Xiao Song
Xiao Song (Chinese: 蕭嵩; pinyin: Xiāo Sōng; died 749), formally the Duke of Xu (徐公), was an official and general of the Chinese Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.
Background[]
It is not known when Xiao Song was born.[1] His family was descended from the imperial family of Liang Dynasty. Hiis great-great-grandfather was Emperor Ming of Western Liang, and his great-granduncle Xiao Yu was a famed chancellor during the reigns of Tang Dynasty's first two emperors, Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong. Xiao Song's grandfather Xiao Jun (蕭鈞) was well known as a deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng) and Xiao Song's father Xiao Guan (蕭灌) served as a prefectural secretary general.
Xiao Song himself was described as handsome and tall, with a lengthy and beautiful beard. His wife was a daughter of one He Hui (賀晦), another daughter of whom married Lu Xiangxian. At that time, Lu, who was the son of the chancellor Lu Yuanfang, was already well known for his abilities while serving as the sheriff of Luoyang County—one of the two counties making up the then-capital Luoyang,[2] while Xiao was not yet serving as an official. The guests were all rushing to greet Lu, while not paying much attention to Xiao. However, a fortuneteller, Xia Rong (夏榮), stated to Lu, "You, Master Lu, will reach the apex of officialdom in 10 years. However, Master Xiao's household will be thoroughly honored, and he will reach high positions and have a long life."
During Emperor Zhongzong's second reign and Emperor Ruizong's second reign[]
In 705, during the second reign of Emperor Zhongzong, Xiao Song was made a military officer at Ming Prefecture (洺州, in modern Handan, Hebei). When the chancellor Huan Yanfan was demoted to be the prefect of Ming Prefecture, Huan was impressed with him and treated him with respect. In 710, when Emperor Zhongzong's brother Emperor Ruizong was emperor, Xiao was serving as the sheriff of Liquan County (醴泉, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi) when Lu Xiangxian, then serving as the deputy head of the legislative bureau, recommended him to be Jiancha Yushi (監察御史), an imperial censor. When Lu became chancellor in 711, Xiao was promoted within the censor ranks.
During Emperor Xuanzong's reign[]
Early in the Kaiyuan era (713–741) of Emperor Ruizong's son Emperor Xuanzong, Xiao Song became Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau, serving alongside Cui Lin (崔琳), Wang Qiu (王丘), and Qi Huan (齊澣). It was said that among these officials, Xiao was considered to be unknowledgeable and therefore not considered seriously. However, their superior Yao Chong felt that Xiao had good foresight and respected him. He later successively served as the prefect of Sòng Prefecture; Shangshu Zuo Cheng (尚書左丞), one of the secretaries in general of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng); and deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang). He participated in government reactions to a Yellow River levee break at Bo Prefecture (博州, roughly modern Liaocheng, Shandong).
In 726, Xiao was given the title of minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu) and made the military governor (jiedushi) of Shuofang Circuit (朔方, headquartered in modern Yinchuan, Ningxia). In 727, having been aggravated by constant attacks by the Tang general Wang Junchuo (王君㚟) the military governor of Hexi Circuit (河西, headquartered in modern Wuwei, Gansu), generals We Tadra Khonglo ("Xinuoluo Gonglu" (悉諾邏恭祿) in Chinese) and Zhulongmangbu (燭龍莽布) of the Tibetan Empire launched a major attack on Gua Prefecture (瓜州, roughly Jiuquan, Gansu) and captured its prefect Tian Yuanxian (田元獻) and Wang Junchuo's father Wang Shou (王壽). In the aftermaths, Wang Junchuo falsely accused the tribal chieftains of the Uyghur Khaganate, Huns (渾), (Ch. Qibi 契苾), and Esegels (aka Izgil, Old Turkic: