Before serving as chancellor

Lü Yin was born in 712, around the time when Emperor Xuanzong became emperor. His family was from Pu Prefecture (蒲州, roughly modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) 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 (程楚賔) 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 (程震) supported Lü financially, allowing Lü to visit the Tang Dynasty capital Chang'an.

Early in Emperor Xuanzong's Tianbao era (742-756), Lü passed the imperial examinations and was made the sheriff of Ningling County. The surveyor of the circuit, Wei Zhi (韦陟), was impressed with Lü's talent and recommended him to serve as deputy surveyor. Later, Geshu Han, the military governor (jiedushi) of Longyou (陇右, headquartered in modern Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai) and Hexi (河西, headquartered in modern Wuwei, Gansu) 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 (范阳, headquartered in modern Beijing) 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 (as Emperor Suzong), 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 (朱光辉) and Li Zunzou (李遵骤) recommended him, Emperor Suzong met him and was impressed with him, and thus made him deputy chief imperial censor (御史中丞, Yushi Zhongcheng), often listening to his advice. After Emperor Suzong moved his headquarters to Fengxiang (凤翔, in modern Baoji, Shaanxi) in 757, he made Lü the deputy minister of defense (武部侍郎, Wubu Shilang) 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 (崔器), 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 (门下省, Menxia Sheng) even though he carried no official responsibility at the examination bureau. (This was part of a reorganization of Emperor Suzong's administration, as Emperor Suzong simultaneously also made Li Xian, Li Kui, and Diwu Qi chancellors while removing Miao Jinqing and Wang Yu.) 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 (度支使, Duzhi Shi). 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 (halberd). 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 (蓝田, near Chang'an), 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 (荆州, roughly modern Jingzhou, Hubei), 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 (near modern Hengyang, Hunan) and ruled it as a private fief. On one occasion, Chen, who had an enmity with his colleague Mou Suijin (牟遂金), 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 (申泰芝), 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 (道州, in modern Yongzhou, Hunan). Shen was corrupt and extorted much wealth from the local non-Han population. Pang Chengding (庞承鼎), the prefect of nearby Tan Prefecture (in modern Changsha, Hunan), 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 (严郢) 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.

拜相前

吕諲生于唐玄宗登基前后的先天元年（712年），蒲州人氏，是春秋时期姜姓齐国的后裔。吕諲年少时有大志，好学，但家贫不能自给。同乡富人程楚宾被吕諲的才华打动，相信他将来能出人头地，把女儿嫁给了吕諲，并和儿子程震一起资助他，使他声誉日广，也得以在开元末年游历京城长安。

玄宗天宝（742年 - 756年）初年，吕諲中进士，调授宁陵尉。采访使韦陟欣赏吕諲的才华，署任他为支使。天宝十三载（754年）三月，陇右、河西节度使哥舒翰邀请吕諲任度支判官。累兼卫佐、太子通事舍人。在哥舒翰手下，吕諲谨慎而努力地工作，在当时就知道诸将的长处和短处。有时同僚们都出去游赏了，他还在官署复查文件。他的勤勉使哥舒翰更喜欢他了。累兼虞部员外郎、殿中侍御史。

十四载（755年），安禄山在范阳叛乱并迅速南进，攻陷唐朝东都洛阳，建立大燕。哥舒翰奉命前往潼关阻击，却在十六载（756年）战败，唐玄宗只得弃长安逃往成都。但太子李亨没有随驾，而是逃往灵武称帝，即唐肃宗，唐玄宗后来也予以认可。当哥舒翰战败时，吕諲仍在他帐下，至德元载（756年）七月也骑马西逃到灵武行在。在宦官中人尉朱光辉和李遵骤推荐下，肃宗召见了吕諲，欣赏他有才，超拜他为御史中丞，对他的进奏无不允准。吕諲与逃奔灵武的奉先令崔器关系好，引为御史中丞兼户部侍郎。二载（757年），肃宗移驾凤翔府，任吕諲为武部侍郎，允许他穿高官的金紫袍服。十月，肃宗收复长安、洛阳，设置三司使，以御史大夫兼京兆尹李岘、吕諲、崔器、刑部侍郎兼御史中丞韩择木、大理卿严向五人为之，处置投降大燕的原唐朝官员。吕諲又荐崔器为吏部侍郎、御史大夫。十二月，吕諲受命和时任礼部尚书李岘同为详理使，与崔器等官员一同负责处置陷燕罪臣。吕諲和崔器严厉，上言都应处死，肃宗几乎同意，而李岘比他们识大体，也较为仁慈，争执称「諲、器守文，不达大体」。最终肃宗从李岘议，对这些官员以六等定罪，保全了很多人，如因故宰相张说于肃宗有旧恩，其子燕中书令张均得免死。吕諲的严厉为自己招来了多人的鄙视。李岘也因此声誉高于吕諲、崔器。

吕諲为河陇判官时，善于看相的金梁凤也在河陇，对他说：「判官的骨相，应该做宰相。吃一大惊怖，就得。」大约乾元元年（758年），吕諲至驿站，责让驿长，笞打之。有驿吏是武将，性粗猛，持弓箭突入射吕諲两箭，几乎中其面，吕諲跳墙得免。报知金梁凤，金梁凤说：「这必是要入相了。」

拜相

乾元二年（759年）三月，吕諲在武部侍郎任上被授同中书门下平章事，为实质宰相，知门下省事，尽管他本人并未在门下省任职。这是肃宗重组政府工作的一部分，肃宗同时也任李岘、李揆、第五琦为相而罢免了原宰相苗晋卿、王璵。累加银青光禄大夫、东平男。李岘位望稍高，军国大事公卿不敢言，都独决于李岘，吕諲等因此不平怀恨。七月，吕諲荐时任太常卿的韦陟为礼部尚书、东京留守，判尚书省事，兼东京畿观察处置等使。同月，吕諲因丁母忧而去职，但十月即被起复原职，十二月，兼任度支使，代第五琦。封爵须昌县伯，任黄门侍郎。上元元年（760年）初，肃宗将吕諲的宰相衔升为同中书门下三品，赐门戟。有人对吕諲说不宜身著丧服接受如此吉庆之事，吕諲于是暂时褪去縗麻丧服，当中拜受，人们都笑他失礼。

吕諲拜相时，任岳父程楚宾为卫尉少卿，内兄弟程震为员外郎，更加招致了批评，他本人又和出纳诏命的宦官马上言（或作马尚言）关系亲密。有人为了当蓝田尉而行贿马上言，吕諲在马上言要求下就补那人为蓝田尉。五月，事发，肃宗震怒，笞杀马上言，让其从官分食其肉。吕諲没有被杀，但被罢相，贬为太子李豫的宾客。

拜相后

七月，授吕諲荆州大都督府长史、兼御史大夫，充澧、朗、忠、硖五州节度观察处置等使。八月，他刚到荆州，便请求肃宗将军部江陵改成府并定为南都。九月，肃宗同意了，于是升江陵为江陵府，以吕諲为府尹。在吕諲要求下，他还派置永平军团练兵三千驻守江陵，以遏吴、蜀之冲，防当地发生叛乱。因吕諲称本镇无兵，在泌阳有兵的监察御史里行元结被进为水部员外郎，佐吕諲。吕諲又奏取有才者数十人总管牙兵，威惠两行。二年（761年）正月，奏请将岳、潭、衡、连、道、邵、永、郴和黔中的涪州共九州划给江陵府，增置永平军万人，获准。又从江陵府析置长宁县。

吕諲任相时与同僚李揆不合。二月，吕諲在荆州得到美誉后，李揆不快，担心他再入相，声称湖南不需要士兵，建议解散吕諲手下的军队，还派人来刺探吕諲的过错。吕諲上奏肃宗为自己辩解并弹劾李揆。最后李揆被罢相贬为袁州长史。

奏于灌阳县故城复置其县。

吕諲的前任荆州长史张惟一也是防御使，被属下司马陈希昂威胁。陈希昂是衡州蛮酋，有私军千人，把衡州当作自己的私人封地来管治。一次，他因和张惟一亲将牟遂金不和，率部卒闯入张惟一的官邸，要他下令处决牟遂金。张惟一出于恐惧下令处决了牟遂金，从此陈希昂掌控了荆州军政。吕諲到任后，先讨好陈希昂，上表荐举他去长安为侍御史，出为常州刺史、本州防御使，却在其行经江陵拜谒时伏兵突然将其袭杀，尽斩其部下数十人，积尸于府门。府中慑服，吕諲才奏其罪。吕諲自此得以控制江陵府。表大理司直严郢为判官。

当时又有妖人申泰芝以妖术谄事权势宦官李辅国，被任为道州军校。申泰芝为官腐败，向当地群蛮勒索财物。邻近的潭州刺史庞承鼎对他早有不满，趁他来潭州时将他拘押，起获赃物，上表弹劾。申、庞都被带到长安，李辅国不但撇清自己，还反诬庞承鼎，命吕諲调查。吕諲命判官、监察御史严郢调查后上疏为庞承鼎辩白，证实申泰芝有罪。但肃宗深受李辅国蛊惑，下令赐死庞承鼎，流放严郢到建州。吕諲坚决反对，不顾危险，虽没法帮到庞、严二人，却赢得了百姓的尊敬，其守正刚断不挠得到人们看重。最后，申泰芝罪行大白而伏诛，庞承鼎得以平反。

宝应元年（762年），肃宗召山南东道节度使来瑱赴京师，来瑱乐于在军部襄阳，也为将士所爱，就指使所部将吏上表留之，行到邓州，肃宗复令他还镇。吕諲、淮西节度使王仲升及往来中使说：「来瑱曲收众心，恐久后难制。」于是肃宗割商、金、均、房四州另置观察使，以来瑱为邓州刺史，只领六个州。当时王仲升被燕帝史朝义将谢钦让围攻数月，吕諲已久病，来瑱怀恨不救，三月，王仲升兵败被俘。之前，二月，吕諲已卒，赠吏部尚书，谥肃。时严郢为度支员外郎，请谥以二字「忠肃」，太常博士独孤及坚议以「肃」字为当，获准。吕諲治理江陵三年，号为良守。起初郡人为他立生祠，吕諲死后一年多，江陵将吏合钱十万，于府西高爽乾燥的地方大立祠宇，四时祠祷。元结作《吕公表》以示哀悼。《舆地碑记目》卷二《江陵府碑记》有《唐江陵尹吕諲庙碑》《唐江陵尹吕公表》，并注引《集古录》称是元结所撰。

《新唐书》如是评价吕諲：

「吕諲为相时，不称职。但到了荆州以后，号令明确，赋税合理。治理时崇尚威信，所以军士用命，全境没有盗贼，百姓也歌咏他。自至德（肃宗继位初的年号，756年 - 758年）以来的几十个地方官中，吕諲最有名声。他在世时荆州百姓就为他建了祠堂，他死后下属为他建了一个更大的。」

在荆州期间，吕諲了解到杜鸿渐和元载的才干，举荐他们，后来他们都成为宰相。其幕府还曾有时任尚书郎的源休等。吕諲去世当年五月，时任中书侍郎的元载即代其为度支使。元结后来作《举吕著作状》举荐吕諲时任秘书省著作郎的侄子吕季重时，称吕諲「立身无私，历官清俭，身殁之后，家无馀财」。吕諲死后四年，有人提出给吕諲改谥号。

轶闻

• 《广异记》记载吕諲曾梦见被地府追魂见判官，判官说吕諲功业高，不能为地府所用。吕諲说自己母亲老，儿子小，家里无主，请求放过。这时阎王得知蒯适可以代替吕諲为地府做事，就放了吕諲。吕諲醒后，和同住的妻兄顾况说了这件事。数十日后，蒯适摄吴县丞，没有疾病，顾况因而数次戏笑吕諲。一个多月后，蒯适罢官，在吴郡积善里修房子，忽然有走卒冲入，说已故的丁仙芝要传他参见，蒯适请求让其他人代替，未果，得了病，数日后死了。

作品

• 《蓂荚赋（以呈瑞圣朝为韵）》

• 《霍山神传》

家庭

家世

• 六世祖：吕圭，河东太守

• 高祖：吕休，陕州副留、蒲台公

• 曾祖：吕徽，许州长社县丞

• 祖父：吕贵成，赠尚书左丞

• 父亲：吕藏元，赠鸿胪卿，开元二十四年六月四日（736年7月16日）卒，年六十八

• 母亲：清河张氏，光州长史张策之女，以子贵封清河郡太夫人，乾元二年六月廿六日（759年7月24日）卒，年八十三。赠卫国太夫人

• 妻：程氏；顾氏，顾况妹

兄弟

• 兄：吕怀俊，赵王府谘议参军，约宝应二年闰正月前过世，有墓志铭

• 弟：吕仪，中大夫，蒲州司马

子孙

• 子：吕仁本，磁州司马

　• 吕璜，太子通事舍人

　　• 吕傆，吉昌令

　　• 吕傪，左卫兵曹参军

　　• 吕俈，正平令

　　　• 吕伯禽，宣州司户参军

　　　• 吕时中，成武主簿

　　　• 吕绛，酇令

　• 吕琳，淄王府参军

　　• 吕伸，试万州长史

　　　• 吕绲，道州司功参军

　　　• 吕纲，奉礼郎

　　　• 吕纾，左内率府兵曹参军

　　　• 吕纶，试嘉王府参军

　　　• 吕纺

　　　• 吕缜，奉礼郎

　　　• 吕缨

　　　• 吕综

• 子：吕春卿，尚舍奉御

• 子：吕夏卿

• 子：吕冬卿，伊阙令

• 侄：吕季重，歙州刺史

• 侄：吕季卿，循州刺史

注释及参考文献