Wei Zheng

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Wei Zheng : biography

580 – 643

Later that year, Wei was accused of nepotism. Emperor Taizong had the imperial censor Wen Yanbo investigate, and Wen found no evidence of wrongdoing. Wen nevertheless stated to Emperor Taizong, "Wei did not care about public perception or appearance of conflict of interest. Even though he had no wrongful intent, he should still be rebuked." Emperor Taizong agreed and rebuked Wei, but Wei bluntly refused to accept the rebuke, and Emperor Taizong later retracted the rebuke after concluding that Wei was correct. Throughout the rest of Wei’s career, this became a pattern—that Wei would dare to speak against the emperor’s opinions or acts despite Emperor Taizong’s anger, and while Emperor Taizong did not accept everything that Wei said, he always treated Wei with respect.

In 629, Emperor Taizong made Wei the head of the imperial archival bureau (秘書省, Mishu Sheng), but gave him the additional designation Canyu Chaozheng (參豫朝政), making him a de facto chancellor. Later that year, when the assistant censor Quan Wanji (權萬紀) accused the chancellors Fang Xuanling and Wang Gui of improper selection of officials, Emperor Taizong initially ordered Hou Junji to investigate. Wei, however, pointed out that both Fang and Wang were trusted officials who should be given free rein and not have the details of their acts be picked on. Emperor Taizong agreed and cancelled the investigations.

In 630, the general Li Jing had inflicted a heavy blow to the forces of Eastern Tujue’s Jiali Khan Ashina Duobi, and later that year, after Ashina Duobi was captured, Eastern Tujue chieftains submitted to Tang. Emperor Taizong requested opinions on what to do with Eastern Tujue’s people. There were many different opinions, but the two opinions that Emperor Taizong appeared to consider the most were the ones by Wen and Wei, who debated extensively before Emperor Taizong. Wen argued that, pursuant to precedents of what Eastern Han Dynasty did with the Xiongnu, the Eastern Tujue people should be placed within Tang borders but organized in tribal form, to serve as a defense perimeter on the northern border. Wei advocated that the Eastern Tujue people be placed north of Tang borders, believing that they would pose a threat if placed within Tang borders. Wen, however, argued that the Eastern Tujue people could eventually be assimilated and become an asset to the Tang state, and Emperor Taizong agreed with Wen. He established 10 prefectures to settle the Eastern Tujue people and made the major chieftains the prefects, while inviting a number of Eastern Tujue nobles to serve as generals at Chang’an.

Late in 630, Qu Wentai (麴文泰), the king of Gaochang, was set to arrive at Chang’an to pay homage to Emperor Taizong. When the other Xiyu states heard this, they wanted to send emissaries as well, and Emperor Taizong initially ordered Qu’s official Yanda Gegan (厭怛紇干) back to Gaochang to gather the emissaries to lead them to Chang’an. Wei advised against doing so—pointing out that if that happened, Tang would become deeply involved in Xiyu matters, and that the Tang state was not yet in a position of doing so. Emperor Taizong agreed and ordered Yanda to stop.

In 631, despite Wei’s advice against it, Emperor Taizong began setting up a feudal scheme where the great contributors to Tang rule would be granted posts as prefectural prefects, to be inherited by their descendants. (Subsequently, however, due to other officials’ opposition—the strongest of which came from Emperor Taizong’s brother-in-law Zhangsun Wuji — Emperor Taizong cancelled the feudal scheme.)

In 632, at the urgings of many officials who believed that he should go to Mount Tai to sacrifice to heaven and earth (known as Fengshan (封禪)), Emperor Taizong considered doing so, but Wei opposed, and this led to a famous conversation between them, which showcased Wei’s personal philosophy against overextending the state:

Emperor Taizong asked, "You oppose my conducting Fengshan. Is it that my accomplishments were not great enough?" Wei responded, "They are great enough." Emperor Taizong asked, "Is it that my virtues were not great enough?" Wei responded, "They are great enough." Emperor Taizong asked, "Is it that China is not pacified enough?" Wei responded, "It is pacified enough." Emperor Taizong asked, "Is it that the barbaric nations have not submitted to me?" Wei responded, "They have." Emperor Taizong asked, "Is it that we have not had good harvests?" Wei responded, "We have had good harvests." Emperor Taizong asked, "Is it that signs of blessings have not occurred?" Wei responded, "They have." Emperor Taizong asked, "Then, why is it that I still cannot conduct Fengshan?"Wei responded, "Even though Your Imperial Majesty has accomplished these six areas, we are still inheriting the state left after the great confusion at the end of Sui rule. The population is greatly reduced and has not recovered. The food stores are still empty. When Your Imperial Majesty heads east [to Mount Tai], the thousands of horses and wagons require supplies everywhere they go, and it is difficult for the local government to do so. In addition, at Fengshan, the rulers and chiefs of the nations should all attend you. However, from the Yi and Luo Rivers [(i.e., the Luoyang region)] to the Sea [(i.e., the East China Sea)] and Mount Dai [(岱山, another name for Mount Tai)], there are still few villages and few people. The weeds grow thickly without end, and this would be inviting barbarians to our abdomen and showing them our weaknesses. Further, even if we greatly reward them, they would not necessarily be pleased, having come from afar. Even if you exempt the people from taxes for many years, you still cannot compensate them for their losses. Why would Your Imperial Majesty want to simply hold a great Fengshan ceremony but receive real detriments?"