武则天时期

郭元振十六岁进太学，与薛稷、赵彦昭同学，十八岁中进士，任梓州通泉（今属四川省射洪县）县尉，他任侠使气，造过假钱，掠夺别人财物，用于交结四方朋友，唐代传奇小说集《玄怪录》中，有一篇《郭代公》，讲述郭元振少年时期解救民间少女，杀死猪妖乌将军的故事。武则天听闻后，召他见面，交谈至夜，对他甚是奇异。他上呈所作的《古剑歌》，武则天很是欣赏，令人誊写数十份，赐给学士李峤、阎朝隐等人。授郭元振为右武卫胄曹参军、右控鹤内供奉，不久迁任奉宸监丞。曾与陈子昂交往。万岁通天元年（696年）九月吐蕃请求和亲，郭元振被派出使吐蕃。他献计离间吐蕃君臣关系，大将论钦陵被杀，钦陵弟赞婆及兄子莽布支归降武周，郭元振与河源军大使夫蒙令卿领兵接应。吐蕃大将麴莽布支率兵入寇，被凉州都督唐休璟击败，郭元振因参预其谋，以功拜主客郎中。

《古剑歌》：

长安元年（701年），吐蕃与突厥联盟，围攻凉州，刺史出城战死，武则天在洛阳接到奏报后，任命郭元振为凉州都督、陇右诸军州大使，调集关中兵马五万人，号二十万，赶赴河西，吐蕃闻讯后退兵。郭元振到达凉州后，收合馀众，缮修城墙，又在南境修筑和戎城，北界沙漠中置白亭军，控制要路，拓展州境一千五百里，使外族难以再侵犯凉州城下，又令甘州刺史李汉通屯田，改善水陆之利。数年之间，凉州粮价由原来的一斛数千文，降到一匹绢可买粟数十斛，囤积的军粮可支持数十年。郭元振认为凉州多次被吐蕃与突厥入侵，显得很弱，未能展示天朝的强盛，于是徵集陇右兵马一百二十万，号称二百万，集合在湟州，准备打击吐蕃，宣扬天威。当时宗楚客为宰相，他与郭元振素来不和，指示手下宣称郭元振聚集大军，有不臣之心。武则天大为惊惧，狄仁杰、魏元忠、韦安石、李峤、宋璟、姚崇、赵彦昭、韦嗣立、张说等二十五人上表以死作保，武则天这才惊魂稍定。郭元振大军集合后，分十路出兵，越过青海，打到吐蕃赞普的牙帐附近。赞普请求议和，献马三千匹，金三万斤，牛羊无数。郭元振宣示军威后撤军，突厥见天朝强盛，也献马二千匹，并将以前所掳掠的凉州百姓放回。元振身材伟壮，治边有方，在凉州五年，「夷夏畏慕，令行禁止，牛羊被野，路不拾遗。」。河西陇右的十几处军民给他立生祠，立碑颂德，

唐中宗时期

唐中宗即位后，郭元振被召回京师长安，他在长安没有府第，只好寄居在友人家中。一日突然有一人骑马送来一个状子，元振还未打开时人就走了，状子上记载物品若干，却未署名。他在树下找到骡马二十馀匹，帛三千匹。郭元振疑是太学请葬之士，于是拿著这批财物买了宅第。

郭元振觐见中宗后，改任左骁卫将军，兼检校安西大都护。当时西突厥突骑施部落强盛，首领乌质勒请求与唐朝通好，郭元振率麾下数十骑前往其牙帐讨论军事。当时下著大雪，郭元振站在帐前，与乌质勒从早谈到天暗。雪深风冻，郭元振身体强壮，雪深尺馀，竟一步不移坚持讨论，乌质勒却年老体弱，受不住风雪，当夜回帐不久就死了。其子娑葛认为郭元振故意谋杀其父，召集兵马追杀。郭元振一行当夜听到乌质勒死讯，副使御史中丞解琬劝元振连夜逃走，元振道：「吾以诚信待人，何所疑惧，且深在寇庭，遁将安适？」第二天一早就身穿白衣素服回突骑施部落去吊丧，半路上遇到准备报仇的娑葛兵马，将他层层包围，娑葛素闻元振威名，报仇理由又不充份，改口称是为了护卫汉使。元振来到突骑施牙帐后，大声痛哭，逗留了数十日，帮忙主持葬礼，感动了娑葛，复与元振和好，献马三千匹，牛羊十馀万，移居千里，西域商路得以安定无事，诸蕃归降者十馀国。当时人皆传诵：「郭元振诡杀乌质勒。」中宗下制以元振为金山道行军大总管。

阿史那阙啜（汉名忠节）与娑葛两部互相攻占，阙啜兵弱不支，元振奏请追阙啜入朝宿卫，移其部落入于瓜、沙等州安置，阙啜行至播仙城，与经略使、右威卫将军周以悌相遇，周以悌作为宗楚客一党，挑拨道：「你轻身入朝，手下无兵，只能被视作一老胡，谁会正眼看你？非但官职难得，只怕性命也会难保。今宰相有宗楚客、纪处讷，都是掌权之人，你何不重金贿赂，请留不行。再请朝廷派安西兵马和吐蕃一起攻打娑葛，立阿史那献为可汗以招西突厥十姓，让郭虔瓘去拔汗那徵集兵甲马匹以助军用。既得报雠，又得保存自己的部落。不比入朝受制于人好？」阙啜认为有理，便率兵攻陷于阗坎城，掠夺金银财物人口，用来贿赂宗、纪二人，中书令宗楚客受到贿赂后，推翻了阙啜入朝的命令。元振上书申请，宗楚客有韦皇后支持，派遣摄御史中丞冯嘉宾持节安抚阙啜，御史吕守素处置四镇，持玺书想要杀害元振。又任命牛师奖为安西副都护，在甘、凉已西募兵，兼徵召吐蕃兵马，以讨伐娑葛。娑葛在唐朝的进马使娑腊得知宗楚客的计划，马上回去通报娑葛，娑葛立即发兵五千骑出安西，五千骑出拨换，五千骑出焉耆，五千骑出疏勒。时元振在疏勒，于河口栅不敢异动。阙啜在计舒河口等候冯嘉宾，娑葛兵马掩杀而至，生擒阙啜，杀死冯嘉宾等唐朝使者。吕守素至僻城，也被杀害，又杀牛师奖于火烧城，攻陷安西都护府，四镇路绝。

宗楚客见大事不妙，奏请周以悌代替元振为安西都护，召回元振，想要让他替罪，元振不从，奏请斩楚客，清蕃落。楚客怒，奏言元振有异图。元振派其子郭鸿间道上奏其状，真相大白，周以悌获罪流放白州（治今广西博白）。元振复任安西都护。赦免娑葛之罪，册为十四姓可汗。因韦后、宗楚客一党掌权，奏称西土未宁，需要安抚，逗遛不敢归京师。

郭元振在安西十馀年，四镇宁静。唐睿宗即位后被召回长安任太仆卿时，安西各族百姓号哭数百里，请求他留下，元振不得已哄骗安抚后才上路，到玉门关时，离凉州还有八百里，河西诸州百姓蕃部落，听闻元振来了，贫困者拿著水壶，富者设供帐迎接，联绵七百里不绝。他的仪仗旌节下玉门关时，百姓望见，大声呼喊，从早到晚，一直传到凉州。凉州城中男女在街道上载歌载舞，并歌舞出城，咸言我父至矣，城门通夜不关。凉州都督司马逸客听后，立即列兵出迎，等通讯兵来报，知才入玉门关。

唐睿宗、唐玄宗时期

景龙四年（710年）夏六月，临淄王李隆基率兵诛杀韦后一党，唐睿宗即位，征拜元振为太仆卿。

景云二年（711年），郭元振至京师长安，拜同中书门下三品，加银青光禄大夫，任兵部尚书，封馆陶县男，不久代宋璟任吏部尚书，知选举。时元振之父郭善爱年老在乡，被拜为济州刺史，仍听致仕。同年冬，与韦安石、张说等俱罢相。

先天元年（712年），后突厥默啜可汗大举寇边，郭元振拜刑部尚书，充朔方道行军大总管，筑丰安、定远等城，以抵御突厥。

先天二年（713年），加金紫光禄大夫，复任兵部尚书，同中书门下三品（拜相），秋七月，太子李隆基率羽林军诛杀太平公主一党，睿宗登承天门察看，诸宰相中只郭元振一人陪同睿宗左右，玄宗即位后，元振宿卫中书省十四日，独知政事，被进封为代国公，食实封四百户。又兼御史大夫、天下行军大元帅。

玄宗于骊山讲武，大阅军操，徵兵至一百万，号三百万，由郭元振指挥。当天三令（三令五申）之后，玄宗要亲自击鼓，郭元振怕有大变，省略对玄宗行礼。玄宗大怒，引坐纛下，几乎宣敕处斩，经刘幽求、张说等人说情，乃斩给事中、知礼仪事唐绍，流放元振于新州（今广东新兴），同年十二月改元开元，元振复起用为饶州（今江西波阳）司马，元振自恃功勋，怏怏不得志，病逝途中，时年五十八。著有《郭元振集》二十二卷。开元十年，追赠太子少保。

家庭

纳左武卫大将军薛永冲之女为姬。生有四子：

• 郭晟

• 郭鸿

• 左骁卫将军郭鹏，郭鹏有子郭瑊，兵部员外郎。

• 代州司户参军郭仲翔。

评介

郭元振少年时负气纵横，及为封疆大吏时，「言行忠正，居取俭约，」公务之暇，手不释卷，虽子弟家人，未尝见其喜怒。前后上事切谏得失十数道，俱焚其槁草（草稿），不以语人，故朝廷莫知也。睿宗曾经说：「元振正直齐于宋璟，政理逾于姚崇，其英谋宏亮过之矣。」在宣阳里居住达二十馀年，不至诸院马厩。每次下朝回家，对父母二亲言笑，归室俨如也，不问家事。与狄仁杰、朱敬则、魏元忠、李峤、韦安石、赵彦昭、韦嗣立、薛稷、张说等为忘言之友。他事父母以孝顺闻名，去世后父母犹在世。《旧唐书》赞郭元振：「伟哉郭侯，勋德煌煌。」

注释

参考书目

• 《新唐书·郭元振传》

Background

Guo Yuanzhen was born in 656, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. He was said to be tall and handsome, with a beautiful beard in his youth, as well as ambitious. In 671, he became a student at the imperial university, at the same time that future fellow chancellors Xue Ji and Zhao Yanzhao where. On one occasion, when Guo's family had just sent him spending money, a man who was wearing mourning clothes approached him and asked him for financial help to bury his ancestors, claiming that his ancestors had not been properly buried for five generations. Guo generously gave the man money without asking further questions, impressing Xue and Zhao, who were present at the time. In 673, he passed the imperial examinations and was made the sheriff of Tongquan County (通泉, in modern Suining, Sichuan). It was said that while serving at Tongquan, he was a maverick and did not pay attention to details.

During Wu Zetians reign

Around or before 696, when Guo Yuanzhen was still at Tongquan, he captured over 1000 local tribespeople and sold them as slaves so that he could have funds to maintain his guests, and the people of Tongquan were distressed. When then-reigning Wu Zetian (Emperor Gaozong's wife) heard of this, she summoned Guo to the capital Luoyang, intending to punish him. When she met him, however, she was impressed by his talent, and she asked him for his past writing. He submitted an essay that he had written about swords, and she was further impressed and showed the essay to the imperial scholar Li Jiao, himself known for his literary talent. She made him Zhoucao Canjun (胄曹参军), a logistics officer with the imperial guards, as well as an imperial attendant. At that time, the Tibetan Empire claimed to be seeking peace with Wu Zetian's Zhou dynasty, and she sent Guo as an emissary to the Tibetan Empire to discuss the matter. After he arrived, the Tibetan regent Gar Trinring Tsendro (论钦陵) offered peace, but demanded that Zhou withdraw the forces at the four garrisons under the Protectorate General to Pacify the West and cede some of the 10 former tribes of the Western Turkic Khaganate to the Tibetan Empire. After returning to Luoyang, Guo suggested to Wu Zetian that she respond that she was willing to agree to Lun's requests—as long as the Tibetan Empire was willing to cede territory around the Qinghai Lake, formerly belonging to Tuyuhun—conditions that he knew Trinring would not agree to. He further suggested that she sent emissaries to the Tibetan Empire each year to offer peace, to cause the Tibetan people to resent Trinring for not agreeing to the conditions for peace.

In 699, the Tibetan emperor Tridu Songtsen, unhappy that Trinring was monopolizing power, took an opportunity when Trinring was away from the capital Lhasa to slaughter Trinring's associates. He then defeated Trinring in battle, and Trinring committed suicide. Trinring's brother Gar Tsenba (论赞婆) and Trinring's son Lun Gongren (论弓仁) surrendered to Zhou. Wu Zetian sent Guo and Fumeng Linqing (夫蒙令卿) to welcome them. She also made Guo Zhuke Langzhong (主客郎中), an official at the ministry of rites in charge of managing visits by foreign ambassadors and maintaining the households of the descendants of the rulers of prior dynasties.

In 701, Guo was made the commandant at Liang Prefecture (凉州, roughly modern Wuwei, Gansu). It was said that previously, Göktürk and Tibetan forces would often pillage the prefecture, and that fields outside the capital city of the prefecture were often laid waste. Guo ordered the building of two outposts, Baiting Base (白亭军) to the north, and Herong (和戎) to the south, to serve as warning posts and as counterattack points. Thereafter, the raids decreased, and the people were able to have more rest. He also ordered his subordinate Li Hantong (李汉通) the prefect of Gan Prefecture (甘州, roughly modern Jiuquan, Gansu), to build irrigation and promote farming. This allowed the region, which previously had a food shortage, to have food surplus, allowing the military to be supported. It was generally said that Guo was good at managing the people and governing the troops, and that for the five years when he was at Liang Prefecture, both the Han and the non-Han loved and obeyed him, and that the people began to be wealthy.

During Emperor Zhongzongs second reign

Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup in 705, and her son and crown prince Li Xian, a former emperor, returned to the throne (as Emperor Zhongzong). Sometime thereafter, Guo was made the Protectorate General to Pacify the West. In 706, he went to the Tuqishi (突骑施) tribe to meet with its chieftain Wuzhile to discuss military matters. They met outside Wuzhile's tent, and It was cold and snowing at the time, but Guo did not move. Wuzhile, however, was old and could not stand the cold; he died shortly after the meeting. Wuzhile's son Suoge (娑葛), believing that Guo's acts were deliberate, gathered his troops and got ready to attack Guo. Guo's deputy Jie Wan (解琬) became aware of this and suggested that they flee. Guo declined—stating that he felt that he needed to show sincerity, and that given that they were deep in Tuqishi territory, they could not get away anyway. The next day, he went to mourn Wuzhile, and showed sincere emotions in doing so. Suoge was touched and made peace with him.

Meanwhile, Wuzhile's subordinate Juechuo Zhongjie (阙啜忠节) was unwilling to submit to Suoge. Juechuo was, however, unable to prevail over Suoge, and in 708, at Guo's suggestion, he was set to give up his forces and go to the Tang capital Chang'an, when the Tang general Zhou Yiti (周以悌) suggested to him the idea of bribing the chancellors Zong Chuke and Ji Chuna to launch an attack against Suoge. Juechuo did so, and Zong, after Juechuo's bribery, proposed to Emperor Zhongzong the idea of attacking Suoge in alliance with the Tibetan Empire, which Emperor Zhongzong agreed despite Guo's opposition. Suoge heard of this plan and acted first, successfully attacking several Tang outposts and then sending an envoy to Chang'an to demand that Zong be executed. Subsequently, Guo reported the facts of the situation to Emperor Zhongzong, which led to Zong's accusing him of treason. However, Emperor Zhongzong agreed with Guo and sent a peace envoy to make peace with Suoge and creating him Shisixing Khan.

During Emperor Ruizongs second reign

In 710, Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly—a death traditional historians believed to be a poisoning by his powerful wife Empress Wei and daughter Li Guo'er the Princess Anle. Emperor Zhongzong's son by a concubine, Li Chongmao the Prince of Wen took the throne (as Emperor Shang), but Empress Wei retained power as empress dowager and regent. Less than a month later, a coup led by Emperor Zhongzong's sister Princess Taiping and nephew Li Longji the Prince of Linzi killed Empress Dowager Wei and Li Guo'er. Li Longji's father Li Dan the Prince of Xiang, himself a former emperor, returned to the throne (as Emperor Ruizong), displacing Emperor Shang. He recalled Guo to the capital Chang'an to serve as minister of agriculture. In 711, he gave Guo the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, making Guo a chancellor de facto. Later in the year, though, as a part of a government reorganization, he and the other chancellors were removed from their chancellor posts, and he was made the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚书, Libu Shangshu), although he was also created the Baron of Guantao.

During Emperor Xuanzongs reign

In 712, Emperor Ruizong passed the throne to Li Longji, who took the throne as Emperor Xuanzong, but retained power as Taishang Huang (retired emperor). Subsequently, Guo Yuanzhen was made the commandant of the forces of the Suofang region (i.e., modern Ningxia and northern Shaanxi) and the minister of defense (兵部尚书, Bingbu Shangshu). In 713, he was again made chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin.

As of 713, Emperor Xuanzong and Princess Taiping were locked into a power struggle. It was said that Princess Taiping, Dou Huaizhen, Cen Xi, Xiao Zhizhong, Cui Shi; along with other officials Xue Ji, Li Jin (李晋) the Prince of Xinxing (a grandson of Li Deliang (李德良), a cousin of Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu), Li You (李猷), Jia Yingfu (贾膺福), Tang Jun (唐晙); the generals Chang Yuankai (常元楷), Li Ci (李慈), and Li Qin (李钦); and the monk Huifan (惠范), were plotting to overthrow Emperor Xuanzong. It was further said that they discussed, with the lady-in-waiting Lady Yuan to poison the gastrodia elata that Emperor Xuanzong routinely took as an aphrodisiac. When this alleged plot was reported to Emperor Xuanzong by Wei Zhigu, Emperor Xuanzong, who had already received advice from Wang Ju (王琚), Zhang Shuo, and Cui Riyong to act first, did so. He convened a meeting with his brothers Li Fan (李范) the Prince of Qi, Li Ye (李业) the Prince of Xue, Guo, along with a number of his associates — the general Wang Maozhong (王毛仲), the officials Jiang Jiao (姜皎) and Li Lingwen (李令问), his brother-in-law Wang Shouyi (王守一), the eunuch Gao Lishi, and the military officer Li Shoude (李守德) — and decided to act first. On July 29, Emperor Xuanzong had Wang Maozhong take 300 soldiers to the imperial guard camp to behead Chang and Li Ci. Then, Jia, Li You, Xiao, and Cen were arrested and executed as well. Dou and Princess Taiping committed suicide. When Emperor Ruizong heard about the incident, he ascended the tower at Chengtian Gate to try to ascertain what was happening, and it was Guo who informed him what happened. Emperor Ruizong subsequently yieldedpowers to Emperor Xuanzong and no longer actively participated in policy decisions thereafter. It was said that during the crisis, Guo spent 14 nights at the legislative bureau (中书省, Zhongshu Sheng) without returning home. For his contributions, he was created the Duke of Dai and awarded silk, and further given the additional post as chief imperial censor (御史大夫, Yushi Daifu).

In winter 713, when Emperor Xuanzong was examining the troops, he was angry that the troops were disorganized, and he had Guo and the official Tang Shao (唐绍) arrested and ordered them executed, in order to try to show his power—but did not actually intend to kill them. However, the general Li Miao (李邈) executed Tang and was set to execute Guo, when fellow chancellors Liu Youqiu and Zhang Shuo kneeled and begged forgiveness on Guo's part, pointing out Guo's great contributions. Emperor Xuanzong thus exiled Guo to Xin Prefecture (新州, roughly modern Yunfu, Guangdong). He soon moved Guo to be the military advisor to the prefect of Rao Prefecture (饶州, roughly modern Shangrao, Jiangxi), but Guo, depressed over his exile, died on the way.