From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Xiao Hua
Xiao Hua
Xiao Hua (蕭華), formally the Duke of Xu (徐公), was an prisoned. When the Tang general Cui Guangyuan (崔光
official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a 遠) captured Wei Prefecture, he freed Xiao. It was said
chancellor during the reign of Emperor Suzong. that the people of Wei Prefecture favored Xiao’s gover-
nance and petitioned Emperor Suzong to let Xiao remain
Background at Wei Prefecture, and Emperor Suzong agreed. Howev-
er, when the Yan general Shi Siming -- who briefly sub-
It is not known when Xiao Hua was born. He was from mitted to Tang but then turned against Tang
one of the most prominent families of Tang Dynasty of- again—advanced south toward Yecheng from Fanyang,
ficialdom, having descended from the imperial clan of Guo was uncertain about Xiao’s loyalty and so summoned
the Liang Dynasty, and his father Xiao Song was a promi- him to the Tang army camps, replacing him with Cui.
nent chancellor and general during the reign of Emperor Soon, in a confrontation with Shi’s forces, Tang forces
Xuanzong.[1] Xiao Hua’s brother Xiao Heng (蕭衡) mar- collapsed, and in the aftermaths, Xiao went back to
ried Emperor Xuanzong’s daughter Princess Xinchang. Chang’an. He was still considered tainted by his service as
a Yan official, and he was demoted to be the acting Mishu
During Emperor Xuanzong’s Shaojian (秘書少監) -- the deputy director of the archival
bureau (秘書省, Mishu Sheng). He was soon promoted to
reign be Shangshu You Cheng (尚書右丞), one of the Secretaries
General of the executive bureau of government (尚書
In 733, when Xiao Song was removed as chancellor (al-
省, Shangshu Sheng). In 759, he was made the mayor of
though still remaining as a high-ranked official) in the
Hezhong Municipality (河中, in modern Yuncheng,
midst of his conflict with fellow chancellor Han Xiu (who
Shanxi) as well as the military governor of Hezhong Cir-
was also removed as a result), Xiao Hua was made an im-
cuit (headquartered in Hezhong Municipality).
perial attendant (給事中, Geishizhong), and was soon pro-
Around the new year 761, Xiao was recalled to
moted to be the deputy minister of public works (工部
Chang’an to serve as Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎) -- the
侍郎, Gongbu Shilang). After Xiao Song died in 749, Xiao
deputy head of the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu
Hua inherited the title of Duke of Xu. Toward the end of
Sheng). He was also given the designation Tong Zhongshu
Emperor Xuanzong’s Tianbao era (742-756), Xiao Hua was
Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a
made the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu
chancellor de facto. He was also made an imperial scholar
Shilang).
at Chongwen Pavilion (崇文館) and put in charge of edit-
In 755, the general An Lushan rebelled at Fanyang
ing the imperial history. In 761, when the powerful eu-
Circuit (范陽, headquartered in modern Beijing), and
nuch Li Fuguo wanted to be chancellor, and Emperor Su-
soon established a state of Yan with him as emperor.
zong, who by this point was fearful of Li Fuguo, refused
In 756, with Yan forces approaching the Tang capital
on the basis that he did not have the support of the of-
Chang’an, Emperor Xuanzong fled toward Chengdu. Most
ficials, Li Fuguo tried to persuade the senior official Pei
officials, including Xiao Hua, were unable to follow him,
Mian to recommend him. Emperor Suzong told Xiao that
and Xiao Hua was captured by Yan forces. An made him
if an important official (i.e., someone like Pei) recom-
the prefect of Wei Prefecture (魏州, in modern Handan,
mended Li Fuguo, he would no longer have the excuse to
Hebei).
refuse Li Fuguo’s request. When Xiao subsequently dis-
cussed this with Pei, Pei’s response was:
During Emperor Suzong’s reign
Surely I will not do this. My arm can be cut off
In 758, with Emperor Xuanzong’s son Emperor Suzong
before he can be chancellor.
then the emperor of Tang and An Lushan’s son An Qingxu
then the emperor of Yan, Tang forces recaptured Subsequently, Li Fuguo was not able to be chancellor
Chang’an and Yan’s capital Luoyang, forcing An Qingxu while Emperor Suzong was alive, much to Li Fuguo’s re-
to flee to Yecheng, near Wei Prefecture. Nine Tang mil- sentment, and Li Fuguo believed Xiao to be responsible.
itary governors (Jiedushi), led by Guo Ziyi, put Yecheng In 762, Li Fuguo accused Xiao of being power hungry, and
under siege. Xiao Hua sent secret correspondences to the repeatedly requested Emperor Suzong to remove Xiao.
Tang army agreeing to rise against Yan forces. His corre- Emperor Suzong, apprehensive of Li Fuguo, removed
spondences, however, were intercepted, and he was im-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Xiao Hua
Xiao from his chancellor position and made him the min- as well, during the reigns of Emperor Muzong and Em-
ister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu), replacing him peror Xizong, respectively.
with Yuan Zai, at Li Fuguo’s recommendation.
Notes and references
During Emperor Daizong’s [1] New Book of Tang, vol. 71.[1][2]
reign • Book of Tang, vol. 99.
• New Book of Tang, vol. 101.
Emperor Suzong died shortly after, and he was succeeded • Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 220, 222.
by his son Emperor Daizong -- who took the throne after
Persondata
Li Fuguo prevailed in a bloody conflict with Emperor Su-
zong’s wife Empress Zhang in which Empress Zhang and Name Xiao, Hua
Emperor Daizong’s brother Li Xi (李係) the Prince of Yue Alternative names
were killed. Li Fuguo was (briefly) completely in control, Short description
and Yuan Zai, in order to flatter him, accused Xiao of
Date of birth
crimes. Xiao was demoted to be the military advisor to
the prefect of Xia Prefecture (峽州, in modern Yichang, Place of birth
Hubei). He died while still at Xia Prefecture. His grand- Date of death
sons Xiao Mian and Xiao Fang later served as chancellors
Place of death
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiao_Hua"
Categories: 8th-century births, 8th-century deaths, Chancellors under Emperor Suzong of Tang, Tang Dynasty Jiedushi
of Hezhong Circuit, Mayors of places in China, Tang Dynasty historians, 8th-century historians, Yan (Anshi)
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