家世

唐休璟在唐太宗貞觀元年（627年）出生，京兆始平人。其先祖在北周和隋朝都任職高官。他曾祖父唐規為北周驃騎大將軍、安邑縣公。唐休璟的爺爺唐宗（唐世宗）是隋朝末年朔方（今陝西榆林）郡丞，梁師都舉兵，殺害了不肯歸降的唐宗。唐休璟的父親唐諧是唐朝的咸陽縣令。由於父親早逝，自幼成為孤兒。

經歷

初露頭角

唐休璟先後拜馬嘉運、賈公彥為師，學習《易》《禮》，年少就通過科舉明經及第，唐高宗永徽年間，他成為唐高宗哥哥吳王李恪府上的典簽，沒有顯示自己的才能，轉任營州戶曹。679年，單于大都護府的突厥部落在阿史那泥熟匐率領下背叛唐朝。他們煽動奚和契丹一起攻打營州。當時的營州都督周道務，派唐休璟率兵在獨護山大破突厥。因此功，唐休璟轉任豐州司馬。

堅守豐州

阿史那泥熟匐不久後被唐將裴行儉，但突厥的叛亂依然沒有平息。683年，突厥在阿史那骨咄祿的領導下複國，史稱後突厥汗國，阿史那骨咄祿攻打蔚州，殺害刺史李思儉。豐州都督崔智辯在朝那山（今內蒙古包頭）與骨咄祿交戰，戰敗被俘。高宗皇帝與大臣討論，主張放棄豐州(今內蒙古五原南)，將百姓遷至靈州、夏州。豐州司馬唐休璟上書說：「豐州控河遏賊，實為襟帶，今若廢棄，則河傍之地復為賊有，靈夏等州人不安業，非國家之利也。」，豐州適宜農牧業，自秦漢以來是國家的重鎮，放棄豐州，就如同隋末的情況一樣，靈州、夏州就不會安穩了。朝廷同意了他的意見。

經營安西

唐高宗死後，他的太子李哲即位，就是唐中宗。但是實權掌握在太后武則天手中，684年二月，武則天廢黜唐中宗，立中宗的弟弟李旦為唐睿宗，武則天臨朝聽政。唐睿宗垂拱年間，唐休璟任安西副都護，駐守碎葉城。

689年，在韋待價西征吐蕃失敗後，韋待價被流放，安西都護閻溫古被殺。唐休璟收集餘眾堅守西州，被朝廷任命為西州都督。

690年，武則天使唐睿宗退位，自立為皇帝，以武周代替了唐朝。692年，唐休璟建議武則天收複安西四鎮——龜茲、于闐、疏勒、碎葉。武則天命武威道總管王孝傑和左武位大將軍阿史那忠節率軍收複，於龜茲設置安西都護府。聖歷年間（697—700），唐休璟升任衛尉卿、涼州都督、右肅政御史大夫，持節隴右諸軍州大使。

拜帥登相

699年，吐蕃贊普赤都松贊和攝政的論欽陵兄弟發生內鬨，論欽陵兵敗被殺，兄弟論贊婆歸降，赤都松贊親政後，700年秋，派吐蕃將軍麴莽布支攻打涼州，圍攻昌松縣。唐休璟率軍到洪源谷，臨陣登高，見吐蕃軍隊衣甲鮮盛，對麾下說：「自從論欽陵（吐蕃執政者，多次大敗唐軍，699年被吐蕃贊普器弩悉弄逼迫自殺）死後，他兄弟論贊婆歸降。麴莽布支成為新元帥，想要炫耀威武，所以吐蕃國中貴族子弟都跟著他。雖然人馬看起來強盛，但不通軍事，我為諸君取之。」唐休璟被甲先登，與吐蕃軍六戰六克，斬麴莽布支副將二人，斬首二千五百級。築京觀（骷髏台）還軍。

701年九月，吐蕃派使臣論彌薩請和，武則天在西都長安麟德殿款待他，唐休璟也被邀請參加宴會。論彌薩多次盯著唐休璟看，武則天問他是什麼緣故，他回答：「在洪源之戰，這位將軍雄猛無人可比，殺我們的將士甚眾，所以想多看看他。 武則天大加嘆異，擢拜唐休璟為右武威右金吾二衛大將軍 。唐休璟熟悉邊防事務，東到碣石（今河北省秦皇島）西到安西四鎮，他知道所有的地理形勢和防禦體系。

703年，夏官尚書、檢校涼州都督唐休璟被任命為同鳳閣鸞臺三品，成為宰相。當時，西突厥一部突騎施的首領烏質勒，與西突厥其他部落互相攻打，結果導致安西路絕唐休璟與其他宰相討論後，上奏事情的發展和將來時局的變化。十天後安西諸州的報告，正如唐休璟所描述的一樣，武則天讚嘆道：「我只後悔用卿太晚。」她又召來當時其他的在任宰相魏元忠、楊再思、李嶠、姚元崇、李迥秀說：「唐休璟通曉邊防之事，在這一點上，你們十個也抵不上他一個。武則天有任命唐休璟為太子李顯（之前的唐中宗，698年從流放地召回立為太子，名字改為顯)的右庶子。

704年三月初四，朝廷討論官員不願做地方官，唐休璟、李嶠建議派中央官員兼職州縣，並申請自己率先出鎮。武則天得楊再思、韋嗣立等二十人以本官檢校刺史，李唐二人沒有派出。八月初一，知納言韋安石上書檢舉男寵張易之和張昌宗的罪責，武則天命唐休璟調查。調查尚未結束。契丹叛亂，武則天以唐休璟為幽營都督 (總部在今北京市) 、安東都護府都護出擊契丹。在唐休璟臨行之前，密告李顯：「二張幸蒙寵遇，數侍宴禁中，縱情失禮。非人臣之道，殿下應該惟加防察，早作準備。」

705年武則天退位，李顯複位，召回唐休璟，加封輔國大將軍、同中書門下三品，封酒泉郡公，不久升任尚書省左僕射，仍然同中書門下三品。他自己還在東都洛陽時，讓唐休璟留守首都長安，再封唐休璟為宋國公。

唐休璟在706年致仕，但他不想早早引退。當時，尚宮賀婁氏幹預國政，唐休璟為其子娶賀婁氏養女為妻， 708年起複為太子少師（當時並無太子，太子少師只是榮譽官職）。這年，朔方道大總管張仁願在河套平原的黃河北岸修築受降三城以控制突厥，唐休璟反對，以為兩漢以來都是以黃河阻擋胡人，在草原築城，最後還是會落入突厥之手。但三城還是被築成，有效地控制了突厥人。709年冬，他又被任命為同中書門下三品，很多人批評他不能保持晚節（當時他已經八十三歲），但是他將數千匹絹分散親族，又以數十萬家財大開塋域，備禮安葬五服之親，為人稱道。這位偉大的將軍做宰相卻很平庸。710年春正月廿九，唐中宗在梨園球場召集后妃和大臣遊樂，玩蹴鞠和拔河。唐休璟和韋巨源都非常老了，拔河時摔倒在地上半天起不來，皇帝、皇后、妃嬪、公主看到後，大笑。

四朝為相

710年夏六月初二，唐中宗暴崩（傳統史書認為是韋後和安樂公主李裹兒下毒害死的）。中宗的庶子溫王李重茂即位為唐殤帝，韋後作為皇太后執政。 六月二十，韋後和安樂公主在唐中宗妹妹太平公主和侄子臨淄王李隆基 (唐睿宗相王李旦的兒子)領導的政變中被殺。唐殤帝被廢，睿宗李旦複位。唐休璟又拜特進，充朔方道行軍大總管，防備突厥，停其舊封，別賜實封一百戶。711年，上表請致仕。唐睿宗允許。祿及一品子課並令全給。延和元年七月十五日（712年9月2日）病逝于長安懷真里府第，時年八十六，贈荊州大都督，謚號忠。

子孫

夫人太原王氏。

• 嗣子：唐先昚，陳州刺史

• 次子：唐先擇，左千牛中郎將

Background

Tang Xiujing was born in 627, during the reign of Emperor Taizong. His family was from the Tang Dynasty capital Chang'an, and for generations had served as officials of Tang's predecessor dynasties Northern Zhou and Sui Dynasty. Tang Xiujing's great-grandfather Tang Gui (唐規) served as a general during Northern Zhou and carried the title of Duke of Anyi. Tang Xiujing's grandfather Tang Zong (唐宗) served as the secretary general of Shuofang Commandery (朔方, roughly modern Yulin, Shaanxi) late in the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, and was killed when Liang Shidu rose against Emperor Yang and captured Shuofang, as he refused to submit to Liang. Tang Xiujing's father Tang Xie (唐諧) served as the magistrate of Xianyang County (咸陽, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi).

During Emperor Gaozongs reign

Tang Xiujing passed the imperial examinations in his youth, and started his civil service career early in the reign of Emperor Gaozong (Emperor Taizong's son), during Emperor Gaozong's Yonghui era (650-656) by serving as the communications officer at the mansion of Emperor Gaozong's brother Li Ke the Prince of Wu. He did not distinguish himself, and later served as the census officer at Ying Prefecture (營州, roughly modern Zhaoyang, Liaoning).

In 679, Eastern Tujue tribes, which had submitted to Tang and had been governed by Tang's Chanyu Commandant (單于大都護府, headquartered in modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia), rose against Tang rule and declared independence under Ashina Nishoufu (阿史那泥熟匐). They persuaded Xi and Khitan tribes to attack Ying Prefecture in coordination with them. The commandant at Ying Prefecture at that time, Zhou Daowu (周道務), sent Tang Xiujing to defend against the Xi and Khitan attack, and Tang Xiujing was successful. Because of this accomplishment, he was promoted to be the military advisor to the prefect of Feng Prefecture (豐州, roughly modern Bayan Nur, Inner Mongolia).

Ashina Nishoufu was soon killed by the Tang general Pei Xingjian (裴行儉), but eventually rebelled again, and by 683 Eastern Tujue was fully independent under the rule of Ashina Gudulu. In 683, Ashina Gudulu attacked Wei Prefecture (蔚州, roughly modern Datong, Shanxi) and killed its prefect LI Sijian (李思儉). When Tang Xiujing's superior, Cui Zhibian (崔智辯) the commandant at Feng Prefecture, tried to intercept Ashina Gudulu at Mount Zhaona (朝那山, in modern Baotou, Inner Mongolia), he was defeated and captured by Ashina Gudulu. In response, Emperor Gaozong considered withdrawing from Feng Prefecture and moving its residents to Ling (靈州, roughly modern Yinchuan, Ningxia) and Xia (夏州, roughly modern Yulin) Prefectures. Tang Xiujing submitted a petition opposing the idea, pointing out that Feng Prefecture had land that was fit for both husbandry and agriculture, and that it served as a defense for Ling and Xia Prefectures—that abandoning it would leave those prefectures open to attack. After Tang's petition, the proposal to abandon Feng Prefecture was not again discussed.

During Empress Wus regency

Emperor Gaozong died in 683 and was succeeded by his son Li Zhe the Crown Prince (as Emperor Zhongzong), but actual power was in the hands of Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu (later known as Wu Zetian), as empress dowager and regent. In spring 684, when Emperor Zhongzong displayed signs of independence, she deposed him and replaced him with his brother Li Dan the Prince of Yu (as Emperor Ruizong), but thereafter held onto power even more firmly. In Emperor Ruizong's Chuigong era (685-689), Tang Xiujing was made the deputy commandant of Anxi (安西, headquarters at Suyab (near modern Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan)).

In 689, after a failed campaign commanded by the chancellor Wei Daijia against Tufan in the same general region, Wei was reduced to commoner rank and exiled, and his assistant, Yan Wengu (閻溫古) the commandant of Anxi, was executed. Tang Xiujing was put in command of the remnants of Wei's army and made the commandant at Xi Prefecture (西州, roughly modern Turfan Prefecture, Xinjiang) to be in charge of the region.

During Wu Zetians reign

In 690, Empress Dowager Wu had Emperor Ruizong yield the throne to her, and she took the throne as "emperor," establishing a new Zhou Dynasty and interrupting Tang. Around 692, Tang Xiujing suggested to her that a military campaign be launched to recover four important garrisons that had been lost to Tufan -- Qiuzi, Yutian, Shule, and Suyab. In response, Wu Zetian commissioned the general Wang Xiaojie, assisted by Ashina Zhongjie (阿史那忠節), to attack the Tufan forces of the region. Subsequently, during the Shengli era (697-700), Tang Xiujing was made the minister of military supplies (衛尉卿, Weiwei Qing) and the commandant at Liang Prefecture (涼州, roughly modern Wuwei, Gansu), further carrying a title as imperial censor, and he was in command of the forces in the region.

In fall 700, the Tufan general Khu Mangpoje Lhasung ("Qumangbuzhi" (麴莽布支) in Chinese) attacked Liang Prefecture and put Changsong (昌松, in modern Wuwei) under siege. Tang Xiujing was set to engage them at Hongyuan Valley (洪源谷, also in modern Wuwei), but his subordinates were distressed by the shiny armor that the Tufan forces were displaying. Tang responded:

Tang then put on his armor and led the charge into Tibetan forces. He defeated Tibetan forces six times straight, killing 2,500 men and two of Qumangbuzhi's assistants. He stacked the bodies into a pile for display. In 702, when Tibet sent the emissary Lun Misa (論彌薩) to seek peace and Wu Zetian held a feast in Lun Misa's honor at the western capital Chang'an, Tang happened to be in Chang'an as well and was invited to the feast. During the feast, Lun Misa looked at Tang intently, and when Wu Zetian asked him why he did, he responded, "At the Battle of Hongyuan, no one could rival this general's ferocity, and therefore I want to look at him clearly." Wu Zetian promoted Tang Xiujing to be a commanding general of two of the imperial armies and kept him at the central government. It was said at the time that Tang was familiar with border affairs, as far east as Jieshi (碣石, in modern Qinhuangdao, Hebei) to the four garrisons of Anxi, knowing about all of the geographic features and defensive frameworks.

As of 703, Tang Xiujing was serving as the minister of defense (夏官尚書, Xiaguan Shangshu) and still in titular command of the armies around Liang Prefecture, when he was given the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Sanpin (同鳳閣鸞臺三品), making him a chancellor de facto. At that time, one of Western Tujue's constituent tribal chiefs, Wuzhile the chief of the Tuqishi (突騎施) tribe, was having conflicts with other Western Tujue tribes, and as a consequence the communications with the Zhou garrisons in Anxi was cut off. Tang, after discussion with other chancellors, came up with a course of action and predicted what would happen next. When reports from Anxi arrived some 10 days later, they matched what Tang expected, and Wu Zetian stated, "I regret not using you earlier." She further turned to the other chancellors Wei Yuanzhong, Yang Zaisi, Li Jiao, Yao Yuanchong, and Li Jiongxiu, stating, "Tang Xiujing understands the border affairs well, and in this area, 10 of you together cannot match him." She also made him a member of the staff of Li Xian the Crown Prince (the former Emperor Zhongzong, who had been recalled from exile in 698 and made crown prince, further having his name changed).

In 704, in response to the problem that imperial officials were not willing to be local officials, Tang and Li Jiao suggested that the officials at the central government be assigned to the prefectures and counties to serve as officials, offering to go first themselves. Wu Zetian had 20 officials randomly drawn, and neither Li nor Tang was sent out. Later that year, when fellow chancellor Wei Anshi submitted an indictment against Wu Zetian's lovers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong, Wu Zetian had Wei and Tang investigate, but before investigations could be complete, there were reports that Khitan and Xi were set to attack the northeastern border, and she gave Tang the additional titles as the commandant of You and Ying Prefectures (headquartered in modern Beijing) and protectorate general of Andong to defend against Khitan and Xi. Before Tang was set to depart the capital Luoyang, he secretly spoke with Li Xian, stating, "The two Zhangs depend too much on the favors of the emperor and have lost their proper places as subjects. Surely a disturbance will come. Your Royal Highness should be careful."

During Emperor Zhongzongs second reign

In 705, Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup, and Li Xian was restored to the throne. He recalled Tang Xiujing, conferring on him the honorific title of Fuguo Da Jiangjun (輔國大將軍, literally "grand general who assists the state"), and Tang continued to serve as chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin. He soon made Tang Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng) and still chancellor with the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin. He also put Tang in charge of Chang'an, now again the main capital, as at that time he was at Luoyang, now eastern capital. He also initially created Tang the Duke of Jiuquan, and then the greater title of Duke of Song.

Tang retired in spring 706, but in 708 he was referred to as an advisor to the Crown Prince. That year, when the general Zhang Rendan proposed that three forts be built north of the Yellow River to control the Tujue population, Tang opposed the project, but the forts were built anyway and were effective in their purpose of controlling the Tujue population. It was said that Tang was not content in his retirement and, seeking to return to chancellor position, had his son marry the adopted daughter of one of the powerful women at Emperor Zhongzong's court, the senior lady in waiting Lady Helou, and in winter 709, he was again made chancellor with the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin designation, drawing much popular criticism, although he was also praised for using his wealth as a duke to help his clansmen and reburying deceased ones properly. In any case, his term of service as chancellor was said to be an undistinguished one. In spring 710, there was an occasion when Emperor Zhongzong had the high level officials play games of cuju and tug of war. It was said that Tang and fellow chancellor Wei Juyuan, due to their old age, fell and could not get up, drawing much laughs from the imperial household.

During Emperor Shangs reign and Emperor Ruizongs second reign

In summer 710, Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly—a death that traditional historians believed to be a poisoning by his powerful wife Empress Wei and daughter Li Guo'er the Princess Anle. His son by a concubine, Li Chongmao the Prince of Wen, was named emperor (as Emperor Shang), but Empress Wei retained power as empress dowager and regent. Less than a month later, she and Li Guo'er were killed in a coup led by Emperor Zhongzong's sister Princess Taiping and nephew Li Longji the Prince of LInzi (a son of Li Dan the Prince of Xiang, the former Emperor Ruizong). Emperor Shang was deposed, and Li Dan returned to the throne. Late that year, Tang Xiujing retired again and was allowed to continue to receive salaries as an official of the first rank (highest in Tang Dynasty's nine-rank civil service system). He died in 712 and was buried with honor.