Pei Shu
Encyclopedia
Pei Shu (841-July 5, 905), courtesy name Jisheng (紀聖) or Huasheng (化聖), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving two terms as chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong
and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai
, near the end of the dynasty. He was killed in a purge of high-level Tang officials by the warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
, Henan
), who was then preparing to seize the throne.
, during the reign of Emperor Wuzong
. He was from the "Middle Juan" branch of the Pei clan, which claimed original ancestry from the from the mythical emperor Zhuanxu
. Pei Shu's traceable ancestry included officials of Han Dynasty
, Western Liang
, Jin Dynasty (265-420)
, Northern Wei
, and Tang Dynasty
. Pei Shu's great-grandfather Pei Zunqing
served as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Suzong
and Emperor Suzong's son Emperor Daizong
. His grandfather Pei Xiang (裴向) served in a number of important imperial offices, including as the chief judge of the supreme court. HIs father Pei Yin (裴寅) served as a chief imperial censor. He had at least one older brother, Pei Ge (裴格) — although, as he was referred to at one point as "the 14th Pei," that reference may imply that he was the 14th son.
s in the Jinshi (進士) class in 871
, during the reign of Emperor Wuzong's cousin Emperor Yizong
. When the chancellor Du Shenquan
was sent out of the imperial capital Chang'an
to serve as the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng
, Shanxi
), Du invited Pei to serve as his secretary. Pei thereafter served as a copyeditor (校書郎, Xiaoshu Lang) at the archival bureau (秘書省, Mishu Sheng), and then the sheriff of Lantian County (藍田, in modern Xi'an
, Shaanxi
), but was also serving as a scholar at Hongwen Pavilion (弘文館). The chancellor Wang Duo
, who headed the operations at Hongwen Pavilion, appreciated his abilities. Later, when Wang was removed from his chancellor position, Pei became stuck at his position and was unable to be promoted. It was only after he accompanied Emperor Yizong's son and successor Emperor Yizong
on the flight from Chang'an to Chengdu
(due to the attack on Chang'an by the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
in 880
) that, at the recommendation of the deputy chief imperial censor Li Huan (李煥) that he was made a censor with the title Duanzhong Shi Yushi (殿中侍御史). He thereafter became an imperial chronicler (起居郎, Qiju Lang).
After Wang Duo became chancellor again in 881
and was put in command of the overall operations against Huang Chao's new state of Qi in 882
, due to Pei's long association with Wang, Wang invited him to serve as Wang's secretary in Wang's role as the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang
, Henan
). Pei was later recalled to the imperial government to serve as Bingbu Yuanwailang (兵部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu), and then Libu Yuanwailang (吏部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Libu).
Early in the Longji era (889
), by which time Emperor Xizong had died and been succeeded by his brother Emperor Zhaozong
, Pei was made an imperial attendant (給事中, Geishizhong), and then the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region). He was particularly praised by the chancellor Kong Wei
. After Kong was removed from his position in 891
after a failed campaign against the warlord Li Keyong
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
), Pei was also demoted, as a result, to be Taizi You Shuzi (太子右庶子), a member of the Crown Prince
's staff — an entirely honorary position as there was no crown prince at that time. He was then sent out of Chang'an to serve as the prefect of She Prefecture (歙州, in modern Huangshan
, Anhui
).
After Pei was forced to surrender She Prefecture to the warlord Yang Xingmi
the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou
, Jiangsu
) in 893
, Pei was recalled to the imperial government to serve as You Sanqi Changshi (右散騎常侍), a high-level advisory official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). On the way back to Chang'an, he went through Xuanwu Circuit, whose military governor, Zhu Quanzhong, had already become a powerful warlord. He met with Zhu and honored Zhu as an older brother, pleasing Zhu. When Emperor Zhaozong was forced to abandon Chang'an and flee to Hua Prefecture (華州, in modern Weinan
, Shaanxi
) in 896
due to an attack by Li Maozhen
the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
, Shaanxi
), Pei followed the emperor to Hua Prefecture, and was subsequently sent as an imperial emissary to Xuanwu. Because of the prior friendly relationship he established with Zhu, Zhu offered much tribute to the imperial court at that time, pleasing Emperor Zhaozong, who promoted Pei to be the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang). As the chancellor Cui Yin
was also an ally of Zhu's, Cui and Pei also became allies, and at Cui's recommendation he was made the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang).
, shortly after Emperor Zhaozong was deposed in a coup led by the eunuch Liu Jishu
and then restored in a countercoup, Pei Shu was made deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and chancellor, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事). Later in the year, fearing that Emperor Zhaozong and Cui Yin were, in association with Zhu Quanzhong, set on slaughtering them, the eunuchs, then led by Han Quanhui
and Zhang Yanhong (張彥弘), forcibly took Emperor Zhaozong to Fengxiang (as the eunuchs were then allied with Li Maozhen). Cui, Pei, and the other chancellors remained at Chang'an, and subsequently, an edict was issued in Emperor Zhaozong's name removing them from their chancellor posts, with Pei keeping his post as deputy minister of census.
In 903
, after Zhu had defeated Li and forced him to surrender the emperor, Emperor Zhaozong returned to Chang'an; he subsequently made Pei the military governor of Qinghai Circuit (清海, headquartered in modern Guangzhou
, Guangdong
), carrying the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi and You Pushe (右僕射) titles as honorary titles. However, Zhu then submitted a petition arguing that Pei was good at managing the state and should not be sent out of the capital. Emperor Zhaozong therefore made Pei chancellor again with the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi as well as Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). Pei was also put in charge of editing the imperial histories.
While Zhu Quanzhong and Cui were long-time allies, Zhu eventually came to suspect that Cui was organizing a new imperial army to oppose him, and that Cui was behind the death of his nephew Zhu Youlun (朱友倫), whom Zhu Quanzhong had left in command of a Xuanwu contingent at Chang'an to guard the emperor but who died in a polo accident in late 903. In spring 904
, Zhu Quanzhong submitted a forceful petition to Emperor Zhaozong accusing Cui of treason, and subsequently killed Cui. Then, he issued an order to Pei that the capital, and the emperor, should be moved to the eastern capital Luoyang
, and subsequently had his troops force the emperor and the residents of Chang'an to abandon Chang'an and move to Luoyang. Later in the year, Zhu had Emperor Zhaozong assassinated; Emperor Zhaozong's son Li Zuo
the Prince of Hui was declared emperor (as Emperor Ai). Pei continued to serve as chancellor.
made chancellor as well, but Pei, along with other chancellors Dugu Sun
and Cui Yuan
did not respect Liu, causing Liu to make false accusations against them to Zhu. The matter came to a head when Zhu wanted an actor that he favored, Zhang Yanfan (張延範), made the minister of worship (太常卿, Taichang Qing). Pei, not wanting to carry this out, tried to deflect Zhu's recommendation by stating, "Zhang Yanfan had great accomplishments and should be a military governor. Why would he happy by merely being a minister? I do not believe that this really is the will of the Generalissimo [(i.e., Zhu)]." He refused to approve Zhang's commission, and Zhu, upon hearing this, stated, "I had long thought that the 14th Pei to be true and pure, not frivolous. His comments have showed his true self." This incident, in combination with Liu's accusations, caused Zhu to have him, as well as Dugu and Cui, removed from chancellorship in spring 905
. Pei was made Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).
With Zhu preparing to seize the throne, Liu and another associate of Zhu's, Li Zhen, argued for a general purge of high-level imperial officials who were from aristocratic families. Zhu agreed, and initially a large number of them were demoted and exiled — in Pei's case, to be the prefect of Deng Prefecture (萊州, in modern Yantai
, Shandong
), and then to be the census officer of Shuang Prefecture (瀧州, in modern Yunfu
, Guangdong
). Soon thereafter, some 30 of these officials — including Pei, Dugu, Cui, fellow former chancellors Lu Yi
, Wang Bo
, and other officials Zhao Chong (趙崇) and Wang Zan (王贊) — were rounded up at Baima Station (白馬驛, in modern Anyang
, Henan
) and ordered to commit suicide. At Li Zhen's request (as Li Zhen, who was unable to pass the imperial examinations, resented these traditional aristocrats for claiming to be free from taint), Zhu had their bodies thrown into the Yellow River
(as Li Zhen put it, to taint them).
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 chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai
Emperor Ai of Tang
Emperor Ai of Tang , also known as Emperor Zhaoxuan , born Li Zuo, later Li Zhu , was the last emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 904 to 907. The Ai Emperor was the son of Emperor Zhaozong....
, near the end of the dynasty. He was killed in a purge of high-level Tang officials by the warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor (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 Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
, 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...
), who was then preparing to seize the throne.
Background
Pei Shu was born in 841841
Year 841 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* June 25 – Battle of Fontenay: Louis the German and Charles the Bald defeat Lothar....
, during the reign of Emperor Wuzong
Emperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
. He was from the "Middle Juan" branch of the Pei clan, which claimed original ancestry from the from the mythical emperor Zhuanxu
Zhuanxu
Zhuanxu , also known as Gaoyang is a mythological monarch of ancient China.A grandson of the Yellow Emperor, Zhuanxu led the Shi clan in an eastward migration to present-day Shandong, where intermarriages with the Dongyi clan enlarged and augmented their tribal influences...
. Pei Shu's traceable ancestry included officials of Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
, Western Liang
Western Liang
The Western Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. It was founded by the Li family of the Han Chinese. The founder of the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan , traced his ancestry to the Western Liang rulers....
, Jin Dynasty (265-420)
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
, Northern Wei
Northern Wei
The Northern Wei Dynasty , also known as the Tuoba Wei , Later Wei , or Yuan Wei , was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 . It has been described as "part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change"...
, and 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...
. Pei Shu's great-grandfather Pei Zunqing
Pei Zunqing
Pei Zunqing , courtesy name Shaoliang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Suzong and Emperor Daizong.- Background :...
served as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Suzong
Emperor Suzong of Tang
Emperor Suzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li Sisheng , known as Li Jun from 725 to 736, known as Li Yu from 736 to 738, known briefly as Li Shao in 738, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the son of Emperor Xuanzong...
and Emperor Suzong's son Emperor Daizong
Emperor Daizong of Tang
Emperor Daizong of Tang , personal name Li Yu , né Li Chu , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty....
. His grandfather Pei Xiang (裴向) served in a number of important imperial offices, including as the chief judge of the supreme court. HIs father Pei Yin (裴寅) served as a chief imperial censor. He had at least one older brother, Pei Ge (裴格) — although, as he was referred to at one point as "the 14th Pei," that reference may imply that he was the 14th son.
Early career
Pei Shu passed the imperial examinationImperial 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 (進士) class in 871
871
Year 871 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Nine battles are fought between the Danes and Wessex...
, during the reign of Emperor Wuzong's cousin 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...
. When the chancellor Du Shenquan
Du Shenquan
Du Shenquan , courtesy name Yinheng , formally Duke De of Xiangyang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Yizong.- Background :...
was sent out of the imperial 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 the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng
Yuncheng
Yuncheng is the southernmost municipality in Shanxi province, China. It borders Linfen and Jincheng municipalities to the north and east, and Henan and Shaanxi provinces to the south and west....
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
), Du invited Pei to serve as his secretary. Pei thereafter served as a copyeditor (校書郎, Xiaoshu Lang) at the archival bureau (秘書省, Mishu Sheng), and then the sheriff of Lantian County (藍田, in modern Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
), but was also serving as a scholar at Hongwen Pavilion (弘文館). The chancellor 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'...
, who headed the operations at Hongwen Pavilion, appreciated his abilities. Later, when Wang was removed from his chancellor position, Pei became stuck at his position and was unable to be promoted. It was only after he accompanied Emperor Yizong's son and successor 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...
on the flight from Chang'an to Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
(due to the attack on Chang'an by the major 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...
in 880
880
Year 880 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Religion :* Pope John VIII issues the bull Industriae Tuae, creating an independent ecclesiastical province in Great Moravia with Archbishop Saint Methodius as its head...
) that, at the recommendation of the deputy chief imperial censor Li Huan (李煥) that he was made a censor with the title Duanzhong Shi Yushi (殿中侍御史). He thereafter became an imperial chronicler (起居郎, Qiju Lang).
After Wang Duo became chancellor again in 881
881
Year 881 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Charles the Fat is crowned Western Emperor.* Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu: Louis III of France routs Norman pirates....
and was put in command of the overall operations against Huang Chao's new state of Qi in 882
882
Year 882 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Carloman, King of the West Franks, becomes sole king upon the death of his brother....
, due to Pei's long association with Wang, Wang invited him to serve as Wang's secretary in Wang's role as the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang
Anyang
Anyang is a prefecture-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the east, Hebi and Xinxiang to the south, and the provinces of Shanxi and Hebei to its west and north respectively....
, 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...
). Pei was later recalled to the imperial government to serve as Bingbu Yuanwailang (兵部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu), and then Libu Yuanwailang (吏部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Libu).
Early in the Longji era (889
889
Year 889 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Yasovarman I succeeds Indravarman II as ruler of the Khmer empire....
), by which time Emperor Xizong had died and been succeeded by his brother Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
, Pei was made an imperial attendant (給事中, Geishizhong), and then the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region). He was particularly praised by the chancellor Kong Wei
Kong Wei
Kong Wei , courtesy name Huawen , formally the Duke of Lu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong.- Background and early career :Kong Wei's family was descended from the Spring...
. After Kong was removed from his position in 891
891
Year 891 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Arnulf of Carinthia defeats the Normans at the Battle of Leuven....
after a failed campaign against the warlord Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
), Pei was also demoted, as a result, to be Taizi You Shuzi (太子右庶子), a member of 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....
's staff — an entirely honorary position as there was no crown prince at that time. He was then sent out of Chang'an to serve as the prefect of She Prefecture (歙州, in modern Huangshan
Huangshan
Huangshan may refer to:*Huangshan , a scenic mountain range and UNESCO World Heritage Site*Huangshan City, a prefecture-level city centered on the Huangshan Mountains...
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
).
After Pei was forced to surrender She Prefecture to the warlord Yang Xingmi
Yang Xingmi
Yang Xingmi , né Yang Xingmin , courtesy name Huayuan , formally Prince Wuzhong of Wu , later posthumously honored King Xiaowu of Wu then Emperor Wu of Wu with the temple name of Taizu , was a military governor of...
the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou
Yangzhou
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...
) in 893
893
Year 893 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Council of Preslav: Simeon I succeeds Vladimir as prince of Bulgaria; the capital is moved from Pliska to Preslav....
, Pei was recalled to the imperial government to serve as You Sanqi Changshi (右散騎常侍), a high-level advisory official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). On the way back to Chang'an, he went through Xuanwu Circuit, whose military governor, Zhu Quanzhong, had already become a powerful warlord. He met with Zhu and honored Zhu as an older brother, pleasing Zhu. When Emperor Zhaozong was forced to abandon Chang'an and flee to Hua Prefecture (華州, in modern Weinan
Weinan
Weinan is a Municipality in the province of Shaanxi, PRC. The Grand Historian Sima Qian was born in Weinan.-Administration:...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
) in 896
896
Year 896 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Decisive Bulgarian victory over Magyars in the Battle of Southern Buh....
due to an attack by Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen , né Song Wentong , courtesy name Zhengchen , formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin , was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Qi...
the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
Baoji
Baoji is a prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province, China.-Geography:The prefecture-level city of Baoji has a population of 3,716,731 according to the 2010 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of . The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills,...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
), Pei followed the emperor to Hua Prefecture, and was subsequently sent as an imperial emissary to Xuanwu. Because of the prior friendly relationship he established with Zhu, Zhu offered much tribute to the imperial court at that time, pleasing Emperor Zhaozong, who promoted Pei to be the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang). As the chancellor Cui Yin
Cui Yin
Cui Yin , courtesy name Chuixiu , nickname Zilang , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
was also an ally of Zhu's, Cui and Pei also became allies, and at Cui's recommendation he was made the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang).
Chancellorships
In spring 901901
Year 901 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Africa :* Abu 'Abdullah al-Shi'i leads the rebellion of the Kutama Berbers against the Aghlabid emirate in Ifriqiya ....
, shortly after Emperor Zhaozong was deposed in a coup led by the eunuch Liu Jishu
Liu Jishu
Liu Jishu was an eunuch late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who, as a powerful commander of the Shence Armies, briefly deposed Emperor Zhaozong in 900 and replaced Emperor Zhaozong with Emperor Zhaozong's son Li Yu, but was soon killed in a countercoup, allowing Emperor Zhaozong to return to...
and then restored in a countercoup, Pei Shu was made deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and chancellor, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事). Later in the year, fearing that Emperor Zhaozong and Cui Yin were, in association with Zhu Quanzhong, set on slaughtering them, the eunuchs, then led by Han Quanhui
Han Quanhui
Han Quanhui was an eunuch late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. The struggles by the eunuchs, led by him, against the chancellor Cui Yin, who wanted to eliminate the powerful eunuchs, led to the eunuchs' kidnapping of Emperor Zhaozong and then a major military confrontation between two...
and Zhang Yanhong (張彥弘), forcibly took Emperor Zhaozong to Fengxiang (as the eunuchs were then allied with Li Maozhen). Cui, Pei, and the other chancellors remained at Chang'an, and subsequently, an edict was issued in Emperor Zhaozong's name removing them from their chancellor posts, with Pei keeping his post as deputy minister of census.
In 903
903
Year 903 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Abaoji is named commander of all Khitan military forces.- Religion :...
, after Zhu had defeated Li and forced him to surrender the emperor, Emperor Zhaozong returned to Chang'an; he subsequently made Pei the military governor of Qinghai Circuit (清海, 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...
), carrying the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi and You Pushe (右僕射) titles as honorary titles. However, Zhu then submitted a petition arguing that Pei was good at managing the state and should not be sent out of the capital. Emperor Zhaozong therefore made Pei chancellor again with the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi as well as Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). Pei was also put in charge of editing the imperial histories.
While Zhu Quanzhong and Cui were long-time allies, Zhu eventually came to suspect that Cui was organizing a new imperial army to oppose him, and that Cui was behind the death of his nephew Zhu Youlun (朱友倫), whom Zhu Quanzhong had left in command of a Xuanwu contingent at Chang'an to guard the emperor but who died in a polo accident in late 903. In spring 904
904
Year 904 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Byzantines under Andronikos Doukas defeat the Arabs near Germanikeia...
, Zhu Quanzhong submitted a forceful petition to Emperor Zhaozong accusing Cui of treason, and subsequently killed Cui. Then, he issued an order to Pei that the capital, and the emperor, should be moved 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...
, and subsequently had his troops force the emperor and the residents of Chang'an to abandon Chang'an and move to Luoyang. Later in the year, Zhu had Emperor Zhaozong assassinated; Emperor Zhaozong's son Li Zuo
Emperor Ai of Tang
Emperor Ai of Tang , also known as Emperor Zhaoxuan , born Li Zuo, later Li Zhu , was the last emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 904 to 907. The Ai Emperor was the son of Emperor Zhaozong....
the Prince of Hui was declared emperor (as Emperor Ai). Pei continued to serve as chancellor.
Final removal and death
Meanwhile, the long-time association between Zhu Quanzhong and Pei Shu also became strained after Emperor Ai's ascension. Zhu had one of his own associates, Liu CanLiu Can (Tang Dynasty)
Liu Can , courtesy name Zhaozhi , formally the Baron of Hedong , nicknamed Liu Qiezi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai, near the end of the dynasty...
made chancellor as well, but Pei, along with other chancellors Dugu Sun
Dugu Sun
Dugu Sun , courtesy name Yousun , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai, near the end of the dynasty...
and Cui Yuan
Cui Yuan (Late Tang)
Cui Yuan , courtesy name Changzhi , formally the Baron of Boling , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Zhaozong and Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai...
did not respect Liu, causing Liu to make false accusations against them to Zhu. The matter came to a head when Zhu wanted an actor that he favored, Zhang Yanfan (張延範), made the minister of worship (太常卿, Taichang Qing). Pei, not wanting to carry this out, tried to deflect Zhu's recommendation by stating, "Zhang Yanfan had great accomplishments and should be a military governor. Why would he happy by merely being a minister? I do not believe that this really is the will of the Generalissimo [(i.e., Zhu)]." He refused to approve Zhang's commission, and Zhu, upon hearing this, stated, "I had long thought that the 14th Pei to be true and pure, not frivolous. His comments have showed his true self." This incident, in combination with Liu's accusations, caused Zhu to have him, as well as Dugu and Cui, removed from chancellorship in spring 905
905
Year 905 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Africa :* The Abbasid Caliphate re-establishes control of Egypt from the Tulunids.- Asia :...
. Pei was made Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).
With Zhu preparing to seize the throne, Liu and another associate of Zhu's, Li Zhen, argued for a general purge of high-level imperial officials who were from aristocratic families. Zhu agreed, and initially a large number of them were demoted and exiled — in Pei's case, to be the prefect of Deng Prefecture (萊州, in modern Yantai
Yantai
Yantai is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. Located on the southern coast of the Bohai Sea and the eastern coast of the Laizhou Bay, Yantai borders the cities of Qingdao and Weihai to the southwest and east respectively.The largest fishing...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
), and then to be the census officer of Shuang Prefecture (瀧州, in modern Yunfu
Yunfu
Yunfu , historically known as Wanfow, is a prefecture-level city in western Guangdong province, People's Republic of China. It borders Zhaoqing to the north, Foshan to the east, Jiangmen to the southwest, Yangjiang to the south, Maoming to the southwest, and the autonomous region of Guangxi to the...
, 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...
). Soon thereafter, some 30 of these officials — including Pei, Dugu, Cui, fellow former chancellors Lu Yi
Lu Yi (Tang Dynasty)
Lu Yi , né Lu Yundi , courtesy name Xiangwen , formally the Duke of Wu Commandery , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor for two terms during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background :Lu Yi was born in 847, during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong; he was...
, Wang Bo
Wang Bo (Late Tang)
Wang Bo , courtesy name Mingyang , formally Duke Jing of Taiyuan , was an official of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Muzong and Emperor Wenzong...
, and other officials Zhao Chong (趙崇) and Wang Zan (王贊) — were rounded up at Baima Station (白馬驛, in modern Anyang
Anyang
Anyang is a prefecture-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the east, Hebi and Xinxiang to the south, and the provinces of Shanxi and Hebei to its west and north respectively....
, 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...
) and ordered to commit suicide. At Li Zhen's request (as Li Zhen, who was unable to pass the imperial examinations, resented these traditional aristocrats for claiming to be free from taint), Zhu had their bodies thrown into the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
(as Li Zhen put it, to taint them).