Pei Mian

Pei Mian (Chinese: 裴冕; died January 5, 770[1]), courtesy name Zhangfu (章甫), formally the Duke of Ji (冀公), was a Chinese politician during the Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Suzong and Emperor Daizong.

He was known for his faithfulness to Tang during the difficult times of An Lushan Rebellion, but was also looked down upon by historians for his material greed.

His grandfather Wei Zhi (韋陟) served as a military advisor to a prefectural prefect, and his father Wei Ji (韋紀) served as the secretary general for Chang'an County, one of the two counties making up the Tang capital Chang'an.

When Wang Hong (王鉷) the chief imperial censor took on the additional post as the surveyor of the Chang'an region, he made Pei his assistant.

Emperor Suzong made Pei Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省), and gave him the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto.

After Emperor Suzong, gradually advancing back toward Chang'an, moved to Fengxiang (鳳翔, in modern Baoji, Shaanxi) in spring 757, Pei was made You Pushe (右僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), and no longer chancellor.

After Li Fuguo was removed in 762, Pei had disagreements with the newly powerful eunuch Cheng Yuanzhen, and thus was demoted to be the prefect of Shi Prefecture (施州, roughly modern Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei).

Several months later, he was moved to be the prefect of Li Prefecture (澧州, roughly Changde, Hunan), and eventually was recalled to be Zuo Puye (左僕射), the other head of the executive bureau.