Background

It is not known when Song Shenxi was born, and, while his family was listed as "the Songs of Guangping" (廣平, in modern Handan, Hebei) in the table of the chancellors' family trees in the New Book of Tang, Song's biography in the New Book of Tang indicated that his family's origin had been lost to history. It is known that his grandfather was named Song Su (宋素) and that his father was named Song Shuye (宋叔夜).

Early career

Song Shenxi was said to have lost his father early in life and was poor, but capable in literature. After he passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi (進士) class, he was made a copyeditor (校書郎, Xiaoshu Lang) at the Palace Library. When the chancellor Wei Guanzhi lost the favor of Emperor Xianzong and was sent out of the capital Chang'an to serve as the governor of Hunan Circuit (湖南, headquartered in modern Changsha, Hunan) in 816 for his opposition to the wars that Emperor Xianzong was waging against warlords, he invited Song to serve as a secretary, and it was said that thereafter Song successively served under regional governors.

During Emperor Muzongs and Emperor Jingzongs reigns

Early in the Changqing era (821-824) of Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Muzong, Song Shenxi was made Jiancha Yushi (監察御史), a low-level imperial censor. In 822, he was made an imperial chronicler (起居舍人, Qiju Sheren). In 826, by which time Emperor Muzong's son Emperor Jingzong was emperor, he was made Libu Yuanwailang (禮部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of rites (禮部, Libu), and was soon given the additional title as an assistant imperial scholar (翰林侍講學士, Hanlin Shijiang Xueshi). It was said that Song was careful and nonpartisan in his actions, contrary to the partisanship that was rampant among the imperial officials at the time, and that it was thought that his promotions would encourage others to follow his example.

During Emperor Wenzongs reign

After Emperor Jingzong was assassinated around the new year 827 and was succeeded by his younger brother Emperor Wenzong, Song Shenxi was made Hubu Langzhong (戶部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of census (戶部, Hubu), and was also put in charge of drafting edicts. In 828, he was made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), as well as full imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi).

At that time, Emperor Wenzong feared the power the eunuchs held, particularly as he believed them to be responsible for the deaths of his grandfather Emperor Xianzong and brother Emperor Jingzong. At that time, Wang Shoucheng was particularly powerful due to his command of the imperial Shence Army (神策軍), and his associate Zheng Zhu was openly accepting bribes in exchange for official commissions, drawing much displeasure from Emperor Wenzong. Emperor Wenzong believed Song to be faithful and careful, and believed he could discuss this matter with Song. On one occasion when Song had a private audience with Emperor Wenzong, Emperor Wenzong discussed the matter of Wang, and told Song to try to form a group of imperial officials who could work together on removing Wang from power, promising to make him chancellor. Soon thereafter in 830, Song was made Shangshu Zuo Cheng (尚書左丞), one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), and then was made a chancellor de facto with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi. It was said that because of Song's reputation, there was much public expectation for him as a chancellor, but he was not actually all that capable in his acts.

As part of Emperor Wenzong's and Song's plans to eliminate the eunuchs' power, in 831, Song recommended Wang Fan (王璠) to be the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region) and secretly informed Wang Fan of Emperor Wenzong's plans. However, Wang Fan then leaked it, and Wang Shoucheng and Zheng became aware of it. In response, Zheng had the Shence Army officer Doulu Zhuo (豆盧著) falsely accuse Song and Emperor Wenzong's brother Li Cou the Prince of Zhang of plotting to overthrow Emperor Wenzong and replace him with Li Cou. When Wang Shoucheng then reported Doulu's accusations to Emperor Wenzong, Emperor Wenzong was shocked and believed it to be true, and immediately ordered investigations. Wang Shoucheng wanted to send Shence Army soldiers to immediately slaughter Song's household, but at the urging of the eunuch Ma Cunliang, this immediate slaughter was not carried out. Rather, Emperor Wenzong ordered that the chancellors immediately be summoned. When the chancellors — Song, Lu Sui, Li Zongmin, and Niu Sengru — arrived at the palace gate, a eunuch announced, "Song Shenxi is not summoned!" Song realized that he was being accused of a crime, and, after knocking his writing board on his head, withdrew back to his household to await punishment. When he arrived at his mansion, his wife asked him, "You, Lord, are a chancellor, the pinnacle of what a subject can reach. Why do you wrong the Son of Heaven and rebel?" He responded, "My entire life I have received the emperor's grace, and I was promoted to be chancellor. I could not remove the wicked, and was instead accused by them. You, Lady, should know that I, Song Shenxi, am no rebel." They wept together.

Meanwhile, the other chancellors entered Yanying Hall (延英殿), where Emperor Wenzong showed them Wang Shoucheng's report. The chancellors, shocked, stood there without words. Meanwhile, Emperor Wenzong ordered Wang Shoucheng to arrest the other alleged plotters listed by Doulu's accusation — Li Cou's eunuch Yan Jingze (晏敬則) and Song's attendant Wang Shiwen (王師文), for interrogation inside the palace. Yan was arrested, but Wang Shiwen initially fled.

Two days later, Song was demoted to be a staff member of the crown prince. No one dared to openly state that Song was falsely accused, although the mayor of Jingzhao, Cui Guan (崔琯), and the chief judge of the supreme court Wang Zhengya (王正雅) both submitted petitions that the arrested individuals be transferred to the jurisdiction of the proper governmental authorities rather than be held inside the palace — and it was said that it was because of this that the situation did not escalate. Meanwhile, under interrogation, Yan stated that Song had sent Wang Shiwen to meet with Li Cou to form the plot.

Two days later, Emperor Wenzong summoned the senior officials, including the heads of the various key agencies of the imperial government, to inquire them as to what they opined. A number of advisory officials, including Cui Xuanliang (崔玄亮), Li Guyan, Wang Zhi (王質), Lu Jun (盧均), Shu Yuanbao (舒元褒), Jiang Xi (蔣係), Pei Xiu (裴休), and Wei Wen (韋溫), begged Emperor Wenzong to reopen the discussions with chancellors and move the entire investigations to the proper governmental authorities. Emperor Wenzong told them that he had already discussed with the high level officials and ordered them to withdraw. Cui bowed and wept, stating, "One should be careful even when executing a commoner, and even more care should be paid when killing a chancellor." Emperor Wenzong's anger somewhat subsided, and he summoned the chancellors again. Niu then stated, "The highest that a subject can reach is chancellor, and Song Shenxi is already a chancellor. If the accusations were true, he could still only be chancellor, and why would he pursue that? Surely that was not what he was planning." Meanwhile, Zheng, fearing that the officials would win out and that a second round of investigations would show the truth, suggested to Wang Shoucheng that no executions be carried out, and instead Song should be exiled.

The next day, Li Cou was demoted in title to be the Duke of Chao County, while Song was exiled to be the military advisor to the prefect of Kai Prefecture (開州, in modern Chongqing). It was said that Song, while chancellor, was refusing bribes from all around the empire, and when his mansion was seized and searched, all that were found were documents relating to his receiving and rejecting the bribes that were sent to him, and there was much mourning over his exile.

Song would never be allowed to return to Chang'an while alive, and he died in 833 while still serving as Kai Prefecture. Emperor Wenzong ordered that his body be allowed to be returned to Chang'an for burial. In 836 — after a plot that Emperor Wenzong had with Zheng Zhu (who had, by that point, turned against the eunuchs) and Li Xun to slaughter the eunuchs (known as the Ganlu Incident) failed, leading to Zheng's and Li Xun's deaths — Song's reputation and offices were posthumously restored, and he was given further posthumous honors. His son Song Shenwei (宋慎微) was made a county sheriff.

Family

According to New Book of Tang, volume 75, Song Shenwei was the second son of Shenxi. The eldest son of Shenxi was named Song Qiu (宋球) and had a son named Song Xuan (宋絢) with the courtesy name Taowen (韜文).

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 167.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 152.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 243, 244.

家庭背景

宋申錫生年不詳，在《新唐書》宰相世系表中，他的家族被稱為廣平（今河北邯鄲）宋氏，他本人的傳則稱這一脈的起源已失考。他的祖父叫宋素，父親叫宋叔夜。堂姑姑叫宋若昭，曾為其撰寫墓誌銘。

早期經歷

宋申錫早年喪父，家境貧寒，但文才很好。中進士後，他在秘書省任校書郎。元和十一年（816年），失寵的宰相韋貫之因反對唐憲宗對藩鎮作戰而被罷相、逐出長安改任湖南觀察使後，邀請宋申錫做他的從事。此後宋申錫就在藩鎮工作。

唐穆宗、唐敬宗年間

唐穆宗長慶（821年 - 824年）初年，宋申錫被時任御史中丞牛僧孺拜為監察御史。任上奉詔查驗秘書監分司東都元錫贓罪，得其罪行屬實，使其被貶為壁州刺史。二年（822年），任起居舍人。四年（824年）十一月，淮南節度使王播厚賂權貴要員請求領鹽鐵使，十二月，時任起居郎的宋申錫與諫議大夫獨孤朗、張仲方、起居郎孔敏行、柳公權、補闕韋仁實、劉敦儒、拾遺李景讓、薛廷老等伏延英殿上疏反對，請求在延英殿面奏王播奸邪、交結寵幸以求大用。但唐敬宗年幼不能用其言。寶曆二年（826年），宋申錫累轉禮部員外郎，很快又任翰林侍講學士。宋申錫行事謹慎，不結黨，與朝廷官員間激烈的黨爭形成對比，時人認為他的升官是為了讓別人學習。

唐文宗年間

十二月，敬宗被弒，弟唐文宗繼位。宋申錫充書詔學士。任戶部郎中，知制誥。太和二年（828年），任中書舍人、朝議郎、行尚書禮部員外郎、充翰林學士、上柱國，賜紫金魚袋。推薦和自己交好的李讓夷為右拾遺。並奉敕為義成軍節度使涼國公李聽撰寫德政碑。後被授守尚書戶部侍郎知制誥，充翰林學士。

當時，文宗忌憚當權宦官，認為是宦官害死了他的祖父憲宗和兄長敬宗。掌握神策軍的神策中尉王守澄就是一個有權勢的大宦官，領禁兵，尤其跋扈，他的門人鄭注公開受賄，令文宗很不快。宋申錫作為學士，常在內廷，文宗察覺宋申錫忠厚，認為他沉厚有方略，可以商量，于是藉機私下命他與外廷朝臣合謀奪王守澄的權，並許諾任他為宰相，宋申錫頓首致謝。四年（830年）六月，宋申錫拜右丞，七月以朝議郎、守尚書右丞、上柱國、賜紫金魚袋的身份被任為正議大夫、行尚書右丞、同中書門下平章事，為實質宰相。由于他的良好聲譽，很多人希望他拜相，但他到任後，只是循例工作，能力其實不足與聲望匹配。

作為清除當權宦官計劃的一部分，七月，宋申錫推薦朋友王璠任京兆尹兼御史大夫，並秘密向王璠透露了文宗的密旨，授意王璠捕殺鄭注。但王璠秘密把堂帖給王守澄看，于是洩密，使王守澄和鄭注有所警覺。因漳王李湊賢明在朝內外有人望，鄭注指使神策軍同正將兼衙前虞候豆盧著誣指宋申錫和李湊圖謀推翻文宗，立李湊為帝，十六宅宮市典晏敬則、朱訓與宋申錫親吏王師文同謀，宋申錫秘密給李湊送金幣，晏敬則于十六宅拿出漳王吳綾汗衫一領、熟線綾一匹以答宋申錫，意在讓宋申錫獲罪被族誅。五年（831年）二月，當王守澄于浴堂將豆盧著的彈劾報告給文宗時，文宗震驚了，信以為真，下令調查。王守澄希望派二百騎神策軍去靖恭里宋宅立刻將宋申錫族滅，但被一同入見的內官馬存亮制止：「謀反者只是宋申錫，為什麼不召南司會議，現在突然如此，京師要亂了。」王守澄只得作罷。文宗也立刻下令召集所有的宰相來延英殿。當宋申錫、路隨、李宗閔、牛僧孺四位原本都在私宅休假的宰相都來到中書省東門時，東門的宦官說宋申錫不在被召之列。路隨等愕然地互相看，宋申錫便知道自己一定是獲罪了，望著延英殿用笏板叩頭退回家待罪。他怡然不以為意，回府後停在外舍不入內，素服待罪。夫人說：「你是宰相，位極人臣，為什麼要背叛天子而謀反呢？」宋申錫答：「我本是孤兒，承蒙皇上厚恩，當上宰相，不能鋤奸臣亂黨，反被羅織罪名陷害，夫人看我宋申錫像是謀反的人嗎？」于是夫婦一同哭泣。

其餘三位宰相在延英殿見了文宗，看了王守澄的奏報，也震驚了，面面相覷，一言不發。同時，文宗命王守澄逮捕晏敬則、王師文。神策軍在宋宅捕到孔目官張全真、家人買子緣信等，又于十六宅及市肆追捕胥吏。晏敬則被抓，王師文逃走。朱訓被下神策軍黃門獄，刑訊逼供得狀稱宋申錫多年來對他說皇帝多病、太子年幼，其次當立漳王等，及去年十二月、閏十二月各人商議謀反事。

2天後，宋申錫被貶為太子右庶子。沒人敢公開說他是被誣告的，僕射竇易直說宋申錫當誅，聞者愕然。但京兆尹崔琯、大理卿王正雅指出王師文尚在逃，奏請由外廷審訊宋申錫、豆盧著，才使事件沒有進一步升級。經過審訊，晏敬則稱宋申錫事先派王師文聯絡漳王，商議謀反。

文宗召師保、僕射、尚書丞郎、常侍、給事、諫議、舍人、御史中丞、京兆尹、大理卿于中書省及集賢院審驗此事。又2天後，文宗召集宰相、議事官于延英殿詢問意見，並召三師議論如何處刑。左常侍崔玄亮與給事中李固言、諫議大夫王質、補闕盧鈞、舒元褒、羅泰、蔣係、裴休、竇宗直、韋溫、拾遺李群、韋端符、丁居晦、袁都都伏在玉階下乞求文宗重新和宰相商議，並由適當的部門來調查，而非在宮中問訊。韋溫說：「宋公履行有素，身居台輔，不當有此，是奸人陷害。吾輩諫官，豈避一時之雷電，而讓聖君賢相陷于被蒙蔽迷惑之罪？」文宗以已和公卿大官商議過為由拒絕，並因震怒四次叱退諫官。崔玄亮下跪，哭著說：「處決一個百姓要謹慎，處決一個宰相更要謹慎。我不是為宋申錫說話，是為陛下可惜天下之法。」文宗有所感悟，怒氣稍解，重新召集宰相。牛僧孺說：「位極人臣無非宰相，宋申錫已經是宰相，就算謀反成功，他仍然只能是宰相，他謀反圖什麼呢？他肯定沒有謀反。」起初，京師都以為宰相真的聯同親王謀逆了，三四天後才知道是誣陷，人士都怨恨王守澄、鄭注，于是諫官們才號泣相爭。鄭注本來希望處死宋申錫，擔心宰相的意見勝出，而再次調查會讓真相大白，于是建議王守澄不再堅持處死宋申錫，改為貶到嶺外，及請求下詔貶李湊。

第二天，李湊被貶為巢縣公，宋申錫貶為開州（今重慶）司馬同正。這是王守澄的意思，文宗不敢違。宋申錫任相期間，恨要員受賄，拒絕了全國各地的賄賂，當他被抄家時，能抄到的只有他收到和拒絕賄賂的文書，晏敬則等被處死及一同被流放而死的有上百人，李湊傅母杜仲陽被流放金陵。朝野都為宋申錫被貶而嘆息，以為冤枉。豆盧著則以右神策軍散兵馬使、檢校太子賓客被提拔為守本官兼殿中侍御史。

因力爭救下宋申錫，天下稱崔琯賢，蔣系等被時人所稱道，王正雅也被時人推重，崔玄亮也因堅持而在朝堂得到名聲，盧鈞、韋溫也由此顯名。而王質則為宦官所恨，被宰相出為虢州刺史。崔玄亮也因害怕宦官報複，當天就主動請辭致仕。馬存亮也因不能救宋申錫之冤也不能除去王守澄，即日請致仕。

宋申錫被終身禁止返回長安。七年（833年），他在開州任上去世，文宗允許把他的尸體運回長安安葬。宋申錫獲罪後，宦官愈發強橫，文宗表面上包容，其實不能忍受。文宗厭惡鄭注誣陷宋申錫，想令京兆尹杖殺他，但正逢鄭注的藥對文宗的中風病有了效果，文宗開始善待鄭注。後來文宗也下詔赦免宋申錫餘黨，只捕捉王師文一人。

八年（834年）六月，天久旱，文宗下詔求下雨的辦法，司門員外郎李中敏上言：「天旱不是聖德不至，而是因為宋申錫蒙冤，鄭注行奸。現在下雨的辦法，莫如斬鄭注而昭雪申錫。」指出宋申錫不受賄，遭奸人誣陷，天旱是上帝的靈驗，天下人都知道宋申錫是冤枉的。士大夫都覺得此舉危險，此奏疏也被留中。李中敏也在次年稱病歸洛陽。九年（835年）五月，文宗下詔稱西川監軍楊承和庇護宋申錫，下令安置楊承和于驩州，令西川軍用囚車押送之，不久賜死。

開成元年（836年）九月時，因改變立場也開始幫助文宗對付當權宦官的鄭注已在甘露之變中被殺，文宗從容對宰相們說：「朝廷豈有遺事乎？」宰相李石在延英殿進言宋申錫忠直被貶死，蒙冤未雪，其他宰相鄭覃、李固言也都回答宋申錫之冤，文宗也表示自己被騙了，為奸人所逼，俯首哭泣，數行眼淚流下：「當時兄弟都保不住，何況申錫？內臣外廷都有為此推波助瀾的，是朕不明，假如遇到漢昭帝，必無此冤情。有司為我褒顯他。」又說：「德裕也是申錫一類。」起用被鄭注誣陷而被貶的太子賓客分司東都李德裕為浙西觀察使。于是宋申錫得以平反，追複正議大夫、尚書右丞（或誤作左丞）、同中書門下平章事、上柱國，賜紫，贈兵部尚書，謚號文懿。他的兒子宋慎微被任命為城固縣尉。開成年間，文宗還在麟德殿感慨宋申錫堪任御史中丞，可惜了。唐武宗會昌元年（841年）三月，宰相李德裕、崔珙、崔鄲、陳夷行邀樞密使至中書省一同上奏，引宋申錫等案例阻止武宗處決前宰相楊嗣複、李玨。二年（842年），賜謚貞，一作穆。崔琯死後，武宗下詔褒揚其為賢相宋申錫辯誣。

許渾有詩《太和初靖恭里感事》《聞開江宋相公申錫下世二首》，即嘆宋申錫事。

後來宋朝殿中侍御史段少連曾上疏宋仁宗引用崔玄亮叩殿陛理宋申錫事為美事。

評價

• 《舊唐書》

　• 史臣曰：申錫小器大謀，貶死為幸。

　• 贊曰：（李）程、（宋申）錫弼諧，于道難周。

• 《新唐書》贊曰：申錫謀小任大，顛沛從之，惜乎！

• 《資治通鑑》：文宗深憤其然，志欲除之（宦官勢力），以宋申錫之賢，猶不能有所為，反受其殃。

子孫

據《新唐書卷七十五‧表第十五宰相世系》，除了宋慎微外，宋申錫還有長子宋球，宋球的兒子叫宋絢，字韜文。

軼聞

盧肇《逸史》稱宋申錫死後託夢于其妻，稱已訴冤于上帝，王璠必遭腰斬，一同被殺的還有數人，都埋在城外。歷史上王璠亦死于甘露之變。

參考文獻及注釋