Xiao Mian

Xiao Mian (Chinese: 蕭俛; died March 16, 842), courtesy name Siqian (思謙), formally the Duke of Xu (徐公), was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Muzong. In traditional histories, he was praised for his integrity but blamed for faulty decisions that led to the imperial government's loss of control over the circuits north of the Yellow River.

It is not known when Xiao Mian was born. His family was prominent, having been descended from the imperial house of Liang Dynasty, and his grandfather Xiao Hua, great-grandfather Xiao Song, and Xiao Song's great-granduncle Xiao Yu had all served as chancellors during Tang Dynasty. Xiao Mian's father Xiao Heng (蕭恆) served as an imperial censor. Xiao Mian passed the imperial examinations in 791, during the reign of Emperor Dezong. (Also passing the imperial examinations that year were Huangfu Bo and Linghu Chu, and the three developed a deep friendship.)

In 806, during the reign of Emperor Dezong's grandson Emperor Xianzong, Xiao Mian passed a special examination for those with strategic recommendations, and was thereafter made a consultant at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), initially at the low post of You Shiyi (右拾遺) and then promoted to You Bujue (右補闕). In 811, he was made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi) in addition to his post as You Bujue. In 812, in addition to being imperial scholar, he was moved from the You Bujue post to be Sifeng Yuanwailang (司封員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Lìbu). In 814, he was made Jiabu Langzhong (駕部郎中), a supervisorial official at the ministry of rites (禮部, Lǐbu, note different tone than the ministry of civil service affairs), but continued to serve as imperial scholar, and was also given the responsibility of drafting imperial edicts.

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