Li Linfu

Also known as Xiaozi Genu · Jinguo Gong

Li Linfu, childhood name Genu, was a great-grandson of Li Shuliang, Prince of Changping, in a minor branch of the Tang imperial clan. He became a chief minister in 734 and in 736 replaced Zhang Jiuling as president of the Secretariat, holding power from then until his death. He drove out Zhang Jiuling and Li Shizhi and helped bring down the crown prince Li Ying and two other princes. When a special examination was held in 747, he saw to it that no candidate passed and congratulated the throne that no talent was left in the wilds. He also urged that frontier commands go to non-Han generals, which kept An Lushan and others at the head of large armies. He died in January 753; Yang Guozhong at once accused him of plotting with the rebel Abusi, and he was stripped of rank and reburied as a commoner. The Comprehensive Mirror (Zizhi tongjian) records the saying that he had honey in his mouth and a sword in his belly.