Niu Sengru

Niu Sengru(Ngưu tăng nhụ) (780 – January 27, 849),courtesy nameSi'an(Tư ảm), formallyDuke Wenzhen of Qizhang(Kỳ chương văn trinh công), was a prominent statesman, scholar,chuanqiwriter, and poet ofChina'sTang dynasty.Niu served multiple terms as achancellorunder EmperorMuzongand the latter's sonsEmperor JingzongandEmperor Wenzong.Alternately in and out of imperial favor and high office amid turbulence in the imperial court, Niu also served as theminister of warand aprovincial military governor.Traditional historians often considered him a leader of the eponymous "Niu faction" in theNiu-Li factional strugglesof the eighth-century Tang court, though contemporary scholars have questioned the degree to which Niu actively engaged in factional politics. Niu was regarded by contemporaries, including his political adversaryLi Deyu,as an official of high integrity, and he was posthumously awarded prestigious honors after his death in the reign ofEmperor Xuanzong.

Niu's literary output spanned multiple genres, includingpoetryandchuanqi,a form of fantastical short story popular in the later Tang. Niu'schuanqianthologyAccounts of Mysteries and Monsters( huyền quái lục ) is considered a step in the evolution of Tangfiction.While priorchuanqiwriters had presented their writings as reflections of actual events, Niu clearly portrayed his subject matter as fictional and included detailedcharacterizationin his work.

Background

Assuming that Niu Sengru died in theWuchenyear of theDazhongera (847-859) ofEmperor Xuānzongas asserted in the commemorative text written byLi Jue,Niu was born inLingtai County,Pingliangin 780, during the reign ofEmperor Dezong.He was a descendant of the prominentSui dynastyofficial Niu Hong (Ngưu hoằng).His grandfather Niu Shao (Ngưu Thiệu) served as a consultant at the ministry of worship, while his father Niu Youwen (Ngưu ấu nghe) served as a county magistrate.His father died when he was young, and he tended a farm at Xiadu ( hạ đỗ, near the capitalChang'an) that his family had previously been bestowed to make a living. He was capable in writing, and eventually passed theimperial examinationsin 805, in the same year as eventual colleague and allyLi Zongmin.

During Emperor Xianzong's reign

Niu Sengru eventually did serve as the magistrate of Yijue County ( y khuyết, in modernLuoyang,Henan).In 808, when Emperor Dezong's grandsonEmperor Xianzongheld a special imperial examination for the examinees to give honest criticism of government, the officials in charge of the examination,Wei Guanzhiand Yang Yuling (Dương với lăng), selected three examinees who gave blunt criticism — Niu, Huangfu Shi (Hoàng Phủ thực), andLi Zongmin— for top marks. However, the chancellorLi Jifuwere stung by the criticism that they gave and viewed these as personal attacks against him. Li Jifu tearfully complained to Emperor Xianzong that the reviewers of the scores that Wei and Yang gave — the imperial scholarsPei JiandWang Ya— had conflicts of interest, as Huangfu was Wang's nephew. As a result of Li Jifu's accusations, Pei, Wang, Yang, and Wei were all demoted, with Wei initially demoted to be the prefect of Guo Prefecture ( Quả Châu, in modernNanchong,Sichuan), and then further moved to be the prefect of Ba Prefecture ( ba châu, in modernBazhong,Sichuan). Niu, Huangfu, and Li Zongmin were not exiled, but they were said in theZizhi Tong gianto be effectively stalled in their careers, forcing them to find governmental positions themselves under regional governors.However, the other traditional accounts of Niu's own career did not indicate that he served under a regional governor at all; rather, he continued to serve as the magistrate of Yijue, and then the magistrate of Henan County ( Hà Nam, one of the two counties making up the eastern capital Luoyang). He later served as an imperial censor with the titleJiancha Yushi(Giám sát ngự sử), thenKaogong Yuanwailang(Khảo công viên ngoại lang), a low-level official at the ministry of civil service affairs ( Lại Bộ,Libu), as well as an imperial scholar at Jixian Hall (Tập hiền điện).

During Emperor Muzong's reign

After Emperor Xianzong died in 820 and was succeeded by his sonEmperor Muzong,Niu Sengru was promoted toKubu Langzhong(Kho bộ lang trung), a supervisorial official at the ministry of defense ( Hộ Bộ,Bingbu), and was put in charge of drafting imperial edicts. Later that year, he was made deputy chief imperial censor ( ngự sử trung thừa,Yushi Zhongcheng). At that time, there was a backlog of criminal cases in the prefectures, causing many people to be unduly detained while waiting adjudication. Niu worked to unclog the backlog, and indicted many responsible officials, causing the popular sentiment to respect him.In 821, when Li Zhichen (Lý thẳng thần) the prefect of Su Prefecture ( túc châu, in modernSuzhou, Anhui) was accused of corruption and sentenced to death, powerfuleunuchsreceived Li Zhichen's bribes and spoke on his behalf. Emperor Muzong thus commented to Niu, "Li Zhichen is talented, and should be pitied." Niu responded, in advocating for Li Zhichen's death:

Those without talents would only worry about feeding and clothing themselves and their wives and children, and there needs not to be any worries about them. The law exists to stop those with talents.An LushanandZhu Ci[(two generals who had in previously decades rebelled against Tang rule)] were both highly talented people that the law did not stop.

Emperor Muzong agreed with Niu and accepted his suggestion.Emperor Muzong thereafter greatly respected Niu. Meanwhile, in 823, the former chancellor and major generalHan Hongdied, shortly after Han Hong's son Han Gongwu (Hàn công võ) had died. Han Hong had served as the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit ( tuyên võ, headquartered in modernKaifeng,Henan) for a long time and amassed great wealth.After Han Hong had offered to stay at the capitalChang'anin 819,he, at Han Gongwu's suggestion, offered many bribes to other officials in Chang'an such that his deeds at Xuanwu would not be further looked into.After both Han Hong and Han Gongwu died, there was a dispute involving the property that Han Hong left his young grandson Han Shaozong (Hàn Thiệu tông). Emperor Muzong, pitying Han Shaozong's situation, ordered that Han Hong's property registries be given to the emperor personally for him to review. While Emperor Muzong was reviewing Han Hong's records, he discovered the bribes that Han Hong had been giving other official, and he reached an entry indicating that a bribe had been offered to Niu but Niu rejected it. Emperor Muzong was very pleased and showed the entry to his attendants, stating, "I did not make a mistake judging him." He therefore made NiuZhongshu Shilang(Trung thư thị lang), the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government ( Trung Thư Tỉnh,Zhongshu Sheng), andchancellorde factowith the titleTong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi(Cùng trung thư môn hạ bình chương sự). At that time, both Niu and Li Jifu's sonLi Deyuwere considered serious candidates for chancellorship, but while Niu was indeed made chancellor, Li Deyu was made the governor of Zhexi Circuit ( Chiết Tây, headquartered in modernZhen gian g,Jiangsu) and stuck there for eight years without movement. Li Deyu therefore came to believe that the chancellorLi Fengjihad endorsed Niu and squeezed him out of the picture. The rivalry between Niu and Li Deyu, already precipitated by Li Jifu's earlier taking offense at Niu's examination answers, therefore grew more bitter.

During Emperor Jingzong's reign

Emperor Muzong died in 824 and was succeeded by his sonEmperor Jingzong.Upon enthronement, Emperor Jingzong conferred the honorary title ofYinqing Guanglu Daifu(Bạc thanh quang lộc đại phu) on Niu Sengru, and also created him the Viscount of Qizhang. Late in the year, Emperor Jingzong upgraded his honorary title toJinzi Guanglu Daifuand created him the Duke of Qizhang — a title that his ancestor Niu Hong had carried.Emperor Jingzong also put him in charge of editing the imperial history.

The Qizhang Pavilion in Yellow Crane Tower Park, was built in memory of Niu Sengru

By 825, Niu had come to the conclusion that Emperor Jingzong was frivolous and not diligent, and that wicked people around Emperor Jingzong wielded actual power. He did not dare to speak on the issue in fear of bringing disaster on himself, so he repeatedly offered to resign and take a regional governor post. In spring 825, Emperor Jingzong converted Eyue Circuit ( ngạc nhạc, headquartered in modernWuhan,Hubei) to Wuchang Circuit and made Niu the military governor (Jiedushi) of Wuchang, continuing to carry theTong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshititle as an honorary title. (When he went throughXiangyang,the military governor of Shannan East Circuit ( Sơn Nam đông đạo, headquartered at Xiangyang), Liu Gongchuo (Liễu công xước), in order to show respect to the central government, as Niu was recently chancellor, paid respect to Niu, over his staff's objection, even though they had the same rank as military governor and Shannan East was considered a circuit with higher precedence than Wuchang.)

Due to the humidity at Wuchang's capital city Jiangxia (Giang hạ), the city walls were often crumbling, and each year required repair with green soil. The labor levies of each year were heavy, and the bureaucrats took the opportunity to be corrupt as well. Once Niu arrived at Wuchang, he began a project to repair the walls with bricks instead, and it was said that after completion of the project, the Jiangxia walls no longer suffered from damage due to humidity. Because one of the prefectures of Wuchang, Mian Prefecture ( miện châu, in modernXiantao,Hubei), was just across theYangtze Riverfrom Wuchang's capital prefecture E Prefecture (Ngạc Châu), Niu requested that Mian Prefecture be merged into E Prefecture, to reduce administrative burdens on the people.

During Emperor Wenzong's reign

In 830, by which time Emperor Jingzong's younger brotherEmperor Wenzongwas emperor, Li Zongmin was a chancellor. When, in spring 830, Niu Sengru went to Chang'an to pay homage to Emperor Wenzong, Li Zongmin argued to Emperor Wenzong that Niu was capable and should be kept at the central government. Emperor Wenzong thus again made Niu a chancellor with the title ofTong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi,as well as the minister of defense ( Binh Bộ thượng thư,Bingbu Shangshu).It was said that, with Niu and Li Zongmin in power, they spent much effort in expelling Li Deyu's partisans out of the central government.

In 831,Li Zaiyithe military governor of Lulong Circuit ( Lư long, headquartered in modernBeijing) — who had ruled Lulong largely independently from the imperial government but which had been respectful to the imperial government and following many of its orders, including in a recent campaign against the warlordLi Tongjie— was overthrown and expelled from Lulong by his officerYang Zhicheng.When Emperor Wenzong contemplated how to react to the situation, Niu pointed out that Lulong had not actually belonged to the imperial government for decades and that a campaign against Yang would be futile. Under his suggestion, Yang was allowed to keep the command of Lulong, while Emperor Wenzong, due to Li Zaiyi's previous accomplishments, made him the military governor of Shannan West Circuit ( Sơn Nam tây đạo, headquartered in modernHanzhong,Shaanxi). (Niu's advocacy for taking no actions against Yang drew a sharply-worded criticism from theSong dynastyhistorianSima Guangin hisZizhi Tong gian.)

Also in 831, Niu's chancellor colleagueSong Shenxiwas accused of plotting to overthrow Emperor Wenzong and to replace him with his brotherLi Couthe Prince of Zhang. (The accusations against Song had come about because Emperor Wenzong and Song were planning to massacre the powerful eunuchs, and the eunuchs reacted by manufacturing evidence of Song's alleged treason.) Emperor Wenzong initially believed the accusations and was set to execute Song, but Niu, along with a large number of other officials, spoke on the implausibility that Song, already a chancellor, would plot treason. Instead, Li Cou was demoted in his rank, and Song was exiled, but both were spared.

Late in 831, Li Deyu, then the military governor of Xichuan Circuit ( Tây Xuyên, headquartered in modernChengdu,Sichuan), reported that Xidamou (Tất đát mưu), theTufanofficer in charge of Wei Prefecture ( duy châu, in modernNgawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture,Sichuan), surrendered Wei Prefecture, which Tufan had captured from Tang decades earlier, to him. Li Deyu advocated accepting the surrender and using Wei Prefecture as a launch pad for a major campaign against Tufan. Niu opposed, arguing that this was a violation of the peace treaty between Tang and Tufan and that, should a war start, Tufan forces could reach Chang'an easily. Emperor Wenzong accepted his argument and ordered that Li Deyu return Wei Prefecture, as well as Xidamou and his soldiers, to Tufan. Tufan had Xidamou and his soldiers massacred. The massacre brought much popular sentiment against Niu, and was commonly viewed at the time to be the result of the conflict between Niu/Li Zongmin and Li Deyu. With Emperor Wenzong regretting the decision, Niu repeatedly offered to resign — particularly given that Emperor Wenzong was repeatedly inquisitive of the chancellors as to when true peace would come to the realm, and Niu seeing true peace as impossible to achieve within a short time and viewing Emperor Wenzong as overly eager. Around the new year 833, Emperor Wenzong made Niu the military governor of Huainan Circuit ( Hoài Nam, headquartered in modernYangzhou,Jiangsu), having him keep theTong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshititle as an honorary title.

In 837, Niu was given the honorary actingSikong( Tư Không, one of theThree Excellencies) title and made the defender of Luoyang as well as the head of the Luoyang branch office of the executive bureau ( thượng thư tỉnh,Shangshu Sheng). It was said that Niu did not care about the relative lack of power he had, and spent his days entertaining guests and collecting rare woods and rocks.In 838, Emperor Wenzong summoned him back to Chang'an to serve asZuo Pushe(Tả bộc dạ), one of the heads of the executive bureau.At that time, Emperor Wenzong's son and crown princeLi Yonghad recently died after having been severely rebuked by Emperor Wenzong (and the suspicions were that Li Yong was actually killed either on Emperor Wenzong's own orders or with his acquiescence)and, when Niu met Emperor Wenzong, he spoke about the proper ways of father-son relationships, causing Emperor Wenzong to weep. Subsequently, Niu claimed a foot illness and did not meet Emperor Wenzong at the palace again, and Emperor Wenzong excused Niu from his presence. In 839, Emperor Wenzong made Niu the military governor of Shannan East Circuit and the prefect of its capital prefecture Xiang Prefecture (Tương châu), and having him keep theTong Zhongshu Menxia PingzhangshiandSikongtitles as honorary titles. He also awarded Niu many rare ancient vessels and informed Niu that he did not need to rush to report to Shannan East Circuit. Niu, pointing out that Shannan East had just suffered major natural disasters and needed to be tended to immediately, left for Shannan East immediately despite Emperor Wenzong's words.

During Emperor Wuzong's reign

In 840, Emperor Wenzong died and was succeeded by his younger brotherEmperor Wuzong.Emperor Wuzong conferred the honorary title of actingSitu( Tư Đồ, also one of the Three Excellencies) on Niu Sengru.However, soon after Emperor Wuzong's enthronement, Li Deyu became chancellor and the leading figure in the imperial government. In 841, when a major flood on theHan Riverdestroyed the civilians' houses at Xiang Prefecture, Li Deyu blamed Niu, removed him from his command, and had him made senior advisor to theCrown Prince.In 842, Niu was again made the defender of Luoyang.

In 843, Li Deyu had the matter of Xidamou's surrender reexamined and submitted an accusation against Niu and Li Zongmin. Emperor Wuzong posthumously honored Xidamou, but did not take further actions against Niu or Li Zongmin at that time.(This was commonly viewed as part of a plan for Li Deyu to take vengeance against Niu and Li Zongmin, abandoned only after Li Deyu found a more powerful way to attack them directly).

Later in 843,Liu Cong gianthe military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit ( chiêu nghĩa, headquartered in modernChangzhi,Shanxi). Emperor Wuzong, under Li Deyu's advice, refused to allow Liu Cong gian 's designated heir, Liu Cong gian 's nephewLiu Zhen(whom Liu Cong gian had adopted as a son), to inherit the circuit and further ordered a general campaign against Liu Zhen.After the imperial forces destroyed Liu Zhen in 844, Li Deyu accused Niu and Li Zongmin, then the prefect of Hu Prefecture ( Hồ Châu, in modernHuzhou,Zhe gian g), of having been complicit in Liu Cong gian 's ruling Zhaoyi effectively independently while they served as chancellors. He also had Liu Zhen's mansion thoroughly searched for any evidence of communications that Niu and Li Zongmin had with Liu Cong gian or Liu Zhen, and, after finding none, induced Liu Cong gian 's secretary Zheng Qing (Trịnh khánh) to report that Liu Cong gian had received many letters from Niu and Li Zongmin but had burned them all. The imperial censors Li Hui (Lý hồi) and Zheng Ya (Trịnh á) concurred in the report. Further, Lü Shu (Lữ thuật) the deputy mayor of Henan Municipality ( Hà Nam, i.e., the Luoyang region), submitted a report that stated that Niu sighed when the news of Liu Zhen's defeat arrived. Emperor Wuzong, in anger, immediately stripped Niu of his responsibility as defender of Luoyang and demoted him to be an advisor of the Crown Princeand moved Li Zongmin farther from Chang'an, to Zhang Prefecture ( Chương Châu, in modernZhangzhou,Fu gian). Soon thereafter, Emperor Wuzong further demoted Niu to be the prefect of Ting Prefecture ( đinh châu, in modernLongyan,Fu gian) and Li Zongmin to be the secretary general of Zhang Prefecture. Shortly thereafter, Niu was further demoted to be the secretary general of Xun Prefecture ( theo châu, in modernHuizhou,Guangdong), and Li Zongmin was stripped of all titles and exiled to Feng Prefecture ( phong châu, in modernZhaoqing,Guangdong).

During Emperor Xuānzong's reign

In 846, Emperor Wuzong died and was succeeded by his uncleEmperor Xuānzong.Emperor Xuāanzong, who had disliked Li Deyu's hold on power, deposed Li Deyu from his post as chancellor, and shortly after began moving the five former chancellors that Emperor Wuzong had exiled — Niu Sengru, Li Zongmin,Cui Gong,Yang Sifu,andLi Jue— closer to the capital, and Niu was moved to be the military advisor to the prefect ofHeng Prefecture(Hengyang,Hunan).He was later moved to Ru Prefecture ( Nhữ Châu, in modernPingdingshan,Henan), before being recalled to Chang'an to again be advisor to the Crown Prince.He died in 849 and was given posthumous honors.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang,vol. 172.
• New Book of Tang,vol. 174.
• Zizhi Tong gian,vols.237,242,243,244,246,248.