Page:A Chinese Biographical Dictionary.djvu/468

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A Chinese Biographical Dictiohary 449

from Shanai, Shensi, and Hu-Kuang, and aided in the suppression of Chang Hsien-chang. In 1648 he was associated with Wu San- kuei, with whom he engaged in a campaign against the successors of Chang Hsien-chnng in Western China, whom he subdued in spite of the opposition of the Lolo tribes. He died while preparing to march into TtLnnan. He was ennobled as Marquis, and admitted into the Temple of Worthies. Canonised as ^ ^ .

1169 Li Li ^H. 7th cent. B.C. Minister under Duke W«n of the Chin State. When his master recovered his kingdom, Li Li was 80 shocked at the wholesale massacre of innocent persons that he presented himself bound before the Duke and asked for punishment. The latter urged that the subordinate o£Bcials were to blame for the excessive severity; but Li Li would not disclaim his responsibility, and forthwith put an end to his life by falling upon his sword.

1170 Li Lin-fa ^ij^H^ (H. ^ ^ ). Died A.D. 752. A statesman of the T*ang dynasty , of Imperial extraction , who by the year 734 was President of the Board of Rites, chiefly through the friendship of the favourite concubine "^ ]^ Wu-hui , the succession of whose son he had promised to support. In 786 the Emperor appointed him Minister, and his influence soon became paramount. He encouraged his master to slay the Heir Apparent and two other princes without even the form of a trial, but he failed to secure the nomination of his own prot4g4. In 742 he was made a Duke, as a reward for the high level of morality which was supposed to prevail. For the chief criminal judge had reported only 58 executions within the year, and that in consequence of the diminution of the

    • ?apour of death*' around the great prison, magpies, regarded as

birds of good omen, ha^ nested in the trees which overhung its walls. He continued to live in great state, but in constant fear of assassination, never allowing it to be known in which room he meant to pass the night. He died just as Tang Kuei-fei's brother