沈佺期“考功受赇”案真相探源

Investigation Into The Bribery Charges Against Sheng Quanqi

本文比较系统地梳理了关于沈佺期"考功受赇"说的来龙去脉,并根据新旧唐书所载多人传记资料涉及此事的材料,勾画出当时的天官侍郎许子儒主持的这次考核中"考功受赇"案的原委,是由于许子儒侍郎在主持此次"冬集"考核中的严重失职而导致"补授失序,无复纲纪,道路以为口实"的严重事件。确证所谓"浮议上闻"即指许子儒侍郎主持的考核存在不公问题导致"道路以为口实"。指出所谓"考功受赇"非指沈佺期"受赇"而是指此次事件,但是作为考功员外郎、考功郎中,沈佺期亦有失职之过,这个责任无可推脱。但说沈佺期本人"受赇"并无扎实证据。沈佺期的被弹入狱较长时期未加判决,既因为未有确实证据,也是因为二张势力暗中救护,武则天也无意严加惩处。总之,沈佺期被弹入狱其实是武则天暮年时期朝廷中二张势力与崔玄暐等为代表的反张政治势力矛盾尖锐化时的政治牺牲品。从而推翻了流传千余年的沈佺期"考功受赇"说。

Based on several biographies and relevant materials recorded in Old Book of Tang and New Book of Tang, this paper made a thorough investigation into the bribery charges against Sheng Quanqi. It retraced this bribery case presided by Xu Ziru, Vice Minister of Official Personnel Affairs Ministry. During the imperial Winter Evaluation of government official＇s performance, Xu made rash judgement from mere hearsay and his negligence resulted in serious consequence of disrespect to the law and regulations. It was Xu＇s fault that caused this unfair evaluation. But as a high ranking official in the evaluation system, Sheng Quanqi should also be held responsible. There was no solid evidence to prove that Sheng had accepted bribes. His charges were not convicted and Empress Wu Zetian had no intention to punish him because there was no sufficient evidence. Besides, some powerful hands were trying to rescue him. Sheng＇s impeachment was simply a sacrifice of two conflicting political forces. Therefore, the bribery charges against Sheng were groundless.