Life

Early life

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.

Rebellion against the Tang

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 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.

Service under Gao Pian

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.

Rebellion against Gao Pian

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, 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 Gao, who carried an honorary chancellor title) and wants to act against you. An order has already been sent to Minister Zhang 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, 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 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.

On May 17, Bi made a fierce attack on Yang Prefecture, but Lü's counterattack defeated him. However, at this juncture, Gao Jie launched an attack from Gao Pian's headquarters, intending to capture Lü to deliver to Bi. Lü, hearing the news, abandoned Yang Prefecture and fled. The next day, Bi made a show of force by having his troops plunder the city. Gao was forced to meet him and make him deputy military governor, and subsequently transferred all authority over the circuit to him. Bi subsequently sent a letter to Qin Yan, requesting that he come to Yang Prefecture quickly to take his post. (This was despite contrary advice given to Bi that he should instead honor Gao Pian as the titular military governor and refuse to let Qin take the post — pointing out that he would lose power if Qin arrived, and that the other prefects throughout Huainan would surely not willingly serve under Qin, thus leading to more warfare and bloodshed.) He also put Gao and Gao's entire household under house arrest. Upon Qin's arrival, he made Bi the commander of the Huainan forces, but moved his office outside the headquarters.

Defeat

Just as the advice rejected by Bi Shiduo predicted, Yang Xingmi the prefect of Lu Prefecture (廬州, in modern Hefei, Anhui) was not willing to accept Qin Yan, and he, with aid from Sun Duan the prefect of He Prefecture (和州, in modern Chaohu, Anhui), headed toward Yang Prefecture. Lü joined forces with him, as did Zhang Shenjian (who had been angered by Bi's refusal to share the material plunders with him). Yang Xingmi put Yang Prefecture under siege, starting June 20.

Qin tried to have Bi and Zheng Hanzhang lead a counterattack against Yang Xingmi, but Yang Xingmi decisively defeated them, leading Qin not to dare to launch another counterattack against the siege afterwards. Concerned that Gao Pian might be using witchcraft to curse him and his army, he also put Gao and his entire family to death. The siege continued for months, such that the city fell into a massive famine, and Qin's soldiers from Xuanshe Circuit were eating human flesh as food. Nevertheless, Yang Xingmi was unable to capture the city and considered withdrawal. However, on November 18, Lü's associate Zhang Shenwei opened the city gates and welcomed Yang Xingmi's forces in. Hearing the news, Qin and Bi consulted the Buddhist nun Wang Fengxian (王奉仙), whom they believed to have prophetic abilities; Wang urged them to flee, and they did so, allowing Yang Xingmi to take over the city.

Qin and Bi initially tried to flee to Dongtang (東塘, near Yang Prefecture), but the general Zhang Xiong, who then occupied Dongtang, refused to receive them. They considered heading south back to Xuanshe's headquarters Xuan Prefecture (宣州). However, by that point, Qin Zongquan's army, commanded by his brother Qin Zongheng (秦宗衡), had arrived in the vicinity, and Qin Zongheng sent messengers to Qin Yan and Bi, inviting them to join forces against Yang Xingmi. They then joined Qin Zongheng.

Soon thereafter, Qin Zongheng was assassinated by his deputy Sun Ru, who took over the army. Sun, along with Qin Yan and Bi, then attacked Gaoyou, capturing it, forcing Zhang Shenjian to flee to Yang Prefecture, where Yang Xingmi killed him. However, Sun did not trust Qin Yan and Bi, and gradually stripped them of their soldiers. Their officer Tang Hong (唐宏), believing that Sun would eventually kill them, decided to save himself by falsely accusing Qin Yan and Bi of working in concert with Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan). In early 888, Sun put Qin Yan, Bi, and Zheng to death.

生平

早期生平

畢師鐸生年不詳。他是冤句人，即黃巢的同鄉。

叛唐

王仙芝起兵反唐後，畢師鐸加入，助其攻陷曹、鄆、荊、襄各州。他善騎射，被手下號為「鷂子」。乾符四年（878年）王仙芝死後，他加入黃巢軍。乾符五年（879年），鎮海軍節度使高駢派大將張璘、梁纘等人，分道出擊黃巢，屢敗之，畢師鐸、同鄉副將鄭漢章、秦彥、李罕之、許勍等驍將數十人投降高駢，黃巢逃奔嶺南。

效力高駢

畢師鐸與梁纘都對黃巢作戰有功，很被高駢厚待。同年高駢調任為淮南節度使，畢師鐸亦追隨，為淮南大將。黃巢在作戰中殺死張璘，發兵北上，逼近淮南治所揚州。畢師鐸指出黃巢意在進軍中原，建議高駢阻截。高駢駭然，說畢師鐸說得對，準備出兵。但高駢重用的術士呂用之擔心畢師鐸立功後奪取自己的權力，就以「功高不賞」勸阻高駢。高駢也因張璘敗亡而沮喪，最終握兵自守，坐視黃巢進軍洛陽、長安兩京。

反叛高駢

畢師鐸官至淮南左廂都知兵馬使。呂用之專權，舊將俞公楚、姚歸禮等為其陷害被誅，諸將因此都害怕被殺。師鐸原是黃巢降將，自危不安。畢師鐸有一妾侍，甚為美豔，呂用之要求面見，畢師鐸婉言相拒。一日，呂用之趁畢師鐸外出，闖入畢府見了其妾，畢師鐸敢怒不敢言，逐出愛妾，愛妾遂為呂用之所奪。畢師鐸為兒子娶高郵鎮遏使張神劍（本名張雄，區別于下文提到的同時期軍閥張雄）的女兒，秘密與張神劍結盟。

光啟三年（887年）三月，高駢得知自立為帝的奉國軍節度使秦宗權將侵略淮南，遣畢師鐸率百騎屯兵高郵。宣武軍節度使朱全忠正在攻打秦宗權，高駢擔心秦宗權的軍隊來襲，派畢師鐸率兵越過都梁山，畢師鐸沒看到敵軍，回師了。呂用之厚待畢師鐸，他反而生疑，以為呂用之要策動他的部下圖謀他。畢師鐸的母親在揚州，也害怕，帶信給畢師鐸，要他趕緊逃跑，不必顧念老母和年幼的兒子。畢師鐸與張神劍商議，張神劍認為呂用之無此心，畢師鐸愈發猜疑，不知所措。但高駢的兒子也希望畢師鐸聯合諸將揭發呂用之，便騙畢師鐸說呂用之數次向高駢進讒言，且已經給張神劍寫密信要合謀害他。呂用之知道畢師鐸與張神劍合謀，請求召回他。畢師鐸手下諸將建議他殺了張神劍，兼併其軍隊，驅趕市民一同作亂，還有人勸他投奔徐州。畢師鐸以不能像呂用之一樣累及百姓為由拒絕，說自己的同鄉也是原副將淮寧軍使鄭漢章素來與自己交好，兵精士強，早就怨恨呂用之，聯絡他，他必然大喜，則事可成。眾人覺得對。畢師鐸乘夜率百騎秘密拜訪鄭漢章，鄭漢章率麾下出迎，聽了畢師鐸的計劃，果然大喜，留其妻守淮口，調發全部鎮兵、驅趕亡命徒、居民共千餘人隨畢師鐸到高郵，詰問張神劍。因為並無密信，張神劍否認，但也同意起兵。

四月，眾將歃血為盟，推畢師鐸為盟主、大丞相，聲言討伐呂用之及其黨羽張守一、諸葛殷，署其卒長唐宏、王朗、駱玄真、倪詳、逯本、趙簡等分領其卒三千人，反攻揚州。以鄭漢章為行營副使，張神劍為都指揮使。張神劍擔心畢師鐸未必成功，以聲援和供給糧餉為由請求率部留守高郵，畢師鐸不悅。鄭漢章也猜忌張神劍，擔心他以後不願居于自己之下，說：「張尚書說的也對，如果始終同心，事成之日，子女玉帛與他共享，今日豈可違逆他！」畢師鐸同意了，與鄭漢章在高郵起兵，紮營于大明寺，揚州大驚。呂用之屢次出戰，軍隊強悍，畢師鐸退兵自守，呂用之得以守備，對高駢推說已經處置得當，如果畢師鐸不聽話，用玄女畫符也可以穩定局勢。畢師鐸見攻城無果，很害怕，求援于宣歙觀察使秦彥，許諾事成後迎接他代替高駢接任淮南節度使。

高駢責問呂用之，命他遣大將帶著書信告諭畢師鐸令其罷兵。呂用之擔心諸將不為自己所用，讓黨羽許戡帶書信前去。畢師鐸本以為高駢令宿將來勞軍，可以口述呂用之的罪行。許戡到後，畢師鐸大怒：「梁纘、韓問在哪？派你這樣的穢物來！」就斬了他。畢師鐸屯兵揚子，拆百姓的茅屋製作攻城器具，在城南建立高樓看城中，呂用之擔心，招募壯士毀樓，貨郎馬珣應募，夜間獨自仗劍襲畢師鐸營，因功被呂用之厚賞、遷十餘級。揚州城中高駢與呂用之反目，署侄子高傑為都牢城使，帶兵護衛子城自守，命畢師鐸的母親寫信，遣大將古鍔帶著畢師鐸的幼子出城告諭。畢師鐸命幼子返回，說：「不敢辜負令公恩德，我是為淮南剷除凶人，若令公白天處決呂用之和張守一，我晚上就退回高郵。願意以妻兒為人質。」高駢擔心呂用之殺畢師鐸家屬，將畢師鐸家屬保護在自己的使院。秦彥派牙將秦稠率三千軍助戰。畢師鐸門客畢慕顏從城中出來說：「人心已離，呂用之憂窘，不數日一定能破之！」畢師鐸高興。秦稠軍到，畢師鐸一方兵威漸振。

宣州軍攻打揚州南門不克，又攻羅城東南隅，數次幾乎攻陷。羅城西南隅守軍燒毀戰柵響應畢師鐸，守將張全乃戰死，畢師鐸毀羅城，將軍隊帶入。呂用之率一千人在三橋北與他交戰，畢師鐸即將戰敗。但這時高傑出兵，想擒住呂用之交給畢師鐸，呂用之的左莫邪兵也叛變斷其後路，呂用之于是出奔。畢師鐸入城後縱兵縱火大掠，高駢被迫下令撤去守備，換了衣服與他在延和閣相見，如賓主之儀，任他為節度副使、行軍司馬，承制加左僕射，他也自去大丞相之號。左莫邪都虞候申及對高駢說：「師鐸逆黨不多，各門尚未有人把守，請令公選元從三十人，趁夜從教場門出走，等畢師鐸察覺也來不及了。然後發諸鎮兵回來奪取府城，這樣就轉禍為福了。若一二日間局勢穩定下來，就艱難了，我申及也不得在左右了。」申及說著就哭了，高駢猶豫不聽。申及擔心言語洩露，就逃走了。

畢師鐸果然分兵把守各門，搜捕呂用之親黨數十人，全部誅殺。軍人請求活吃貪官知揚州院兼榷糴使吳堯卿，畢師鐸不許，夜間令他換衣服逃走，他後來為仇人所殺。

畢師鐸入居使院，秦稠以宣州軍一千人分守使宅及各倉庫。高駢發牒文請求解職，以畢師鐸兼判府事。畢師鐸遣孫約到宣城，催促秦彥入主。有人勸說他：呂用之已淪為叛將，只要發檄文即可擒獲，不可將淮南交付秦彥，且秦稠入城後先守倉庫，已表明有疑心，如秦彥入主，畢師鐸將失去權力，廬州刺史楊行密及壽州刺史張翱都不會心服，楊行密一定會來攻，那時戰亂紛起，生靈塗炭，畢師鐸自己也未必能善終，不如繼續尊奉高駢，並派人阻止秦彥，如果感激，可以用金玉報答。秦彥見狀一定不敢來，這樣畢師鐸即使被秦彥譴責背負約定，也仍然是高駢的忠臣，兵權在手，也就掌握了軍鎮的實權。畢師鐸很不贊同，告訴鄭漢章，鄭漢章說這人是智士並尋訪，但這人懼禍不敢出現。畢師鐸遷高駢一家于南第，由甲士百人護衛，其實是軟禁。畢師鐸于府廳辦事，沒有兵權的官吏都如前，又遷高駢于東第。揚州城破後，軍隊晝夜不停劫掠，畢師鐸這才以先鋒使唐宏為靜街使以禁止。呂用之出奔後，其黨羽鄭杞首先投靠畢師鐸，畢師鐸署鄭杞知海陵監事。鄭杞到海陵，秘密記錄海陵鎮遏使高霸罪過，告訴畢師鐸。高霸繳獲他的信，將他殺死。高駢秘密給看守送金子，畢師鐸知道後，又將高駢迎入道院，收捕高氏子弟甥侄十餘人一同幽禁，增兵看守。高駢還泰然自若，以為畢師鐸將再次推立自己。畢師鐸猶豫未決之間，秦彥已經到了揚州，被推為節度使後，仍以畢師鐸為行軍司馬，但將他遷出牙城。畢師鐸怏怏不樂。

敗亡

呂用之先前以高駢名義發牒文召楊行密率部前來揚州護主，楊行密的謀士袁襲說：「高公昏惑，用之奸邪，師鐸悖逆，種種惡行都聚在一起了，卻向我們請求援兵，這是天要把淮南給明公。趕緊去吧。」楊行密于是起兵，並借兵于和州刺史孫端，合兵數千人前往，五月，呂用之、張守一也引兵來投。張神劍向畢師鐸索要財貨，畢師鐸說要等秦彥到後的命令，于是張神劍也叛離與楊行密聯合。高霸等人也率軍加入楊行密，楊行密的軍隊達到一萬七千人，圍攻揚州，也屯兵大明寺。

六月，秦彥遣畢師鐸、秦稠率軍八千出城攻擊楊行密。秦稠敗死，士卒死者十之七八。城中缺糧，樵採路絕。八月，秦彥盡出城中兵一萬二千人，遣畢師鐸、鄭漢章率領，以鄭漢章為前鋒，唐宏次之，駱玄真、樊約又次之，畢師鐸、王朗以騎兵為左右翼，列陣于城西，綿延數里，軍勢甚盛，攻陷楊行密一個營寨。楊行密牙將李宗禮以為自己寡不敵眾，建議堅壁自守、緩緩班師，被楊行密另一部將李濤反駁。李濤稱楊行密以順討逆，大軍已經到此，班師無門，願率所部為前鋒破敵。揚州軍列陣很久，楊行密才出戰，將金帛、大麥、米堆積在一個寨，讓羸弱士兵把守，于其旁多伏精兵。楊行密親率十餘人衝陣，才交兵就詐敗而逃，揚州軍追殺進入空寨，因為飢餓，爭著奪取金帛、大麥、米，伏兵四起，揚州軍亂，楊行密縱兵擊之，俘斬殆盡，積尸十里，溝瀆皆滿，駱玄真戰死，畢師鐸、鄭漢章僅單騎逃脫。從此秦彥不複出戰。畢師鐸一向倚仗駱玄真驍勇果敢能拒敵，也為其死而沮喪多日，不複商議出戰。九月，秦彥、畢師鐸因出兵屢敗，懷疑高駢行厭勝之術，又因圍城窘迫，擔心高駢黨羽為內應。比丘尼王奉仙自稱能通神，秦彥、畢師鐸信任她，賞罰輕重皆取決于她。她對畢師鐸說：「揚府有災，當有大人物死，從此轉好。」秦彥覺得高駢就是大人物，就命畢師鐸率兵攻道院，殺高駢及其子弟甥侄。

十月，揚州被圍已半年，秦彥、畢師鐸大小數十戰多不利，一斗米賣到五十緡錢，草木都被吃完，百姓用黏土做餅吃，大半餓死。宣州軍抓人賣人肉。秦彥、畢師鐸皺眉蹙額，卻無計可施，隨著圍城窘境加劇，心懷憂憤，相對抱膝，終日無言。秦彥派畢師鐸帶著很多寶物和錢財利誘前蘇州刺史張雄，張雄屯兵東塘，但沒有助其作戰，甚至反過來幫楊行密。楊行密因圍城太久，也想撤軍，但呂用之部將張審威（一作張審晟）率麾下三百人開西門放其入城，守軍不戰而潰。秦彥、畢師鐸問計于王奉仙，她說：「走為上策。」於是師鐸率全家與秦彥從開化門突圍，去東塘投奔張雄，人們爭相出城，踐踏死了很多人，壕塹幾乎填滿，王朗摔死。張雄拒絕接納他們。楊行密合兵一萬五千人入揚州，以梁纘不忠于高駢而為秦、畢所用為由，斬于戟門之外。另一老將韓問聞訊，投井自殺。擊破秦、畢之戰，楊行密將朱延壽、李神福功居多，陳知新、劉威、金牛鎮將台濛、馬軍副指揮使李遇、劉存、劉信也有功，朱延壽因摧堅陷陣受賞，劉威得表領竇州刺史。

十一月，秦彥、畢師鐸與唐宏、倪詳焚毀白砂，想渡江回宣州，其部眾還有二千餘人。秦宗權的弟弟秦宗衡正在出兵淮南，招他們合兵。楊行密閉城不敢出。

秦宗權因即將敗亡，召回秦宗衡。秦宗衡大將孫儒不肯，殺秦宗衡，奪軍權。孫儒因缺糧，與秦彥、畢師鐸合力襲破高郵，張神劍逃奔揚州，被楊行密所殺。秦彥、畢師鐸引孫儒三萬軍隊圍揚州西門，楊行密求救于朱全忠，朱全忠發兵以為聲援。孫儒見不能攻克揚州，宣武軍又來了，擔心秦彥、畢師鐸懷有異心，逐漸奪取了他們的軍隊。光啟四年（888年）正月，裨將唐宏知道孫儒必殺秦彥，為了免死，誣告秦彥、畢師鐸勾結朱全忠，孫儒大驚，次日在高郵之南召秦彥、畢師鐸、鄭漢章來軍中。秦彥、畢師鐸先到，被壯士抓到孫儒處，孫儒責秦彥之罪，斬殺，又要斬殺畢師鐸。畢師鐸呼喊道：「大丈夫成則王，敗則虜，君何必多責？我曾統領數萬兵，不死常人手，死在公的劍下，瞑目了！」孫儒罵道：「庸賊想污了我的手嗎！」下令斬殺。並殺鄭漢章，兼併他們的軍隊繼續攻打楊行密；厚賜唐宏，自任淮南節度使，又歸順朱全忠，送上秦宗衡、秦彥、畢師鐸的首級，由朱全忠報知朝廷。唐昭宗授孫儒檢校司空、朱全忠為招討副使。

直到景福元年（892年）七月，淮南戰事才以楊行密敗殺孫儒告終。先前揚州富庶甲天下，時人稱揚一、益二，但經過秦、畢、孫、楊之間的交戰，江淮東西千里都淪為廢墟。

參考書目