Xiao Hua (Tang dynasty)

Xiao Hua (Chinese: 蕭華), formally the Duke of Xu (徐公), was a Chinese historian and politician during the Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Suzong.

Background

It is not known when Xiao Hua was born. He was from one of the most prominent families of Tang dynasty officialdom, having descended from the imperial clan of the Liang dynasty, and his father Xiao Song was a prominent chancellor and general during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.^[1] Xiao Hua's brother Xiao Heng (蕭衡) married Emperor Xuanzong's daughter Princess Xinchang.

During Emperor Xuanzong's reign

In 733, when Xiao Song was removed as chancellor (although still remaining as a high-ranked official) in the midst of his conflict with fellow chancellor Han Xiu (who was also removed as a result), Xiao Hua was made an imperial attendant (給事中, Jishizhong), and was soon promoted to be the deputy minister of public works (工部侍郎, Gongbu Shilang). After Xiao Song died in 749, Xiao Hua inherited the title of Duke of Xu. Toward the end of Emperor Xuanzong's Tianbao era (742–756), Xiao Hua was made the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang).

In 755, the general

Yan with him as emperor. In 756, with Yan forces approaching the Tang capital Chang'an, Emperor Xuanzong fled toward Chengdu. Most officials, including Xiao Hua, were unable to follow him, and Xiao Hua was captured by Yan forces. An made him the prefect of Wei Prefecture (魏州, in modern Handan, Hebei

).

During Emperor Suzong's reign

In 758, with Emperor Xuanzong's son

Yuncheng, Shanxi

) as well as the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (headquartered in Hezhong Municipality).

Around the new year 761, Xiao was recalled to Chang'an to serve as Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎)—the deputy head of the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). He was also given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. He was also made an imperial scholar at Chongwen Pavilion (崇文館) and put in charge of editing the imperial history. In 761, when the powerful

eunuch Li Fuguo wanted to be chancellor, and Emperor Suzong, who by this point was fearful of Li Fuguo, refused on the basis that he did not have the support of the officials, Li Fuguo tried to persuade the senior official Pei Mian

to recommend him. Emperor Suzong told Xiao that if an important official (i.e., someone like Pei) recommended Li Fuguo, he would no longer have the excuse to refuse Li Fuguo's request. When Xiao subsequently discussed this with Pei, Pei's response was: "Surely I will not do this. My arm can be cut off before he can be chancellor."

Subsequently, Li Fuguo was not able to be chancellor while Emperor Suzong was alive, much to Li Fuguo's resentment, and Li Fuguo believed Xiao to be responsible. In 762, Li Fuguo accused Xiao of being power hungry, and repeatedly requested Emperor Suzong to remove Xiao. Emperor Suzong, apprehensive of Li Fuguo, removed Xiao from his chancellor position and made him the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu), replacing him with Yuan Zai, at Li Fuguo's recommendation.

During Emperor Daizong's reign

Emperor Suzong died shortly after, and he was succeeded by his son Emperor Daizong—who took the throne after Li Fuguo prevailed in a bloody conflict with Emperor Suzong's wife Empress Zhang in which Empress Zhang and Emperor Daizong's brother Li Xi (李係) the Prince of Yue were killed. Li Fuguo was (briefly) completely in control, and Yuan Zai, in order to flatter him, accused Xiao of crimes. Xiao was demoted to be the military advisor to the prefect of Xia Prefecture (峽州, in modern Yichang, Hubei). He died while still at Xia Prefecture. His grandsons Xiao Mian and Xiao Fang later served as chancellors as well, during the reigns of Emperor Muzong and Emperor Xizong, respectively.

Notes and references

^ New Book of Tang, vol. 71."漢川草廬-二十四史-新唐書-卷七十一‧表第十一". Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2010."新唐書-宰相世系一(蕭氏)". Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2010.

[1] New Book of Tang, vol. 71."漢川草廬-二十四史-新唐書-卷七十一‧表第十一". Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2010."新唐書-宰相世系一(蕭氏)". Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2010.

[1]