Sui and Tang · Chancellor

Du Rangneng 杜讓能

Attested AD 893

Passages: 6
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Du Rangneng was a Chancellor.

Life and dates

Death

Granted death after demotion to Leizhou registrar · At Leizhou 雷州
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 40, passage 20

Attested activity

AD 893 景福二年
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 40, passages 10, 20

Career and standing

Chancellor 宰相
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 40, passage 10
registrar of Leizhou 雷州司戶參軍
Demotion · Demoted
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 40, passage 20

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 40, passages 10-11, 19

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 40Volume 40 Miscellaneous Biographies 20: Li Maozhen, Han Jian, Li Renfu, Han Xun, Yang Chongben, Gao Wanxing, Wen Tao · 6 passages

昭宗以茂貞表辭不遜，不能忍，以問宰相杜讓能，讓能以謂：「茂貞地大兵強，而唐力未可以致討； Zhaozong read insolence in the memorial and could not swallow it. He asked Chancellor Du Rangneng. Rangneng said: “Maozhen holds a wide domain and a strong army; Tang lacks the force to call him to account;

乃責讓能治兵，而以覃王嗣周為京西招討使。 He ordered Rangneng to mobilize and made Prince of Tan Sizhou commander of the western capital campaign.

茂貞素與讓能有隙，因曰：「謀舉兵者非兩樞密，乃讓能也。」 Maozhen had long hated Rangneng. He said: “The plotters were not the Privy Council commissioners—it was Rangneng.”

陳兵臨臯驛，請殺讓能。 He drew up troops at Lingao Station and demanded Rangneng’s life.

讓能曰：「臣故先言之矣，惟殺臣可以紓國難。」 Rangneng said: “I told you so from the start—kill me alone and the realm may breathe again.”

昭宗泣下沾襟，貶讓能雷州司戶參軍，賜死，茂貞乃罷兵。 Zhaozong wept until his robe was soaked, banished Rangneng to Leizhou as registrar, and ordered him to die. Only then did Maozhen withdraw.