Li Yong (chancellor)
Li Yong (李鄘) (died September 14, 820),
Background
It is not known when Li Yong was born, but it is known that his family was originally from Jiangxia (江夏, in modern
Li Yong himself passed the imperial examinations during the Dali era (766-779) of Emperor Daizong, and he scored high in the class of those who were capable of rendering legal judgments. He was made Mishu Zhengzi (秘書正字), a copyeditor at the Palace Library. He was later invited by the general Li Huaiguang to serve on Li Huaiguang's staff.[3]
During Emperor Dezong's reign
After Li Huaiguang rebelled against the rule of Emperor Daizong's son
In 800, after
During Emperor Shunzong's reign
After Emperor Dezong died in 805 and was succeeded by his severely ill son Emperor Shunzong,[9] Li Yong was made deputy chief imperial censor (御史中丞, Yushi Zhongcheng). He was then made the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region) and then Shangshu You Cheng (尚書右丞), one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).[3]
During Emperor Xianzong's reign
Early in the Yuanhe era (805-821) of Emperor Shunzong's son
In 810, Li Yong was made the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou) and the secretary general of its capital Yang Prefecture (揚州). It was said that Li Yong did not serve long at either Fengxiang or Hedong because he was stern and often changed regulations, causing the people to be unsettled. At Huainan, he was also stern, but it was said that the circuit was well-governed and wealthy. However, he was also said to be harsh in his governance, and his staff members could not stop the officers and technocrats under him from exercising the laws harshly, including carrying out many executions. His reputation thus suffered. When the imperial government waged a campaign against the warlord Wu Yuanji, who controlled Zhangyi Circuit (彰義, headquartered in modern Zhumadian, Henan), and Wu Yuanji's ally Li Shidao the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong) dispatched troops to pressure Huainan's borders, Li Yong dispatched some 20,000 soldiers from Chu (楚州, in modern Huai'an, Jiangsu) and Shou (壽州, in modern Lu'an, Anhui) Prefectures to defend against possible actions by Wu and Li Shidao, without requesting funds from the imperial government. Further, at that time, as the imperial treasury was being depleted by the campaign against Wu, Emperor Xianzong sent the deputy director of monopolies, Cheng Yi to tour the circuits to look for additional sources of revenue. Li Yong submitted the surpluses that Huainan had, and the other circuits followed, thus relieving the imperial treasury from depletion.[3]
Meanwhile, in 811, Tutu had been demoted and made the eunuch monitor at Huainan. It was said that he and Li Yong respected each other and did not offend each other. After Tutu was recalled to Chang'an in 814, he recommended Li Yong as chancellor. Late 817, Emperor Xianzong recalled Li Yong to be Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng) and chancellor de facto with the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事). However, Li Yong did not consider himself capable to be chancellor and further felt ashamed to have been recommended by a eunuch. When the staff members played music to celebrate, Li Yong wept and stated, "I like being secure in a circuit in my old age, and a chancellorship is not properly mine." When he arrived in Chang'an around new year 818, he claimed to be ill and did not attend to the duties of chancellor. He further declined an audience with Emperor Xianzong, and when his subordinates arrived at his mansion to see him, he declined to see them. He submitted repeated offers to resign. In spring 818, Emperor Xianzong made him the minister of census (戶部尚書, Hubu Shangshu) and removed him from his chancellor position, replacing him with Li Yijian.
During Emperor Muzong's reign
In 820, by which time Emperor Xianzong had died and been succeeded by Li Heng (as Emperor Muzong), Li Yong died. He was given posthumous honors and the posthumous name Su (肅, "solemn"). His grandson Li Xi later served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.[3]
Notes and references
- ^ "中央研究院".
- ^ Old Book of Tang, vol. 16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Old Book of Tang, vol. 157.
- ^ New Book of Tang, vol. 72."漢川草廬-二十四史-新唐書-卷七十二‧表第十二". Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved October 3, 2008."新唐書-宰相世系二(趙郡李氏江夏)". Archived from the original on 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 230.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 231.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 232.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 235.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 236.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 237.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 238.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 240.
- Old Book of Tang, vol. 157.
- New Book of Tang, vol. 146.
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 231, 232, 235, 237, 238, 240.