Cui Xuan

It is not known when Cui Xuan was born. He was from the "Elder Boling branch" of the prominent Cui clan of Boling (博陵, in modern Hengshui, Hebei), which claimed ancestry from the ruling Jiang house of the Spring and Autumn period state Qi. Cui Xuan's traceable ancestors included officials of Qin dynasty, Han dynasty, Jin dynasty (266–420), Northern Wei, and Tang dynasty. His grandfather Cui Jing () served as a secretary general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng). His father Cui Yuanlüe () was a prominent official during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Muzong, and Emperor Muzong's sons Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Wenzong. Cui Yuanlüe was considered a potential chancellor at times but was never chancellor. Cui Yuanlüe's younger brother Cui Yuanshi served briefly as chancellor between the two terms that Cui Xuan would eventually serve as chancellor. Cui Xuan had at least one younger brother, Cui Zi (). == During Emperor Wuzong's reign ==

Early in the Huichang era (841–846) of Emperor Wenzong's brother and successor Emperor Wuzong, Cui Xuan was recalled to the capital Chang'an to serve as Zuo Shiyi (), a low-level advisory official at the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). However, it was said that the lead chancellor Li Deyu was jealous of Cui. He was subsequently sent out of Chang'an to serve as the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Shanguo Circuit (陝虢, headquartered in modern Sanmenxia, Henan). == During Emperor Xuānzong's reign ==

Emperor Wuzong died in 846 and was succeeded by his uncle Emperor Xuānzong. In 852, with agrarian rebels occupying Mount Ji (雞山, in modern Nanchong, Sichuan), Emperor Xuānzong dispatched the general Wang Zhihong () to the region to deal with them. Cui suggested that instead an imperial official be sent to persuade them to submit, so Emperor Xuānzong sent the official Liu Tong (), who was able to persuade the Mount Ji rebels to surrender. (However, after Liu accepted their surrender, Wang and the eunuch monitor Sixian Yiyi () slaughtered the surrendered rebels anyway.) In 855, with Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) suffering from a famine, but the military governor Du Cong not governing the circuit diligently, Emperor Xuānzong removed Du from the post and sent Cui out to Huainan to serve as its military governor, continuing to carry the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title. He was also created the greater title of Duke of Wei. As he departed for Huainan, Emperor Xuānzong held a great feast to send him off and personally wrote a poem to him. In 858, when the Xuanshe Circuit (宣歙, headquartered in modern Xuancheng, Anhui) officer Kang Quantai () mutinied and expelled the governor Zheng Xun (), who fled to Huainan's capital Yang Prefecture (), Cui launched his troops to attack the Xuanshe rebels, so Emperor Xuānzong gave him the additional title of governor of Xuanshe. Later in the year, he captured Xuanshe's capital Xuan Prefecture (), killing Kang and his coconspirators. He then resigned the additional post of governor of Xuanshe, which was then given to Wen Zhang (). == During Emperor Yizong's reign ==

Early in the Xiantong era (860–874) of Emperor Xuānzong's son and successor Emperor Yizong, Cui Xuan was transferred to Shannan East Circuit (山南東道, headquartered in modern Xiangfang, Hubei), and instead crossed into Jiangxi Circuit (江西, headquartered in modern Nanchang, Jiangxi) and Huainan to head for Xusi. It was said that the imperial government much approved of Cui's preparedness. Cui eventually died at his post at Jingnan, but the year is not known. His son Cui Hang would serve as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong. == Notes and references ==

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 163. • New Book of Tang, vol. 160. • Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 247, 248, 249, 251.