Xiao Mian

Emperor Xianzong died in spring 820 and was succeeded by his son Emperor Muzong. Emperor Muzong, who disliked Huangfu Bo, immediately exiled Huangfu. Subsequently, when he considered whom to make chancellor, Linghu Chu recommended Xiao Mian. Thereafter, Xiao was made Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎)—the deputy head of the legislative bureau—and chancellor de facto with the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), along with Duan Wenchang. Thereafter, Emperor Muzong considered killing Huangfu, but Xiao and the eunuchs interceded, and Huangfu was not killed.^[10]

It was said that, as chancellor, Xiao was humble and careful, and he tried to do what was righteous and hated the wicked. He was also said to be filially pious, and he served his mother Lady Wei carefully as an ordinary son would despite his honored chancellor status. Further, when Emperor Muzong ordered him to draft the text of a monument for the deceased warlord Wang Shizhen (presumably to please Wang Shizhen's son Wang Chengyuan, who had become a faithful imperial subject), Xiao refused, arguing that Wang Shizhen was unfaithful to the imperial government and that he could not bear to draft such a text.^[5] However, he and Duan were blamed for a major policy error at that time. Both he and Duan thought that the realm had been permanently pacified after Emperor Xianzong's campaigns against warlords, which destroyed many warlords and caused others to agree to follow imperial orders. He and Duan submitted a proposal that secret orders be sent to each army, ordering them to reduce armies by forced attrition—such that each army was required to reduce its size by 8% each year by desertions or death. As Emperor Muzong, new to the throne, was spent much of his time in drinking and feasting, he did not see the problems with this proposal and approved it. The soldiers removed from army ranks as a result gathered as bandits as a result, and later, when Lulong (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing) and Chengde (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei) Circuits rebelled under the leadership of Zhu Kerong and Wang Tingcou respectively in 821 (by which time Xiao was no longer chancellor), the former soldiers joined Lulong and Chengde forces in droves, and as they were experienced soldiers and the soldiers that the imperial armies were forced to gather quickly in response were inexperienced, the Lulong and Chengde forces eventually prevailed over imperial forces despite a major numerical disadvantage—with Lulong and Chengde having less than 20,000 soldiers combined and the imperial forces numbering 150,000.^[11]

In spring 821, Wang Bo the military governor (jiedushi) of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan) submitted much tribute to Emperor Muzong and also bribed the powerful eunuchs, hoping to be chancellor. Duan also spoke on Wang's behalf. Xiao opposed vehemently, stating that Wang was "delicate and wicked" and should not be chancellor. When Emperor Muzong disagreed, Xiao offered to resign. After Wang was summoned to Chang'an, Xiao was removed from his chancellor position and made You Pushe (右僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).^[10] Xiao considered himself to have served as chancellor for too brief of a period to serve this highly honorific position, and thus declined, and was instead made the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Lìbu Shangshu). He was also created the Duke of Xu. As the minister of civil service affairs required conducting much tedious work, Xiao felt the position unfit for his lifestyle, and also declined it. In winter 821, he was made the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu). In 822, he offered to be assigned to the eastern capital Luoyang after claiming an illness, but that offer was not accepted initially, although soon thereafter, he was made an advisor to the Crown Prince, and then sent out of Chang'an to serve as the prefect of Tong Prefecture (同州, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi).^[5][12]

In 826, by which time Emperor Muzong's son Emperor Jingzong was emperor, Xiao Mian was again made an advisor to the Crown Prince,^[13] and sent out to have his office at Luoyang.^[5] After Emperor Jingzong died later that year and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Wenzong,^[14] Emperor Wenzong recalled Xiao to serve as acting Zuo Puye (左僕射), the other head of the executive bureau, as well as advisor to the crown prince.^[5][13] Xiao claimed an illness and declined to report to Chang'an; Emperor Wenzong thereafter allowed him to retire.^[5]

Around this time, Xiao's mother Lady Wei died, and he observed a period of mourning for her. After the period of mourning was over, Emperor Wenzong again tried to recall him, but he again declined based on claim of illness. As he still considered Luoyang to be too busy of a place, and particularly did not want to be receiving guests all the time, he went to live at his vacation mansion at Jiyuan, and it was said that he enjoyed life in the hills. In 834, by which time Emperor Wenzong had created his son Li Yong crown prince, he again tried to recall Xiao to serve as advisor to Li Yong. Xiao sent his brother Xiao Jie (蕭傑) to Chang'an with his petition declining the post. Emperor Wenzong accepted his petition and allowed him to remain in retirement.^[5] He died in 842.^[2]

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 172.
• New Book of Tang, vol. 101.
• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 237, 239, 240, 241, 242.