Background and early career

Kong Wei's family was descended from the Spring and Autumn period philosopher Kong Qiu (Confucius). His great-granduncle Kong Chaofu (孔巢父) was a well-known official during the reign of Emperor Dezong, and his great-grandfather Kong Cenfu (孔岑父) and grandfather Kong Kui (孔戣) also both served as imperial officials. His father Kong Wenru (孔溫孺) served as a county secretary general, but died early. Kong Wei had at least two younger brothers, Kong Jiang (孔絳) and Kong Jian (孔緘).

As Kong Wenru died early, Kong Wei was raised by his uncles Kong Wenyu (孔溫裕) and Kong Wenye (孔溫業). As both Kong Wenyu and Kong Wenye served as regional governors, Kong Wei followed them to their assignments, and due to the friendships that Kong Wenyu and Kong Wenye had, Kong Wei became well known among the imperial officials. He passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class in 859, during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong, and therefore served as a copyeditor (校書郎, Xiaoshu Lang) at the Palace Library. When the former chancellor Cui Shenyou served as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan), he invited Kong to serve on his staff. Kong later served on the staff of another former chancellor, Cui Xuan, when Cui Xuan served as the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu). He then served under Cui Shenyou again at Hua Prefecture (華州, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi) and then Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). Under the recommendation of the chancellor Yang Shou, Kong was made the sheriff of Chang'an County, one of the two counties making up the Tang Dynasty capital Chang'an, and also served as a researcher at Hongwen Pavilion (弘文館). Later, Wang Duo, who was then the deputy chief imperial censor, recommended Kong to be an imperial censor with the title Jiancha Yushi (監察御史), and Kong was then made Libu Yuanwailang (禮部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of rites (禮部, Lǐbu). The chancellor Xu Shang then recommended that he be made a scholar at Jixian Hall (集賢院) as well as Kaogong Yuanwailang (考功員外郎), a low-level official at the minister of civil service affairs (吏部, Lìbu, note different tone than the ministry of rites).

Kong later left government service when his mother died, to observe a mourning period. He then returned to the imperial government as Yousi Yuanwailang (右司員外郎), a low-level official under one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng). As the chancellor Zhao Yin was impressed by his writing ability, Zhao recommended him to be an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi), as well as Kaogong Langzhong (考功郎中), a supervisory official at the minister of civil service affairs; he was also put in charge of drafting edicts. Later, he was made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), as well as deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang). In the middle of the Qianfu era (874-879) of Emperor Xuānzong's grandson Emperor Xizong, he was relieved of his post as imperial scholar, and made the deputy chief imperial censor (御史中丞, Yushi Zhongcheng). It was said that because Kong had integrity and hated wickedness, during his service at the office of the imperial censors, the office became more cleanly run. Later, when he served successively as the deputy minister of census, then deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang), then deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Lìbu Shilang), he would refuse special requests by powerful individuals. This offended those who made requests of him, and he was given the largely powerless post of minister of worship (太常卿, Taichang Qing).

In late 880, the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao attacked Chang'an, and Emperor Xizong fled to Chengdu. Kong followed Emperor Xizong there, and was made the minister of justice (刑部尚書, Xingbu Shangshu) and acting director of finances. However, as the chancellor Xiao Gou, who was a colleague of Kong's while both served as imperial scholars, disliked Kong, he accused Kong of mismanagement, and had Kong given the entirely honorary post of advisor to the Crown Prince (as there was no crown prince at the time). In 885, Kong followed Emperor Xizong back to Chang'an after Huang's defeat.

Late that year, the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi provoked the warlord Wang Chongrong the military governor of Hezhong by ordering Wang transferred, and Wang and his ally Li Keyong the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) reacted by engaging forces under Tian and Tian's allies Zhu Mei the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi) and Li Changfu the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi). Wang Chongrong's and Li Keyong's forces defeated Tian's, Zhu's, and Li Changfu's forces, and approached Chang'an. As a result, Tian escorted Emperor Xizong to flee to Fengxiang, and then to Xingyuan (興元, in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi). The imperial officials largely followed Emperor Xizong to Fengxiang, but when he suddenly fled to Xingyuan, few followed (because they were not aware that he had fled further), with Kong and Du Rangneng being among the few who did. Emperor Xizong then commissioned Kong as the chief imperial censor (御史大夫, Yushi Daifu) and ordered him to return to Chang'an and Fengxiang to order the imperial officials to report to Xingyuan. However, when Kong arrived at Fengxiang, the imperial officials — including the chancellors Xiao and Pei Che, who by this point were thoroughly disgusted with Tian's control over the emperor, refused to meet Kong, and even the imperial censors — Kong's subordinates — were finding excuses to refuse to follow him. In anger, Kong stated, "My wife is ill and about to die, and I have left her. If you, gentlemen, are going to care about yourselves this much, this is farewell!" He then met Li Changfu and asked Li Changfu to give him an escort. Li Changfu, impressed, agreed, and had soldiers escort him to Xingyuan.

First chancellorship

After Kong Wei's arrival in Xingyuan, Emperor Xizong made both him and Du Rangneng deputy ministers of defense, as well as chancellors, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi. After Emperor Xizong subsequently was able to return to Chang'an after Zhu Mei was killed by his own officer Wang Xingyu (who was promised that if he did so, he could succeed Zhu as military governor of Jingnan), Kong was given the additional post of Zuo Pushe (左僕射, one of the heads of the executive bureau), and was given an iron certificate, guaranteeing that he would not be put to death.

After Emperor Xizong died in 888 and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Zhaozong, Kong continued to serve as chancellor, and was further created the Duke of Lu. Around the new year 889, when Emperor Zhaozong was set make sacrifices to heaven, the powerful eunuchs (including Yang Fugong, who was instrumental in Emperor Zhaozong's ascension) wanted to participate in the ceremony. Kong opposed, on account that this was against tradition. Emperor Zhaozong, however, still allowed eunuchs to do so, under Kong's subsequently compromise proposal that the eunuchs be required to wear the uniforms for the non-eunuch office titles that they held, rather than the eunuch titles that they held.

Still, Kong and fellow chancellor Zhang Jun were repeatedly advising Emperor Zhaozong to try to reduce Yang's influence, and Emperor Zhaozong was receptive. Kong went as far as publicly denouncing Yang for plotting treason (for gathering a large group of army officers around himself as adoptive sons, as well as maintaining a private army). Kong also tried to stand against the influence of the warlord Zhu Quanzhong, the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan), and when Zhu requested the post of director of salt and iron monopolies for himself, Kong refused, stating to Zhu's emissary, "If Lord Zhu wants this post, he would need to use force to obtain it." Zhu thus withdrew the request.

Kong's and Zhang's drive to reduce the eunuchs' and the warlords' power, however, caused them to make an ill-advised recommendation to Emperor Zhaozong in 890, however. As of 890, Zhu, Helian Duo the defender of Yun Prefecture (雲州, in modern Datong, Shanxi), and Li Kuangwei the military governor of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing), were all resentful of Li Keyong's efforts to expand his territory, and all three submitted petitions that the imperial government declare Li Keyong a renegade and declare a general campaign against him. When Emperor Zhaozong had the imperial officials discuss this matter, most imperial officials, including Kong's and Zhang's chancellor colleagues Du and Liu Chongwang, opposed. However, Kong and Zhang, believing that this was the time to assert imperial authority over warlords and to try to use a victory to then overpower the eunuchs, were insistent on a campaign against Li Keyong, citing Li Keyong's participation in the campaign that forced Emperor Xizong to flee the capital a second time. Emperor Zhaozong finally agreed, and put Zhang in overall command of the operation. However, despite the participation of forces from many circuits whose military governors resented Li Keyong, including Zhu, Li Kuangwei, Han Jian, Li Maozhen, and Tuoba Sigong, the imperial forces were crushed by Li Keyong, and Zhang fled back to Chang'an. Li Keyong then submitted a petition to Emperor Zhaozong condemning Zhang. To placate Li Keyong, Emperor Zhaozong issued a general pardon for him and his troops and restored his offices. In spring 891, Emperor Zhaozong further removed Kong and Zhang from their chancellor offices, making Kong the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou, Hubei, not the same Jingnan Circuit previously ruled by Zhu Mei) and making Zhang the military governor of Wuchang Circuit (武昌, headquartered in modern Wuhan, Hubei).

Between chancellorships

As Kong Wei was departing Chang'an for Jingnan Circuit, Yang Fugong, resentful of Kong, sent his soldiers, disguised as bandits, intercept Kong just outside Chang'an, damaging Kong's staff and robbing him of his supplies, and it was said that Kong barely escaped with his life. Meanwhile, as Li Keyong was still angry, he submitted another petition against Zhang. Emperor Zhaozong, in ordered to placate Li Keyong further, ordered Kong and Zhang to be exiled to be prefects at distant prefectures – in Kong's case, the prefect of Jun Prefecture (均州, in modern Shiyan, Hubei). Only then was Li Keyong placated, and he returned to Hedong.

As Zhang was departing for his exile, however, he fled instead to Han Jian, who was then the military governor of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered at Hua Prefecture), and wrote Zhu Quanzhong, asking for him to intercede. Zhu submitted a petition proclaiming Zhang's and Kong's innocence. Emperor Zhaozong acceded to Zhu's request and freed Zhang and Kong from their exile orders, and thereafter, Kong also went to Zhenguo to stay with Han.

Second chancellorship

In 895, with the chancellor Cui Zhaowei conspiring with Li Maozhen, Wang Xingyu, and Han Jian, going as far as having Li, Zhu, and Han march on Chang'an to kill Cui's fellow chancellors and rivals Li Xi and Wei Zhaodu, Emperor Zhaozong, wanting to find chancellors who could stand up to the warlords, and so he recalled Kong Wei and Zhang Jun to Chang'an, intending to make them chancellors again. At that time, Kong was ill, but forced himself to get to Chang'an, to personally meet Emperor Zhaozong to decline. Emperor Zhaozong refused and made him chancellor anyway. (Emperor Zhaozong cancelled his plan to make Zhang chancellor again, however, after Li Keyong vehemently objected.)

Meanwhile, in reaction to the killing of Li Xi and Wei Zhaodu by Li Maozhen, Wang, and Han, Li Keyong started a campaign against them and approached Chang'an. In response, Li Maozhen's adoptive son, the imperial guard officer Li Jipeng (李繼鵬), as well as the eunuch Luo Quanguan (駱全瓘), plotted to seize Emperor Zhaozong and take him to Fengxiang (where Li Maozhen was military governor), while another eunuch, Liu Jingxuan, and Wang Xingyu's brother Wang Xingshi (王行實), plotted to seize Emperor Zhaozong and take him to Jingnan. In fear, Emperor Zhaozong, under the protection of the imperial guard general Li Yun (李筠), fled toward the Qinling Mountains. Kong followed, but when the imperial train reached Shacheng (莎城, in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi), Kong fell seriously ill, and he returned to Chang'an. He died shortly after, and was given posthumous honors.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 179.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 163.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 256, 258, 260.

生平

曾祖孔岑父，官至秘書省著作佐郎，曾祖母韋氏，封扶風郡夫人 (唐元稹撰有〈追封孔戣母韋氏等制〉)，舅曾祖韋屺 (韓愈〈唐朝散大夫贈司勛員外郎〉有載，孔戡稱韋屺為舅，孔戣和孔戡是親兄弟，故韋氏夫人是韋屺之姐妹)；叔曾祖孔巢父官諫議大夫。

祖父孔戣，位終禮部尚書，祖母京兆韋氏韋種女 (韓愈〈正議大夫尚書左丞孔公墓誌銘〉有載)。

父孔遵孺，官華陰縣丞。少年喪父，有弟孔絳、孔緘，兄弟三人皆由叔父孔溫裕、孔溫業養大，叔父都位居方鎮，與名士交往，所以孔緯早年就名聲遠播。

堂姐妹孔氏，孔戡之女，嫁劉博 (〈唐前汴州尉氏縣尉劉搏妻孔氏墓銘〉)，另尚有一名堂姐妹，亦孔戡之女。

堂兄弟孔紓，叔孔溫裕與薛氏之子，堂弟婦韋氏，堂侄男二。 (〈左拾遺魯國孔府君墓誌銘（並序）〉)

另，孔戡娶韋屺之女，孔溫裕娶京兆韋氏 (鄭仁表〈左拾遺魯國孔府君墓誌銘〉)，可見孔家和京兆韋氏關係甚佳，唐末京兆韋氏與孔氏通婚，盡在孔岑父一家。

唐宣宗大中十三年（859年）己卯科中狀元，授秘書省校書郎。崔慎由鎮梓州，聘任為從事。又從崔鉉為揚州支使，得協律郎。崔慎由改鎮華州、河中，孔緯都跟從赴任，歷官觀察判官。宰相楊收奏授長安尉，入直弘文館。御史中丞王鐸奏為監察御史，轉禮部員外郎。宰相徐商奏請兼任集賢直學士，改考功員外郎。丁內憂免職。服闋，以右司員外郎入朝。宰臣趙隱嘉獎其文才，推薦為翰林學士，轉考功郎中、知制誥，賜緋。正授中書舍人，累遷戶部侍郎。謝恩之日，面賜金紫之服。乾符中，罷學士，出為御史中丞。

孔緯器度方正溫雅，嫉惡如仇。既掌御史臺總理憲綱，中外不繩而自肅。歷戶部、兵部、吏部三侍郎。居吏部選曹，遵循格令。權要有請託，私請的書信滿盈仍完全不理睬。執政者不悅，改太常卿。

黃巢之亂，孔緯跟隨唐僖宗幸蜀，改刑部尚書，判戶部事。宰相蕭遘在翰林時，與孔緯不合。於是，因戶部取給不充足，將孔緯移為散秩官職，改太子少保。光啟元年（885年），從駕還京。

是時田令孜軍敗，沙陀逼近京師，僖宗移幸鳳翔，邠州節度使朱玫引兵來迎駕。田令孜挾僖宗逃往山南。因為是半夜出逃，百官來不及扈從，隨駕者只有黃門衛士數百人而已。僖宗停駐寶雞等候百官，詔授孔緯御史大夫，遣中使傳詔，令孔緯率百僚趕赴行在。時京師急變，從駕官屬至盩厔都被亂兵所剽竊，資產裝備殆盡。孔緯受命見宰相論事，蕭遘、裴澈以田令孜在皇帝身邊，不想前往，辭疾不接見孔緯。孔緯遣御史臺官吏督促百官上路，但官員都以官服、笏板遺失為託詞。孔緯無可奈何，乃召集三院御史說：「吾輩世荷國恩，身居憲秩。雖六飛奔迫而咫尺天顏，累詔追征，皆無承稟，非臣子之義也。凡布衣交舊，緩急猶相救恤，況在君親？策名委質，安可背也！」言竟泣下。三院推託說：「豈不懷，但盩厔剽剝之餘，乞食不給。今若首途，聊營一日之費，俟信宿紀行可也。」孔緯拂衣而起說：「吾妻危疾，旦不保夕，丈夫豈以妻子之故，怠君父之急乎？公輩善自為謀，吾行決矣。」

即日見李昌符告知：「主上再有詔命，令促百僚前進。觀群公立意，未有發期。僕忝憲闈，不宜居後。道途多梗，明公幸假五十騎，送至陳倉。」李昌符嘉之，對孔緯說：「路無頓遞，裹糧辦耶？」就送錢五十緡，令騎士援護孔緯到達散關。孔緯知道朱玫必有異志，奏曰：「關城小邑，不足以駐六師，請速幸梁州。」次日，車駕離陳倉，才入關而邠州、岐州之兵圍困寶雞，攻打散關。若沒有孔緯進言就危險了。

行至褒中，改兵部侍郎、同中書門下平章事，尋改中書侍郎、集賢殿大學士。王行瑜斬朱玫，平定京城，遷門下侍郎、監修國史。從駕還京，駐蹕在岐陽，進階特進兼吏部尚書，領諸道鹽鐵轉運使。車駕還宮，進位左僕射，賜「持危啟運保乂功臣」，食邑四千戶，食實封二百戶，賜鐵券，恕十死罪，賜天興縣莊園、善和里宅第各一區，兼領京畿營田使。

唐僖宗駕崩，充山陵使。僖宗祔廟，孔緯準故事，不入朝。唐昭宗遣中使召赴延英殿，令孔緯依舊處理政事，進加司空。以國子監被盜火焚毀，令孔緯修葺，仍兼領國子祭酒。蔡州賊秦宗權伏誅，進階開府儀同三司，進位司徒，封魯國公。

文德元年（888年）十一月，昭宗謁郊廟，兩神策軍護軍中尉、內樞密請朝服。相關單位申明前例，中貴人宦官無朝服助祭之禮，少府監也沒有素制冠服。中尉怒，立即命令製造，令下太常禮院。禮官舉故事，也稱無中尉朝服助祭之文，諫官也同樣論之。孔緯奏稱：「中貴不衣朝服助祭，國典也。陛下欲以權道寵內臣，則請依所兼之官而為之服。」昭宗召諫官謂之曰：「大禮日近，無宜立異，為朕容之。」於是內官以朝服助祭。郊禮完畢後進位兼太保。

大順元年（890年）夏，幽州李彥威、汴州朱全忠請求討伐太原李克用。宰相張濬奏請自率禁軍招討。昭宗遲疑未決，問於孔緯。孔緯以討之為便（孔緯語記載在〈張濬傳〉）。秋季，張濬軍大敗而還。張濬罷相貶官，孔緯連坐貶為檢校太保、江陵尹、荊南節度使、觀察使。尚未離宮，再貶均州刺史。孔緯、張濬私下派人求援於汴州，朱全忠上章論救。孔緯行至商州，有詔聽其所便，就閒居在華州。

乾寧二年（895年）五月，王行瑜、李茂貞、韓建三鎮攻入京師，殺宰相韋昭度、李谿。昭宗以大臣朋黨、外交方鎮，想起用骨鯁正直之人，遣中使趨華州召孔緯入朝，以染病未任上路。六月，授太子賓客。同一天傍晚改吏部尚書。翌日，拜司空，兼門下侍郎、同平章事、太清宮使，修奉太廟、弘文館大學士、延資庫使。恢復階爵、功臣名、食邑如故。旬日之內，驛騎敦促，相望於路，扶疾至京師。

延英殿中謝恩，奏曰：「臣前時待罪宰相，智術短淺，有負弼諧。陛下特貸刑書，曲全腰領。臣期於死報泉壤，不望生叩玉階。復拜龍顏，實臣榮幸。然臣比嬰衰疾，伏枕累年，形骸雖存，生意都盡。平居勉強，御事猶疏。況比尪羸，寧勝重委？國祚方泰，英彥盈庭，豈以朽腐之人，再塵機務！臣力疾一拜殿庭，乞陛下許臣自便。」見昭宗嗚咽流涕，自陳衰疾不任事，乞求歸隱田裏，昭宗動容，孔緯久病，跪拜有困難，昭宗令中使制止，改容軫念。令閣門使送孔緯到中書省視事。不旬日，同州王行約入京師謀亂，昭宗出逃石門。孔緯從駕至莎城，病危，先還京城。家人延請醫生，孔緯曰：「天下方亂，何久求生？」不肯服藥，九月卒於光德里府第，贈太尉。

孔緯家風崇尚節義，挺然不屈。雖權勢燻灼，從未加以恩禮。大順初年，天武都頭李順節恃恩頗橫，不期年領浙西節度使，俄而加平章事。謝日，臺吏申報中書省，稱天武相公衙謝，准立班見百僚。孔緯判：「不用立班。」順節粗暴小人，不懂朝法，盛裝直接跑到中書省，既見無班，心中怏怏。他日會面時，李順節有微言。孔緯回答：「必知公慊也。夫百闢卿士，天子庭臣也，比來班見宰相，以輔臣居班列之首，奉長之義也。公握天武健兒，而於政事廳受百僚班見，意自安乎？必若須此儀，俟去『都頭』二字可也。」李順節不敢言。孔緯秉禮不回，大多像這一類。

孔氏家族自元和後，官至正卿、方鎮者六七人，沒有宰相，至孔緯始入宰輔。孔緯大弟孔絳明經及第，二弟孔緘為乾符三年（876年）狀元，伯父孔溫質之子孔纁為咸通十四年（873年）狀元；孔緯之子孔崇弼（《新唐書·宰相世系表》作孔昌弼，字佐化）亦進士出身，官至散騎常侍。徐彥若是其姻親，孔緯之孫即孔昌弼子孔葆是徐彥若孫女婿。

參考書目

• 《舊唐書》卷一百七十九,列傳第一百二十九

• 《新唐書》卷一百六十三,列傳八十八

• 《太平廣記》卷第五百,雜錄八