Huangfu Shang
Huangfu Shang | |
|---|---|
| 皇甫商 | |
| Inspector of Liang province (涼州刺史) | |
| In office ?–301 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Hui of Jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown Chaona, Gansu |
| Died | 304 Binzhou, Shaanxi |
| Relations | Huangfu Zhong (brother) |
Huangfu Shang (died 304) was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). Arising from his personal rivalry with the official, Li Han, he became a central figure in the conflict between the Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai and the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong in the War of the Eight Princes. His alleged abuse of power was used as a pretext for Sima Yong and the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying to declare war on Sima Ai. He was later killed while on his way to help lift a siege on his elder brother, Huangfu Zhong.
Life
[edit]Huangfu Shang was a member of the Huangfu clan of Anding Commandery, a prominent gentry family in northwestern China. He was a confidant of the Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun and reached the office of Inspector of Liang province. In an unspecified year, he met a native of Longxi Commandery named Li Han. Taking pity on his humble background, Shang wanted to befriend him, but was snubbed. In his anger, he wrote a disparaging letter about Li Han and circulated it around Qin province. As a result, Li Han was looked down upon and was given a low-ranking position early in his career.[1]
In 301, Sima Lun was deposed and forced to commit suicide after he usurped the throne from Emperor Hui of Jin. Huangfu Shang became fearful for his life as he had been associates with the prince. He abandoned his post in Liang and went to Chang'an, where he offered the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong his resignation. Yong comforted Shang and even held a banquet before allowing him to make his way to the capital, Luoyang. However, Li Han, now a close advisor of Yong, still held a grudge against Shang, so he warned his prince about Shang's past dealings with Sima Lun and advised him not to contact him any further. Shang was furious when he found out, but despite knowing of their feud, Yong remained impartial and refused to take a side.[2]
At Luoyang, the Prince of Qi and emperor's regent, Sima Jiong appointed him as an Army Adviser. In 302, Li Han was summoned to the capital to be given an appointment, but he was reluctant for several reasons, including the fact that Huangfu Shang was on Sima Jiong's staff. Instead, Li Han concocted a plan with Sima Yong to remove Jiong from power and assert their control over the imperial court.[3] However, the plan went awry when the Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai managed to kill Jiong in Luoyang and took Emperor Hui of Jin under his care. Huangfu Shang was spared in the aftermath and continued to serve as Army Adviser under Sima Ai. He was also appointed as the General of the Left.[4]
Li Han was frustrated that his plan had failed, even more so as Shang remained in an influential position. Additionally, his elder brother, Huangfu Zhong was also serving as the Inspector of Qin province at the time. Li Han plotted with Sima Yong to get rid of the Huangfu brothers, but Zhong saw through their plans and raised an army against Li Han. Sima Ai ordered Zhong to disperse his army and summoned Li Han to Luoyang to serve as the Intendant of Henan. Zhong refused and Li Han complied, but he, along with Palace Attendant, Feng Sun (馮蓀) and Prefect of the Palace Writers, Bian Cui (卞粹), received a secret order from Yong to assassinate Ai. However, Shang was aware that Li Han had been involved in the conspiracy against Sima Jiong and soon uncovered the assassination plot. He informed Ai about the plot, and the conspirators were all executed.[5]
With Li Han dead, Sima Yong allied with the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying and declared war on Sima Ai. In a joint petition condemning Sima Ai, Huangfu Shang and the consort kin, Yang Xuanzhi were specifically named to be put to death.[4] On 21 September 303, Ai sent Shang to attack Yong's general, Zhang Fang at Yiyang (宜陽, in modern Luoyang, Henan). However, on 8 October, Zhang Fang attacked and routed Shang with a hidden army, causing his soldiers to scatter.[6] Ai attempted to negotiate peace with Sima Ying, but Ying demanded that he execute Huangfu Shang and his accomplices first, which he refused.[7]
While Sima Ai was besieged at Luoyang, Huangfu Zhong was also under siege by Sima Yong's forces at Jicheng (冀城; in present-day Gangu County, Gansu). Ai ordered Huangfu Shang to travel along the byroads to present Yong's generals with an edict from the emperor, so to convince them to disband and allow Zhong to attack Yong. Shang took the byroads and reached Xinping Commandery (新平郡; around present-day Bin County, Shaanxi), where he met his uncle. This uncle hated Shang, so he informed Sima Yong of his whereabouts, leading to his capture and execution.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ (安定皇甫商州裏年少，少恃豪族，以含門寒微，欲與結交，含距而不納，商恨焉，遂諷州以短檄召含為門亭長。) Jin Shu, vol.60
- ^ (初，梁州刺史皇甫商為趙王倫所任，倫敗，去職詣顒，顒慰撫之甚厚。含諫顒曰：「商，倫之信臣，懼罪至此，不宜數與相見。」商知而恨之。及商當還都，顒置酒餞行，商因與含忿爭，顒和釋之。) Jin Shu, vol.60
- ^ ((冏以河間王顒本附趙王倫，心常恨之。梁州刺史安定皇甫商，與顒長史李含不平。含被徵爲翊軍校尉，時商參冏軍事，夏侯奭兄亦在冏府。) Jin Shu, vol.60
- ^ a b (穎方恣其欲，而憚長沙王乂在內，遂與河間王顒表請誅後父羊玄之、左將軍皇甫商等，檄乂使就第。) Jin Shu, vol.59
- ^ (初，李含以長沙王乂微弱，必爲齊王冏所殺，因欲以爲冏罪而討之，遂廢帝，立大將軍穎，以河間王顒爲宰相，己得用事。旣而冏爲乂所殺，穎、顒猶守藩，不如所謀。穎恃功驕奢，百度弛廢，甚於冏時；猶嫌乂在內，不得逞其欲，欲去之。時皇甫商復爲乂參軍，商兄重爲秦州刺史。含說顒曰：「商爲乂所任，重終不爲人用，宜早除之。可表遷重爲內職，因其過長安執之。」重知之，露檄上尚書，發隴上兵以討含。乂以兵方少息，遣使詔重罷兵，徵含爲河南尹。含就徵而重不奉詔，顒遣金城太守游楷、隴西太守韓稚等合四郡攻之。顒密使含與侍中馮蓀、中書令卞粹謀殺乂；皇甫商以告乂，收含、蓀、粹，殺之。驃騎從事琅邪諸葛玫、前司徒長史武邑牽秀皆出奔鄴。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- ^ (乙丑，帝如十三里橋。太尉乂使皇甫商將萬餘人拒張方於宜陽...壬子，張方襲皇甫商，敗之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- ^ (乂因致書於穎，爲陳利害，欲與之和解。穎復書，「請斬皇甫商等首，則引兵還鄴，」乂不可。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- ^ (乂又使皇甫商間行，齎帝手詔，命游楷等罷兵，敕皇甫重進軍討顒。商間行至新平，遇其從甥；從甥素憎商，以告顒，顒捕商，殺之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.