During Emperor Xuanzongs reign

Duan Xiushi was born in 719, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. His family was from Long Prefecture (隴州, roughly modern Qingyang, Gansu), as the family settled there after his great-grandfather Duan Shijun (段師濬) served as the prefect of Long Prefecture. Both his grandfather Duan Da (段達) and father Duan Xingchen (段行琛) served as military officers. It was said that Duan Xiushi was filially pious in his childhood, and when he was five, when his mother fell ill, he was so distressed that he could not eat or drink for seven days; only after his mother got better did he resume eating and drinking. After he grew, he was said to be silent and decisive. His friends wanted to recommend him for the imperial examinations—specifically, for the Mingjing (明經) examinations, which required study of one of the Five Classics. Duan responded, "Looking through the book and memorizing sentences is not a great achievement," and he refused to sit for the examination.

Duan later came to serve under the military governor (Jiedushi) of Anxi Circuit (安西, headquartered in modern Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang), Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈詧), and after he distinguished himself in a Fumeng-commanded campaign against Humi (護蜜, centered on modern Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh) in 745, he was made a key officer in the Anxi army. After Gao Xianzhi replaced Fumeng in 748, Duan continued to serve under Gao. He participated in Gao's campaign to the west in 751 that culminated in the Battle of Talas against Abbasid forces, which saw Gao's forces defeated by Abbasid forces. In the aftermath of the defeat, Gao's deputy Li Siye suggested full retreat by Gao—abandoning some of the soldiers who had become lost after the battle. Duan rebuked Li Siye, stating, "Fleeing in light of your fear of the enemy is no bravery, and sparing yourself to allow others to be trapped is no kindness." Li Siye was embarrassed, and he and Duan subsequently made an attempt to gather the scattered troops to organize them into an orderly retreat. After the army returned to Anxi, Li Siye recommended Duan to Gao to serve as the circuit's secretary. In 753, when Gao's successor Feng Changqing attacked Greater Bolü (大勃律, centering modern Gilgit, Pakistan), after the initial successes, Feng was set to pursue the Greater Bolü king, when Duan pointed out that the king's flight might be a trap—and at Duan's suggestion, Feng made a thorough search in the area of the battle, finding many Greater Bolü soldiers who had hidden themselves, ready for a surprise attack. This allowed Feng to finish the victory over Greater Bolü. Duan was thereafter promoted in rank.

During Emperor Suzongs reign

In 755, the general An Lushan rebelled at Fanyang (范陽, in modern Beijing) and established a new state of Yan. In 756, his forces approached the Tang capital Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to flee to Chengdu. Emperor Xuanzong's son and crown prince Li Heng did not follow him to Chengdu, but instead fled to Lingwu, where he was declared emperor (as Emperor Suzong), an act that Emperor Xuanzong later recognized. Emperor Suzong ordered that the key military circuits send armies to aid him. When his order reached Anxi, the military governor Liang Zai (梁宰), after consulting with Li Siye, initially decided not to act on the order and to wait for further development. Duan Xiushi rebuked Li Siye:

Li Siye was embarrassed, and he subsequently met with Liang and persuaded Liang to commission an army, with Li Siye himself in command and Duan as deputy, to join Emperor Suzong at Lingwu. Soon thereafter, Duan's father died, and he spent time in morning. As Li Siye felt that Duan's service was indispensable, he requested that Duan be recalled into active service.

In 757, a joint Tang-Huige army recaptured Chang'an and then the eastern capital Luoyang, forcing An Lushan's son and successor An Qingxu to flee to Yecheng. Tang forces put Yecheng under siege, and Li Siye, one of the Tang commanders at the siege, made Duan the prefect of Huai Prefecture (懷州, in modern Jiaozuo, Henan) to be responsible for logistics—the shipping of food supplies from the area to the army at Yecheng. In spring 759, Li Siye died in battle during the siege. The Anxi army supported Li Siye's subordinate Lifei Yuanli (荔非元禮) to take over the command, and Emperor Suzong agreed. Duan remained as Lifei's deputy. Subsequently, at Duan's request, Li Siye's casket was sent to Hezhong (河中, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), where it was buried in grand ceremony at Duan's expense. This touched Lifei greatly, and he recommended Duan for a promotion in rank. In 762, while a number of armies were at Hezhong, including the Anxi army, Lifei was killed in an army mutiny, along with many other officers, but the soldiers respected Duan and did not dare to harm him. Subsequently, Bai Xiaode (白孝德) was put in command of the Anxi army, and Duan remained as Bai's deputy. This continued after Bai was made the military governor of Fufang Circuit (鄜坊, headquartered in modern Yan'an, Shaanxi).

During Emperor Daizongs reign

Also in 762, Emperor Suzong died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Daizong. In 763, when Tufan forces launched a surprise attack against Chang'an and forced Emperor Daizong to flee to Shan Prefecture (陝州, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan), Duan Xiushi persuaded Bai Xiaode to join the forces of the other circuits in aiding the emperor. Subsequently, Bai was made the military governor of Binning Circuit (邠寧, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi), and Duan continued to serve as his deputy. At one time, when the circuit lacked food, Bai temporarily moved his army to Fengtian (奉天, also in modern Xianyang). However, Fengtian was then in a state of confusion as the local government had collapsed, and the soldiers, in response, were pillaging the area. Duan requested to serve as discipline officer as well, and subsequently, Duan imposed strict discipline on the army and stopped the pillaging. Upon the army's return to Binning's capital Bin Prefecture, Duan was created the Prince of Zhangye.

Later in the year, there was a Tufan incursion, and an army commanded by Guo Ziyi, the deputy supreme commander of the armed forces (in effect, the supreme commander, as Emperor Daizong's son Li Kuo the Crown Prince was the nominal supreme commander) helped to defend Bin Prefecture against Tufan forces. After the Tufan threat subsided, Guo returned to Chang'an, but his forces, under the command of his son Guo Xi (郭晞), remained at Bin Prefecture. Guo Xi's soldiers lacked proper discipline and became a major problem for the people of Bin Prefecture, and Bai was troubled but unsure what to do because Guo Xi was Guo Ziyi's son. Duan volunteered to again be discipline officer, and after one month, there was an incident when 17 of Guo Xi's soldiers, in a dispute with a wine seller, killed him and destroyed the winemaking equipment. Duan arrested them and beheaded them. Guo Xi's soldiers were incensed, armed themselves, and got ready to attack Bai's headquarters. Duan went to Guo Xi's headquarters with only one old man attending him. When he arrived there, the soldiers were surprised that he arrived effectively alone. Duan stated, "Why wear your armor for this old soldier? I brought my head with me." He then spoke to them:

When Guo Xi came out of his tent to meet Duan, Duan rebuked him:

Guo Xi was embarrassed and rebuked his soldiers, ordering them to stand down. That night, Duan stayed at Guo Xi's tent, and Guo Xi was up all night to protect him. The next day, Guo Xi, accompanied by Duan, visited Bai to apologize. Thereafter, the pillaging of Bin Prefecture ended.

In 766, Ma Lin (馬璘) replaced Bai as the military governor of Binning. Duan continued to serve as his deputy. It was said that whenever Ma made wrong decisions, Duan would argue with him about it and would not leave until Ma changed his mind. On one occasion, Ma became angry and threatened to kill Duan when Duan insisted, but Duan did not fear the threats, stating, "Why get angry about executing me if I deserve execution? If, on the other hand, I do not deserve execution, then you are unjust." Ma stormed out, but subsequently invited Duan to a feast to apologize. It was said that because of Duan's counsel, Ma received excellent reputation while governing Binning.

Around the new year 769, at the suggestion of the chancellor Yuan Zai, the three prefectures belonging to Binning Circuit were merged into Guo Ziyi's command. Ma, along with his army, was moved to Jingyuan Circuit (涇原, headquartered in modern Pingliang, Gansu). Ma took part of the army to the capital of Jingyuan Circuit, Jing Prefecture, first, to rebuild the walls, while briefly having Duan remain at Bin Prefecture to oversee the troop movements. The soldiers under Ma's command were still largely soldiers who had come from Anxi in 756 to fight the Yan rebels and who had since been moved multiple locations. They were displeased about being moved once again, and the officer Wang Tongzhi (王童之) subsequently organized a plot to rise in mutiny. Duan found out about the plot and prepared to counteract; once Wang's plot exposed itself, he executed Wang and eight other coconspirators, and the rest of the army did not dare to resist the subsequent move to Jing Prefecture.

In 773, during a Tufan incursion, Ma suffered a battle loss at the hands of Tufan forces and was trapped outside the city, unable to enter. His subordinate Jiao Lingchen (焦令諶) fled back into the city and suggested that Duan close the city gates to get ready for the Tufan assault. Duan responded, "The Governor has not returned. We need to use all of our strength to fight the barbarians. How can we just seek to spare ourselves?" He then told Jiao, "According to military laws, the penalty for losing your commander is death. Have you forgotten that?" Jiao became fearful, and Duan sent him back out to fight Tufan forces, forcing them to withdraw and allowing Ma to return to the city.

In 776, Ma grew deathly ill, and he made Duan acting military governor before dying. With the soldiers gathering to mourn Ma, Duan was apprehensive that some soldiers would use this opportunity to mutiny. He therefore took careful precautions while arranging Ma's mourning, ordering that Ma's family, officers, soldiers, and commoners be segregated in their mourning and arresting anyone who disobeyed the orders. When he received reports that the officers Shi Tinggan (史廷幹), Cui Zhen (崔珍), and Zhang Jinghua (張景華) were plotting mutiny and planning to rise at Ma's funeral, he defused the situation by sending Shi to Chang'an to serve in the imperial guards and sending Cui and Zhang out of the headquarters to other posts. He was thus able to preserve the peace at the circuit without killing anyone. In 777, Emperor Daizong made Duan the military governor. It was said that while Duan was strict, he was also gracious and governed simply. He did not gather wealth, and he did not have concubines. Except for official gatherings, he did not feast. In 778, when there was another Tufan incursion, Emperor Daizong sent Duan, along with Guo Ziyi and Zhu Ci, to defend against the incursion.

During Emperor Dezongs reign

Emperor Daizong died in 779 and was succeeded by Li Kuo (as Emperor Dezong). By 780, the chancellor Yang Yan had become very powerful and, having been a close associate of Yuan Zai's, was intent on reviving Yuan's proposals with regard to Tufan, which were abandoned after Yuan's fall from grace in 777. These proposals included rebuilding Yuan Prefecture (原州, in modern Guyuan, Ningxia), at that time in no-man's land between Tang and Tufan, to use as a forward advance position; and restoring Lingyang Canal (陵陽渠, flowing through Bayan Nur, Inner Mongolia), to allow the soldiers stationed in the area to farm. When Emperor Dezong sent a eunuch to Jingyuan to request Duan Xiushi's opinion, Duan opposed on the basis that Tang did not then have adequate number of troops on the border and these acts would provoke a Tufan attack. Yang was displeased, and he had Duan removed from his military governor position and recalled to Chang'an to serve in the relatively unimportant post of minister of agriculture (司農卿, Si'nong Qing). As the way back to Chang'an goes through Fengxiang (鳳翔, in modern Baoji, Shaanxi), which was then under Zhu Ci's command, he cautioned his family members that, when they were also to return to Chang'an, Zhu would surely try to give him a substantial gift and that they should not accept it on his behalf. Once they were at Fengxiang, Zhu did give a substantial amount of silk as a gift; Duan's family members tried to decline, but accepted it after Zhu insisted. Once they arrived at Chang'an, Duan was angered that they received the gift and refused to take the gift inside his mansion; instead, he took the silk to the ministry of agriculture and stored it above the roof support. (After Duan's departure from Jingyuan, his subordinate Liu Wenxi (劉文喜) used his removal as an excuse to occupy Jingyuan and rebel; the other officers then turned against him and killed him.) While serving as minister of agriculture, Duan observed that the imperial guard soldiers were few and weak, and he suggested recruiting more soldiers for the imperial guards; Emperor Dezong ignored his suggestion.

In late 783, Jingyuan soldiers, who had been summoned to Chang'an in anticipation of being sent east to battle warlords Zhu Tao (Zhu Ci's brother), Li Na, Wang Wujun, and Tian Yue, who had declared themselves princes, were at Chang'an, when they were angered by the lack of rewards given by Emperor Dezong. On November 2, 783, they rose in mutiny and, with the imperial guard soldiers inadequate to resist them, Emperor Dezong fled to Fengtian. The Jingyuan soldiers supported Zhu Tao—who had been removed from his command on account of Zhu Tao's rebellion—as their leader. Zhu Tao initially pretended to be interested in calming the situation at Chang'an and then welcome Emperor Dezong back to Chang'an, but was secretly planning on taking over as emperor. He gathered a group of disaffected officials, including the chancellor Li Zhongchen, Zhang Guangsheng (張光晟), Yao Xiu (姚休), and Yao Lingyan (姚令言), and involved them in his plans. Believing that Duan was similarly disaffected, he sent soldiers to summon Duan as well. Duan initially refused, but was forced by the soldiers to meet Zhu. Once he did, Zhu tried to dissuade him from his plot and to welcome the emperor back to Chang'an. Zhu did not listen to him, but as he admired Duan, tried to continue to deal with Duan cordially. Duan, however, secretly plotted with his subordinates Liu Haibin (劉海賓), He Mingli (何明禮), and Qi Lingyue (岐靈岳), to assassinate Zhu and welcome Emperor Dezong back.

Meanwhile, Zhu had sent Yao's subordinate Han Min (韓旻) with 3,000 men toward Fengtian—claiming to be welcoming Emperor Dezong home but instead planning on attacking Emperor Dezong. Duan found out about this, he had Qi forge an order from Yao to return to Chang'an. Once Han received the forged orders, he changed directions and returned to Chang'an. Duan, believing that once Han returned to Chang'an his plot would be exposed, then planned for an immediate assassination of Zhu. On November 6, Zhu convened a meeting with Li, Yuan, Yao, and Duan, to discuss the matters of declaring himself emperor. During the meeting, Duan leaped up, grabbed Yuan's writing board, and began to batter Zhu with it. Zhu's guards were caught by surprise and did not know what to do. Liu, who was then supposed to enter with soldiers, froze with fear and fled instead. With Li's help, Zhu escaped further attack by Duan, who was then killed by Zhu's guards—despite Zhu's yelling, "He is a righteous man. Do not kill him!" After Duan's death, Zhu mourned greatly and buried him with honors. When Emperor Dezong heard the news, he also mourned Duan greatly. After Zhu Ci's rebellion was put down in 784, he gave high offices to Duan's sons and erected a monument for Duan, personally writing the title for the monument.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 128.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 153.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 216, 218, 221, 223, 224, 225, 226, 228.

從軍與怛羅斯戰役

天寶四年（745年），安西節度使馬靈察將段秀實登錄為別將，並跟隨征伐護蜜國有所戰功，被封為安西府別將。

天寶七年（748年），高仙芝取代馬靈察成為安西節度使，段秀實則轉跟隨高仙芝。

天寶十年（751年），高仙芝舉兵包圍怛邏斯，後來黑衣大食（即阿拔斯王朝）的援軍前來救援，高仙芝的軍隊戰敗，軍官們的心情都低落。夜裡段秀實聽到副將李嗣業的聲音，段秀實因而大聲斥責他說：「憚敵而奔，非勇也；免己陷眾，非仁也；軍敗而求免，非丈夫也。」李嗣業聽到之後感覺到很慚愧，便與段秀實一起收拾整理戰敗的部隊，重新整軍。軍隊回安西後，李嗣業跟高仙芝表示，希望任命段秀實為判官，高仙芝則任命他為隴州大堆府果毅。

天寶十二年（753年），封常清取代高仙芝為安西節度使，段秀實跟著封常清攻打大勃律，進軍賀薩勞城，一戰而勝。封常清想要追趕逃跑的敵人，段秀實勸他說：「會打贏敵人，是敵人引誘我軍，請吩咐部隊去搜索山林。」果然發現敵人埋伏的軍隊，段秀實因戰功改任命為綏德府折衝都尉。

安史之亂與節度判官

馬嵬驛之變後，至德元年（756年）七月，唐肅宗於靈武即位，徵召安西節度使梁宰前往協助平定安史之亂，但是梁宰卻企圖觀望局勢，而不出兵協助。李嗣業贊成梁宰的做法，但是段秀實卻跟李嗣業說：「天子方急，臣下乃欲晏然，信浮妄之說，豈明公之意耶？公常自稱大丈夫，今誠兒女耳。」。李嗣業於是去勸說梁宰出兵。於是梁宰就出兵五千人，由李嗣業統率前往協助唐肅宗，段秀實則擔任副手，累積了許多戰功。後來，李嗣業擔任節度使，段秀實的父親段行琛過世，段秀實停職回家服喪，李嗣業覺得少了段秀實徬彿少了左右手，便上表希望段秀實擔任義王友一職，並充當節度判官。

至德二年（757年），安慶緒自洛陽敗逃退據鄴（今河南安陽），李嗣業與其他軍隊包圍他，安西的輜重都放在後方的河內。於是李嗣業就上奏請求任命段秀實為懷州長史，管理軍州，並加節度留守後方，負責提供後援糧草。當時軍隊士兵老化財政窘迫，段秀實努力向地方募集士兵與馬匹協助軍隊。乾元二年（759年），唐軍與安慶緒於愁思岡發生戰鬥，李嗣業遭流箭射中而死於軍中，軍隊推舉安西兵馬使荔非元禮取代李嗣業的職位。段秀實聽到這個消息，就派遣手下的先鋒將白孝德帶士兵護送李嗣業的棺木回到河內，段秀實並與全體將吏一起哭著在邊境迎接，花了自己的財產去辦好喪事。荔非元禮對於段秀實的義氣感到讚賞，上奏任命他為光祿少卿，並維持之前的節度判官一職。

上元二年（761年），邙山之戰，史思明大敗唐將李光弼。寶應元年（762年），荔非元禮兵馬移防到翼城，當時王元振叛變，翼城士兵跟著響應，殺了荔非元禮，許多將佐也都被殺害，只有段秀實因為德行讓士兵信服，所以沒有被殺害。軍隊推薦白孝德為節度使，軍心才安定下來。白孝德又推薦段秀實擔任光祿卿，同時也為白孝德的判官。段秀實連續擔任多屆安西節度使的判官，名聲越來越大。廣德元年（763年），吐蕃佔領首都長安，唐代宗逃到陝西，段秀實勸白孝德帶軍去協助唐代宗，白孝德改任邠寧節度使，並奏請任命段秀實為太常卿、署支度營田二副使。白孝德帶軍隊西進，所過之處都被軍隊掠奪。又因為邠寧的糧食不夠，就請求調軍到奉天（今乾縣）。當時公權力低落，縣吏大多都不知道逃去哪邊，軍紀渙散，常常有搶劫竊盜的事情發生，白孝德無法控制軍隊的紀律。段秀實私下說：「使我為軍候，當不如此。」司馬王稷聽到了，就任命段秀實為都虞候，並管理奉天行營事。段秀實號令嚴一，軍隊的紀律就穩定下來，唐代宗聽到了大為讚賞。後來軍隊回到邠寧，繼續擔任都虞候，白孝德並推薦他為涇州刺史。

涇州刺史

當時郭子儀是以副元帥的職位駐軍在蒲，郭子儀的兒子郭晞則是擔任檢校尚書領行營節度使，屯兵邠州，放縱士兵，軍紀低落，邠州一些人就見機行賄，讓自己掛名入伍，因而更加胡作非為，地方官也沒有辦法管。白天在市場又搶又偷，如果有所抵抗，就打傷人，破壞人家的鍋鼎瓦盆甚至店舖，至甚至撞殺孕婦。邠寧節度使白孝德因為郭子儀位高權重，不敢彈劾，段秀實從涇州寫信給白孝德，希望要跟他討論事情，見面了則跟他說：「天子以生人付公治，公見人被暴害，恬然，且大亂，若何？」白孝德回答說：「願奉教。」段秀實則說：「秀實不忍人無寇暴死，亂天子邊事。公誠以為都虞候，能為公已亂。」白孝德聽了就讓他擔任軍職。後來郭晞的士兵17人到市場取酒，殺死了酒翁，並將釀酒器具破壞，段秀實就下令叫人逮捕他們，砍下他們的頭放在竹竿上，掛於市場的門外。

士兵們知道了，大喊大叫，穿上盔甲準備發動兵變。白孝德很害怕，與段秀實商量該怎麼辦。段秀實說：「讓我去跟他們說吧。」於是解下佩刀，用個跛腳的隨從牽馬，來到郭晞的軍營前。作亂的士兵出營門接他，段秀實笑著說：「殺我一個老兵，何必這麼大的陣仗！我帶著我的頭來了。」作亂者佩服他的膽識而目瞪口呆。於是段秀實慰諭他們說：「尚書固負若屬邪，副元帥固負若屬邪？奈何欲以亂敗郭氏！」晞出，秀實曰：「副元帥功塞天地，當務始終。今尚書恣卒為暴，使亂天子邊，欲誰歸罪？罪且及副元帥。今邠惡子弟以貨竄名軍籍中，殺害人，藉藉如是，幾日不大亂？亂由尚書出。人皆曰尚書以副元帥故不戢士，然則郭氏功名，其與存者有幾！」晞再拜曰：「公幸教晞，願奉軍以從。」即叱左右皆解甲，令曰：「敢讙者死！」秀實曰：「吾未晡食，請設具。」已食，曰：「吾疾作，願宿門下。」遂臥軍中。晞大駭，戒候卒擊柝紉之。旦，與俱至孝德所，謝不能。邠由是安。

段太尉在涇州擔任營田副使。涇州大將焦令諶掠奪他人土地，自己強占了幾十頃，租給農民，說：「到穀子成熟時，一半歸我。」這年大旱，田野寸草不生，農民將災情報告焦令諶。焦令諶說：「我只知道收入的數量，不知道旱不旱。」催逼更急，農民自己將要餓死，沒有穀子償還，只得去求告段太尉。段太尉寫了份判決書，口氣十分溫和，派人求見並通知焦令諶。焦令諶大怒，叫來農民，說：「我怕姓段的嗎？你怎敢去說我的壞話！」他把判決書鋪在農民背上，用粗棍子重打二十下，打得奄奄一息，扛到太尉府上。太尉大哭道：「是我害苦了你！」馬上自己動手取水洗去農民身上的血跡，撕下自己的衣服為他包紮傷口，親自為他敷上良藥，早晚自己先喂農民，然後自己再吃飯。並把自己騎的馬賣掉，換來穀子代農民償還，還叫農民不要讓焦令諶知道。駐紮在邠州的淮西軍主帥尹少榮是個剛直的人，他來求見焦令諶，大罵道：「你還是人嗎？涇州赤地千里，百姓將要餓死；而你卻一定要得到穀子，又用粗棍子重打無罪的人。段公是位有仁義講信用的長者，你卻不知敬重。現在段公只有一匹馬，賤賣以後換成穀子交給你，你居然收下不知羞恥。大凡一個人不顧天災、冒犯長者、重打無罪的人，又收下仁者的穀子，使主人出門沒有馬，你將怎樣上對天、下對地，難道不為作為奴僕的而感到羞愧嗎！」焦令諶雖然強橫，但聽了這番話後，卻大為慚愧乃至流汗，不能進食，不消一晚，就自恨而死。

代宗大曆元年，朝廷以四鎮北庭行營節度使馬璘兼邠寧節度使成為段秀實的新上司，馬璘以段秀實為三使都虞侯。一日，軍中有一能拉開二十四張弓的大力士犯了盜竊罪，璘欲免之，秀實曰：「將有私愛，則法令不一，雖韓、白復生，亦不能為理。」璘善其議，竟使殺之。璘決事有不合理者，必固爭之，得璘引過乃已。璘城涇州，秀實掌留後，歸還，加御史中丞。璘既奉詔徙鎮涇州，其士紅嘗自四鎮、北庭赴難中原，僑居驟移，頗積勞怨。刀斧將王童之因人心動搖，導以為亂。或告其事，且曰：「候嚴，警鼓為約矣。」秀實乃召鼓人，陽怒失節，且戒之曰：「每更籌盡，必來報。」每白之，輒延數刻，四更畢而曙。既差互，童之亂不能作。明日，告者復曰：「今夜將焚草場，期救火者同作亂。」秀實使嚴加警備。夜半火發，乃使令於軍中曰：「救火者斬。」童之居外營，請入救火，不許。明日斬之，捕殺其黨凡十餘人以徇，曰：「敢後徙者族！」於是遷涇州。既至其理所，人撰敻絕，兵無廩食。朝廷憂之，遂詔璘遙管鄭、潁二州，以贍涇原軍，俾秀實為留後，二州甚理。璘思其績用，又奏行軍司馬，兼都知兵馬使。

八年，吐蕃來寇，戰于鹽倉，我軍不利。璘為寇戎所隔，逮暮未還，敗將潰兵爭道而入。時都將焦令諶與諸將四五輩狼狽而至，秀實召讓之曰：「兵法：失將，麾下當斬。公等忘其死而欲安其家耶！」令諶等恐懼，下拜數十。秀實乃悉驅城中士卒未出戰者，使驍將統之，東依古原，列奇兵示賊將戰，且以收合敗亡。蕃紅望之，不敢逼。及夜，璘方獲歸。

十一年，馬璘得了重病，自知不起，於是請秀實攝節度副使兼左廂兵馬使。秀實乃以十將張羽飛為招召將，分兵按甲，以備非常。璘卒，而軍中行哭赴喪事於內，李漢惠接賓客於外，非其親不得居喪側，族談離立者捕而囚之。都虞候史廷幹、裨將崔珍張景華謀作亂，秀實乃送廷幹於京師，徙珍及景華外鎮，軍中遂定，不戮一人。尋拜秀實涇州刺史、兼御史大夫，四鎮北庭行軍涇原鄭潁節度使。三四年間，吐蕃不敢犯塞，清約率易，遠近稱之。非公會，不聽樂飲酒，私室無妓媵，無贏財，退公之後，端居靜慮而已。德宗嗣位，就加檢校禮部尚書、張掖郡王。

入朝及殉國

德宗建中元年，先前因黨附元載而貶官的楊炎已被德宗任命為宰相了，他想繼承元載遺志修築原州城，開陵陽渠，因為屬於段秀實的轄區，德宗於是詢問段秀實的意見。段秀實以為正值春天農忙之時。不可興土功，請待農閒時候。楊炎聽不下反對意見，就請德宗招段秀實入朝為司農卿，遺缺涇原節度使以邠寧節度李懷光兼之，不久後，涇原將士不喜李懷光，推劉文喜為首而叛變，原州城亦無法開工。文喜之亂弭平後，涇原節度管內穩定了幾年。姚令言繼任節度使。

建中四年，發生涇原兵變，先前出使吐蕃，有大功於國的源休為盧杞所忌，不能得到滿意的官位，一直心懷怏怏，故藉此機會勸朱泚僭逆稱帝。朱泚於是遣其將韓旻領馬步三千攻打奉天想捉住德宗。又以為秀實是前任涇原節度，頗得士卒愛戴，楊炎罷了秀實的兵權，秀實一定也懷恨在心，於是召秀實謀議。秀實假裝願意跟隨朱泚造反，私底下約定舊部劉海賓、何明禮、岐靈岳同謀殺泚，迎德宗回京。

韓旻的軍隊出了長安後，秀實知道奉天的兵力不足，德宗的處境非常危險，故派人告知岐靈岳，要他偷竊姚令言的兵符召韓旻回京，岐靈岳尚未得手，秀實怕來不及了，於是寫下一紙公文，大意是說將派大軍攻打奉天，要韓旻的三千人先回長安，再與大軍一起出發。然後將自己的司農卿官印倒過來，蓋在偽造的公文末尾，派一個長跑健將在駱驛追上了韓旻，韓旻不辨公文真假，奉命回軍。段秀實對三位同志說：「朱泚看到韓旻回長安，會議上追究起來，我們四個就完了！到時我將親手殺他，不成功便成仁，絕不向此賊北面稱臣。」於是約定，自己如果不成，劉海賓將猝起繼之，何明禮為外應。

第二天，朱泚召秀實議事，源休、姚令言、李忠臣、李子平皆在座。秀實穿著戎服與會，朱泚說到僭位稱帝之事，秀實聽了義憤填膺，勃然而起，抓住源休手腕，奪其象笏，然後走向朱泚，唾其面，大罵曰：「狂賊，吾恨不斬汝萬段，豈從汝反耶！」隨即舉起象笏向朱泚當頭擊下，朱泚舉臂自捍，因此只擊中其額頭，流血匍匐而走。變故突起，眾人呆若木雞，劉海賓卻膽怯起來，不敢出手相助秀實，反而逃離現場。須臾，李忠臣回過神來，上前擋住段秀實的追擊，秀實知道功敗垂成了，大義凜然地說：「我誓死忠於國家，你們殺了我吧！」朱泚的衛士於是圍住秀實，刀劍齊下。此時朱泚一手蒙住傷口，一手亂揮意圖阻止衛士們，口中說：「義士也，勿殺。」秀實卻已忠勇殉國了，劉海賓、何明禮、岐靈岳相次被殺。德宗在奉天知道此事，歎惜自己沒有重用秀實，使人盡其才，垂涕久之。(亦即文天祥《正氣歌》第二段中的｢或為擊賊笏，逆豎頭破裂｣之句。)

家庭

子

段伯倫

累官至太子詹事。文宗大和二年正月奏：「亡父贈太尉秀實，準前後制敕令所司置廟立碑，今營造已畢，取今月二十五日行升祔禮。」詔曰：「秀實忠衛宗社，功配廟食，義風所激，千載凜然。間代勳力，須異等夷，宜賜綾絹五百疋，以度支物充。仍令所司供少牢，贈給鹵簿人夫，兼太常博士一人檢校。」尋加伯倫檢校左散騎常侍，兼殿中監。大和四年十一月，遷右金吾衛大將軍、兼御史大夫，充街使。八年七月，檢校工部尚書，充福建等州都團練觀察使，入為太僕卿，卒。宰臣李石奏曰；「伯倫，秀實之子。自古歿身以衛社稷者，無如秀實之賢。」文宗憫然曰：「伯倫宜加賻贈。」仍輟朝一日，以禮忠臣之嗣。

孫

• 段嶷

• 段文楚

• 段珂

逸事

作家柳宗元後來將所聽聞的段秀實逸事寫成〈段太尉逸事狀〉一文。

內容主要有三段故事：第一段為段秀實擔任涇州刺史時，對於郭晞軍隊軍紀的控制。

第二段則是擔任涇州營田官時，對於將領焦令諶與農民衝突的調解。

第三段則是述說段秀實拒絕朱泚的賄賂。

這三段故事並沒有在《舊唐書》之中記載，但是在《新唐書》之中卻有完整的收錄。

注釋