A Studay on the Transformation of the Role of Xuanfu Shi in the Mid-Northern Song Dynasty

In the early period of Northern Song Dynasty,the institution of Xuanfu Shi continued from Tang Dynasty that Xuanfu Shi was the ambassador of the court who was sent to localities to be in charge of the disaster relief work and console the local people.When the mission was completed,Xuanfu Shi would go back to the capital.Moreover,Xuanfu Shi was rarely set up.Since the mid-Northern Song Dynasty,in order to deal with the intense and lasting wars against the minority nationality regimes such as Xixia and Jin Dynasty,and put down the civil rebellions,the role of Xuanfu Shi had greatly transformed.Gradually,Xuanfu Shi developed from the temporary ambassador who were to console local people to the officials of stratocracy who were to direct the local battles in several localites.With the increase of its power,the qualification of officials who held the posts of Xuanfu Shi increasingly rose,who were mainly the important stratocracy top brasses,such as the vice-premier and vice-Shumi Shi.What's more,Xuanfu Shi tended to be set up more frequently,and the localization became increasingly apparent too.At the same time,such transformation promoted the centralization of the front line power,which benefited the needs of the troops commanding,and had some positive effects on putting down the local rebellions,state security safeguarding,and the stabilization of the state ruling.