Введение
Канцлер династии Тан Ли Линфу (умер 3 января 753 года), прозвище Гэню, формально герцог Цзинь, был китайским историком, музыкантом и политиком времён династии Тан, занимавшим пост канцлера в течение 18 лет (734–752 годы) во время правления императора Сюаньцзуна — один из самых продолжительных сроков службы канцлера в истории династии Тан и самый длительный во время правления Сюаньцзуна. Будучи канцлером, он, в частности, обладал полномочиями назначать и увольнять военных и гражданских чиновников, а также прерывать свободное общение министров и других лиц с императором, чтобы те не могли докладывать ему и высказывать своё мнение, и решать все вопросы, которые должны были быть представлены императору, что давало ему огромную власть. Ли был известен своей лестью перед императором и умением вести политическую игру, что позволило ему оставаться влиятельным на протяжении всего своего долгого пребывания на посту канцлера. Его коварство в устранении всех путей для потенциальных политических соперников, включая ложные обвинения против других чиновников и предоставление ключевых военных команд военачальникам неханьского происхождения, было признано причиной ухудшения правления императора Сюаньцзуна, что вылилось в восстание Ань Ши после смерти Ли Линфу. Сам Сюаньцзун признался после начала восстания Ань Лушаня (уже после смерти Ли), что Ли был особенно искусен в устранении политических соперников и испытывал зависть к любым потенциальным претендентам на власть, что привело к серьёзному дефициту компетентных чиновников в администрации Тан в эпоху Тяньбао.
Li Linfu (died January 3, 753), nickname Genu , formally the Duke of Jin , was a Chinese historian, musician, and politician during the Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor for 18 years (734–752), during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong—one of the longest terms of service for a chancellor in Tang history, and the longest during Xuanzong's reign. As chancellor, he had, among other things, the authority to appoint and dismiss military and civil personnel, and cutting off the free communication of ministers and others to give reports and opinions to the emperor and to settle all things that should come to the emperor, which gave him enormous power. Li was known for his flattery of the Emperor and skill in the political scene, which enabled him to remain powerful throughout his lengthy duration as chancellor. His treachery in cutting off all routes for all potential political challengers, including false accusations against other officials and the granting of key military commands to non Han commanders, were blamed for the deterioration of Emperor Xuanzong's reign, which culminated in the An Shi Rebellion after Li Linfu's death. Xuanzong himself admitted after the An Lushan Rebellion broke out (when Li had died) that Li was most adept at removing political rivals and being jealous of any potential challengers, a factor which resulted in the Tang administration lacking seriously competent officials during the Tianbao era.
Предыстория
Неизвестно, когда родился Ли Линфу. Он был правнуком Ли Шуляня (李叔良), принца Чанпина, который приходился двоюродным братом основателю династии Тан императору Гаодзу. Дед Ли Линфу, Ли Сяобинь (李孝斌), носил титул герцога Хуаяна и служил генеральным секретарем префектуры. Отец Ли Линфу, Ли Сихуэй (李思誨), служил военным чиновником в префектуре Ян (揚州, приблизительно современный Янчжоу, провинция Цзянсу). Мать Ли Линфу была сестрой чиновника Цзян Цзяо (姜皎), близкого соратника праправнука императора Гаодзу, императора Сюаньцзуна, который достиг известности во время правления императора Сюаньцзуна, получив титул герцога Чу. Ли Линфу изучал музыку и пользовался расположением своего дяди Цзян.
До канцлерства
Во время правления императора Сюаньцзуна, когда Юань Цзяньяо служил канцлером, Ли Линфу был членом штаба наследного принца императора Сюаньцзуна Ли Сицзяна. Юань был рекомендован Цзян Цзяо в начале своей карьеры, и его внук-племянник Юань Гуанчэн (元光乘) женился на сестре Цзян. Благодаря этим связям, сын Юаня Юань Цзе (源絜) передал просьбу Ли Линфу о назначении на должность Симен Лангчжун (司門郎中) – чиновника низкого ранга в министерстве юстиции. Юань Цзяньяо, однако, невысоко ценил Ли Линфу и прокомментировал, используя его прозвище: «Те, кто должен служить Лангом, должны обладать талантом и добродетелью. Гену не место среди Лангов». Тем не менее, через несколько дней он повысил Ли Линфу в рядах сотрудников Ли Сицзяна. Позже Ли Линфу служил Гуоцзы Сые (國子司業) – заместителем главы императорского университета. В 726 году чиновник Ювэнь Жун стал заместителем главного императорского цензора (御史中丞, Yushi Zhongcheng). Ювэнь был дружен с Ли Линфу и поэтому рекомендовал его в коллеги; Ли Линфу был назначен заместителем главного императорского цензора, а затем последовательно занимал должности заместителя министра юстиции (刑部侍郎, Xingbu Shilang) и министра гражданских дел (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang). В то время во дворце доминировала любимая наложница императора Сюаньцзуна, наложница У, а её сыновья Ли Мао (李瑁), принц Шу, и Ли Ци (李琦), принц Шэн, были любимыми сыновьями императора Сюаньцзуна, отвлекая внимание от Ли Сицзяна (чьё имя к тому времени было изменено на Ли Ин). Ли Линфу поддерживал дружеские отношения со многими влиятельными евнухами и через них сообщил наложнице У о своей готовности поддержать Ли Мао в попытке сместить Ли Ина. Между тем, Ли Линфу также был связан любовной связью с женой канцлера Пэй Гуантина, дочерью У Санси, племянника покойной бабушки императора Сюаньцзуна, У Цзэтянь, и родственницы наложницы У. После смерти Пэя в 733 году госпожа У попросила влиятельного евнуха Гао Лиши, который когда-то служил У Санси, рекомендовать Ли Линфу на его место. Гао не решился дать рекомендацию, но когда император Сюаньцзун собирался назначить Хана Сю канцлером, Гао первым сообщил об этом госпоже У, которая затем рассказала Ли Линфу. Ли Линфу подал прошение в поддержку Хана, который был ему за это благодарен. Когда Хан впоследствии вступил в конфликт с другим канцлером, Сяо Суном, он рекомендовал Ли Линфу на должность канцлера, а наложница У также ходатайствовала за него. Император Сюаньцзун не назначил его канцлером немедленно, но сделал Хуанмэнь Шиланом (黃門侍郎) – заместителем главы экзаменационного бюро (門下省, Menxia Sheng) и стал больше его поддерживать.
Как канцлер
В 734 году Ли Линфу был назначен министром обрядов (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu) и получил должность Тун Чжуншу Мэнься Санпинь (同中書門下三品), что фактически сделало его канцлером, наряду с Пэй Яоцином и Чжан Цзюлином. К 736 году он, обретший еще большую благосклонность императора Сюаньцзуна благодаря лести, вступил в серьезный конфликт с прямолинейным Чжаном по ряду вопросов: осенью 736 года, когда император Сюаньцзун находился в Лояне, он намеревался вернуться в Чанъань 7 марта 737 года. Однако в это время произошел инцидент, когда во дворце Лояна появились странные явления, и император Сюаньцзун не желал оставаться в Лояне. 9 ноября 736 года он вызвал канцлеров, чтобы спросить, может ли он немедленно отправиться в Чанъань. Пэй и Чжан указали на то, что наступило время сбора урожая и императорский поезд помешает этому, и попросили отсрочить отъезд на месяц. После ухода Пэй и Чжана Ли Линфу остался и выразил согласие с отъездом, утверждая, что крестьянам можно будет компенсировать неудобства за счет отмены налогов. Император Сюаньцзун был доволен и немедленно отправился в Чанъань. Император Сюаньцзун был впечатлен военным губернатором (节度使, цзедуши) округа Шуофан (朔方, с центром в современном Иньчуане, Нинся) и хотел назначить его министром обороны. Чжан, указав на то, что Ню не получил хорошего образования и начинал службу с низших должностей – вопреки танской традиции прохождения имперских экзаменов – выступил против, а затем и против создания для него титула. В конце концов, несмотря на возражения Чжана, император Сюаньцзун, с согласия Ли Линфу, пожаловал Ню титул герцога Лунси. Ли Линфу пытался убедить императора Сюаньцзуна сделать Ли Мао наследным принцем вместо Ли Ина, который давно потерял расположение императора и оскорбил императора и супругу У из-за инцидента, когда он и его братья Ли Яо (李瑤), принц Э, и Ли Цзю (李琚), принц Гуан, тайно жаловались на то, что император Сюаньцзун потерял расположение их матерей. Чжан упорно возражал против этого, и Ли Ин остался на своем посту. Заместитель министра Сяо Цзюнь (蕭炅), рекомендованный Ли Линфу, был понижен в должности по предложению Чжана и его друга Ян Тинчжи (嚴挺之), который еще больше оскорбил Ли Линфу, отказавшись с ним встретиться. Вскоре после этого произошел инцидент, когда Ван Юньянь (王元琰), муж бывшей жены Яна, был обвинен в коррупции. Ян попытался заступиться за Ван, и это было обнаружено. Ли Линфу воспользовался этим, чтобы обвинить императора Сюаньцзуна в том, что Чжан и Пэй занимаются партийной борьбой. Около 737 года император Сюаньцзун отстранил Пэй и Чжана от должности канцлера, назначив их Чэнсянами (丞相) – главами исполнительного бюро правительства (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), должности, которые не считались канцлерскими. Ню был назначен канцлером на их место, работая вместе с Ли Линфу, которому была передана должность, ранее занимаемая Чжаном, – Чжуншу Лин (中書令), глава законодательного бюро (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). Это часто рассматривалось традиционными историками как поворотный момент в правлении императора Сюаньцзуна, который до этого момента считался золотым веком в китайской истории, и начало периода упадка. Историк династии Сун Сыма Гуан, например, в своем «Цзычжи Тунцзяне» отметил: «Говорили, что поскольку Ню был рекомендован Ли Линфу, он следовал его указаниям, а Ли Линфу подавлял инакомыслие в правительстве, говоря младшим чиновникам, что они, как имперские лошади, не желающие подчиняться приказам, легко заменяемы. Когда чиновник Ду Цзинь (杜璡) все же представил предложение, он был немедленно отправлен из столицы, формально – на повышение, но фактически – понижен в должности из-за удаленности нового места службы. Говорили также, что Ли Линфу умело скрывал свои эмоции и его было трудно понять; он часто использовал льстивые слова, чтобы угодить другим, а затем нападал на них, когда они были менее всего готовы. Он завоевывал расположение тех, кто был близок к императору, и находил способы устранить потенциальных соперников. Китайская пословица «мед в устах и меч в сердце» (口蜜腹劍, kou mi fu jian) впервые стала общеупотребительной, когда ее использовали для его описания. В 737 году, после того как императорский цензор Чжоу Цзылян (周子諒) разозлил императора Сюаньцзуна, подав обвинительный акт против Ню, и был подвергнут телесным наказаниям и сослан, Ли Линфу воспользовался возможностью указать на то, что Чжан рекомендовал Чжоу. В результате Чжан был понижен в должности и отправлен из столицы на должность секретаря префектуры. Также в 737 году супруга У решила попытаться обмануть Ли Ина, Ли Яо и Ли Цзю. Она послала сообщение трем принцам: «Во дворце бандиты. Пожалуйста, немедленно явись в доспехах!» Три принца прибыли в полном вооружении, после чего она сообщила императору Сюаньцзуну: «Три принца планируют государственный переворот. Посмотрите, они явились в полном вооружении». Император Сюаньцзун приказал евнухам проверить ситуацию, и принцы были замечены в доспехах. Ян Хуэй впоследствии обвинил Ли Ина, Ли Яо и Ли Цзю в государственной измене. Когда император Сюаньцзун обсудил это с канцлерами, Ли Линфу заявил: «Это семейное дело Вашего Императорского Величества. Мы не будем вмешиваться». Вскоре три принца были лишены титулов и вынуждены покончить с собой. Тем временем заместитель главного судьи верховного суда Сюй Цзяо (徐嶠) представил императору Сюаньцзуну льстивый доклад, указав, что за год было вынесено всего 58 смертных приговоров и что уменьшение числа приговоров свидетельствует о том, что правление императора Сюаньцзуна было настолько мирным, что в них не было необходимости. Император Сюаньцзун, в свою очередь, возблагодарил канцлеров и пожаловал Ли Линфу титул герцога Цзинь, а Ню – герцога Бинь. Примерно в это же время была завершена ревизия законов под руководством Ли Линфу, Ню и чиновников, отвечающих за правосудие. В 738 году Ли Линфу был назначен заместителем военного губернатора округа Лунъю (隴右, с центром в префектуре Хайдун, Цинхай), но не отправился в Лунъю и остался в столице в качестве канцлера. Вскоре он также был назначен военным губернатором округа Хэси (河西, с центром в Увэе, Ганьсу). Тем временем он неоднократно убеждал императора Сюаньцзуна сделать Ли Мао наследным принцем, но император колебался – супруга У умерла в 737 году. Вместо этого, по настоянию Гао, император Сюаньцзун назначил старшего сына Ли Юя, принца Чжун, наследным принцем. В 739 году Ли Линфу получил дополнительный титул министра по делам гражданской службы (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu, обратите внимание на другой иероглиф, чем у министра обрядов) и был поставлен во главе отбора гражданских чиновников, а Ню получил дополнительный титул министра обороны и был поставлен во главе отбора военных офицеров. Тем временем, когда евнух Ню Сяньтун (牛仙童, не связанный с Ню Сянькэ) был уличен в получении взяток, Ли Линфу воспользовался этой возможностью, чтобы обвинить Сяо Суна, который уже вышел на пенсию, но все еще был влиятелен, в подкупе Ню Сяньтуна, и Сяо Сун был понижен в должности и отправлен из столицы. Тем временем говорили, что Ли Линфу постоянно подкупал евнухов и фрейлин, чтобы следить за настроениями и действиями императора Сюаньцзуна, чтобы иметь возможность проводить действия, которые помогут ему удержаться у власти. Например, когда император Сюаньцзун был впечатлен чиновником Лу Сюанем (盧絢) и, казалось, собирался повысить его, Ли Линфу, считая Лу потенциальной угрозой, вызвал младших членов клана Лу и сообщил им, что император Сюаньцзун собирается назначить Лу командующим отдаленной префектурой Цзяо (交州, примерно современный Ханой, Вьетнам) или префектурой Гуан (廣州, примерно современный Гуанчжоу, Гуандун) – формально повышение, но в то время считавшееся ссылкой – ка...
In fall 736, when Emperor Xuanzong was at Luoyang, he had set to return to Chang'an on March 7, 737. However, at that time, an incident occurred where there were strange apparitions appearing in the Luoyang Palace, and Emperor Xuanzong did not want to stay at Luoyang. On or right before November 9, 736, he summoned the chancellors to ask them whether he could depart for Chang'an immediately. Pei and Zhang, pointing out the fact that it was harvest season and that the imperial train would interfere with harvest, requested a one month delay. After Pei and Zhang exited, however, Li Linfu remained personally and stated his agreement with the departure, arguing that the farmers could be compensated by relieving their taxes. Emperor Xuanzong was pleased and immediately departed for Chang'an. Emperor Xuanzong was, then, impressed with Niu Xianke, the military governor (节度使, jiedushi) of Shuofang Circuit (朔方, headquartered in modern Yinchuan, Ningxia), wanted to make him the minister of defense. Zhang, who pointed out that Niu was not well learned and had started from the ranks of low level administrators—contrary to the Tang tradition of going through the imperial examinations—opposed, and then further opposed the creation of a title. Eventually, despite Zhang's opposition, Emperor Xuanzong, with concurrence from Li Linfu, created Niu the Duke of Longxi. Li Linfu was trying to have Emperor Xuanzong make Li Mao crown prince to replace Emperor Xuanzong's Li Ying, who had long lost Emperor Xuanzong's favor and who had offended Emperor Xuanzong and Consort Wu over an incident where he and his brothers Li Yao (李瑤) the Prince of E and Li Ju (李琚) the Prince of Guang privately complained about how Emperor Xuanzong had lost favor for their mothers. With Zhang strenuously opposing such a move, Li Ying remained in his position. The deputy minister Xiao Jiong (蕭炅), whom Li Linfu recommended, was demoted on the suggestion of Zhang and Zhang's friend Yan Tingzhi (嚴挺之), who further offended Li Linfu by refusing to meet with him. Soon thereafter, there was an incident where Wang Yunyan (王元琰), the husband of Yan's ex wife, was accused of corruption. Yan tried to intercede on Wang's behalf, and this was discovered. Li Linfu thus made accusations to Emperor Xuanzong that Zhang and Pei were engaging in factionalism. Around the new year 737, Emperor Xuanzong removed Pei and Zhang from their chancellor posts, making them Chengxiang (丞相)—the heads of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng) instead, posts not considered chancellor posts. Niu was made chancellor to replace them, serving with Li Linfu, who was given the office formerly held by Zhang, Zhongshu Ling (中書令), the head of the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). This was often viewed by traditional historians as the turning point of Emperor Xuanzong's reign, which up to that point was considered a golden age in Chinese history, toward a path of degeneration. The Song dynasty historian Sima Guang, in his Zizhi Tongjian, for example, commented:
It was said that because Niu was recommended by Li Linfu, he followed Li Linfu's directions, while Li Linfu discouraged dissent within the government—telling junior officials that they, like imperial horses who would not obey directions, were easily replaceable. When the official Du Jin (杜璡) nevertheless submitted a proposal, Du was immediately sent out of a capital—ostensibly for a promotion, but considered demoted due to his new post's being away. It was further said that Li Linfu held his emotions in check and was difficult to discern; he often used sweet words to please others and then attack them when they were not ready. He endeared those who were close to the emperor, while finding ways to eliminate potential competitors for power. The Chinese proverb "having honey in the mouth and a sword in the belly" (口蜜腹劍, kou mi fu jian), first became idiomatic when used to describe him. In 737, after the imperial censor Zhou Ziliang (周子諒) angered Emperor Xuanzong by filing an indictment against Niu and was caned and then exiled, Li Linfu took the opportunity to point out that Zhang had recommended Zhou. As a result, Zhang was demoted out of the capital to serve as a prefectural secretary general. Also in 737, Consort Wu decided to try to trick Li Ying, Li Yao, and Li Ju. She had a message sent to the three princes, stating, "There are bandits in the palace. Please report at once in armor!" The three princes arrived in full armor, and she thereafter told Emperor Xuanzong, "The three princes are planning treason. Look, they have come in full armor." Emperor Xuanzong had his eunuchs check out the situation, and the three princes were seen in full armor. Yang Hui subsequently accused Li Ying, Li Yao, and Li Ju of treason. When Emperor Xuanzong discussed this with the chancellors, Li Linfu stated, "This is Your Imperial Majesty's family matter. We will not interfere." The three princes were soon reduced to commoner rank and forced to commit suicide. Meanwhile, the deputy chief judge of the supreme court, Xu Jiao (徐嶠) submitted a flattering report to Emperor Xuanzong, pointing out that there were only 58 death sentences handed down for the year and that the reduced number of sentences showed that Emperor Xuanzong's reign was so peaceful that they were not required. Emperor Xuanzong, in turn, credited the chancellors, and created Li Linfu the Duke of Jin and Niu the Duke of Bin. It was also around this time that a revision of the laws, led by Li Linfu, Niu, and the officials in charge of the justice system, was completed. In 738, Li Linfu was made the deputy military governor of Longyou Circuit (隴右, headquartered in Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai), but did not report to Longyou and remained in the capital as chancellor. He was soon also made the military governor of Hexi Circuit (河西, headquartered in Wuwei, Gansu). Meanwhile, he was repeatedly urging Emperor Xuanzong to create Li Mao crown prince, but Emperor Xuanzong hesitated—with Consort Wu having died in 737. Instead, at Gao's urging, Emperor Xuanzong created an older son, Li Yu the Prince of Zhong crown prince instead. In 739, Li Linfu was given the additional title as minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu, note different character than minister of rites) and was put in charge of selecting civilian officials, while Niu was given the additional title as minister of defense and put in charge of selecting military officers. Meanwhile, when the eunuch Niu Xiantong (牛仙童, unrelated to Niu Xianke) was found to have accepted bribes, Li Linfu used this opportunity to accuse Xiao Song, now retired but still influential, of bribing Niu Xiantong, and Xiao was demoted out of the capital. Meanwhile, Li Linfu was said to be constantly bribing the eunuchs and ladies in waiting himself to keep an eye on Emperor Xuanzong's emotions and acts, to allow him to carry out actions that would help him stay in power. For example, when Emperor Xuanzong was impressed by the official Lu Xuan (盧絢) on one occasion and appeared poised to promote him, Li Linfu, viewing Lu as a potential threat, summoned Lu's younger clan members and informed them that Emperor Xuanzong was set to make Lu the commandant of distant Jiao Prefecture (交州, roughly modern Hanoi, Vietnam) or Guang Prefecture (廣州, roughly modern Guangzhou, Guangdong)—technically promotion, but considered at that point to be positions of exile—causing Lu to, in fear, submit a resignation, asking to be made a member of the staff of Li Yu (whose name was changed to Li Heng by that point). Lu Xuan was ultimately made a member of Li Heng's staff, out of contention for the chancellorship. Meanwhile, when Emperor Xuanzong appeared poised to recall Yan Tingzhi, perhaps to make him chancellor, Li Linfu tricked Yan's brother Yan Sunzhi (嚴損之) into believing that the best way to have Yan Tingzhi recalled was to claim that Yan Tingzhi was ill. Li Linfu then managed to have Emperor Xuanzong make Yan Tingzhi a member of Li Heng's staff as well, along with Qi Huan (齊澣), another influential senior official that Li Linfu viewed as a threat. Meanwhile, with Li Linfu serving as chancellor, he entrusted the official selection process to the deputy ministers of civil service affairs Song Yao (宋遙) and Miao Jinqing. In 743, a scandal involving the imperial examination process thus developed, with Song and Miao wanting to ingratiate the official Zhang Yi (張倚), who was then favored by Emperor Xuanzong, by allowing Zhang Yi's son Zhang Shi (張奭) to pass the imperial examinations. When the results were announced, they were largely viewed as unfair. The military governor An Lushan reported this to Emperor Xuanzong, and Emperor Xuanzong personally retested the 64 persons who passed the examination. Zhang Shi was unable to even write anything in response to Emperor Xuanzong's question. As a result, Song, Miao, and Zhang Yi were all demoted, but Li Linfu did not suffer any consequences. By this point, Li Linfu was said to be so powerful that officials needed his recommendations for promotion, and that those who were commissioned without such recommendations would soon fall prey to his false accusations. For example, in 743, when the official Yang Shenjin (楊慎矜) was set to be promoted to be deputy chief imperial censor, he did not dare to accept the position because Li Linfu did not recommend him, accepting the office only in 744 when he received a recommendation from Li Linfu. Also, Li Linfu, viewing the official Pei Kuan (裴寬) as a potential threat to be chancellor as well, induced the general Pei Dunfu (裴敦復) into accusing Pei Kuan of nepotism, and Pei Kuan was demoted. (Li Linfu, however, also viewed Pei Dunfu as a threat, and soon had him sent out of the capital.) Meanwhile, Emperor Xuanzong, who was very trusting of Li Linfu at this point, considered formally letting Li LInfu take over all matters of state. Gao spoke against it, pointing out then that no one would be able to control the chancellor. Emperor Xuanzong was displeased with Gao's response, but did not formally bestow Li Linfu with such authorities. By 745, Li Linfu was further using judges, the chief among whom were Ji Wen (吉溫) and Luo Xishi (羅希奭), who were known for using torture to extract confessions, in order to accuse his political enemies of crimes. For example, in 745, wanting to attack fellow chancellor Li Shizhi, who was then also minister of defense, and the official Zhang Ji (張垍), who was deputy minister of defense and a son in law to Emperor Xuanzong, he had some 60 officials under them accused of corruption. Under torture by Ji Wen, these officials all admitted corruption, although Emperor Xuanzong took no actions against Li Shizhi or Zhang Ji at this point. Meanwhile, Li Shizhi and another official with designs on the chancellorship—Wei Jian (韋堅), who was Li Heng's brother in law, as well as Li Linfu's uncle Jiang Jiao's son in law and thus who had initially gained favor with Li Linfu—were associating with each other, and Li LInfu viewed both as threats. He had Wei ostensibly promoted but removed Wei from a number of finance related positions that he had held and at which he had gained Emperor Xuanzong's favors by adding to the imperial treasury income. In 746, he then tricked Li Shizhi into making a suggestion to Emperor Xuanzong of opening gold mines at Mount Hua—and then himself informed Emperor Xuanzong that, based on Taoist principles, he believed that a mine at Mount Hua would damage Emperor Xuanzong's health, thus bringing imperial displeasure on Li Shizhi. He then accused Wei and a general close to Li Heng, Huangfu Weiming (皇甫惟明), of inappropriate close association and intimated that they were ingratiating Li Heng. (Li Linfu had been apprehensive about Li Heng's elevation against his recommendation of Li Mao, and therefore sought to undermine Li Heng by making this accusation as well.) Wei and Huangfu were thus demoted to be commandery governors. Li Shizhi, in fear, offered to resign his chancellorship. Emperor Xuanzong made Li Shizhi an advisor to Li Heng and removed him from his chancellor position. Li Linfu, believing that the official Chen Xilie, who became favored by Emperor Xuanzong because of Chen's dabbling in supernatural matters, would be easy to control, and therefore recommended Chen to succeed Li Shizhi. After Chen became chancellor, however, effectively, all matters were still decided by Li Linfu, leaving Chen with no real authorities. Late in 746, when Wei Jian's brothers Wei Lan (韋蘭) and Wei Zhi (韋芝) submitted a petition to try to defend their brother, the petition backfired badly, as their citation of what Li Heng had spoken caused Emperor Xuanzong to indeed believe that they were loyal to Li Heng and not to him. Li Heng, in fear, divorced Crown Princess Wei, and subsequently, Wei Jian and his brothers were exiled, and Li Linfu took this opportunity to several other officials associated with the Weis—Li Shizhi, Wei Bin (韋斌), Li Xuan (李琄) the Prince of Xue (a nephew to both Emperor Xuanzong and Wei Jian), Pei Kuan, and Li Qiwu (李齊物)—all demoted to remote posts. When, shortly after, Du Youlin (杜有隣) the father of Li Heng's concubine Consort Du, as well as Du Youlin's son in law Liu Ji (柳勣) were accused of criticizing Emperor Xuanzong, Li Linfu took the opportunity to have Ji Wen extend the target, eventually convincing Emperor Xuanzong that Li Yong (李邕), Pei Dunfu, Huangfu, and the Wei brothers were all involved in the plot and had them all killed at their posts or in exile. A number of others, including Li Shizhi and Wang Ju (王琚), were terrorized into committing suicide. Li Heng, however, avoided consequences, as Emperor Xuanzong believed him to be filially pious. After Wei Jian's death, Li Linfu was still angry at Wei Jian, and had the judges continue to pursue people accused of being Wei Jian's associates and torture them, until Li LInfu's later death in 752. Meanwhile, in 747, Emperor Xuanzong wanted to expand the government's talent pool, and so issued an edict ordering that the people who had unusual talents to come to Chang'an to be examined by himself. Li Linfu, fearing that these examinees might accuse him of improprieties when they get to meet the emperor, suggested that these examinees go through two levels of preliminary examinations—by the local governments, and then by the executive bureau. As a result, no one passed the first two levels of preliminary examinations, and Li LInfu subsequently submitted a note to Emperor Xuanzong congratulating him that no talent has been overlooked by the imperial administration. Meanwhile, Li Linfu was also apprehensive about how Wang Zhongsi, the military governor of Hexi, Longyou, Hedong (河東, headquartered in Taiyuan, Shanxi) and Shuofang (朔方, headquartered in Yinchuan, Ningxia) Circuits, had become increasingly powerful and might be promoted to be chancellor. When Wang subsequently interfered with the campaign that the general Dong Yanguang (董延光) against Tufan later in 747, Li took the opportunity to accuse Wang of plotting to overthrow Emperor Xuanzong and replace him with Li Heng—with whom Wang was raised together in the palace, as Wang's father Wang Haibin (王海賓) had been killed in battle while serving in the army, and Emperor Xuanzong, taking pity on the young child, raised him in the palace. At the effort of Wang's subordinate general Geshu Han, whom Emperor Xuanzong was impressed with, Wang escaped death but was removed from his post. Meanwhile, Li Linfu also became apprehensive of Yang Shenjin's continued rise, and induced Yang's cousin's son Wang Hong (王鉷) to falsely accuse Yang, who was a descendant of Sui dynasty's emperors, of plotting to overthrow Tang and reestablish Sui. After Ji extracted confessions from the sorcerer Shi Jingzhong (史敬忠) implicating Yang, Yang and his brothers Yang Shenyu (楊慎餘) and Yang Shenming (楊慎名) were all forced to commit suicide. During these investigations, Li Linfu was repeatedly trying to implicate Li Heng, but as Emperor Xuanzong still trusted Li Heng, and Zhang Ji and Gao Lishi were doing all they could to protect Li Heng, he was never actually able to implicate Li Heng. By this point, Li Linfu also feared that he had created too many enemies and that someone may try to assassinate him, expanded the corps of the chancellors' guards, with more than 100 guards protecting him at all times and establishment of elaborate security measures at home, including thick gates and walls and use of multiple bedrooms for himself, so that no one would know where he was sleeping on a certain night. He was also said to be living in extreme luxury, with one grand mansion in the capital itself and one country mansion, originally belonging to Li Xuan's father Li Ye (李業). He had a large group of concubines and servant woman, and he had 25 sons and 25 daughters. Three of his sons and five of his sons in law served in important positions. Meanwhile, Li Linfu was described to be also responsible for a policy that Emperor Xuanzong implemented late in his reign—that non Han generals were not only promoted to important border positions, but given large commands, as, prior to this point, border military commands were often viewed as stepping stones to chancellorships—and, just during Emperor Xuanzong's own reign, this had been the route that Xue Na, Guo Yuanzhen, Zhang Jiazhen, Wang Jun, Zhang Shuo, Du Xian, Xiao Song, Niu Xianke, and Li Shizhi used to reach the chancellorship. Li Linfu, wanting to cut this route off for potential enemies, argued that non Han generals were less likely to be engaged in factionalism and were more likely to be brave in battles. By 748, the main border posts were commanded by four non Han generals—An Lushan, An Sishun, Geshu, and Gao Xianzhi. In 749, the commandery governor Zhao Fengzhang (趙奉璋) submitted a petition to Emperor Xuanzong accusing Li Linfu of over 20 crimes. Before the petition could arrive, however, Li Linfu already found out, and had Zhao arrested and caned to death. By 750, however, a realistic threat against Li Linfu's power was rising—as Ji Wen and Yang Zhao, the cousin to Emperor Xuanzong's then favorite concubine Consort Yang Yuhuan—were aligned with each other, and they had Li Linfu's close associates Xiao Jiong (蕭炅) and Song Hun (宋渾) demoted, to gradually reduce Li Linfu's power, with the intent of having Yang Zhao replace Li Linfu. Ji, soon, was also ingratiating An Lushan, and An was repeatedly recommending him. Subsequently, in 751, Ji was made the deputy military governor of Hedong, which was under An's command at the time. Meanwhile, though, by 752, Wang Hong was having authorities rivaling LI Linfu's, but as Wang was carefully cultivating his relationship with Li Linfu and humble to Li Linfu, Li Linfu did not act against him. However, Wang Hong's brother Wang Han (王銲), who believed that he was destined to be emperor, planned a coup with his associate Xing Zai (邢縡). When Xing subsequently did rise in rebellion, the rebellion was suppressed by Gao, Wang Hong, and Yang Zhao (whose name was changed to Yang Guozhong by this point). Li Linfu subsequently tried to defend Wang Hong before Emperor Xuanzong, and Emperor Xuanzong initially took no actions against either Wang Hong or Wang Han, but was waiting for Wang Hong to submit a petition asking for punishment. When none came, Chen Xilie, who was also beginning to be antagonistic to Li Linfu, and Yang accused Wang Hong of being complicit. Wang Hong was forced to commit suicide, and Wang Han was caned to death, causing terror in Li Linfu's heart. He thus, while keeping his chancellorship, resigned his military governorship of Shuofang and had the command transferred to An Sishun instead. That, however, failed to stem the accusations that Yang, Chen, and Geshu were making that Li Linfu was associating with not only Wang Hong and Wang Han, but also the ethnically Tujue general Li Xianzhong (李獻忠), who rebelled in 752 as well. Meanwhile, with Nanzhao repeatedly attacking Jiannan Circuit (劍南, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan), Li Linfu tried to defuse Yang's threat to him by requesting that Yang, who was also military governor of Jiannan, be sent to Jiannan to defend against Nanzhao attacks. Despite Yang's repeated pleas, Emperor Xuanzong sent him on his way, but promised to recall him soon to be chancellor. Meanwhile, Li Linfu was seriously ill by this point, and when a sorcerer indicated that if the emperor looked at him, he would be cured, Emperor Xuanzong considered visiting him. Ultimately, though, at the opposition of the imperial attendants, Emperor Xuanzong did not do so, but had Li Linfu brought out to the courtyard of his mansion and then ascended a tower to look toward Li Linfu. This had no beneficial effect on Li Linfu's illness, however. Meanwhile, once Yang reached Jiannan, Emperor Xuanzong recalled him. When Yang, after arriving back in the capital, went to visit Li Linfu, Li Linfu tried to ingratiate him and entrust his family to Yang. Li Linfu died around the new year 753.
После смерти
После смерти Ли Линфу император Сюаньцзун сначала одарил его рядом посмертных наград, включая приказ об организации пышных похорон с императорской гвардией в качестве почетного эскорта и использованием императорских погребальных предметов. Однако весной 753 года Ян Гуочжун подстрекал Ань Лушаня обвинить Ли Линфу в соучастии в восстании Ли Сяньчжуна, а затем добился подтверждения этого от зятя Ли Линфу, Ян Цицюаня (楊齊宣). Прежде чем похороны Ли Линфу успели состояться, император Сюаньцзун издал указ, лишив его всех наград и изгнав его потомков. Гроб Ли Линфу вскрыли, и у него отобрали три погребальные принадлежности – жемчужину во рту, пурпурный одеяние канцлера и золотую рыбку, символизирующую чин. Вместо этого его похоронили с почестями, достойными простого обывателя, в небольшом гробу. Говорили, что, хотя народ и ненавидел Ли Линфу за его коррумпированное и жестокое правление, они все же скорбели о том, что его ложно обвинили после смерти. Когда Ли Хэн позже стал императором (как император Суцзун), он обдумывал дальнейшее унижение тела Ли Линфу – эксгумацию, сожжение и рассеяние праха. Однако по совету императорского советника Ли Би он отказался от этой затеи.
В художественной и популярной культуре
В "Легенде о леди Янг" (2000) его роль исполнил Квок Фун.
Примечания и ссылки
Старая книга Тан, том 106. Новая книга Тан, том 223, часть 1. Цзычжи Тунцзянь, тома 213, 214, 215, 216.