Xiao Fu (蕭復) | 24 Histories

Overview

Xiao Fu was an official and Statesman.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Lvchu	履初	Luchu

Life and dates

Death

AD 788 四年
At Raozhou 饒州
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 158

Age

57
AD 788 四年 · Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 158

Attested activity

AD 787 三年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 157
AD 760 to AD 770 以主廕，初為宮門郎
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 120
AD 788 四年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 158-161
AD 779 大歷十四年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 127
AD 779 to AD 783 尋為兵部侍郎
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 128, 130
AD 758 to AD 763 少秉清操
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 118

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AD 763 to AD 764 廣德中
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 121-124
AD 782 建中三年
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 150, passage 25
AD 783 建中末
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 131
AD 768 to AD 779 後累至尚書郎
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 126
AD 784 to AD 785 復江南使回
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 142-156
AD 783 to AD 784 扈駕奉天
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 132-140
AD 764 to AD 768 沈廢數年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 125
AD 780 to AD 783 蕭復為常州刺史
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 199

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Song (嵩)
grandson 孫 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 116
Child of Heng (衡)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 117
Child of Xiao Heng (蕭衡)
father 父
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 131
Kin of Princess Guo (郜國公主)
kin 親
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 157
Child of Princess Xinchang (新昌公主)
son 子
mother 母
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 116
Child of Xiao Heng (衡)
son 子
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 150, passage 26

Kinship Role clansman · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 161
Kinship Role cousins and brothers · Quantity unspecified · Kinship Term cousins and brothers 群從兄弟
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 118
Kinship Role widows and young dependents · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 123

Key source chapters

Career and standing

chief secretary of the unified army 統軍長史
AD 783 建中末 · Appointed but not taken up · Negated true
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 131
minister of the Ministry of Revenue 戶部尚書
AD 783 建中末 · Appointed but not taken up · Negated true
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 131
provisional left assistant to the Heir Apparent 檢校左庶子
AD 787 三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 157
Grand Councilor 平章事
AD 783 to AD 784 扈駕奉天 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 132
minister of the Ministry of Personnel 吏部尚書
AD 783 to AD 784 扈駕奉天 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 132
director in the Department of State Affairs 尚書郎
Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 126

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gate officer 宮門郎
Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 120
observation commissioner of Hunan 湖南觀察使
Appointed · At Hunan 湖南 · From Source Date: Text: 大歷十四年 · Western Year: AD 779
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 127
prefect of Tanzhou 潭州刺史
Appointed · At Tanzhou 潭州 · From Source Date: Text: 大歷十四年 · Western Year: AD 779
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 127
vice minister of the Ministry of War 兵部侍郎
Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 130
office held before dismissal 官
AD 763 to AD 764 廣德中 · Dismissed · Authority Wang Jin (王縉)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 124
prefect of Changzhou 常州刺史
Held · At Changzhou 常州 · Until Source Date: Text: 大歷十四年 · Western Year: AD 779
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 127
prefect of Changzhou 常州刺史
Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 199
prefect of Tongzhou 同州刺史
Held · At Tongzhou 同州
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 128
pacification commissioner to Jiangnan 江南宣撫
AD 783 to AD 784 遂令往江南宣撫 · Ordered · At Jiangnan 江南
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 140
steward of the Heir Apparent 太子仆
Promoted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 120
participation in government 知政事
AD 784 to AD 785 請罷知政事 · Resigned
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 156
left assistant to the Heir Apparent 太子左庶子
AD 784 to AD 785 守太子左庶子 · Retained
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 156
Held
Imperial consort privilege
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 120
Remained
AD 764 to AD 768 沈廢數年 · Dismissal · Duration several years
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 125
Settled
AD 787 三年 · Administrative placement · At Raozhou 饒州
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 157
Suffered
Rank stripped
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 128
impeachment and stripping of rank 為有司所劾，削階
Impeached and demoted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 128
implication through kinship with Princess Guo 坐郜國公主親累
AD 787 三年 · Implicated · With Princess Guo (郜國公主)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 157

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 199
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 120, 127, 132, 245
AD 787 三年
At Raozhou 饒州 · Relation Exiled to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 157
AD 788 四年
At Raozhou 饒州 · Relation Died at
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 158
AD 783 to AD 784 往江南宣撫
At Jiangnan 江南 · Relation Sent to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 140
AD 783 to AD 784 扈駕奉天
At Fengtian 奉天 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 132

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At Changzhou 常州 · Relation Posted to · Until Source Date: Text: 大歷十四年 · Western Year: AD 779
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 127
At Changzhou 常州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 199
At Hunan 湖南 · Relation Posted to · From Source Date: Text: 大歷十四年 · Western Year: AD 779
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 127
At Tanzhou 潭州 · Relation Posted to · From Source Date: Text: 大歷十四年 · Western Year: AD 779
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 127
At Tongzhou 同州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 128
At Zhaoying 昭應 · Relation Owned estate
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 121

Learning and skills

tireless study 習學不倦
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 118

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Author · Addressed to Emperor Dezong (德宗) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 133-137, 142-145
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Liu Congyi (劉從一) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 149-153
AD 763 to AD 764 廣德中
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Wang Hong (王竑) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 123
Speech · Speaker · With Lu Qi (盧杞) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 138
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 129

Events and relationships

Departed
Political · Departed minister · Outcome Altars of state met calamity
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 250
Escorted imperial carriage
AD 783 to AD 784 扈駕奉天 · Court · Escort · At Fengtian 奉天
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 132
Mission to Jiangnan
Diplomatic · Pacification commissioner · At Jiangnan 江南
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 140, 142
Name avoidance blocked post
AD 783 建中末 · Appointment · Appointee · With Xiao Heng (蕭衡)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 131
Opened granaries for loans
Relief · Administrator · At Tongzhou 同州
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 128
Prepared to sell estate
AD 763 to AD 764 廣德中 · Economic · Owner · At Zhaoying 昭應
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 121

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Refused secret consultation
Political · Refuser · With Liu Congyi (劉從一)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 154
Refused to exchange estate for office
Political · Refuser · With Wang Jin (王縉)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 123
Requested separate audience
Audience · Memorialist · With Emperor Dezong (德宗)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 135
Relation Recruiter of · Person Wang Shao (王紹)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 199

Assessments and attributes

Assessment filial and fraternal; harmonious at home; when implicated by a clansman, calmly withdrew and never spoke of it · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 161
Assessment integrity, conduct, talent, and outspoken bright uprightness sufficient to assist an enlightened ruler · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 245
Assessment lofty clan prestige and resolve to sharpen reputation and integrity; did not mingle closely with common society · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 159
Assessment rather looks down on me · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Emperor Dezong (德宗)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 139
Assessment unyielding in affairs when in the highest council; envied by colleagues; therefore did not long remain in office · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 160
Assessment upheld pure conduct in youth; wore washed clothes, lived alone, studied tirelessly, associated only with literary men and scholars · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 118

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Item secondary estate at Zhaoying 昭應別業 · Relation Owned
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 121

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 199; Old Book of Tang 129, passages 123, 245

References in the histories

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History

26 passages

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 127Volume 123 Biographies 73: Liu Yan, Di Wuqi, Ban Hong, Ban Shao, Li Xun · 1 passage

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蕭復為常州刺史，辟為從事； When Xiao Fu served as prefect of Changzhou, he recruited Wang Shao as a staff officer;

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 129Volume 125 Biographies 75: Zhang Yi, Liu Congyi, Xiao Fu, Liu Hun · 23 passages

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蕭復，字履初，太子太師嵩之孫，新昌公主之子。 Xiao Fu, courtesy name Lvchu, was the grandson of Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent Song and the son of Princess Xinchang.

少秉清操，其群從兄弟，競飾輿馬，以侈靡相尚，復衣浣濯之衣，獨居一室，習學不倦，非詞人儒士不與之遊。 In youth he upheld pure conduct. His cousins and brothers vied in adorning carriages and horses and prided themselves on extravagance, while Fu wore plain washed clothes, lived alone in one room, studied tirelessly, and associated only with literary men and scholars.

時宰相王縉聞其林泉之美，心欲之，乃使弟竑誘焉，曰：「足下之才，固宜居右職，如以別業奉家兄，當以要地處矣。」 Chief Minister Wang Jin heard of the beauty of its woods and springs and desired it. He had his younger brother Hong entice Fu, saying, "Your talent truly ought to occupy a high post. If you present the secondary estate to my elder brother, you will be placed in an important position."

復對曰：「仆以家貧而鬻舊業，將以拯濟孀幼耳，倘以易美職於身，令門內凍餒，非鄙夫之心也。」 Fu replied, "I am selling my old estate because my family is poor, intending only to rescue widows and children. If I exchanged it for a fine post for myself and left those within my gates to freeze and starve, that would not be the heart of a base man."

縉憾之，乃罷復官。 Wang Jin resented this and dismissed Fu from office.

沈廢數年，復處之自若。 He remained out of office for several years, yet Fu remained as composed as before.

及為同州刺史，州人阻饑，有京畿觀察使儲廩在境內，復輒以賑貸，為有司所劾，削階。 When he became prefect of Tongzhou, the people were suffering from famine. Granaries belonging to the Capital Region observation commissioner lay within the prefecture, and Fu repeatedly used them for relief loans. He was impeached by the relevant offices and stripped of rank.

朋友唁之，復怡然曰：「茍利於人，敢憚薄罰。」 When friends consoled him, Fu said calmly, "If it benefits others, how dare I shrink from a light punishment."

建中末，普王為襄漢元帥，以復為戶部尚書、統軍長史，以復父名衡，特詔避之，未行。 At the end of the Jianzhong era, when the Prince of Pu served as commander-in-chief of Xiang-Han, Fu was made minister of the Ministry of Revenue and chief secretary of the unified army. Because Fu's father's name was Heng, a special edict ordered name avoidance, and he did not take up the post.

復嘗奏曰：「宦者自艱難已來，初為監軍，自爾恩幸過重。 Fu once memorialized, saying, "Since the times of hardship, eunuchs were first made army supervisors. From then on their favor and privilege have been excessive.

上不悅，又請別對，奏云：「陛下臨禦之初，聖德光被，自用楊炎、盧杞秉政，惛瀆皇猷，以致今日。 The emperor was displeased. Fu again requested a separate audience and memorialized, saying, "When Your Majesty first assumed the throne, sage virtue shone abroad. Since Yang Yan and Lu Qi were entrusted with government, they have befouled the imperial design and brought about the present crisis.

盧杞奏對於上前，阿諛順旨，復正色曰：「杞之詞不正。」 Lu Qi answered before the emperor, flattering and following his intent. Fu said sternly, "Qi's words are not upright."

德宗愕然，退謂左右曰：「蕭復頗輕朕。」 Emperor Dezong was startled. Withdrawing, he told his attendants, "Xiao Fu rather looks down on me."

遂令往江南宣撫。 He thereupon ordered Fu to go to Jiangnan as pacification commissioner.

復江南使回，與宰相同對訖，復獨留，奏曰：「陛下自返宮闕，勛臣已蒙官爵，唯旌善懲惡，未有區分。 When Fu returned from his Jiangnan mission, after answering together with the chief ministers he alone remained and memorialized, saying, "Since Your Majesty returned to the palace, meritorious ministers have already received ranks and titles, yet in honoring good and punishing evil there has been no distinction.

復出，宰相李勉、盧翰、劉從一方同歸中書，中使馬欽緒至，揖從一，附耳語而退，諸相各歸閣。 Fu went out. Chief ministers Li Mian, Lu Han, and Liu Congyi together returned to the Secretariat. Palace envoy Ma Qinxu arrived, bowed to Liu Congyi, whispered in his ear, and withdrew. The ministers each returned to their offices.

從一詣復曰：「適欽緒宣旨，令與公商量朝來所奏便進，勿令李勉、盧翰知。」 Liu Congyi went to Fu and said, "Just now Qinxu announced the imperial intent, ordering me to consult with you and immediately advance this morning's memorial. Do not let Li Mian and Lu Han know."

復曰：「適來奏對，亦聞斯旨，然未諭聖心，已面陳述，上意尚爾，復未敢言其事。」 Fu said, "In the audience just now I also heard this intent, but I had not yet understood the emperor's mind. I already stated it face to face, and the emperor's intent is still unchanged, so I did not dare speak of the matter."

復又曰：「唐、虞有僉曰之論，朝廷有事，尚合與公卿同議。 Fu also said, "Tang and Yu had the doctrine of collective assent. When the court has business, it ought still to be jointly deliberated with the high ministers.

復累表辭疾，請罷知政事，從之，守太子左庶子。 Fu repeatedly memorialized citing illness and requested to be relieved of participation in government. The request was granted, and he remained as left assistant to the Heir Apparent.

復門望高華，誌礪名節，與流俗不甚通狎。 Fu's clan prestige was lofty and splendid. He resolved to sharpen his reputation and integrity and did not mingle closely with common society.

史臣曰：張鎰、蕭復、柳渾，節行才能訏謨亮直，皆足相明主，平泰階，而盧杞忌之於前，延賞排之於後，管仲有言：「任君子，使小人間之，害霸也。」 The historiographer says: Zhang Yi, Xiao Fu, and Liu Hun—in integrity, conduct, talent, and outspoken, bright uprightness—all were sufficient to assist an enlightened ruler and level the grand stairway. Yet Lu Qi envied them before and Yanshang excluded them after. Guan Zhong said, "Employ the gentleman and let petty men come between—this harms hegemony."

鎰、復、渾去，宗社其殃。 When Yi, Fu, and Hun departed, the altars of state met calamity.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 150Volume 146 Biographies 96: Xue Bo, Bao Fang, Li Ziliang, Li Shuo, Yan Shou, Xiao Xin, Du Ya, Wang Wei, Li Ruochu, Yu Qi, Lu Zheng, Yan Ping, Zheng Yuan, Du Jian, Pei Bin, Xue Pi · 2 passages

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仍以兵部侍郎蕭復為戶部尚書、兼御史大夫、元帥府統軍長史。 Xiao Fu, vice minister of war, was also appointed minister of revenue, concurrent censor-in-chief, and chief of staff at the supreme commander's headquarters.

舊例有行軍長史，以復父名衡，特更之。 By precedent the post was called campaign chief of staff, but because Fu's father's name was Heng, the title was specially changed.