家庭背景

萧俛生年不详。他来自一个显赫的家族，是南朝梁的后代，祖父萧华、曾祖萧嵩和萧嵩的叔伯曾祖父萧瑀都在唐朝当过宰相。萧俛的父亲萧恒任御史。萧俛于唐德宗贞元七年（791年）擢进士第，和同年中进士的皇甫鎛和令狐楚发展出深厚的友谊。

唐宪宗年间

唐宪宗元和元年（806年）四月二十八日，萧俛通过了「才识兼茂、明于体用」的贤良方正制科，为第五上等，被任为右拾遗，后升为右补阙。当时他的朋友柳宗元被贬永州司马，写信给他。三年（808年），仆射、判度支裴均交结权幸欲求为宰相，其党羽意欲动摇宰相李吉甫的地位，也扬言直言极谏科中讥刺时政、忤犯权幸的言辞都是直指李吉甫。萧俛与其他谏官李约、独孤郁、李正辞秘密上疏陈奏，才使宪宗意解。六年（811年）正月，奉敕与谏议大夫孟简、给事中刘伯刍、工部侍郎归登等于丰泉寺翻译《大乘本生心地观音经》。同年被召充翰林学士。李吉甫任用萧俛却罢免同时被召为学士的李正辞，人们都疑惧。除守起居舍人。第二年，萧俛迁司封员外郎，仍任翰林学士。九年（814年），任驾部郎中，仍任翰林学士，知制诰。

当年，宪宗正在讨伐控制彰义军（军部在今河南驻马店）的叛将吴元济，主战的宰相李吉甫刚刚去世。萧俛的朋友张仲方认为李吉甫主战太草率，反对谥他为「敬宪」。宪宗认为这是在批评自己，把张仲方贬官，但也把李吉甫的谥号改为「忠懿」。由于萧俛与张仲方交好，宪宗也免了他的翰林学士，改任太仆少卿。但十一年（816年）正月，萧俛和翰林学士钱徽等众多官员上疏请求罢兵。为了警告这些官员，宪宗免了钱徽的翰林学士和萧俛的知制诰职位，虽然让他们继续守本官，但疏远了他们。荆南节度使袁滋本来揣度宪宗厌兵，自己上表入朝欲议罢平淮西事，途中听闻萧俛、钱徽因提议罢兵被黜，就改言必胜迎合宪宗之意，才得以回到本镇。

十三年（818年），萧俛的朋友皇甫鎛因为宪宗敛财而得宠，拜为宰相。他推荐令狐楚拜相，而后二人又一齐推荐萧俛为相。于是萧俛也得宠于宪宗，被授朝议郎、飞骑尉，赐绯鱼袋，任御史中丞。同年九月，他上疏弹劾因千馀百姓欠朝廷钱而将他们逮捕的宦官五坊使杨朝汶，并得到宰相裴度、崔群的支持，十月，宪宗赐杨朝汶死，并释放被其逮捕的人。

十一月，考功员外郎李渤上奏称萧俛、段文昌、崔植等宰相不称职，不能劝阻宪宗游幸骊山，请求将三宰相与翰林学士杜元颖考中下。该奏摺被留中。

十四年（819年）十月，萧俛奏应诸司诸军诸使公廨要求下放诸色本利钱等并设为定制，获准。

唐穆宗、唐敬宗年间

十五年（820年）正月，唐宪宗驾崩，唐穆宗继位。穆宗很快流放了他所不喜的皇甫鎛。谏议大夫李景俭性矜诞，使酒纵气，言语间冒犯宰相，萧俛和翰林学士段文昌诉于穆宗，李景俭被贬为建州刺史。闰正月，当穆宗思考用谁为相时，令狐楚推荐萧俛。当时已袭徐国公的萧俛被任为朝散大夫、守中书侍郎，并和段文昌一同被授予同中书门下平章事，为实质宰相，赐金紫之服、紫金鱼袋。此后穆宗想杀皇甫鎛，被萧俛和宦官们阻止。人们以为令狐楚通过皇甫鎛做宰相而驱逐裴度，群情共怒，但因萧俛的缘故，无人敢言。二月，监察御史杨虞卿以穆宗频繁出游上疏切，穆宗令中使宣付宰相，说：「杨虞卿所上疏切直可奖。」令狐楚、萧俛、段文昌在延英殿奏事时趁机以纳谏为贺。萧俛又加朝议大夫，加勋，加封爵，但将新增封地让给弟弟。六月，赠萧华太保、萧恒吏部尚书，封萧俛母韦氏为岐国太夫人。八月，转门下侍郎。十月，吐蕃入寇泾原，穆宗命中使以禁军援之，对宰相们说：「用兵有必胜之法吗？」萧俛对道：「兵是凶器，战是危事，圣主不得已而用之。以仁讨不仁，以义讨不义，先务招怀，不为掩袭。古之用兵，不绝人祀，不杀病人，不擒老人，不犯田稼。安人禁暴，是出师的上等。如救之甚于水火。所以王者之师，有徵无战，此是必胜之道。如果因小忿就轻动干戈，使敌人怨结，师出无名，不但不胜，还是自危之道，本就应该深慎！」穆宗以为然。谏议大夫郑覃、崔玄亮劝穆宗在吐蕃入寇之际稍减游乐，留心政事，穆宗不悦，问萧俛：「这些是什么人？」萧俛答：「谏官谏议大夫郑覃等。」穆宗意解，说臣下规劝自己的过失是忠。

作为宰相的萧俛处事谦逊而谨慎，善善恶恶。他为人孝顺，像普通人子一样小心侍奉母亲韦夫人。当穆宗命他为已故节度使王士真写碑文（可能是为了取悦刚归顺朝廷的其子王承元）时，他拒绝了，认为王士真生前不忠于朝廷。但他和段文昌因为一项错误决策遭到谴责。他俩以为经过宪宗对藩镇的一系列作战，很多军阀已被击溃，其他军阀也同意遵奉朝廷号令了，于是提议朝廷密令各军队每年裁减8%的士兵。穆宗新继位，沉湎饮宴，没有看出问题，同意了。结果，被开除的士兵结为土匪，卢龙（军部在今北京）、成德（军部在今石家庄）两镇在朱克融和王廷凑带领下在长庆元年（821年）（此时萧俛已不是宰相）反叛，匪兵们都加入了他们的队伍。由于匪兵们有经验，匆忙召集的官军没有经验，卢龙、成德的2万叛军竟然在和15万官军的对垒中取得了优势。

萧俛为官清直，太仆卿韦弘景常辅佐萧俛。

裴垍、韦贯之、李绛、崔群、萧俛都是补阙韦顗的布衣旧交，先后都做了宰相，但朝廷典章之事多谘询韦顗，说：「我们五人的智力比不上一个韦公。」

同年正月，穆宗飨太庙，礼毕，出朱雀门中路，日抱珥呈现五色，萧俛等率两省供奉官称贺于马前。同月，西川节度使王播给穆宗进贡并贿赂当权宦官，想当宰相，段文昌也支持。萧俛在延英殿坚决反对，认为王播奢侈纳贿且人品奸邪内外皆知，不可入相。由于穆宗不从，萧俛累次上表辞相，优诏不许。当月王播到长安后，萧俛被罢相，任右仆射，勋赐如故。萧俛自认为辅政日浅，升官太快，三上表章辞仆射，于是于二月被改任为守吏部尚书。萧俛一子得授官，萧俛却将此让给三从弟萧伸，使其得任河中府参军。吏部尚书要处理大量乏味的工作，萧俛认为不适合自己，也拒绝了，坚持称病，乞求改任散官。七月，改兵部尚书，十月，进阶正议大夫。同年，大理卿刘元鼎为盟会使，右司郎中刘师老副之，萧俛奉诏与宰相们与尚书右仆射韩皋、御史中丞牛僧孺、吏部尚书李绛、户部尚书杨于陵、礼部尚书韦绶、太常卿赵宗儒、司农卿裴武、京兆尹柳公绰、右金吾将军郭鏦及吐蕃使者论讷罗在京师西郊会盟。第二年，他上表称病请求分司洛阳，虽然没有被当即批准，但三月他就被任为太子少保，分司洛阳。

唐文宗、唐武宗年间

唐敬宗宝历元年（825年）闰七月，萧俛在同州（今陕西渭南）刺史任上时，治下韩城县左神策军渚田内放牧马群牧小将刘兴裔擅自鞭打在神策军渚田内放牧的百姓王文秀等，被摄韩城令李元圭遣县吏擒送萧俛处。二年（826年）三月，萧俛再任太子太保，分司洛阳。同年，敬宗驾崩，弟唐文宗继位，于大和元年（827年）正月召回萧俛，二月改任为检校右仆射，兼礼部尚书，四月又改任为检校左仆射兼太子少师分司洛阳。五年（831年）七月，时为太子少师分司、上柱国、袭徐国公的萧俛再次称病，文宗准他以银青光禄大夫守左仆射致仕。

大约此时，萧俛的母亲韦夫人去世，萧俛为她服丧，有过于礼。丧期过后，文宗还想召他，但他称病拒绝了。他认为洛阳这个都市太繁忙，也不愿见客，于是在济源山间养老。八年（834年），唐文宗立李永为太子，想召回萧俛任李永的太子太傅，萧俛让弟弟萧杰奉表持诏书到长安表示谢绝，坚称自己有痼疾。文宗准许了，许他以太子太傅致仕。开成二年（837年），萧俛弟谏议大夫萧俶被授楚州刺史，辞行之日，文宗对他称萧俛为先朝名相，赐萧俛诏书匹帛，要萧俶带到济源表达心意，希望萧俛可以来京。下诏赐绢三百匹，令萧俶宣示。唐武宗会昌二年（842年）二月，萧俛以太子太师致仕身份去世。

作品

• :s:请放免当司诸色本利钱奏

• 《辞撰王承宗先铭奏》

• 《对穆宗问兵法有必胜疏》

评价

• 《旧唐书》赞曰：萧、李相才，致之外篇。

• 《新唐书·藩镇宣武彰义泽潞传》指萧俛为导致唐朝藩镇之乱的庸佐。

• 北宋宰相王安石认为萧俛裁军是正确而必要的，酿成藩镇复叛是因为措施不得法。

• 南宋秘书郎唐文若《文思箴》：萧俛去兵，祸乱乃萌。

Background

It is not known when Xiao Mian was born. His family was prominent, having been descended from the imperial house of Liang Dynasty, and his grandfather Xiao Hua, great-grandfather Xiao Song, and Xiao Song's great-granduncle Xiao Yu had all served as chancellors during Tang Dynasty. Xiao Mian's father Xiao Heng (萧恒) served as an imperial censor. Xiao Mian passed the imperial examinations in 791, during the reign of Emperor Dezong. (Also passing the imperial examinations that year were Huangfu Bo and Linghu Chu, and the three developed a deep friendship.)

During Emperor Xianzongs reign

In 806, during the reign of Emperor Dezong's grandson Emperor Xianzong, Xiao Mian passed a special examination for those with strategic recommendations, and was thereafter made a consultant at the legislative bureau of government (中书省, Zhongshu Sheng), initially at the low post of You Shiyi (右拾遗) and then promoted to You Bujue (右补阙). In 811, he was made an imperial scholar (翰林学士, Hanlin Xueshi) in addition to his post as You Bujue. In 812, in addition to being imperial scholar, he was moved from the You Bujue post to be Sifeng Yuanwailang (司封员外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Lìbu). In 814, he was made Jiabu Langzhong (驾部郎中), a supervisorial official at the ministry of rites (礼部, Lǐbu, note different tone than the ministry of civil service affairs), but continued to serve as imperial scholar, and was also given the responsibility of drafting imperial edicts.

In 814, when Emperor Xianzong was in the middle of a campaign against the warlord Wu Yuanji, who controlled Zhangyi Circuit (彰义, headquartered in modern Zhumadian, Henan), the pro-campaign chancellor Li Jifu died. Xiao's friend, the official Zhang Zhongfang (张仲方), citing Li Jifu's support for the campaign, which Zhang considered imprudent, opposed the highly honorific posthumous name of Jingxian (敬宪, "alert and knowledgeable") for Li. Viewing this as a criticism against himself, Emperor Xianzong demoted Zhang, but nevertheless changed Li's posthumous name to Zhongyi (忠懿, "faithful and benevolent"). Xiao was considered an associate of Zhang's, and Emperor Xianzong thus stripped Xiao of his imperial scholar status and made the deputy minister of husbandry (太仆少卿, Taipu Shaoqing). Nevertheless, many officials remained against the campaign, including Xiao and the imperial scholar Qian Hui (钱徽). In 816, Emperor Xianzong, as a warning against those speaking against the campaign, removed Qian and Xiao from their responsibilities as imperial scholar and drafter of edicts, respectively, but let them stay in their main posts but away from the emperor.

By 818, Xiao's friend Huangfu Bo, due to his ability to garner revenues for Emperor Xianzong, was greatly favored by Emperor Xianzong and was made a chancellor. Huangfu recommended Linghu Chu to be chancellor as well, and both Huangfu and Linghu thereafter often recommended Xiao. As a result, Xiao was favored by Emperor Xianzong as well, and received a number of honorific titles. He was also made the deputy chief imperial censor (御史中丞, Yushi Zhongcheng). It was deputy chief imperial censor that in 818, he submitted an indictment against the eunuch Yang Chaowen (杨朝汶), who had arrested over 1,000 people for allegedly owing money to the palace. As a result of the indictment that Xiao submitted, which the chancellors Pei Du and Cui Qun also supported, Emperor Xianzong ordered Yang to commit suicide.

During Emperor Muzongs and Emperor Jingzongs reigns

Emperor Xianzong died in spring 820 and was succeeded by his son Emperor Muzong. Emperor Muzong, who disliked Huangfu Bo, immediately exiled Huangfu. Subsequently, when he considered whom to make chancellor, Linghu Chu recommended Xiao Mian. Thereafter, Xiao was made Zhongshu Shilang (中书侍郎) — the deputy head of the legislative bureau — and chancellor de facto with the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中书门下平章事), along with Duan Wenchang. Thereafter, Emperor Muzong considered killing Huangfu, but Xiao and the eunuchs interceded, and Huangfu was not killed.

It was said that, as chancellor, Xiao was humble and careful, and he tried to do what was righteous and hated the wicked. He was also said to be filially pious, and he served his mother Lady Wei carefully as an ordinary son would despite his honored chancellor status. Further, when Emperor Muzong ordered him to draft the text of a monument for the deceased warlord Wang Shizhen (presumably to please Wang Shizhen's son Wang Chengyuan, who had become a faithful imperial subject), Xiao refused, arguing that Wang Shizhen was unfaithful to the imperial government and that he could not bear to draft such a text. However, he and Duan were blamed for a major policy error at that time. Both he and Duan thought that the realm had been permanently pacified after Emperor Xianzong's campaigns against warlords, which destroyed many warlords and caused others to agree to follow imperial orders. He and Duan submitted a proposal that secret orders be sent to each army, ordering them to reduce armies by forced attrition — such that each army was required to reduce its size by 8% each year by desertions or death. As Emperor Muzong, new to the throne, was spent much of his time in drinking and feasting, he did not see the problems with this proposal and approved it. The soldiers removed from army ranks as a result gathered as bandits as a result, and later, when Lulong (卢龙, headquartered in modern Beijing) and Chengde (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei) Circuits rebelled under the leadership of Zhu Kerong and Wang Tingcou respectively in 821 (by which time Xiao was no longer chancellor), the former soldiers joined Lulong and Chengde forces in droves, and as they were experienced soldiers and the soldiers that the imperial armies were forced to gather quickly in response were inexperienced, the Lulong and Chengde forces eventually prevailed over imperial forces despite a major numerical disadvantage — with Lulong and Chengde having less than 20,000 soldiers combined and the imperial forces numbering 150,000.

In spring 821, Wang Bo the military governor (Jiedushi) of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan) submitted much tribute to Emperor Muzong and also bribed the powerful eunuchs, hoping to be chancellor. Duan also spoke on Wang's behalf. Xiao opposed vehemently, stating that Wang was "delicate and wicked" and should not be chancellor. When Emperor Muzong disagreed, Xiao offered to resign. After Wang was summoned to Chang'an, Xiao was removed from his chancellor position and made You Pushe (右仆射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚书省, Shangshu Sheng). Xiao considered himself to have served as chancellor for too brief of a period to serve this highly honorific position, and thus declined, and was instead made the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚书, Lìbu Shangshu). He was also created the Duke of Xu. As the minister of civil service affairs required conducting much tedious work, Xiao felt the position unfit for his lifestyle, and also declined it. In winter 821, he was made the minister of defense (兵部尚书, Bingbu Shangshu). In 822, he offered to be assigned to the eastern capital Luoyang after claiming an illness, but that offer was not accepted initially, although soon thereafter, he was made an advisor to the Crown Prince, and then sent out of Chang'an to serve as the prefect of Tong Prefecture (同州, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi).

During Emperor Wenzongs and Emperor Wuzongs reigns

In 826, by which time Emperor Muzong's son Emperor Jingzong was emperor, Xiao Mian was again made an advisor to the Crown Prince, and sent out to have his office at Luoyang. After Emperor Jingzong died later that year and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Wenzong, Emperor Wenzong recalled Xiao to serve as acting Zuo Pushe (左仆射), the other head of the executive bureau, as well as advisor to the crown prince. Xiao claimed an illness and declined to report to Chang'an; Emperor Wenzong thereafter allowed him to retire.

Around this time, Xiao's mother Lady Wei died, and he observed a period of mourning for her. After the period of mourning was over, Emperor Wenzong again tried to recall him, but he again declined based on claim of illness. As he still considered Luoyang to be too busy of a place, and particularly did not want to be receiving guests all the time, he went to live at his vacation mansion at Jiyuan, and it was said that he enjoyed life in the hills. In 834, by which time Emperor Wenzong had created his son Li Yong crown prince, he again tried to recall Xiao to serve as advisor to Li Yong. Xiao sent his brother Xiao Jie (萧杰) to Chang'an with his petition declining the post. Emperor Wenzong accepted his petition and allowed him to remain in retirement. He died in 842.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 172.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 101.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 237, 239, 240, 241, 242.