Xiao Gou
Encyclopedia
Xiao Gou (died April 6, 887), courtesy name Desheng (得聖), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong
. He was later forced to accept a commission from the pretender Li Yun
and, after Li Yun's defeat and death, was forced to commit suicide.
, and, just among his direct male-line ancestors, his father Xiao Zhi
, Xiao Zhi's grandfather Xiao Fu
, and Xiao Fu's grandfather Xiao Song
were all chancellors.
s in the Jinshi class in 864
, during the reign of Emperor Yizong
, in the same year as fellow future chancellor Wei Baoheng
. Xiao thereafter served on the staff of a military governor (Jiedushi
) of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
), and was later 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 later was made an imperial chronicler (起居舍人, Qiju Sheren).
Xiao Gou was said to be handsome and ambitious, and he often compared himself to the deceased chancellor Li Deyu
. As a result, his colleagues often jokingly referred him as Taiwei (太尉, one of the Three Excellencies
, and a title that Li Deyu was well-known for). This, and the fact that Xiao and the other Jinshi examinees of the same year did not highly regard Wei, caused Wei to be resentful of him. After Wei became chancellor in 870
due to his marriage with Emperor Yizong's favorite daughter Princess Tongchang, Wei carried out a series of reprisals against officials whom he felt had slighted him, and in 872
, as part of the reprisals against the chancellor Yu Cong
, Wei also had Xiao exiled under the claim that Xiao was a close associate of Yu's, to be the military advisor to the prefect of Bo Prefecture (播州, in modern Zunyi
, Guizhou
).
and was succeeded by his young son Emperor Xizong
, Xiao Gou was recalled to Chang'an to serve as Libu Yuanwailang (禮部員外郎), a low-level official at the minister of rites (禮部, Lǐbu). He was then made Kaogong Yuanwailang (考功員外郎), a low-level official at the minister of civil service affairs (吏部, Lìbu, note different tone) and put in charge of drafting edicts. Early in the Qianfu era (874
-879
), he was made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi) and Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau. He was eventually promoted to be deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi).
In late 880
, the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
attacked Chang'an, and Emperor Xizong fled toward Chengdu
. Xiao followed Emperor Xizong. At that time, as the imperial treasury in exile was lacking funds, Emperor Xizong made him deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) and acting director of finances. After Emperor Xizong arrived in Chengdu in spring 881
, Xiao was made a chancellor de facto with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), as well as Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau. He was also made the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Lìbu Shangshu) and put in charge of editing the imperial history.
, there was an incident in which Shi Pu
the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (感化, headquartered in modern Xuzhou
, Jiangsu
) — who had seized the circuit from the imperially-commissioned military governor Zhi Xiang (支詳) in 881 — had suffered food poisoning. He suspected his staff member Li Ninggu (李凝古), who had been commissioned by Zhi, of poisoning him, and therefore killed Li Ninggu. At that time, Li Ninggu's father Li Sun (李損) was serving as an advisory official in the imperial government at Chengdu, and Shi bribed the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi
, wanting to have Li Sun put to death as well. The imperial censor Wang Hua (王華), however, refused to consent to Li Sun's execution or Tian's demand that Li Sun be transferred to the custody of the Shence Armies (神策軍), which were under Tian's command. Xiao supported Wang, and further pointed out that not only was there insufficient evidence that Li Ninggu had anything to do with Shi's poisoning, but that given the long distance between father and son, Li Sun could not have been involved. As a result, Li Sun was allowed to retire and was spared his life. It was said that at that time, Tian dominated the court scene, and that Xiao was the only one who dared to disagree with him on policy matters, and so the other imperial officials relied on him.
, by which time Emperor Xizong and the imperial court had returned to Chang'an after Huang Chao's defeat, Tian, after getting into a confrontation with Wang Chongrong
the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), tried to transfer Wang. Wang reacted by preparing for war (along with his ally Li Keyong
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
), against Tian and Tian's allies Zhu Mei
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang
, Shaanxi
) and Li Changfu
the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
, Shaanxi
). In late 885, Wang's and Li Keyong's forces defeated the Tian/Zhu/Li Changfu coalition, and approached Chang'an. Emperor Xizong fled first to Fengxiang, and then to Xingyuan (興元, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
, Shaanxi
).
While Emperor Xizong was still at Fengxiang, where the imperial officials had largely followed him, Xiao, apparently hoping to use Zhu to eliminate Tian's influence on Emperor Xizong, summoned Zhu and his army to Fengxiang. By the time that Zhu arrived, however, Emperor Xizong had already fled to Xingyuan, with the imperial officials largely remaining at Fengxiang — indeed, when Kong Wei
tried to persuade Xiao and fellow chancellor Pei Che
to head to Xingyuan as well, Xiao and Pei refused, in light of Tian's hold on the emperor. Zhu, who by this point was also disillusioned with Tian, decided that he would try to support a new emperor — and planned to make Emperor Xizong's distant relative Li Yun
the Prince of Xiang the new emperor. He consulted Xiao, who opposed, blaming the errors of Emperor Xizong's administration on Tian. Zhu, however, forged ahead with his plans and forced the imperial officials at Fengxiang to declare Li Yun regent
, in summer 886
. When Zhu asked Xiao to draft the text of the declaration, however, Xiao declined, claiming that he was aged and no longer a good writer, so another imperial official, Zheng Changtu
, authored it instead. Zhu then removed Xiao from his chancellor position, replacing him with Zheng, and instead gave Xiao the entirely honorary title of senior advisor to the Crown Prince
. Xiao was then allowed to retire to Yongle (永樂, in modern Yuncheng), where Xiao Gou's brother Xiao Qu (蕭蘧) was serving as county magistrate. Soon thereafter, Zhu declared Li Yun emperor at Chang'an.
In winter 881, after Zhu's officer Wang Xingyu
was unable to capture Xingyuan and seize Emperor Xizong as Zhu ordered, he turned against Zhu and killed Zhu in an ambush at Chang'an. Pei and Zheng escorted Li Yun to Yuncheng, hoping for support from Wang Chongrong, but Wang Chongrong, after initially feigning to welcome Li Yun, executed him and arrested Pei and Zheng, whom Emperor Xizong ordered in spring 882
to be executed. As Kong, who had been made chancellor by this point, had resented Xiao, he claimed that Xiao had also supported Li Yun. Thus, Xiao was also ordered to commit suicide at Yongle.
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 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...
. He was later forced to accept a commission from the pretender Li Yun
Li Yun
Li Yun is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 97th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 61st of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Green Eyed Tiger".-Background:...
and, after Li Yun's defeat and death, was forced to commit suicide.
Background
It is not known when Xiao Gou was born. He came from a prominent family that descended from the imperial house of Liang DynastyLiang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
, and, just among his direct male-line ancestors, his father Xiao Zhi
Xiao Zhi (Tang Dynasty)
Xiao Zhi was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, briefly serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Yizong.Very little is known about Xiao Zhi's career...
, Xiao Zhi's grandfather Xiao Fu
Xiao Fu
Xiao Fu , courtesy name Lüchu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Dezong.- Background :Xiao Fu was born in 732, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong...
, and Xiao Fu's grandfather Xiao Song
Xiao Song
Xiao Song , formally the Duke of Xu , was an official and general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.- Background :...
were all chancellors.
During Emperor Yizong's reign
Xiao Gou himself 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 class in 864
864
Year 864 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* July 25 – Edict of Pistres: Charles the Bald orders defensive measures against the Vikings....
, during the reign of 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...
, in the same year as fellow future chancellor Wei Baoheng
Wei Baoheng
Wei Baoheng , courtesy name Yunyong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He became extremely powerful late in the reign of his father-in-law Emperor Yizong, rising to the post of chancellor and becoming the most powerful official at court, but after Emperor Yizong's death was...
. Xiao thereafter served on the staff of a 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 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....
), and was later 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 later was made an imperial chronicler (起居舍人, Qiju Sheren).
Xiao Gou was said to be handsome and ambitious, and he often compared himself to the deceased chancellor Li Deyu
Li Deyu
Li Deyu , courtesy name Wenrao , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of brothers Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wuzong and their uncle Emperor Xuānzong...
. As a result, his colleagues often jokingly referred him as Taiwei (太尉, one of the Three Excellencies
Three Excellencies
The Three Ducal Ministers , also translated as the Three Dukes, Three Excellencies, or the Three Lords, was the collective name for the three highest officials in ancient China...
, and a title that Li Deyu was well-known for). This, and the fact that Xiao and the other Jinshi examinees of the same year did not highly regard Wei, caused Wei to be resentful of him. After Wei became chancellor in 870
870
Year 870 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Prague Castle is founded....
due to his marriage with Emperor Yizong's favorite daughter Princess Tongchang, Wei carried out a series of reprisals against officials whom he felt had slighted him, and in 872
872
Year 872 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Hafrsfjord: Harald Fairhair becomes the first king of Norway....
, as part of the reprisals against the chancellor Yu Cong
Yu Cong
Yu Cong , courtesy name Liyong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of his brother-in-law Emperor Yizong...
, Wei also had Xiao exiled under the claim that Xiao was a close associate of Yu's, to be the military advisor to the prefect of Bo Prefecture (播州, in modern Zunyi
Zunyi
Zunyi is a prefecture-level city in Guizhou province in southwestern China. Along with Guiyang and Liupanshui, it is one of the most important cities of the province...
, Guizhou
Guizhou
' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
).
Prior to chancellorship
After Emperor Yizong died in 873873
Year 873 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings raid Dorestad.* Al-Andalus: Second uprising of Toledo due to ethnic tensions in two years.- Asia :...
and was succeeded by his young 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...
, Xiao Gou was recalled to Chang'an to serve as Libu Yuanwailang (禮部員外郎), a low-level official at the minister of rites (禮部, Lǐbu). He was then made Kaogong Yuanwailang (考功員外郎), a low-level official at the minister of civil service affairs (吏部, Lìbu, note different tone) and put in charge of drafting edicts. Early in the Qianfu era (874
874
Year 874 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ingólfur Arnarson arrives as the first permanent Viking settler in Iceland, settling in Reykjavík ....
-879
879
Year 879 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Pope John VIII recognizes the Duchy of Croatia as an independent state....
), he was made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi) and Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau. He was eventually promoted to be deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi).
In late 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...
, 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...
attacked Chang'an, and Emperor Xizong fled toward Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
. Xiao followed Emperor Xizong. At that time, as the imperial treasury in exile was lacking funds, Emperor Xizong made him deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) and acting director of finances. After Emperor Xizong arrived in Chengdu in spring 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....
, Xiao was made a chancellor de facto with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), as well as Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau. He was also made the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Lìbu Shangshu) and put in charge of editing the imperial history.
Chancellorship
It was said that Xiao Gou strived to reform the imperial government, and Emperor Xizong respected him. However, he served during a time when the imperial authority was dwindling, and in 883883
Year 883 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Oldest known mention of the city of Duisburg.* Monte Cassino is sacked and burned down by the Saracens....
, there was an incident in which Shi Pu
Shi Pu
Shi Pu , formally the Prince of Julu , was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Ganhua Circuit as its military governor...
the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (感化, headquartered in modern Xuzhou
Xuzhou
Xuzhou , otherwise known as Pengcheng in ancient times, is a major city in and the fourth largest prefecture-level city of Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China...
, 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...
) — who had seized the circuit from the imperially-commissioned military governor Zhi Xiang (支詳) in 881 — had suffered food poisoning. He suspected his staff member Li Ninggu (李凝古), who had been commissioned by Zhi, of poisoning him, and therefore killed Li Ninggu. At that time, Li Ninggu's father Li Sun (李損) was serving as an advisory official in the imperial government at Chengdu, and Shi bribed the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi , courtesy name Zhongze , formally the Duke of Jin , was a powerful eunuch during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang...
, wanting to have Li Sun put to death as well. The imperial censor Wang Hua (王華), however, refused to consent to Li Sun's execution or Tian's demand that Li Sun be transferred to the custody of the Shence Armies (神策軍), which were under Tian's command. Xiao supported Wang, and further pointed out that not only was there insufficient evidence that Li Ninggu had anything to do with Shi's poisoning, but that given the long distance between father and son, Li Sun could not have been involved. As a result, Li Sun was allowed to retire and was spared his life. It was said that at that time, Tian dominated the court scene, and that Xiao was the only one who dared to disagree with him on policy matters, and so the other imperial officials relied on him.
During and after Li Yun's claim of imperial title
In 885885
Year 885 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings besiege Paris.* Godfrith, the Sea King is killed in Lobith...
, by which time Emperor Xizong and the imperial court had returned to Chang'an after Huang Chao's defeat, Tian, after getting into a confrontation with Wang Chongrong
Wang Chongrong
Wang Chongrong , formally the Prince of Langye , was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Hezhong Circuit...
the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), tried to transfer Wang. Wang reacted by preparing for war (along with his ally 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....
), against Tian and Tian's allies Zhu Mei
Zhu Mei
Zhu Mei was a warlord of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Disillusioned with Emperor Xizong and the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi, he tried to support Emperor Xizong's distant relative Li Yun the Prince of Xiang as the new emperor, but was soon thereafter killed by his own officer Wang Xingyu.-...
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang
Xianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
, 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...
) and Li Changfu
Li Changfu
Li Changfu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Fengxiang Circuit from 884 to 887...
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...
). In late 885, Wang's and Li Keyong's forces defeated the Tian/Zhu/Li Changfu coalition, and approached Chang'an. Emperor Xizong fled first to Fengxiang, and then to Xingyuan (興元, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, 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...
).
While Emperor Xizong was still at Fengxiang, where the imperial officials had largely followed him, Xiao, apparently hoping to use Zhu to eliminate Tian's influence on Emperor Xizong, summoned Zhu and his army to Fengxiang. By the time that Zhu arrived, however, Emperor Xizong had already fled to Xingyuan, with the imperial officials largely remaining at Fengxiang — indeed, when 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...
tried to persuade Xiao and fellow chancellor 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...
to head to Xingyuan as well, Xiao and Pei refused, in light of Tian's hold on the emperor. Zhu, who by this point was also disillusioned with Tian, decided that he would try to support a new emperor — and planned to make Emperor Xizong's distant relative Li Yun
Li Yun
Li Yun is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 97th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 61st of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Green Eyed Tiger".-Background:...
the Prince of Xiang the new emperor. He consulted Xiao, who opposed, blaming the errors of Emperor Xizong's administration on Tian. Zhu, however, forged ahead with his plans and forced the imperial officials at Fengxiang to declare Li Yun regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
, in summer 886
886
Year 886 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :...
. When Zhu asked Xiao to draft the text of the declaration, however, Xiao declined, claiming that he was aged and no longer a good writer, so another imperial official, Zheng Changtu
Zheng Changtu
Zheng Changtu , courtesy name Guangye , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He served as a chancellor in the administration of the pretender Li Yun, who claimed the throne in competition with Emperor Xizong...
, authored it instead. Zhu then removed Xiao from his chancellor position, replacing him with Zheng, and instead gave Xiao the entirely honorary title of senior advisor 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....
. Xiao was then allowed to retire to Yongle (永樂, in modern Yuncheng), where Xiao Gou's brother Xiao Qu (蕭蘧) was serving as county magistrate. Soon thereafter, Zhu declared Li Yun emperor at Chang'an.
In winter 881, after Zhu's officer Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Jingnan Circuit from 887 to his death in 895...
was unable to capture Xingyuan and seize Emperor Xizong as Zhu ordered, he turned against Zhu and killed Zhu in an ambush at Chang'an. Pei and Zheng escorted Li Yun to Yuncheng, hoping for support from Wang Chongrong, but Wang Chongrong, after initially feigning to welcome Li Yun, executed him and arrested Pei and Zheng, whom Emperor Xizong ordered in spring 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....
to be executed. As Kong, who had been made chancellor by this point, had resented Xiao, he claimed that Xiao had also supported Li Yun. Thus, Xiao was also ordered to commit suicide at Yongle.