Li Deyu

Also known as Zi Wenrao · Duke of Wei

Li Deyu, courtesy name Wenrao, was a son of the chief minister Li Jifu and entered office through his father's privilege rather than the examinations. After serving as a Hanlin academician he governed Zhexi and Xichuan, where the Tibetan commander of Weizhou surrendered his city, only for the court, on Niu Sengru's advice, to hand the defectors back. Made chief minister and Earl of Zanhuang in 833, he was soon pushed out by factional rivals. Emperor Wuzong recalled him in 840, and through the Huichang years he planned the campaigns against the Uighurs and against Liu Zhen at Zelu, drafting most military edicts himself; he became Duke of Wei and backed the suppression of Buddhist monasteries in 845. Under Xuanzong he was demoted step by step to a minor post on Hainan, where he died at the end of 849 by the Chinese calendar. His writings form the Huichang Collection, and the Old Tang History's compiler recalled hearing elders tell stories of the Duke of Wei.