Background and initial arrival in Southern Han

It is not known when Lin Yanyu was born, and other than the fact that he was from Minqing (閩清, in modern Fuzhou, Fujian), nothing was recorded about his family background or how he became an eunuch. It was said that he had a treacherous personality and was a deep thinker.

At some point, Lin became a eunuch attendant to Wang Yanjun, who would have then been an officer under his father Wang Shenzhi, the founding Prince of Min. In 917, during Wang Shenzhi's reign, Wang Yanjun married Liu Hua, the niece of then-Southern Han emperor Liu Yan. Min thus established a liaison office at the Southern Han capital Xingwang (興王, in modern Guangzhou, Guangdong). Lin was sent to Xingwang to head the office, and was in charge of the communications between the two states. Liu Yan gave Lin a large mansion and much gifts. He often tried to ask Lin about the Min state. Lin refused to respond, but told others, "How would it be proper, for someone who is deep in the palace, to be talking of Min once he left Min and talking of Yue Southern Han, whose territory was also known as the Yue region) once he left Yue?" When Liu Yan heard of this, he became more respectful of Lin. He gave Lin the title of Neichangshi (內常侍) and put Lin in charge of his own palace.

Service at Southern Han court

In 935, Wang Yanjun, who was then the emperor of Min, was assassinated by his own son Wang Jipeng, who took the throne. When Lin Yanyu heard of this, he requested that Liu Yan allow him to return to Min. Liu refused. Lin then changed into mourning clothes and wept for three days in Min's direction.

During the subsequent reign of Liu Yan's son Liu Sheng, Liu Sheng made Lin the director of Ganquan Palace (甘泉宮), and trusted him deeply. It was said that Liu Sheng's frequent killings of his own brothers (under Liu Sheng's theory, to safeguard the throne for his son and heir Liu Jixing) was encouraged by and planned with Lin. This included Liu Hongmiao (劉弘邈) the Prince of Gao, whose suicide Liu Sheng sent Lin to force, in 954.

Lin fell ill in 956. He recommended another eunuch, Gong Chengshu, to succeed him, and then died. It was said that the people of the realm all rejoiced when they heard of Lin's death.

Notes and references

• Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 66.

• Zizhi Tongjian, 270, 291, 293.

家世和初到南漢

林延遇生年不詳，閩清人，家世和成為宦官的始末不詳。為人陰險多心計。

初為閩國開國之君王審知子王延鈞給事。天祐十四年（917年），王延鈞娶當時南漢皇帝劉䶮侄女清遠公主劉華。閩國因而在南漢都城興王府建立官邸。林延遇被派去就職，負責聯絡兩國。劉䶮賜他大宅，賞賜很多，還常試圖問他閩國之事。林延遇拒絕回答，對他人說：「在宮禁的人，怎麼能離開閩就說閩事，離開越（指代南漢）就說越事？」劉䶮聞之，以為賢，任為內常侍使，使鉤校諸司事。

效力南漢宮廷

大有八年（935年）， 當時已是閩國皇帝的王延鈞被子王繼鵬所弒，王繼鵬奪位。林延遇聞訊，請求回閩，劉䶮不許。林延遇換喪服，朝閩國的方向哭了三天。

劉䶮子劉晟登基後，任林延遇為甘泉宮使，很倚仗信任。林延遇也仗著權勢和寵愛，與宮人盧瓊仙勾結，幹預朝政，肆意殺戮。劉晟為保障其子儲君劉繼興繼位而誅殺諸弟之舉，都是出自林延遇的謀劃。如高王劉弘邈即繫於乾和十二年（954年）被劉晟派林延遇賜鴆殺害。

十四年（956年），林延遇病，推薦內給事龔澄樞自代，卒。龔澄樞因而得以被越次提拔。南漢人聞林延遇死，都互相撫掌慶賀。

評價

• 《十國春秋》評價林延遇「陰狡善謀」。

注釋及參考文獻