Xu Mian

Who was Xu Mian?

Xu Mian, courtesy name Xiuren, formally Duke Jiansu, was an official of the Chinese dynasty Liang Dynasty. He was never titular prime minister, but was largely considered a de facto prime minister and well regarded by his contemporaries.

Xu Mian's grandfather Xu Zhangzong was an officer under Emperor Wu of Liu Song, and his father Xu Rong was a commandery governor. However, the Xu family was not rich. When he was young, Xu Mian became known for studiousness, and he was retained by Southern Qi's prime minister Wang Jian to serve as an assistant. Wang was impressed by Xu's abilities, and often stated that he had the capability to become prime minister. Around this time, Xu also befriended the army officer Xiao Yi, who later became a general.

In 502, Xiao Yi's brother Xiao Yan forced Emperor He of Southern Qi to yield the throne to him, establishing Liang as its Emperor Wu. Having known Xu from the time when Xu and Xiao Yi were friends, Emperor Wu made him a mid-level official. After the prime minister Fan Yun died in 503, Emperor Wu entrusted the important matters of state to Xu and Zhou She, effectively making them co-prime ministers, even though neither carried the title and neither received particularly high rank.