生平

早年经历

赵憙少年时有节操。堂兄被人杀害，没有儿子，赵憙十五岁，时常想著报仇。于是带著兵器约好朋友，后来终于前去寻仇。仇人们全部生病，没有抵抗。赵憙认为乘别人生病报仇杀人，不是仁人应做的，就暂时放过他们离开，回头对仇人说：「你们如果病好了，就远远地躲开我。」仇人都卧著叩头谢罪。后来他们病愈，都自缚来见赵憙，赵憙不与他们见面，后来终于还是把他们杀了。

更始帝即位后（23年），舞阴大姓李氏据城不降，更始帝派柱天将军李宝去招降，李氏不肯，说：「听说宛人赵氏有孤孙赵憙，因信义而闻名，我愿向他投降。」更始帝就徵召赵憙，赵憙还不到二十岁，等到被引见，更始帝笑著说：「还是个小孩，怎么能挑著重担走很远呢？」于是任命他为郎中，代理偏将军事，让他到舞阴，李氏就向他投降。赵憙因此进入颍川，攻击不肯投降的人，到达汝南郡边界，返回宛城。更始帝大喜，对赵憙说；「你真是名家的千里驹，努力吧。」恰逢王莽派遣王寻、王邑率兵出关，更始帝就拜赵憙为五威偏将军，让他协助诸将抵拒王寻、王邑于昆阳，史称昆阳之战。刘秀击败王寻、王邑，赵憙负伤，立有战功，回朝后拜为中郎将，封勇功侯。

更始帝失败，赵憙被赤眉军围困急迫，于是爬上房屋逃走，与好友韩仲伯等数十人携带小孩及体弱者，爬山越阻直出武关。韩仲伯认为妻子色美，担心会有强暴她的人，而自己受其害，想将妻子遗弃于道途。赵憙责怒不听，就以泥涂在韩仲伯妻子的脸上，把她载在小车上，自己亲身推著小车。每次遇到贼寇，有时他们欲逼迫，赵憙就说她得了重病，因而得免于难。到了丹水县，遇到更始帝的家属，都赤身露体满身泥污，饥饿困顿不能前进。赵憙见了大为伤感，将所装衣帛资粮全部给了他们，将他们护送回乡里。

汉光武帝时期

这时，邓奉在南阳背叛汉光武帝（26年），赵憙向来与邓奉友善，几次写信给他加以切责，而造谣的人就诬陷说赵憙与邓奉合谋，汉光武帝对此感到怀疑。等到邓奉失败，汉光武帝搜查到赵憙写给邓奉的书信，于是大惊道：「赵憙真是一位长者啊。」当即徵召赵憙，接见他，赐鞍马，待诏公车。当时江南尚未归附东汉，道路不通，汉光武帝以赵憙代理简阳侯相。赵憙不肯带兵前往，自己单车驶往简阳。官吏民众不想让他进城，赵憙就宣告晓谕，呼唤城中大人物，示以东汉政府威信，其统帅当即开门面缚归顺，由此各营垒都投降了。荆州牧奏明赵憙才能出众极善治理，汉光武帝于是诏令他为平林侯相。赵憙攻击群贼，安集已经投降的人，县邑由是平定。

后来拜为怀县县令。大姓李子春先为琅琊国相，豪强不守法度掠夺兼并，百姓害怕他。赵憙到任后，听说他的两个孙子杀了人未被揭发，就穷加追究，把李子春逮捕拷问，两个孙子自杀。京师洛阳为李子春说情的达数十人，赵憙最终没有听从。当时赵公刘良病危（41年），汉光武帝亲临看望，问他有想说什么。刘良说：「我平素与李子春相好，现在他犯罪，怀县县令赵憙想杀他，我愿乞求留下他的性命。」汉光武帝说：「官吏尊奉法律，法律不可弯曲，你另外说还有什么要求。」刘良再没有说话。刘良死后，汉光武帝追感叔父，就赦免了李子春。同年，赵憙调任为平原郡太守。当时平原多盗贼，赵憙与诸郡讨伐捕捉，斩杀其首领，馀党株连者数千人。赵憙上书说：「恶人做了恶事只惩罚到他们自己身上，可将他们迁往京师近郡。」汉光武帝听从，将他们移置颖川、陈留。于是提拔荐举有义行的人，诛杀奸恶之徒。史书宣称，后来青州发生大规模蝗灾，一侵入到平原郡界就随即死掉，平原境内丰收多年，百姓歌颂。

建武二十六年（50年），汉光武帝召集内戚宴会，甚为欢畅，诸夫人各自往前陈述说：「赵憙很讲恩义，往年遭赤眉之祸逃出长安时，我们都是赵憙救济才得以活下来。」汉光武帝很嘉奖赵憙。后来徵召赵憙入朝担任太仆，接见时对人说：「你不但为英雄所保荐，连妇人也感怀你的恩德。」于是厚加赏赐。建武二十七年（51年）五月，拜为太尉，赐爵关内侯。当时南匈奴单于向东汉称臣，乌桓、鲜卑都入朝修好，汉光武帝令赵憙主持边境事务，思考长期规划。赵憙令过去由云中、五原迁徙到常山、居庸的移民回云中、五原，幽州、并州由此安定。此外，赵憙还建议汉光武帝将诸王遣回封国。建武三十年（54年），赵憙上言汉光武帝应当封禅，正三雍之礼。中元元年（56年），跟从汉光武帝封禅泰山。

汉明帝、章帝时期

建武中元二年（57年），汉光武帝去世，赵憙接受遗诏，主持丧礼。当时藩王都在京城，自从王莽篡位后，旧的典章制度不复存在，皇太子刘庄和东海王刘强等人夹杂同座，杂乱无序。赵憙就面色严肃，扶剑站在殿前台阶上，把藩王们扶下大殿，来明确地位尊卑。当时藩国的官员出入宫内朝中，和百官没有区别，赵憙就上书请求让谒者带领，分别停留在别的县，藩王们全部命令他们回府第，只在早晚上朝进宫。整顿礼仪，严格门卫制度，朝廷内外肃然。永平元年（58年），赵憙被封为节乡侯。永平三年（60年）二月，赵憙因审讯中山相薛修的事不符实情，免去太尉职务。同年冬，接替窦融担任卫尉。永平八年（65年），赵憙接替虞延兼任太尉事务，在官署理事如同实任。后来遇上母丧，上书请求亲自服丧守孝，汉明帝不同意，派使者替他脱掉丧服，赏赐恩宠深厚。赵憙内管宫廷警卫，外行宰相职责，能公正地处理政务，从没有懈怠过。

永平十八年（75年）八月，汉明帝去世，汉章帝继位。赵憙又主持汉明帝的丧事，第二次送走死去的皇帝。同年十月，升任太傅，并录尚书事。汉章帝提拔他的儿子七个人做郎官。长子赵代，供职黄门。建初五年（80年），赵憙病重，汉章帝亲自前去探视。五月二十日，赵憙去世，汉章帝前去祭吊。时年八十四岁，谥号为正。

世系图

Early life

Zhao Xi was born in Wan, Nanyang Commandery (present-day Nanyang, Henan). At a young age, he was known for his integrity. When Zhao Xi was 15, his elder cousin, who had no son, was murdered. Zhao Xi harboured the thought of avenging his cousin, so he brought a group of people with him to confront his cousin's killer. The murderer was ill, and Zhao Xi felt that it was inhumane to kill him at that time, so he spared him. When the killer had recovered, he bound himself and came to plead with Zhao Xi. However, Zhao Xi refused to meet him and had him killed.

Service under Gengshi Emperor

In 9 CE, Wang Mang usurped the throne of the Western Han Dynasty and declared himself emperor of the Xin Dynasty. By 23 CE, several revolts had broken out throughout China due to Wang Mang's incompetent rule. Around the time, Liu Xuan, a descendant of the Han imperial clan, was proclaimed "Gengshi Emperor" by rebels aiming to restore the Han Dynasty. Gengshi's forces were attacking Wuyin (舞阴), a city controlled by a certain Li family. Gengshi heard that Zhao Xi had some influence over the Li family, so he invited Zhao to help him persuade the Lis to surrender. When Gengshi met Zhao Xi, he saw that the latter was merely a youth, so he viewed Zhao Xi lightly. When Zhao Xi arrived in Wuyin, the Li family surrendered on their own accord, and Gengshi Emperor granted Zhao Xi the title of "Lieutenant General of Five Mights" for his achievement.

Zhao Xi was injured when he fought in the Battle of Kunyang against the Xin Dynasty, and later received the title of "Marquis Yonggong" (勇功侯). In 25 CE, Gengshi Emperor was defeated and killed by the Chimei, another rebel movement. Zhao Xi protected Gengshi and his subjects, along with their families, and led them through Wu Pass to safety. He instructed young women to smear dirt and mud on their faces to avoid being violated by the rebels if the latter caught up with them.

Service under Emperor Guangwu

Gengshi Emperor was succeeded by Liu Xiu, who became known as Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty. When Deng Feng (邓奉), one of Guangwu's subjects, betrayed his lord, Zhao Xi wrote a letter to Deng to reprimand him. When the situation in China had become more stable, Emperor Guangwu appointed Zhao Xi as Marquis-Chancellor of Jianyang (简阳侯相) and Marquis-Chancellor of Pinglin (平林侯相).

In 41 CE, when Zhao Xi was in office as Prefect of Huai County, he punished a wealthy landlord Li Zichun and his two grandsons for violating the law. Not long later, he was reassigned to be the Administrator of Pingyuan (平原). In 50 CE, the women whom Zhao Xi saved at Wu Pass 25 years ago praised him, so Emperor Guangwu summoned him to the imperial court and commissioned him as Minister Coachman (太仆). A year later, Zhao Xi was promoted to Grand Commandant (太尉), received the title of a "Secondary Marquis", and was tasked with inspecting the border. In 56 CE, he accompanied Emperor Guangwu to attend a fengshan (封禅) ceremony at Mount Tai.

Service under Emperor Ming

Emperor Guangwu died in 57 CE. In his final edict, he ordered Zhao Xi to assist his successor, Emperor Ming. In 58 CE, Emperor Ming named Zhao Xi "Marquis of Jiexiang". In the spring of 60 CE, Zhao Xi was stripped of his post of Grand Commandant for making an erroneous report on Xue Xiu (薛修), the chancellor of Zhongshan (中山). In winter that year he replaced Dou Rong (窦融) as Minister of the Guards (卫尉). In 65 CE, he took over Yu Yan (虞延) and served as acting-Grand Commandant. When his mother died of illness, Zhao Xi returned home to mourn, and Emperor Ming attempted to persuade him to remain in court.

Service under Emperor Zhang

During the reign of Emperor Ming's successor Emperor Zhang, Zhao Xi was promoted to Grand Tutor (太傅) and oversaw affairs in the imperial secretariat.

Death

Zhao Xi died of illness in 80 CE, during Emperor Zhang's reign, at the age of 84. He was granted a posthumous title, "Marquis Zheng" (正侯).