生平

父亲是南华县丞。刘晏幼年以神童著称，开元十三年（725年），唐玄宗封禅泰山，刘晏上《东封书》。玄宗大喜，使中书令张说测试他，竟对答如流。玄宗把他带回长安，官拜秘书省正字，玄宗曾经消遣过刘晏：「正字官，究竟校正了几个字呢？」刘晏回应：「天下每一个字我都能校正，只有一个『朋』字，我校正不得。」影射朝廷朋党势力庞大。后来《三字经》以「唐刘晏，方七岁，举神童，作正字」说明刘晏的事迹。刘晏成年后，先后担任夏县县令、温县县令。

安史之乱爆发后，刘晏先是投靠永王李璘的幕府，永王谋反，刘晏投奔唐肃宗，唐肃宗任命刘晏为户部度支郎中、兼侍御史，之后历任彭原（宁州，今甘肃宁县）太守、陇州（今陕西陇县）刺史，华州（今陕西华县）刺史，河南尹，京兆尹，户部侍郎，兼度支使、盐铁使、转运使。主持东南财务。

唐代宗时，刘晏任同中书门下平章事、吏部尚书、户部尚书，继续兼任盐铁转运使，和韩滉分管天下财政。刘晏疏通大运河，改善漕运，整顿盐务，控制货币，以常平法平抑物价，「官获其利，而民不乏盐」，使唐朝在安史之乱后能够恢复，大历年间天下财政收入为1200万贯，而盐利占其大半，唐朝也依赖东南经济又支撑了100多年。刘晏累加官至左仆射，但他为官俭朴，家中只有杂书两乘、米麦数斛。唐代宗称赞他：「卿，朕之酂侯（萧何）也！」

身后

唐德宗即位后，以杨炎为宰相（同中书门下平章事），杨炎与刘晏有矛盾，诬陷刘晏在代宗时密谋拥立独孤贵妃的儿子韩王李迥为太子，废黜当时是太子的德宗李适。虽经宰相崔佑甫、崔宁说情，唐德宗还是于建中元年（780年）藉故将刘晏贬为忠州（今重庆忠县）刺史，当年七月，刘晏被赐死，死后家中「惟有杂书两乘，米麦数斛」，家属徙岭表。淄青节度使李正己为刘晏之死上疏鸣不平。兴元初年（784年），唐德宗许刘晏遗体归葬。贞元五年（789年），追赠刘晏郑州刺史，又加司徒。

子孙

• 刘执经，字长儒，吏部郎中

　• 刘璨，字景光，大理评事、岭南节度判官

　　• 刘审己，华州文学

　　• 刘谠，字直哉

　• 刘瑀，字景温，泽州刺史

　　• 刘彦，卢氏尉

　• 刘璫，字景润，楚州参军

　• 刘琢，字景真

　　• 刘坤

　　• 刘坰，松阳令

　• 刘和，字时中，汝州司士参军

　• 刘珂，字景仪，夏尉

　　• 刘诰，字坦然，普安令

　　• 刘咏，泽州录事参军

　　• 刘韶，新宁令

• 刘宗经，字仲儒，国子祭酒

　• 刘倚，字正卿，监察御史

　　• 刘权，平舆令

　• 刘文简，洛阳丞

　• 刘侃，虢州长史、左赞善大夫

　　• 刘好古，字彦纯，宋州司士参军

　　　• 刘车子

　　　• 刘季随

　　• 刘好问，字彦博，无锡丞

　　• 刘好学，字彦深，苏州功曹参军

　• 刘伉，蓝田令

　　• 刘挺，○水令

　　• 刘轩，河南尉

　　• 刘辎

　• 刘俨，龙丘令

　　• 刘承嗣

评价

安史之乱以后，唐朝经济遭到严重破坏，漕运的破坏导致关中地区粮荒，「人烟断绝，千里萧条」，「太仓空虚，鼠雀犹饿」。刘晏「为人勤力，事无闲剧，必一日中决之」，努力让漕运畅通无阻，「岁转粟百一十万石」，「诸州米尝储三百万斛」。史称：「安史之乱，天下户口十亡八九，所在宿重兵，其费不资，皆倚办于晏，晏有精力，多机智，变通有无，曲尽其妙」。刘晏死后，其影响力仍在，《旧唐书·刘晏传》说：「晏没后二十馀年，韩洄、元秀、裴腆、包佶、卢徵、李衡，继掌财赋，皆晏故吏。其部吏居数千里之外，奉教令如在目前。」

注释

Background

Liu Yan was born in 715 or 716. His family was from Cao Prefecture (曹州, in modern Heze, Shandong), and traced its ancestry to Liu Jiao, a younger brother of Han Dynasty's founder Emperor Gao. His great-great-grandfather Liu Jin served as a county magistrate during Tang Dynasty's predecessor Sui Dynasty, and his great-grandfather Liu Yu served as an imperial scholar early in Tang. His grandfather Liu Gong served as a county magistrate, while his father Liu Zhihui served as a county secretary general.

During Emperor Xuanzongs reign

When Emperor Xuanzong offered sacrifices at Mount Tai in 725, Liu Yan, then a child, wrote a song and submitted it to Emperor Xuanzong. Emperor Xuanzong was amazed, and he had his chancellor Zhang Shuo test Liu's knowledge. Zhang was also impressed and stated, "This is a sign of fortune for the empire." He made Liu a scribe in the imperial government, at his young age, and Liu became referred to as the "godly child." The honored men all rushed to invite him to their households.

During Emperor Xuanzong's Tianbao era (742–756), Liu became the magistrate of Xia County (夏县, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). Xia County was a key point for transportation of supplies to the Tang capital Chang'an, and it was said that while Liu did not supervise the transportation of supplies through his county in a harsh manner, the supplies were nevertheless always on time. After receiving a recommendation, he was then made the magistrate of Wen County (温县, in modern Jiaozuo, Henan). It was said that the people were happy about his governance and made monuments for him. He was later recalled to Chang'an to serve as Shiyushi (侍御史), a low-level imperial censor.

During Emperor Suzongs reign

In 755, the general An Lushan rebelled at Fanyang and by 756, the forces of his new state of Yan were approaching Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to flee to Chengdu. Liu Yan fled to Xiangyang. Emperor Xuanzong's son and crown prince Li Heng fled to Lingwu instead, where he was declared emperor (as Emperor Suzong), an act that Emperor Xuanzong recognized. Emperor Xuanzong, however, prior to Emperor Suzong's declaration as emperor, had sent another son, Li Lin the Prince of Yong, to Jianling to oversee the Yangtze River region. When Li Lin arrived at Jiangling, he heard that Liu was at Xiangfan and invited him to serve on his staff. Liu declined, however, and wrote a letter to the chancellor Fang Guan, pointing out that at this point, having imperial princes with great powers would simply bring trouble. Emperor Suzong then issued an edict making Liu the tax collector for the Yangtze-Huai River region. When Liu reached Wu Commandery (roughly modern Suzhou, Jiangsu), he heard that Li Lin had rebelled against Emperor Suzong, and therefore met with the surveyor of the region, Li Xiyan (李希言), to confer on how to resist Li Lin. Li Xiyan put Liu in defense of Yuhang Commandery (馀杭, roughly modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang). After Li Xiyan was defeated by Li Lin late in 756, he fled to Yuhang and defended it together with Liu. In 757, after Li Lin was defeated by other Tang generals, he initially considered attacking Yuhang, but after hearing that Liu was defending it, he changed his mind and fled west. (He was eventually captured and killed by another Tang general, Huangfu Shen (皇甫侁).) Liu, however, did not claim credit for the victory. At a later point, Emperor Suzong recalled him to serve as the governor of Pengyuan Commandery (彭原, roughly modern Qingyang, Gansu). He later served as the prefect of Hua Prefecture (华州, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi), and then the mayor of Henan Municipality (河南), which encompassed the eastern capital Luoyang. However, as at that time Tang forces were still stalemated against the Yan emperor by that point, Shi Chaoyi (the son of An Lushan's general Shi Siming), and Luoyang was still in Yan hands, Liu's government seat was actually at Changshui (长水, near Luoyang).

Liu had already proved his worth by using impressed labor to dredge the long silted-over canal connecting the Huai and Yellow rivers; this project lowered transport costs, relieved food shortages, and increased tax revenues with little government investment. The Huai river ran through Northern Jiangsu, the location of coastal salt marshes which were the major source of salt. Liu realized that if the government could control these areas to enforce a salt monopoly, such as had existed in earlier periods but fallen into disuse, it could sell the salt at a monopoly price to merchants, who would pass the increased price on to their customers. This monopoly price was an indirect tax which was reliably collected in advance without having to control the areas where the salt was consumed. In 758 Liu created a Salt and Iron Commission whose revenues were particularly important since the central government had lost control of the provinces. Even better, the revenue originated in the south, where it could be safely used to buy grain to ship to the capital, Chang'an, by river and canal.

By 760, Liu Yan was serving as the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆), which encompassed Chang'an, when he, because he was believed to be capable in financial matters, was also made the deputy minister of census (户部侍郎, Hubu Shilang), as well as the special director in charge of finance, minting, and salt and iron monopolies. It was said that in these positions, Liu was not harsh but had a good grasp of the big picture, and that he served well.

In 761, the official Yan Zhuang (严庄), who had previously served An but later submitted to Tang, was accused of having secret communications with Shi Chaoyi. After Yan was arrested, Liu sent soldiers to guard Yan's mansion, ready to seize it if Yan were found guilty. Yan, however, was soon exonerated, and became resentful of Liu. Yan therefore accused Liu of leaking contents of secret conversations that he had with Emperor Suzong. As a result of these counteraccusations, and also because the chancellor Xiao Hua was jealous of Liu's talents, both Liu and Yan were demoted — in Liu's case, to be the prefect of Tong Prefecture (通州, in modern Dazhou). His financial responsibilities were transferred to Yuan Zai.

During Emperor Daizongs reign

Emperor Suzong died in 762 and was succeeded by his son Emperor Daizong. Emperor Daizong recalled Liu Yan to Chang'an to again serve in three posts – deputy minister of census, mayor of Jingzhao Municipality, and special director in charge of finance, minting, salt and iron monopolies, and food shipments. Liu declined the posts of deputy minister of census and mayor of Jingzhao, yielding them to Yan Zhenqing and Yan Wu (严武) respectively. In 763, while still serving as special director of the various economy-related matters, he was also made the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚书, Libu Shangshu) and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, making him a chancellor de facto. In 674, however, he was accused of having close association with the eunuch Cheng Yuanzhen – who had been exceedingly powerful but who had been removed in 763 after he was blamed for not warning Emperor Daizong about a Tufan invasion – and he, along with a colleague who had been hated by other eunuchs for his role in Cheng's downfall, Li Xian, were removed from their chancellor posts, with Liu being made a member of the staff of Li Kuo the Crown Prince.

However, later in the year, Liu was put in charge of the affairs of food shipments, taxation, salt and iron monopolies, and food management for the regions of Luoyang, Huai River, and Yangtze River. At that time, the Chang'an region was suffering from a food shortage, after years of warfare. Food supplies coming from the Yangtze region, which had been traveling through Bian River – a canal that connected the Huai River and Yellow River – prior to the Anshi Rebellion, had been unable to travel through it since it had been silted through the years. Instead, the shipments had to travel on the Yangtze River and Han River to Liang Prefecture (梁州, in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi), and then over the Qinling Mountains to Chang'an – a much more treacherous and costly route. Liu, hoping to restore the Bian River-Yellow River route, personally travelled through the former route to examine it. He then wrote a detailed report to Yuan Zai, who had become a powerful chancellor by that point, explaining the benefits of the Bian River route. With Yuan's support, he began the project to clear Bian River of silt. Upon the completion of the project, the food supplies for the Chang'an regions became plentiful, even during times of poor harvest. Emperor Daizong, complimenting him, stated, "You, lord, are my Marquess of Zuan" — comparing him to the great Han Dynasty prime minister Xiao He. By 766, Liu was serving as the minister of census (户部尚书, Hubu Shangshu), and that year, the financial matters of the state were divided in halves — with him in charge of the eastern half of the empire, and his deputy Diwu Qi in charge of the western half.

By 777, Yuan and his chancellor colleague Wang Jin, both of whom had become entrenched in their positions and become extremely corrupt, finally wore out Emperor Daizong's patience, and Emperor Daizong had them arrested. He ordered Liu to interrogate them, but Liu, not daring to carry this task out along, proposed that five officials, including himself and the chief imperial censor Li Han (李涵), be appointed. Subsequently, Yuan was executed, but at Liu's suggestion that Wang was less culpable than Yuan, Wang's life was spared, although he was demoted to be a prefectural prefect. Subsequently, Chang Gun replaced Yuan, and Chang, jealous of Liu, suggested to Emperor Daizong that Liu, given his contributions, should be made Puye (仆射) – one of the heads of the executive bureau of government (尚书省, Shangshu Sheng); Chang did so with the intent that Liu be stripped of his financial responsibilities. Emperor Daizong made Liu Pushe, but continued to have him be in charge of the financial affairs.

It was said that during the years that Liu was in charge of financial affairs, he carefully selected the officials in charge of financial matters in each region, choosing those who were young, energetic, and talented. Many times, powerful individuals would make recommendations; Liu would take the people that they recommended and put them in honored posts with salaries, but not give them actual responsibilities. It was said that those officials that Liu commissioned were faithful to their tasks and Liu's instructions, even if they were thousands of miles away from the capital.

During Emperor Dezongs reign

Emperor Daizong died in 779 and was succeeded by Li Kuo (as Emperor Dezong). At that time, Han Huang was in charge of the financial matters of the western half of the empire (Diwu Qi having been removed from that post in 770). Emperor Dezong, hearing that Han was harsh and excessive, removed Han from his post and gave the responsibilities for the financial matters of the entire empire to Liu Yan. It was said that he improved the salt monopoly system that Diwu had instituted and increased the earnings tenfold, without any additional impositions on the people.

However, Liu was soon in a precarious position. Yang Yan, a protégé of Yuan's, had become the most powerful chancellor and was well-trusted by Emperor Dezong. Yang had previously served under Liu as deputy minister of civil service affairs, and they did not get along with each other; further, Yang blamed Liu for Yuan's death. At that time, there were rumors that Liu had, during Emperor Daizong's reign, suggested to him that he create his favorite concubine, Consort Dugu, empress. (As Consort Dugu was not Emperor Dezong's mother and had her own son, Li Jiong (李迥) the Prince of Han, it was believed that such a move would have potentially endangered Emperor Dezong's position.) Further, many people had been jealous of Liu's long hold on financial matters. Yang, wanting to avenge Yuan, thus took this opportunity to accuse Liu of having endangered Emperor Dezong's position, along with the official Li Gan (黎干) and the eunuch Liu Zhongyi – both of whom had been executed in 779 under the same accusations of having supported Consort Dugu. Yang's chancellor colleague Cui Youfu opposed further investigation of Liu Yan, but still, in spring 780, at Yang's suggestion, Liu Yan was stripped of his special director status, and the financial responsibilities were returned to the bureaus under the ministry of census, which had previously been responsible for such matters. Subsequently, Emperor Dezong demoted Liu to be the prefect of Zhong Prefecture (忠州, in modern Chongqing).

In fall 780, at Yang's inducement, Liu's superior Yu Zhun (庾准) submitted an accusation that Liu had written a letter to the general Zhu Ci, asking for Zhu's help, and that in the letter to Zhu he wrote many complaints about Emperor Dezong. Yu further accused Liu of having requested additional soldiers for his prefecture with the intent to start a rebellion. Yang urged Emperor Dezong to execute Liu. Emperor Dezong agreed, and he sent eunuchs to Zhong Prefecture to secretly strangle Liu to death, before issuing an edict publicly ordering Liu to commit suicide. It was said that the entire empire mourned Liu's death and believed him to be innocent. His family was exiled to the Lingnan region, and his assets were confiscated. (When his assets were booked in order to be confiscated, it was discovered that Liu had been so honest that as an official that he lacked any real wealth, and those who saw this were further impressed by him.) The warlord Li Zhengji, who had been looking for excuses to complain about imperial governance, submitted a petition stating that Liu had been innocently killed and requested that his family be allowed to return to Chang'an — a petition that Emperor Dezong ignored. Nevertheless, because Liu had been careful at selecting officials, particularly those with financial talents, it was said that for decades following his death, the officials in charge of financial affairs were mostly Liu's old subordinates.

In 784, Emperor Dezong, beginning to believe that Liu was in fact innocent, allowed him to be reburied in his home prefecture. In 789, he further made Liu's sons Liu Zhijing and Liu Zongjing officials. When Liu Zhijing offered to yield his posts in exchange for Liu Yan to be posthumously honored, Emperor Dezong posthumously honored Liu Yan Situ (司徒, one of the Three Excellencies).

Liu Xu, the lead editor of the Old Book of Tang, commented thus about Liu Yan:

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 123.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 149.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226.