Fang Xuanling, the name Qiao, the word Xuanling, a native of Linzi, Qizhou. He was a politician and prime minister in the early Tang Dynasty, and one of the twenty-four heroes of Lingyan Pavilion.

When Fang Xuanling was eighteen years old, he was promoted to the rank of Jinshi and awarded the rank of lieutenant. Later, after joining Li Shimin, the king of Qin in Weibei, he gave advice to Li Shimin, managed the secretary, and was one of Li Shimin's effective advisers. In the ninth year of Wude (626), he participated in the change of Xuanwumen, and was the first with Du Ruhui and other five people. After Li Shimin ascended the throne, Fang Xuanling was the Zhongshu Order, responsible for the overall management of the government. He successively served as the left servant of Shangshu, Sikong and other positions, and was named the Duke of Liang.

Fang Xuanling is strategic, and Du Ruhui is decisive, so he is called "Fang Xuanling". Later generations took him and Du Ruhui as models of good looks, and they were collectively called "Fang and Du".

Fang Xuanling was "young and intelligent, well-read in the scriptures and history, good at grass, and good at literature", and once went to Beijing with his father.

At that time, the world was peaceful, and everyone thought that the Sui Dynasty had a long national fortune. Fang Xuanling avoided left and right and said to his father: "Emperor Sui has no merit, but he bewitches Qianli, does not plan for the heirs, mixes with the concubines, makes the ministers fall in love with each other, and the queens are in charge of the branches, competing for extravagance, and finally the internal minister will be punished, which is not enough to protect the family and the country." Although it is peaceful now, its death can be waited for. Xiao Xuanling means that the emperor of the Sui Dynasty has no merit, and will only confuse Li Min and not make long-term plans. He confuses his relatives and concubines, and makes them compete with each other, and the crown prince and the kings, and compete for luxury, sooner or later kill each other. Relying on these people will be difficult for the country to preserve, and although the world is now peaceful, its demise is just around the corner. These words came out of the mouth of Fang Xuanling, who was young at a young age, and Fang Yanqian was very surprised when he heard it.

When Fang Xuanling was eighteen years old, he was recommended by the state to take the Shishi examination, and was later awarded the rank of lieutenant of the feather cavalry. Gao Xiaoji, the servant of the ministry, was quite knowledgeable, and after seeing Fang Xuanling, he was deeply admired, and said to Pei Ju: "There are many servants, and I have never seen such a man." It will become a great weapon, but I can't see it towering in the sky. ”

His father has been ill for more than 100 days, and Fang Xuanling has served wholeheartedly and always slept with clothes. After his father died, he did not eat or drink for five days. Later, Fang Xuanling was appointed as the county lieutenant of Xicheng County.

After Li Yuan raised the banner of righteousness and entered the main pass, Li Shimin, the king of Qin, led his army to expand the land to Weibei, and Fang Xuanling drove his horse to the military camp to meet him. When Li Shimin saw Fang Xuanling, he met like an old friend, and let him join the army for the Weibei Road marching office. When Fang Xuanling met a confidant, he did his best to know everything. Whenever the thieves were pacified, everyone competed to search for treasures, but Fang Xuanling went to collect talents first and sent them to the Qin King Shogunate. When he met a fierce general, he secretly befriended them, so that they could do their best.

After defeating Wang Shichong, Fang Xuanling thought that Zhang Liang was "suave and resourceful", so he recommended it to Li Shimin to be appointed as the general of the Qin Palace, "entrusted with his heart". Others, such as Xue Shu, who is talented and quick-witted, Li Daliang, who has "Wang Ling, Zhou Bojie, can rely on big things", and Du Ruhui, who is "smart and knowledgeable, Wang Zuozhicai", were all reused by Li Shimin after being recommended by Fang Xuanling, and they were all ranked as prime ministers.

Soon, the crown prince Li Jiancheng and the king of Qin became increasingly suspicious. The king of Qin once went to the prince's residence to eat, but returned from poisoning. Everyone in the Qin Shogunate was shocked, but there was nothing they could do. Li Shimin summoned Fang Xuanling and said to him: "The signs of danger have appeared, what should we do?" Fang Xuanling replied: "The country is in trouble, there is no difference between ancient and modern, it is not a wise saint, and it cannot be pacified. The king's achievements cover the heavens and the earth, conform to the omen of King's Landing subjects, and have his own divine help, not relying on human schemes. ”

The crown prince Li Jiancheng saw that Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were trusted by the King of Qin, and he was very tired of it, and slandered in front of Gaozu, so Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were belittled together.

In the ninth year of Wude, the Turks invaded, and the prince took the opportunity to cut the military power of the King of Qin. The King of Qin ordered the eldest grandson Wuji to summon Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, and quietly took them into the palace to discuss matters, and under the discussion of everyone, he finally made up his mind to intercept the prince and the king of Qi at the Xuanwu Gate.

After the Xuanwumen Change, King Qin entered the East Palace and became the crown prince, and promoted Fang Xuanling to the prince's right concubine. In the first year of Zhenguan, Fang Xuanling replaced Xiao Yu as the secretary of the order. Taizong's meritorious deeds are rewarded with Fang Xuanling, eldest grandson Wuji, Du Ruhui, Wei Chi Jingde, and Hou Junji as the first. Li Shimin praised him for his "meritorious work in strategizing and fixing the society." Fang Xuanling was promoted to the Duke of Xing Guo.

Taizong said to the heroes: "I reward you for your merits, and demarcate fiefdoms for you, for fear that there will be something inappropriate, now you can express your opinions." Taizong's uncle, Huai'an King Li Shentong, said: "As soon as Gaozu raised the banner of righteousness, the minister led his troops to arrive. Now Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui and other swordsmen are in the first place, and the ministers are a little dissatisfied. Taizong said: "When the banner of righteousness was first raised, everyone followed, and although my uncle led the troops to come, he had never been in battle. ...... Fang Xuanling and others have a strategic strategy to stabilize the country. Xiao He of the Han Dynasty, although he did not have the credit of the war, he commanded and planned and helped people to achieve things, so he ranked first. ”

At first, the general Qiu Shili and others were proud of their achievements, but after seeing Li Shentong's reasoning, they were really convinced.

After three years of Zhenguan, Fang Xuanling was appointed as the prince and teacher. He insisted on not accepting it, and was reappointed as the acting prince Zhan Shi and the secretary of the Ministry of Rites. Later, he replaced the eldest grandson Wuji as the left servant of Shangshu, changed the title to the Duke of Wei, and supervised the revision of the history of the country. Fang Xuanling is in charge of the affairs of hundreds of officials, pious and respectful, working day and night, and trying to handle everything appropriately.

In the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, Xuanling was added as the prince and teacher. Fang Xuanling repeatedly asked for the dismissal of Shangshu's left servant, and Taizong issued an edict saying: "The foundation of selecting meritocracy lies in selflessness; The public is loyal and dignified, honest and virtuous, and creates a royal industry for me and helps the emperor. In charge of Shangshu Province, so that all the politics are harmonious, and assist the crown prince, it is really expected by everyone. But the Duke has forgotten those major matters, and has been confined to this little detail, and although he respectfully completes the affairs of the teachings, he is going to resign from the post of prime minister, is this what he said is to assist me in stabilizing the world together?"

Fang Xuanling attaches great importance to the rule of officials and believes that the problem of government governance is the root of seeking treatment. On the issue of electing officials, Li Shimin said that "the number of talents should be appointed, and the officials of the province should be served." Fang Xuanling faithfully implemented this idea, vigorously streamlined the administration, and appointed the provincial officials. Fang Xuanling's practice of reducing the number of officials was not only to eliminate redundant officials and abuse of duties, but also to improve the efficiency of various departments of the imperial court, and at the same time to save state financial expenditures and reduce the burden on the people.

Fang Xuanling is proficient in canonical government decrees. In the early years of Zhenguan, when the world was initially decided, the dynasty and the national code were still very incomplete, he and the right servant of Shangshu shot Du Ruhui to take charge of the government, in terms of revising laws and decrees, uphold the idea of "reviewing and determining laws and orders, and taking leniency and peace (style) as the purpose", simplifying the laws and regulations, and removing the harsh torture laws of the Sui Dynasty. Since Fang Fang Xuanling and other more laws, orders, grids, and formulas, there have been little changes in the Tang Dynasty.

In the twenty-second year of Zhenguan, Fang Xuanling passed away at the age of 70. Li Shimin abolished the dynasty for three days, posthumously presented the Taiwei, nicknamed "Wenzhao", and was buried in Zhaoling. Together with the other twenty-three founding heroes of the early Tang Dynasty, they were painted and enshrined in the "Lingyan Pavilion".

Li Shimin's evaluation of this virtuous minister: "Strategize and set the merit of the society." ”

When later historians commented on the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, they all recommended Fang Xuanling, and always said: "The virtuous prime minister of the Tang Dynasty was Fang Du in front of him, and Yao Song in the back." ”

Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to call Fang Xuanling the first sage of the Tang Dynasty.

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