Shi Xiong

Shi Xiong (died 848? ) was a Chinese military general and politician of the Chinese Tang dynasty, most known for his participation in two campaigns during the reign of Emperor Wuzong—against the remnants of the Uyghur Khanate, and against the warlord Liu Zhen, who controlled Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi).

Career at Wuning Circuit It is not known when Shi Xiong was born. He was from Xu Prefecture (徐州, in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), and his family was said to be so lowly that nothing was known about its origins. In his youth, he became an officer of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered at Xu Prefecture), and he was said to be brave and ferocious in battle such that he impressed the entire Wuning army. While there, he served under successive military governors (jiedushi) Cui Qun and Wang Zhixing.

In 827, during the reign of Emperor Wenzong, Wang Zhixing volunteered to participate in an imperial campaign against the warlord Li Tongjie, who controlled Henghai Circuit (橫海, headquartered in modern Cangzhou, Hebei). When he attacked Henghai's Di Prefecture (棣州, in modern Binzhou, Shandong) in 828, he had Shi serve as his forward commander.

Exile and gradual repromotion Sometime after Shi Xiong was exiled to Bai Prefecture, he was made the secretary general of Chen Prefecture (陳州, in modern Zhoukou, Henan). When Dangxiang tribes subsequently raided the region west of the Yellow River (i.e., modern northern Shaanxi), Shi was ordered to serve in the army of Zhenwu Circuit (振武, headquartered in modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia) under the military governor Liu Mian . It was said that while he served with distinction at Zhenwu, Emperor Wenzong did not promote him further in fear of offending Wang Zhixing.

Campaign against the Uyghurs In 842, by which time Emperor Wenzong's brother Emperor Wuzong was emperor, remnants of Tang's former ally/vassal, the Uyghur Khanate, in light of their defeat at the hands of the Xiajiasi, were raiding the Tang's northern borders. When Uyghur tribes under Wujie Khan raided Tiande (天德, in modern Bayan Nur, Inner Mongolia), the defender of Tiande, Tian Mou , wanted to engage them, despite the misgivings of the lead chancellor Li Deyu. Li Deyu had known about Shi, from the time that Shi served under Cui Qun and so recommended Shi to be Tian's deputy, to help defend against Uyghur raids. Shi was subsequently made the defender of Tiande. Shi was said to die in anger afterwards.

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 161. New Book of Tang, vol. 171. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 243, 244, 246, 247, 248.