Biography
Accession and the New State Name
Long Shun, also known as Fa, was the son of Emperor Jingzhuang Shilong (also known as Qiulong) of Nanzhao. In 877 (the eighteenth year of Jianji), Shilong died at Jingjing Temple in Yuejun, and Long Shun succeeded to the throne at the age of seventeen. The following year he adopted the era name Zhenming and renamed the state Dafengmin Guo (in one version, Dafengren Guo).
Peace with the Tang
Long Shun was devoted to pleasure, loved hunting and idle amusements, and liked to wear crimson-and-purple brocade cloaks and gold-inlaid belts, leaving all state decisions to his ministers. In the same year as his accession, he sent the Tuoxi Duan Xianbao (or Duan Bao) to the Military Governor of Yongzhou (Lingnan), Xin Dang, to request friendly relations. Xin Dang memorialized Emperor Xizong of Tang, who consented and issued an edict sending an envoy in reply, hoping thereby to calm the frontier troubles.
In 879 (the sixth year of Qianfu), Nanzhao raided Sichuan, and the Military Governor of Xichuan, Gao Pian, memorialized asking the court for a marriage alliance with Nanzhao; the Right Remonstrance Grandee Liu Tao and Vice Minister of Personnel Cui Dan deemed it beneath the dynasty's dignity and spoke against it, so the matter was shelved. A Nanzhao envoy again entered the court to press for a marriage alliance; by then Gao Pian had been transferred to Jingnan but still held to his earlier position, and the chancellors Zheng Tian and Lu Xie, unable to resolve their dispute, were both dismissed.
At the time, Xin Dang sent his staff officer Xu Yunqian as acting envoy to observe Nanzhao. At Shanchan, Xu Yunqian saw dozens of horsemen dragging long spears surrounding a youth in crimson robes with his hair bound in red silk; the interpreter announced, "This is the Biaoxin (as the southern peoples styled their ruler)." Long Shun dismounted to greet Xu Yunqian, asked after the health of the Tang emperor, took up Xu's sword to examine it, and showed him his own ornaments; then he had the ground cleared, set up boards three zhang tall, and ordered his attendants to shoot at a gallop—after each man shot, Long Shun would gallop after the arrows for amusement, stopping only after several dozen volleys. He led the guest into his tent, where grooms held washbasins and four women played music and served drink until nightfall. He also sent someone to ask Xu Yunqian about the meaning of the Spring and Autumn Annals, and sent the envoy home with courtesy. Later, when Gao Pian won over the Wumo, forged weapons, and drilled troops, shaking the southeastern tribes, Long Shun sent Zhao Zongzheng to pay tribute to the Tang and perform obeisance to Emperor Xizong on his behalf; the emperor again sent Xu Yunqian to Nanzhao, and Long Shun returned his courtesy call.
Courtship of Princess Anhua
In the first month of 880 (the first year of Guangming), Emperor Xizong betrothed a daughter of the imperial clan to Long Shun as Princess Anhua, sending the Vice Minister of the Imperial Clan Li Guinian and others to Nanzhao to negotiate the marriage; on their return they praised Long Shun's sincerity lavishly. In 881 (the first year of Zhonghe), Long Shun sent envoys to escort Princess Anhua, presenting rare treasures and a hundred beds of felt rugs; Emperor Xizong delayed, saying the princess's carriages and robes were still being prepared. In 883 (the third year of Zhonghe), Long Shun again sent the Busie Yang Qihong to escort the bride, and Emperor Xizong decreed that Zhang Qiao, Acting Libationer of the National University, serve as Master of Ceremonies, Xu Yunqian as deputy, and Li Yue, Prince of Guo and Vice Minister of the Imperial Clan, as marriage commissioner. Before they could set out, the Huang Chao rebellion was suppressed and Emperor Xizong returned east, and the envoys were sent home first.
The Poisoning of His Counselors
In 885 (the first year of Guangqi), Long Shun sent Chancellor Zhao Longmei, Grand Counselor Yang Qikun (or Yang Qihun), and Duan Yizong to the temporary imperial palace for an audience with Emperor Xizong and to escort Princess Anhua. Gao Pian memorialized from Huaiyang (in one version, Yangzhou): "These three are the heart and backbone of Nanzhao. Keep them and poison them, and the Man will be controllable." Emperor Xizong followed this advice and poisoned Zhao Longmei and the others. After their deaths, Nanzhao had no strategists left, and the kingdom grew daily weaker. In the same year, the Kunlun kingdom presented beautiful women to Nanzhao, and Long Shun accepted them.
Assassination
At that time Long Shun had many favored consorts and often killed ministers on the strength of their slanders; his dissoluteness and cruelty grew worse by the day. In 897 (the ninth year of Duoye), the Grand Counselor Zheng Maisi had Long Shun's close attendant Yang Deng kill him at Shanchan City. Long Shun was thirty-six years old; he received the posthumous title Shengming Wenwu Emperor (in one version, Xuanwu Emperor), and his son Shunhuazhen succeeded him.