Background

Liu Ji was born in 757 — during the Anshi Rebellion, when Fanyang Circuit (范陽, later known as Lulong), where his father Liu Peng was from, was governed by the rebel state Yan, which rivaled Tang Dynasty, then ruled by Emperor Suzong. Liu Ji had at least two younger brothers, Liu Yong and Liu Yuan. After Yan's destruction in 763, Fanyang, renamed Lulong, was nominally reintegrated into Tang, but was then governed successively by Li Huaixian and Zhu Xicai, both of whom ruled it de facto independently from the Tang imperial government. In 772, Liu Peng's cousin Zhu Ci became military governor after assassinating Zhu Xicai, and Liu Peng thereafter successively served under Zhu Ci and his brother Zhu Tao.

Liu Ji himself visited the capital Chang'an in his youth and passed the imperial examinations. In 785, after Zhu Tao died, Liu Peng succeeded him. Liu Ji served as the prefect of Mo Prefecture (莫州, in modern Cangzhou, Hebei) under his father. Later in 785, when Liu Peng grew ill, Liu Yong was by Liu Peng's side, and he quickly summoned Liu Ji back from Mo Prefecture and supported him to succeed their father. The emperor at that time, Emperor Suzong's grandson Emperor Dezong, thus made Liu Ji acting military governor. Liu Peng died soon thereafter, and Liu Ji succeeded him.

As military governor

While the military governors of the region were generally ruling their circuits de facto independently from the imperial regime at the time, Liu Ji was said to treat Emperor Dezong with respect, often offering tributes, and Emperor Dezong also treated him with respect, making him honorary minister of defense. Soon, however, he was embroiled in a dispute with his brother Liu Yong. When he succeeded Liu Peng with Liu Yong's support, he made Liu Yong the prefect of Ying Prefecture (瀛州, in modern Cangzhou) and promised to let Liu Yong succeed him. However, Liu Ji soon made his oldest son Liu Gun deputy military governor, apparently designating Liu Gun as his successor. By 792, Liu Yong, displeased, directly submitted to Emperor Dezong and contributed soldiers to the winter defense against Tufan to the west of Chang'an. Liu Ji, in anger, attacked Liu Yong. By 794, Liu Yong, unable to stand against Liu Ji, abandoned Ying Prefecture and took his soldiers and people west to the region directly under imperial control. In 796, as part of a large number of honorary titles given to military governors, Liu Ji was made honorary chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi. In 800, another brother, Liu Yuan, then the prefect of Zhuo Prefecture (涿州, in modern Baoding, Hebei), was resistant of Liu Ji's orders, and Liu Ji defeated and captured him. Liu Ji then delivered him to Chang'an, where Emperor Dezong gave him a minor office and let him stay in Chang'an.

In 806, by which time Emperor Dezong's grandson Emperor Xianzong was emperor, Liu Ji was given the greater honorary chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中). In 807, he had disputes with his neighboring military governors — Wang Shizhen the military governor of Chengde Circuit and Zhang Maozhao the military governor of Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern Baoding), and Emperor Xianzong had to dispatch the imperial attendant Fang Shi (房式) to mediate.

In 809, Wang Shizhen died, and Emperor Xianzhong initially refused to follow Emperor Dezong's precedent and allow Wang Shizhen's son Wang Chengzong to succeed as military governor of Chengde, until he extracted from Wang Chengzong a promise to surrender two of Chengde's prefectures to imperial control. Wang Chengzong soon reneged on the promise, however, and Emperor Xianzong ordered a campaign against Chengde. Liu Ji's emissary to Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei), Tan Zhong (譚忠), was able to persuade Weibo's military governor Tian Ji'an not to join Chengde's cause, and then persuaded Liu Ji himself to attack Chengde — pointing out that if he did not, Emperor Xianzong would believe that he was complicit in Wang Chengzong's resistance. In spring 810, Liu Ji thus launched his own campaign against Chengde, capturing a number of towns. Emperor Xianzong gave him the honorary chancellor title of Zhongshu Ling (中書令).

Meanwhile, Liu Ji had his second son Liu Zong accompany him on the campaign, while leaving Liu Gun in charge at headquarters. As Liu Ji was at Raoyang (饒陽, in modern Hengshui, Hebei), he grew ill. In Liu Ji's illness, Liu Zong conspired with the staff members Zhang Qi and Cheng Guobao, forging orders that indicated that Emperor Xianzong was displeased with Liu Ji's lack of progress and read to replace him with Liu Gun. Liu Ji, in shock and anger, executed tens of officers who were friendly to Liu Gun and issued an order summoning Liu Gun. Liu Zong then poisoned Liu Ji's drink, and Liu Ji died of poisoning. Liu Zong then, in Liu Ji's name, caned Liu Gun to death, and took over control of the circuit and the army. Emperor Xianzong posthumously honored Liu Ji and gave him the posthumous name Zhuangwu (莊武, meaning "combative and martial").

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 143.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 212.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 232, 234, 235, 237, 238.

背景

劉濟出生在安史之亂間的至德二年（757年），家鄉范陽被叛軍燕軍占領，隨後又被唐肅宗收複。劉濟至少有兩個弟弟劉澭和劉源，其中劉澭與他異母。廣德元年（763年），燕軍敗亡，范陽被改名為盧龍，名義上重歸朝廷，實則先後被李懷仙、朱希彩割據。大曆七年（772年），朱希彩被殺，劉怦的表弟朱泚取而代之，劉怦先後在朱泚和其弟朱滔帳下效力。

劉濟出生時，其母難產，生下來後，侍者初見他是一條大蛇，黑氣勃勃，都驚逃。長大後，也和一般兒童很不一樣。所住的房子著火了，人們都驚慌救火，劉濟卻從容而出，眾人異之。

劉濟年輕時曾去長安，中進士。累歷盧龍軍州縣長官。貞元元年（785年），朱滔去世，劉怦繼任。劉怦以劉濟兼御史中丞，充行軍司馬。興元初年，劉濟又以太子家令為莫州（在今河北滄州）刺史。《寶刻叢編》卷六莫州條引《諸道石刻錄》有《唐刺史劉君德政碑》，或即劉濟。當年，劉怦病倒，在他身邊的劉澭很快從莫州召回劉濟，支持他繼任。劉怦請以劉濟權知軍州事，在位的唐德宗准了，任劉濟為權知幽州盧龍軍府事。九月，劉怦去世，劉濟繼任，為幽州大都督府長史、兼御史大夫、幽州盧龍節度觀察、押奚契丹兩蕃等使。

任節度使

劉濟丁父憂。貞元四年（788年）八月，起複左衛上將軍，其餘官職如故。

進士李益不得意，北遊河朔，劉濟闢他為從事，李益曾給劉濟寫詩，有「不上望京樓」之句。劉濟見到在幽州屬郡歷任郡守的李載義，認為他長身偉幹，招致在親軍，隨自己征伐。絳州人譚忠來到盧龍軍，劉濟給他二千人守白狼口，後又讓他率漁陽軍留范陽。

雖然河朔節度使通常割據不奉法度，但劉濟尊重朝廷，經常納貢，德宗也尊重他，累加檢校兵部尚書的榮譽職位。德宗因未能對劉濟盡達朝廷倚賴之意，密詔壽州團練使張建封選特達識略之士前往盧龍軍對劉濟表達此意。張建封強行署幕僚溫造為節度參謀，出使幽州。溫造話沒說完，劉濟就俯伏流涕說：「我劉濟在遠僻的地方，不知天子神聖，大臣忠藎。願為諸侯之先，效以死節。」貞元五年（789年），遷左僕射，充幽州節度使。但很快，他捲入和弟弟劉澭的爭執。他剛繼任時，任劉澭為瀛州（在今河北滄州）刺史，並感念其當初奉自己繼位，許諾以他為繼承人，但很快又任長子劉緄為節度副大使，顯然是要讓劉緄接班。八年（792年），心懷不滿的劉澭擅自通表朝廷，並派遣一千軍隊。十一月，劉濟攻打劉澭。十年（794年）正月，劉澭不敵，棄瀛州，率本部兵一千五百人、男女萬餘口逃到長安。劉濟又遷檢校尚書右僕射。十一年（795年）四月，奚人數次進犯平州，劉濟敗之于青都山，斬首二萬級，奚人又掠北境檀、薊一帶，劉濟會合室韋，于室韋川等三處大破奚王啜剌等六萬餘眾，十二月上表奏聞。朝廷賀之。烏桓、鮮卑數次寇邊，劉濟率軍擊退，深入千餘里，虜獲不可勝數，東北晏然。十二年（796年）正月，大批節度使被授予榮銜，劉濟被授予同中書門下平章事的宰相榮銜。十六年（800年）七月，時任涿州（在今河北保定）刺史的劉源也反抗哥哥的命令，八月，在涿州被劉濟擊敗俘虜，帶到幽州。德宗授劉源官職，徵召他到長安。

二十一年（805年），唐順宗登基後，三月加劉濟兼檢校司空。

元和元年（806年）六月，唐憲宗在位，劉濟被授予更高的宰相榮銜兼侍中。二年（807年）八月，劉濟和鄰鎮成德節度使王士真、義武（軍部在保定）節度使張茂昭因本部兵都豪壯，彼此發生衝突，屢次上表請求加罪彼此。憲宗派給事中房式充幽州成德義武等軍宣慰使前往調停。十一月，昭義節度使盧從史私通王士真、劉濟，對外獻策請求圖謀山東，擅自引兵東出。憲宗召他令回昭義軍部太原，盧從史託辭不奉詔，很久才回太原。

元和初年，烏桓鮮卑數次犯邊，劉濟率軍擊退他們，深入千餘里，俘虜很多，東北晏然。

三年（808年）三月，汴宋節度使劉玄佐卒。子劉士寧圖謀繼立，遣使通王士真、劉濟、魏博節度使田緒，三鎮都因劉士寧未受詔，皆扣留其使者。

四年（809年），作《涿鹿山石經堂記》。當年，王士真去世，憲宗起初並不想遵循德宗先例由其子王承宗繼任，直到王承宗許諾將成德的德、棣二州歸還朝廷。但王承宗食言，憲宗于是討伐成德。劉濟當時已染病，議者以為朝廷應該趁劉濟染病伺機取代。七月，憲宗與宰相李絳等議及此事，也都不希望劉氏父子世襲盧龍軍，想在劉濟過世後趁機奪取盧龍軍。十月，憲宗下詔削奪王承宗官爵，以左神策中尉吐突承璀為左、右神策、河中、河陽、浙西、宣歙等道行營兵馬使、招討處置等使。翰林學士白居易上奏，擔憂劉濟、張茂昭、河東節度使范希朝、盧從史乃至諸道將校將恥于受吐突承璀指揮，心不齊，功不能立，反而便宜王承宗。很多大臣們也為此進諫，憲宗不得已削承璀四道兵馬使，改處置為宣慰。十一月，作為劉濟派到魏博（在今河北邯鄲）的使者的裨將譚忠成功說服當地節度使田季安不參與此事，回鎮後，劉濟合諸將商議：「天子知我怨趙（成德軍），必命我伐之，趙將要大防備我，奈何？」譚忠想要刺激劉濟伐王承宗，趕緊說：「天子不使我伐趙，趙就不防備燕（盧龍軍）。」劉濟怒，將其下獄。派人偵察成德軍，果然不設備。數日後，詔書許劉濟不出兵。劉濟釋放譚忠，道歉相問，譚忠說：「盧從史表面親燕，其實忌之；表面絕趙，其實私通。他為趙畫策說：『燕倚趙自固，雖甚有怨，必不殘害趙，故不足為虞。』趙不防備燕了，盧從史就告訴天子：『燕、趙有宿怨，現在趙被討伐卻不防備燕，是燕反過來私通趙。』所以天子不派您伐趙，趙也不防備燕。」劉濟曰：「怎麼辦？」譚忠說：「如今天子誅承宗，而燕無一卒渡過易水，正好讓潞人（昭義軍）賣恩于趙，販忠于上，則您雖有忠義之心，卻得了私通趙的名聲，卻不被趙感激，徒得惡名于天下。」劉濟認為他說得對，五年（810年）正月，率本部七萬軍攻打成德，當時其餘諸軍都未到，只有劉濟獨自奮戰，以劉緄部領本道行營兵馬打下饒陽（在今河北衡水），破成德軍三千人，生擒三百餘人，斬首千餘級，擒斬將校收穫馬畜器械等，獻俘成德將朝履清等四人，又打下束鹿。朝廷優詔褒之。劉濟又作詩四韻上獻，以表忠憤之志。又以大將軍身份率大軍到瀛州，三月，引全軍攻圍樂壽，久不能下。當月，吐突承璀與行營兵馬使李聽在都知兵馬使烏重胤配合下，擒住私通王承宗、破壞討伐的盧從史。憲宗嘉獎烏重胤之功，想就授昭義節度使。李絳以為不可，請授烏重胤河陽節度使，以河陽節度使孟元陽為昭義節度使。這時吐突承璀奏已牒烏重胤句當昭義留後，李絳上言，指吐突承璀此舉有無君之心，烏重胤作為盧從史的下屬將校取代上級，劉濟、張茂昭、田季安、橫海節度使程執恭、宣武節度使韓弘、淄青節度使李師道等都是有下屬將校的人，必然自危，倘若相繼上章表陳情，並指吐突承璀專命之罪，憲宗將無以處之，不是愈發犯眾怒就是自去朝廷威重。于是憲宗從李絳議。四月，下詔處罰盧從史，並褒獎劉濟。劉濟攻下樂壽，又攻下博陸等縣，五月命次子劉總率兵八千先登安平，六月攻克之並奏捷，前後大獻俘獲。劉濟與程執恭盟好，朝廷嘉獎程執恭。又以破樂壽等功，厚賞劉濟，授劉濟子劉紹、孫劉景震等四人六品官，賜器仗弓甲刀斧等，劉濟皆上謝表。但白居易認為劉濟大奸似忠。七月，朝廷因討伐王承宗無功，在李師道、劉濟請求下，不得已歸罪盧從史而赦免王承宗。錄劉濟功，加檢校司徒及兼中書令的宰相榮銜。

劉濟在盧龍軍二十餘年，不曾入覲。又累加開府儀同三司、上柱國，封彭城郡王。

他起初讓次子劉總為行營都知兵馬使隨征，劉緄在軍部攝留務。當時劉濟已在饒陽病倒了。劉總和判官張玘、孔目官成國寶合謀，派人詐稱從長安來，稱憲宗不滿劉濟缺乏進展，已用劉緄取代他。第二天，又派人來告：「副大使旌節已至太原。」又使人跑著呼喊：「旌節已過代州。」全軍驚駭。劉濟震怒，處決了幾十個和劉緄相好的大將，召劉緄前來，以張玘兄張皋（劉總岳父）攝留務。劉濟一整天沒吃飯，渴了要喝水，劉總與劉濟親吏總使吏唐弘實合謀，由唐弘實在粥湯里下毒給他，毒殺劉濟，又假借劉濟之命杖殺趕到涿州的劉緄，控制了盧龍鎮和軍隊，發喪。朝廷不知內情。憲宗贈劉濟太師，廢朝三日，賻禮有加，謚「莊武」。

家庭

妻妾

• 夫人張氏，瀛州刺史盧龍軍兵馬使張懿與妻李氏之女，因劉濟之故封薊國夫人，劉濟死後安定局面有功封薊國太夫人，追贈燕國太夫人。劉濟生前舍宅興建崇效寺，張氏也捐資修葺寺觀。

子孫

• 長子劉緄

• 次子劉總，母張氏

• 劉約，妻姑臧李氏，有一子三女

　• 劉冰（846年—868年4月16日），字比德，嫡女，京兆府鄠縣丞張藹然妻

• 劉紹

注釋