Background

Li Kui was born in 711, at the end of the reign of Emperor Ruizong. He was from a prominent clan that, by Li Kui's time, was domiciled in Zheng Prefecture (郑州, in modern Zhengzhou, Henan) but which traced its ancestry to a line of prominent officials of Northern Wei, who in turn traced their ancestry to Li Fan (李翻), a son of Li Gao, the founder of the Sixteen Kingdoms state Western Liang. (The Tang dynasty imperial clan also traced its ancestry to Li Gao, through Li Gao's second son and successor Li Xin.) After Northern Wei, Li Kui's ancestors served as officials of the Sui dynasty and Tang dynasty. Li Kui was said to be intelligent, dextrous, and studious in his youth, and he was capable in writing.

During Emperor Xuanzongs reign

Toward the end of Emperor Xuanzong's Kaiyuan era (713–741), Li Kui passed the imperial examinations and was made the sheriff of Chenliu County (陈留, in modern Kaifeng, Henan). After he submitted his writing to Emperor Xuanzong, Emperor Xuanzong, apparently impressed, issued an edict allowing him to work at the legislative bureau of government (中书省, Zhongshu Sheng) on a trial basis. He was subsequently made You Shiyi (右拾遗), a junior official at the legislative bureau, and then successively served in the higher offices of You Bujue (右补阙) and Qiju Lang (起居郎) at the legislative bureau, and then as Zhi Zongzi Biaosu (知宗子表疏), the official in charge of receiving and acting on submissions from members of the imperial clan at the ministry of imperial clan affairs (宗正寺, Zongzheng Si). Later, he was promoted to be Sixun Yuanwai Lang (司勋员外郎), a junior official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Libu), and then the higher office of Kaogong Langzhong (考功郎中) at the ministry of civil service affairs, in charge of evaluating the officials' performance. He was also involved in drafting edicts for Emperor Xuanzong. After the general An Lushan rebelled in 755 and forced Emperor Xuanzong to flee to Jiannan Circuit (剑南, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan), Li Kui accompanied Emperor Xuanzong to Jiannan and was made Zhongshu Sheren (中书舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau.

During Emperor Suzongs reign

Emperor Xuanzong's son and crown prince Li Heng, however, did not follow him to Chengdu and instead fled to Lingwu, where he was declared emperor (as Emperor Suzong), an act that Emperor Xuanzong recognized when he heard the news. After Emperor Suzong recaptured and returned to Chang'an in 757, his wife Empress Zhang became a dominating figure at court. She wanted her son Li Zhao (李佋) the Prince of Xing, who was only several years old at that point, to be made crown prince. Emperor Suzong, however, was instead considering his oldest son Li Chu the Prince of Cheng, who had contributed much to his campaigns to recapture Chang'an and the eastern capital Luoyang. Emperor Suzong consulted Li Kui and stated to him, "The Prince of Cheng is the oldest and had accomplished much. I want to create him crown prince. What do you think, sir?" Li Kui got up and bowed to Emperor Suzong, stating: "This is great blessing to the state. I am uncontrollably happy." Li Kui's comments affirmed Emperor Suzong's thoughts, and he created Li Chu crown prince in summer 758. In spring 759, when the officials who wanted to flatter Empress Zhang proposed that she be given a special honorific epithet of Yisheng (翊圣, meaning, "one who assists the holy one"). When Emperor Suzong consulted Li Kui on whether this was appropriate, Li Kui opposed, pointing out that the only prior instance when such an epithet was given to a living empress was to Empress Wei, the powerful and corrupt wife of Emperor Suzong's granduncle Emperor Zhongzong. After a lunar eclipse — which indicated divine displeasure with the empress — occurred around the same time, Emperor Suzong tabled the proposal.

By this point, Li Kui also had the additional office of deputy minister of rites (礼部侍郎, Libu Shilang). He was displeased with how the officials in charge of the imperial examinations at the time were making their testing questions test highly obscure facts, and he believed that this led to the selection of examinees who were not necessarily talented or capable in writing. He therefore, at the examinations, made the Confucian classics, histories, and qieyun references available to the examinees for them to look through the books during examination. He was much praised for this reform. It was also said that Li Kui was handsome in appearance and capable in rhetoric. Emperor Suzong once told him, "You, sir, are the highest grade in your clan's prominence, in your appearance, and in your writing."

Also in spring 759, Emperor Suzong, as a part of his reorganization of his chancellors, removed Miao Jinqing and Wang Yu from their chancellor posts and replaced them with Li Kui, Lü Yin, Li Xian, and Diwu Qi. In Li Kui's case, he was given the post of Zhongshu Shilang (中书侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau, which was not itself a chancellor post, but given the additional de facto chancellor designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, making him a chancellor. He was also put in charge of editing the imperial history. At that time, there were much banditry within the city of Chang'an itself, and the powerful eunuch Li Fuguo wanted to commission several hundred soldiers from part of the imperial guard corps, the Yulin Army, to patrol the streets at night. Li Kui opposed this, pointing out that the Yulin Army and another part of the imperial guards corps, the Jinwu Guards (金吾卫), which were already responsible for patrolling the streets, served as counterweights to each other, and allowing the Yulin Army to patrol the streets throw the balance out of whack. Emperor Suzong agreed and tabled Li Fuguo's proposal. Nevertheless, it was also said that Li Kui did not dare to offend Li Fuguo, and despite the fact that Li Kui's clan was prominent, he bowed to Li Fuguo whenever he saw Li Fuguo, and referred to Li Fuguo as "Father Five" (五父) (as Li Fuguo was fifth in his birth rank).

As chancellor, it was said that Li Kui was capable and decisive, but that he was also grasping onto fame and fortune, drawing criticism for doing so. He was also criticized for the fact that his brother Li Jie (李楷) was also capable, but during Li Kui's term as chancellor, was stuck at a position that lacked actual power with Li Kui doing nothing about it. Meanwhile, Lü, who was removed from his chancellor position in 760, was sent out to be the military governor (Jiedushi) of Jingnan Circuit (荆南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou, Hubei) and was gaining a good reputation at the position. Li Kui, who did not get along with Lü while both were chancellor, was concerned that Lü might return to the capital to be chancellor again, submitted an accusation that Lü, who had recently had proposed having eight prefectures added to his circuit, was overly ambitious; Li Kui also sent officials to Lü's circuit to try to find faults with Lü. When Lü reported this to Emperor Suzong, Emperor Suzong, displeased, demoted Li Kui to be the secretary general of Yuan Prefecture (袁州, in modern Yichun, Jiangxi). (Only after Li Kui was demoted was his brother Li Jie promoted.)

During Emperor Daizongs reign

Several years later — therefore, therefore likely under the reign of Li Chu (whose name had been changed to Li Yu at that point), as Emperor Daizong (Emperor Suzong having died in 762) — Li Kui was slightly promoted, to be the prefect of She Prefecture (歙州, in modern Huangshan, Anhui). However, he would soon be trapped by an action from his past. While he was chancellor, Miao Jinqing had once recommended Yuan Zai for promotion. Li Kui, whose own clan was prominent and who looked down on those with humble origins — which was the case with Yuan Zai — refused, and stated to Miao:

This caused Yuan to have much resentment toward Li Kui. As Yuan became a powerful chancellor during Emperor Daizong's reign, he gave Li Kui an honorable post with little power or salary — acting Mishu Jian (秘书监), the head of the Palace Library — and then ordered that Li Kui be sent to the region between the Yangtze River and the Huai River, on the excuse that Li Kui was ill and needed to tend to his illness. It was said that because the position lacked salaries and Li Kui lacked savings, his large household became so poor that members even had to beg for food. Li Kui moved from prefecture to prefecture, as he would move whenever the prefect would dishonor him. Only after Yuan was executed in 777 was Li Kui again given a substantive position — the prefect of Mu Prefecture (睦州, in modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang). He later returned to Chang'an to serve as the principal of the imperial university (国子监, Guozi Jian) and minister of rites (礼部尚书, Libu Shangshu).

During Emperor Dezongs reign

Emperor Daizong died in 779 and was succeeded by his son Li Kuo (as Emperor Dezong). Li Kui continued to serve as minister of rites, but the powerful chancellor Lu Qi was jealous of his reputation and seniority. In 783, after the emissary of the Tibetan Empire Qujiazan arrived in Chang'an to negotiate a border realignment treaty with Tang and after the treaty was completed, at Lu's instigation, Emperor Dezong made Li Kui emissary to the Tibetan Empire to escort Qujiazan back to the Tibetan Empire. Li Kui, then 72, stated to Emperor Dezong, "I do not fear going that far a distance, but I am afraid that I would die on the way and not complete my task." Emperor Dezong, who was saddened by the remarks, told Lu, "Li Kui is too old." Lu responded, "An emissary to a far-away foreign state needs to have a good reputation. Further, if Li Kui, who is this old, is sent as an emissary, then in the future, no official younger than Li Kui would dare to refuse such a task." When Li Kui got to the Tibetan Empire, its king Trisong Detsen asked, "I heard that there is a Li Kui who is the most able of officials in Tang. Are you that person, lord?" Li Kui was afraid that this meant that Trisong Detsen intended to detain him, and therefore responded, "That Li Kui would never be willing to come here." On his way of returning from the Tibetan Empire in 784, he died at Feng Prefecture (凤州, in modern Baoji, Shaanxi). He was buried with honor and given the posthumous name Gong (恭, meaning "respectful").

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 126.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 150.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 220, 221, 222, 228, 230.

家世

李揆出自陇西李氏姑臧房，是十八学士之一李玄道的玄孙，秘书监、赠吏部尚书李成裕的儿子。年少时聪敏好学，善于作文。

唐玄宗年间

唐玄宗开元（713年—741年）末年，李揆中进士，补陈留尉。曾在阙下献书玄宗，玄宗命他去中书省试作文。升右拾遗，转右补阙、起居郎，知宗子表疏。迁司勋员外郎、考功郎中，并知制诰。

李揆曾与卢允素服去凤翔拜访善于看相的金梁凤，自称为待选官员，被其看出是清望官而不肯相见，便说出实情。金梁凤对李揆说：「你一年内就能从舍人而入相。」天宝十四年（755年），范阳、平卢、河东三镇节度使安禄山叛乱，李揆随玄宗逃到剑南军，被拜中书舍人。

唐肃宗年间

皇太子李亨却没有随驾去成都，而是逃到灵武，被拥立为帝，即唐肃宗。玄宗闻讯也只好同意，自称上皇。肃宗收复并重返长安后，至德二年（757年），张皇后成为朝中的一大影响人物。她想让当时只有数岁大的儿子兴王李佋被立为皇太子。但肃宗却考虑立在收复长安和东都洛阳的战斗中出力很多的长子成王李俶为皇太子，于是对李揆说：「成王是长子，又有功，我想立他为皇太子。卿的意思如何？」李揆拜贺称：「这是社稷之福。臣不胜庆贺。」肃宗因而意决，于乾元元年（758年）五月立李俶为皇太子。二年（759年）二月，宗室、百官请加张皇后尊号「翊圣」，肃宗又问李揆是否合适，李揆反对，指出皇后生前加尊号的唯一先例是唐中宗有权且腐败的韦皇后。肃宗惊呼几乎被庸人所误。正逢月食暗示上天对皇后不满，于是肃宗搁置此事。

乾元初年，李揆兼礼部侍郎，不满当时科举主考官出题太过晦涩，将导致选出来的人未必有才或善于作文。他因而在考场当庭留下《五经》、诸史和《切韵》供作文考生查阅。此改革赢得人人称美。李揆美风仪，善奏对，奏事都是劝谏。肃宗曾对他说：「你的门第、人材、文章都是当代首推。」因而时称三绝。时唐玄宗为太上皇，也回到长安，命令中使祭奠在马嵬坡之变中被迫赐死的杨贵妃，并诏令改葬。李揆认为龙武军将士因杨贵妃族兄杨国忠乱国而诛杀杨国忠，如果改葬杨贵妃，将士将疑惧，不可。于是太上皇转而密令中使改葬杨贵妃于他处。

二年二月，李揆看到室内床（坐具）上有大蛤蟆，随即不见了。占卜者认为蛤蟆是天使，将有福庆之事。三月，肃宗重组宰相班子，罢苗晋卿、王璵，改任李揆、兵部侍郎吕諲、京兆尹李岘和户部侍郎第五琦为相，任李揆为中书侍郎，加同中书门下平章事。李揆擢卢允为吏部郎中。李揆又为集贤殿崇文馆大学士、修国史。当时长安城内多盗贼，当权宦官李辅国想选羽林骑士五百人夜间巡街。李揆上疏反对，指出羽林军和已有巡街之责的金吾卫互相制衡，让羽林军巡街会破坏平衡。肃宗同意，阻止了李辅国的提议。但李揆并不敢冒犯李辅国，尽管家族显赫，也对李辅国执子弟礼，称之为五父（李辅国行五）。凤翔七马坊押官因抢人被天兴令谢夷甫所杀，李辅国命其妻喊冤，诏命监察御史孙鎣审理，孙鎣支持谢夷甫。李辅国妻又上诉，御史中丞崔伯阳、刑部侍郎李晔、大理卿权献讯问，无果。李辅国不服，肃宗又令侍御史毛若虚复查，毛若虚称谢夷甫有罪、御史用法不端，肃宗怒叱崔伯阳，贬崔伯阳为高要尉、权献为杜阳尉，放逐李晔于岭南，流放孙鎣于播州。李岘认为责罚太重而入言，触怒肃宗，而李揆不敢争，于是李岘被出为蜀州刺史。

上元元年（760年）七月，兴王李佋薨，肃宗追赠其为恭懿太子，诏李揆持节册命。

李揆与颜真卿兄正议大夫、行国子司业、上柱国、金乡县开国男颜允南有莫逆之交。

李揆为相虽然有能力和决断，却耽于名利，招致非议。他以才能自矜，忌妒贤能，嫉妒与他同修国史的工部侍郎于休烈，奏为国子祭酒，权留史馆修撰，以打压之。其兄李皆（《新唐书》本传作李楷）也有能力，但在李揆为相任内却停留在冗职不得升迁。吕諲在上元元年五月被罢相出任荆南节度使，赢得佳声。李揆与吕諲共事期间不合，担心吕諲回京再度拜相，上表弹劾新近建议将八州划归荆南的吕諲有野心，还秘密派人去荆南寻吕諲过失。吕諲奏明肃宗，肃宗不悦，二年（761年）二月，贬当时官爵为银青光禄大夫、行中书待郎、同中书门下平章事、集贤殿崇文馆大学士、兼修国史、上柱国、姑臧县开国伯的李揆为袁州长史员外置同正员，并公示其罪。李揆罢相不到三日，兄李皆即被升为司门员外郎。

唐代宗年间

数年后，李揆稍被起用为歙州刺史。当他为相时，侍中苗晋卿曾推荐元载，李揆自恃家世，鄙视出身寒门的元载，不但反对，还对苗晋卿说：「龙章凤姿之士不见用，麞头鼠目之子却求官？」元载因此很恨李揆。唐代宗（即李俶，当时已改名李豫）年间，元载为权相，奏李揆为试秘书监，命他在江淮养病。李揆缺乏俸禄，也没有积蓄，家里一百口人穷得要讨饭。各州地方官都讨厌他，他在各州之间流转。直至大历十二年（777年）元载伏诛，李揆才被任为睦州刺史。

唐德宗年间

十四年（779年）五月，代宗崩，子李适继位，即唐德宗。六月，以李揆为国子祭酒，留司东都洛阳。建中四年（783年）七月，以李揆为礼部侍郎，复爵。又用为礼部尚书。李揆因有才望，为权相卢杞所恶。吐蕃使者区颊赞到长安与唐朝商谈重新划分边境的和约，和约达成后，卢杞担心李揆复为德宗所用，教唆德宗任李揆充入蕃会盟使送区颊赞归国，加御史大夫，拜尚书左仆射。李揆当时七十三岁，对德宗说：「臣不害怕远行，但怕死在道路上，不能完成使命。」德宗恻然，对卢杞说：「李揆太老了！」卢杞答：「出使远方夷族的必须是熟悉朝廷事的。一旦李揆成行，从此比他年轻的官员就不敢推辞出使远方之命了。」天下无不为李揆遭排挤扼腕痛愤，但无人敢言。李揆与薛伾等出使吐蕃。李揆到吐蕃后，吐蕃赞普赤松德赞问：「我听说唐朝有第一人李揆，公是吗？」李揆害怕被赤松德赞扣留，答：「那个李揆怎么肯来呢？」兴元元年（784年）四月，李揆在归途中死于凤州，赠司空，谥恭，由官府办理丧事。后来贞元年间，宰相中书侍郎李泌举李揆和蕃事论卢杞之奸。

作品

• 《谢赐光宅坊宅表》，李揆曾获赐光宅坊一区，故作此谢表。

• 《请罢选羽林骑士备巡检疏》

• 《恭懿太子哀册文》

轶闻

李揆乾元年间任礼部侍郎时，有一次坐堂，听到墙倒般的震声，惊得进去看，发现一只蛤蟆俯在地上，高数寸。李揆不知它从哪里来，急忙喊家童用缶盖住它，客人说：「蛤蟆是月中之物，也是上天的使者，现在上天的使者来到公堂，难道不是上帝要给你高官了吗？」黎明再看，蛤蟆已经不见了。数日后，李揆果然被拜为中书侍郎、同平章事。

子孙

• 李兴公，侍御史

• 李佐公，河中少尹

　• 李元陟，畿尉

　　• 李归鲁，兼殿中侍御史

　• 李元宾，右卫兵曹参军

　　• 李绚，长寿令

　　• 李氏，嫁宰相崔郸嗣子左拾遗崔璞

　• 李元易，盐城令

　　• 李归文，沧州节度判官

　• 李元贽，太仆卿

　　• 李检，河南少尹

　　• 李冉，右司郎中

　　• 李俭

　　• 李渐，补阙

• 李次公，殿中侍御史

　• 李元夔，宗正少卿

　　• 李岫，殿中侍御史

　• 李元周，王屋令

• 李幼公，杭州刺史

　• 李元裔，奉天令

　　• 李愔、李汾

　　• 李蕡，弘文馆校书郎，累赠秘书少监，娶光州刺史卢铎之女，生李珩

　　　• 李珩（864年—919年1月18日），字垂则，嫁工部尚书、西都留守副使崔柅，后梁陇西郡君

　• 李氏，试大理评事、岭南节度推官卢寓妻

　• 李氏，郑祗德妻

注释及参考文献