Recent from talks
Bi Shiduo
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Bi Shiduo
Bi Shiduo (died March 2, 888) was a Chinese military officer and rebel of the late Tang dynasty. He initially was part of the agrarian rebellions of Wang Xianzhi and Huang Chao, but later became a Tang officer. His rebellion in 887 against Gao Pian the military governor (Jiedushi) of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) would be the start of sustained warfare that left the once-wealthy circuit in devastation.
It is not known when Bi Shiduo was born, but it is known that he was from Yuanqu (within modern Heze, Shandong), where Huang Chao was from as well.
When Wang Xianzhi started a rebellion against the reign of Emperor Xizong in 874, Bi joined the rebellion. He was known for his abilities in horsemanship and archery, and his followers referred to him as "the Kestrel." After Wang Xianzhi's death in 878, it appeared that Bi followed Huang. In 879, when Gao Pian, who was then the military governor of Zhenhai Circuit (鎮海, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), sent the officers Zhang Lin (張璘) and Liang Zuan (梁纉) to attack Huang and repeatedly defeated Huang, Bi, along with several other key Huang followers, including Qin Yan, Li Hanzhi, and Xu Qing (許勍), surrendered to Gao, and thereafter became a follower to Gao.
It was said that in subsequent confrontations where Gao Pian had victories over Huang Chao, Bi Shiduo was a major contributor to the victories, along with Liang Zuan. Gao thus treated him well. After Gao was transferred to Huainan Circuit in 879, it appeared that Bi followed him there, as Bi was referred to as a Huainan officer in summer 880. By that point, the tide of war had turned against Gao, as Huang had killed Zhang Lin in battle and was advancing north, approaching Huainan's capital Yang Prefecture (揚州). Bi, warning him that Huang's intentions were to further advance north to ravage the center of the Tang state, suggested that Gao launch another attack to intercept Huang. However, Gao, distressed by Zhang's defeat and death, did not make any attempt to stop Huang, who subsequently continued his advance toward the eastern capital Luoyang and the imperial capital Chang'an.
By 887, Gao Pian, who had trusted the sorcerer Lü Yongzhi, had effectively entrusted the affairs of the circuit to Lü, such that even his long-time officers Yu Gongchu (俞公楚) and Yao Guili (姚歸禮) were killed due to false accusations that Lü laid against them, and this led to the officers of the circuit becoming fearful of death. Bi Shiduo was particularly anxious, because of his own status as a former follower of Huang Chao's. Further, Bi had a dispute with Lü over an incident involving one of Bi's concubines, who was known for being beautiful; because of her reputation of beauty, Lü had wanted to see her appearance, and Bi refused, but on one occasion when Bi was not at home, Lü went to see her anyway, and Bi, in anger, threw her out of the household.
In summer 887, the warlord Qin Zongquan, who had rebelled against Emperor Xizong's rule at Cai Prefecture (蔡州, in modern Zhumadian, Henan), was sending generals out to attack the nearby circuits. Gao, hearing news that Qin was sending an army his way, commissioned Bi to take the special Baiqi Corps (百騎) to Gaoyou to prepare to resist the Qin advance. As Bi was about to leave, Lü treated him especially well, which led Bi to fear that Lü was intending to get his guards down to act against him. Even Bi's mother was fearful, and she sent a messenger to him to state, "If something like that happens, you should strive for yourself. Do not worry about your mother or children." When Bi consulted the defender of Gaoyou, Zhang Shenjian (張神劍), whose daughter had married Bi's son, Zhang believed that Lü would not act against Bi. However, at that time, one of Gao's sons wanted Bi to act against Lü so that he could use this chance to show Lü's evil nature, intentionally sent Bi a message stating, "Lü Yongzhi had frequently met with the Chancellor [(i.e., Gao, who carried an honorary chancellor title)] and wants to act against you. An order has already been sent to Minister Zhang [(i.e., Zhang, who carried an honorary minister title)]. Be careful!" Bi confronted Zhang, who knew nothing about it, but subsequently agreed, along with Bi and Bi's friend Zheng Hanzhang (鄭漢章), to rise against Lü.
On May 1, 887, Bi and Zheng, after issuing public declarations denouncing Lü, departed Gaoyou and advanced toward Yang Prefecture. Lü oversaw the defense and was initially able to repel Bi's attacks. Bi, who believed that his army was not strong enough to capture Yang Prefecture, sent a letter to Qin Yan, who was then the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Xuanshe Circuit (宣歙, headquartered in modern Xuancheng, Anhui), offering the military governorship of Huainan to him and asking for aid. Qin sent his officer Qin Chou (秦稠) to reinforce Bi. Meanwhile, Gao and Lü had a falling out inside the city, and Gao put up a defense at his headquarters, commanded by his nephew Gao Jie (高傑), to guard against Lü. Gao Pian subsequently sent the officer Shi E (石鍔) to meet with Bi, along with Bi's youngest son. Bi ordered his young son to return to Gao Pian, stating, "If the Chancellor executes Lü Yongzhi and Zhang Shouyi [(張守一, a close association of Lü's and also a sorcerer that Gao trusted)] to show me his intent, I will surely not turn back on his grace, and I am willing to have my wife and children serve as hostages." Gao Pian, worried that Lü might preemptively slaughter Bi's family, put Bi's family under protective custody.
Hub AI
Bi Shiduo AI simulator
(@Bi Shiduo_simulator)
Bi Shiduo
Bi Shiduo (died March 2, 888) was a Chinese military officer and rebel of the late Tang dynasty. He initially was part of the agrarian rebellions of Wang Xianzhi and Huang Chao, but later became a Tang officer. His rebellion in 887 against Gao Pian the military governor (Jiedushi) of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) would be the start of sustained warfare that left the once-wealthy circuit in devastation.
It is not known when Bi Shiduo was born, but it is known that he was from Yuanqu (within modern Heze, Shandong), where Huang Chao was from as well.
When Wang Xianzhi started a rebellion against the reign of Emperor Xizong in 874, Bi joined the rebellion. He was known for his abilities in horsemanship and archery, and his followers referred to him as "the Kestrel." After Wang Xianzhi's death in 878, it appeared that Bi followed Huang. In 879, when Gao Pian, who was then the military governor of Zhenhai Circuit (鎮海, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), sent the officers Zhang Lin (張璘) and Liang Zuan (梁纉) to attack Huang and repeatedly defeated Huang, Bi, along with several other key Huang followers, including Qin Yan, Li Hanzhi, and Xu Qing (許勍), surrendered to Gao, and thereafter became a follower to Gao.
It was said that in subsequent confrontations where Gao Pian had victories over Huang Chao, Bi Shiduo was a major contributor to the victories, along with Liang Zuan. Gao thus treated him well. After Gao was transferred to Huainan Circuit in 879, it appeared that Bi followed him there, as Bi was referred to as a Huainan officer in summer 880. By that point, the tide of war had turned against Gao, as Huang had killed Zhang Lin in battle and was advancing north, approaching Huainan's capital Yang Prefecture (揚州). Bi, warning him that Huang's intentions were to further advance north to ravage the center of the Tang state, suggested that Gao launch another attack to intercept Huang. However, Gao, distressed by Zhang's defeat and death, did not make any attempt to stop Huang, who subsequently continued his advance toward the eastern capital Luoyang and the imperial capital Chang'an.
By 887, Gao Pian, who had trusted the sorcerer Lü Yongzhi, had effectively entrusted the affairs of the circuit to Lü, such that even his long-time officers Yu Gongchu (俞公楚) and Yao Guili (姚歸禮) were killed due to false accusations that Lü laid against them, and this led to the officers of the circuit becoming fearful of death. Bi Shiduo was particularly anxious, because of his own status as a former follower of Huang Chao's. Further, Bi had a dispute with Lü over an incident involving one of Bi's concubines, who was known for being beautiful; because of her reputation of beauty, Lü had wanted to see her appearance, and Bi refused, but on one occasion when Bi was not at home, Lü went to see her anyway, and Bi, in anger, threw her out of the household.
In summer 887, the warlord Qin Zongquan, who had rebelled against Emperor Xizong's rule at Cai Prefecture (蔡州, in modern Zhumadian, Henan), was sending generals out to attack the nearby circuits. Gao, hearing news that Qin was sending an army his way, commissioned Bi to take the special Baiqi Corps (百騎) to Gaoyou to prepare to resist the Qin advance. As Bi was about to leave, Lü treated him especially well, which led Bi to fear that Lü was intending to get his guards down to act against him. Even Bi's mother was fearful, and she sent a messenger to him to state, "If something like that happens, you should strive for yourself. Do not worry about your mother or children." When Bi consulted the defender of Gaoyou, Zhang Shenjian (張神劍), whose daughter had married Bi's son, Zhang believed that Lü would not act against Bi. However, at that time, one of Gao's sons wanted Bi to act against Lü so that he could use this chance to show Lü's evil nature, intentionally sent Bi a message stating, "Lü Yongzhi had frequently met with the Chancellor [(i.e., Gao, who carried an honorary chancellor title)] and wants to act against you. An order has already been sent to Minister Zhang [(i.e., Zhang, who carried an honorary minister title)]. Be careful!" Bi confronted Zhang, who knew nothing about it, but subsequently agreed, along with Bi and Bi's friend Zheng Hanzhang (鄭漢章), to rise against Lü.
On May 1, 887, Bi and Zheng, after issuing public declarations denouncing Lü, departed Gaoyou and advanced toward Yang Prefecture. Lü oversaw the defense and was initially able to repel Bi's attacks. Bi, who believed that his army was not strong enough to capture Yang Prefecture, sent a letter to Qin Yan, who was then the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Xuanshe Circuit (宣歙, headquartered in modern Xuancheng, Anhui), offering the military governorship of Huainan to him and asking for aid. Qin sent his officer Qin Chou (秦稠) to reinforce Bi. Meanwhile, Gao and Lü had a falling out inside the city, and Gao put up a defense at his headquarters, commanded by his nephew Gao Jie (高傑), to guard against Lü. Gao Pian subsequently sent the officer Shi E (石鍔) to meet with Bi, along with Bi's youngest son. Bi ordered his young son to return to Gao Pian, stating, "If the Chancellor executes Lü Yongzhi and Zhang Shouyi [(張守一, a close association of Lü's and also a sorcerer that Gao trusted)] to show me his intent, I will surely not turn back on his grace, and I am willing to have my wife and children serve as hostages." Gao Pian, worried that Lü might preemptively slaughter Bi's family, put Bi's family under protective custody.