Li Linfu mouthed the honey belly sword
Since Emperor Xuanzong of Tang ascended the throne, the ministers Yao Chong, Song Jing, and others appointed by him were all erudite and talented, each with its own strengths. However, li Linfu, the prime minister he later appointed, was a despicable and shameless villain. What is even more tragic is that after more than 20 years of calm in the heyday of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, Tang Xuanzong thought that there was nothing wrong with this world, so he stayed in the palace day and night, indulging in carnal desires. Li Linfu was called to handle all major state affairs, which laid the foundation for turmoil.
Li Linfu was once a servant of officials. Later, he tried everything he could
Please the concubines, the eunuchs around the emperor, and learn about Tang Xuanzong's movements and good deeds through them. In this way, he knew what the imperial court was going to do and what the emperor had plans, so his performance could always please the emperor. At that time, Tang Xuanzong favored Concubine Wu, especially the Birthday King born of Concubine Wu, and even gradually alienated the prince and other princes.
Li Linfu pleased Concubine Wu through the eunuch and expressed his willingness to protect her life. Concubine Wu was very grateful to him and often said good things to him at the emperor. At that time, the prime minister was Zhang Jiuling, a famous prime minister of the Tang Dynasty who was upright. Whether it was a big thing or a small thing, as long as he thought it was wrong, he would always fight with Tang Xuanzong. So Li Linfu took the opportunity to say bad things about Zhang Jiuling in front of the emperor. Tang Xuanzong slowly alienated Zhang Jiuling, and finally Tang Xuanzong gave up. Zhang Jiuling's chancellor was replaced by Li Linfu. From then on, imperial court officials tended to favor Li Linfu's power.
Most of them took a clear attitude, and no one dared to tell the truth anymore. In order to deceive the emperor into seizing power, Li Linfu tried every means to isolate Tang Xuanzong from the ministers and prevent the ministers from writing to the emperor. Once, when he called a meeting of officials, he publicly stated that the emperor was now very wise. We are courtiers, and as long as we act according to the emperor's will, we don't need to say much. Do you see the horses used for honor guards? The feed they ate was equivalent to the treatment of a Sanpin officer, but if they dared to shout, they would be pulled out and killed
Li Linfu was not good at learning, but the city was very deep, and people could not guess what he was thinking. Therefore, I am afraid that playing against him is not an opponent, and I have lost miserably. What Li Linfu is best at is flattery and rejection of dissidents, as long as he is more talented and prestigious than him, and is also valued by the emperor and his descendants. He always complimented him in every possible way and became very close friends with him. When the status and power of the other party threaten him, Li Linfu will do everything possible to persecute and ostracize him. Especially those who have a wealth of literary talent and knowledge.
He tends to say all the good things to his face and is very friendly, but secretly wants to kill you without showing a trace. No matter how serious the other person is, be careful. There is no escape from his harmful tactics. Therefore, people say that Li Linfu has honey in his mouth and a sword in his belly.
When an official wanted to be promoted, he praised it to his face, but secretly tried to prevent sabotage. Once, Tang Xuanzong was in the administrative building. Looking at the scenery outside through the curtain, it was Lu Xuan, the minister of the Military Department, riding down the stairs, and Lu Xuan was graceful and handsome. Tang Xuanzong watched him slowly leave, admired Li Linfu very much, and called Lu Xuan's son to say that your father's prestige was very high. From the Jiaoguang region to Guangxi and Guangdong, there is a shortage of talents. The emperor wants to transfer your father to you, okay? If you don't want to go to a remote area, you have to be demoted, otherwise Lu Xuan, a guest who will go to Dongdu to be a prince, is very scared and takes the initiative to ask to go to Dongdu.
Li Linfu was anxious again, and after seeing the objections, he transferred Lu Xuan to the position of Taishou of Huazhou. Present-day Huaxian County, Shaanxi. Within a few days of Lu Xuan's appointment, Li Linfu lied that Lu Xuan was ill and incompetent, and transferred him to the Warring States to manage the internal and external affairs of the Eastern Palace.
Tang Xuanzong once wanted to recruit talents from all over the world, and as long as he had the ability, he could go to the capital to take the exam. Li Linfu was afraid that the world would expose his treachery in the article, so he asked the county guards to carefully select and send those excellent deputy envoys to the province. But in the end, he called the examiner to inform him that he would not be admitted, and then he congratulated Tang Xuanzong, saying that there was no more talented person in the world who could surpass the emperor
During the Kaiyuan period, many emissaries of the festival were promoted to the rank of prime minister. Li Linfu was very worried that they would damage his rights, so he proposed to let Hu Ren serve as the ambassador of Xiedu. Because it is impossible for a Hu person to fight with him for power and profit. He said to Tang Xuanzong. His Majesty is brilliant and the country is so rich and strong, why is there still a war over the frontier? The reason is that Confucian officials are generals and they cannot fight by example, so it is better to change their nature with their positions. If His Majesty influences them to reuse them, will he still have to worry about the danger of not dying? Tang Xuanzong felt that it was very reasonable, and An Lushan also became the emissary of Jiedu, so later An Lushan rebelled, and Tang was greatly injured. In fact, this is Li Linfu's conspiracy to consolidate his position.