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Gao Pian
Late Tang general and poet from Youzhou who defeated Nanzhao in 864 and held Annam, later governor of Huainan; killed by his own officers in 887.
At dusk on a hilltop, a large tent stands open with a table holding a map marked with small stones inside, a saddled horse tethered outside, and fire stands burning; campfires dot the river plain below, and one tiny sentry stands on the slope.
Also known as Qian Li · Attendant Censor Who Brought Down the Eagle
Gao Pian, courtesy name Qianli, came from Youzhou, of the Bohai Gao clan, and was born in 821. He served as prefect of Qinzhou and protector-general of Annam, and in 864 defeated Nanzhao and recovered the region. He later governed Tianping, Xichuan, Zhenhai and Huainan. An expert archer nicknamed the 'Eagle-Downing Censor', he also wrote poetry praised for its striking diction, preserved in the Complete Tang Poems. He kept his troops out of the fight against Huang Chao, fell under the sway of occultists, and was imprisoned and killed by his officers in 887.
Life and times
Dates 821 CE–887 CE