家世

馮贇生年不詳，太原人。父馮璋，或作馮章，為未來的後唐皇帝李嗣源的看門人。馮贇兒時通達聰明，李嗣源很喜歡他。後來李嗣源事養弟晉王和後來稱後唐皇帝的李存勖為節度使，馮贇成為他的進奏官。

李嗣源年間

同光四年（926年）四月，李存勖在當時後唐都城洛陽的一場兵變中被殺。先前已叛變李存勖的李嗣源很快到達洛陽，稱帝。以馮贇為內客省使、宣徽北院使。

天成三年（928年）四月，李嗣源任他最年長的在世兒子李從榮為河東節度使、北都（太原）留守，以馮贇為副留守實際主事。李從榮年少驕傲，不親政務。十二月，李嗣源不得不派左右中一個素日與李從榮友善的人（身份失載）前去為其幕僚，意在引導他。這位左右對李從榮說：「你弟弟李從厚聲譽比你高，你應該自我策勵，不要聲譽反在其下。」李從榮不悅，以告步軍都指揮使楊思權。楊思權恐嚇李嗣源的這位左右，稱其是在幫李從厚越李從榮而立。該左右害怕，告訴馮贇。馮贇密奏李嗣源。李嗣源召回楊思權，切斷他和李從榮的聯繫，但也因李從榮之故沒有處罰楊思權。次年正月，馮贇回朝複為宣徽使、判三司，對宰相們說：「李從榮為人嚴酷而輕浮，需要有德之人輔佐。」四月，李從榮被召回任河南尹、判六軍諸衛事，先前曾任這兩個官職的李從厚則被任為河東節度使、北都留守，實際取代了李從榮。

長興元年（930年）七月，馮贇以宣徽南院使、行右衛上將軍、判三司被任為左衛上將軍、北都留守，亦任河東節度使。赴任時，馮母去宮中辭別，李嗣源對馮母說：「吾輩老矣。馮贇以前還是趨走在我左右的小孩，現在就有氣力，我以前在太原為偏將，覺得做節度使富貴極了，當時我不敢奢望為山河之主，何況馮贇呢？如今馮贇為留守、節度使，您更應該訓導他安撫我鄉里生民。」當日賜以金繒。馮贇到任後，李嗣源每每趁中使去河東的機會慰問他。當月，奏諸蕃部三千餘的帳幕地近振武軍，請求增兵控御。十月，馮贇謝恩賜其母衣服銀器。闢考進士不中的馮玉為推官。先前河東軍以相堂為使院，後以為樂營，群吏簿籍無可安置；又取太原縣為軍營縣，以潛玄觀為治所。馮贇到後詢問舊制，重新以相堂為使院，太原仍歸舊縣。二年（931年）九月前卸任河東節度使，十月，任忠武軍節度使。三年（932年）八月，李嗣源受冊尊號，賜馮贇絹三百匹、銀器百兩、鞍轡馬一匹。十一月，複回京充宣徽南院使，判三司。十二月，奏稱奉聖旨賜內外臣僚節料羊計支三千口，李嗣源認為多了。四年（933年）九月，李嗣源準備拜馮贇為宰相，加同中書門下平章事，但這就犯了馮贇父馮章的名諱。宰相們誤引典故，于是李嗣源將同中書門下平章事改為同中書門下二品，授馮贇，以為宰相，充三司使，依前檢校太傅。十月，樞密使范延光與馮贇奏：「金、商州每年上供絹不過六百匹，臣西北賣馬的諸胡人往來很多，日月絹五千匹，計耗國用十分之七，請委邊境戍所擇取諸胡所賣良馬，上報具體數字。」李嗣源從之。十一月朱弘昭、馮贇奏：「臣等自受任以來，估計國力不足，是因為賞軍無算、買馬太多的弊端。若不早為節限，以後難以為繼，應該嚴敕西北邊鎮遵守。」

先前，李嗣源的樞密使范延光、趙延壽都為秦王李從榮所怨恨，想離職以避免與其衝突。李嗣源不悅，以為他們是見自己病了就棄自己而去，但還是先允許趙延壽離任，為宣武軍節度使，代以朱弘昭；當月，再允許范延光離任為成德軍節度使，十一月，代以馮贇。先前馮贇為北京留守，奏龍敏為副，馮贇做了樞密使，引龍敏為吏部侍郎。

當月，李嗣源病篤。大臣很少能與之相見，宣徽使孟漢瓊和王淑妃用事，大事都由他們和朱弘昭、馮贇四人決定。李從榮與朱弘昭、馮贇入廣壽殿問起居，李嗣源無知覺。李從榮出宮後以為李嗣源病亡，擔心自己不得為嗣，想強行進宮控制宮禁，派都押牙馬處鈞前去問朱弘昭和馮贇：「吾欲率領牙兵入宮中侍疾，且備非常，應該住在哪？」二人答：「王自己選擇。」然後秘密對馬處鈞說：「主上萬福，王應該竭心忠孝，不可妄信他人浮言。」李從榮怒，又派馬處鈞對二人說：「公等不吝惜家族嗎？何敢拒我！」二人以為患，入告王淑妃和孟漢瓊，都說要靠親軍都指揮使康義誠才能應對。康義誠的兒子在秦王府，康本人首鼠兩端，只說不敢議論此事，聽憑調遣。李從榮隨後發本部軍隊試圖奪取宮禁，又派馬處鈞到馮贇府上說：「吾今日決意入宮，將要居住在興聖宮。公輩各自都有宗族，處事也應該平正允當，禍福在須臾。」馮贇騎馬進入右掖門，見朱弘昭、康義誠、孟漢瓊及馮贇所舉薦的三司使孫岳正坐在中興殿閣門外議事。馮贇說了馬處鈞的話，責怪康義誠：「秦王說『禍福在須臾』，其事可知，公不要因為兒子在秦府，就左右顧望。主上拔擢吾輩，自布衣至將相，一旦秦王兵得入此門，置主上于何地？吾輩還能有遺種嗎？」康義誠不及回答，監門報稱李從榮兵已在端門外，孟漢瓊拂衣而起，聲言願意捨命率兵拒李從榮，此刻當入宮護駕而離去，朱弘昭、馮贇跟隨他，康義誠不得已也跟隨。禁軍在朱弘昭和馮贇命令下抵抗，敗李從榮，李從榮隨後被殺。先前朱弘昭、馮贇擔心李從榮傲慢暴厲，孫岳極力對他們言說禍事之端、李從榮必敗，康義誠恨孫岳，于是乘亂秘密派騎士將其射殺。眾官議李從榮官屬判官任贊之罪，因馮贇力爭，這些人多沒有被殺，任贊等十七人被流貶。李嗣源決定派孟漢瓊從天雄軍召還宋王李從厚，實際立他為儲，由孟漢瓊權知天雄軍府事。李從厚未到，李嗣源崩，李從厚到洛陽，朱弘昭和馮贇擁立他為帝。

李從厚年間

朱弘昭自認為立李從厚是自己之功，想專朝政。應順元年（934年）正月，朱弘昭、馮贇獻錢助作山陵。李從厚最親信者之一天雄左都押牙宋令詢在李從厚左右，當月，朱弘昭不顧李從厚不悅，出其為磁州刺史。他和馮贇都忌恨侍衛馬軍都指揮使、寧國節度使安彥威、侍衛步軍都指揮使、忠正節度使張從賓，將他們分別出為護國節度使和彰義節度使，代以捧聖馬軍都指揮使朱洪實和嚴衛步軍都指揮使皇甫遇。又舉薦皇甫立為保大軍節度使。

李從厚加朱弘昭、馮贇、姐夫河東節度使兼侍中石敬瑭三人高級宰相銜兼中書令。但馮贇認為自己升官太快，堅辭不受，于是詔改兼侍中，封邠國公。

朱弘昭和馮贇又都因李從厚養兄鳳翔節度使兼侍中潞王李從珂和石敬瑭長期隨李嗣源征伐，有功名，得眾心，而疑忌二人。潞王長子李重吉為控鶴都指揮使，朱、馮出他為亳州團練使。潞王有女李惠明，在洛陽一廟中為尼姑，也被召入宮中控制。這使得李從珂很疑懼。

二月，朱、馮決定不讓石敬瑭久居河東，又想召回孟漢瓊。他們以樞密院名義下令召回孟漢瓊，徙成德節度使范延光為天雄節度使，徙李從珂為河東節度使兼北都留守，徙石敬瑭為成德節度使。雖然命令很嚴肅，卻非皇帝下詔，他們還派使者監視這幾位節度使赴任。李從珂害怕這些舉動是針對他的，于是反叛，派掌書記李專美作檄書傳給諸軍鎮：「朱弘昭、馮贇趁明宗（李嗣源）病，殺秦王而立愍帝。帝年少，小人用事，離間骨肉，我要問罪于朝！」當月，正丁母憂的馮贇被起複。朝廷派西都留守王思同為西面行營馬步軍都部署統軍討鳳翔，起初王思同圍攻其軍府鳳翔府，幾乎使其陷落，似將獲勝。但羽林指揮使楊思權率領的軍兵叛投李從珂，導致朝廷軍隊瓦解，大部分投降了李從珂。李從珂率軍進軍洛陽，稱只要投降，除了朱弘昭、馮贇兩族外，都可赦免。李從厚恐懼，想讓位給李從珂，朱、馮不知所為。時為河陽節度使、判六軍諸衛兼侍中的康義誠也秘密想叛投李從珂，于是請求率殘餘的侍衛諸軍對抗李從珂。李從厚同意了。同時，李重吉和李惠明也被誅殺。李從珂發書信告諭洛陽文武士庶，只不赦朱弘昭、馮贇兩族，其餘勿憂。

康義誠軍還未遇見李從珂行進中的軍隊，士兵已開始逃跑和投降李從珂。康義誠本人也如此。李從厚聞訊，召朱弘昭問如何打算。朱弘昭以為召他是要怪罪他的錯誤，投井自殺。京城巡檢安從進聽聞朱弘昭已死，將馮贇殺死在家中，滅其族，將朱、馮的首級送到陝州給李從珂。李從厚逃離洛陽，石敬瑭也拒絕支持他，後來四月，被李從珂派去的使者殺死。馮贇母新亡，與馮贇的尸體都被棄于道路。馮贇妻兒都被殺，除了一個三歲的兒子得故吏張守素藏匿得以倖免。宰相中書侍郎馮道、劉昫、李愚等入朝，到端門才得知朱、馮已死，李從厚已北逃，便出迎李從珂。四月，李從珂登基稱帝，下詔聲言馮贇及朱弘昭、孟漢瓊、王思同、原靜難節度使藥彥稠等結黨興兵、離間君臣、幾乎亡國之罪，陳其尸，削奪官爵。後又下詔許其歸葬，但親屬部舊仍流放。

後晉出帝開運三年（946年），複馮贇官爵。後漢高祖即位後，于天福十二年（947年）閏七月贈馮贇中書令。

注釋及參考文獻

Background

It is not known when Feng Yun was born, but it is known that he was from Taiyuan. All that was recorded in history about his origins was that his father Feng Zhang — given variously as 馮璋 or 馮章 — was the doorkeeper for Li Siyuan, the future Later Tang emperor. In Feng Yun's childhood, he was understanding and intelligent, and Li Siyuan liked him greatly. Later, when Li Siyuan served as a military governor (Jiedushi) under his adoptive brother Li Cunxu — unclear whether referring to a commission while Li Cunxu still used the Tang Dynasty-bestowed title of Prince of Jin or after Li Cunxu claimed imperial title as emperor of Later Tang — Feng became his liaison officer at the imperial court.

During Li Siyuans reign

In 926, Li Cunxu was killed in a mutiny at then-Later Tang capital Luoyang. Li Siyuan, who had earlier rebelled against Li Cunxu, quickly arrived at Luoyang thereafter and claimed imperial title. Sometime after Li Siyuan took the throne, he made Feng Yun a protocol officer (中門使, Zhongmenshi) and director of palace affairs (宣徽使, Xuanhuishi).

In 928, when Li Siyuan made his then-oldest-surviving son Li Congrong the military governor of Hedong as well as the defender of its capital Taiyuan, he made Feng the deputy defender of Taiyuan, apparently in actual command. It was said that Li Congrong was arrogant in his youth and not paying proper attention to governance. Li Siyuan felt compelled to send, among his own associates, a man whom he believed Li Congrong respected (the man's identity is lost to history) to serve on Li Congrong's staff to try to positively influence him. The man informed Li Congrong that his younger brother Li Conghou had a much better reputation and that he should better himself so that his reputation can at least match Li Conghou's. Li Congrong was displeased by the advice, and informed this to his officer Yang Siquan. Yang subsequently threatened the man, claiming that man was helping Li Conghou to overtake Li Congrong in succession. The man, in fear, informed the threat to Feng. Feng informed Li Siyuan, and Li Siyuan called Yang to his presence in order to disassociate him from Li Congrong, but, on Li Congrong's account, did not punish Yang. When Feng was subsequently recalled to the imperial government to again serve as the director of palace affairs, he warned the key officials in charge of government that Li Congrong had a harsh character and was acting frivolously, and needed good counsel. Shortly after, Li Congrong was recalled from Hedong to serve as the mayor of Henan Municipality (i.e., the Luoyang region) and the commander of the imperial guards, and Li Conghou, who previously held both titles, was made the military governor of Hedong, effectively swapping positions with Li Congrong.

In 930, Feng was made the defender of Taiyuan, and apparently also the military governor of Hedong. He later served as the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan). In late 932, he was recalled from Zhongwu to again serve as director of palace affairs, and was also made the acting director of the three financial agencies (taxation, treasury, and salt and iron monopolies). In 933, Li Siyuan was prepared to make him a chancellor — usually, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi — but as this would violate naming taboo for Feng (as his father was named Feng Zhang), Li Siyuan gave him the unusual designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Erpin as chancellor, and also made him full director of the three financial agencies.

By that time, Li Siyuan's chiefs of staff, Fan Yanguang and Zhao Yanshou, both were apprehensive of Li Congrong, and wanted to leave their posts to avoid confrontations with him. Despite Li Siyuan's displeasure (as he felt that they were abandoning him in his illness), he first allowed Zhao to leave to become the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan), replacing him with Zhu Hongzhao; and later also allowed Fan to leave to serve as the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei), replacing him with Feng.

Shortly after, Li Siyuan became deathly ill. Li Congrong wanted to forcibly enter the palace and take control, but his overtures to Zhu and Feng, asking them to go along with his plans, were rebuffed. He subsequently launched his troops and tried to seize control of the palace, but the imperial guards, under orders from Zhu and Feng, resisted and defeated Li Congrong, who was subsequently killed. Li Siyuan then decided to summon Li Conghou back from Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern Handan, Hebei), effectively designating him as heir. Before Li Conghou could arrive, Li Siyuan died, and when Li Conghou arrived at Luoyang, Zhu and Feng supported him to be emperor.

During Li Conghous reign

As Zhu Hongzhao believed himself to be the person most instrumental to Li Conghou's enthronement, he tried to dominate the court scene. That caused him to eject Li Conghou's most trusted follower, Song Lingxun (宋令訓), out of Li Conghou's proximity, to be the prefect of Ci Prefecture (磁州, in modern Handan), despite Li Conghou's displeasure. He and Feng Yun similarly distrusted the imperial guard generals An Yanwei (安彥威) and Zhang Congbin, and An and Zhang were sent out to be the military governors of Huguo and Zhangyi (彰義, headquartered in modern Pingliang, Gansu), respectively, and replaced with Zhu Hongshi (朱洪實) and Huangfu Yu (皇甫遇).

In spring 934, Li Conghou bestowed on Feng (as well as Zhu and Li Siyuan's son-in-law Shi Jingtang the military governor of Hedong) the greater chancellor title Zhongshu Ling (中書令). Feng, however, tried to decline it as he claimed to be unworthy of it, and so was instead given the slightly less prestigious title of Shizhong (侍中).

Meanwhile, Zhu and Feng also distrusted Li Conghou's older adoptive brother, Li Congke the Prince of Lu, who was then serving as the military governor of Fengxiang, and Shi Jingtang, as Li Congke and Shi had long served as generals under Li Siyuan and were respected by the imperial army. Due to their distrust of Li Congke, they ejected Li Congke's son Li Chongji (李重吉), who was at that time an officer in the imperial guard corps, to be the military prefect of Bo Prefecture (亳州, in modern Bozhou, Anhui), and ordered Li Congke's daughter Li Huiming (李惠明), who had previously become a Buddhist nun in a temple at Luoyang, to live in the palace so that they would have control over her. These actions caused Li Congke to become very apprehensive.

Shortly after, Zhu and Feng decided that they did not want to allow Shi to remain at Hedong for too long, and they also wanted to recall the eunuch Meng Hanqiong, who had been overseeing the governance of Tianxiong ever since Li Conghou was recalled from Tianxiong. They thus issued a series of orders as chiefs of staff, recalling Meng, and moving Fan Yanguang from Chengde Circuit to Tianxiong, Li Congke from Fengxiang to Hedong, and Shi from Hedong to Chengde. Despite the seriousness of these orders, no edicts were issued by the emperor. Li Congke, fearing that these moves were targeted toward him, rebelled. The imperial government sent the general Wang Sitong to command the operations against Fengxiang, and initially, it appeared that Wang would prevail, as his siege against Fengxiang's capital Fengxiang Municipality almost caused it to fall. However, at that time, a group of soldiers, led by Yang Siquan, defected to Li Congke, causing the imperial army, to collapse, with most of the army surrendering to Li Congke. Li Congke then took his army and headed for Luoyang, announcing that all who surrendered to him would be forgiven, except Zhu and Feng. Upon hearing this news, Li Conghou panicked and considered surrendering the throne to Li Congke, and Zhu and Feng were not sure how to react. The imperial guard general Kang Yicheng (康義誠), however, who was secretly considering defecting to Li Congke as well, offered to command the remaining imperial forces against Li Congke. Li Conghou agreed. (Meanwhile, Li Chongji and Li Huimin were executed.)

Even before Kang's army could meet Li Congke's advancing forces, however, the soldiers began to desert and surrender to Li Congke. Kang himself then did so as well. Upon hearing this, Li Conghou summoned Zhu to try to think of what to do next. Zhu, however, interpreted the command summoning him to be a sign that Li Conghou intended to punish him for his wrong advice, and committed suicide by jumping into a well. The imperial guard general An Congjin then killed Feng and delivered Zhu's and Feng's heads to Li Congke. (Li Conghou fled Luoyang, and was subsequently killed by Li Congke's emissaries after Shi also refused to support him.) Feng's mother had recently died, and both her body and his were abandoned on the road. Feng's wife and children were also killed, except a three-year-old son, who was hidden by his former subordinate Zhang Shousu.

Notes and references

• New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 27.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 275, 276, 277, 278, 279.