家世

王处回的家世、生年都不详，彭城人氏。性格宽厚爱士，颇有机略。

后唐年间

王处回最初在后唐西川节度使孟知祥手下任中门副使。天成四年（929年），西川右都押牙孟容之弟为资州税官，监守自盗，论罪当死。王处回和观察判官冯璩为其求情，孟知祥拒绝了：「即使是我弟弟犯法，也不可饶恕，何况他人！」

长兴三年（932年），孟知祥的行营马步军都部署赵廷隐新败邻镇东川节度使董璋，导致董璋部将杀死董璋并以东川投降孟知祥。孟知祥前往东川军部梓州受降途中染重病。王处回服侍他，确保凡是给孟知祥的饭食，都吃完了（可能孟知祥吃不下的饭食都由王处回吃完），制造孟知祥病得没有实际那么重的假象，以安众心。不久，孟知祥康复。王处回被任为中门使。

后蜀年间

应顺元年（934年）正月，孟知祥建立后蜀，称帝。二月，任王处回为枢密使。

七月，孟知祥病重，遗诏托孤皇太子孟仁赞于司空同平章事赵季良、武信军节度使李仁罕、保宁军节度使赵廷隐、枢密使王处回、捧圣控鹤都指挥使张公铎、奉銮肃卫指挥副使侯弘实，驾崩。当时，秘不发丧，王处回在晚上开义兴门告知赵季良，哭泣不已，赵季良正色说，局势未稳，应该速立孟仁赞为新君。王处回收回眼泪并道歉。赵季良让王处回去见李仁罕并观察其态度，他俩都怀疑李仁罕可能不愿侍奉一位幼主。王处回到李仁罕家，李仁罕以武备相见，王处回因而没有以孟知祥死讯相告，宣遗诏让孟仁赞改名孟昶，在孟知祥柩前登基，然后发丧，其临变知大体若此。后因张公铎与孟昶近臣医官使韩继勋、丰德库使韩保贞、茶酒库使安思谦等都怀疑李仁罕，孟昶不久即在与赵季良、赵廷隐谋划后捕杀了李仁罕。《锦里耆旧传》称王处回与赵廷隐都请杀李仁罕。孟昶加王处回兼侍中，领武泰军节度使。和其他后蜀高级将官一样，王处回没有真正赴任武泰军，而是通过僚佐遥控之。

广政元年（938年），王处回兼武信军节度使，授宰相衔同中书门下平章事。

后蜀立国以来，节度使多领禁兵，或以其他职务留在成都，委托僚佐管治军镇，专事聚敛，政事败坏，百姓也无可申诉。孟昶了解到这一制度的弊端，进行改革。广政四年（941年），另授赵廷隐、王处回、张公铎检校官，剥夺节度使衔，改以文官任节度使。但七年（944年），孟昶不知何故又推翻了自己的改革，恢复了将相遥领节度使的制度，王处回受任遥领保宁军节度使。十年（947年）三月，翰林承旨李昊对王处回说固镇不可失，请求遣山南西道节度使孙汉韶率兵急攻由后晋馀部掌控的凤州。孟昶命孙汉韶前来凤州行营。十二月，孟昶命王处回作书招降王处回的朋友凤翔节度使侯益，侯益归蜀，但很快又因害怕而入朝后汉。

王处回因身为勋旧，变得专权贪纵，卖官索贿，四方有馈赠的，先送礼给王处回，然后才送给朝廷。儿子王德钧（或作王德筠）也骄横，多行不法。广政十一年（948年）七月，高级宰相司空兼中书侍郎同平章事张业因腐败和被控谋反被杀，有人认为王处回也会被杀。但孟昶不忍杀王处回，建议他回家。王处回惶恐辞职，被罢黜为武德军（即东川）节度使兼中书令。八月，王处回告老，以太子太傅致仕。赵廷隐也致仕，至此后蜀故将旧臣皆退，孟昶开始亲理政事。王处回致仕后，孟昶认为枢密使权重难制，以卷帘使王昭远及普丰库使高延昭为通奏使知枢密使事，但事无大小一以委之，府库金帛恣其所取而不问。九月，孟昶因张业、王处回执政期间自己多受蒙蔽而设置匦函（举报箱），后改为献纳函。十四年（951年）夏四月，王处回卒。

轶事

王处回少年孤贫，还没当官时，相士周玄豹曾看著他说：「要宝精（珍惜自身精气）啊，你当大富。」于是王处回后来家资巨万，财货达到内廷的三分之二。后来居住成都时，有浓眉大鼻、布衣褴褛的道士朱桃椎（《野人闲话》作王桃枝）来访，以剑拨土，取三粒花种种下，须臾形成三朵花，对王处回说：「这是仙人旌节花。是你的富贵之兆。」王处回果然后来历任三镇节度使，如其所言。

评价

• 《十国春秋》论曰：王处回处变之才，咸推屹然大臣，乃竟用奢纵败，何邪？

注释及参考文献

Background

Little is recorded in traditional histories about Wang Chuhui's background, including when he was born. It is known that he was from Pengcheng (彭城, in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu). He was described to have a lenient, caring, and alert personality.

During Later Tang

As of 929, Wang Chuhui was serving as the deputy chief of staff (中门副使, Zhongmen Fushi) under Meng Zhixiang the Later Tang-commissioned military governor (Jiedushi) of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan). That year, there was an occasion when a younger brother of the officer Meng Rong (孟容), who was serving as a tax collector, had embezzled from the tax funds and was sentenced to death. On account of Meng Rong, Wang and Meng Zhixiang's secretary Feng Qu sought lenity for Meng Rong's brother. Meng Zhixiang refused, stating that even if the guilty were his own brother, he would not have shown lenity.

In 932, Meng's general Zhao Tingyin had just defeated Dong Zhang the military governor of neighboring Dongchuan Circuit (东川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan), causing Dong's officers into killing him and surrendering the circuit to Meng Zhixiang. Meng was heading to Dongchuan's capital Zi Prefecture (梓州) to accept the surrender, when he fell seriously ill on the way. Wang attended to him, and made sure that whenever meals were served to Meng, that they were completely eaten (presumably, Wang himself ate the remainder), to create the impression that Meng's illness was not as serious as it actually was, to make sure that the soldiers would not panic. (Meng soon recovered thereafter.) Wang thereafter was made chief of staff.

During Later Shu

In 934, Meng Zhixiang declared himself the emperor of a new state of Later Shu. Wang Chuhui was made his chief of staff — and as Meng was now emperor, Wang's title became the greater title of Shumishi.

Later in the year, Meng became seriously ill. He left a will entrusting his son and crown prince Meng Renzan (whose name was later changed to Meng Chang) to the chancellor Zhao Jiliang, the senior generals Li Renhan and Zhao Tingyin, Wang, and the imperial guard generals Zhang Gongduo and Hou Hongshi (侯弘实), and then died. The news of his death was not immediately announced, and Wang informed Zhao Jiliang first. As he did, he was weeping, and Zhao Jiliang pointed out that the state was not yet on firm grounds, and that the appropriate thing to do is to quickly support Meng Chang to take the throne. Wang apologized and agreed. Zhao then instructed him to inform Li and to observe Li's attitude (as both of them had suspicions that Li might be unwilling to serve a young emperor). When Wang reached Li's mansion, however, Li only met him after surrounding himself with armed guards. Wang therefore decided not to inform him of Meng Zhixiang's death, until after Meng Chang took the throne shortly after. (With Zhang and Meng Chang's close associates Han Jixun, Han Baozhen, and An Siqian (安思谦) all suspecting Li as well, Meng Chang shortly after had Li arrested and put to death after consulting with Zhao Jiliang and Zhao Tingyin; Wang's involvement in the matter, if any, was not stated in history.) Meng bestowed on Wang the honorary chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中) and also gave him the title of military governor of Wutai Circuit (武泰, headquartered in modern Chongqing). (As with the case with other high-level Later Shu officials/generals at the time, Wang did not actually report to Wutai, but governed the circuit remotely through staff members.)

In 938, Wang, who was still serving as chief of staff and continued to do so, was made the military governor of Wuxin Circuit (武信, headquartered in modern Suining, Sichuan), and given the honorary chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi.

In 941, Meng Chang, believing that the circuits were being misgoverned in the absence of the high level officials who were also serving as their military governors, bestowed additional honorific titles on Zhao Tingyin, Wang, and Zhang, but stripped them of their military governor titles and put those circuits under civilian officials. However, in 944, for reasons unclear, Meng reversed his reforms on this issue, and Wang was given the military governorship of Baoning Circuit (保宁, headquartered in modern Nanchong, Sichuan).

It was said that because of his accomplishments and seniority, Wang became very autocratic and corrupt, widely selling offices for bribes. His son Wang Dejun (王德筠) was similarly corrupt. In 948, after senior chancellor Zhang Ye was put to death on account of his corruption, there was some belief that Wang might be killed as well. Meng, however, did not have the heart to act against Wang, but instead suggested that he should retire. Wang, in fear, offered to retire, and was made the military governor of Wude Circuit (武德, i.e., Dongchuan) and given the honorary chancellor title of Zhongshu Ling (中书令). Shortly after, he was allowed to retire entirely, with the honorary title of Taizi Taifu (太子太傅). He died in summer 951.

Notes and references

• Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 52.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 276, 277, 279, 281, 282, 286, 287, 288.