Lü Yin


Lü Yin , formally Count Su of Xuchang, was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Suzong. Historians often regarded him as being more capable as a regional governor, later in his career, than as a chancellor.

Before serving as chancellor

Lü Yin was born in 712, around the time when Emperor Xuanzong became emperor. His family was from Pu Prefecture and traced its ancestry to the ruling Jiang clan of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period. Lü himself was said to be ambitious and studious in his youth, but was poor and could not support himself. A wealthy man from his locale, Cheng Chubin was impressed with Lü's talent and believed that he would one day be successful, and Cheng decided to give his daughter to Lü in marriage. After the marriage, both Cheng Chubin and his son Cheng Zhen supported Lü financially, allowing Lü to visit the Tang Dynasty capital Chang'an.
Early in Emperor Xuanzong's Tianbao era, Lü passed the imperial examinations and was made the sheriff of Ningling County. The surveyor of the circuit, Wei Zhi, was impressed with Lü's talent and recommended him to serve as deputy surveyor. Later, Geshu Han, the military governor of Longyou and Hexi Circuits invited him to serve on staff as treasurer. While serving under Geshu, it was said that Lü was careful and hardworking, and at times, when his colleagues would be spending time out of the office, Lü would be in his office to review the files. This diligence caused Geshu to favor him more.
In 755, the general An Lushan rebelled at Fanyang Circuit and quickly attacked south, capturing the Tang eastern capital Luoyang and establishing a new state of Yan. Geshu was commissioned to try to block Yan advances at Tong Pass, but was defeated there in 756, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to flee Chang'an to Chengdu. Emperor Xuanzong's son and crown prince Li Heng, however, did not follow him to Chengdu, but instead fled to Lingwu, where he was proclaimed emperor, an action that Emperor Xuanzong later recognized. Lü, who had been still serving under Geshu at the time Geshu was defeated, fled to Lingwu as well. After the eunuchs Zhu Guanghui and Li Zunzou recommended him, Emperor Suzong met him and was impressed with him, and thus made him deputy chief imperial censor, often listening to his advice. After Emperor Suzong moved his headquarters to Fengxiang in 757, he made Lü the deputy minister of defense and further allowed Lü to wear a gold and purple robe, generally reserved for higher-ranking officials. After Emperor Suzong recaptured Chang'an and Luoyang later in 757, Lü was one of the officials, along with Li Xian and Cui Qi, who adjudicated the cases of former Tang officials who had submitted to Yan as subjects. It was said that both Lü and Cui were harsh while Li Xian was more merciful, and that Lü's harshness brought much disdain for him.

As chancellor

In spring 759, Lü Yin, then still deputy minister of defense, was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, making him a chancellor de facto, and he was also made in charge of the examination bureau of government even though he carried no official responsibility at the examination bureau. In summer 759, after his mother died, he left public service briefly, but was recalled to the same posts three months later, and was additionally given the office of special taxation emissary. He was also created the Count of Xuchang and made Huangmen Shilang, the deputy head of the examination bureau. In early 760, Emperor Suzong gave him the greater chancellor de facto designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin and awarded him a ceremonial ji. Lü, believing it to be inappropriate to receive such honors in mourning clothes, took off his mourning clothes—and this drew much criticism from others.
During the time that Lü served as chancellor, he drew further criticism by making his father-in-law Cheng Chubin a deputy minister and brother-in-law Cheng Zhen a junior official. Further, he had a close association with the eunuch Ma Shangyan. When Ma received the bribe from a reserve official who sought to be the sheriff of Lantian County, he requested Lü to make that person the sheriff of Lantian County. Lü did so. When this was discovered in summer 760, Emperor Suzong, in anger, battered Ma to death and had Ma's subordinates consume his flesh. Lü was not killed, but was removed from his chancellor position, to serve on the staff of Emperor Suzong's crown prince Li Yu instead.

After serving as chancellor

Two months later, Lü Yin was made the secretary general at Jing Prefecture, as well as the military governor of the five surrounding prefectures. Once he was at Jing Prefecture, he requested that Emperor Suzong designate the prefectural capital Jiangling as a special municipality and the southern capital. Emperor Suzong agreed and converted Jing Prefecture into Jiangling Municipality, making Lü its mayor. Further, at Lü's request, he also ordered 3,000 soldiers to be stationed at Jiangling to block off any potential rebellions in the region. Further, he also added seven prefectures to Lü's area of responsibility.
Prior to Lü's arrival, his office was occupied by the general Zhang Weiyi. Zhang, however, was often intimidated by his subordinate Chen Xi'ang -- who controlled his own private army at his home prefecture of Heng Prefecture and ruled it as a private fief. On one occasion, Chen, who had an enmity with his colleague Mou Suijin, took his own soldiers into Zhang's mansion, demanding that Zhang order Mou beheaded. Zhang, in fear, ordered Mou's execution, and thereafter, Chen dominated the affairs at headquarters. When Lü arrived at his post, he initially ingratiated Chen by recommending him for promotion, and then killed him by a surprise attack. Lü was thereafter able to control headquarters.
On another occasion, there had been a sorcerer Shen Taizhi, who ingratiated the powerful eunuch Li Fuguo by using sorcery on Li Fuguo's behalf. Through Li Fuguo's influence, Shen was made a commanding army officer at Dao Prefecture. Shen was corrupt and extorted much wealth from the local non-Han population. Pang Chengding, the prefect of nearby Tan Prefecture, had long been angry about Shen's corruption, and on one occasion, when Shen was in Tan Prefecture, Pang apprehended him and seized the ill-gotten gains, and then submitted an accusation against Shen. Both Shen and Pang were taken to Chang'an, and because of Shen's association with Li Fuguo, Li Fuguo cleared him and accused Pang of false accusations. He ordered Lü to investigate. Lü had his subordinate Yan Ying investigate and submit a report clearing Pang and confirming Shen's guilt. Emperor Suzong, influenced greatly by Li Fuguo, however, ordered Pang executed and Yan exiled. Lü strenuously objected, despite the dangers in doing so, but was unable to save Pang or Yan at that point; this, however, made people much more respectful of Lü, and ultimately, Shen's guilt was shown, and he was executed while Pang was posthumously restored.
While Lü was chancellor, he had a poor relationship with his colleague Li Kui. As Lü gained a good reputation while at Jing Prefecture, Li Kui was displeased. Li Kui therefore proposed that armies under Lü's command be disbanded, arguing that the region did not need soldiers, and also often sent examiners to Lü's region of responsibility, seeking to find Lü's faults. Lü reported this to Emperor Suzong and defended himself. As a result, Li Kui was removed from his chancellor position and demoted to be a prefect. Lü died in 762 and was given posthumous honors.
The New Book of Tang had this commentary about Lü:
While serving at Jing Prefecture, Lü also heard about the talents of the officials Du Hongjian and Yuan Zai and recommended them. Both later became chancellors.