唐末政局及士人之遭际

The Political Situation of the Late Tang Dynasty and the Sufferings of the Intellectual

唐末的混乱政局较其前更恶性发展,并有异同之处。唐末牛李党争已经结束,但朝官间矛盾更突显,而宦官和藩镇问题仍然存在,且更恶化严重。此时宦官更为专权跋扈,不仅主宰朝官的命运,甚至握有废置皇帝之权。而其时南司则反击更烈,且宰相崔胤又密结强藩朱全忠大肆捕杀韩全诲等大批中人,杀戮宦官几尽。藩镇问题也更复杂而矛盾纠结,强藩多挟天子以自重,勾结个别权臣,贬诛朝士。在此政局下,战乱频仍,灾荒连年,士人们处境更为艰难险恶,运途多乖,遂有漂流奔避、艰于一第,遭贬杀、退隐、入道、远避他方等不同命运。

The political situation of the late Tang dynasty got worse but it shared some common and different points as before. Though the conflicts between the two political parties of Niu and Li camt to an end the conflicts between the officials were sharp and there were serious problems of eunuchs and feudal separatist rules. The eunuchs were so powerful that they could decide the fate of the officials and even control the emperor＇s position. Meanwhile, the officials fought against them earnestly. The Prime Minister Cui Yin massacred many eunuchs including Han Quanhui with the help of the strong military governor Zhu Quanzhong. The troubles of the military governor were more complicated, because many powerful governors intimidated the emperor, colluded with some officials, and demoted or killed those loyal to the emperor. Accompanied with the frequent battles and natural disaster, the intellectual suffered a lot. They were demoted, murdered, or forced to retire, to seek refuge in religion or some secluded places.