Fang Xuanling, alias Fang Qiao, courtesy name Xuanling, Han nationality, was born in Linzi, Qizhou during the Tang Dynasty. He was the founding prime minister of the Tang Dynasty in China and his father was Fang Yanqian. Xuanling was well-read in classics and history, and was good at writing and writing. When he was 18 years old, he was promoted to Jinshi in this state and was awarded the title of Yuqiwei and Xichengwei successively. During the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Li Yuan led his troops into the Pass, and Xuanling surrendered to Li Shimin in Weibei. He went on many expeditions with the King of Qin, served as a consultant and planner, and served as the secretary of the Palace of Qin. Every time a place was conquered, others were vying for treasures, but he was the first to recruit talents for the King of Qin and the shogunate. He and Du Ruhui were the most effective counselors of the King of Qin. In the ninth year of Emperor Wude's reign in the Tang Dynasty, he participated in the planning of the Xuanwumen Incident and shared the first place with Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji, Yuchi Jingde and Hou Junji. After ascending the throne, Fang Xuanling was appointed Zhongshu Ling. In February of the third year of Zhenguan, he became Shangshu Zuopushe and supervised the compilation of national history. In the eleventh year, he was granted the title of Duke of Liang. Together with Du Ruhui and Wei Zheng, he was an important assistant to Emperor Taizong. In July of the 16th year, Sikong ascended the throne and still managed the affairs of the state. He was ordered to rewrite the Book of Jin. When Taizong conquered Goguryeo, he stayed in the capital. Died of illness in twenty-two years.
Before Zhenguan, he helped manage the four sides, defeated the heroes, and seized the throne. Li Shimin praised him for his ability to plan strategies and determine the country. During the Zhenguan period, he assisted Taizong, commanded a hundred divisions, and was in charge of government affairs for 20 years; he participated in the formulation of laws and regulations, presided over the revision of laws and regulations, and practiced Tang rites with Wei Zheng; he adjusted government agencies and merged provincial and central officials; he was good at adjusting government agencies and merging provincial and central officials. When employing people, we do not ask for preparation, nor do we ask whether they are high or low. We appoint them according to their talents; we abide by our responsibilities and do not take credit for ourselves. Later generations regarded him and Du Ruhui as examples of good prime ministers, and they were collectively called Fangmou Duduan.
Fang Xuanling has been in the palace of Prince Li Shimin and Qin for more than ten years. He has been in charge of major military affairs. The great ancestor Li Yuan also admired Fang Xuanling deeply and said to his courtiers: This person knows the situation well and is worthy of the appointment. Every time I tell something for my son, it will surely resonate with people's hearts. Thousands of miles away, I am still talking to each other.
Later, Prince Li Jiancheng expelled the Qin Prince's palace, and Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were expelled to foreign posts
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On the eve of the Xuanwumen Incident, Li Shimin secretly summoned two people to disguise themselves as Taoist priests and enter the pavilion for a secret plan, and finally approved the plan.
During his reign, Fang Xuanling was named Liang Guogong. The official positions include Zhongshu Ling, Shangshu Zuopushe, Sikong, etc., and the commander-in-chief of a hundred divisions. Participated in the formulation of laws and regulations, which made the Tang Code more relaxed and complete than that of the previous dynasty, establishing the Tang Code, the oldest and most complete existing feudal criminal code in China, which had a great influence on later generations; supervised the compilation of the history of the country, and edited the The Book of Jin in the Twenty-Four Histories; studied Tang Rites with Wei Zheng; adjusted government agencies, and his actions of provincial and central officials were the first in Zhenguan's good governance; good at employing people, not asking for preparation, not asking for high or low, and appointing people according to their talents. ; Abide by one’s responsibilities and do not take credit for oneself. Later generations regarded him and Du Ruhui as models of good prime ministers. For example, the old Tang Dynasty book praised: "The text contains the latitude and longitude, and the plan is profound and supplementary." Sheng and chime have the same pronunciation, Wei Fang and Du
After the death of Duke Xuanling, he was given the posthumous title Wenzhao and was entitled to the temple of Taizong. Chu Suiliang, a minister of the Tang Dynasty and a famous calligrapher, carved a Xuanling stele for the Xuanling Cemetery in the third year of Yonghui in the Tang Dynasty. The inscription has more than 2,000 words, of which the most famous sentence is: Daoguang's guardian instrument is vibrating on the piano, Fang Si and Yu Fengxian's pipe is flowing
When later historians commented on the prime ministers of the Tang Dynasty, they all recommended Fang Xuan Ling, always said: The wise prime ministers of the Tang Dynasty were preceded by Fang and Du, and followed by Yao and Song. Liu Fang of the Tang Dynasty sighed: Fang Xuanling assisted Taizong in determining the world and his final position. In every thirty-two years, the world will be called the Xianxiang. However, there is no trace to be found, and virtue has arrived. Therefore, Taizong rectified the disaster but Fang Xuanling did not say anything about his merits; Wang Zheng and Wei Zheng were good at admonishing, and Fang Xuanling praised them; Li Ji and Li Ji were good at generals and followed their own path; they allowed the capable people in the world to assist Taizong and achieve peace. , A good leader is a true virtuous prime minister! Fang Xuanling is in an important position, but he is not domineering and starts well and ends well, so he is called a virtuous prime minister! Liu Fang's comments are just right. Sima Guang and later wrote about this period of history When commenting, the full text will be copied. There is a couplet in the upper left corner of the portrait of Duke Xuanling in the praise of ancient portraits carved in the 11th year of Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty: Assistant Prime Minister Wenhuang ranked first in merit, and his admonitions in the posthumous form were faithful to the day. Also a good comment.