During the High Tang Dynasty, Li Linfu was one of the most famous traitors in Chinese feudal society. He served as prime minister for nineteen years from the twenty-third year of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's reign to the eleventh year of Tianbao's death. He flatters left and right, pandering to the superior, in order to secure his favor. He continued to expand his power by means of conspiracy and intrigue, which brought great calamity to the Great Tang.
Li Linfu was born in Shuzong, a member of the Li and Tang royal family, and his status was relatively low. He began as an official commander in charge of the emperor's guards. However, he did not show any special talent, only good at melody. But he was good at conspiracies, and he was deeply trusted by the eunuchs and concubines in the palace, and he knew everything he and Tang Xuanzong. Through a matchmaking with the popular eunuch Gao Lux, he met Concubine Wu Hui. Concubine Wu Hui favored Emperor Xuanzong, and Li Linfu, in order to repay her, promised to seek the position of prime minister for her, and helped her remove the crown prince Li Ying, the king of E, Li Yao, and the light king Li Ju. In the end, Li Linfu was worshipped as Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites and the third product of Tongzhongshu Menxia, and officially assumed the post of prime minister.
Once appointed prime minister, Li Linfu continued to consolidate his power. He and Concubine Wu Hui joined forces to try to abolish the position of the crown prince and others, and although they were fought by Zhang Jiuling, the princes eventually survived. However, the crown prince Li Ying, the king of E, Li Yao, and the light king Li Ju were deposed at the same time under the fall of Li Linfu and were given death by Emperor Xuanzong. Li Linfu's words could cause Emperor Xuanzong to kill his third son in one day, deterring all the officials in the dynasty.
In order to monopolize power, Li Linfu arranged for Chen Xilie to be the prime minister and manipulate government affairs in the palace. He makes all his decisions, and Chen only needs to sign the official documents he drafts. In order to consolidate his power, Li Linfu recommended a large number of generals from ethnic minorities as border envoys, which led to An Lushan's long-term control of the four towns in Hebei, which led to the Anshi Rebellion in the future.
In addition, in order to please Yang Guifei, Li Linfu recommended Yang Guofei's clan Yang Guozhong as the imperial historian to prepare for his promotion to prime minister. However, as Yang Guozhong's position became more and more secure, relations with Li Linfu became increasingly tense. Although Li Linfu had been suppressing Yang Guozhong, due to Yang Guifei's reasons and his longer tenure, Tang Xuanzong's relationship with Li Linfu became estranged.
In the eleventh year of Tianbao, Li Linfu died of illness in Fuzhong. The following year, Yang Guozhong denounced Li Linfu on charges of treason. Li Linfu was completely liquidated by the emperor, not only was he cut off and reburied, all his family property was confiscated, and his sons were also removed from office and exiled.
Li Linfu's life story is full of intrigue and intrigue, he used trickery and intrigue to achieve his goals, but in the end his actions triggered the turmoil and decline of the Tang Dynasty. He is an important character in Chinese history that cannot be ignored, and his ugly face should also be revealed to make people remember his sins.
