Xu Yanruo

Xu Yanruo (徐彥若) (died 901), courtesy name Yuzhi (俞之), formally the Duke of Qi (齊公), was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.

Background and early career It is not known when Xu Yanruo was born. He was a sixth-generation descendant of Xu Yougong (徐有功), a famed judge during the reign of Wu Zetian. His family claimed to be originally descended from mythical Xia dynasty judge Gao Yao and traced its ancestry through a line of officials of Qin dynasty, Han dynasty, Cao Wei, Jin dynasty (266–420), Liu Song, Southern Qi, Liang dynasty, Chen dynasty, and Tang dynasty. His grandfather Xu Zai (徐宰) served as a judge at the supreme court (大理寺, Dali Si), and his father Xu Shang was a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Yizong. Xu Yanruo had at least four younger brothers, Xu Rensi (徐仁嗣), Xu Renju (徐仁矩), Xu Renfan (徐仁範), and Xu Renxu (徐仁勗).

Xu Yanruo passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi (進士) class in 872, during Emperor Yizong's reign. Late in the reign of Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong, he became a low-level official at the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng) but was given the responsibility of drafting edicts. He was later made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng).

During Emperor Zhaozong's reign

Before chancellorship Emperor Xizong died in 888 and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Zhaozong. Emperor Zhaozong made Xu Yanruo the deputy chief imperial censor (御史中丞, Yushi Zhongcheng).

As chancellor As of 893, the warlord Li Maozhen the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi) had defeated another warlord, Yang Shouliang the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi). He submitted a petition to Emperor Zhaozong, offering to be the military governor of Shannan West—fully expecting that Emperor Zhaozong would allow him to be the military governor of both Fengxiang and Shannan West. Instead, Emperor Zhaozong, who wanted to take back some of the territory for the imperial government, issued an edict making Li Maozhen the military governor of Shannan West and neighboring Wuding Circuit (武定, also headquartered in modern Hanzhong), while naming Xu Yanruo the military governor of Fengxiang. Li Maozhen, disappointed, refused to obey the edict. In fall 893, Emperor Zhaozong put Li Sizhou (李嗣周) the Prince of Qin in command of a newly conscripted imperial army to escort Xu to Fengxiang. Li Maozhen and his ally Wang Xingyu the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi) reacted by mobilizing their troops, ready to face the imperial troops. The imperial troops panicked and deserted, and Li Maozhen and Wang approached the capital Chang'an, forcing Emperor Zhaozong to force the chancellor Du Rangneng, whom he had put in charge of the campaign logistics despite Du's misgivings about the campaign, to commit suicide. Emperor Zhaozong was also forced to recall Xu and allow Li Maozhen to be the military governor of both Fengxiang and Shannan West. After Xu was recalled to the capital, he was made the chief imperial censor (御史大夫, Yushi Daifu).

After another chancellor, Zheng Qi, retired in 894, Xu was made a chancellor again with the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi; he was also made Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), as well as the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu). After Emperor Zhaozong returned to Chang'an, he gave Xu the honorary titles of Kaifu Yitong Sansi (開府儀同三司) and acting Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies), and created him the Duke of Qi. Xu was further given the title of Taibao (太保), above the Three Excellencies, and made Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng).

Xu died in late 901, while still serving as the military governor of Qinghai. In his final petition to the emperor, he recommended the commander of the Qinghai army, Liu Yin, to serve as acting military governor.

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 179. New Book of Tang, vol. 113. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 258, 259, 260, 262.