生平

家世背景

趙匡凝生年不詳，只知道是蔡州人。父親趙德諲原為唐奉國軍節度使秦宗權部下申州刺史。秦宗權投降黃巢起義的農民軍及其建立的大齊政權，黃巢戰敗後，他自己稱帝。趙德諲效命秦宗權，攻陷山南東道。後趙德諲覺察到秦宗權將敗，又降唐，與唐宣武軍節度使朱全忠聯合。在朱全忠的推薦下，趙德諲留任山南東道節度使，山南東道改名忠義軍。趙德諲後來參與了導致秦宗權敗亡的幾場戰役。

趙德諲為忠義軍節度使期間，趙匡凝因父之功，被任為忠義軍轄下的唐州刺史，兼七州馬步軍都校。景福元年（892年）二月，趙德諲去世。子趙匡凝繼立。趙匡凝自稱忠義軍留後，唐昭宗授他為節度使。

為忠義軍節度使

趙匡凝任節度使的最初三年，以威惠聞名。他為人氣貌甚偉，很注重儀表，表現得嚴肅而盛裝，每次整理衣冠，都讓左右拿大鏡子前後照自己。待客時，烏巾上隱隱感覺有灰塵，就令侍妓持紅拂去掉它。人們若誤犯其家諱，往往遭其用木棒笞打，其為人方正嚴肅如此。頗好學問，藏書數千卷。封南康郡王。

乾寧五年（898年）七月，趙匡凝得知朱全忠于前一年十一月試圖滅淮南節度使楊行密戰敗（清口之戰），就秘密和楊行密、奉國軍節度使崔洪、河東節度使李克用結盟反對朱全忠。趙匡凝部下方城鎮遏使度軫叛投朱全忠，揭發其謀。先前泰寧軍節度使朱瑾與李克用派去救援的史儼、李承嗣等被朱全忠所敗投奔淮南，這時李克用又遣使者帶著書信和錢財借道趙匡凝請求楊行密歸還史儼、李承嗣等，被朱全忠所獲，朱全忠大怒，寫信切責趙匡凝，派宿州刺史氏叔琮攻忠義軍，很快攻下唐州，刺史趙匡璠越城投降，再進圍隋州，陣擒刺史趙匡璘，斬首五千級，再攻忠義軍軍部襄州，不克。八月，宣武軍將康懷貞克鄧州，擒刺史國湘。趙匡凝害怕，遣使求和請求重新依附朱全忠，朱全忠同意。

光化二年（899年）十一月，昭宗加趙匡凝兼中書令。三年（900年）七月，趙匡凝以忠義軍節度、山南東道管內觀察處置三司水陸發運等使、開府儀同三司、檢校太尉、中書令、兼襄州刺史、上柱國、南平王、食邑三千戶的身份被任為檢校太師、兼中書令，加實封一百戶。

天複三年（903年），朱全忠正圍攻劫持昭宗的鳳翔節度使李茂貞，昭宗詔朱全忠盟友武昌軍節度使杜洪出兵，與趙匡凝、武安軍節度使馬殷襲安州。昭宗想去依附趙匡凝，卻不得離開，只得先投靠朱全忠來解決眼下的禍事。

天祐元年（904年）四月，朱全忠盟友荊南節度使成汭在朱全忠要求下試圖援助杜洪反抗楊行密將李神福圍攻，五月，武貞軍節度使雷彥威和馬殷合兵攻陷成汭軍部江陵府，掠人口財貨。成汭軍因而喪失鬥志，被李神福擊潰，成汭自殺。雷彥威軍一度占有江陵，但雷彥威弟雷彥恭結連趙匡凝，驅逐雷彥威，據江陵。十月，趙匡凝又派弟弟趙匡明驅逐雷彥恭，接管江陵。朱全忠表趙匡凝為荊襄節度使，趙匡凝表弟弟為荊南軍留後。當時皇室微弱，軍閥們都拒絕上貢財賦，只有強取節鎮的趙匡凝兄弟每年都上貢。

五月，趙匡凝遣水軍上峽攻西川節度使王建轄下夔州，被王建養子知渝州王宗阮等擊敗，王建部下萬州刺史張武造大鐵索攔截長江中流，在兩端立柵，稱之為「鎖峽」，意在防備趙匡凝再攻。六月，已被朱全忠所迫從長安遷都洛陽的昭宗封趙匡凝為荊南襄州忠義軍節度、開府儀同三司、檢校太師、中書令、江陵尹、襄州刺史、上柱國、楚王、食邑六千戶，備禮冊命，備革輅一乘，載冊犢車一乘，及本品的鹵簿、鼓吹等。後來後唐同光二年（924年）二月封李茂貞為秦王時，太常禮院即奏請按冊命趙匡凝之例施行。儘管如此，趙匡凝相信朱全忠意圖篡位，天祐元年七月，與李克用、楊行密、王建、李茂貞、李茂貞養子靜難節度使李繼徽、盧龍節度使劉仁恭發檄文彼此往來，都聲言舉兵討朱全忠，恢復皇權。朱全忠很害怕，弒昭宗，代以昭宗子唐哀帝。

朱全忠將要篡位，擔心趙匡凝兄弟不從，派使者告諭暗示包括趙匡凝兄弟在內的諸藩鎮，趙匡凝哭著回答使者：「我深受唐恩，不敢有其他想法。」副使王筠也勸趙匡凝和朱全忠絕交。朱全忠大怒，出兵攻打趙匡凝。趙匡明大破宣武軍于鄧州，因而勸趙匡凝聯合王建。二年（905年）五月，趙匡凝奏為成汭立祠廟，獲准。同月，遣使與王建修好，以拒朱全忠，後又與王建聯姻。七月，朱全忠認為趙匡凝兵力分散于荊襄兩鎮，可以圖之，遣大將軍武寧節度使楊師厚統前軍攻趙匡凝，並上表趙匡凝罪狀。八月，朱全忠又親率中軍後繼，楊師厚攻下唐、鄧、複、郢、隨、房六州，朱全忠到襄州，屯兵漢北。同月，下詔削奪趙匡凝在身官爵。戎昭軍節度使馮行襲也遣子馮勖以水軍會合朱全忠于均州、房州。趙匡凝遣客謝罪，朱全忠囚之不遣還，敗荊南救兵，俘其將。趙匡凝嚴兵以備。九月，楊師厚到谷城西童山，朱全忠命他在陰谷口造浮橋，引兵渡漢水。趙匡凝率勁卒二萬在漢濱列陣，被楊師厚大破，被殺萬餘人，楊師厚兵臨城下。當夜，趙匡凝焚襄州府城和船隻，率其妻兒族人和麾下士卒潰圍而出，乘船沿漢水急行奔楊行密。王筠自殺。趙匡明後也棄軍鎮，本欲同奔淮南，子趙承規進諫：「昔日諸葛兄弟分仕二國，如果去揚州（淮南軍部），是自取疑。」趙匡明認為說得對，奔王建。趙匡凝牙將王建武派押牙常質以荊南投降朱全忠。

趙匡凝曾奏闢李珽為掌書記。趙匡凝出奔後，李珽為朱全忠所得，被再署為天平軍掌書記。趙匡凝兄弟先前在天祐末年很禮遇許寂，學習保養之道，此時許寂隨趙匡明奔西川。

朱全忠取荊襄後謀攻淮南，太府卿敬翔反對，認為剛取勝的軍隊應該持重養威。朱全忠不聽，果然作戰不利。

趙匡凝敗走後，鄧州被從忠義軍分割出來設立宣化軍。三年（906年），時任忠義軍節度使的楊師厚因趙匡凝曾為節帥的緣故請求另立忠義軍號，六月，獲准，忠義軍遂複稱山南東道。

朱全忠剛占領襄州時，曾閱看趙匡凝所藏圖書。後來朱全忠篡唐建立後梁，開平元年（907年）十月，楊師厚奉其命獻上趙匡凝家所藏數千卷書籍。

敗後

趙匡凝到揚州後，楊行密迎接他，戲言道：「君在軍鎮，每年給朱全忠送金帛，現在敗了，才歸順我？」趙匡凝答：「諸侯事天子，每年貢賦是職責，豈是送給賊（指朱全忠）！我今日歸順公，正是因為我不從賊的緣故。」楊行密厚遇之。天祐二年十一月，楊行密薨，子楊渥繼位，對趙匡凝稍有薄待。楊渥一次設宴，吃青梅，趙匡凝看著他說：「勿多吃，不然得小孩發燒的病。」諸將以為他輕慢，楊渥遷他到海陵，後他為楊渥將徐溫所殺。

趙匡凝妻羅氏，唐朝封豫章郡君，後進封燕國夫人。

評價

• 《舊五代史》史臣曰：匡凝一門昆仲，千里江山，失守籓垣，不克負荷，斯乃劉景升之子之徒歟！

注釋及參考文獻

Background

It is not known when Zhao Kuangning was born. His father Zhao Deyin had been a general under Qin Zongquan, who was a Tang military governor of Fengguo Circuit (奉國, headquartered in modern Zhumadian, Henan) but who later submitted to the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao and Huang's state of Qi, and, after Huang's defeat, had declared himself emperor of a new state. As part of Zhao Deyin's service under Qin, he captured Shannan East Circuit (山南東道, the later Zhongyi Circuit). Later, knowing that Qin was on the verge of defeat, he submitted to Tang and allied himself with Zhu Quanzhong the Tang military governor of Xuanwu Circuit. At Zhu's recommendation, Zhao Deyin was allowed to remain as military governor of the circuit, which was then renamed Zhongyi. He later participated in the campaigns that led to Qin's destruction.

While Zhao Deyin was the military governor of Zhongyi, Zhao Kuangning was made the prefect of one of Zhongyi's prefectures, Tang Prefecture (唐州, in modern Nanyang, Henan). When Zhao Deyin died in 892, Zhao Kuangning declared himself the acting military governor of Zhongyi. Then-reigning Emperor Zhaozong subsequently commissioned him as the full military governor.

As jiedushi of Zhongyi

It was said that within three years of becoming military governor, Zhao Kuangning had developed a reputation for both might and grace. He played close attention to his physical appearance, wanting to appear stern and well-dressed, and had many mirrors around.

In 898, hearing of Zhu Quanzhong's defeat at the Battle of Qingkou in late 897 during his failed attempt to conquer Yang Xingmi the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), Zhao secretly entered into an alliance with Yang, Cui Hong the military governor of Fengguo, and Li Keyong the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), against Zhu Quanzhong. Zhu discovered this when Zhao's officer Du Zhen (度軫) defected to Zhu and revealed the alliance. Zhu wrote Zhao to rebuke him, and sent his general Shi Shucong (氏叔琮) to attack Zhongyi. Shi quickly captured Tang, Deng (鄧州, also in modern Nanyang), and Sui (隨州, in modern Suizhou, Hubei) Prefectures, capturing Sui's prefect Zhao Kuanglin (趙匡璘, may be a brother or cousin to Zhao Kuangning) the prefect of Sui and Guo Xiang (國湘) of Deng, and forcing the surrender of Zhao Kuangfan (趙匡璠) the prefect of Tang (also may be a brother or cousin). Zhao Kuangning, in fear, sued for peace and agreed again to submit to Zhu. Zhu agreed.

In 899, Emperor Zhaozong bestowed the honorary chancellor title of Zhongshu Ling (中書令) on Zhao Kuangning.

In 903, when an ally of Zhu's, Cheng Rui the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou, Hubei), was trying to, at Zhu's request, aid another ally of Zhu's, Du Hong the military governor of Wuchang Circuit (武昌, headquartered in modern Wuhan, Hubei) against the siege by Yang Xingmi's general Li Shenfu, Lei Yanwei the military governor of Wuzhen Circuit (武貞, headquartered in modern Changde, Hunan) and Ma Yin the military governor of Wu'an Circuit (武安, headquartered in modern Changsha, Hunan) jointly attacked Cheng's capital Jiangling Municipality, sacking it and pillaging it of its wealth and population. Cheng's army, which lost its morale, was subsequently crushed by Li, and Cheng committed suicide. Lei's army held Jiangling for some time, but Zhao then dispatched his brother Zhao Kuangming to attack Jiangling, and Zhao Kuangming was successful in expelling the Wuzhen army and taking over the city. Zhao Kuangning thereafter commissioned his brother as the acting military governor of Jingnan. It was said that at that time, with the imperial government being extremely weak, the warlords were refusing to submit tributes to it, but the Zhao brothers did so yearly.

In 904, Zhao sent an army to head upstream on the Yangtze River to attack Kui Prefecture (夔州, in modern Chongqing), then belonging to Wang Jian the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan). His attack was repelled by Wang's adoptive son Wang Zongruan (王宗阮), and Wang's general Zhang Wu (張武) subsequently built a large iron chain across the Yangtze, apparently to ward off another attack by Zhao. Also in 904, Emperor Zhaozong, who had by that point been forcibly moved by Zhu from the imperial capital Chang'an to Luoyang, created Zhao the Prince of Chu. Despite this creation, Zhao, believing that Zhu was intending to seize the throne, was in communications with Li Keyong, Yang, Wang Jian, Li Maozhen the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi), Li Maozhen's adoptive son Li Jihui the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi, not the same circuit ruled by Zhao Kuangming), and Liu Rengong the military governor of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing), declaring that the emperor's power should be restored. Zhu responded by having Emperor Zhaozong assassinated and replaced with his son Emperor Ai.

In 905, Zhao entered into an alliance with Wang, apparently sealing the alliance with a political marriage. This was not a situation that Zhu was willing to see, and when his emissaries to Zhao Kuangning and Zhao Kuangming hinted that he was about to seize the Tang throne, Zhao Kuangning responded by weeping and stating, "I have received much grace from Tang. I cannot have another allegiance." This further angered Zhu. Zhu thus sent his general Yang Shihou to attack Zhao Kuangning, and then followed Yang himself with a larger army. After Yang defeated Zhao on the banks of the Han River, Zhao set fire to his capital Xiang Prefecture (襄州) and fled to Yang Xingmi's ___domain. (His brother Zhao Kuangming also subsequently abandoned Jiangling and fled to Wang's ___domain.)

After defeat

When Zhao Kuangning reached Huainan's capital Yang Prefecture (揚州), Yang Xingmi welcomed him, but joked with him, stating, "When you were at your circuit, you yearly delivered gold and silk to Zhu Quanzhong. Is it that now that you come to me only after defeat?" Zhao responded:

Yang treated him with great respect, as a result. After Yang died later in the year, it was said that Yang's son and successor Yang Wo did not pay as much respect to Zhao. At a feast, Yang Wo happened to be eating quite a bit of green Chinese plums. Zhao commented, "Do not overeat, or otherwise you will get pediatric fevers." The other officers, hearing this, considered Zhao disrespectful. He was thereafter moved to Hailing (海陵, in modern Taizhou, Jiangsu), and was later executed by Yang Wo's officer Xu Wen.

Notes and references

• New Book of Tang, vol. 186.

• History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 17.

• New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 41.

• Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms (十國春秋), vol. 8.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 259, 261, 264, 265.