背景

杜元穎生于唐代宗大曆四年（769年）。他是唐朝初年名相杜如晦的後代，《舊唐書》說他是杜如晦的裔孫，《新唐書·杜如晦傳》說他是杜如晦的五世孫，《新唐書·宰相世系表》說他是杜如晦叔叔杜淹的六世孫，《資治通鑑》稱杜元穎是杜淹的第六代孫。杜元穎五世祖杜敬同，擔任中書舍人、東陽公。高祖父杜從則，為工部侍郎。曾祖父杜自遠、祖父杜繁沒有仕官記錄，父親杜佐擔任大理正。杜元穎行十四，他的弟弟杜元絳出任太子賓客。唐德宗貞元十六年（800年）杜元穎登進士第。唐憲宗元和元年（806年）登博學宏辭科。元和十一年（816年）複登茂才異等科。兩次受闢節度使幕府。

唐憲宗時代

唐憲宗元和年間，杜元穎出任門下省左拾遺，轉任太常博士，充翰林學士，元和十二年（817年），改中書省右補闕，仍充翰林學士。杜元穎寫文章文辭敏捷，受到憲宗的讚賞。平定吳元濟，起草詔令很多，朝廷賜給杜元穎緋魚袋，四品、五品官員使用緋色官服及魚袋，右補闕只是七品。元和十四年（819年）三月，加吏部司勳員外郎，知制誥。

唐穆宗時代

元和十五年（820年）唐憲宗駕崩，其子唐穆宗即位。召見杜元穎到思政殿，賜金紫，提拔他為中書舍人。穆宗讓杜元穎擔任戶部侍郎、學士承旨。長慶元年（821年），杜元穎以本官同中書門下平章事。穆宗封他為上柱國、建安縣男。從右補闕到侍郎，不到一年升任宰相，文學之臣得到升遷的速度，沒有比得過杜元穎的。

長慶元年（821年），盧龍節度使（治今北京市）劉總提出辭職，取消割據，歸附中央。劉總提出將劉總一分為三，幽州、涿州、營州為一道，請求任命張弘靖為節度使；平州、薊州、媯州、檀州為一道，請求任命平盧節度使薛平為節度使；瀛州、莫州為一道，請求任命代理京兆尹盧士玫為觀察使。同時他還派了一個數量的人員,把部下驕縱強橫難以管轄的將士，如都知兵馬使朱克融等人挑出來，送到京城，請朝廷獎勵並予以提拔，讓幽州人都能產生羨慕朝廷官祿的意向。唐穆宗沒有完全實現劉總的計劃，以盧士玫為瀛莫觀察使。但剩下的州都由張弘靖管理。宰相崔植、杜元穎缺乏深謀遠慮，不理解劉總的計劃。朱克融等人在京城客居很久，窘迫到借衣討食的地步，每天到中書省去請求授予官職，崔植、杜元穎不理。張弘靖為幽州節度使，勒令朱克融等人歸回幽州，受張弘靖指使效力。朱克融等人十分怨怒。821年秋天，盧龍士兵譁變，廢黜了把張弘靖，擁立朱克融為節度使。最後不僅盧龍，成德節度使（治今河北省石家莊市正定縣）、魏博節度使（治今河北省邯鄲市大名縣）也恢復了藩鎮割據。朝廷再度丟失河朔地區，直到唐朝最終滅亡，一直未能收複。傳統史家歸咎于宰輔大臣杜元穎、崔植、王播的無能。

長慶二年（822年），宣武軍（治今河南省開封市）發生軍變，李㝏驅逐了節度使李願。杜元穎和戶部侍郎、判度支張平叔想要仿照河北的慣例，任命李㝏為節度使來安撫他。李逢吉主張打擊李㝏：「河北藩鎮割據跋扈，朝廷予以承認，是不得已的事。現在，如果連宣武也姑息，恐怕江淮以南的廣大地區都要脫離朝廷。」杜元穎、張平叔和他爭論說：「為什麼要可惜幾尺長的節度使符節，而不愛惜宣武一方百姓的生命呢？」唐穆宗接受了李逢吉的建議，李㝏很快被下屬李質殺死，宣武軍投降朝廷。

長慶三年（823年）九月初八，唐穆宗任命中書侍郎、同平章事杜元穎兼同平章事的榮譽職務，充任劍南西川節度使（治今四川省成都市），穆宗親自到安福門為他餞行。

唐敬宗時代

長慶四年（824年），唐穆宗駕崩，其子唐敬宗即位。唐敬宗年輕喜歡玩，追求奢侈，杜元穎為了取悅皇帝，經常向皇帝進貢罕見、有價值的珍寶。杜元穎因此加緊盤剝西川，這引起當地軍民的不滿。杜元穎不懂軍事，卻專門積蓄財產，減削士卒的衣食供給。同時，李逢吉讓知樞密王守澄對敬宗說：「陛下所以能被立為皇太子，主要是李逢吉的功勞。像杜元穎、李紳這些人，都是要立深王李察（李悰）的。」唐敬宗後來發現裴度、杜元穎、李紳上疏請立自己為皇太子的上奏，才重新信任杜元穎等人。

唐文宗時代

西南戍邊的士卒衣食不足，紛紛到南詔境內去掠奪偷盜。南詔國贈送他們衣物和糧食，得以知曉西川的動靜虛實。南詔國蒙嵯顛執掌朝政，密謀大舉侵犯西川，西南的邊防州郡多次向杜元穎報告，杜元穎不信。唐文宗大和三年（829年），嵯顛率兵來攻，邊城毫無防備。南詔以西川的降卒為嚮導，襲擊並攻陷了雟州（今四川省涼山彞族自治州西昌市）、戎州（今四川省宜賓市）。十一月二十八日，杜元穎派兵和南詔軍隊在邛州以南交戰，西川兵大敗。南詔乘勝攻占邛州。南詔徑直抵達成都城下，十二月初四，攻陷成都外城。杜元穎率領將士退守牙城，抵抗南詔軍隊。杜元穎幾次想離城逃亡。南詔軍前鋒部隊遠抵東川節度使駐地梓州（今四川省綿陽市三台縣）的西城。南詔軍隊駐留成都西城十天。退走時，大肆掠奪婦女和各種工匠幾萬人，以及各種珍寶奇貨。南詔國工匠的技術水平可以和西川媲美。十二月初六，唐文宗貶杜元穎為邵州（今湖南省邵陽市）刺史。嵯顛派遣使者上表唐朝，說這次軍事行動只是由于杜元穎不愛護士卒，士卒痛恨他，才爭相做我的嚮導，請求我出兵誅殺杜元穎。要求唐朝處死杜元穎。十二月二十一日，唐文宗再次貶杜元穎為循州（今廣東省惠州市）司馬。新任西川節度使郭釗抵達成都後，和南詔國簽訂友好條約，規定兩國互不侵擾。杜元穎的屬下判官崔璜貶為連州司馬，紇幹臮貶為郢州長史，盧並貶為唐州司馬。大和六年十二月丁未日，杜元穎卒于循州貶所。杜元穎臨死前，他上書乞求死後贈官，于是文宗追贈他為湖州刺史。杜元穎和李德裕關係很好，唐武宗會昌年間，李德裕執政，恢復杜元穎的官爵。杜元穎的侄子、杜元絳的兒子杜審權和杜審權的兒子杜讓能、杜讓能的兒子杜曉後來擔任宰相。《新唐書·藝文志》記載杜元穎五題一卷，《全唐詩》存詩一首。

家庭

六世祖：杜淹，御史大夫

五世祖：杜敬同：中書舍人、東陽公

高祖：杜從則，銀青光祿大夫、工部侍郎、蒲州刺史

曾祖父：杜自遠，通議大夫，廣平郡別駕，贈給事中

祖父：杜俌，洋州長史

父親：杜佐，大理正

妻子

裴氏，江西觀察使裴次元女

子女

杜審禮，京兆少尹

杜延雍，字道光

杜敏求，字千之（815-866），試校書郎、浙東從事、四門博士、大理評事兼監察御史、義成軍管記（衛洙）、太常博士，咸通七年去世，年五十一

• 杜浩

• 杜溫

• 杜溵

• 杜卿

女兒：杜氏，武昌軍節度使韋愨妻

延伸閱讀

Background

Du Yuanying was born in 769, during the reign of Emperor Daizong. Traditional histories indicate that he was from the same clan as the famous early-Tang dynasty chancellor Du Ruhui, but provide conflicting accounts as to whether he was descended from Du Ruhui – with Du Yuanying's biography in the Old Book of Tang indicating that he was a "descendant" of Du Ruhui's; his biography in the New Book of Tang indicating that he was a fifth-generation descendant of Du Ruhui's; the table of the chancellors' family trees in the New Book of Tang indicating that he was a descendant of Du Ruhui's uncle Du Yan, who was himself a chancellor as well; and the Zizhi Tongjian, apparently adopting that latter assertion, indicating that he was a descendant of Du Yan's. In any case, the Du clan claimed original ancestry from the Zhou dynasty states Tang and Du and traced its ancestry to officials of Lu, Chu, Qin dynasty, Han dynasty, Cao Wei, Jin dynasty (266–420), Sui dynasty, and Tang. Neither Du Yuanying's great-grandfather Du Ziyuan (杜自遠) nor grandfather Du Fan (杜繁) was listed with any offices, although Du Yuanying's father Du Zuo (杜佐) served as a judge at the supreme court. Du Yuanying had at least one younger brother, Du Yuanjiang (杜元絳). Du Yuanying himself passed the imperial examinations late in the Zhenyuan era (785–805) of Emperor Daizong's son Emperor Dezong, and thereafter served on the staff of a regional governor.

During Emperor Xianzongs reign

During the middle of the Yuanhe era (805–821) of Emperor Dezong's grandson Emperor Xianzong, Du Yuanying became a Zuo Shiyi (左拾遺), a low-level consultant at the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng); and then a You Bujue (右補闕), a higher-ranked consultant at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). He was then also made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi). Du wrote things quickly and much impressed Emperor Xianzong. After Emperor Xianzong destroyed the warlord Wu Yuanji in 817, Du, on account of his diligence in drafting edicts during the campaign against Wu, was given a special honor of a red fish-shaped handbag that would be used for officials of higher ranks. (Red-colored uniforms and accessories were to be used by officials of the fourth and fifth ranks, while You Bujue was only seventh rank.) He thereafter was made Sixun Yuanwailang (司勳員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Libu), but continued to serve as imperial scholar.

During Emperor Muzongs reign

Emperor Xianzong died in 820 and was succeeded by his son Emperor Muzong. Immediately after Emperor Muzong's ascension, he summoned Du Yuanying for a meeting and promoted him to be Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau. Later that year, Emperor Muzong made Du the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and the chief imperial scholar (承旨, Chengzhi). In 821, he gave Du the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making Du a chancellor de facto. Emperor Muzong also created him the Baron of Jian'an. It was said that no chancellor had ever risen so quickly on the path that Du took as an official responsible for imperial edicts.

In 821, Liu Zong the military governor (Jiedushi) of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in Beijing), whose circuit had long been ruled in a de facto independent manner from the imperial government, offered to resign and surrender control of the circuit to the imperial government. To try to ensure that the people of the circuit would submit to imperial rule, Liu proposed that the circuit be divided into three circuits, recommending the former chancellor Zhang Hongjing, the general Xue Ping, and the official Lu Shimei (盧士玫) to take over the three circuits, while he also sent a number of officers, such as Zhu Kerong, that he found difficult to control to the capital Chang'an, asking that they be given commissions and honors so that the soldiers of Lulong would be encouraged by the examples to obey imperial orders. Emperor Muzong accepted Liu's submission, but did not fully implement Liu's partition plan; two prefectures of Lulong were given to Lu, but the remaining prefectures were all given to Zhang, under the suggestion of Du and fellow chancellor Cui Zhi, who did not understand the rationale of Liu's plan. Further, Zhu and the other officers that Liu sent to Chang'an were not given offices or salaries, and it was said that as they lacked income, they fell into financial desperation, even requiring loans for their food and clothing, despite their frequent submission of requests for offices to Cui and Du. When Zhang arrived at Lulong, he ordered Zhu and the others to return to Lulong, further angering them. In fall 821, Lulong soldiers mutinied and put Zhang and Lu under arrest, supporting Zhu as their leader. Eventually, the imperial government lost control not only of Lulong, but also of Chengde (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei) and Weibo (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei) Circuits, and traditional historians blamed the losses on Du, Cui, and fellow chancellor Wang Bo for their incompetence.

In 822, a mutiny occurred at Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan), led by the officer Li Jie (李㝏), that expelled the military governor Li Yuan (李愿). Du and the director of finances Zhang Pingshu (張平叔) advocated placating Li Jie by making him military governor, while fellow chancellor Li Fengji advocated a campaign against Li Jie. Emperor Muzong accepted Li Fengji's suggestion, and Li Jie was soon killed by his own subordinate Li Zhi (李質), who then surrendered to imperial authority.

In 823, Du was sent out of the capital to serve as the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan), still carrying the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title.

During Emperor Jingzongs and Emperor Wenzongs reigns

Emperor Muzong died in 824 and was succeeded by his son Emperor Jingzong. Because Emperor Jingzong was young, playful, and liked extravagant things, Du Yuanying, in order to please the emperor, often offered rare and valuable treasures to Emperor Jingzong. Du was thus harsh with his people in extracting wealth and treasures, and this caused much resentment toward him. Du was also said to be corrupt and had diverted funds from the soldiers' salaries and clothing and food stipends, and to lack knowledge in military matters. Meanwhile, Li Fengji had accused Du and Li Shen of having supported Emperor Muzong's brother Li Cong (李悰) the Prince of Shen as Emperor Muzong's successor, but any suspicions of Emperor Jingzong on that issue were dissipated after he found, in Emperor Muzong's archives, petitions from Du and Li Shen requesting that he be made crown prince.

Over the years, because of Du's mistreatment of the soldiers, the soldiers, lacking food and clothing, were forced to pillage the borders of Nanzhao in order to have sufficient supplies. Nanzhao reacted by giving gifts of clothing and food to these Tang soldiers in exchange for information about Xichuan Circuit. As a result, Nanzhao became highly aware of Xichuan's vulnerabilities. By 829, at which time Emperor Jingzong's brother Emperor Wenzong was emperor, the Nanzhao prince Mengcuodian (蒙嵯顛) was planning a major attack against Xichuan. When the border prefectures received rumors of Mengcuodian's plans, their warnings to Du were unheeded, and thus, when Mengcuodian, guided by Xichuan soldiers who resented Du, launched his attack, he encountered no resistance, quickly capturing Xi (雟州, in modern Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan) and Rong (戎州, in modern Yibin, Sichuan) Prefectures. Du sent forces to resist Mengcuodian, but after Mengcuodian defeated Xichuan forces, Qiong Prefecture fell to Nanzhao as well. Nanzhao forces put Chengdu under siege and entered its western city, while forward troops reached as far as Zi Prefecture (梓州, in modern Mianyang, Sichuan), the headquarters of Xichuan's neighboring circuit Dongchuan (東川). Nanzhao forces stayed at Chengdu's western city for 10 days before pillaging Chengdu and withdrawing, taking with them tens of thousands of Xichuan craftspeople and young men and women. It was said that after this incident, Nanzhao had crafts capabilities rivaling Xichuan. Emperor Wenzong initially demoted Du to be the prefect of Shao Prefecture (邵州, in modern Shaoyang, Hunan). After Mengcuodian submitted a petition accusing Du of crimes and explaining the reasons for the incursion, and further demanding Du's execution, Emperor Wenzong further demoted Du to be the military advisor to the prefect of Xun Prefecture (循州, in modern Huizhou, Guangdong). Subsequently, the military governor of Dongchuan, Guo Zhao (郭釗), was made the military governor of Xichuan and made peace with Nanzhao. Several of Du's key staff members were likewise demoted. Du died in 833 at Xun Prefecture. Before he died, he submitted a petition begging for posthumous restoration to a higher office, and Emperor Wenzong awarded him a posthumous promotion to prefect. Du Yuanying's nephew Du Shenquan (Du Yuanjiang's son) and Du Shenquan's son Du Rangneng later served as chancellors as well.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 163.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 96.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. vol. 241, 242, 243, 244.