管，進位上柱國。

平定淮南

大象元年（579年），除徐、兗等十一州十五鎮諸軍事、徐州總管。又為行軍元帥，徇地淮南。以平淮南之功，別封一子韋壽為滑國公，邑五千戶。

尉遲迥之亂

大象二年（580年），周宣帝駕崩，楊堅輔政，相州總管尉遲迥知道楊堅將要不利于宇文氏政權，圖謀舉兵討伐楊堅。北周朝廷暗中探悉，派遣韋孝寬迅速前往替換尉遲迥。韋孝寬將要到達朝歌時，尉遲迥派遣大都督賀蘭貴持他的親筆信來迎接。韋孝寬留下賀蘭貴與他交談，交談中韋孝寬懷疑尉遲迥會有變，于是假稱有病緩慢前行，又派人前往相州求取醫藥，暗中觀察尉遲迥的動靜。尉遲迥派韋孝寬的侄子韋藝迎接韋孝寬，韋孝寬向韋藝詢問尉遲迥的所作所為，韋藝是尉遲迥的同黨，不告訴韋孝寬實情。韋孝寬大怒，要把韋藝斬首，韋藝害怕，就把尉遲迥密謀的話全部告訴韋孝寬。于是韋孝寬帶著韋藝向西逃走，每到驛站，韋孝寬就把驛站的馬匹全部帶走，對驛站主管說：「蜀公尉遲迥將要到達，應當迅速準備酒食。」尉遲迥很快派遣儀同大將軍梁子康帶領數百騎兵追趕韋孝寬，追兵每到驛站，就遇到豐盛的酒宴，又沒有可換的馬，于是延遲滯留，韋孝寬和韋藝因此得以逃脫。尉遲迥起兵，韋孝寬跑回洛陽。六月，以孝寬為元帥東伐尉遲迥，討伐平定。十月，韋孝寬凱旋迴到京師。十一月二十七日（580年12月19日），韋孝寬在長安壽貴里去世，虛歲七十二，朝廷追贈使持節、太傅、上柱國、懷衡黎相趙洺貝滄瀛魏冀十一州諸軍事、雍州牧，謚號襄公，當年十二月九日（580年12月30日）歸葬于萬年縣壽貴里。韋孝寬在邊境多年，屢次抗擊強敵，所有的謀劃在布置之初都沒人能理解，見到謀劃成功，才驚嘆佩服。韋孝寬雖然在軍隊中，卻專心致志于文學和史學，政務的閒暇時光，經常閱覽書籍。韋孝寬晚年患有眼病，還是命令學士閱讀書籍給自己聽。韋孝寬很早就父母去世，他侍奉哥哥和嫂子十分謹慎，所得到的俸祿不入自己的住宅。對于失去父母的親族，韋孝寬一定給予賑濟與撫恤，朝廷和民間都因此稱讚他。韋孝寬兒子韋諶虛齡十歲時，魏文帝元寶炬想要把女兒嫁給韋諶。韋孝寬認為哥哥韋敻之子韋世康比韋諶年長而推辭。元寶炬很讚賞韋孝寬，于是就把女兒嫁給韋世康。

墓地墓誌墓碑

韋孝寬墓碑原位于西安市長安區炮里鄉留村，為開皇二年立，1970年代佚，韋孝寬墓誌于1990年春出土于長安縣韋曲鎮北原上。

家庭

祖父

• 韋真憙，北魏馮翊郡扶風郡二郡太守，贈涇州刺史

父親

• 韋旭，北魏尚書右丞、豳州刺史，贈司空公、謚號文惠

兄弟

• 韋敻，十次徵辟不出，號逍遙公

• 韋孝固，吏部郎中、贈雍州刺史、安平恭子

• 韋子遷，北魏安定縣開國鄉男

• 韋□順，西魏奉朝請、假節、中壘將軍、東秦州刺史

妻妾

• 弘農楊氏，北魏侍中、衛將軍、右光祿大夫、濟北郡公楊侃之女，生韋那罹、韋長英

• 鄭毗羅，出自滎陽鄭氏，西魏末年改姓賀蘭氏，北魏使持節、安東將軍、豫州刺史鄭祖育孫女，儀同三司、顯親縣開國男鄭僧覆之女，車騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、安憙縣開國伯元誘外孫女，虛齡十七歲嫁給韋孝寬，封安樂郡君，生韋總、韋壽，魏廢帝二年六月廿六日（553年7月22日）在京兆郡壽貴里永康寺中去世，虛歲廿四，同年十一月庚申朔一日庚申（553年11月21日）葬于洪固鄉北原，建德六年歲次丁酉十一月庚午朔十五日甲申（577年12月10日）改葬于京兆洪固鄉韋氏家族舊墓

• 元幼娥，一度改姓拓拔氏，北魏使持節、開府儀同三司、大宗正卿、常山王元淑孫女，生韋霽，開皇七年三月二十三日（587年5月6日）因病在洪固鄉住宅中去世，虛歲六十七，大業六年七月二十三日（610年8月17日）葬于洪固鄉疇貴里韋氏家族舊墓

子女

• 韋那罹，長子，早亡，追贈使持節、儀同三司、中平縣開國公

• 韋諶，次子，使持節、儀同大將軍、陵蓬二州刺史、禳縣開國公，過繼給韋子遷

• 韋總，世子，使持節、開府、京兆尹，追贈柱國、蒲陝熊中義五州刺史、河南郡開國公

• 韋壽，第四子，使持節、開府儀同大將軍、京兆尹、滑國公

• 韋霽，第五子，使持節、開府儀同大將軍、安邑縣開國伯

• 韋津，第六子，使持節、儀同大將軍、武陽郡開國公

• 韋無漏，第七子，永安縣開國侯

• 韋長英，嫁北周湖州刺史、雍州都督皇甫道

孫子女

• 韋圓成，使持節、開府儀同大將軍

• 韋纖婉，封普安郡公主，嫁開府、少保、新蔡郡開國公斛斯恢

延伸閱讀