背景

高仁厚家世不詳，連《新唐書》本傳也沒有這方面的記載。但他剛從軍時是在陳敬瑄帳下為神機營使。黃巢農民起義軍攻陷長安迫使唐僖宗逃往西川軍部成都時，中和元年（881年）六月，陳敬瑄從帳下號為「鵶兒」的五千精兵中撥出兩千人給高仁厚指揮。為防黃巢追趕僖宗，陳敬瑄命「鵶兒」北上。當時，很多流氓也逃離了長安，擾亂京兆地區人民的生活。高仁厚攻擊他們，殺了幾千人，安定了地方。

討伐阡能

二年（882年），由于對陳敬瑄對西川的管理不滿，爆發了農民反抗，最大的一支由阡能率領。阡能本邛州衙吏，因為誤了公事，為避免遭到刑罰而出逃，聚眾反抗。陳敬瑄最初派牙將楊行遷、胡洪略、莫匡時平叛，但這些將領都很無能，為免責罰甚至殺良冒功。阡能不但占領了起事之地邛州，還進軍蜀州。十一月，陳敬瑄派時任押牙的高仁厚為都招討指揮使，率兵五百人接替楊行遷攻打阡能。

高仁厚出發前一天，有個賣面的人從早上到中午多次出入營寨，巡邏者生疑抓住他訊問，果然是阡能派來的間諜，自稱父母妻兒都被阡能扣押。高仁厚策反了他，讓他回去告訴阡能高仁厚只有五百人，再秘密告訴阡能的部眾：高尚書對你們沒有惡意，只希望你們放棄支持阡能，高尚書會在你們的背上寫「歸順」二字遣複舊業。次日，高仁厚發兵至雙流，把截使白文現出迎，高仁厚看了一圈塹柵，怒責塹柵重複牢密，是白文現苟安養寇邀功，命引出斬之，監軍一直求情，白文現才得免。高仁厚命平塹柵，只留五百兵守，其餘兵都隨身，又召諸寨兵，相繼集合。阡能聞訊，遣羅渾擎于雙流之西立五寨，伏兵千人于野橋箐。高仁厚探聽後，圍而不殺，派人脫下軍裝進入叛軍中告諭，內容和之前對間諜說的一樣。叛軍大喜，爭相丟棄盔甲兵器投降下拜，高仁厚都撫諭之，在他們背上寫字，命他們回去告知寨中未降者，寨中餘眾爭相出降。羅渾擎狼狽越塹而逃，被部下抓住見高仁厚，高仁厚說：「這愚夫不足與語。」械送成都，命焚五寨及其甲兵，惟留旗幟，收降的有四千人。第二天，高仁厚以降卒為前部，以示沒有虐待他們，讓他們經過穿口、新津寨下，以背上字告諭其他猶豫未降者；取羅渾擎旗倒系，以五十人為隊，授以一旗，讓他們在前面跑，揚旗疾呼：「羅渾擎已生擒，送至使府，大軍將至。你們居寨中者趕緊像我一樣出降，立即可以為良人，沒事了！」到穿口，阡能盟友句胡僧所置十一寨中人爭相出降。句胡僧大驚，拔劍阻攔，眾人投瓦石擊之，共擒之以獻于高仁厚，其眾五千多人皆降。次日，焚寨，如法炮製，行至新津，阡能盟友韓求所置十三寨皆迎降。韓求投深塹，部下用鉤撈出，已死，斬其首以獻。將士欲焚寨，高仁厚制止說：「降人都沒吃飯。」下令先運出糧食，然後再焚寨。新降者爭著做飯，與先降來告者一起吃，談笑歌吹，終夜不絕。次日，高仁厚放雙流、穿口降者先回家，使新津降者執旗前驅，說：「等進入邛州境，也可遣散歸家了。」阡能盟友羅夫子置九寨于延貢，其眾之前望見新津火光，已不眠。新津人到後，羅夫子脫身棄寨奔阡能，其眾皆降。次日，羅夫子至阡能寨，共謀聚眾決戰，還未定計，黃昏時，延貢降者到了，阡能、羅夫子走馬巡寨，欲出兵，眾人皆不應。高仁厚引兵連夜相逼，次日，諸寨知大軍已近，呼喊著爭相出迎，擒阡能，阡能窘迫投井，被眾人所擒，不死；又擒羅夫子，羅夫子自剄。眾人拿著羅夫子首級，綁著阡能，驅之前迎官軍，見高仁厚，擁馬首大呼泣拜，稱負冤日久，無所控訴，今日見高仁厚，如死而複生，歡呼不止。高仁厚又分遣諸將前去收降其他地方的叛寨。高仁厚出軍才六天，五叛首皆平。每攻下縣鎮，立即補鎮遏使，使其安集戶口。于是陳敬瑄梟韓求、羅夫子首于市，將阡能、羅渾擎、句胡僧釘在城西，七日後處死。阡能謀主孔目官張榮寫詩哀求高仁厚，高仁厚將其送成都，釘死于馬市。此外沒有多殺一人。因高仁厚平阡能有功，十二月，陳敬瑄任他為眉州防禦使。僖宗御樓勞軍，授高仁厚檢校尚書左僕射、眉州刺史。

討伐韓秀升、屈行從

與此同時，陳敬瑄還要對付涪州刺史韓秀升、屈行從的農民變軍，他們于同年十月在三峽地區起事。陳敬瑄派押牙莊夢蝶為峽路招討指揮使平叛，但莊夢蝶戰敗，被迫退守忠州，東線江淮諸鎮的補給線斷絕，使唐僖宗的流亡朝廷資金匱乏，百姓食鹽漸漸短缺。三年（883年）二月，陳敬瑄派高仁厚為西川行軍司馬，率三千兵攻打韓、屈，許諾事成後封他為東川節度使。三月，莊夢蝶與韓秀升、屈行從戰，又敗，敗兵紛紛往回逃，地方官雖然慰諭，不可阻止。高仁厚于路遇到，叱止之，斬都虞候一人，令休整部伍。高仁厚召來耆老，問以山川蹊徑及叛寨所據，高興地說：「賊精兵都在船里，使老弱守寨，糧食皆在寨中，此所謂重戰輕防，其敗必矣！」于是揚兵江上，作欲渡河之狀。叛軍晝夜防備，遣兵挑戰，高仁厚沒有直接進攻，而是秘密派勇士千人拿著兵器和莖稈間道攻叛軍寨，焚之。叛軍望見，不及分兵往救，糧食皆毀，眾心已動搖。高仁厚又招募善游者鑿叛軍船底，叛軍的船相繼沉沒，叛軍惶惑不能相救，高仁厚派兵在要路迎擊並招降，叛軍皆降。韓、屈的部眾開始投降，他倆持劍攻擊投降部眾，結果被憤怒的部眾抓住交給高仁厚。當高仁厚訊問他們反叛的原因時，被韓、屈指責唐宣宗死後朝政日非的大膽回答打動，他給他們好的食物，再將他們械送成都，他們就在那裡被處決。

討伐楊師立

陳敬瑄許諾讓高仁厚當東川節度使的事被東川節度使楊師立得知。楊師立曾經是陳敬瑄的盟友，但已日漸為陳敬瑄因其弟近侍宦官田令孜的緣故得寵于僖宗而不滿。田令孜認為楊師立會反對自己和陳敬瑄，決定先發制人。四年（884年）二月，他召楊師立回朝任位置很高卻幾無職權的右僕射。楊師立憤怒了，三月，傳檄聲言討陳敬瑄、田令孜之罪，出兵攻西川。

僖宗下詔削楊師立官爵，任高仁厚為東川留後，以西川押牙楊茂言為行軍副使，率兵五千討伐楊師立。五月，屯德陽，楊師立遣其將鄭君雄、張士安據鹿頭關以拒之，二將堅壁不出。高仁厚在東川軍部梓州周圍建了十二座營寨，想拖垮東川軍。相持四天後，鄭君雄、張士安在二更天夜襲城北副使寨，楊茂言率眾棄寨逃跑，旁邊很多寨的士兵也恐慌逃離。東川軍合兵南攻中軍，高仁厚聞之，大開寨門，設炬火照之，親自率士卒為兩翼伏在道路左右。東川軍到了，見寨門開，不敢入而迴轉。高仁厚發伏兵擊之，東川軍皆狂奔，高仁厚追殺至城下，困其于壕中，斬獲甚眾而歸。又念及棄寨逃跑次日論罪當誅的甚多，就秘密召孔目官張韶，諭道：「你趕緊遣步探子率數十人分道追逃跑者，以你的名義諭之：『僕射幸好不出寨，都不知道，你們趕緊歸來，次早如常集會，勿憂。』」張韶素為有名長者，眾人相信他，至四更天都還寨，惟有楊茂言跑到張把才被追上。高仁厚聽聞諸寨打更如故，喜道：「都回來了！」次日，諸將集會，以為高仁厚真的不知道，坐了很久，高仁厚對楊茂言說：「昨夜聞副使身先士卒，跑到張把，有這事嗎？」楊茂言答：「昨夜聞賊攻中軍，左右言僕射已去，才策馬跟隨，後來察覺是假消息，複還寨中。」高仁厚說：「仁厚與副使俱受命于天子，將兵討賊，若仁厚先走，副使當叱我下馬，行軍法，代總軍事，然後奏聞。現在副使已先逃跑，又行欺罔，理當如何？」楊茂言拱手說：「當死。」高仁厚說：「然！」命左右扶下，斬之，諸將股慄。高仁厚便召昨夜所俘虜數十人，釋縛放歸。鄭君雄等聞之懼怕，說：「彼軍法嚴整如是，自今兵不可複出矣！」張士安不敢複出，楊師立親自督戰，十戰皆敗。高仁厚陳兵鹿頭關城下。鄭君雄等全軍出戰，高仁厚設伏于陳後，詐敗，鄭君雄等追殺時，伏兵發作，鄭君雄等大敗遁還梓州。陳敬瑄發兵三千以助高仁厚軍，進圍梓州。

但高仁厚的圍城最初並不成功，久攻不下。六月，他將書信射入城中，告訴楊師立的部將們，他不想殺東川士兵，緩攻十日，只要他們送上楊師立的首級，都可以免罪，否則分兵為五，分晝夜以攻城，如果五日不下，四面俱進，必能破城。鄭君雄于是與張士安發動兵變，以高仁厚書示楊師立說：「請以死謝眾。」楊師立投水自殺。鄭君雄率梓州投降。高仁厚入城，釋放囚犯，賑濟窮人，獻楊師立首及其妻子于行在。他隨後被任為劍南東川節度使。

身亡

但在光啟二年（886年）三月，陳敬瑄對高仁厚起了疑心，欲除去他。高仁厚也不再和陳敬瑄通信。恰在此時，被任為遂州刺史的鄭君雄攻占漢州，進軍成都。陳敬瑄派部將李順之予以防禦，李順之將鄭君雄敗殺。陳敬瑄藉機調動維州、茂州的羌兵攻打高仁厚。羌兵擊敗高仁厚，將其斬殺。唐昭宗繼位後，討伐陳敬瑄，于乾寧年間（894年 - 898年）追贈高仁厚為司徒。

後世影響

明朝崇禎十二年（1639年），湖廣僉事、監鄖、襄諸軍張克儉輔佐大學士督師楊嗣昌，憂新降士卒作亂，但楊嗣昌不以為意，說：「昔高仁厚六日降賊百萬，擒阡能，監軍為何露怯？」

評價

• 《新唐書》贊曰：如（高）仁厚、田（頵）、朱（延壽），材不足為吳、蜀之老，可與事天子哉！

注釋

Background

Gao Renhou's origins had been lost to history even by the time that the New Book of Tang, which contained a biography of his, was written. However, it is known that he started his career as an officer under Chen Jingxuan the military governor of Xichuan, and that he became a commander of 2,000 of the 5,000 elite soldiers of Xichuan known as "Crow Corps," after the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao had captured the imperial capital Chang'an, forcing then-reigning Emperor Xizong to flee to Xichuan's capital Chengdu. As part of Chen's operations to prevent Huang from pursuing Emperor Xizong, he sent the Crow Corps north. At that time, many of the hoodlums of Chang'an had also fled Chang'an in light of Huang's attack and had greatly disturbed the lives of the people of the Baoji region. Gao attacked the hoodlums and killed thousands of them, thus pacifying the region.

Campaign against Qian Neng

By 882, there were a number of agrarian rebellions against Chen Jingxuan's governance of Xichuan, with one of the most serious rebellions led by Qian Neng, who was formerly a local administrator who was set for punished for minor errors and thus rose in rebellion. Chen initially sent his officers Yang Xingqian (楊行遷), Hu Honglüe (胡洪略), and Mo Kuangshi (莫匡時) against these rebels, but they were largely ineffective; worse, to avoid being punished themselves, they often killed innocent civilians and claimed that the dead civilians were agrarian rebels. As a result, Qian was not only able to take over Qiong Prefecture where he initially started his rebellion, but advanced into Shu Prefecture (蜀州, in modern Chengdu as well). In winter 882, Chen decided to send Gao Renhou to replace Yang and to attack Qian.

Instead of repeating Yang's failed strategy of intense attacks on the rebels, Gao persuaded a spy that Qian had sent to spy on his troops to instead turn against Qian and persuade Qian's followers that Gao had no ill intent toward them and only wanted them to abandon their support of Qian. Gao then engaged Qian's lieutenant Luo Hunqing (羅渾擎) at Shuangliu (雙流, in modern Chengdu). The rebels under Luo, having been persuaded by the spy, surrendered in droves, and Gao captured Luo. He then had the surrendered rebels serve as his forward troops (to show that Gao was, indeed, not mistreating them) and further attacked Qian's lieutenants Ju Huseng (句胡僧) and Han Qiu (韓求); Ju was captured, and Han committed suicide. Gao then allowed the surrendered rebels to return to their homes safely, further causing the morale of Qian's followers to fail. Qian's remaining followers arrested him; his lieutenant Luo Fuzi (羅夫子) committed suicide. Gao, pursuant to his own promise, only had Qian, Luo Hunqing, and Ju, as well as Qian's propagandist Zhang Rong (張榮), executed, and killed no one else. Because of Gao's accomplishments against Qian, Chen made him the defender (防禦使, Fangyushi) of Mei Prefecture (眉州, in modern Meishan, Sichuan).

Campaign against Han Xiusheng and Qu Xingcong

Meanwhile, Chen Jingxuan had had to deal with another agrarian rebellion, led by Han Xiusheng and Qu Xingcong, that began in summer 882 in the Three Gorges region. Chen sent the officer Zhuang Mengdie (莊夢蝶) against Han and Qu, but Zhuang was defeated by them and had to withdraw to Zhong Prefecture (忠州, in modern Chongqing). As a result, tributes from the circuits in the Yangtze River-Huai River region to the east were all cut off, causing Emperor Xizong's imperial government in exile to run out of funds and the salt supply for the people to run low. In spring 883, Chen sent Gao Renhou to attack Han and Qu instead, promising to have him made the military governor of Dongchuan if he succeeded. Instead of directly attacking Han and Qu immediately, Gao chose soldiers in his army who were good swimmers to scuttle Han and Qu's ships and sent raiders to burn Han and Qu's camps. Only after this did he attack. When Han's and Qu's followers began to surrender, they tried to counterattack by attacking the followers with swords; the angry followers instead captured them and surrendered them to Gao. When Gao interrogated them as to why they rebelled, he was impressed by their bold responses (blaming Tang misrule that started after the death of Emperor Xizong's well-regarded grandfather Emperor Xuānzong) and gave them good food, but still delivered them to Chengdu, where they were executed.

Campaign against Yang Shili

When news of Chen Jingxuan's promise of having Gao Renhou made the military governor of Dongchuan reached Yang Shili the military governor of Dongchuan, however, Yang, who was previously Chen's ally but who had grown resentful of Chen over Chen's monopoly of the emperor's favors (due to Chen's brother Tian Lingzi's domination of the emperor, as the emperor's closest eunuch), became angry. Tian, believing that Yang would act against him and Chen, decided to act first, and in spring 884 recalled Yang to the imperial government to serve as You Pushe (右僕射), a highly honored official position with little power. In anger, Yang declared a campaign against Chen and Tian instead and launched troops to attack Xichuan.

Emperor Xizong issued an edict stripping Yang of his offices and making Gao the acting military governor of Dongchuan, to attack Yang Shili, with the Xichuan officer Yang Maoyan (楊茂言) serving as his deputy commander. Gao built 12 camps around Dongchuan's capital Zi Prefecture (梓州) to wear out Yang Shili's army. Yang Shili's officers Zheng Junxiong (鄭君雄) and Zhang Shi'an (張士安) reacted by launching a surprise attack against Gao's camps at night. Initially, Gao's troops were surprised, and when the Dongchuan forces concentrated their efforts on Yang Maoyan's camp, Yang Maoyan abandoned it and fled, causing many soldiers to panic and flee as well. The Dongchuan forces then attacked Gao's personal camp. Gao counterattacked and defeated them, forcing them back into the Zi city walls. Gao gathered up the soldiers and executed Yang Maoyan, and then resumed his siege of Zi.

Gao's siege, however, was not initially successful. He therefore sent public letters to Yang Shili's officers (by putting the letters on the arrows and then shooting the arrows over the city walls) that stated that he was not interested in killing Dongchuan soldiers, and that as long as they delivered Yang Shili's head, all will be spared. In response, Zheng started a mutiny against Yang Shili, who then committed suicide. Zheng surrendered the city. Thereafter, Gao was made the military governor of Dongchuan.

Death

By 886, however, Chen Jingxuan had become suspicious of Gao Renhou's intentions, as Gao appeared to have cut off his communications with Chen by this point. It happened at that time, Zheng Junxiong, who had been made the prefect of Sui Prefecture (遂州, in modern Suining, Sichuan), attacked and captured Han Prefecture (漢州, in modern Deyang, Sichuan), and then marched on to Chengdu. Chen sent his officer Li Shunzhi (李順之) to defend against Zheng's attack, and Li defeated and killed Zheng. Chen then used this opportunity to mobilize the ethnic Qiang troops of Wei (維州) and Mao (茂州, both in modern Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan) Prefectures to attack Gao. They defeated and executed Gao. Gao was later posthumously honored in the Qianning (894-898) era of Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong (who had declared and waged a campaign against Chen).