During Tang Dynasty

Background and early career

Han Jian was born in 855, during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong of Tang. He was from Xu Prefecture (許州, in modern Xuchang, Henan). His ancestors, including his father Han Shufeng, had served for generations in the army. When Qin Zongquan took over Cai Prefecture (蔡州, in modern Zhumadian, Henan) in 880, he encouraged people to join his army, and Han Jian did.

In 881, when the eunuch general Yang Fuguang was able to persuade Zhou Ji the military governor (Jiedushi) of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered at Xu Prefecture) to renounce his allegiance to Huang Chao — a major agrarian rebel who had captured the Tang capital Chang'an, forced then-reigning Emperor Xizong (Emperor Xuānzong's grandson) to flee to Chengdu, and declared himself the emperor of a new state of Qi — and return to the Tang fold, Yang also persuaded Qin to send forces to contribute to the war efforts against Huang's Qi state. Yang organized his army into eight corps, commanded by Lu Yanhong, Jin Hui (晉暉), Wang Jian, Han Jian, Zhang Zao, Li Shitai (李師泰), and Pang Cong respectively. Han thereafter served under Yang.

Yang Fuguang died in 883 while stationed at Hezhong Circuit (河中, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) and still fighting against Huang. Instead of continuing to fight against Huang, Lu decided to take his troops and rove around the region, pillaging as he went. Wang, Han, Zhang, Jin, and Li followed him as well. Later in 883, Lu captured Xingyuan (興元, in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) the capital of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道), expelling the military governor Niu Xu (牛勗) and claiming the title of acting military governor. He commissioned Han and the other Zhongwu corps commanders as prefects within Shannan West, but did not allow them to actually report to their prefectures. He was particularly suspicious of Wang and Han because of their deep friendship, but wanting to comfort them, he often treated them well. Wang and Han realized Lu's intentions, however, and in fall 884, with Emperor Xizong's trusted eunuch Tian Lingzi secretly tempting them with offers of good treatment, they, along with Zhang, Jin, and Li, abandoned Lu and fled to Chengdu to serve under Tian. After Emperor Xizong returned to Chang'an in 885 after Huang's defeat, Han was made the defender of Tong Pass and the prefect of Hua Prefecture.

Governance at Hua Prefecture

Prior to Emperor Zhaozongs stay at Hua Prefecture

At that time, the Tang empire was divided between warlords, most of whom were only interested in battling and seizing more territory. However, as the prefect of Hua Prefecture, Han Jian encouraged the refugees from the wars to settle in Hua and promoted agriculture. It was said that within a span of a few years, both the Hua prefectural government and the people of Hua were wealthy. The popular sentiment at the time greatly praised him, along with Cheng Rui the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou, Hubei).

By 890, Han was carrying the title of military governor as well, of a newly created Zhenguo Circuit, which included only Hua Prefecture and nearby Tong Prefecture (同州, also in modern Weinan). That year, when Emperor Xizong's brother and successor Emperor Zhaozong declared a general campaign against Li Keyong the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) and put the chancellor Zhang Jun in command of the operations, Han personally led his army to join Zhang's and was also responsible for supplying the army. The imperial army, however, was dealt a blow when Zhang's deputy commander, Sun Kui, was captured in an ambush by Li Keyong's adoptive son Li Cunxiao. Subsequently, when the imperial army and Li Keyong's main army met, Han carried out a nighttime attack against Li Cunxiao but was repelled. After Han's defeat, the armies from Fengxiang (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi) and Jingnan (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi, not the same circuit Cheng ruled) deserted the imperial army. After Li Keyong's army further defeated Zhang and forced the imperial army into a defensive posture at Jin Prefecture (晉州, in modern Linfen, Shanxi), the armies from Baoda (保大, headquartered in modern Yan'an, Shaanxi) and Dingnan (定難, headquartered in modern Yulin, Shaanxi) Circuits also abandoned the imperial army, leaving Zhang and Han defending Jin Prefecture with troops sent by Li Keyong's archrival Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Shanxi). Li Cunxiao put Jin under siege, but after deciding that capturing a chancellor would be a bad idea, he lifted the siege and allowed Zhang and Han to flee, and they did. To flee back west across the Yellow River, they were forced to tear down local residents' homes and use the building material to construct rafts. The defeat left the imperial army in shambles, although the extent of damage to Han's own army is unclear. Subsequently, Li Keyong, as a condition for resubmitting to the imperial government, demanded the exiles of Zhang and fellow chancellor Kong Wei; however, instead of going into exile, both Zhang and Kong fled to Hua, where Han put them under his protection.

In 891, after accusations of treason were made against the powerful eunuch Yang Fugong (Yang Fuguang's brother), Emperor Zhaozong sent imperial guards to attack Yang's mansion. Yang fled to Yang Fuguang's adoptive son Yang Shouliang the military governor of Shannan West, and they, along with Yang Fugong's other adoptive sons or nephews Yang Shouzhong, Yang Shouzhen, and Yang Shouhou, all of whom were nearby governors, rose against the imperial government. In spring 892, Han, along with Li Maozhen the military governor of Fengxiang, Wang Xingyu the military governor of Jingnan, Li Maozhen's brother Li Maozhuang (李茂莊) the military governor of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern Tianshui, Gansu), and Wang Xingyu's brother Wang Xingyue (王行約) the military governor of Kuangguo Circuit (匡國, headquartered at Tong Prefecture) (thus showing that Han had lost control of Tong by this point), submitted a petition for Emperor Zhaozong to declare a general campaign against Yang Fugong and his adoptive sons/nephews and make Li Maozhen the overall commander of the operations. Emperor Zhaozong hesitated, believing that if Li Maozhen conquered the Yangs' territory, he would be even harder to control, but Li Maozhen launched the campaign anyway without imperial sanction, forcing Emperor Zhaozong to eventually agree to the campaign. Li Maozhen eventually defeated the Yangs, forcing them to try to flee to Li Keyong (except Yang Shouhou who seemed to die a natural death around that time); on the way, they were intercepted and arrested by Han's soldiers. Han delivered them to Chang'an, where they were executed. Li Maozhen took over their territory.

In 895, a succession dispute that rose after the death of Wang Chongying the military governor of Huguo Circuit (護國, new name for Hezhong) brought Han and his allies Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu into direct dispute with the imperial government and Li Keyong. Wang Chongying's brother and predecessor Wang Chongrong had adopted Wang Ke, the biological son of his brother Wang Chongjian (王重簡), as his own son, and after Wang Chongying's death, the soldiers at Hezhong, with Li Keyong's backing, wanted Wang Ke to succeed Wang Chongying. However, Wang Chongying's own biological sons Wang Gong the military governor of Baoyi Circuit (保義, headquartered in modern Sanmenxia, Henan) and Wang Yao (王瑤) the prefect of Jin had wanted Wang Gong to take over instead, and thus induced Han, Li Maozhen, and Wang Xingyu to lobby Emperor Zhaozong on Wang Gong's behalf. Emperor Zhaozong approved Li Keyong's request and rejected that of Han and his allies, leaving the three feeling humiliated. Wang Xingyu and Han were further displeased that their requests to take over two Shence Army bases were rejected as well. In summer 895, Han, Li Maozhen, and Wang Xingyu decided to march on Chang'an. They accused the former chancellors Wei Zhaodu and Li Xi, whom they viewed to be against them, of corruption, and when Emperor Zhaozong refused to execute Wei and Li Xi, they executed Wei and Li Xi anyway. They also forced Emperor Zhaozong to issue an edict transferring Wang Ke to Kuangguo, Wang Gong to Hezhong, and Wang Xingyue to Baoyi, before returning to their own circuits (but leaving troops at Chang'an to watch over Emperor Zhaozong).

Han's and his allies' actions spurred Li Keyong into action. He quickly defeated and killed Wang Yao, and then advanced across the Yellow River, putting Hua Prefecture under siege. Han's pleas to Li Keyong to lift the siege were initially spurned by Li Keyong, but Li Keyong, after hearing that Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu were both intending to capture Emperor Zhaozong, advanced quickly toward Jingnan. (Li Maozhen's and Wang Xingyu's forces at Chang'an did, in fact, dispute among themselves and each attempted to capture Emperor Zhaozong, but Emperor Zhaozong, under protection by the imperial guards, fled into the Qinling Mountains instead and eluded capture.) Li Keyong put Jingnan's capital Bin Prefecture (邠州) under siege; Wang Xingyu tried to flee, but was killed in flight by his own subordinates. Li Maozhen and Han, in fear, became very submissive in their attitude toward the imperial government. Li Keyong subsequently requested permission from Emperor Zhaozong to destroy Li Maozhen as well, but Emperor Zhaozong, wanting to maintain a balance of power, forbid him, and he subsequently withdrew — and it was said that after Li Keyong's withdrawal, Li Maozhen and Han again became arrogant.

In 896, Emperor Zhaozong tried to alleviate the pressures that Li Maozhen and Han were putting on the imperial government by recruiting new soldiers for the imperial guards, putting them under the commands of several imperial princes. Li Maozhen declared that the imperial princes were planning to attack him and that he would defend himself, mobilizing his own forces to again march on Chang'an. Emperor Zhaozong sought emergency aid from Li Keyong, but Li Keyong was unable to respond. When Li Maozhen then defeated Li Sizhou (李嗣周) the Prince of Qin and approached Chang'an, Emperor Zhaozong decided to take the imperial officials and princes and flee Chang'an — which Fengxiang forces then entered and burned. After leaving Chang'an, he initially intended, at the recommendation of Li Jiepi (李戒丕) the Prince of Yan, to flee to Hedong. However, Han made several petitions to Emperor Zhaozong, urging him to head to Zhenguo instead, arguing that if Emperor Zhaozong went as far as Hedong, he would never be able to return to the Chang'an region. Emperor Zhaozong and his attendants also were hesitant to make the long trek to Hedong, and so went to Zhenguo instead.

During and after Emperor Zhaozongs stay at Hua Prefecture

Emperor Zhaozong's chancellors (at that time, Wang Tuan, Sun Wo, and Lu Yi), who fled with him to Zhenguo, were apprehensive of Han Jian and were not daring to decide on policy matters. Emperor Zhaozong, in response, issued an edict asking Han to participate in the policy decisions, but after Han declined, cancelled the request. Meanwhile, another chancellor who had been removed at Han's behest, Cui Yin, sought aid from Zhu Quanzhong, who had submitted a petition asking Emperor Zhaozong to move the capital to Luoyang; Zhu made a posture to attack Han and wrote Han to suggest that Cui should be restored. Han, in fear, recommended Cui's restoration, and Cui was subsequently restored.

Emperor Zhaozong subsequently bestowed the honorary chancellor title of Zhongshu Ling (中書令) on Han. He also put Sun in command of the operations against Li Maozhen and had Han be Sun's assistant as well as the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., Chang'an region), preparing to attack Li Maozhen. However, Han did not want the emperor to attack his long-time ally, and Li Maozhen also submitted petitions begging forgiveness, and the imperial army was never put into actual attack mode. Meanwhile, Han, apprehensive of the imperial army soldiers that the imperial princes who fled to Zhenguo with Emperor Zhaozong commanded, falsely accused them of plotting treason, going as far as having soldiers surround Emperor Zhaozong's provisional palace clamoring for the princes to be stripped of their commands. Due to this threat, Emperor Zhaozong was forced to strip the princes of their commands, and to execute the imperial guard command Li Yun (李筠), who had up to that point protected Emperor Zhaozong well. Han then put the imperial princes under effective house arrest, leaving Emperor Zhaozong with no forces that he could command. Knowing that Emperor Zhaozong was displeased with him, he tried to alleviate the displeasure by urging Emperor Zhaozong to create his oldest son Li You the Prince of De crown prince. Emperor Zhaozong agreed and created Li You crown prince (changing his name to Li Yu) and Li Yu's mother Consort He empress. Also around the same time, Han falsely accused two of Emperor Zhaozong's close associates, the astronomer Ma Daoyin and the physician Xu Yanshi (許巖士) and had them executed, and then used the excuse that Sun and a new chancellor, Zhu Pu, were associated with Ma and Xu, to have Sun and Zhu removed from their chancellor positions.

In summer 897, Li Maozhen, whose ally Gu Yanhui the military governor of Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan) had suffered repeated defeats by Wang Jian (who by that point had taken over neighboring Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu) and was expanding his territory), submitted a petition urging Emperor Zhaozong to punish Wang for attacking Dongchuan. In response, Emperor Zhaozong, trying to use this as an excuse to recover Fengxiang, issued demoting Wang to be a prefectural prefect, transferring Li Maozhen to Xichuan, and making Li Sizhou the military governor of Fengxiang. When Li Sizhou headed for Fengxiang, Li Maozhen refused to let him take over the circuit, and put him and his soldiers under siege. It was only after Han wrote a letter to Li Maozhen that Li Maozhen lifted the siege against Li Sizhou to allow Li Sizhou to return to Zhenguo. Subsequently, as Wang also refused to yield Xichuan to Li Maozhen, the orders were cancelled.

Soon after Li Sizhou's return, Li Jiepi also returned from Hezhong, where he had gone to seek aid from Li Keyong — thus exposing the fact that Li Keyong, who had suffered defeats lately, would be unable to come to the emperor's aid. With the possibility that Li Keyong might intervene removed, Han submitted a petition demanding the deaths of Li Sizhou, Li Jiepi, and the other imperial princes, on accusations of treason. Emperor Zhaozong tried to alleviate the situation by not acting on Han's petition, but Han and the eunuch Liu Jishu the acting director of palace communications then acted on their own and executed Li Sizhou, Li Jiepi, Li Yun (李允) the Prince of Dan, Emperor Zhaozong's uncle Li Zi the Prince of Tong, and seven other princes. Meanwhile, Han sent threats to Li Maozhen's adoptive son Li Jitang (李繼瑭), who was then the military governor of Kuangguo, and Li Jitang fled back to Fengxiang, allowing Han to take over Kuangguo. Emperor Zhaozong thereafter made him the military governor of Kuangguo, in addition to Zhenguo.

Meanwhile, Zhu Quanzhong made repeated requests to have Emperor Zhaozong move to Luoyang. Both Li Maozhen and Han were apprehensive that Zhu would attack west, and therefore decided to repair the palaces at Chang'an to have Emperor Zhaozong return to Chang'an. They also made peace with Li Keyong. The palace reconstruction was completed in spring 898, and Han personally went to Chang'an to inspect them. In autumn 898, Emperor Zhaozong and his court returned to Chang'an, while Han remained at Zhenguo. Emperor Zhaozong bestowed the honorific title of acting Taifu (太傅) on him, and converted Hua Prefecture into a special municipality, Xingde (興德), making Han its mayor. He also created Han the Duke of Xu.

Submission to Zhu Quanzhong

In 901, after Emperor Zhaozong had been deposed by Liu Jishu and Wang Zhongxian (王仲先) in 900 but then restored by Shence Army officers who were loyal to him, Cui Yin proposed to Emperor Zhaozong that all of the eunuchs be massacred. The plan became known to Liu's and Wang's successors Han Quanhui and Zhang Yanhong, who, fearful of being killed, entered into an alliance with Li Maozhen and tried to have Cui removed. Cui, in turn fearful that the eunuchs would have him killed, requested that Zhu Quanzhong bring an army to Chang'an to act against the eunuchs. Hearing that Zhu had launched his troops, Han and Zhang forcibly took Emperor Zhaozong to Fengxiang.

Meanwhile, as Zhu's forces approached the region, Han Jian's subordinate Sima Ye, whom Han had made the acting military governor of Kuangguo, surrendered Kuangguo to Zhu. Zhu sent Sima back to Zhenguo to have him relay Zhu's message — that if Han did not surrender, Zhu would attack. In fear, Han sent his deputy military governor Li Juchuan (李巨川) to surrender. The retired chancellor Zhang Jun met with Zhu and persuaded him that Han, who had long been allied with Li Maozhen, must be removed. When Zhu met him to rebuke him for his past deeds, Han blamed them on Li Juchuan. Zhu executed Li Juchuan but spared Han. Wanting to remove Han from the scene, however, he made Han the military governor of Zhongwu and transferred Zhongwu's military governor Zhao Xu to Kuangguo. It was said that the large amount of tax revenue that Han had obtained and saved during Emperor Zhaozong's stay at Hua Prefecture (Xingde Municipality having been abolished by this point) now fell into Zhu's hands.

Zhu subsequently put Fengxiang under siege. In 903, with Fengxiang suffering from a terrible famine due to the siege, Li Maozhen surrendered Emperor Zhaozong to Zhu and sued for peace. Zhu, with the emperor in his hands, began to consider usurping the throne. He first forced Emperor Zhaozong to kill Cui (who by now was aware of his intentions and were trying to raise an imperial army to counter it) and then forced Emperor Zhaozong to abandon Chang'an and move the capital to Luoyang. As Emperor Zhaozong went on the journey to Luoyang, he stopped at Hua Prefecture and stayed for some time there. At one point, Zhu went to meet him, along with Han, and he held a feast in their honor. Han, however, warned Zhu that Emperor Zhaozong might be planning to assassinate him at the feast (Han did so by stomping on Zhu's feet during the feast), and therefore Zhu cut the feast short and left it. Zhu thus became grateful to Han. Subsequently, Zhu made the Chang'an region into a new Youguo Circuit (佑國, headquartered at Chang'an) and made Han the military governor of Youguo. However, in 906 (by which time Emperor Zhaozong had been assassinated under Zhu's orders and succeeded by his son Emperor Ai), apparently concerned that given Youguo's vicinity to Fengxiang that Han might collaborate with Li Maozhen again, Zhu transferred Han to Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Weifang, Shandong) and transferred the military governor of Pinglu, Wang Zhongshi (王重師), to Youguo.

During Later Liang

In 907, Zhu Quanzhong forced Emperor Aizong to yield the throne to him, ending Tang and starting a new Later Liang as its Emperor Taizu. He made Han Jian acting Situ (司徒, one of the Three Excellencies) and gave him the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, making Han a chancellor, and in 908 gave Han the greater chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中). It was said that by this point, Emperor Taizu was often violent and unreasonable, and very few officials dared to make suggestions to him. Han, however, would do so, and he appreciated Han's advice. In 909, however, Han was removed from his chancellor post and given the honorary title of Taibao (太保). In 910, with Zhongwu and Kuangguo's names having been swapped in 908, Han was made the military governor of Kuangguo (i.e., the old Zhongwu Circuit).

In 912, Emperor Taizu was assassinated by his son Zhu Yougui the Prince of Ying, who falsely claimed that the assassination was by Emperor Taizu's adoptive son Zhu Youwen the Prince of Bo and had Zhu Youwen killed. Zhu Yougui then took the throne. In the aftermath of Emperor Taizu's death, the armies throughout the Later Liang realm became disturbed, but Han took no precautions against any disturbances at Kuangguo. Soon thereafter, his officer Zhang Hou started a mutiny and killed Han. Han's son Han Congxun, whom Zhu Yougui had sent to Kuangguo to announce the news of Emperor Taizu's death, was also killed in the mutiny.

Notes and references

• History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 15.

• New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 40.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 254, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268.

唐朝年間

家世和早期仕途

韓建生于唐宣宗大中九年（855年）。父韓叔豐，世代為牙校。廣明元年（880年）秦宗權占據蔡州，招納亡命之徒，韓建效力他為軍士，累轉至小校。

中和元年（881年）五月，宦官將領忠武軍監軍楊複光說服忠武軍節度使周岌背棄占領京城長安、迫使唐僖宗逃到成都、自稱大齊皇帝的大規模農民變軍黃巢而反正，也說服秦宗權出兵助討黃巢政權。楊複光將軍隊組成八都，由鹿晏弘、晉暉、王建、韓建、張造、李師泰、龐從等分別率領。從此韓建效力楊複光及鹿晏弘，楊複光率八都打敗黃巢部下東南面行營都虞候朱溫，收複鄧州，追殺到藍橋才回師。

中和三年（883年），屯兵河中仍在與黃巢作戰的楊複光去世。鹿晏弘沒有繼續對黃巢作戰，而是率部西行入蜀迎接僖宗，實則于路劫掠。王建、韓建、張造、晉暉、李師泰追隨他。年末，鹿晏弘攻陷山南西道軍部興元府，驅逐節度使牛勖，自稱留後。他任其他忠武軍都將為治下的州刺史，但並不讓他們赴任。王建、韓建素來親睦，鹿晏弘尤其猜忌他們，數次引他們進自己的臥室，厚待他們。王建、韓建秘密互相說：「僕射（指鹿晏弘）甘言厚意，是疑我等，禍將至了！」四年（884年）九月，僖宗所信的宦官十軍觀軍容使田令孜秘密遣人以厚利相誘，十一月，王建、韓建與張造、晉暉、李師泰率眾數千叛離鹿晏弘，逃奔成都行在，迎僖宗于西縣，田令孜都養為假子，賞賜巨萬。因他們都是政敵楊複光的舊將，田令孜薄待他們，除任王建為壁州刺史外，其餘都僅拜為諸衛將軍，讓他們各率本部，號為隨駕五都，隸屬田令孜。韓建被補神策都校、拜金吾衛將軍。時黃巢已敗亡，光啟元年（885年），僖宗回京，以韓建為潼關防禦使、華州刺史。

管治華州

昭宗來華州前

當時唐朝已被軍閥瓜分，多數軍閥只愛戰鬥和掠奪土地，華州數次已遭遇兵災，戶口流散。但身為華州刺史的韓建招撫流民，勸課農桑，數年之間，軍府和百姓都富裕了。時人讚揚他和荊南節度使郭禹為「北韓南郭」。韓建本來不識字，治政之餘每天學習，遣人在器皿、床榻上分別題名，韓建熟悉它們以後開始漸通文字。見《玉篇》後，喜道：「吾以類求之，何所不得也。」于是用來學會了音韻聲偶，並學習書籍和歷史。不久遷華商節度、潼關守捉等使，累加同平章事。

朝廷新設鎮國軍節度使，轄華州、同州，韓建被任為節度使。大順元年（890年），唐昭宗討伐河東節度使李克用，以宰相張濬為河東行營都招討制置宣慰使，韓建親自率軍參戰，被任為北面行營招討馬步都虞候兼供軍糧料使。但副招討使孫揆被李克用養子李存孝伏擊俘獲，官軍士氣受到重大打擊。十月，官軍與李克用主力相遇時，河東先鋒右軍使薛志勤與洺州刺史李承嗣率三千騎在蒙坑打敗韓建的軍隊。韓建以壯士三百夜襲率兵五千屯趙城的李存孝，卻被其設伏擊退。韓建兵敗後，靜難、鳳翔軍不戰而逃，禁軍自潰。李克用軍擊敗張濬，將官軍逼入晉州，保大軍和定難軍也都逃走。韓建率諸軍退守晉州時，又被李存孝追殺所敗，退保絳州。官軍只剩張濬和李克用大敵宣武軍節度使朱全忠（即已降唐的朱溫）派來的軍隊共計萬餘人守晉州。十一月，李存孝圍晉州，卻考慮到不宜俘虜宰相，解圍退軍五十里，任張濬、韓建逃跑。十二月，張濬、韓建棄晉州、絳州，從含山口遁去，翻越王屋山到河陽，拆毀百姓的房屋做筏渡過黃河。此敗後，官軍一蹶不振，韓建本部戰損不詳。二年（891年）正月李克用要求以貶張濬及其同僚宰相孔緯為條件，重新歸唐。但張濬、孔緯沒有去貶所，而是于三月分別逃到華州，被韓建保護。朝廷不能詰問。

十月，楊複光的養堂兄權勢宦官上將軍致仕楊複恭被控謀反，昭宗派兵攻打楊複恭官邸。楊複恭逃奔楊複光養子山南西道節度使楊守亮，與時任附近節度使、刺史的其他養子侄楊守忠、楊守貞、楊守厚一同反叛朝廷。景福元年（892年）正月，韓建與鳳翔節度使李茂貞、靜難節度使王行瑜、李茂貞兄天雄軍節度使李茂莊、王行瑜弟匡國軍節度使王行約（治同州，可見同州已不在韓建掌控）上表昭宗請求討伐楊複恭及其子侄，軍費自理，並任李茂貞為山南西道詔討使。昭宗認為李茂貞一旦兼併楊氏，就更難駕馭，下詔和解，無果。李茂貞不經朝廷許可擅自發起討伐戰，迫使昭宗同意。七月，李茂貞最終擊敗諸楊，諸楊除楊守厚當月病亡外，被迫試圖逃奔李克用，從商山出奔到乾元，潰散兵士被華州軍所敗，諸楊被華州巡邏士兵所獲，韓建以此上奏。楊守亮見韓建左右八百人曾是自己部下，對韓建說：「這些人吾養之素厚，無一為我死。公不需要浪費衣食，不如殺之。」韓建許諾。楊守亮又說：「公倖免我一死，讓我活著見天子，陳說先人之功，有萬分之一的可能不死。」八月，韓建用檻車將諸楊解送長安（一作斬了楊複恭、楊守信，只解送了楊守亮），官吏用帛縛住楊守亮，在他嘴裡塞了球，楊守亮被昭宗問訊時無法說話，只能頷首，昭宗左右說他是伏罪了，于是諸楊被處決，李茂貞兼併其地。楊守亮幕僚李巨川一同被擒，題詩于樹葉送給韓建，詞情哀鳴，韓建欣然釋放了他，命為掌書記，後為從事。

乾寧二年（895年）正月，護國軍節度使（原稱河中節度使）王重盈去世，引發繼承糾紛。王重盈的弟弟和前任節度使王重榮養兄長王重簡子王珂為子，王重盈死後，河中軍士在李克用支持下希望王珂繼任。但王重盈子保義軍節度使王珙、晉州刺史王瑤希望王珙繼任，並說服韓建、李茂貞和王行瑜請求昭宗讓王珙繼任。三月，昭宗同意李克用所請，拒絕韓建等，使得三位節度使引以為恥。京畿內有八鎮兵，隸左右神策軍，郃陽鎮地近華州，良原鎮地近靜難軍軍部邠州，韓建和王行瑜分別想要這兩鎮軍隊，被宦官拒絕。五月，三節度使進軍長安，各自率精兵數千入朝，坊間市民都逃匿，官吏制止不住。昭宗御安福門以待，三人盛陳甲兵，拜伏舞蹈于門下。昭宗臨軒親自詰問三人為何不奏請待回複就率兵入京，意欲何為，若不能侍奉自己，自己願退位讓賢！王行瑜、李茂貞流汗不能言，唯有韓建大致講述入朝原因。昭宗召三人上樓，賜酒，在同文殿宴請三人，三人認為宰相韋昭度、李磎針對自己，就奏稱南、北司互有朋黨，禍亂朝政，韋昭度討西川不利，李磎拜相不合眾心，請求誅殺二人。昭宗拒絕，只是貶了二人，他們就自己在都亭驛殺了二人，又殺樞密使康尚弼及宦官數人，並迫使昭宗下詔調王珂到匡國軍，王珙到河中，王行約到保義軍。三節度使謀廢昭宗，立皇兄吉王李保，但聽聞李克用已起兵勤王，三人害怕，王行瑜、李茂貞各留兵二千人宿衛京師監視昭宗，與韓建都辭行回本鎮。

六月，李克用被韓建及其盟友的所為所激怒，採取行動。他很快敗殺王瑤，七月，進軍渡過黃河，圍華州。韓建登城請求解圍：「我未嘗失禮于李公，為何被攻打？」被李克用拒絕：「公身為人臣，逼逐天子，殺大臣，公為有禮，誰是無禮者！所以討伐你。」但得知李茂貞和王行瑜都想劫持昭宗後，李克用很快進軍靜難軍。當時李茂貞和王行瑜留在長安的軍隊發生爭鬥，都想劫持昭宗，但昭宗在禁軍保護下逃入秦嶺得免。李克用圍邠州，王行瑜想逃，逃跑時被部下殺死。李茂貞和韓建害怕，變得對朝廷非常恭順。李克用請求昭宗同意也消滅李茂貞，但昭宗想維持平衡禁止他這麼做，他隨後撤退，此後李茂貞和韓建又驕橫如故，漸漸減少上貢，所上表章也驕橫傲慢，同謀率兵入朝。九月，孔緯去世，朝廷沒收其故居，韓建上疏諫阻，昭宗從之。

乾寧三年（896年）六月，昭宗選補數萬人為軍聖、捧宸、保寧、宣化即殿後四軍等軍，讓諸王統領，試圖緩和李茂貞和韓建給朝廷的壓力。李茂貞宣稱諸王想攻打自己，要自衛，再度調兵進軍長安。昭宗告急于李克用，但李克用未能回應。李茂貞打敗覃王李嗣周，逼近長安，昭宗決定率百官和諸王逃離長安。鳳翔軍後來進入長安並放火燒了它。昭宗離京後本來在延王李戒丕建議下想投奔河東，韓建遣其子韓從允（或作韓允、韓充）奉表請昭宗幸華州，昭宗不許，想去河中、鄜州；以韓建為京畿都指揮、安撫制置及開通四面道路、催促諸道綱運等使。韓建連續上表，昭宗及從行官員也害怕走遠，到富平，遣宣徽使元公訊召韓建，面議去留。韓建到富平見駕，頓首哭道：「方今籓臣跋扈者，不止茂貞。陛下若離開宗廟園陵遠巡邊鄙，臣恐怕車駕渡河就回不來了。如今華州兵力雖微弱，控帶關輔，也足以自保。臣積聚訓厲已經十五年了，西距長安不遠，願陛下駕臨，以圖興複。」昭宗也哭了，于是到華州，以府署為行宮，韓建去龍興寺辦公。

昭宗在華州期間

當時隨昭宗逃到鎮國軍的宰相們王摶、孫偓、陸扆害怕韓建，不敢專斷政事。八月，昭宗下詔韓建參與議論朝政，韓建上表堅辭，于是作罷。韓建奉詔遣李巨川傳檄天下諸藩鎮，讓他們把資糧運到行在，協助修繕京城，並稱前西川節度使陳敬瑄在僖宗避難成都時「過恃寵私，多所參預，所以遠方觀聽，物論諠然」，自己不敢重蹈其覆轍。李克用聞之，嘆道：「皇帝如果去年聽從我言，豈有今日之患！」又說：「韓建天下癡物，為賊臣削弱帝室，將來不是為李茂貞所擒，就是為朱全忠所俘虜！」奏請與相鄰節度使發兵勤王。同月，昭宗加韓建兼中書令。先前另一宰相崔胤因韓建要求被外放為武安軍節度使，九月，秘密求援于朱全忠，教他營造東都宮闕，上表請求迎駕。朱全忠與河南尹張全義上表請昭宗去洛陽，朱全忠請求二萬軍迎駕，且稱崔胤是忠臣，不宜出外。韓建害怕，奏請召回崔胤仍為宰相，遣使告諭朱全忠，朱全忠作罷。崔胤複為宰相。韓建經常從容奏道：「臣為陛下修營大內，結信諸侯，一二年間，必期興複。」同月，昭宗以韓建為檢校太尉，兼領修創京城、京畿制置、催促諸道綱運等使，由韓建督役輦運工作，複建大明宮。

十月，昭宗加孫偓行營節度、招討、處置等使，以韓建權知京兆尹，兼把截使，準備攻打李茂貞。韓建不想昭宗攻打自己的長期盟友，勸止，李茂貞也在韓建建議下上表請罪，故官軍並未真正出師。昭宗久在華州，想回宮，每逢花朝月夕，游宴西溪，就與群臣詠歌詩並哭泣，曾作《菩薩蠻辭》三章以思歸，酒酣之際與隨從眾臣悲歌下淚，韓建與諸王都應和。乾寧四年（897年）正月，韓建厭惡隨駕來鎮國軍的諸王所領的軍隊，與李巨川合謀，指使防城將張行思、花重武告稱睦、濟、韶、通、彭、韓、儀、陳八王謀殺韓建再劫駕去河中，並將張行思所告奏于昭宗。昭宗大驚，召韓建告諭，韓建稱病不入見。昭宗令諸王拜訪韓建自陳，韓建請他們入臥室，秘密上表稱：「諸王忽然來拜訪臣理事之所，不測事端。臣仔細思考，不應與諸王相見。」又舉七國之亂及西晉八王之亂的例子稱：「諸王當自避嫌疑，不可輕為舉措。陛下若以友愛含容，請依舊制，令他們歸十六宅，好好選師傅教以詩書，不令他們典兵預政。」且請求解散他們的軍隊，只留殿後兵三十人為控鶴排馬官，隸飛龍坊。韓建擔心昭宗不從，引麾下精兵圍行宮，連續上表。昭宗不得已，當夜詔諸王所領軍士放歸田裡，諸王勒令回歸十六宅，其甲兵都交給韓建收掌。韓建又奏稱：「陛下選賢任能就足以清禍亂了，何必別置殿後四軍，招募的都是坊市無賴奸猾之徒，平時都會想製造禍變，臨難必不能為用，卻讓他們張弓挾刃接近皇帝，臣私下感到寒心，乞求都罷去。」詔從之。于是殿後四軍二萬餘人都被解散，昭宗沒有了親軍。捧日都頭李筠昔日在王行瑜、李茂貞圖謀劫駕時護駕功居第一，韓建又率精兵數千圍行宮，奏請殺李筠，昭宗害怕，趕緊下詔同意，韓建在大雲橋斬殺李筠。又上奏舉永王李璘圖謀自立、吐蕃和軍閥朱玫擁立宗室為帝的例子，請求召還出使四方的諸王。又奏稱方士們出入禁庭，眩惑聖聽，應禁止入宮。昭宗都下詔從之。韓建已將諸王都幽禁在其他房內，知昭宗意不悅，不自安，于是奏請立皇長子德王李祐為太子、拜未封王皇子為親王，想緩解關係和輿論及掩蓋惡名。詔立李祐為皇太子，更名李裕，立李裕母何淑妃為皇后。二月，韓建誣殺昭宗近臣天文學家太子詹事馬道殷和醫生將作監許岩士，並利用孫偓與另一宰相朱樸不合，以二相與馬、許勾結為由，罷相，後又殺朱樸。三月，詔韓建進封昌黎郡王，食邑若干戶，改賜「資忠靖國功臣」。同月，昭宗駕幸韓建南莊。韓建厭惡刑部尚書張禕等數人，四月誣奏他們，貶之。張禕被貶為衡州司馬。五月，韓建八次上表辭讓封王，獻封事十條，其中第三條是請置師傅教導太子、諸王。昭宗于是以太子賓客王牘為諸王侍讀。六月，昭宗幸西溪觀競渡。

同月，時李茂貞盟友東川節度使顧彥暉屢次被時任西川節度使王建所敗，李茂貞上表請求昭宗處罰王建不奉詔動兵之罪。昭宗意圖趁機收複鳳翔，下詔貶王建為南州刺史，加李茂貞為西川節度使，以李嗣周為鳳翔節度使。李嗣周前往鳳翔，李茂貞拒絕受代，包圍了李嗣周及其軍隊。七月，韓建寫信給李茂貞，李茂貞解圍，李嗣周回到鎮國軍。因王建也拒絕將西川讓給李茂貞，相關的命令也都被取消。

李嗣周回師不久，八月，先前因昭宗後悔幸華州而派去求救于李克用的李戒丕也從河中回來，李克用近期遭敗不能勤王的消息曝光了。韓建深恨李克用誅殺王行瑜，不再擔心李克用介入後，上表稱李嗣周、李戒丕等諸王謀反，請殺之。昭宗意圖緩和，不回複。韓建與宦官知樞密劉季述矯詔擅自誅殺李嗣周（唐順宗子李經後裔）、李戒丕（唐玄宗子李玢後裔）、丹王李允（唐代宗子李逾後裔）、通王李滋（唐德宗子李諶後裔）、皇兄儀王（唐玄宗子李璲後裔）、皇弟睦王李倚（唐懿宗子）、嗣濟王（唐玄宗子李環後裔）、嗣韶王（唐代宗子李暹後裔） 、皇叔祖彭王李惕（唐憲宗子）、嗣韓王李克良（唐代宗子李迥後裔）、嗣陳王（唐文宗嗣子李成美後裔），將他們及侍者驅趕到石堤谷，都殺了，稱他們謀逆。昭宗無奈，九月，以太子太師盧知猷撰韓建德政碑文，前戶部侍郎司空圖為韓建作頌，以為安慰。韓建累次上表堅辭，獲准。早在乾寧元年，華州人就已上表請為韓建立碑，當時昭宗曾在便殿出示鎮國軍監軍使董重彥奏稱華州將吏、軍人、百姓、僧道等懇請為韓建置生祠的奏章。韓建已第三次上表辭讓，盧知猷與司空圖已完成文辭，昭宗令建造二碑，韓建又面奏昭宗堅請收回詔書，最終沒有立碑。李茂貞養子匡國軍節度使李繼瑭聽聞朝廷討伐李茂貞，正害怕，韓建已有跋扈之志，恐嚇他，他逃奔鳳翔。十月，昭宗以韓建為鎮國、匡國兩軍節度使、長春宮使。韓建一度辭讓。昭宗遣供奉官祁彥祥宣賜旌節，到韓建辦公處龍興寺告知，不久即授韓建上述官職。韓建奏請以京兆府于每年所徵收的賦稅內減四十萬貫充上供。

韓建經營南莊，起樓閣，欲邀昭宗游幸，再廢了他，改立太子李裕。其父韓叔豐對他說：「你只是陳許之地的一介農夫，遭遇時亂，蒙天子厚恩到此，欲以兩州百里之地行大事，我不忍見滅族之禍，不如先死！」于是哭了。李茂貞、朱全忠都想發兵迎天子，韓建有些恐懼，于是作罷。朱全忠接連上表請求昭宗幸洛陽。光化元年正月，李茂貞和韓建都害怕朱全忠西征，決定修複長安宮殿，迎昭宗回京。他們也和李克用講和。詔以韓建為修宮闕使。諸藩鎮都獻上錢和建築材料，韓建作為京兆尹奉命入京城計算調度。韓建派都將蔡敬思督建。宮殿建成後，二月，韓建親自去看。四月，昭宗幸陟屺寺，在韓建所獻的御莊宴請從行官員。六月幸西溪觀競渡。八月，昭宗車駕回京，韓建留在鎮國軍。昭宗特授李巨川諫議大夫，仍留下輔佐韓建；冊拜韓建守太傅，升華州為興德府，以韓建為府尹；親自為韓建畫像，封韓建潁川郡王，並賜鐵券，送上親筆「忠貞」二字。韓建屢次上表辭王爵，于是于十月改封許國公。時韓建為宣力興複功臣、鎮國匡國等軍節度管內觀察處置修葺宮闕同州長春宮等使、開府儀同三司、守太傅、兼中書令、興德尹、使持節同州諸軍事、兼同州刺史、上柱國、許國公、食邑四千戶、食實封一百戶，獲鐵券所賜恕九死，子孫恕二死，如犯常刑，有司不可加責，付史館，頒示天下。

歸順朱全忠

當年十一月，時任左軍中尉劉季述和右宮中尉王仲先廢黜並幽禁昭宗。進士李愚正在華州作客遊玩，上書韓建，稱只有忠義的韓建是社稷的依靠，為何坐視廢立不勤王，建議韓建率先反正，傳檄勤王，誅殺劉、王。韓建沒有採納，厚待之，李愚堅辭而去。次年，昭宗被忠于自己的神策軍將領複立。崔胤建議盡殺宦官。劉、王的繼任者韓全誨、張彥弘聞訊，害怕被殺，與李茂貞結盟，試圖罷免崔胤。崔胤也怕宦官先殺自己，請求朱全忠率軍到長安對付宦官。得知朱全忠已發兵，十一月，韓、張劫持昭宗到鳳翔。

當月稍早，韓建以判官司馬鄴知匡國軍留後。朱全忠軍逼近後，司馬鄴以匡國軍迎降。朱全忠遣司馬鄴入華州對韓建說如果不投降，就要攻打。韓建遣時任節度副使李巨川請降，獻銀三萬兩助軍。已致仕的宰相張濬與朱全忠相見，說服他除去長期與李茂貞結盟的韓建。朱全忠大軍到華州城下，韓建驚惶失措。朱全忠派副典客馬嗣勛入見韓建說降，韓建單騎與他同出迎謁朱全忠，朱全忠面責韓建以往過失，韓建說：「韓建不識字，表章書檄都是李巨川所為。」把責任都推給李巨川。朱全忠以李巨川經常為韓建謀劃，斬首了巨川。朱全忠與韓建素有軍中昆弟之情，見了韓建，怒氣消除，以韓建從軍，並對韓建說：「公是許州人，可以衣錦還鄉。」以為忠武軍節度使，治所遷到許州，調忠武軍節度使趙珝到匡國軍。當時興德府已罷撤，先前昭宗停留華州期間，華州商人聚集，韓建收了大量的稅，得到九百萬緡銅錢，都被朱全忠所取走。天複二年（902年）三月，河東掌書記李襲吉舉韓建蓄財無數而效力朱全忠的例子，向李克用指出變法不如養民。韓建先前闢張策為判官，領忠武軍後，又以為掌書記，後又遣他出使朱全忠，被朱全忠留用。

朱全忠隨後圍鳳翔。天複三年（903年），鳳翔因被圍遭遇嚴重饑荒，李茂貞將昭宗交給朱全忠並求和。朱全忠掌握皇帝後，開始考慮篡位。崔胤已意識到朱全忠的意圖，並試圖組建官軍反對朱全忠。朱全忠先迫使昭宗殺崔胤，再迫使昭宗棄長安遷都洛陽。途中昭宗在華州一度停留。三月，朱全忠和韓建同去見駕，昭宗宴請群臣，散席後只留下朱全忠和韓建繼續喝酒，昭宗舉酒對他們說：「遷都之後，國步小康，社稷安危，系卿兩人。」何皇后出來親自捧玉杯給朱全忠敬酒，晉國夫人可証向唐昭宗附耳說話。韓建踩朱全忠腳，朱全忠以為昭宗謀害自己，不飲酒，裝醉而出。韓建秘密對他說：「皇帝與宮人附耳而語，幕下有兵仗聲，恐怕要圖謀王（朱全忠封梁王）。」朱全忠因此尤其感激韓建，並連續上表章請車駕幸洛陽。四月，朱全忠奏請以長安為佑國軍，以韓建為佑國節度使。天祐年間，韓建築新城，務本坊的石經被棄于野外。韓建提拔鹽鐵巡官韋寂為司法參軍，韋寂執法平允，韓建很器重他。朱全忠下令弒昭宗，昭宗子唐哀帝繼位。天祐三年（906年）六月，朱全忠注意到佑國軍地近鳳翔，韓建可能重新勾結李茂貞，上表奏請遷韓建為平盧節度使，以平盧節度使王重師為京兆尹、佑國節度使。朱全忠設帳在郊外餞行，對韓建說：「公以前在華陰，政事之暇，省覽經籍，這也是士君子之大務。今之青州（平盧軍軍部），政事簡單，事務閒暇，可複修華陰之故事。」韓建謙虛回應。朱全忠又說：「公讀書必須精意，勿錯用心。」以此言譏諷當時在場、愛好儒學但曾據平盧軍反叛朱全忠的河陽節度使王師範。

後梁年間

天祐四年（907年），朱全忠迫使哀帝禪位，代唐稱帝建立後梁，即後梁太祖。五月，韓建及忠武軍節度使馮行襲、義武軍節度使王處直請求太祖開內宴，分別進貢方物；以韓建守司徒、同平章事，充諸道鹽鐵轉運使。太祖認為韓建有文武材，且懂得耕作、軍旅、籌度經費等事，想詳細詢問，所以在當時對他恩澤特異，罕有能與之相比的。十月，命在東都的文武百官各自回到崗位，只留韓建等。開平二年（908年）二月，以韓建為侍中，兼建昌宮使，權判建昌宮事。太祖性格殘暴不講理，大臣不敢勸諫，唯有韓建時有建言，太祖也優容他。三年（909年），太祖郊祀于洛陽，以韓建為大禮使。韓建曾任門下侍郎。六月，太祖以韓建及另一宰相薛貽矩常在案前有所奏，對治政很有幫助，深加獎諭，分別賜繒帛。九月，罷相，冊拜守太保。詔命他每逢月旦、十五日入閣稱賀赴朝參，其他時候不必入見，以示優禮。十一月，太祖于文明殿受宰相以下問起居，韓建率百官排班等候，太祖升壇致謝。太祖御文明殿，韓建受冊為太保。先前開平二年，忠武軍和匡國軍已互換軍號。四年（910年）三月，除授匡國軍節度使、陳許蔡觀察使，令中書省、門下省不得限定其任期及商議替換他。

乾化二年（912年），太祖被子郢王朱友珪所弒。朱友珪誣稱太祖養子博王朱友文弒君，殺之，自立為帝。後梁因而人心動蕩，許州軍士相繼報告有變亂，但韓建不在意不做防備。六月，馬步都指揮使張厚作亂，在衙署殺死韓建。韓建有子韓從訓，昭宗在華州時賜名韓文禮，官居都官郎中，當時正奉朱友珪之命到陳、許報告國喪，到了才兩天就遭遇軍亂，與韓建同死。朱友珪不敢詰問，任張厚為陳州刺史。

乾化三年（913年），韓建被追贈為太師。

評價

• 王建：韓建非豹變之才，與朱溫作相宜也。

• 《新唐書·宰相世系表》雖將韓建列為「以軍功進」的宰相，但也列為「唐之盜」，故沒有列出他的世系表。

• 《舊五代史》史臣曰：韓建遇唐朝之衰運，據潼關之要地，不能籓屏王室，翻務斫喪宗枝，雖有阜俗之能，何補不臣之咎。

• 《北夢瑣言》：唯張濬大言，自方管、葛，以無謀之韓建，倅用剛之孫揆，出征大鹵，自貽敗亡爾。……所謂以羊將狼，投卵擊石，幸而不用，何過望哉！

注釋及參考文獻