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Lu Xie (盧攜) (died January 8, 881
Academia Sinica Academia Sinica (AS, la, 1=Academia Sinica, 3=Chinese Academy; ), headquartered in Nangang, Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. Founded in Nanking, the academy supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from ...
br>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter
''
Zizhi Tongjian ''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynas ...
'', vol. 254.
),
courtesy name A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China China, officially the People's R ...
Zisheng (子升), was an official of the Chinese dynasty
Tang Dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...
, serving two terms as a
chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
during the reign of Emperor Xizong. Traditional historians often blamed his blind trust in the general
Gao Pian Gao Pian (; 821? – 24 September 887Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 257.), courtesy name Qianli (), formally the Prince of Bohai (), was a Chinese military general, poet, and politician of the Tang ...
's ability to suppress
Huang Chao Huang Chao (835 – July 13, 884) was a Chinese smuggler, soldier, and rebel, and is most well known for being the leader of a major rebellion that severely weakened the Tang dynasty. Huang was a salt smuggler before joining Wang Xianzhi's ...
's rebellion for the eventual fall of the Tang capital
Chang'an Chang'an (; ) is the traditional name of Xi'an. The site had been settled since Neolithic times, during which the Yangshao culture was established in Banpo, in the city's suburbs. Furthermore, in the northern vicinity of modern Xi'an, Qin ...
to Huang and the subsequent disintegration of the Tang state.


Background and early career

It is not known when Lu Xie was born. His family claimed to be originally from
Fanyang Ji or Jicheng was an ancient city in northern China, which has become the longest continuously inhabited section of modern Beijing. Historical mention of Ji dates to the founding of the Zhou dynasty in about 1045BC. Archaeological finds in sout ...
, but had settled at Zheng Prefecture (鄭州, in modern
Zhengzhou Zhengzhou (; ), also spelt Zheng Zhou and alternatively romanized as Chengchow, is the capital and largest city of Henan Province in the central part of the People's Republic of China. Located in north-central Henan, it is one of the Nationa ...
,
Henan Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...
) by Lu Xi's time,'' New Book of Tang'', vol. 184. and his family was not otherwise traceable to the bloodlines of the other
chancellors Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
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'', vol. 73
and while his biography in the ''
Old Book of Tang The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kin ...
'' referred to his father Lu Qiu (盧求) as having passed the
imperial examination The imperial examination (; lit. "subject recommendation") refers to a civil-service examination system in Imperial China, administered for the purpose of selecting candidates for the state bureaucracy. The concept of choosing bureaucrats by ...
s in the ''Jinshi'' class, having served on regional governor staffs, and having served as a prefectural prefect,''
Old Book of Tang The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kin ...
'', vol. 178.
the table of the chancellors' family trees did not mention any of the titles. However, given that Lu Xie's mother was a daughter of the official Li Ao (李翱), it would appear likely that his father was, in fact, an official. Lu Xie 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 Chang'an (; ) is the traditional name of Xi'an. The site had been settled since Neolithic times, during which the Yangshao culture was established in Banpo, in the city's suburbs. Furthermore, in the northern vicinity of modern Xi'an, Qin ...
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.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 252.


First chancellorship

In winter 874, Lu Xie 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 Tian Zheng Tian (, 821?'' New Book of Tang'', vol. 185./825?''Old Book of Tang'', vol. 178.–883?), courtesy name Taiwen (), formally Duke Wenzhao of Xingyang (), was a chancellor of late Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the re ...
, 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 (835 – July 13, 884) was a Chinese smuggler, soldier, and rebel, and is most well known for being the leader of a major rebellion that severely weakened the Tang dynasty. Huang was a salt smuggler before joining Wang Xianzhi's ...
, 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 () (died 884), courtesy name Zhaofan (), formally the Duke of Jin (), was a Chinese politician of the medieval Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Yizong and Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong. After th ...
— 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.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 253. 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 The ''jiedushi'' (), or jiedu, was a title for regional military governors in China which was established in the Tang dynasty and abolished in the Yuan dynasty. The post of ''jiedushi'' has been translated as "military commissioner", " legate ...
'') of Lingnan East Circuit (嶺南東道, headquartered in modern
Guangzhou Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong ...
,
Guangdong Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020 ...
). 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 (; 821? – 24 September 887Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 257.), courtesy name Qianli (), formally the Prince of Bohai (), was a Chinese military general, poet, and politician of the Tang ...
, the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern
Chengdu Chengdu (, ; simplified Chinese: 成都; pinyin: ''Chéngdū''; Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: ), alternatively romanized as Chengtu, is a sub-provincial city which serves as the capital of the Chinese provin ...
,
Sichuan Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of th ...
), with whom Lu enjoyed a friendly relationship), and Zheng, opposing the proposal, argued so vehemently that Lu threw an
inkstone An inkstone is traditional Chinese stationery. It is a stone mortar for the grinding and containment of ink. In addition to stone, inkstones are also manufactured from clay, bronze, iron, and porcelain. The device evolved from a rubbing tool us ...
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 A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title is crown princess, which may refer either to an heiress apparent or, especially in earlier times, to the wife ...
(there being no crown prince at the time), and they were both further sent to the eastern capital
Luoyang Luoyang is a city located in the confluence area of Luo River (Henan), Luo River and Yellow River in the west of Henan province. Governed as a prefecture-level city, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the ...
. They were replaced with Doulu Zhuan and
Cui Hang Cui Hang (崔沆) (died January 24, 881), courtesy name Neirong (內融), 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 capit ...
.


Between chancellorships

Lu Xie 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
Yangzhou Yangzhou, postal romanization Yangchow, is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province (Suzhong), East China. Sitting on the north bank of the Yangtze, it borders the provincial capital Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Ya ...
,
Jiangsu Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its c ...
), 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 Xie 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 A eunuch ( ) is a male who has been castration, castrated. Throughout history, castration often served a specific social function. The earliest records for intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the 2n ...
Tian Lingzi Tian Lingzi (田令孜) (died 893), courtesy name Zhongze (仲則), formally the Duke of Jin (晉公), was a powerful eunuch during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang. During most of Emperor Xizong's reign, he had a stranglehold on power due to hi ...
, 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 The Yangtze or Yangzi ( or ; ) is the longest river in Asia, the third-longest in the world, and the longest in the world to flow entirely within one country. It rises at Jari Hill in the Tanggula Mountains (Tibetan Plateau) and flow ...
, 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 Tongguan or Tong Pass, was a former mountain pass and fortress located south of the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers, in today's Tongguan County, Shaanxi, China. It was an important chokepoint, protecting Xi'an and the surrounding Guanzh ...
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.


Notes and references

;Notes ;Bibliography * ''
Old Book of Tang The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kin ...
'', vol. 178. * '' New Book of Tang'', vol. 184. * ''
Zizhi Tongjian ''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynas ...
'', vols.
252 Year 252 ( CCLII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Trebonianus and Volusianus (or, less frequently, year 1005 ''Ab urbe ...
,
253 __NOTOC__ Year 253 ( CCLIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Volusianus and Claudius (or, less frequently, year 1 ...
,
254 Year 254 ( CCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valerianus and Gallienus (or, less frequently, year 1007 '' Ab urbe ...
. {{DEFAULTSORT:Lu, Xi 9th-century births 881 deaths Chancellors under Emperor Xizong of Tang Suicides by poison Lu clan of Fanyang Suicides in the Tang dynasty Posthumous executions