Background

Liu Zai was born in 715, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. His family was from Xiang Prefecture (襄州, in modern Xiangfan, Hubei) but claimed as their ancestral lands the Hedong region (河東, roughly modern Shanxi) and claimed the Jin Dynasty (266–420) official Liu Chun (柳純) as an ancestor. Their traceable ancestry included officials of Jin Dynasty, Liu Song, Southern Qi, Liang Dynasty, and Tang Dynasty. His grandfather Liu Shangsu (柳尚素) and father Liu Qingxiu (柳慶休) both served as county-level officials.

Liu Zai's father Liu Qingxiu died early. He was studious, but was poor as a result of his father's early death. He passed the imperial examinations early in Emperor Xuanzong's Tianbao era (742–756) and was made the sheriff of Danfu County (單父, in modern Heze, Shandong).

During Emperor Suzongs reign

During the Zhide era (756–758) of Emperor Xuanzong's son Emperor Suzong, Liu Zai served as a secretary for Huangfu Shen (皇甫侁) the surveyor of Jiangxi Circuit (江西, headquartered in modern Nanchang, Jiangxi). He was then recalled to serve as Jiancha Yushi (監察御史), an imperial censor. As the imperial censors were required to be careful and formal in their behavior, and Liu was free in his spirit, Liu became unhappy and sought another position. The chancellors had regard for his talents, however, and so had him made Zuo Bujue (左補闕), a low-level official at the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). He was later given the responsibility of monitoring the tax revenues from Jiangxi Circuit.

During Emperor Daizongs reign

Early in the Dali era (767–779) of Emperor Suzong's son Emperor Daizong, Wei Shaoyou (魏少遊), the governor of Jiangxi Circuit, requested that Liu Zai serve as his secretary. While he was serving under Wei, there was an occasion when the abbot of a Buddhist temple dedicated to Emperor Xuanzong was drinking at night with his disciples, and in their drunkenness, the temple suffered a fire. They blamed it on the deaf servant guarding the door, however, and bribed the military officer Wei put in charge of the investigation to submit a report indicating such. Wei believed the report and was set to punish the servant, and while many people knew of the servant's innocence, no one dared to speak. Liu and his colleague Cui Youfu, however, stepped in and reported this to Wei. Wei was surprised, and after he interrogated the abbot further, the abbot confessed. Wei thanked them and stated, "Except for you two gentleman, this old man would have committed a wrong." Later, after Lu Sigong (路嗣恭) succeeded Wei, Lu made Liu the deputy commander of the circuit militia (團練副使, Tuanlian Fushi). In 778, Liu was made the prefect of Yuan Prefecture (袁州, in modern Yichun, Jiangxi).

During Emperor Dezongs reign

In 779, Emperor Daizong died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Dezong. Cui Youfu became chancellor, and he recommended Liu Zai to be the examiner of Zhejiang Circuit (浙江東西道, headquartered in modern Suzhou, Jiangsu). He was later recalled to the capital Chang'an to serve as Shangshu Zuo Cheng (尚書左丞), one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).

In 783, soldiers from Jingyuan Circuit (涇原, headquartered in modern Pingliang, Gansu), then at Chang'an to await deployment, mutinied, and Emperor Dezong was forced to flee to Fengtian (奉天, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi). Liu followed him to Fengtian. Meanwhile, the Jingyuan soldiers supported the general Zhu Ci as their leader, and Zhu soon declared himself emperor of a new state of Qin. To create suspicion within Emperor Dezong's followers, he issued an edict naming Liu and Cui Ning chancellors. Emperor Dezong, believing Cui to be complicit in Zhu's rebellion, executed Cui, but took no actions against Liu. Later, when Emperor Dezong was forced to further flee to Liang Prefecture (梁州, in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi), Liu followed him, and was made Zuo Sanqi Changshi (左散騎常侍), a senior advisor at the examination bureau. After Zhu's state was destroyed in 784 and Emperor Dezong returned to Chang'an, Liu, stating that his name had been tainted because it had been in an edict of Zhu's, and also that the character of Zai (載) contained a radical, ge (戈), that signified the use of force while the state was to be pacified, requested permission to change his name to Hun, and permission was granted.

In 786, Liu was made the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) and was created the Count of Yicheng. In 787, under the recommendation of the powerful chancellor Han Huang, Liu was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto as well, and he was also given authority over the examination bureau. Believing Han to be overly harsh, although he was recommended by Han, he sternly rebuked Han for battering a low-level official to death, and thereafter, Han moderated his behavior somewhat. Meanwhile, he opposed Emperor Dezong's consideration of a former close associate, Bai Zhizhen (白志貞), for promotion, believing that Bai was a flatterer unfit for promotion. Emperor Dezong nevertheless promoted Bai while Liu was away ill. When Liu recovered, he offered his resignation, but Emperor Dezong turned it down.

Later in the year, Emperor Dezong, despite the opposition of the major general Li Sheng, entered into a peace treaty with Tufan's chancellor Shang Jiezan (尚結贊). On the day that another major general, Hun Jian, as Emperor Dezong's emissary, was set to formally sign the treaty with Shang at Pingliangchuan (平涼川), Emperor Dezong remarked to the officials at Chang'an that it was a fortunate time for the state. Liu stated that he believed that he was worried because he found the Tufan to be untrustworthy, and Li agreed; Emperor Dezong, angry at their continued opposition to the treaty, rebuked them both. That night, however, reports from the general Han Yougui (韓遊瓌) arrived that Tufan forces had ambushed Hun and nearly captured him. Emperor Dezong, amazed that Liu had predicted this, had an imperial messenger deliver the report to Liu. The next day, he stated to Liu, "You are but a scholar. It is amazing how you were able to predict this so accurately." Meanwhile, because Liu was willing to speak, his relationship with fellow chancellor Zhang Yanshang, whom Emperor Dezong trusted, became poor. On one occasion, Zhang sent an associate to state to Liu, "You, lord chancellor, are greatly honored for your virtues. If you are more careful with your words in the imperial halls, you can stay chancellor for a long time." Liu responded:

However, Liu was soon offending Emperor Dezong, as Emperor Dezong liked people who spoke elegantly and implicitly. However, Liu was straightforward and often used colloquialisms. He wanted to demote Liu to be the secretary general for an imperial prince, but at the urging of fellow chancellor Li Mi, only demoted him to be Zuo Sanqin Changshi again.

It was said that Liu was humorous, and in his association with others he was not as arrogant as high level officials usually were. Several days after his removal as chancellor, he was touring with his old friends and did not appear at all upset over his removal. At that time, former chancellors Li Mian and Lu Han commented, "When we see Lord Liu of Yicheng, we, in comparison, feel like overly constricted men." Liu died in 789.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 125.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 155.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 228, 232, 233.

家世

柳載出自河東柳氏東眷，六代祖柳惔是南梁僕射。曾祖父柳善才，荊王侍讀。祖父柳尚素，潤州曲阿縣令。父柳慶休，渤海郡縣丞。後贈蔡州刺史、工部尚書。

柳載父柳慶休早卒。他好學，但因父親早亡而貧窮。十多歲時，有巫者告之：「你相貌早夭且賤，做和尚可緩死，祿位不是你的事。」叔伯們想從其言，柳渾說：「拋棄聖教，行異術，不如速死。」更加好學，與名士們同游。唐玄宗開元年間中汝州進士，禮部侍郎韋陟以為異，錄為上第。授宋州單父尉。加雲騎尉。

唐肅宗年間

唐肅宗至德年間（756年-758年），江西採訪使皇甫侁聞柳載之名，闢為判官，守永豐令。有能名，被表為洪州豐城令。累除衢州司馬，未就職，棄官歸隱武寧山。

唐代宗年間

唐代宗年間，又召拜監察御史，認為君命不可逃，裝束赴任。監察御史被要求謹慎規矩，而柳載性不拘束，為上司不喜，因而不樂，尋求他任。宰相們認識到他的才能，奏留他為右補闕。次年，除殿中侍御史，賜緋魚袋，知江西租庸院事。

遷侍御史。唐代宗大曆年間（766年-779年），江西監察使魏少游奏柳載充江南西路都團練判官。累授檢校司封郎中。柳載效力魏少游期間，有開元寺僧人和徒弟夜飲，醉倒後寺廟起火。他們歸咎于守門的聾僕，賄賂魏少游派去調查的軍候，使後者上狀如是稱。魏少游信以為真，準備處罰那個僕人，很多人知道僕人無辜卻不敢言。柳載和同僚崔祐甫卻入內報告給魏少游。魏少游驚訝，訊問僧人，僧人招供。魏少游感謝他們：「若不是二位君子，老夫就要成暗劣之人了。」從此柳載以公正聞名。後路嗣恭接替魏少游，以柳載為都團練副使。改祠部員外郎，轉司勛郎中，大曆十二年（777年），拜袁州刺史。

唐德宗年間

十四年（779年），唐代宗崩，子唐德宗繼位。崔祐甫拜相，建中初年薦柳載為諫議大夫。吏部侍郎邵說以才幹聞名，有人以為他能做宰相，金吾將軍裴儆對柳載說邵說原為叛將史思明、史朝義父子舊臣，掌兵權，前後擄掠名家子女數十人以為婢僕，還搶奪寶貨，力屈了才投降，朝廷宥以不死，做官了又厚顏無恥，遑遑求財，裝飾府邸，結托權貴以求大用，不知愧懼而有得色，不能長久，故揣測他禍不遠了。建中元年（780年）二月，柳載又因崔祐甫推薦出任浙江東西黜陟使，奏潤州刺史馬炫（《冊府元龜》或誤作「馮炫」）清白，使其得征拜為太子右庶子、遷左散騎常侍。加朝散大夫，又拜左庶子、集賢殿學士。後召回長安遷尚書左丞。建中三年（782年）五月，邵說果然被貶死。六月，柳載以右庶子為尚書右丞。加銀青光祿大夫，遷右散騎常侍。

四年（783年）正月，宰相關播任用李元平守汝州抵禦叛將淮西節度使李希烈，柳載說：「這是銜著玉賣石頭啊。去了一定被擒，能抵禦什麼賊呢？」並舉王衍、殷浩華而不實的例子，時人不信，等李元平果然被李希烈生擒，眾人才嘆服。十月，在長安待命的涇原兵兵變，德宗被迫逃往奉天。柳載全家逃到終南山躲藏，涇原兵推太尉朱泚為首，朱泚很快建立秦政權，自稱皇帝。他素聞柳載之名，為離間德宗君臣，下詔以柳載同平章事、崔寧為中書令，都拜為宰相，並查訪到柳載躲藏處，要配給他宰相的印信。柳載改名換姓欺騙叛軍，還將家人交給叛軍為人質。叛軍將其愛子帶回拷問，右腿都被打折。柳載乘機從小道翻越秦嶺，歷時十多天，找到了德宗的隊伍。德宗以為崔寧和朱泚串通，處死了崔寧，但沒有處置柳載。後德宗被迫遠遁梁州，柳載隨駕，被任為左散騎常侍。興元元年（784年），朱泚政權被滅，德宗重返長安，柳載稱自己的名字上了朱泚的詔書，引以為恥，「載」字又有「戈」旁，而國家正需要偃武，請求改名為「渾」，並改表字，獲准。

貞元元年（785年）七月，朝廷論功，柳渾獲賜輕車都尉，拜兵部侍郎，封宜城縣伯。三年（787年）正月，因權相韓滉推薦，柳渾被授同中書門下平章事，拜為宰相，判門下省。德宗曾親自選縣令們主管京畿城邑，有政績，召宰相說此事，宰相們如左僕射張延賞等都賀德宗得人，唯獨柳渾不賀，說：「這是京兆尹的職責。陛下應該選擇臣等輔政，臣應當選京兆尹，京兆尹應當尋求縣令主管瑣事。代京兆尹選擇縣令不是陛下所宜做的。陛下捨棄此道，使地方大治，可謂愛人，但不是王政的大倫，臣不知道有何可賀。」德宗以為然。德宗命玉工做腰帶，玉工摔壞了一個銙，不敢上報，秘密買了其他玉補上；獻上後，德宗指出買來的銙材料不像，玉工伏罪，德宗命處決，詔書到中書省，柳渾說：「陛下如果當時便殺了就罷了，若下達有司，就需要議罪量刑。且才春季就行刑，容臣條奏定罪。」以誤傷乘輿器服之罪，杖當事玉工六十，其餘玉工釋放，詔從之。柳渾又奏：「故尚書左丞田季羔，公忠正直，先朝名臣。其祖、父都以孝行得以旌表門閭，京城的隋朝舊第只有季羔一家而已。如今他的堂侄田伯強要賣了房子募兵討吐蕃。這個例子一旦開了，恐怕滋長為非作歹之風。討賊自有國家大計，豈能便宜僥倖之徒？且毀棄義門，有損風化，希望稍作責罰，也可懲勸。」德宗准奏。時韓滉專權，其他宰相形同虛設，柳渾雖然是韓滉所薦，但厭惡韓滉專政且認為他過苛，以前宰相齊映因狷察拜相不到一年就被罷為戒，嚴斥他杖責下層官吏致死的行為，韓滉慚愧，自此收斂所為。韓滉與光祿卿裴腆不和，趁柳渾休假，秘密請貶裴腆。詔書已下，柳渾堅執不肯，請求訊問、校驗，依法定罪量刑，裴腆最終獲赦仍任本職。二月，柳渾反對德宗提拔原近臣果州刺史白志貞為浙西觀察使，認為白志貞是個諂媚之徒，即使有廉潔謹慎之名，也不宜提拔為要職，屢次上表使此事中止。但當柳渾病假時，德宗還是提拔了白志貞。柳渾康複後請辭，被德宗優詔拒絕。其判門下省期間，主管官吏說應該審定吏、兵部擬任命的六品以下官員，柳渾不悅地說：「各部門分管事務，又去改變他們的決定，這不合禮製法律。官員們離家千里只為這點俸祿，主持一個小地方的事務，難道擔心辦不好嗎？況且獎賞善政賢才，不靠這個。」因此這年審定任命的官員沒有被更改。

柳渾曾與張延賞奉詔撰《昭德皇后廟樂章》，但德宗認為詞句不美，留中不用，而令學士吳通玄另外撰寫獻上。

閏五月，德宗不顧大將太尉李晟反對，和吐蕃宰相尚結贊結盟。當日，另一大將渾瑊作為德宗使者，準備在平涼川正式和尚結贊簽署和約。德宗在便殿對宰相們說這是社稷之福，柳渾卻直言自己為吐蕃不可信而擔憂，李晟也同意。德宗為他們持續反對和議而憤怒，斥責了他們：「柳渾是書生，不懂邊事；以大臣（指李晟）的智慧謀略，怎麼也說出這樣的話！」他倆都頓首俯伏，當即被下令回到中書省，柳渾所奏被留中。但當夜，邠寧節度使韓游瑰關于吐蕃伏擊渾瑊且幾乎俘獲他的報告就到了。德宗大驚柳渾預言到了此事，遣使將報告給柳渾。次日，他召柳渾于前殿，對柳渾說：「你只是個書生，竟然能如此精準地料及萬里之外的此事。」對他尤其禮敬。柳渾先前曾和流放江南的李泌及顧況交好、吟詠，柳渾拜相後，征顧況為校書郎，時任陝州長史的李泌也得以回朝為宰相。六月，李泌與李晟、司徒馬燧、柳渾一同入見德宗，說服德宗當面承諾善待身為功臣的李晟、馬燧。同時，因為柳渾敢直言，和德宗信任的張延賞關係變差。德宗以張延賞管吏事，而以柳渾管刑法。張延賞弄權自矜，嫉恨柳渾守正。一次，張延賞派親信對柳渾說：「相公您因為品德而受到很大的尊敬，如果在朝堂上慎言，能長保相位。」柳渾答：「代我謝謝張公，柳渾的頭可斷，但舌頭不可禁！」于是被張延賞排擠。德宗喜歡說話文雅含蓄的人，而柳渾直率且常用俚語，因而不久即冒犯了德宗。德宗想貶柳渾為親王的師傅，但在李泌勸說下只是于八月貶他再任右散騎常侍。

柳渾善作文，但追隨時風以求功業，作文不及胞兄柳識深思。又善辯、幽默、曠達，與他人交往時，不像高官通常表現的那樣驕傲。罷相後數日，他就和老友們旅遊，完全沒有表現出為罷相而沮喪的樣子。前宰相李勉、盧翰評價道：「我們和柳宜城相比，都是過于拘束的人。」貞元五年二月五日（789年3月6日），柳渾卒于昌化里，官終銀青光祿大夫、右散騎常侍、輕車都尉，年七十四。有《柳渾集》十卷。節儉不事產業，俸祿都分給宗族、姻親，身後沒有地產。

唐宣宗大中初年，柳渾續圖凌煙閣。

評價

• 《舊唐書》：

　• 史臣曰：張鎰、蕭複、柳渾，節行才能訏謨亮直，皆足相明主，平泰階，而盧杞忌之于前，延賞排之于後，管仲有言：「任君子，使小人間之，害霸也。」德宗黜賢相，位奸臣，致朱泚、懷光之亂，是失其人也，豈尤其時哉！

　• 贊曰：得人則興，失人則亡。鎰、複、渾去，宗社其殃。

注釋及參考文獻