Lu Yi (Tang dynasty) facts for kids

Lu Yi (陸扆) (847 – July 5, 905) was an important government official in ancient China during the Tang dynasty. He was born with the name Lu Yundi, and his courtesy name was Xiangwen. A courtesy name was like a special nickname given to adults in China. Lu Yi held a very high position called chancellor two times under Emperor Zhaozong. A chancellor was like a chief minister or prime minister, helping the emperor run the country. He was also known as the Duke of Wu Commandery.

Early Life and Family

Lu Yi was born in the year 847. His family originally came from an area called Wu Commandery, which is near modern-day Suzhou in China. However, by the time Lu Yi was born, his family had moved to Shan Prefecture, which is now part of Sanmenxia in Henan.

His family believed they were related to the ancient ruling family of the Qi state from the Warring States period. However, the earliest family member they could clearly trace was his great-great-grandfather, Lu Qiwang, who was also a Tang dynasty official. Lu Yi was even related to another famous chancellor, Lu Zhi, who served an earlier emperor. Lu Yi's grandfather, Lu Shide, was an imperial censor (a government official who checked on others), and his father, Lu Shan, worked as a secretary for a local leader.

Starting His Career

Lu Yi passed the difficult imperial examinations in 886. These exams were how people got important jobs in the government. This was during the time of Emperor Xizong. Later that year, Lu Yi traveled with the emperor to Xingyuan. The emperor had to leave the capital city, Chang'an, because of fighting between powerful officials and warlords.

In 887, Lu Yi became a copyeditor for the imperial histories, which meant he helped prepare official records. Soon after, his mother passed away, and he left his government job to mourn her, which was a tradition at the time.

Rising Through the R Ranks

In 889, Emperor Xizong had died, and his brother Emperor Zhaozong became the new emperor. Lu Yi was called back to work. He became the sheriff of Lantian County and also a scholar at Hongwen Pavilion, a place for learning.

After that, he quickly moved up in the government. He became an advisory official, then an imperial censor, checking on other officials. In 891, he was made an imperial scholar, which was a very respected position. He also worked in the ministry of public works. By 892, he was a supervisory official in the ministry of rites and was in charge of writing important government orders.

In 893, Lu Yi became a mid-level official in the legislative bureau. People said he was very quick at thinking and writing. His writings were not only well-written but also made a lot of sense. One time, Emperor Zhaozong wrote a poem and asked his scholars to write responses. Lu Yi wrote one so quickly that the emperor was very impressed. The emperor even compared him to famous talented officials from the past.

In 894, Lu Yi became the deputy minister of census, dealing with population and taxes. In 895, he was made the deputy minister of defense, handling military matters. He also received an honorary title and was made the Baron of Jiaxing. By 896, he was the chief imperial scholar and then one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau, which was a very high position.

First Time as Chancellor

Later in 896, Emperor Zhaozong made Lu Yi a chancellor. This was a very important role, like being the emperor's top advisor. When officials became chancellor, they usually gave money to the people who worked under them as a thank you. This tradition didn't include the imperial scholars. But Lu Yi, being thoughtful, gave money to the imperial scholars too, and they felt very honored by his gesture.

However, Lu Yi's first time as chancellor didn't last long. He was chosen to replace another chancellor named Cui Yin. This happened when the emperor and his officials had to run away from Chang'an because a warlord named Li Maozhen was attacking the capital. They went to Zhenguo Circuit, where another warlord, Han Jian, had control over the emperor. Han Jian forced Cui Yin to be removed and sent away.

But Cui Yin got help from a powerful warlord named Zhu Quanzhong. Zhu Quanzhong complained about Cui Yin's removal and suggested the emperor move the capital to Luoyang, which was in Zhu's territory. Han Jian got scared and brought Cui Yin back as chancellor. Cui Yin then got angry at Lu Yi for replacing him. He falsely accused Lu Yi of being friends with Li Maozhen. Because of this, Lu Yi was demoted and sent away to be a local prefect in Xia Prefecture.

Between Chancellorships

In the summer of 897, Lu Yi was called back to government service. He became the minister of public works. In the fall of 897, he was made the minister of defense. Soon after, he went with Emperor Zhaozong when the emperor returned to Chang'an.

Second Time as Chancellor

In 899, Lu Yi was made chancellor again, taking over from Cui Yin. In 900, he was given the title Duke of Wu Commandery. He then became the deputy head of the examination bureau and was in charge of editing the official histories of the empire.

Later in 900, Emperor Zhaozong was forced to give up his throne for a short time by powerful eunuchs (court officials). But in 901, loyal army officers helped Emperor Zhaozong get his throne back. After this, Cui Yin (who was also chancellor again) and Lu Yi suggested that the emperor's special armies, which were usually controlled by eunuchs, should be controlled by the chancellors instead. However, the army officers who helped the emperor, and even warlord Li Maozhen, disagreed. So, the emperor put the armies back under the control of eunuchs. Secretly, Emperor Zhaozong thought Lu Yi might not have supported his return, but another scholar, Han Wo, spoke up for Lu Yi, and the emperor didn't take any action against him.

Later, the eunuchs, fearing for their lives, kidnapped Emperor Zhaozong and took him to Fengxiang. Warlord Zhu Quanzhong, at Cui Yin's request, surrounded Fengxiang. In 903, Li Maozhen, facing a desperate situation, killed the eunuchs and handed Emperor Zhaozong over to Zhu Quanzhong to make peace. We don't know much about what Lu Yi did during this siege.

After Zhu Quanzhong brought Emperor Zhaozong back to Chang'an, the emperor sent out an official order to all parts of the empire, but he purposely left out Fengxiang. Lu Yi argued that leaving Fengxiang out showed a lack of forgiveness. Cui Yin got angry and suggested to the emperor that Lu Yi be demoted. So, Lu Yi was made a teacher for the emperor's son, Li Yan, but he had to live in Luoyang. His honorary title was also reduced.

Later Years and Death

In 904, Zhu Quanzhong killed Cui Yin and forced Emperor Zhaozong to move the capital to Luoyang. Lu Yi was made the minister of civil service affairs and got his higher honorary rank back, but he was not made chancellor again. He traveled with Emperor Zhaozong to Luoyang. Later that year, Zhu Quanzhong had Emperor Zhaozong killed and replaced him with his son, Emperor Ai.

In 905, Zhu Quanzhong, advised by his close friends, began to remove and kill many Tang dynasty aristocrats (important families). Lu Yi was first sent to a lower position in Pu Prefecture. Then, he was ordered to take his own life at Baima Station. Other former chancellors and officials were also killed at the same time. One of Zhu Quanzhong's advisors, Li Zhen, who had failed the imperial exams and disliked these traditional aristocrats, asked Zhu to throw their bodies into the Yellow River. He said this would "taint them," meaning to make them seem less important or pure.