Background

Wei Mo was born in 793, during the reign of Emperor Dezong. He was a fifth-generation descendant of the famed early Tang chancellor Wei Zheng, who had served a distinguished career under Emperor Taizong. Wei Mo's great-grandfather Wei Yin (魏殷), grandfather Wei Ming (魏明), and father — whose name was variously given as Wei Feng (魏馮) or Wei Ping (魏憑) all served as county magistrates.

During Emperor Wenzongs reign

Wei Mo passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class in 833, during the reign of Emperor Dezong's great-great-grandson Emperor Wenzong. When the official Yang Rushi (楊汝士) served as the prefect of Tong Prefecture (同州, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi), he invited Wei to serve as his secretary in his capacity as Tong Prefecture's defender. Later, when Yang was recalled to the capital Chang'an, he recommended Wei to serve as You Shiyi (右拾遺), a low-level advisory official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). Knowing that Wei was a descendant of Wei Zheng's, Emperor Wenzong treated him specially. He was also much favored by the chancellors Li Guyan, Li Jue, and Yang Sifu.

After the Ganlu Incident — an incident in 835 in which Emperor Wenzong and his close associates Li Xun and Zheng Zhu unsuccessfully tried to slaughter the powerful eunuchs — Li Xun's associate Li Xiaoben (李孝本), a member of the Tang imperial Li clan, was executed. Li Xiaoben's family members were seized to be servants in the army, but under Emperor Wenzong's orders, Li Xiaoben's two daughters were taken into the palace, leading to belief that Emperor Wenzong wanted to take them as concubines. Wei Mo submitted a petition in which he pointed out that even the suspicion that Emperor Wenzong would consider it — which would be a violation against Confucian regulations against endogamy — would appear inappropriate. Upon receiving Wei's petition, Emperor Wenzong immediately sent Li Xiaoben's daughters out of the palace, promoted Wei to the higher office of You Bujue (右補闕), and issued an edict in which he greatly praised Wei and compared him to his ancestor Wei Zheng.

In 838, Wei was promoted to be an imperial chronicler with the title Qiju Sheren (起居舍人). When Wei met with Emperor Wenzong to thank him, Emperor Wenzong asked him to submit Wei Zheng's old writing tablet. The chancellor Zheng Tan made the comment, "It was the man, not his tablet." Emperor Wenzong, however, responded, "I am requesting the tablet in the spirit of the poem Gantang (甘棠)." (The Gantang was a poem in which the people of Zhou Dynasty memorialized the great early Zhou statesman Ji Shi the Duke of Shao.)

In 839, Wei was given the additional title of Jianyi Daifu (諫議大夫), and continued to serve as Qiju Sheren. On one occasion, Emperor Wenzong requested that Wei submit the records that he had written of Emperor Wenzong's acts, claiming that by reviewing them, he would be able to review his own actions. Wei pointed out that historians were supposed to record with honesty, and that if they had to be concerned about whether emperors would be pleased or not about the historians' views of their actions, the historians could not record with honesty. Emperor Wenzong relented and did not insist on viewing the records.

During Emperor Wuzongs reign

Emperor Wenzong died in 840 and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Wuzong. Almost immediately after, Li Jue and Yang Sifu were removed from their chancellor positions and sent out of Chang'an, and their political rival Li Deyu became the leading chancellor. As Wei Mo had been favored by Li Jue and Yang, he was sent out of the capital as well to serve as the prefect of Fen Prefecture (汾州, in modern Linfen, Shanxi). Subsequently, after Li Jue and Yang were further demoted and exiled, Wei was further demoted to be the secretary general of Xin Prefecture (信州, in modern Shangrao, Jiangxi).

During Emperor Xuānzongs reign

After Emperor Wuzong died in 846 and was succeeded by his uncle Emperor Xuānzong, Li Deyu, in turn, lost power, and Bai Minzhong became the lead chancellor. Thereafter, Wei Mo was promoted to be the prefect of Ying Prefecture (郢州, in modern Wuhan, Hubei), and then moved even closer to the capital to be the prefect of Shang Prefecture (商州, in modern Shangluo, Shaanxi). In 848, he was recalled to Chang'an to serve as imperial attendant (給事中, Jishizhong), and then to be deputy chief imperial censor (御史中丞, Yushi Zhongcheng). While serving as deputy chief imperial censor, he submitted an accusation of corruption against Emperor Xuānzong's brother-in-law Du Zhongli (杜中立), which shocked the nobles and caused them to fear him. Later, he was made the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) as well, and in that capacity was to serve as the director of taxation. He submitted a petition in which he pointed out that it would be inappropriate for him to oversee matters of money and continue to serve as censor, and by his request, he was relieved of his censor duties.

In 851, Emperor Xuānzong made Wei a chancellor de facto with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), and continued to have him oversee taxation. At that time, Emperor Xuānzong was already relatively old (age 41), but had not designated a crown prince. Given his sensitivity about the matter, however, the officials largely did not dare to speak to him about the subject. When Wei met with Emperor Xuānzong to thank him for the commission, he took the chance to point out that that was the main worry that he had about Emperor Xuānzong's governance. While Emperor Xuānzong did not thereafter create a crown prince, the people at the time were nevertheless impressed with Wei.

In 852, Li Ye (李業) the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) caused disturbances on the border by allowing the Han people to pillage the non-Han and also by killing those non-Han who had surrendered. However, Li Ye was not punished because he had backing of powerful people at court. Only Wei dared to submit an accusation against Li Ye, asking that he be relieved of his duties entirely; Emperor Xuānzong did not do so, but replaced Li Ye with Lu Jun (盧均) and transferred Li Ye to Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan).

While serving as chancellor, Wei was also in charge of editing the history of Emperor Wenzong's reign, and after he submitted a 40-volume history of Emperor Wenzong's reign, he and the key editors under him were rewarded. It was said that while the chancellors spoke with Emperor Xuānzong on policy issues, they all spoke in roundabout manners in order not to displease the emperor, but Wei dared to speak his mind with no regard for the such. It was said that Emperor Xuānzong often commented, "Wei Mo acts in the same way his ancestor Wei Zheng) did, and I respect him greatly." However, it was also said that because of this, Wei was resented by the lead chancellor Linghu Tao. In 857, Wei was therefore sent out of Chang'an to serve as the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan, continuing to carry the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title. In 858, when Wei grew ill, he requested to be replaced. Emperor Xuānzong was set to recall him to Chang'an to serve as the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu), but Wei, citing his illness, requested an office with little responsibilities, and therefore was made acting You Pushe (右僕射) and advisor to the Crown Prince. He died in winter 858 and was given posthumous honors.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 176.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 97.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 245, 246, 249.

家世

魏謨生于唐德宗貞元九年（793年），為唐初唐太宗傳奇名相魏徵五世孫。曾祖魏殷為汝陽令，祖父魏明為縣令，父魏馮或魏憑為獻陵台令。

唐文宗年間

唐文宗太和七年（833年），魏謨通過進士科舉。楊汝士任同州刺史時（834年—835年），邀請魏謨任防禦判官、同州長春宮巡官、秘書省校書郎。後楊汝士被召回長安，九年（835年）十月，文宗讀《貞觀政要》，感念魏徵賢明，下詔訪求其後人，楊汝士就推薦魏謨任右拾遺。文宗得知他是魏徵之後，又見他高大俊秀，待他異于旁人。宰相李固言、李玨、楊嗣複也都賞識他。

前邕管經略使董昌齡枉殺錄事參軍衡方厚，坐貶漵州司戶。開成元年（836年）正月，改硤州刺史，魏謨上疏：「王者施恩赦有罪，但故意殺人是無赦的。昌齡以前因微功被授方鎮，不能謹慎于榮寵，卻恣其狂暴，無辜專殺，事跡顯彰。受害人妻兒銜冤，萬里訴訟。等審訊伏罪，還讓他活下來，中外議論，以為用法不夠。今若再授之牧守之職，以理疲人，則殺人者被升官，而冤苦者如何伸冤？」于是改董昌齡為洪州別駕。

先前太和九年（835年）文宗與近臣李訓、鄭注圖謀屠殺當權宦官的計劃甘露之變事敗後，李訓下屬御史中丞宗室李孝本伏誅，家屬充軍為奴，但文宗命將李孝本二女帶入宮中，人們以為文宗要納她們為妃。開成元年（836年）七月，魏謨上表稱文宗應該三思避開做下儒家反對的內婚行為的嫌疑。文宗得表，立刻送李孝本女出宮，升魏謨為右補闕，命中書省作詔書大讚魏謨，將其與先祖魏徵相比。

教坊副使雲朝霞善吹笛，新聲變律，深得文宗意旨，從左驍衛將軍得授兼揚府司馬。宰相們奏：「揚府司馬品級高，是郎官刺史所任，不可授伶官。」文宗意欲授之，趁與宰相們對話時稱雲朝霞的好處。魏謨聞之，多次上疏陳論，文宗才改授雲朝霞為潤州司馬。荊南監軍使呂令琮（一作呂令琛）的從人擅入江陵縣毀罵縣令韓忠，觀察使韋長將訴狀送到樞密使處。魏謨上疏稱韋長沒有便宜處理，也不將訴狀送到門下省，違反常典，應該處理，希望懲戒。但此疏不被受理，時論以為可惜。

二年（837年）五月，李德裕代牛僧孺為淮南節度使，牛僧孺將軍事交付副使張鷺後離任。淮南府錢八十萬緡，李德裕奏稱只有四十萬，被張鷺用了一半。牛僧孺對文宗稱冤，魏謨與同僚補闕王績、諫官姚合等都彈劾李德裕挾私怨誣告牛僧孺，文宗詔李德裕核實，發現牛僧孺留下的錢確實是八十萬緡。李德裕稱諸鎮被代任時按例以半數備水旱、助軍費，自己剛到任時染病，不知道這個慣例，被下屬官吏欺瞞，待罪請求處罰。魏謨、王績與補闕崔讜、韋有翼、拾遺令狐綯、韋楚老、樊宗仁等上疏彈劾李德裕，但李德裕最終受到包庇被下詔赦免。

三年（838年）正月，文宗以魏謨論事忠切有魏徵之風，不顧提拔月限，提拔魏謨為起居舍人。魏謨面聖致謝，文宗得知他家的舊詔書都丟了，只剩下簪笏，就命他獻上先祖魏徵的笏板。宰相鄭覃說：「在人不在笏。」文宗答：「我這是遵循《甘棠》的意旨。」魏謨將要退下，文宗又召誡之：「事有不當，即須奏論。」魏謨說：「臣為諫官時，應該規勸進諫。今居史職，職在記錄言論，臣不敢逾越職分。」文宗說：「只要兩省官一起論事，不要拘于此言。」楊嗣複想提拔衡州司馬李宗閔，文宗得知後也對宰相們說想任李宗閔以官，鄭覃與另一宰相陳夷行反對，並與楊嗣複互相指責對方結黨。文宗說不妨任李宗閔為州刺史。鄭覃等退下後，文宗對起居郎周敬複和魏謨說：「宰相喧爭如此，可以嗎？」答：「確實不可以。但鄭覃等盡忠憤激，自己沒察覺罷了。」二月，李宗閔終被用為杭州刺史。不久，魏謨以本官直弘文館。四月，文宗于閣內召魏謨問魏徵政績，訪求魏徵後裔，以鄧州南陽縣尉魏可則為櫟陽縣尉。

神策軍中尉仇士良捕得妖人賀蘭進興及黨羽，在軍中問出謀反情狀，文宗親臨問罪，詔命斬殺。御史中丞高元裕認為應該讓刑部、大理寺參與審理，文宗沒有回覆。魏謨上言支持高元裕。文宗詔神策軍將囚犯交付御史台。御史台害怕仇士良，不敢有異議，囚犯們仍被誅殺。

四年（839年），魏謨被授諫議大夫，仍兼起居舍人，判弘文館事。堅辭不果。魏謨在起居注中記錄下華州鎮國軍防禦使陳夷行論忠武軍節度使王茂元所請不許與吐蕃交馬事。十月，文宗派中使向魏謨索看起居注，稱可檢視自己的行為。魏謨指出史家據實修史，文宗若有善事，不需要怕他不記錄；如有錯，即使他不寫，天下之人也寫，他以文宗為文皇帝（李世民），文宗也當比他如褚遂良。文宗又說自己曾取看起居注。魏謨說那是以前的史官不守職分，但他不敢陷文宗于非法。若文宗看了起居注，史官便要兼顧皇帝對史家對關于他們的記錄所持態度的好惡，就無法據實記錄了，無以取信于後人。文宗沒再堅持。

魏謨曾奏請令判官推劾訴事、奏請放朝期間如公事繁忙可繼續辦公。

唐武宗年間

五年（840年），文宗崩，弟唐武宗繼位。隨即李玨、楊嗣複被罷相，其政敵李德裕成為首相。會昌元年（841年），魏謨還曾作為使者出使回鶻，但因得寵于李、楊，也被遣出京城任汾州刺史。後李、楊被進一步貶謫，魏謨也被貶為信州長史。

唐宣宗年間

六年（846年），武宗崩，皇叔唐宣宗繼位，李德裕因此失勢，白敏中成為首相。隨後魏謨被提升為郢州刺史，大中元年（847年）又被提拔到離京城更近的商州為刺史。二年（848年），被召回長安任給事中，遷御史中丞，謝日面賜金紫之服。在任上上表彈劾宣宗姐妹夫駙馬都尉杜中立貪贓，權貴震動且害怕他。後他兼任戶部侍郎，判本司事。他上表指出既監督財貨又任御史中丞不合適，在他的請求下，他被免除了御史中丞一職。

五年（851年）十月，宣宗授魏謨同中書門下平章事，拜為宰相，仍判戶部。當時，唐宣宗四十二歲，相對而言已是高齡，仍未立太子，群臣懾于政治敏感性，也不敢提及。當魏謨面聖感謝任命時，說自己沒有夔、契之才卻擔當夔、契之任，並趁機指出如今海內無事卻未立太子及以正人輔導是他對宣宗為政的主要擔憂，並且哭了。宣宗也有所感動。雖然此後宣宗仍然未立太子，但時人都被魏謨感動了。不久，兼任集賢殿大學士。詹毗國進獻大象，魏謨認為大象的性格不能安居中原，請求還給使者，宣宗同意了。

六年（852年）二月，宣宗舅父右衛大將軍鄭光請免所賜田租稅。魏謨奏：「鄭光以國舅之親，賜田是可以的，免稅就不能讓百姓心服了。」宣宗下敕按例供稅。河東節度使李業放縱吏民劫掠胡人，濫殺投降胡人，致使北疆不寧。但李業在朝中有靠山，未被處罰。閏四月，只有魏謨敢于彈劾李業，要求完全罷免其職務；宣宗沒有照做，只是派太子少師盧均取代李業，調李業至義成軍。魏謨被加中書侍郎。大理卿馬曙被從人王慶告發私藏兵甲，馬曙因此被貶官，王慶卻無罪。魏謨引用法律，杖殺王慶。

魏謨進階銀青光祿大夫，兼禮部尚書，以銀青光祿大夫、守中書侍郎、兼禮部尚書、同中書門下平章事、集賢殿大學士、上柱國被授監修國史，負責監修《文宗實錄》，八年（854年）三月修成四十卷並呈上，因此和下屬給事中盧耽、太常少卿蔣偕、司勛員外郎王渢、右補闕盧吉、膳部員外郎牛叢都獲頒賜銀器、錦彩有差，這些下屬們也得到升遷。七月，以銀青光祿大夫、守門下侍郎、同平章事兼戶部尚書。崔瑤調任鄂岳觀察使，向魏謨奏請以薛崇為試大理評事、鄂岳觀察判官。魏謨儀容魁偉，其他宰相在宣宗面前議政時，為了不引起皇帝不悅，都委曲進言，只有魏謨敢直言。宣宗曾說：「魏謨有祖上的風範，我很敬重他。」但魏謨也因此為首相令狐綯所忌。十一年（857年）二月，他被遣出長安為檢校戶部尚書、同平章事，兼成都尹，充劍南西川節度事大使、知節度副、管內觀察處置統押近界諸蠻及西山八國雲南安撫等使。十二年（858年），魏謨染病，請求接任。宣宗準備召他回長安任吏部尚書，但魏謨稱病，只求閒職，因而被任為檢校右僕射、太子少保。同年十二月，魏謨卒，贈司徒。

軼聞

《唐摭言》載：太和初年李回任京兆府參軍時，不送剛中進士的魏謨，魏謨很記恨。會昌年間李回為刑部侍郎，魏謨為御史中丞，提起當初李回不送魏謨之事，李回說如今也不送，魏謨更憤恨。李回被貶為建州刺史，魏謨拜相，李回的上疏魏謨都不採納。後來李回將一衙官杖責停職，衙官憤恨自己因停職損失收入，逃到京城找宰相喊冤，宰相們都不問，旁人告知魏謨素與李回有隙，可找魏謨。正好魏謨的導騎從中書省出來，衙官望塵而拜，導騎問他何事，他自稱建州百姓訴冤。魏謨聞之，倒持塵尾，看到衙官的狀子論事二十餘件，第一件是李回娶同姓女入門。當時李回已遷鄧州刺史，行到九江，被御史問罪，只得回建州，最終因罪被貶為撫州司馬，卒于任上。

《北夢瑣言》載：宰相夏侯孜尤其厭惡名家子弟薛保遜，薛保遜被貶為澧州司馬，長達七年得不到代任。夏侯孜罷相出鎮，改由魏謨拜相後，薛保遜才得到征拜，但已在任所去世。魏謨並未在夏侯孜之後拜相，疑誤。

作品

• 《唐文宗實錄》四十卷（監修）

• 《魏氏手略》二十卷

• 《魏謨集》十卷

評價

• 《舊唐書》史臣曰：崔（崔龜從）、魏二丞相，嘉言啟奏，無忝正人。

• 《新唐書》贊曰：謨之論議挺挺，有祖風烈，《詩》所謂「是以似之」者歟！

子孫

• 魏潛，字蘊華

　• 魏敖，母為韋琮姐妹

• 魏滂，殿中進馬

注釋及參考文獻