By staff reporter HUO JIANYING

Tang figurines of civil (left) and military (right) officials.

Throughout China's feudal times the prosperity of any dynasty was believed to depend on a wise emperor and his righteous courtiers. Offices specifically to supervise ministers and the emperor himself were set up with this principle in mind, but as the emperor, in his capacity of "son of Heaven," had supreme power they were ineffective. Ming scholar Li Zhi (1527-1602) wrote: "There must first be a wise emperor if there are to be virtuous courtiers, as only the wise know the wise. Such an occurrence is rare."

Tang Emperor Li Shimin (598-649) and his courtier Wei Zheng (580-643) embodied a rare combination of open-minded emperor and forthright courtier. Li Shimin regarded Wei Zheng as a mirror that unequivocally reflected his defects. Wei appreciated the emperor's recognition of his qualities, and in return did his utmost to assist him. Despite frequent disagreements and conflict, the pair maintained a steadfast partnership for 17 years. As a result, Li's Zhenguan reign (627-649) was an unequaled era of peace and prosperity in feudal China.

From Antagonist to Confidant

Born in what is today Hebei Province, Wei Zheng spent his youth in poverty, but was nonetheless well read, sharp, and ambitious. During the last years of the Sui Dynasty (581-618) he served as a Taoist priest in order to escape conscription. In 617 Wei joined an army of rebels against the Sui, where he worked as a clerk. He moved to several other rebel armies and continued to do menial work until 618, when his rebel group surrendered to the Tang Dynasty. Soon after, Wei began working for Crown Prince Li Jiancheng as an official in charge of documents and books.

At that time the struggle for the throne among the three Tang princes -- Crown Prince Li Jiancheng, Prince Qin Li Shimin, and Prince Qi Li Yuanji -- was gathering momentum. Li Shimin had distinguished himself with deeds of valor during the wars to establish the Tang Dynasty that won him the strong support of the army and the populace. This posed a threat to the crown prince, his elder brother Li Jiancheng who consipred with the other prince Li Yuanji. As one of the crown prince's aides, Wei Zheng urged him on several occasions to eliminate Li Shimin.

Tang dance.

The fratricidal struggle escalated, and Li Shimin was forced to act. In June 626, he ambushed and killed his two brothers at the north gate of Taiji Palace. Li Shimin was later named crown prince and enthroned in August the same year.

Li Shimin exercised clemency in dealing with his brothers' followers, even granting some of them official posts. But he was strongly advised against pardoning Wei Zheng, who had plotted and planned his assassination, and showed no contrition on being captured.

Li Shimin had Wei Zheng taken to his palace where he accused him of stirring up trouble between the princes. Wei responded by saying that his only regret was the late crown prince's not taking his advice. Impressed with Wei's frankness and insight, Li Shimin appointed Wei as his aide, and later promoted him to the post of grand master of remonstrance.

Li's forbearance and humility made Wei Zheng determined to do his utmost to serve the new emperor. He unhesitatingly spoke his mind, and Li Shimin valued his advice. He frequently called Wei to his palace where they would hold talks that lasted through the night. Wei Zheng was later made vice prime minister while retaining the post of grand master of remonstrance.

A Win-Win Deal

Wei Zheng always aired his opinions freely, in contrast to his peers who kept silence for fear of annoying the emperor. Wei astutely pointed out that officials would only speak out freely when they believed the emperor to be in a receptive mood.

This outspokenness had its repercussions. Soon after Wei Zheng was accused of covering up crimes committed by his relatives. Li Shimin had official Wen Yanbo look into the matter, but no evidence was found. Wen reported: "Even though this is a false charge Wei Zheng is in any event reprehensible. He is indiscreet in word and deed, which is why he has been framed."

Tang costumes are still a source of inspiration for today's fashion designers.

Wei Zheng retorted, "I understood that the emperor and courtiers should work as one heart and one mind. How can courtiers put aside state affairs in order to defend their reputation? If all were to behave like this, the state would be at serious risk." When Li Shimin conceded to his logic, Wei Zheng kowtowed with the plea, "I hope Your Majesty will allow me to be a good rather than loyal official." On Li's asking the difference between the two Wei replied, "Good officials bring a high, lasting reputation to themselves as well as the emperor and so contribute to the good of the country. But loyal officials are generally framed and executed, bringing ill fame to the emperor. Their families killed, and the whole state destroyed, such martyrdom is worthless." Wei Zheng went on to cite examples from previous dynasties. On Li Shimin's asking "How may an emperor be just, and what makes him fatuous?" Wei replied: "Listen to both sides, and you will be enlightened; listen to only one side, and you will be benighted." These words have since become a household phrase throughout China.

A Blessing to the State and People

Soon after ascending the throne, Li Shimin held discussions with his officials on how the state should be ruled. He began, "The war has just ended, and I fear the people will be intractable." Wei Zheng disagreed, saying, "Only arrogant people accustomed to luxury and creature comforts are difficult to rule. Those who have truly suffered the privations of war and unrest yearn for peace. People in misery are amenable to rule and order, just as the starving will eat whatever is offered, and the thirsty will drink whatever liquid they can find." Grand Councilor Feng Deyi objected, "People were always simple and honest in times long past, but have become increasingly depraved in the years since. This is why the Qin and Han dynasties ruled so harshly. Mercy and humanity do not work as principles of rule. Wei Zheng is a scholar full of hot air. His words will ruin the state."

Feng's position as Wei's direct superior did not inhibit him from speaking his mind. He asked Feng, "If people have gradually grown more depraved since ancient times, then by now they must all be demons. Is it possible for any emperor to rule them?" Wei Zheng doggedly argued that the state should be run with benevolence and morality, and it was his view that Li Shimin eventually accepted.

During the first three years of Li Shimin's reign the nation underwent drought, floods and a plague of locusts in rapid succession. Li won the hearts of the nation by dispensing state grain reserves and bringing financial aid to victims of disaster. As if by divine reward, the fourth year (630) saw a bumper harvest. All had ample food and clothing and shelter, and so became law abiding. There was no need to bolt doors at night and travelers were offered accommodation everywhere. Criminal cases decreased dramatically that year, and only 29 convicts across the nation were given the death penalty. Li Shimin attributed all this to Wei Zheng's wise counsel.

A Tang Safari mural.

After twelve years of Li Shimin's rule, society was stable and affluent, and the economy thrived. One day the emperor complacently asked Wei Zheng, "How do you think my reign now compares with its beginnings?" Wei answered, "The state is more powerful. But people are less convinced of Your Majesty's virtue and justice."

"How can this be possible when the nation is at peace and the people submissive?" asked Li, in consternation.

Wei answered, "In previous years, the knowledge that order had not been restored across the nation motivated Your Majesty to work diligently. As you now believe the state to be in good order, you have become less assiduous."

"Am I not as before?" Li asked.

"No," Wei told him. "In the early years of your reign, Your Majesty encouraged officials to raise suggestions, to which you listened with interest. Today you may take others' advice, but grudgingly. This is a huge difference."

On noting with concern how the emperor was no longer enterprising, and preferred to indulge in pleasurable pursuits, Wei Zheng submitted four reports in 639to Li Shimin, warning him of the possible grievous consequences of his changed attitude. Wei's admonishments brought Li down to earth. He admitted, "I know I have erred. I will keep these reports on my desk, so that they may upbraid me any time I start to slide."

Wei Zheng wrote more than 200 statements of this kind for Li Shimin during the 17 years he served him. He died of illness in 643, and two years later Li Shimin went on an expedition to Northeast China to recover lands annexed by the neighboring state of Gaoli. He won the war, but at the cost of heavy casualties. On his return to the capital, the emperor mourned: "If Wei Zheng were still alive, this war would not have happened."

During the one thousand years after his death Wei Zheng was enshrined as a paragon among righteous officials of China, and is still the ultimate example of a good, just but rare government official.

Appendix:

Dialogues between Emperor Li Shimin and Wei Zheng

Emperor: "It is said that the emperor has supreme status and is therefore fearless. But I am not. I fear I may fail to live up to the expectations of heaven, and that I may not be a good example to my officials. So I try to do my job conscientiously."

Wei Zheng: "This is the prerequisite for the good rule of any nation. If Your Majesty continues in this manner, you will bring great blessings to our people."

Emperor: "I have read the Sui Emperor Yang Guang's statement on ruling the nation. What he said is excellent, so why did he not put it into practice?"

Wei Zheng: "Although the emperor is wise, he must be modest in order to allow the intelligent to offer their wisdom, and the valiant to exert their strength. Yang Guang was arrogant and self-willed, and nobody dared to admonish him. He never reached the awareness that his deeds did not match his words until the fall of his dynasty."

Emperor: "This past event was not long ago. We should draw lessons from it."

Emperor: "Which is more difficult, seizing state power or maintaining it?"

Fang Xuanling: "Seizing state power is more difficult. Before we came to power several rebellion groups contested, and it took us years of bloody wars to found the dynasty."

Wei Zheng: "Throughout history dynasties have been established through arduous effort and declined on the emperor falling prey to pleasure-seeking. So maintaining rule is more difficult."

Emperor: "Fang Xuanling experienced all the dangers and hardship of war alongside me and so is fully aware of the difficulties we experienced founding the dynasty. Wei Zheng's participation in state rule has shown him how riches lead to hedonism, dissipation and ultimately to laxity and misrule. He hence understands that maintaining state power is difficult. The hardships of building the dynasty are now in the past, but the difficulties of running the state are ongoing."