Background

Guo Yuanzhen was born in 656, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. He was said to be tall and handsome, with a beautiful beard in his youth, as well as ambitious. In 671, he became a student at the imperial university, at the same time that future fellow chancellors Xue Ji and Zhao Yanzhao where. On one occasion, when Guo's family had just sent him spending money, a man who was wearing mourning clothes approached him and asked him for financial help to bury his ancestors, claiming that his ancestors had not been properly buried for five generations. Guo generously gave the man money without asking further questions, impressing Xue and Zhao, who were present at the time. In 673, he passed the imperial examinations and was made the sheriff of Tongquan County (通泉, in modern Suining, Sichuan). It was said that while serving at Tongquan, he was a maverick and did not pay attention to details.

During Wu Zetians reign

Around or before 696, when Guo Yuanzhen was still at Tongquan, he captured over 1000 local tribespeople and sold them as slaves so that he could have funds to maintain his guests, and the people of Tongquan were distressed. When then-reigning Wu Zetian (Emperor Gaozong's wife) heard of this, she summoned Guo to the capital Luoyang, intending to punish him. When she met him, however, she was impressed by his talent, and she asked him for his past writing. He submitted an essay that he had written about swords, and she was further impressed and showed the essay to the imperial scholar Li Jiao, himself known for his literary talent. She made him Zhoucao Canjun (冑曹參軍), a logistics officer with the imperial guards, as well as an imperial attendant. At that time, the Tibetan Empire claimed to be seeking peace with Wu Zetian's Zhou dynasty, and she sent Guo as an emissary to the Tibetan Empire to discuss the matter. After he arrived, the Tibetan regent Gar Trinring Tsendro (論欽陵) offered peace, but demanded that Zhou withdraw the forces at the four garrisons under the Protectorate General to Pacify the West and cede some of the 10 former tribes of the Western Turkic Khaganate to the Tibetan Empire. After returning to Luoyang, Guo suggested to Wu Zetian that she respond that she was willing to agree to Lun's requests—as long as the Tibetan Empire was willing to cede territory around the Qinghai Lake, formerly belonging to Tuyuhun—conditions that he knew Trinring would not agree to. He further suggested that she sent emissaries to the Tibetan Empire each year to offer peace, to cause the Tibetan people to resent Trinring for not agreeing to the conditions for peace.

In 699, the Tibetan emperor Tridu Songtsen, unhappy that Trinring was monopolizing power, took an opportunity when Trinring was away from the capital Lhasa to slaughter Trinring's associates. He then defeated Trinring in battle, and Trinring committed suicide. Trinring's brother Gar Tsenba (論贊婆) and Trinring's son Lun Gongren (論弓仁) surrendered to Zhou. Wu Zetian sent Guo and Fumeng Linqing (夫蒙令卿) to welcome them. She also made Guo Zhuke Langzhong (主客郎中), an official at the ministry of rites in charge of managing visits by foreign ambassadors and maintaining the households of the descendants of the rulers of prior dynasties.

In 701, Guo was made the commandant at Liang Prefecture (涼州, roughly modern Wuwei, Gansu). It was said that previously, Göktürk and Tibetan forces would often pillage the prefecture, and that fields outside the capital city of the prefecture were often laid waste. Guo ordered the building of two outposts, Baiting Base (白亭軍) to the north, and Herong (和戎) to the south, to serve as warning posts and as counterattack points. Thereafter, the raids decreased, and the people were able to have more rest. He also ordered his subordinate Li Hantong (李漢通) the prefect of Gan Prefecture (甘州, roughly modern Jiuquan, Gansu), to build irrigation and promote farming. This allowed the region, which previously had a food shortage, to have food surplus, allowing the military to be supported. It was generally said that Guo was good at managing the people and governing the troops, and that for the five years when he was at Liang Prefecture, both the Han and the non-Han loved and obeyed him, and that the people began to be wealthy.

During Emperor Zhongzongs second reign

Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup in 705, and her son and crown prince Li Xian, a former emperor, returned to the throne (as Emperor Zhongzong). Sometime thereafter, Guo was made the Protectorate General to Pacify the West. In 706, he went to the Tuqishi (突騎施) tribe to meet with its chieftain Wuzhile to discuss military matters. They met outside Wuzhile's tent, and It was cold and snowing at the time, but Guo did not move. Wuzhile, however, was old and could not stand the cold; he died shortly after the meeting. Wuzhile's son Suoge (娑葛), believing that Guo's acts were deliberate, gathered his troops and got ready to attack Guo. Guo's deputy Jie Wan (解琬) became aware of this and suggested that they flee. Guo declined—stating that he felt that he needed to show sincerity, and that given that they were deep in Tuqishi territory, they could not get away anyway. The next day, he went to mourn Wuzhile, and showed sincere emotions in doing so. Suoge was touched and made peace with him.

Meanwhile, Wuzhile's subordinate Juechuo Zhongjie (闕啜忠節) was unwilling to submit to Suoge. Juechuo was, however, unable to prevail over Suoge, and in 708, at Guo's suggestion, he was set to give up his forces and go to the Tang capital Chang'an, when the Tang general Zhou Yiti (周以悌) suggested to him the idea of bribing the chancellors Zong Chuke and Ji Chuna to launch an attack against Suoge. Juechuo did so, and Zong, after Juechuo's bribery, proposed to Emperor Zhongzong the idea of attacking Suoge in alliance with the Tibetan Empire, which Emperor Zhongzong agreed despite Guo's opposition. Suoge heard of this plan and acted first, successfully attacking several Tang outposts and then sending an envoy to Chang'an to demand that Zong be executed. Subsequently, Guo reported the facts of the situation to Emperor Zhongzong, which led to Zong's accusing him of treason. However, Emperor Zhongzong agreed with Guo and sent a peace envoy to make peace with Suoge and creating him Shisixing Khan.

During Emperor Ruizongs second reign

In 710, Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly—a death traditional historians believed to be a poisoning by his powerful wife Empress Wei and daughter Li Guo'er the Princess Anle. Emperor Zhongzong's son by a concubine, Li Chongmao the Prince of Wen took the throne (as Emperor Shang), but Empress Wei retained power as empress dowager and regent. Less than a month later, a coup led by Emperor Zhongzong's sister Princess Taiping and nephew Li Longji the Prince of Linzi killed Empress Dowager Wei and Li Guo'er. Li Longji's father Li Dan the Prince of Xiang, himself a former emperor, returned to the throne (as Emperor Ruizong), displacing Emperor Shang. He recalled Guo to the capital Chang'an to serve as minister of agriculture. In 711, he gave Guo the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, making Guo a chancellor de facto. Later in the year, though, as a part of a government reorganization, he and the other chancellors were removed from their chancellor posts, and he was made the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu), although he was also created the Baron of Guantao.

During Emperor Xuanzongs reign

In 712, Emperor Ruizong passed the throne to Li Longji, who took the throne as Emperor Xuanzong, but retained power as Taishang Huang (retired emperor). Subsequently, Guo Yuanzhen was made the commandant of the forces of the Suofang region (i.e., modern Ningxia and northern Shaanxi) and the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu). In 713, he was again made chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin.

As of 713, Emperor Xuanzong and Princess Taiping were locked into a power struggle. It was said that Princess Taiping, Dou Huaizhen, Cen Xi, Xiao Zhizhong, Cui Shi; along with other officials Xue Ji, Li Jin (李晉) the Prince of Xinxing (a grandson of Li Deliang (李德良), a cousin of Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu), Li You (李猷), Jia Yingfu (賈膺福), Tang Jun (唐晙); the generals Chang Yuankai (常元楷), Li Ci (李慈), and Li Qin (李欽); and the monk Huifan (惠範), were plotting to overthrow Emperor Xuanzong. It was further said that they discussed, with the lady-in-waiting Lady Yuan to poison the gastrodia elata that Emperor Xuanzong routinely took as an aphrodisiac. When this alleged plot was reported to Emperor Xuanzong by Wei Zhigu, Emperor Xuanzong, who had already received advice from Wang Ju (王琚), Zhang Shuo, and Cui Riyong to act first, did so. He convened a meeting with his brothers Li Fan (李範) the Prince of Qi, Li Ye (李業) the Prince of Xue, Guo, along with a number of his associates — the general Wang Maozhong (王毛仲), the officials Jiang Jiao (姜皎) and Li Lingwen (李令問), his brother-in-law Wang Shouyi (王守一), the eunuch Gao Lishi, and the military officer Li Shoude (李守德) — and decided to act first. On July 29, Emperor Xuanzong had Wang Maozhong take 300 soldiers to the imperial guard camp to behead Chang and Li Ci. Then, Jia, Li You, Xiao, and Cen were arrested and executed as well. Dou and Princess Taiping committed suicide. When Emperor Ruizong heard about the incident, he ascended the tower at Chengtian Gate to try to ascertain what was happening, and it was Guo who informed him what happened. Emperor Ruizong subsequently yieldedpowers to Emperor Xuanzong and no longer actively participated in policy decisions thereafter. It was said that during the crisis, Guo spent 14 nights at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng) without returning home. For his contributions, he was created the Duke of Dai and awarded silk, and further given the additional post as chief imperial censor (御史大夫, Yushi Daifu).

In winter 713, when Emperor Xuanzong was examining the troops, he was angry that the troops were disorganized, and he had Guo and the official Tang Shao (唐紹) arrested and ordered them executed, in order to try to show his power—but did not actually intend to kill them. However, the general Li Miao (李邈) executed Tang and was set to execute Guo, when fellow chancellors Liu Youqiu and Zhang Shuo kneeled and begged forgiveness on Guo's part, pointing out Guo's great contributions. Emperor Xuanzong thus exiled Guo to Xin Prefecture (新州, roughly modern Yunfu, Guangdong). He soon moved Guo to be the military advisor to the prefect of Rao Prefecture (饒州, roughly modern Shangrao, Jiangxi), but Guo, depressed over his exile, died on the way.

武則天時期

郭元振十六歲進太學，與薛稷、趙彥昭同學，十八歲中進士，任梓州通泉（今屬四川省射洪縣）縣尉，他任俠使氣，造過假錢，掠奪別人財物，用于交結四方朋友，唐代傳奇小說集《玄怪錄》中，有一篇《郭代公》，講述郭元振少年時期解救民間少女，殺死豬妖烏將軍的故事。武則天聽聞後，召他見面，交談至夜，對他甚是奇異。他上呈所作的《古劍歌》，武則天很是欣賞，令人謄寫數十份，賜給學士李嶠、閻朝隱等人。授郭元振為右武衛胄曹參軍、右控鶴內供奉，不久遷任奉宸監丞。曾與陳子昂交往。萬歲通天元年（696年）九月吐蕃請求和親，郭元振被派出使吐蕃。他獻計離間吐蕃君臣關係，大將論欽陵被殺，欽陵弟贊婆及兄子莽布支歸降武周，郭元振與河源軍大使夫蒙令卿領兵接應。吐蕃大將麴莽布支率兵入寇，被涼州都督唐休璟擊敗，郭元振因參預其謀，以功拜主客郎中。

《古劍歌》：

長安元年（701年），吐蕃與突厥聯盟，圍攻涼州，刺史出城戰死，武則天在洛陽接到奏報後，任命郭元振為涼州都督、隴右諸軍州大使，調集關中兵馬五萬人，號二十萬，趕赴河西，吐蕃聞訊後退兵。郭元振到達涼州後，收合餘眾，繕修城牆，又在南境修築和戎城，北界沙漠中置白亭軍，控制要路，拓展州境一千五百里，使外族難以再侵犯涼州城下，又令甘州刺史李漢通屯田，改善水陸之利。數年之間，涼州糧價由原來的一斛數千文，降到一匹絹可買粟數十斛，囤積的軍糧可支持數十年。郭元振認為涼州多次被吐蕃與突厥入侵，顯得很弱，未能展示天朝的強盛，于是徵集隴右兵馬一百二十萬，號稱二百萬，集合在湟州，準備打擊吐蕃，宣揚天威。當時宗楚客為宰相，他與郭元振素來不和，指示手下宣稱郭元振聚集大軍，有不臣之心。武則天大為驚懼，狄仁傑、魏元忠、韋安石、李嶠、宋璟、姚崇、趙彥昭、韋嗣立、張說等二十五人上表以死作保，武則天這才驚魂稍定。郭元振大軍集合後，分十路出兵，越過青海，打到吐蕃贊普的牙帳附近。贊普請求議和，獻馬三千匹，金三萬斤，牛羊無數。郭元振宣示軍威後撤軍，突厥見天朝強盛，也獻馬二千匹，並將以前所擄掠的涼州百姓放回。元振身材偉壯，治邊有方，在涼州五年，「夷夏畏慕，令行禁止，牛羊被野，路不拾遺。」。河西隴右的十幾處軍民給他立生祠，立碑頌德，

唐中宗時期

唐中宗即位後，郭元振被召回京師長安，他在長安沒有府第，只好寄居在友人家中。一日突然有一人騎馬送來一個狀子，元振還未打開時人就走了，狀子上記載物品若干，卻未署名。他在樹下找到騾馬二十餘匹，帛三千匹。郭元振疑是太學請葬之士，于是拿著這批財物買了宅第。

郭元振覲見中宗後，改任左驍衛將軍，兼檢校安西大都護。當時西突厥突騎施部落強盛，首領烏質勒請求與唐朝通好，郭元振率麾下數十騎前往其牙帳討論軍事。當時下著大雪，郭元振站在帳前，與烏質勒從早談到天暗。雪深風凍，郭元振身體強壯，雪深尺餘，竟一步不移堅持討論，烏質勒卻年老體弱，受不住風雪，當夜回帳不久就死了。其子娑葛認為郭元振故意謀殺其父，召集兵馬追殺。郭元振一行當夜聽到烏質勒死訊，副使御史中丞解琬勸元振連夜逃走，元振道：「吾以誠信待人，何所疑懼，且深在寇庭，遁將安適？」第二天一早就身穿白衣素服回突騎施部落去弔喪，半路上遇到準備報仇的娑葛兵馬，將他層層包圍，娑葛素聞元振威名，報仇理由又不充份，改口稱是為了護衛漢使。元振來到突騎施牙帳後，大聲痛哭，逗留了數十日，幫忙主持葬禮，感動了娑葛，複與元振和好，獻馬三千匹，牛羊十餘萬，移居千里，西域商路得以安定無事，諸蕃歸降者十餘國。當時人皆傳誦：「郭元振詭殺烏質勒。」中宗下制以元振為金山道行軍大總管。

阿史那闕啜（漢名忠節）與娑葛兩部互相攻占，闕啜兵弱不支，元振奏請追闕啜入朝宿衛，移其部落入于瓜、沙等州安置，闕啜行至播仙城，與經略使、右威衛將軍周以悌相遇，周以悌作為宗楚客一黨，挑撥道：「你輕身入朝，手下無兵，只能被視作一老胡，誰會正眼看你？非但官職難得，只怕性命也會難保。今宰相有宗楚客、紀處訥，都是掌權之人，你何不重金賄賂，請留不行。再請朝廷派安西兵馬和吐蕃一起攻打娑葛，立阿史那獻為可汗以招西突厥十姓，讓郭虔瓘去拔汗那徵集兵甲馬匹以助軍用。既得報讎，又得保存自己的部落。不比入朝受制于人好？」闕啜認為有理，便率兵攻陷于闐坎城，掠奪金銀財物人口，用來賄賂宗、紀二人，中書令宗楚客受到賄賂後，推翻了闕啜入朝的命令。元振上書申請，宗楚客有韋皇后支持，派遣攝御史中丞馮嘉賓持節安撫闕啜，御史呂守素處置四鎮，持璽書想要殺害元振。又任命牛師獎為安西副都護，在甘、涼已西募兵，兼徵召吐蕃兵馬，以討伐娑葛。娑葛在唐朝的進馬使娑臘得知宗楚客的計劃，馬上回去通報娑葛，娑葛立即發兵五千騎出安西，五千騎出撥換，五千騎出焉耆，五千騎出疏勒。時元振在疏勒，于河口柵不敢異動。闕啜在計舒河口等候馮嘉賓，娑葛兵馬掩殺而至，生擒闕啜，殺死馮嘉賓等唐朝使者。呂守素至僻城，也被殺害，又殺牛師獎于火燒城，攻陷安西都護府，四鎮路絕。

宗楚客見大事不妙，奏請周以悌代替元振為安西都護，召回元振，想要讓他替罪，元振不從，奏請斬楚客，清蕃落。楚客怒，奏言元振有異圖。元振派其子郭鴻間道上奏其狀，真相大白，周以悌獲罪流放白州（治今廣西博白）。元振複任安西都護。赦免娑葛之罪，冊為十四姓可汗。因韋後、宗楚客一黨掌權，奏稱西土未寧，需要安撫，逗遛不敢歸京師。

郭元振在安西十餘年，四鎮寧靜。唐睿宗即位後被召回長安任太僕卿時，安西各族百姓號哭數百里，請求他留下，元振不得已哄騙安撫後才上路，到玉門關時，離涼州還有八百里，河西諸州百姓蕃部落，聽聞元振來了，貧困者拿著水壺，富者設供帳迎接，聯綿七百里不絕。他的儀仗旌節下玉門關時，百姓望見，大聲呼喊，從早到晚，一直傳到涼州。涼州城中男女在街道上載歌載舞，並歌舞出城，咸言我父至矣，城門通夜不關。涼州都督司馬逸客聽後，立即列兵出迎，等通訊兵來報，知才入玉門關。

唐睿宗、唐玄宗時期

景龍四年（710年）夏六月，臨淄王李隆基率兵誅殺韋後一黨，唐睿宗即位，征拜元振為太僕卿。

景雲二年（711年），郭元振至京師長安，拜同中書門下三品，加銀青光祿大夫，任兵部尚書，封館陶縣男，不久代宋璟任吏部尚書，知選舉。時元振之父郭善愛年老在鄉，被拜為濟州刺史，仍聽致仕。同年冬，與韋安石、張說等俱罷相。

先天元年（712年），後突厥默啜可汗大舉寇邊，郭元振拜刑部尚書，充朔方道行軍大總管，築豐安、定遠等城，以抵禦突厥。

先天二年（713年），加金紫光祿大夫，複任兵部尚書，同中書門下三品（拜相），秋七月，太子李隆基率羽林軍誅殺太平公主一黨，睿宗登承天門察看，諸宰相中只郭元振一人陪同睿宗左右，玄宗即位後，元振宿衛中書省十四日，獨知政事，被進封為代國公，食實封四百戶。又兼御史大夫、天下行軍大元帥。

玄宗於驪山講武，大閱軍操，徵兵至一百萬，號三百萬，由郭元振指揮。當天三令（三令五申）之後，玄宗要親自擊鼓，郭元振怕有大變，省略對玄宗行禮。玄宗大怒，引坐纛下，幾乎宣敕處斬，經劉幽求、張說等人說情，乃斬給事中、知禮儀事唐紹，流放元振于新州（今廣東新興），同年十二月改元開元，元振復起用為饒州（今江西波陽）司馬，元振自恃功勳，怏怏不得志，病逝途中，時年五十八。著有《郭元振集》二十二卷。開元十年，追贈太子少保。

家庭

納左武衛大將軍薛永衝之女為姬。生有四子：

• 郭晟

• 郭鴻

• 左驍衛將軍郭鵬，郭鵬有子郭瑊，兵部員外郎。

• 代州司戶參軍郭仲翔。

評介

郭元振少年時負氣縱橫，及為封疆大吏時，「言行忠正，居取儉約，」公務之暇，手不釋卷，雖子弟家人，未嘗見其喜怒。前後上事切諫得失十數道，俱焚其槁草（草稿），不以語人，故朝廷莫知也。睿宗曾經說：「元振正直齊於宋璟，政理逾於姚崇，其英謀宏亮過之矣。」在宣陽里居住達二十餘年，不至諸院馬廄。每次下朝回家，對父母二親言笑，歸室儼如也，不問家事。與狄仁傑、朱敬則、魏元忠、李嶠、韋安石、趙彥昭、韋嗣立、薛稷、張說等為忘言之友。他事父母以孝順聞名，去世後父母猶在世。《舊唐書》贊郭元振：「偉哉郭侯，勛德煌煌。」

注釋

參考書目

• 《新唐書·郭元振傳》