Lu Xi
Encyclopedia
Lu Xi (died January 8, 881), courtesy name Zisheng (子升), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving two terms as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong
. Traditional historians often blamed his blind trust in the general Gao Pian
's ability to suppress Huang Chao
's rebellion for the eventual fall of the Tang capital Chang'an
to Huang and the subsequent disintegration of the Tang state.
, but had settled at Zheng Prefecture (鄭州, in modern Zhengzhou
, Henan
) by Lu Xi's time, and his family was not otherwise traceable to the bloodlines of the other chancellors named Lu. His grandfather Lu Sun (盧損) was not listed with any offices in the table of the chancellors' family trees in the New Book of Tang
, and while his biography in the Book of Tang
referred to his father Lu Qiu (盧求) as having passed the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi class, having served on regional governor staffs, and having served as a prefectural prefect, the table of the chancellors' family trees did not mention any of the titles. However, given that Lu Xi's mother was a sister of the official Li Ao (李翱), it would appear likely that his father was, in fact, an official.
Lu Xi himself passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class in 853, during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong
. He thereafter was made an assistant scholar at the Jixian Institute (集賢院), and subsequently served on regional governors' staffs. In the middle of the Xiantong era (860-874) of Emperor Xuānzong's son Emperor Yizong
, he was recalled to the capital Chang'an
to serve as You Shiyi (右拾遺), a low-level advisory official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), and then an imperial censor with the title Dianzhong Shiyushi (殿中侍御史). He later went through positions at the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), and then served as the magistrate of Chang'an County (i.e., one of the two counties making up Chang'an proper), then the prefect of Zheng Prefecture. He was later recalled to Chang'an to serve as a mid-level advisory official (諫議大夫, Jianyi Daifu). Early in the reign of Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong
, he was made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi) as well as Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau. He was subsequently made deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) as well as chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi). In 874, he submitted a petition to Emperor Xizong that pointed out that the people throughout the empire were being overwhelmed by the tax burden, particularly in light of the drought-caused famine that was occurring in the central parts of the empire, and advocated waiving the taxes and further taking food out of the imperial storage for famine relief. Emperor Xizong praised him for the petition and ordered that it be implemented, but it was not actually implemented.
, who was a cousin of his (as their mothers were sisters) was also made chancellor. However, despite this relationship, it was said that Lu and Zheng did not get along, and often argued about policy proposals. In 877, with the imperial armies deeply engaged in a campaign against the agrarian rebel Huang Chao
, a dispute over whether the general Zhang Zimian (張自勉) should be under the command of the overall commander, Song Wei (宋威), boiled into a major dispute between Lu, Zheng, and their colleague Wang Duo
— as Wang and Lu wanted to put Zhang under Song's command, but Zheng opposed, believing that the existing rivalry between Song and Zhang meant that Song would find excuses to have Zhang executed. Wang and Lu offered to resign, and Zheng offered to retire. Emperor Xizong did not approve any of these offers. After Wang was made the overall commander of the operations against Huang, Lu was also displeased at this development, and he opposed the subsequent proposal by the official Cui Qiu (崔璆) to pacify Huang by giving Huang the military governorship (Jiedushi
) of Lingnan East Circuit (嶺南東道, headquartered in modern Guangzhou
, Guangdong
). Instead, Huang was only offered a low officer position, which angered Huang more, and there would be no peace talks thereafter.
In 878, Lu and Zheng had another major dispute — over whether an imperial princess should be offered in marriage to Dali's emperor Long Shun (隆舜) to settle the long-standing border troubles. Lu, supporting the proposal (which had been made by the general Gao Pian
, the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu
, Sichuan
), with whom Lu enjoyed a friendly relationship), and Zheng, opposing the proposal, argued so vehemently that Lu threw an inkstone on the ground, breaking it. When Emperor Xizong heard about this, he commented, "When the great officials curse each other like this, how can they govern the other officials?" As a result, both Zheng and Lu were removed from their chancellor posts and given the entirely-honorary titles as advisors to the Crown Prince
(there being no crown prince at the time), and they were both further sent to the eastern capital Luoyang
. They were replaced with Doulu Zhuan
and Cui Hang
.
, Jiangsu
), had sent his officer Zhang Lin (張璘) to attack Huang and was having repeated victories. As a result, Lu, who had previously recommended Gao to be the overall commander of the operations against Huang, was in imperial favor again. He was thus made Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng), and chancellor again with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi.
, was thus able to control the imperial governance.
In summer 880, Lu suffered a stroke and became unable to walk. He subsequently recovered slightly such that he could meet with Emperor Xizong with some physical assistance, and Emperor Xizong ordered that he be exempted from bowing to the emperor. Despite his illness, because of Lu's relationships with Tian and Gao, he continued to be the lead figure at court. However, as the illness rendered him unable to concentrate on matters of state, his assistants Yang Wen (楊溫) and Li Xiu (李修) made many decisions on his behalf, and Yang and Li Xiu publicly received bribes. Of the other chancellors, Doulu Zhuan had no real talents, so he followed whatever Lu decided. When Cui Hang had suggestions for the emperor, he was often dissuaded from making them by Doulu. Meanwhile, while Emperor Xizong continued to be not fully interested in an imperial marriage with Dali, under Lu's and Doulu's suggestion, he still sent the imperial prince Li Guinian (李龜年) the Prince of Cao and the official Xu Yunqian (徐雲虔) as emissaries to Dali to continue negotiations, to hold off potential Dali attacks.
However, at this time, news arrived that in a major battle, Huang defeated and killed Zhang. Gao, fearful of Huang after Zhang's death, was unwilling to engage Huang, and in fact sent the imperial government urgent calls for help as Huang advanced north, across the Yangtze River
, approaching his headquarters at Yang Prefecture (揚州). When Emperor Xizong rebuked Gao for having previously sent back reinforcements that other circuits had sent, Gao sent an irreverent response that satirized Emperor Xizong, and refused to follow further imperial orders to engage Huang. Huang was thus free to advance north, toward Luoyang and Chang'an. Lu, hearing repeated bad news, did not know how to react, and could only use his illness as his excuse to remain at home. When Huang captured Tong Pass around new year 881 and approached Chang'an, Tian, who was then planning an evacuation to Xichuan Circuit (where his brother Chen Jingxuan
had been installed as military governor) with Emperor Xizong, blamed Lu for the disaster and had Lu again made an advisor to the Crown Prince; Wang Hui
and Pei Che
replaced him. That night, Lu committed suicide by poison. Once Emperor Xizong fled and Huang captured Chang'an, he had Lu's body exhumed and cut into pieces publicly.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, serving two terms as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
. Traditional historians often blamed his blind trust in the general Gao Pian
Gao Pian
Gao Pian , courtesy name Qianli , formally the Prince of Bohai , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
's ability to suppress Huang Chao
Huang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
's rebellion for the eventual fall of the Tang capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
to Huang and the subsequent disintegration of the Tang state.
Background and early career
It is not known when Lu Xi was born. His family claimed to be originally from FanyangFanyang
Yanjing for administrative purposes was an ancient city and capital of the State of Yan in northern China. It was located in modern Beijing.- History :...
, but had settled at Zheng Prefecture (鄭州, in modern Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou , is the capital and largest city of Henan province in north-central China. A prefecture-level city, it also serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational centre of the province, as well as a major transportation hub for Central China...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
) by Lu Xi's time, and his family was not otherwise traceable to the bloodlines of the other chancellors named Lu. His grandfather Lu Sun (盧損) was not listed with any offices in the table of the chancellors' family trees in the New Book of Tang
New Book of Tang
The New Book of Tang , is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi and other official scholars of the Song Dynasty. The emperor called for a revision of the former Book of Tang in 1044. The New Book was presented to the throne in 1060. It was given its...
, and while his biography in the Book of Tang
Book of Tang
The Book of Tang , Jiu Tangshu or the Old Book of Tang is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. The book began when Gaozu of Later Jin ordered its commencement in 941...
referred to his father Lu Qiu (盧求) as having passed the imperial examination
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
s in the Jinshi class, having served on regional governor staffs, and having served as a prefectural prefect, the table of the chancellors' family trees did not mention any of the titles. However, given that Lu Xi's mother was a sister of the official Li Ao (李翱), it would appear likely that his father was, in fact, an official.
Lu Xi himself passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class in 853, during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
. He thereafter was made an assistant scholar at the Jixian Institute (集賢院), and subsequently served on regional governors' staffs. In the middle of the Xiantong era (860-874) of Emperor Xuānzong's son Emperor Yizong
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
, he was recalled to the capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
to serve as You Shiyi (右拾遺), a low-level advisory official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), and then an imperial censor with the title Dianzhong Shiyushi (殿中侍御史). He later went through positions at the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), and then served as the magistrate of Chang'an County (i.e., one of the two counties making up Chang'an proper), then the prefect of Zheng Prefecture. He was later recalled to Chang'an to serve as a mid-level advisory official (諫議大夫, Jianyi Daifu). Early in the reign of Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
, he was made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi) as well as Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau. He was subsequently made deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) as well as chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi). In 874, he submitted a petition to Emperor Xizong that pointed out that the people throughout the empire were being overwhelmed by the tax burden, particularly in light of the drought-caused famine that was occurring in the central parts of the empire, and advocated waiving the taxes and further taking food out of the imperial storage for famine relief. Emperor Xizong praised him for the petition and ordered that it be implemented, but it was not actually implemented.
First chancellorship
In winter 874, Lu Xi was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto — at the same time that Zheng TianZheng Tian
Zheng Tian , courtesy name Taiwen , formally Duke Wenzhao of Xingyang , was a chancellor of late Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong...
, who was a cousin of his (as their mothers were sisters) was also made chancellor. However, despite this relationship, it was said that Lu and Zheng did not get along, and often argued about policy proposals. In 877, with the imperial armies deeply engaged in a campaign against the agrarian rebel Huang Chao
Huang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
, a dispute over whether the general Zhang Zimian (張自勉) should be under the command of the overall commander, Song Wei (宋威), boiled into a major dispute between Lu, Zheng, and their colleague Wang Duo
Wang Duo
Wang Duo , is a Chinese calligrapher, painter, and poet in Ming Dynasty.Wang was born in Mengjin in the Henan province. His style name was 'Juesi' or 'Juezhi' and his sobriquets were 'Songqiao', 'Chi'an', or 'Yantan Yusou'...
— as Wang and Lu wanted to put Zhang under Song's command, but Zheng opposed, believing that the existing rivalry between Song and Zhang meant that Song would find excuses to have Zhang executed. Wang and Lu offered to resign, and Zheng offered to retire. Emperor Xizong did not approve any of these offers. After Wang was made the overall commander of the operations against Huang, Lu was also displeased at this development, and he opposed the subsequent proposal by the official Cui Qiu (崔璆) to pacify Huang by giving Huang the military governorship (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Lingnan East Circuit (嶺南東道, headquartered in modern Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
). Instead, Huang was only offered a low officer position, which angered Huang more, and there would be no peace talks thereafter.
In 878, Lu and Zheng had another major dispute — over whether an imperial princess should be offered in marriage to Dali's emperor Long Shun (隆舜) to settle the long-standing border troubles. Lu, supporting the proposal (which had been made by the general Gao Pian
Gao Pian
Gao Pian , courtesy name Qianli , formally the Prince of Bohai , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
), with whom Lu enjoyed a friendly relationship), and Zheng, opposing the proposal, argued so vehemently that Lu threw an inkstone on the ground, breaking it. When Emperor Xizong heard about this, he commented, "When the great officials curse each other like this, how can they govern the other officials?" As a result, both Zheng and Lu were removed from their chancellor posts and given the entirely-honorary titles as advisors to the Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
(there being no crown prince at the time), and they were both further sent to the eastern capital Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
. They were replaced with Doulu Zhuan
Doulu Zhuan
Doulu Zhuan , courtesy name Xizhen , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong...
and Cui Hang
Cui Hang
Cui Hang , courtesy name Neirong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong. When the agrarian rebel Huang Chao captured the Tang capital Chang'an, Cui was unable to flee; he was then executed by Huang's new state of Qi.-...
.
Between chancellorships
Lu Xi was soon recalled to the imperial government to serve as minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu). By late 879, Gao Pian, who was then the military Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern YangzhouYangzhou
Yangzhou is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
), had sent his officer Zhang Lin (張璘) to attack Huang and was having repeated victories. As a result, Lu, who had previously recommended Gao to be the overall commander of the operations against Huang, was in imperial favor again. He was thus made Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng), and chancellor again with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi.
Second chancellorship
Lu Xi replaced many generals that Wang Duo (who had been removed after his own defeat in the campaign against Huang Chao in 879) and Zheng Tian had placed in various circuits against Huang. Under his advice, Emperor Xizong also made Gao Pian the overall commander of the operations against Huang. Gao gathered 70,000 soldiers, and at that time, the imperial government was confident that Gao could suppress Huang's rebellion, although some imperial officials had their reservations. Lu, having good relations with Gao and the powerful eunuch Tian LingziTian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi , courtesy name Zhongze , formally the Duke of Jin , was a powerful eunuch during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang...
, was thus able to control the imperial governance.
In summer 880, Lu suffered a stroke and became unable to walk. He subsequently recovered slightly such that he could meet with Emperor Xizong with some physical assistance, and Emperor Xizong ordered that he be exempted from bowing to the emperor. Despite his illness, because of Lu's relationships with Tian and Gao, he continued to be the lead figure at court. However, as the illness rendered him unable to concentrate on matters of state, his assistants Yang Wen (楊溫) and Li Xiu (李修) made many decisions on his behalf, and Yang and Li Xiu publicly received bribes. Of the other chancellors, Doulu Zhuan had no real talents, so he followed whatever Lu decided. When Cui Hang had suggestions for the emperor, he was often dissuaded from making them by Doulu. Meanwhile, while Emperor Xizong continued to be not fully interested in an imperial marriage with Dali, under Lu's and Doulu's suggestion, he still sent the imperial prince Li Guinian (李龜年) the Prince of Cao and the official Xu Yunqian (徐雲虔) as emissaries to Dali to continue negotiations, to hold off potential Dali attacks.
However, at this time, news arrived that in a major battle, Huang defeated and killed Zhang. Gao, fearful of Huang after Zhang's death, was unwilling to engage Huang, and in fact sent the imperial government urgent calls for help as Huang advanced north, across the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
, approaching his headquarters at Yang Prefecture (揚州). When Emperor Xizong rebuked Gao for having previously sent back reinforcements that other circuits had sent, Gao sent an irreverent response that satirized Emperor Xizong, and refused to follow further imperial orders to engage Huang. Huang was thus free to advance north, toward Luoyang and Chang'an. Lu, hearing repeated bad news, did not know how to react, and could only use his illness as his excuse to remain at home. When Huang captured Tong Pass around new year 881 and approached Chang'an, Tian, who was then planning an evacuation to Xichuan Circuit (where his brother Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese...
had been installed as military governor) with Emperor Xizong, blamed Lu for the disaster and had Lu again made an advisor to the Crown Prince; Wang Hui
Wang Hui (Tang Dynasty)
Wang Hui , courtesy name Zhaowen , formally Marquess Zhen of Langye , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong.- Background :...
and Pei Che
Pei Che
Pei Che , courtesy name Shenyuan , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and the pretender to the throne Li Yun. After Li Yun was defeated and executed, Pei was also executed for his service under Li Yun.- Background :It...
replaced him. That night, Lu committed suicide by poison. Once Emperor Xizong fled and Huang captured Chang'an, he had Lu's body exhumed and cut into pieces publicly.