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 Liang Dynasty, and his grandfather Xiao Song was a chancellor during Emperor Xuanzong's reign. His father was Xiao Song's son Xiao Heng (萧衡), 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 (宫门郎), in charge of the office of the palace gates (宫门局, Gongmenju). He was later made the director of transportation for the crown prince (太子仆, 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 (昭应, 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 (尚书省, 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 (观察使, 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 (李谊) 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 (户部尚书, Hubu Shangshu), to serve as the secretary general for Li Yi.

However, before Li Yi could depart Chang'an, soldiers from Jingyuan Circuit (泾原, 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 (凤翔, 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 (吏部尚书, Libu Shangshu) and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中书门下平章事), 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 (陈少游), 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 (萧升), 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 (饶州, 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

萧复生于唐玄宗开元二十年（732年），出身于显赫的前南朝梁皇室，祖父萧嵩为唐玄宗宰相。萧复的父亲是萧衡，母亲是玄宗女新昌公主，故萧复是玄宗的外孙。萧复年轻时就有清白的节操，因萧氏家族很受尊崇，萧复的兄弟和堂兄弟们竞相使用最好的衣服、马、装饰，只有萧复穿旧衣服。他经常独自在房内学习，交的朋友都是词人和儒士。他的伯父萧华是唐肃宗宰相，看重他，常说：「这孩子必将光大家门。」萧复因是公主子，早早被任为宫门郎，后任太子仆。

唐代宗年间

广德年间，连年歉收，谷价上涨，萧复家贫，将要卖掉在昭应县的祖产房屋。宰相王缙闻其有林泉之美，想要，就派弟弟王紘相诱：「足下之才当然应该居右职（要职），如以房产奉家兄丞相，就能处要职了。」萧复不肯，说自己卖地是为了救济族内的寡妇和幼儿，不是为了换取好官职，自己得到高职务而族人饥寒是鄙夫也不为的。王缙怀恨，罢其官，萧复从此数年不得用，但处之自若。后累至尚书郎，约大历六年（771年）任歙州刺史，十年（775年）任池州刺史并在刺史大厅西北建楼，在楼上藏《九经》书；在两州刺史任上治政井井有条；十二年（777年）又任常州刺史。大历年间，有司察访天下刺史政绩，以萧复与润州刺史萧定、豪州刺史张镒为第一，但萧定劝课桑稼、平均赋税、聚集游民胜过萧复、张镒。任内，辟武康尉王纯为从事。

刘长卿有《送方外上人之常州依萧使君》；戴叔伦有《郊园即事寄萧常州复》。

唐德宗年间

拜相前

唐德宗大历十四年（779年）闰五月，萧复被任为湖南观察使兼其军部潭州刺史。李元平曾为其判官。萧复也曾因他人推荐而留赵璟为判官。

萧复的胞姐嫁给监察御史李錪，有三女，无子，守寡后回到本家。萧复三次出任州刺史，其姐都随之。

建中元年（780年）正月，萧复辞让宪官（御史台或都察院所属的官员），获准。同年，改任同州刺史，其姐亦随之赴任，但九月因病卒于途中。任内本州百姓遭遇饥荒，萧复擅自用同州境内的京畿观察使储粮赈灾，被弹劾、削阶，停刺史职。朋友们来安慰他，萧复怡然说：「我让别人受益，稍被惩罚不应该吗？」三年（782年）卸任同州刺史，七月被任为兵部侍郎。

建中四年（783年）十月，时值淮西节度使李希烈叛，德宗任皇子普王李谊为荆襄等道行营都元帅，统领讨伐李希烈的各路军队，以萧复为户部尚书、兼御史大夫、元帅府行军长史。因「行」与萧复父讳「衡」同音，特诏改行军长史为统军长史。

但李谊还未离京，在长安等候东征李希烈及其他军阀的泾原兵在未能得到应有赏赐后兵变。德宗逃到奉天。萧复与百官随驾。泾原兵拥戴太尉朱泚为首，朱泚起初称要迎驾回京，但很快计划称帝。德宗认为奉天太狭小，想驾幸当时已是前宰相的张镒治下但原由朱泚控制的凤翔。萧复得知，赶紧请见德宗，说：「陛下大误，凤翔将卒都是朱泚以前的部曲，其中必有与之勾结的。臣尚且担忧张镒不能长久在任，岂能以圣驾踏上不测之渊！」德宗说他已经决定了，但会为了萧复的意见而多停留一天。次日传来消息，朱泚旧部李楚琳兵变杀张镒，夺取凤翔。萧复以朝议大夫、守户部尚书兼御史大夫充荆襄江西等道都元帅统军长史、丰县开国公、赐紫金鱼袋的身份被任为守吏部尚书，散官封赐如故，与刑部侍郎刘从一、谏议大夫姜公辅并加同平章事为实质宰相。

因兵乱，萧复的姐姐也不能归葬，后来才由萧复的次子奉其丧在某乡原暂时安葬。

拜相

朱泚称帝，国号秦，很快围攻奉天，朔方节度使李怀光救了奉天之围。萧复请求改革，建议不给宦官兵权，召回监军宦官。德宗很不悦。萧复又说：「陛下践祚之初，圣德光被，自从用了杨炎、卢杞败坏朝政，以致今日。陛下如能改变想法，臣敢不竭力？如果希望臣为了苟安而依附阿谀，臣实不能，不敢当宰相。」又曾与卢杞一同奏事，卢杞奉承依顺德宗，萧复正色说：「卢杞言不正！」德宗愕然，退下就对左右说：「萧复轻视朕！」德宗此举被认为猜忌刻薄、刚愎自用、耻于为正论所屈，故怀疑萧复、不能容之。兴元元年（784年）正月，德宗以刚被任为门下侍郎的萧复充山南东、西、荆湖、淮南、江西、鄂岳、浙江东、西、福建、岭南等道宣慰、安抚使，其实是疏远他。刘从一及朝士们奏请留萧复在朝，德宗对考功郎中陆贽说自己当初想派重臣宣慰江淮，宰相和朝士都认为应该这样，现在又反覆了，真是令他连日怅恨；他怀疑是萧复不肯出发而指使官员们上奏。陆贽上奏为萧复辩解，提到萧复任常州刺史时他也曾在常州两年，说萧复有节操不会做这样的轻诈之举，如果萧复想留下，刘从一不会附会；如果萧复有所请求，刘从一不会隐瞒；若刘从一心怀奸邪，则萧复不应当被怀疑。德宗也不再追究。萧复以户部员外郎齐抗为判官。曾派奏事官李充劝德宗幸江陵，但德宗下圣旨表示不懂其意，又怀疑李充非纯良，让中使马钦绪把萧复表文和圣旨给陆贽看，说自己曾问刘从一，刘从一也很惊怪不明事由。陆贽上表为萧复辩解，指萧复的请求虽然不妥，却是人臣之常情、古今之通理，李充也是宗室里的人材。德宗看后仍表示责怪萧复不明事体，担心他再出错，正好福建观察使孟皞年老，想除授萧复代之，让马钦绪带著圣旨问陆贽的看法，陆贽认为不妥。

同年，鄜坊、京畿、渭北、商华副元帅李晟灭朱泚政权，使德宗得以回长安。萧复也结束任务回京。曾推荐太子校书郎梁肃之材，使其被授右拾遗、修史，但梁肃因母老病没有赴任。十一月，萧复在与刘从一和其他宰相李勉、卢翰一同面圣退朝后单独留下对德宗指出，虽然功臣已经富贵，但并没有明确惩善扬恶，建议由曾抵抗李楚琳的凤翔军官陇右营田判官韦皋替换德宗逃离长安期间曾归顺李希烈的淮南节度使陈少游，以让天下知晓逆顺之理。德宗同意了，但随即就派马钦绪告知刘从一，要他与萧复商议「早朝所奏之事」而不让李勉、卢翰知道。刘从一秘密去找萧复，言明来意，并问其早朝所奏何事。萧复认为这不妥，说：「唐尧、虞舜对官员进行黜陟，官员和百姓都同意。如果李、卢不堪为相，则罢免之。他们已在相位，朝廷政事如何能不与之同议而唯独隐瞒这一件事！这最是当今行政的大弊端，早朝时主上已有这话，我萧复已当面说了不可，没想到圣意还是如此。我萧复不是不想与公一起上奏以行此事，但怕这成为后事的先例，才不敢告诉公我奏议的内容。」也就没告诉刘从一自己所奏何事。刘从一上奏，德宗不悦，萧复知道自己失宠，由中书舍人齐映四度代自己上表称病辞职，被罢相，为皇太子李诵左庶子。萧复有名节，不迎合流俗，拜相后严肃方正，数次违逆圣意，故很快被罢相。

拜相后

当时的太子妃是萧复弟（或误作从弟）萧升与其遗孀肃宗女、皇姑郜国公主的女儿。贞元三年（787年）八月，郜国公主被发现行为不谨与多人淫乱，又被弹劾用厌胜（诅咒）之术。此事几乎导致李诵被废，他被迫与萧妃离婚。此事也波及了萧氏家族。德宗仍记恨萧复，以为检校左庶子，于饶州安置。萧复性格孝友，此次因族人连累被贬，仍然处之泰然，不抱怨。四年（788年），卒于饶州。其孙萧置，唐懿宗年间为宰相。

萧复生前曾封徐国公。

子孙

• 萧俭

　• 萧骞，字鹏举

• 萧偡

　• 萧置

　• 萧宥

　　• 萧迈，字昌圣

评价

• 唐文宗曾对门下侍郎杨嗣复说：「昔日萧复秉政，难言者必言，卿其志之！」

• 唐宣宗大中初年，诏求萧复等画像，续图凌烟阁。

• 《旧唐书》

　• 史臣曰：张镒、萧复、柳浑，节行才能吁谟亮直，皆足相明主，平泰阶，而卢杞忌之于前，（张）延赏排之于后，管仲有言：「任君子，使小人间之，害霸也。」德宗黜贤相，位奸臣，致朱泚、（李）怀光之乱，是失其人也，岂尤其时哉！

　• 赞曰：得人则兴，失人则亡。镒、复、浑去，宗社其殃。

• 《新唐书》赞曰：梁萧氏兴江左，实有功在民，厥终无大恶，以浸微而亡，故余祉及其后裔。自瑀逮遘，凡八叶宰相，名德相望，与唐盛衰。世家之盛，古未有也。

• 宋高宗年间议选守边者，右正言吴表臣举萧复建议以韦皋代陈少游以明善恶、逆顺而不顾虑韦皋名贱官卑的例子，建议越次录用忠义不屈者，使得陈敏等十数人得以录用。

注释及参考文献