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Yuan Xiangxian (袁象先) (864?^[1]/865?^[2] – July 11, 924?^[1]^[2]^[3]), known briefly as Li Shao'an (李紹安) during the reign of Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang, was a general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period states Later Liang and Later Tang. He was a nephew of Later Liang's founding emperor Zhu Wen (Zhu Quanzhong).

Background

Yuan Xiangxian was born in either 864 (according to the History of the Five Dynasties)^[1] or 865 (according to the New History of the Five Dynasties),^[2] during the reign of Emperor Yizong of Tang. The family of his father Yuan Jingchu (袁敬初) claimed to be descended from the mid-Tang dynasty chancellor Yuan Shuji. His great-grandfather Yuan Jinchao (袁進朝) was a deputy mayor of Chengdu, while his grandfather Yuan Zhongyi (袁忠義) served as a secretary at Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, then-headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan). His mother was a Lady Zhu, who was a sister to Zhu Quanzhong, the eventual founder of Later Liang but who predeceased the founding of the dynasty. In his youth, it was said that Yuan Xiangxian had a kind and generous disposition.^[1]

Service under Zhu Quanzhong during Tang dynasty

Yuan Xiangxian's army career started in or shortly after 883, when his uncle Zhu Quanzhong was made the military governor of Xuanwu,^[4] as he thereafter became an officer at Xuanwu. He was gradually promoted through the ranks within the Xuanwu army itself. In 899, Zhu Quanzhong put him in charge of Su Prefecture (宿州, in modern Suzhou, Anhui), and in 901 made him full military prefect of the prefecture (團練使, Tuanlianshi). Shortly after, the army of Zhu's rival Yang Xingmi the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) put Su under siege, but Yuan capably defended it, and the city did not fall. In 903, he was put in charge of Ming Prefecture (洺州, in modern Handan, Hebei) In 906, he was made the prefect of Chen Prefecture (陳州, in modern Zhumadian, Henan).^[1]

During Later Liang

In 908, by which time Zhu Quanzhong had seized the Tang throne and established a new Later Liang as its Emperor Taizu, Yuan Xiangxian was recalled to serve as a general of the imperial guards. In 909, he was created the Baron of Ru'nan. In 910, he was made the acting military governor of Xuanwu Circuit^[1] — which, by that point, had had its capital moved to Song Prefecture (宋州, in modern Shangqiu, Henan) as its prior capital Daliang had become the imperial eastern capital.^[5] Shortly after, he was moved to be the acting military governor of Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong). At that time, the circuit was suffering through a major famine, and Yuan was credited with opening up the military food reserves to feed the people.^[1] In 911, when Emperor Taizu launched a campaign north against Zhao and Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern Baoding, Hebei) (which was allied with Zhao, as well as Later Liang's archenemy Jin), Yuan was put in charge of the southeastern theater of the campaign and created a count. He unsuccessfully sieged Tiao County (蓨縣, in modern Hengshui, Hebei) before the Later Liang army withdrew.^[1]^[6] He was thereafter recalled to the imperial government to serve as an imperial guard general.^[1]

In summer 912, Emperor Taizu was assassinated by his son Zhu Yougui the Prince of Ying, who then took the throne after putting his adoptive brother Zhu Youwen the Prince of Bo to death and blaming Zhu Youwen for the assassination. However, many generals believed Zhu Yougui to be responsible, and Yuan was soon in contact with the major general Yang Shihou, Emperor Taizu's son-in-law Zhao Yan, and Emperor Taizu's son Zhu Youzhen the Prince of Jun, plotting to overthrow Zhu Yougui. In spring 913, Yuan sent his soldiers into the palace and had Zhu Yougui surrounded. Zhu Yougui, seeing the situation as hopeless, committed suicide with his wife Empress Zhang and his servant Feng Ting'e (馮廷諤). Yuan and Zhao took over control of the capital Luoyang, and sent the imperial seal to Daliang, where Zhu Youzhen was then at the time, offering the throne to him. Zhu Youzhen accepted and took the throne at Daliang.^[6] For his contributions, Yuan was given the honorary titles of military governor of Zhennan Circuit (鎮南, headquartered in modern Nanchang, Jiangxi, then under control of Later Liang's enemy Wu), acting Taibao (太保), honorary chancellor (同中書門下平章事, Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi), acting mayor of Kaifeng (i.e., Daliang), and the commander of the capital guards; he was also created a duke.^[1]^[6] In 914, he was made the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Weifang, Shandong), and shortly after the military governor of Xuanwu, where he would remain for some 10 years.^[1] When Wu's junior regent Xu Zhixun put Ying Prefecture (潁州, in modern Fuyang, Anhui) under siege late in 916, Zhu Youzhen (who had changed his name to Zhu Zhen by this point) ordered Yuan to command a relief force; when Yuan approached Ying, Xu withdrew.^[7] It was said that during Emperor Taizu's reign, a culture of corruption developed among the generals. In particular, Yuan, as a nephew of the emperor, while governing the circuits, took much wealth from the people and enriched himself.^[1]

During Later Tang

In 923, Jin's prince Li Cunxu, who had declared himself emperor of a new Later Tang earlier in the year (as Emperor Zhuangzong), launched a surprise direct attack on the Later Liang capital Daliang. With the main Later Liang army away from the capital and unable to save him, Zhu Zhen committed suicide before the city fell, ending Later Liang. Once the Later Tang emperor entered the former Later Liang capital, the Later Liang military governors submitted to the new state in droves, with Yuan Xiangxian and Huo Yanwei the acting military governor of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered in modern Sanmenxia, Henan) arriving first. It was said that Yuan, with the wealth that he had accumulated, brought tens of carts of jewels and other treasures to the capital, and used the wealth to bribe Emperor Zhuangzong's favorite consort Lady Liu, as well as other powerful officials, eunuchs, and performers that Emperor Zhuangzong favored, thus causing them to all praise him greatly.^[8] Emperor Zhuangzong changed the name of his circuit from Xuanwu to Guide (歸德, "returning with virtue")^[1] (as Emperor Zhuangzong returned the Xuanwu name to Daliang),^[8] and bestowed the imperial clan name of Li on him with a new name of Shao'an, before sending him back to his circuit. He died later next summer while still serving at Guide,^[3] and was given posthumous honors.^[1]

Notes and references

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 59.
^ ^a ^b ^c New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 45.
^ ^a ^b According to History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 32, the death news of Li Shao'an was exposed on July 11, 924, so the accurate death date of Li Shao'an should be some days earlier, as the news needed time to spread.
^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 255.
^ History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 4.
^ ^a ^b ^c Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 268.
^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 269.
^ ^a ^b Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 272.

History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 59.
New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 45.
Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 268, 269, 272.

[HFD59-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 59.

[NHFD45-2] New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 45.

[HFD32-3] According to History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 32, the death news of Li Shao'an was exposed on July 11, 924, so the accurate death date of Li Shao'an should be some days earlier, as the news needed time to spread.

[ZZTJ255-4] Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 255.

[5] History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 4.

[ZZTJ268-6] Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 268.

[ZZTJ269-7] Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 269.

[ZZTJ272-8] Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 272.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

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-'''Yuan Xiangxian''' (袁象先) (863?<ref name=HFD59>''[[Old History of the Five Dynasties|History of the Five Dynasties]]'', [[:zh:s:舊五代史/卷59|vol. 59]].</ref>/864?<ref name=NHFD45>''[[New History of the Five Dynasties]]'', [[:zh:s:新五代史/卷45|vol. 45]].</ref>–923<ref name=HFD59/><ref name=NHFD45/>), known briefly as '''Li Shao'an''' (李紹安) during the reign of [[Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang]], was a general of the [[History of China|Chinese]] [[Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period]] states [[Later Liang (Five Dynasties)|Later Liang]] and [[Later Tang]].  He was a nephew of Later Liang's founding emperor [[Emperor Taizu of Later Liang]] (Zhu Quanzhong).
+'''Yuan Xiangxian''' ({{lang|zh|袁象先}}) (864?<ref name=HFD59>''[[Old History of the Five Dynasties|History of the Five Dynasties]]'', [[:zh:s:舊五代史/卷59|vol. 59]].</ref>/865?<ref name=NHFD45>''[[New History of the Five Dynasties]]'', [[:zh:s:新五代史/卷45|vol. 45]].</ref> – July 11, 924?<ref name=HFD59/><ref name=NHFD45/><ref name=HFD32>According to ''[[Old History of the Five Dynasties|History of the Five Dynasties]]'', [[:zh:s:舊五代史/卷32|vol. 32]], the death news of Li Shao'an was exposed on July 11, 924, so the accurate death date of Li Shao'an should be some days earlier, as the news needed time to spread.</ref>), known briefly as '''Li Shao'an''' ({{lang|zh|李紹安}}) during the reign of [[Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang]], was a general of the [[History of China|Chinese]] [[Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period]] states [[Later Liang (Five Dynasties)|Later Liang]] and [[Later Tang]].  He was a nephew of Later Liang's founding emperor [[Zhu Wen]] (Zhu Quanzhong).
 == Background ==
-Yuan Xiangxian was born in either 863 (according to the ''[[Old History of the Five Dynasties|History of the Five Dynasties]]'')<ref name=HFD59/> or 864 (according to the ''[[New History of the Five Dynasties]]''),<ref name=NHFD45/> during the reign of [[Emperor Yizong of Tang]].  The family of his father Yuan Jingchu (袁敬初) claimed to be descended from the mid-[[Tang Dynasty]] [[chancellor of Tang Dynasty|chancellor]] [[Yuan Shuji]].  His great-grandfather Yuan Jinchao (袁進朝) was a deputy mayor of [[Chengdu]], while his grandfather Yuan Zhongyi (袁忠義) served as a secretary at Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, then-headquartered in modern [[Kaifeng]], [[Henan]]).  His mother was a Lady Zhu, who was a sister to [[Emperor Taizu of Later Liang|Zhu Quanzhong]], the eventual founder of [[Later Liang (Five Dynasties)|Later Liang]] but who predeceased the founding of the dynasty.  In his youth, it was said that Yuan Xiangxian had a kind and generous disposition.<ref name=HFD59/>
+Yuan Xiangxian was born in either 864 (according to the ''[[Old History of the Five Dynasties|History of the Five Dynasties]]'')<ref name=HFD59/> or 865 (according to the ''[[New History of the Five Dynasties]]''),<ref name=NHFD45/> during the reign of [[Emperor Yizong of Tang]].  The family of his father Yuan Jingchu ({{lang|zh|袁敬初}}) claimed to be descended from the mid-[[Tang dynasty]] [[chancellor of the Tang dynasty|chancellor]] [[Yuan Shuji]].  His great-grandfather Yuan Jinchao ({{lang|zh|袁進朝}}) was a deputy mayor of [[Chengdu]], while his grandfather Yuan Zhongyi ({{lang|zh|袁忠義}}) served as a secretary at Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, then-headquartered in modern [[Xuchang]], [[Henan]]).  His mother was a Lady Zhu, who was a sister to [[Zhu Wen|Zhu Quanzhong]], the eventual founder of [[Later Liang (Five Dynasties)|Later Liang]] but who predeceased the founding of the dynasty.  In his youth, it was said that Yuan Xiangxian had a kind and generous disposition.<ref name=HFD59/>
-== Service under Zhu Quanzhong during Tang Dynasty ==
+== Service under Zhu Quanzhong during Tang dynasty ==
 Yuan Xiangxian's army career started in or shortly after 883, when his uncle Zhu Quanzhong was made the military governor of Xuanwu,<ref name=ZZTJ255>''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷255|vol. 255]].</ref> as he thereafter became an officer at Xuanwu.  He was gradually promoted through the ranks within the Xuanwu army itself.  In 899, Zhu Quanzhong put him in charge of Su Prefecture (宿州, in modern [[Suzhou, Anhui|Suzhou]], [[Anhui]]), and in 901 made him full military prefect of the prefecture (團練使, ''Tuanlianshi'').  Shortly after, the army of Zhu's rival [[Yang Xingmi]] the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern [[Yangzhou]], [[Jiangsu]]) put Su under siege, but Yuan capably defended it, and the city did not fall.  In 903, he was put in charge of Ming Prefecture (洺州, in modern [[Handan]], [[Hebei]])  In 906, he was made the prefect of Chen Prefecture (陳州, in modern [[Zhumadian]], [[Henan]]).<ref name=HFD59/>
 == During Later Liang ==
-In 908, by which time Zhu Quanzhong had seized the Tang throne and established a new [[Later Liang (Five Dynasties)|Later Liang]] as its Emperor Taizu, Yuan Xiangxian was recalled to serve as a general of the imperial guards.  In 909, he was created the Baron of Ru'nan.  In 910, he was made the acting military governor of Xuanwu Circuit<ref name=HFD59/> — which, by that point, had had its capital moved to Song Prefecture (宋州, in modern [[Shangqiu]], [[Henan]]) as its prior capital [[Kaifeng|Daliang]] had become the imperial eastern capital.<ref>''History of the Five Dynasties'', [[:zh:s:舊五代史/卷4|vol. 4]].</ref>  Shortly after, he was moved to be the acting military governor of Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern [[Tai'an]], [[Shandong]]).  At that time, the circuit was suffering through a major famine, and Yuan was credited with opening up the military food reserves to feed the people.<ref name=HFD59/>  In 911, when Emperor Taizu launched a campaign north against [[Zhao (Five Dynasties)|Zhao]] and Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern [[Baoding]], [[Hebei]]) (which was allied with Zhao, as well as Later Liang's archenemy [[Jin (Five Dynasties)|Jin]]), Yuan was put in charge of the southeastern theater of the campaign and created a count.  He unsuccessfully sieged Tiao County (蓨縣, in modern [[Hengshui]], [[Hebei]]) before the Later Liang army withdrew.<ref name=HFD59/><ref name=ZZTJ268>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷267|vol. 268]].</ref>  He was thereafter recalled to the imperial government to serve as an imperial guard general.<ref name=HFD59/>
+In 908, by which time Zhu Quanzhong had seized the Tang throne and established a new [[Later Liang (Five Dynasties)|Later Liang]] as its Emperor Taizu, Yuan Xiangxian was recalled to serve as a general of the imperial guards.  In 909, he was created the Baron of Ru'nan.  In 910, he was made the acting military governor of Xuanwu Circuit<ref name=HFD59/> — which, by that point, had had its capital moved to Song Prefecture (宋州, in modern [[Shangqiu]], [[Henan]]) as its prior capital [[Kaifeng|Daliang]] had become the imperial eastern capital.<ref>''History of the Five Dynasties'', [[:zh:s:舊五代史/卷4|vol. 4]].</ref>  Shortly after, he was moved to be the acting military governor of Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern [[Tai'an]], [[Shandong]]).  At that time, the circuit was suffering through a major famine, and Yuan was credited with opening up the military food reserves to feed the people.<ref name=HFD59/>  In 911, when Emperor Taizu launched a campaign north against [[Zhao (Five Dynasties)|Zhao]] and Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern [[Baoding]], [[Hebei]]) (which was allied with Zhao, as well as Later Liang's archenemy [[Jin (Later Tang precursor)|Jin]]), Yuan was put in charge of the southeastern theater of the campaign and created a count.  He unsuccessfully sieged Tiao County (蓨縣, in modern [[Hengshui]], [[Hebei]]) before the Later Liang army withdrew.<ref name=HFD59/><ref name=ZZTJ268>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷268|vol. 268]].</ref>  He was thereafter recalled to the imperial government to serve as an imperial guard general.<ref name=HFD59/>
-In summer 912, Emperor Taizu was assassinated by his son [[Zhu Yougui]] the Prince of Ying, who then took the throne after putting his adoptive brother [[Zhu Youwen]] the Prince of Bo to death and blaming Zhu Youwen for the assassination.  However, many generals believed Zhu Yougui to be responsible, and Yuan was soon in contact with the major general [[Yang Shihou]], Emperor Taizu's son-in-law [[Zhao Yan (Later Liang)|Zhao Yan]], and Emperor Taizu's son [[Zhu Zhen|Zhu Youzhen]] the Prince of Jun, plotting to overthrow Zhu Yougui.  In spring 913, Yuan sent his soldiers into the palace and had Zhu Yougui surrounded.  Zhu Yougui, seeing the situation as hopeless, committed suicide with his wife [[Empress Zhang (Zhu Yougui)|Empress Zhang]] and his servant Feng Ting'e (馮廷諤).  Yuan and Zhao took over control of the capital [[Luoyang]], and sent the imperial seal to Daliang, where Zhu Youzhen was then at the time, offering the throne to him.  Zhu Youzhen accepted and took the throne at Daliang.<ref name=ZZTJ268/>  For his contributions, Yuan was given the honorary titles of military governor of Zhennan Circuit (鎮南, headquartered in modern [[Nanchang]], [[Jiangxi]], then under control of Later Liang's enemy [[Wu (Ten Kingdoms)|Wu]]), acting ''Taibao'' (太保), honorary [[chancellor of Tang Dynasty|chancellor]] (同中書門下平章事, ''Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi''), acting mayor of Kaifeng (i.e., Daliang), and the commander of the capital guards; he was also created a duke.<ref name=HFD59/><ref name=ZZTJ268/>  In 914, he was made the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern [[Weifang]], [[Shandong]]), and shortly after the military governor of Xuanwu, where he would remain for some 10 years.<ref name=HFD59/>  When Wu's junior regent [[Xu Zhixùn]] put Ying Prefecture (潁州, in modern [[Fuyang]], [[Anhui]]) under siege late in 916, Zhu Youzhen (who had changed his name to Zhu Zhen by this point) ordered Yuan to command a relief force; when Yuan approached Ying, Xu withdrew.<ref name=ZZTJ269>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷269|vol. 269]].</ref>  It was said that during Emperor Taizu's reign, a culture of corruption developed among the generals.  In particular, Yuan, as a nephew of the emperor, while governing the circuits, took much wealth from the people and enriched himself.<ref name=HFD59/>
+In summer 912, Emperor Taizu was assassinated by his son [[Zhu Yougui]] the Prince of Ying, who then took the throne after putting his adoptive brother [[Zhu Youwen]] the Prince of Bo to death and blaming Zhu Youwen for the assassination.  However, many generals believed Zhu Yougui to be responsible, and Yuan was soon in contact with the major general [[Yang Shihou]], Emperor Taizu's son-in-law [[Zhao Yan (Later Liang)|Zhao Yan]], and Emperor Taizu's son [[Zhu Youzhen]] the Prince of Jun, plotting to overthrow Zhu Yougui.  In spring 913, Yuan sent his soldiers into the palace and had Zhu Yougui surrounded.  Zhu Yougui, seeing the situation as hopeless, committed suicide with his wife [[Empress Zhang (Later Liang)|Empress Zhang]] and his servant Feng Ting'e ({{lang|zh|馮廷諤}}).  Yuan and Zhao took over control of the capital [[Luoyang]], and sent the imperial seal to Daliang, where Zhu Youzhen was then at the time, offering the throne to him.  Zhu Youzhen accepted and took the throne at Daliang.<ref name=ZZTJ268/>  For his contributions, Yuan was given the honorary titles of military governor of Zhennan Circuit (鎮南, headquartered in modern [[Nanchang]], [[Jiangxi]], then under control of Later Liang's enemy [[Wu (Ten Kingdoms)|Wu]]), acting ''Taibao'' ({{lang|zh|太保}}), honorary [[chancellor of the Tang dynasty|chancellor]] (同中書門下平章事, ''Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi''), acting mayor of Kaifeng (i.e., Daliang), and the commander of the capital guards; he was also created a duke.<ref name=HFD59/><ref name=ZZTJ268/>  In 914, he was made the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern [[Weifang]], [[Shandong]]), and shortly after the military governor of Xuanwu, where he would remain for some 10 years.<ref name=HFD59/>  When Wu's junior regent [[Xu Zhixun (elder)|Xu Zhixun]] put Ying Prefecture (潁州, in modern [[Fuyang]], [[Anhui]]) under siege late in 916, Zhu Youzhen (who had changed his name to Zhu Zhen by this point) ordered Yuan to command a relief force; when Yuan approached Ying, Xu withdrew.<ref name=ZZTJ269>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷269|vol. 269]].</ref>  It was said that during Emperor Taizu's reign, a culture of corruption developed among the generals.  In particular, Yuan, as a nephew of the emperor, while governing the circuits, took much wealth from the people and enriched himself.<ref name=HFD59/>
 == During Later Tang ==
-In 923, Jin's prince [[Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang|Li Cunxu]], who had declared himself emperor of a new [[Later Tang]] earlier in the year (as Emperor Zhuangzong), launched a surprise direct attack on the Later Liang capital Daliang.  With the main Later Liang army away from the capital and unable to save him, Zhu Zhen committed suicide before the city fell, ending Later Liang.  Once the Later Tang emperor entered the former Later Liang capital, the Later Liang military governors submitted to the new state in droves, with Yuan Xiangxian and [[Huo Yanwei]] the acting military governor of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered in modern [[Sanmenxia]], [[Henan]]) arriving first.  It was said that Yuan, with the wealth that he had accumulated, brought tens of carts of jewels and other treasures to the capital, and used the wealth to bribe Emperor Zhuangzong's favorite consort [[Empress Liu (Zhuangzong)|Lady Liu]], as well as other powerful officials, [[eunuch (court official)|eunuch]]s, and actors that Emperor Zhuangzong favored, thus causing them to all praise him greatly.<ref name=ZZTJ272>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷272|vol. 272]].</ref>  Emperor Zhuangzong changed the name of his circuit from Xuanwu to Guide (歸德, "returning with virtue")<ref name=HFD59/> (as Emperor Zhuangzong returned the Xuanwu name to Daliang),<ref name=ZZTJ272/> and bestowed the imperial clan name of [[Li (李)|Li]] on him with a new name of Shao'an, before sending him back to his circuit.  He died later that year while still serving at Guide, and was given posthumous honors.<ref name=HFD59/>
+In 923, Jin's prince [[Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang|Li Cunxu]], who had declared himself emperor of a new [[Later Tang]] earlier in the year (as Emperor Zhuangzong), launched a surprise direct attack on the Later Liang capital Daliang.  With the main Later Liang army away from the capital and unable to save him, Zhu Zhen committed suicide before the city fell, ending Later Liang.  Once the Later Tang emperor entered the former Later Liang capital, the Later Liang military governors submitted to the new state in droves, with Yuan Xiangxian and [[Huo Yanwei]] the acting military governor of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered in modern [[Sanmenxia]], [[Henan]]) arriving first.  It was said that Yuan, with the wealth that he had accumulated, brought tens of carts of jewels and other treasures to the capital, and used the wealth to bribe Emperor Zhuangzong's favorite consort [[Empress Liu (Li Cunxu's wife)|Lady Liu]], as well as other powerful officials, [[eunuch (court official)|eunuch]]s, and performers that Emperor Zhuangzong favored, thus causing them to all praise him greatly.<ref name=ZZTJ272>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷272|vol. 272]].</ref>  Emperor Zhuangzong changed the name of his circuit from Xuanwu to Guide (歸德, "returning with virtue")<ref name=HFD59/> (as Emperor Zhuangzong returned the Xuanwu name to Daliang),<ref name=ZZTJ272/> and bestowed the imperial clan name of [[Li (李)|Li]] on him with a new name of Shao'an, before sending him back to his circuit.  He died later next summer while still serving at Guide,<ref name=HFD32/> and was given posthumous honors.<ref name=HFD59/>
 == Notes and references ==
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 * ''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'', vols. [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷268|268]], [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷269|269]], [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷272|272]].
-{{Persondata
-| NAME              = Yuan, Xiangxian
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Chines General
-| DATE OF BIRTH     = 864 or 864
-| PLACE OF BIRTH    =
-| DATE OF DEATH     = 923
-| PLACE OF DEATH    =
-}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Yuan, Xiangxian}}
 [[Category:860s births]]
-[[Category:923 deaths]]
+[[Category:924 deaths]]
-[[Category:People from Suzhou, Anhui]]
+[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
-[[Category:Politicians from Anhui]]
+[[Category:Politicians from Suzhou, Anhui]]
-[[Category:Later Liang (Five Dynasties) jiedushi of Zhennan Circuit]]
+[[Category:Zhennan jiedushi]]
-[[Category:Later Liang (Five Dynasties) jiedushi of Pinglu Circuit]]
+[[Category:Later Liang (Five Dynasties) jiedushi]]
-[[Category:Later Liang (Five Dynasties) jiedushi of Xuanwu Circuit]]
+[[Category:Pinglu jiedushi]]
-[[Category:Later Tang jiedushi of Guide Circuit]]
+[[Category:Xuanwu jiedushi]]
-[[Category:Tang Dynasty people]]
+[[Category:Guide jiedushi]]
+[[Category:Later Tang jiedushi]]
 [[Category:Political office-holders in Anhui]]
 [[Category:Political office-holders in Henan]]