Background

Xiao Fu was born in 732, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. He was from a prominent clan that descended from the imperial house of the Liang dynasty, and his grandfather Xiao Song was a chancellor during Emperor Xuanzong's reign. His father was Xiao Song's son Xiao Heng (蕭衡), and his mother was Princess Xinchang, a daughter of Emperor Xuanzong, making him a grandson of Emperor Xuanzong as well. As the Xiao clan was greatly honored, his brothers and cousins all competed having the best clothes, horses, and decorations, while Xiao Fu dressed plainly. He also was often studying in his room, alone, and his friends were all writers or Confucian scholars. His uncle Xiao Hua, who was a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong's son Emperor Suzong, was impressed by him, and often stated, "This child will surely glorify this clan." Due to his being the son of a princess, he was, early in his career, made a Gongmenlang (宮門郎), in charge of the office of the palace gates (宮門局, Gongmenju). He was later made the director of transportation for the crown prince (太子僕, Taizi Pu).

During Emperor Daizongs reign

During the Guangde era (763–764) of Emperor Suzong's son Emperor Daizong, there was a span of poor harvests, causing food prices to rise. With the Xiao clan being a large one and needing funds to pay for food, the clan considered selling an ancestral property in Zhaoying County (昭應, near the capital Chang'an). The chancellor Wang Jin heard that the property contained beautiful trees and springs and wanted the property, and thus sent his brother Wang Hong (王紘) to meet Xiao Fu. Wang Hong stated to Xiao, "You, sir, have talent that shall land you greater offices. If you offer your manor to my brother, he will surely help you achieve that." Xiao Fu responded, "I, an imperial servant, am selling this ancestral property because of poverty, to aid the widows and young of the clan. If I trade it for a high position such that I let my clan folks be frozen or starved, I would not be doing what even a commoner should be doing." Wang Jin was angered by these remarks and removed Xiao from his office, and he spent the next several years at home. Despite this, he was not distressed. He later returned to government service and became a low-level official at the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng). Yet later, he served as the prefect of Chang Prefecture (常州, in modern Changzhou, Jiangsu).

During Emperor Dezongs reign

Prior to chancellorship

In 779, during the reign of Emperor Daizong's son Emperor Dezong, Xiao Fu was made the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Hunan Circuit (湖南, headquartered in modern Changsha, Hunan) as well as the prefect of Hunan's capital Tan Prefecture (in modern Changsha, Hunan). He later served as the prefect of Tong Prefecture (同州, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi). At that time, there was a famine in the prefecture, and he opened the food storages that were overseen by the governor of Jingzhao Circuit (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region) to give to the people, without approval from his superiors. As a result, he was punished by being reduced in rank. When his friends visited him to console him, he remarked, "I benefited others. Is it not right I suffer a minor punishment?" He was soon made the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang).

In 783, with Li Xilie the military governor (jiedushi) of Huaixi Circuit (淮西, headquartered in modern Zhumadian, Henan) rebelling against imperial rule, Emperor Dezong, believing that the armies sent against Li Xilie needed a supreme commander to coordinate their actions, commissioned his son Li Yi (李誼) the Prince of Pu to be the supreme commander of the forces against Huaixi, and he gave Xiao the honorary title of minister of census (戶部尚書, Hubu Shangshu), to serve as the secretary general for Li Yi.

However, before Li Yi could depart Chang'an, soldiers from Jingyuan Circuit (涇原, headquartered in modern Pingliang, Gansu), at Chang'an to await deployment to the east against Li Xilie or other warlords, mutinied after they were not awarded as they believed they deserved. Emperor Dezong fled to Fengtian (奉天, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi). Many officials followed him there, including Xiao. The Jingyuan soldiers supported the general Zhu Ci as their leader, and Zhu initially claimed that he was set to welcome Emperor Dezong back to Chang'an, but soon was planning to take over as emperor. Meanwhile, Emperor Dezong, finding Fengtian to be too small of a city for him and his followers, wanted to head for Fengxiang (鳳翔, in modern Baoji, Shaanxi), then governed by the former chancellor Zhang Yi but formerly under Zhu's control. When Xiao heard that Emperor Dezong was intended to head to Fengxiang, he immediately met with Emperor Dezong and warned against it:

Emperor Dezong responded that he had already decided to head to Fengxiang, but on Xiao's objection will remain at Fengtian for one more day. The next day, news arrived that Zhu's former subordinate Li Chulin (李楚琳) had mutinied, killed Zhang, and taken over Fengxiang. Soon thereafter, Xiao, was made the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto, along with Liu Congyi and Jiang Gongfu.

During chancellorship

Zhu Ci, who claimed the title of emperor of his new state of Qin, was soon putting Fengtian under siege, although Fengtian was saved by the major Tang general Li Huaiguang. Meanwhile, Xiao earnestly sought reform of Emperor Dezong's administration at Fengtian. He suggested that Emperor Dezong not give eunuchs authorities and recall the eunuchs who were serving as army monitors—a suggestion that greatly displeased Emperor Dezong. Despite Emperor Dezong's displeasure, Xiao responded:

On one occasion, when Xiao and Lu met Emperor Dezong together, Lu was merely flattering Emperor Dezong and following everything that Emperor Dezong said, and Xiao stated, "Lu Qi's words are wrongful." This surprised Emperor Dezong, and after the meeting was over, he told his attendants, "Xiao Fu views me lightly." In spring 784, while he was still at Fengtian, he commissioned Xiao Fu to be the examiner of the southern circuits of the empire and sent him out on a mission to survey those circuits, in order to get Xiao away from him. When Liu Congyi and many other officials asked that Xiao be kept at the imperial government, Emperor Dezong's suspicions were further aroused that Xiao had induced these other officials into speaking on his behalf, although he did not investigate the matter further.

By late 784, the general Li Sheng had destroyed Zhu's regime, allowing Emperor Dezong to return to Chang'an. Xiao had also returned from his mission, and he suggested to Emperor Dezong that Chen Shaoyou (陳少遊), the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), who had submitted to Li Xilie during the time Emperor Dezong was away from Chang'an, be replaced by Wei Gao—a Fengxiang officer who had resisted Li Chulin. Emperor Dezong agreed. However, Xiao was soon surprised when Liu Congyi stated to him, "Ma Qinxu an eunuch who served as imperial messenger) informed me that the Emperor wanted me to discuss with you, Lord, your proposal, and then carry it out without informing Li Mian and Lu Han other chancellors who served with Xiao and Liu). Can you tell me what your proposal was?" Xiao, finding it inappropriate that Emperor Dezong was keeping secrets away from Li Mian and Lu, as fellow chancellors, stated:

When Liu informed Emperor Dezong about this, Emperor Dezong was displeased. Xiao, seeing that he had lost the emperor's favor, offered to resign. In winter 784, Emperor Dezong removed him from his chancellor position and made him a member of the staff of the Crown Prince Li Song.

After chancellorship

In 787, a scandal involving Princess Gao—the daughter of Emperor Suzong (and thus aunt to Emperor Dezong) and the widow of Xiao Fu's cousin Xiao Sheng (蕭升), whose daughter was the wife and crown prince to Li Song—unfolded, as she was found to have had a large number of young lovers, and she was further accused of using witchcraft. The scandal nearly caused Li Song to be removed from his crown prince position and forced him to divorce Crown Princess Xiao, and the scandal also enveloped the Xiao household. Emperor Dezong, still resentful of Xiao Fu, let him keep his rank but exiled him to Rao Prefecture (饒州, in modern Shangrao, Jiangxi). It was said, though, that Xiao was not distressed and made no complaints. He died in 788, while still at Rao Prefecture. His grandson Xiao Zhi later served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Yizong.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 125.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 101.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 228, 229, 231.

家世背景

蕭複生于唐玄宗開元二十年（732年），出身于顯赫的前南朝梁皇室，祖父蕭嵩為唐玄宗宰相。蕭複的父親是蕭衡，母親是玄宗女新昌公主，故蕭複是玄宗的外孫。蕭複年輕時就有清白的節操，因蕭氏家族很受尊崇，蕭複的兄弟和堂兄弟們競相使用最好的衣服、馬、裝飾，只有蕭複穿舊衣服。他經常獨自在房內學習，交的朋友都是詞人和儒士。他的伯父蕭華是唐肅宗宰相，看重他，常說：「這孩子必將光大家門。」蕭複因是公主子，早早被任為宮門郎，後任太子僕。

唐代宗年間

廣德年間，連年歉收，谷價上漲，蕭複家貧，將要賣掉在昭應縣的祖產房屋。宰相王縉聞其有林泉之美，想要，就派弟弟王紘相誘：「足下之才當然應該居右職（要職），如以房產奉家兄丞相，就能處要職了。」蕭複不肯，說自己賣地是為了救濟族內的寡婦和幼兒，不是為了換取好官職，自己得到高職務而族人饑寒是鄙夫也不為的。王縉懷恨，罷其官，蕭複從此數年不得用，但處之自若。後累至尚書郎，約大曆六年（771年）任歙州刺史，十年（775年）任池州刺史並在刺史大廳西北建樓，在樓上藏《九經》書；在兩州刺史任上治政井井有條；十二年（777年）又任常州刺史。大曆年間，有司察訪天下刺史政績，以蕭複與潤州刺史蕭定、豪州刺史張鎰為第一，但蕭定勸課桑稼、平均賦稅、聚集遊民勝過蕭複、張鎰。任內，闢武康尉王純為從事。

劉長卿有《送方外上人之常州依蕭使君》；戴叔倫有《郊園即事寄蕭常州複》。

唐德宗年間

拜相前

唐德宗大曆十四年（779年）閏五月，蕭複被任為湖南觀察使兼其軍部潭州刺史。李元平曾為其判官。蕭複也曾因他人推薦而留趙璟為判官。

蕭複的胞姐嫁給監察御史李錪，有三女，無子，守寡後回到本家。蕭複三次出任州刺史，其姐都隨之。

建中元年（780年）正月，蕭複辭讓憲官（御史台或都察院所屬的官員），獲准。同年，改任同州刺史，其姐亦隨之赴任，但九月因病卒于途中。任內本州百姓遭遇饑荒，蕭複擅自用同州境內的京畿觀察使儲糧賑災，被彈劾、削階，停刺史職。朋友們來安慰他，蕭複怡然說：「我讓別人受益，稍被懲罰不應該嗎？」三年（782年）卸任同州刺史，七月被任為兵部侍郎。

建中四年（783年）十月，時值淮西節度使李希烈叛，德宗任皇子普王李誼為荊襄等道行營都元帥，統領討伐李希烈的各路軍隊，以蕭複為戶部尚書、兼御史大夫、元帥府行軍長史。因「行」與蕭複父諱「衡」同音，特詔改行軍長史為統軍長史。

但李誼還未離京，在長安等候東征李希烈及其他軍閥的涇原兵在未能得到應有賞賜後兵變。德宗逃到奉天。蕭複與百官隨駕。涇原兵擁戴太尉朱泚為首，朱泚起初稱要迎駕回京，但很快計劃稱帝。德宗認為奉天太狹小，想駕幸當時已是前宰相的張鎰治下但原由朱泚控制的鳳翔。蕭複得知，趕緊請見德宗，說：「陛下大誤，鳳翔將卒都是朱泚以前的部曲，其中必有與之勾結的。臣尚且擔憂張鎰不能長久在任，豈能以聖駕踏上不測之淵！」德宗說他已經決定了，但會為了蕭複的意見而多停留一天。次日傳來消息，朱泚舊部李楚琳兵變殺張鎰，奪取鳳翔。蕭複以朝議大夫、守戶部尚書兼御史大夫充荊襄江西等道都元帥統軍長史、豐縣開國公、賜紫金魚袋的身份被任為守吏部尚書，散官封賜如故，與刑部侍郎劉從一、諫議大夫姜公輔並加同平章事為實質宰相。

因兵亂，蕭複的姐姐也不能歸葬，後來才由蕭複的次子奉其喪在某鄉原暫時安葬。

拜相

朱泚稱帝，國號秦，很快圍攻奉天，朔方節度使李懷光救了奉天之圍。蕭複請求改革，建議不給宦官兵權，召回監軍宦官。德宗很不悅。蕭複又說：「陛下踐祚之初，聖德光被，自從用了楊炎、盧杞敗壞朝政，以致今日。陛下如能改變想法，臣敢不竭力？如果希望臣為了苟安而依附阿諛，臣實不能，不敢當宰相。」又曾與盧杞一同奏事，盧杞奉承依順德宗，蕭複正色說：「盧杞言不正！」德宗愕然，退下就對左右說：「蕭複輕視朕！」德宗此舉被認為猜忌刻薄、剛愎自用、恥于為正論所屈，故懷疑蕭複、不能容之。興元元年（784年）正月，德宗以剛被任為門下侍郎的蕭複充山南東、西、荊湖、淮南、江西、鄂岳、浙江東、西、福建、嶺南等道宣慰、安撫使，其實是疏遠他。劉從一及朝士們奏請留蕭複在朝，德宗對考功郎中陸贄說自己當初想派重臣宣慰江淮，宰相和朝士都認為應該這樣，現在又反覆了，真是令他連日悵恨；他懷疑是蕭複不肯出發而指使官員們上奏。陸贄上奏為蕭複辯解，提到蕭複任常州刺史時他也曾在常州兩年，說蕭複有節操不會做這樣的輕詐之舉，如果蕭複想留下，劉從一不會附會；如果蕭複有所請求，劉從一不會隱瞞；若劉從一心懷奸邪，則蕭複不應當被懷疑。德宗也不再追究。蕭複以戶部員外郎齊抗為判官。曾派奏事官李充勸德宗幸江陵，但德宗下聖旨表示不懂其意，又懷疑李充非純良，讓中使馬欽緒把蕭複表文和聖旨給陸贄看，說自己曾問劉從一，劉從一也很驚怪不明事由。陸贄上表為蕭複辯解，指蕭複的請求雖然不妥，卻是人臣之常情、古今之通理，李充也是宗室里的人材。德宗看後仍表示責怪蕭複不明事體，擔心他再出錯，正好福建觀察使孟皞年老，想除授蕭複代之，讓馬欽緒帶著聖旨問陸贄的看法，陸贄認為不妥。

同年，鄜坊、京畿、渭北、商華副元帥李晟滅朱泚政權，使德宗得以回長安。蕭複也結束任務回京。曾推薦太子校書郎梁肅之材，使其被授右拾遺、修史，但梁肅因母老病沒有赴任。十一月，蕭複在與劉從一和其他宰相李勉、盧翰一同面聖退朝後單獨留下對德宗指出，雖然功臣已經富貴，但並沒有明確懲善揚惡，建議由曾抵抗李楚琳的鳳翔軍官隴右營田判官韋皋替換德宗逃離長安期間曾歸順李希烈的淮南節度使陳少游，以讓天下知曉逆順之理。德宗同意了，但隨即就派馬欽緒告知劉從一，要他與蕭複商議「早朝所奏之事」而不讓李勉、盧翰知道。劉從一秘密去找蕭複，言明來意，並問其早朝所奏何事。蕭複認為這不妥，說：「唐堯、虞舜對官員進行黜陟，官員和百姓都同意。如果李、盧不堪為相，則罷免之。他們已在相位，朝廷政事如何能不與之同議而唯獨隱瞞這一件事！這最是當今行政的大弊端，早朝時主上已有這話，我蕭複已當面說了不可，沒想到聖意還是如此。我蕭複不是不想與公一起上奏以行此事，但怕這成為後事的先例，才不敢告訴公我奏議的內容。」也就沒告訴劉從一自己所奏何事。劉從一上奏，德宗不悅，蕭複知道自己失寵，由中書舍人齊映四度代自己上表稱病辭職，被罷相，為皇太子李誦左庶子。蕭複有名節，不迎合流俗，拜相後嚴肅方正，數次違逆聖意，故很快被罷相。

拜相後

當時的太子妃蕭氏是蕭複弟弟（或誤作從弟）蕭升與其遺孀肅宗女、皇姑郜國公主的女兒。貞元三年（787年）八月，郜國公主被發現行為不謹與多人淫亂，又被彈劾用厭勝（詛咒）之術。此事幾乎導致太子李誦被廢，他被迫與蕭妃離婚。此事也波及了蕭氏家族。德宗仍記恨蕭複，以為檢校左庶子，于饒州安置。蕭複性格孝友，此次因族人連累被貶，仍然處之泰然，不抱怨。四年（788年），卒于饒州。其孫蕭寘，唐懿宗年間為宰相。

蕭複生前曾封徐國公。

子孫

• 蕭儉

　• 蕭騫，字鵬舉

• 蕭湛，常州義興主簿，妻子崔氏，試大理評事攝監察御史崔泌之女

　• 蕭實，宣州南陵縣主簿

　• 蕭寘

　• 蕭宥

　　• 蕭邁，字昌聖

評價

• 唐文宗曾對門下侍郎楊嗣複說：「昔日蕭複秉政，難言者必言，卿其志之！」

• 唐宣宗大中初年，詔求蕭複等畫像，續圖凌煙閣。

• 《舊唐書》

　• 史臣曰：張鎰、蕭複、柳渾，節行才能訏謨亮直，皆足相明主，平泰階，而盧杞忌之于前，（張）延賞排之于後，管仲有言：「任君子，使小人間之，害霸也。」德宗黜賢相，位奸臣，致朱泚、（李）懷光之亂，是失其人也，豈尤其時哉！

　• 贊曰：得人則興，失人則亡。鎰、複、渾去，宗社其殃。

• 《新唐書》贊曰：梁蕭氏興江左，實有功在民，厥終無大惡，以浸微而亡，故余祉及其後裔。自瑀逮遘，凡八葉宰相，名德相望，與唐盛衰。世家之盛，古未有也。

• 宋高宗年間議選守邊者，右正言吳表臣舉蕭複建議以韋皋代陳少游以明善惡、逆順而不顧慮韋皋名賤官卑的例子，建議越次錄用忠義不屈者，使得陳敏等十數人得以錄用。

注釋及參考文獻