Xiao Luan

Biography

Family Background and Early Life

Xiao Luan was born into the Southern Qi imperial clan. He was the second son of Xiao Daosheng, Prince Zhen of Shi'an, and a nephew of Emperor Gao, Xiao Daocheng. Xiao Daosheng was a son of Xiao Chengzhi and a brother of Xiao Daocheng. Xiao Luan lost both parents while young and was raised by Xiao Daocheng, who treated him like a son. This relationship helped establish Xiao Luan's special position within the Xiao-Qi ruling house.

In 472, the first year of the Liu Song Taiyu era, Xiao Luan became magistrate of Anji and gained a reputation for strict administration. He was later appointed Left Attendant to the Prince of Wuling but did not take up the post, and then magistrate of Yongshi. In 478, the second year of Shengming, he was appointed record-keeper on the staff of Liu You, Prince of Shaoling and General Who Pacifies the South, but again did not take up the appointment. He subsequently became General Who Pacifies the North and governor of Huainan and Xuancheng, and was advanced to General Who Assists the State. These local posts gave him administrative experience.

Establishment of Southern Qi and the Reign of Emperor Wu

In 479, the first year of Jianyuan, Xiao Daocheng replaced Liu Song and founded Southern Qi. Xiao Luan became Palace Attendant and Marquis of Xichang. In 480 he was appointed Bearer of Credentials, supervisor of military affairs in Yingzhou and Yiyang of Sizhou, Champion General, and governor of Yingzhou, and later became General Who Subdues the Caitiffs. After Xiao Ze became Emperor Wu of Southern Qi, Xiao Luan transferred to Minister of Revenue and General of the Right Army.

During the Yongming era, 483–493, he successively served as Palace Attendant, General of Agile Cavalry, Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, General of the Left Guard, General Who Subdues the Caitiffs, governor of Wuxing, Central Army Commander, General of the Right, governor of Yuzhou, Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, while also holding the office of Commandant of the Guards. In 493 he concurrently served as General of the Right Guard. Through repeated central and provincial appointments he gradually accumulated military and political power and became a trusted senior minister of Emperor Wu.

Regency, Depositions, and Seizure of the Throne

In the seventh lunar month of 493 Emperor Wu, Xiao Ze, became gravely ill. Before his death, he appointed Xiao Luan Palace Attendant and Director of the Department of State Affairs and charged him with assisting the imperial grandson Xiao Zhaoye. Xiao Luan defeated Secretariat Gentleman Wang Rong's attempt to replace Xiao Zhaoye with Xiao Ziliang, Prince of Jingling, and thereby ensured Xiao Zhaoye's accession. He was soon promoted to General Who Pacifies the Army, granted twenty ceremonial sword-bearers, and given authority to decide major and minor government affairs.

After Xiao Zhaoye became emperor, the source describes him as extravagant and sexually dissolute. Xiao Luan and Xiao Yan conspired to depose him. Xiao Luan first removed potential military obstacles: he summoned Xiao Zilong, Prince of Sui, to court and stationed Xiao Yan as General Who Pacifies the North at Shouyang to keep Yuzhou governor Cui Huijing under control. He then eliminated the emperor's close associates. Through Xiao Tanzhi he secured the execution of Yang Min, used Empress He's influence to remove Xu Longju, arranged the killing of Palace Guard General Zhou Fengshu, and arrested and killed Qimu Zhenzhi, Du Wenqian, and others.

On the twentieth day of the seventh lunar month of 494, the first year of Longchang, Xiao Luan launched a coup. He sent Xiao Chen and others to kill Cao Daogang and Zhu Longzhi in the government offices, then led troops from the Department of State Affairs through Yunlong Gate. Wang Yan, Xu Xiaosi, Chen Xianda, Wang Guangzhi, Shen Wenji, and other officials followed him. Xiao Zhaoye heard of the coup at Shouchang Hall, fled to the quarters of his favored Lady Xu, and unsuccessfully tried to kill himself with a sword. He was ultimately killed by Xiao Chen in the western passage, at the age of twenty-two.

On the next day an edict issued in the name of Empress Dowager Wang Baoming posthumously reduced Xiao Zhaoye to Prince of Yuling and installed Xiao Zhaowen, Prince of Xin'an. On the twenty-fifth day Xiao Zhaowen ascended the throne and adopted the era name Yanxing. Xiao Luan became General-in-Chief of Agile Cavalry, Recorder of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing, governor of Yangzhou, and Duke of Xuancheng Commandery. In the tenth lunar month he was promoted to Grand Preceptor, additionally General-in-Chief and governor-general of Yangzhou, and advanced to Prince of Xuancheng. Although Xiao Zhaowen held the throne, all authority rested with Xiao Luan. Even the young emperor's daily food required Xiao Luan's approval; when Xiao Zhaowen once wanted steamed fish and vegetables, the palace kitchen refused because it had no order from Xiao Luan. On the tenth day of the tenth lunar month, Xiao Luan used the empress dowager's name to depose Xiao Zhaowen as Prince of Hailing. On the twenty-second day, claiming the position of third son of Emperor Gao, Xiao Luan ascended the throne as Emperor Ming of Southern Qi. Xiao Zhaowen was murdered soon afterward.

Reign

Because his own accession lacked legitimacy, Xiao Luan was intensely suspicious of relatives in the imperial clan. He trusted the officials known as dianqian and had them supervise individual princes and nobles. He slaughtered many descendants of Xiao Daocheng and Xiao Ze, nearly exterminating those branches. When he decided to kill a prince, troops were typically sent at night to surround the residence, climb the walls, break open the gates, rush inside shouting, and seal and confiscate all property.

Xiao Feng, Prince of Jiangxia, was known for both ability and virtue. Xiao Luan once praised Xiao Yaoguang, Prince of Shi'an, as exceptionally talented. Xiao Feng replied: “Xiao Yaoguang stands in relation to Your Highness exactly as Your Highness stood in relation to Emperor Gao.” Xiao Luan was shocked at having his own intentions exposed. During the mass killings of princes, Xiao Feng wrote letters mocking and rebuking him. Xiao Luan feared him and did not dare arrest him directly at his residence. Instead, Xiao Feng was assigned duties as a ritual officer at the imperial ancestral temple, where troops were sent by night to seize him. Xiao Feng was physically strong and fought the soldiers barehanded, knocking several down before being killed. Xiao Zizhen, Prince of Jian'an, was dragged from beneath his bed by his dianqian Ke Lingsun and killed; before death he knelt and begged to be allowed to live as a slave, but was refused. Xiao Zilun, Prince of Baling, was brave and stationed at Langya. Xiao Luan sent Secretariat Drafter Ru Faliang and dianqian Hua Bomao to deal with him. Hua personally forced him to drink poisoned wine. Xiao Zilun straightened his clothes and said: “Formerly the founder destroyed Song and set himself up; now circumstances likewise follow Heaven's numbers and cannot be escaped. This wine is surely not ordinary banquet wine.” He drank it and died at sixteen; Ru Faliang and those around him reportedly wept.

By imitating the policies of Emperor Ming of Liu Song and cutting away his own imperial branches, Xiao Luan weakened the foundation of Southern Qi. The dynasty collapsed only a few years after his death.

His reign also faced sustained military pressure from Northern Wei. From the Jianwu era through Yongtai, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, Yuan Hong, repeatedly campaigned southward. In 498 Northern Wei mobilized two hundred thousand troops from Jizhou, Dingzhou, Yingzhou, Xiangzhou, and Jizhou for a large southern campaign said to number one million. Wei forces attacked Wancheng and Xinye. Fang Boyu, Southern Qi governor of Nanyang, held the inner city, while Liu Siji, governor of Xinye, resisted fiercely. Fighting continued until the third lunar month of the following year. Northern Wei captured Nanyang, Xinye, and Nanxiang commanderies in Yongzhou; Liu Siji was killed and Fang Boyu forced to surrender. Wei then heavily defeated Southern Qi at Dengcheng, killing or capturing more than twenty thousand men. At Woyang, however, the Wei army was defeated and more than ten thousand were killed. In the ninth lunar month, Emperor Xiaowen learned of Xiao Luan's death and withdrew his army on the principle that “ritual does not permit attacking a state in mourning.”

Xiao Luan spent long periods withdrawn from public view and publicly emphasized frugality. He halted tribute sent from border regions to the center and stopped a number of construction projects. He abolished the Xinlin Park built under Emperor Wu and returned the land to the people; abolished the crown prince's Eastern Fields established by the former emperor and sold them; and stripped gold and silver ornaments from imperial carriages and boats for deposit in the treasury. When the imperial kitchen served wrapped steamed food, he said that he could not finish it and ordered it divided into four portions so the remainder could serve as his evening meal. The source nevertheless says that his private life remained luxurious and that he left the palaces, furnishings, and clothing of Emperor Wu's inner court unchanged.

Final Years and Death

In his final illness Xiao Luan became strongly attached to occult methods of averting evil and changed all his clothing to red. He issued a special order to officials seeking silverfish as an ingredient for medicine, which revealed publicly that he was ill. On September 1, 498, the thirtieth day of the seventh lunar month of the first year of Yongtai, he died at forty-seven. He received the posthumous name Emperor Ming and temple name Gaozong and was buried at Xing'an Mausoleum.

Major Activities

Depositions and Usurpation

Xiao Luan received an imperial testament from Emperor Wu to assist the imperial grandson Xiao Zhaoye. Using the authority of regency, he gradually eliminated opponents and arranged the deaths of Xiao Zhaoye's close associates Yang Min, Xu Longju, Zhou Fengshu, Qimu Zhenzhi, Du Wenqian, and others. In the seventh lunar month of 494 he launched a coup and killed Xiao Zhaoye, then installed Xiao Zhaowen. In the tenth lunar month he deposed Xiao Zhaowen and took the throne. These repeated depositions and killings marked an extreme phase in the internal power struggle of Southern Qi.

Killing the Imperial Clan

Because of the illegitimate circumstances of his accession, Xiao Luan distrusted other members of the clan. During his reign he killed many descendants of Xiao Daocheng and Xiao Ze and came close to exterminating their branches. He relied on dianqian officials to monitor princes and frequently sent troops to raid princely residences at night. Xiao Feng, Xiao Zizhen, Xiao Zilun, and others were killed, with methods including forced entry and poisoned wine. Near the end of his life, fearing that his own sons were still young while surviving sons of Emperors Gao and Wu were reaching maturity, he ordered the remaining princes of those lines killed as well.

Resistance to Northern Wei

During Xiao Luan's reign, Emperor Xiaowen Yuan Hong of Northern Wei repeatedly campaigned southward. Northern Wei attacked Xinye, Nanyang, Yiyang, and other regions, and Southern Qi often fought at a disadvantage. In the major campaign of 498, Wei forces captured Nanyang and Xinye and heavily defeated Qi troops at Dengcheng. Southern Qi did, however, win at Woyang, where Northern Wei suffered serious losses. After Xiao Luan died, Emperor Xiaowen withdrew on the stated ground that ritual prohibited attacking a state during royal mourning.

Frugality and Administration

The source credits Xiao Luan with administrative ability, strict enforcement of law, restraint of favored courtiers, and tighter discipline among officials. He called for frugality, ended some regional tribute, canceled construction projects, returned the land of Xinlin Park to the population, sold the crown prince's Eastern Fields, and sent precious metal stripped from imperial conveyances into the treasury. The same source nevertheless says that his private life remained extravagant and that he retained the inner-palace luxuries of Emperor Wu.

His career before the usurpation is also well documented: he became magistrate of Anji in 472, where he was known for strictness; was appointed magistrate of Yongshi in 474; in 478 was promoted to general of manifest firmness and governor of Huainan and Xuancheng with the title general supporting the state; and after Xiao Daocheng took the throne in 479 became an attendant of the palace and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xichang. This progress from local office to the central regency enabled him to control the guards and the essential business of government in the last years of Emperor Wu, and finally to depose and install emperors.

Personal Relations

• Grandfather: Xiao Chengzhi, posthumously Emperor Xuan of Qi
• Father: Xiao Daosheng, Prince Zhen of Shi'an
• Mother: Lady Jiang, posthumously Empress Yi
• Uncle: Xiao Daocheng, Emperor Gao of Southern Qi
• Brothers: Xiao Feng, Prince Jing of Shi'an; Xiao Mian, Prince Zhao of Anlu
• Principal wife: Liu Huiduan, Empress Jing
• Consorts: Noble Consort Yuan, Guibin Yin, Shufei Guan, Shuyuan Xu
• Eldest son: Xiao Baoyi, Prince of Baling
• Second son: Xiao Baojuan, Marquis of Donghun
• Third son: Xiao Baoxuan, Prince of Jiangxia
• Fifth son: Xiao Baoyuan, Prince of Luling
• Sixth son: Xiao Baoyin, Prince of Poyang
• Eighth son: Xiao Baorong, Emperor He of Qi
• Ninth son: Xiao Baoyou, Prince of Shaoling
• Tenth son: Xiao Baosong, Prince of Jinxi
• Eleventh son: Xiao Baozhen, Prince of Guiyang
• Eldest daughter: Princess Shanyin, married Xu Kuang
• Xiao Yan, later Emperor Wu of Liang: participated in the deposition conspiracy and was sent to hold Shouyang
• Xiao Chen: central participant in the coup who led troops into the palace and killed Xiao Zhaoye
• Xiao Tanzhi: helped eliminate Xiao Zhaoye's close associates
• Wang Yan, Xu Xiaosi, Chen Xianda, Wang Guangzhi, and Shen Wenji: court officials who participated in the coup
• Xiao Daocheng, Emperor Gao of Southern Qi: uncle who raised Xiao Luan
• Xiao Ze, Emperor Wu of Southern Qi: cousin who entrusted him with the succession
• Xiao Zhaoye, Prince of Yulin: deposed and killed by Xiao Luan
• Xiao Zhaowen, Prince of Hailing: deposed and later secretly killed
• Xiao Zhaoye: deposed and killed
• Xiao Ziliang: suspected and excluded from government
• Xiao Feng: killed by Xiao Luan
• Xiao Zizhen: killed by Xiao Luan
• Xiao Zilun: poisoned on Xiao Luan's orders
• Cui Huijing: senior official of two reigns, kept in check by Xiao Yan on Xiao Luan's behalf

Historical Assessment

Southern Dynasties / Near-Contemporary Views

• The Book of Southern Qi states that Gaozong, “from a collateral branch, usurped the succession and based his claim on a nephew; to have reached this in a single morning was surely not his original intention, yet once entrusted with the late ruler's charge he could scarcely escape it. In acts of slaughter many motives filled his mind, some arising from resolute ruthlessness, others from fear... Thereafter he sought to establish his own root, but his descendants were isolated and weak; what he left did not flourish, and in the end the ancestral state was overthrown.” Its eulogy also says: “Gaozong rose from the side branch, a fortune for the royal house. He admired a name for frugality and virtue and left written laws and commands. Cautious and anxious, he was exacting in administration. Territory was lost at Mianyang, and the southern wind did not prevail.”
• The same history comments on his administration: “The emperor was clear in judgment and possessed administrative talent; he enforced the law without favoritism, controlled favorites and intimates, and kept officials disciplined. He forbade low-status retainers from using four-panel parasols and greatly preserved frugality.”
• Yu Shinan of the early Tang wrote: “Emperor Ming's suspicious mind was directed toward what would happen after his own death. He slaughtered and consumed, burning orchid and mugwort alike. He entrusted the state to Donghun and hoped to prolong it for seven hundred years. He and Emperor Xiaowu of Song followed the same pattern in different ages.”

Song and Yuan Periods

• Hu Sansheng wrote: “Wang Mang, Sima Shi, and Xiao Luan all had the same mind. Those who possess the realm should take warning from it.”
• The Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance records Xiao Luan's depositions in detail and presents them as a model case of usurpation.

Ming and Qing Periods

• Ming and Qing historians largely followed earlier assessments and viewed Xiao Luan as suspicious and cruel. Although Wang Fuzhi's Discussions on Reading the Comprehensive Mirror did not devote a separate essay to him, it repeatedly criticized murderous conflict within Southern Dynasties imperial houses and regarded “cutting away one's own branches” as an important cause of rapid dynastic collapse.

Modern Period

• Modern historians often analyze Xiao Luan's use of dianqian officials to monitor the imperial clan from the perspective of institutions, arguing that it further weakened the power of Southern Qi princes and contributed to the dynasty's rapid collapse.
• Scholars including Tian Yuqing, in discussions of Southern Dynasties politics, have treated Xiao Luan's slaughter of imperial relatives as an extreme manifestation of clan conflict during attempts to strengthen monarchic authority.