Li Gu (Han dynasty)

Li Gu (李固; 94^[1] - December 147 or January 148^[2]), courtesy name Zijian (子堅),^[3] was an Eastern Han dynasty scholar and official.^[4] Twice, he opposed Liang Ji, a powerful consort kin, on the issue of succession of the imperial throne, after the deaths of Emperors Chong and Zhi.

Background

Li Gu was from Hanzhong Commandery;^[5] his father Li He (李郃) served as sikong and situ under Emperor An and Emperor Shun respectively.^[6]^[7]

Service under Emperor Chong

On 27 September 144,^[8] after Emperor Chong ascended the throne, Li Gu was appointed Grand Commandant.^[9] However, Emperor Chong died the next year at the age of two. After Emperor Chong's death, Li Gu advocated that Liu Suan, Prince of Qinghe, should ascend the throne, citing his age and virtue. However, Liang Ji ignored him and made Liu Zuan (the future Emperor Zhi, then the son of Prince of Le'an Liu Hong) emperor instead.^[10]

Service under Emperor Zhi

When Emperor Zhi ascended the throne in March 145, Li Gu retained his post as Grand Commandant. However, Liang Ji soon became apprehensive of Emperor Zhi's intelligence. On 26 July 146,^[11] he had his underlings poison a bowl of pastry soup and had it given to the emperor. After the young emperor consumed the soup, he quickly suffered great pain, and he summoned Li immediately and also requested for water, believing that water would save him. However, Liang, who was by the emperor's side, immediately ordered that the emperor not be given any water; the young emperor immediately died. Li cried bitterly upon Emperor Zhi's death and advocated a full investigation, but Liang was able to have the investigation efforts suppressed.^[12] After Emperor Zhi's death, Li Gu again advocated that Liu Suan be made emperor; this time, Li Gu's proposal received widespread support. Previously, Liu Suan had been rude during an audience with Cao Teng, causing Cao to hold a grudge. Upon hearing the impasse between Liang Ji and Li Gu, Cao Teng went to Liang Ji's residence during one night and persuaded Liang to make his brother-in-law Liu Zhi, Marquess of Liwu, emperor in order to preserve his wealth and power.^[13] On 29 July,^[14] Li Gu was dismissed as Grand Commandant.

Under Emperor Huan

Liu Zhi was made emperor in August 146. In c.December 147, Liu Wen (刘文) and Liu Wei (刘鲔) hatched a plot to put Liu Suan on the throne. While the plot was unsuccessful and Liu Wen was executed together with Liu Wei, Liu Suan was still impeached. He was demoted to a marquis and exiled to Guiyang; Liu Suan committed suicide. Liang Ji took the opportunity to frame Li Gu and Du Qiao (杜喬) as part of the conspiracy. Ultimately, both Li and Du died in prison.^[15]

References

^ Li Gu's biography in volume 63 of Book of the Later Han recorded that he was 54 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died. Thus by calculation, his birth year should be 94.
^ According to Emperor Huan's biography in Book of the Later Han, Li Gu died in the 11th month of the 1st year of the Jianhe era of his reign. This corresponds to 11 Dec 147 to 8 Jan 148 on the Julian calendar. [建和元年]十一月....。前太尉李固、杜乔皆下狱死.) Houhanshu, vol.07
^ (李固字子坚) Houhanshu, vol.63
^ Aat Emile Vervoorn Men of the Cliffs and Caves 1990 9622014151 p.161 "One of these was the remarkable figure of Li Gu 李固 (94-147), who had himself been recommended to the court on the strength of his reputation as a disengaged scholar."
^ (李固字子坚，汉中南郑人，司徒合之子也。) Houhanshu, vol.63
^ Houhanshu, vol.82, part 1.
^ Emperor An's biography in Houhanshu recorded that Li He was made sikong on 21 Jun 117 and dismissed on 24 Nov 120 ([元初四年]五月丁丑，太常李郃为司空。.....[永宁元年]冬十月己巳，司空李郃免。). He was then made situ on 30 May 125 ([延光四年]夏四月丁酉，....前司空李郃为司徒。) and dismissed on 10 Mar 126, per vol.51 of Zizhi Tongjian ([永建元年]春，正月，.....辛巳，....司徒李郃罢。).
^ Emperor Chong's biography in Book of the Later Han recorded that Li Gu was made Grand Commandant on the dingchou day of the 8th month of the 1st year of the Jiankang era of Emperor Shun's reign. This corresponds to 27 Sep 144 on the Julian calendar. ([建康元年八月]丁丑，...大司农李固为太尉，参录尚书事。) Houhanshu vol.06
^ (及冲帝即位，以固为太尉，...) Houhanshu, vol.63
^ (固以清河王蒜年长有德，欲立之，谓梁冀曰：“今当立帝，宜择长年高明有德，任亲政事者，愿将军审详大计，察周、霍之立文、宣，戒邓、阎之利幼弱。”冀不从，乃立乐安王子缵，年八岁，是为质帝。) Houhanshu vol.63
^ Emperor Zhi's biography in Book of the Later Han recorded that he died aged 9 (by East Asian reckoning) on the jiashen day of the leap month of the 1st year of the Benchu era of his reign. This corresponds to 26 Jul 146 on the Julian calendar. ([本初元年]闰月甲申，大将军梁冀潜行鸩弑，帝崩于玉堂前殿，年九岁。) Houhanshu, vol.06
^ (冀忌帝聪慧，恐为后患，遂令左右进鸩。帝苦烦甚，使促召固。固入，前问：“陛下得患所由？”帝尚能言，曰：“食□饼，今腹中闷，得水尚可活。”时冀亦在侧，曰：“恐吐，不可饮水。”语未绝而崩。固伏尸号哭，推举侍医。冀虑其事泄，大恶之。) Houhanshu, vol.63
^ (固、广、戒及大鸿胪杜乔皆以为清河王蒜明德著闻，又属最尊亲，宜立为嗣，朝臣莫不归心。而中常侍曹腾尝谒蒜，蒜不为礼，宦者由此恶之。初，平原王冀既贬归河间，其父请分蠡吾县以侯之；顺帝许之。翼卒，子志嗣；梁太后欲以女弟妻志，征到夏门亭。会帝崩，梁冀欲立志。众论既异，愤愤不得意，而未有以相夺。曹腾等闻之，夜往说冀曰：“将军累世有椒房之亲，东摄万机，宾客纵横，多有过差。清河王严明，若果立，则将军受祸不久矣！不如立蠡吾侯，富贵可长保也。”冀然其言，明日，重会公卿，冀意气凶凶，言辞激切，自胡广、赵戒以下莫不慑惮，皆曰：“惟大将军令！”独李固、杜乔坚守本议。冀厉声曰：“罢会！”固犹望众心可立，复以书劝冀，冀愈激怒。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.53.
^ Emperor Zhi's biography in Book of the Later Han recorded that Li Gu was dismissed as Grand Commandant on the dinghai day of the leap month of the 1st year of the Benchu era of his reign. This corresponds to 29 Jul 146 on the Julian calendar. ([本初元年闰月]丁亥，太尉李固免。) Houhanshu, vol.06
^ ([建和元年]十一月，清河刘文与南郡妖贼刘鲔交通，妄言：清河王当统天下，欲共立蒜。事觉，文等遂劫清河相谢暠曰：“当立王为天子，以暠为公。”暠骂之，文刺杀暠。于是捕文、鲔，诛之。有司劾奏蒜；坐贬爵为尉氏侯，徙桂阳，自杀。梁冀因诬李固、杜乔，云与文、鲔等交通，请逮按罪；太后素知乔忠，不许。冀遂收固下狱；门生渤海王调贯械上书，证固之枉，河内赵承等数十人亦要𫓧鍎诣阙通诉；太后诏赦之。及出狱，京师市里皆称万岁。冀闻之，大惊，畏固名德终为己害，乃更据奏前事。大将军长史吴祐伤固之枉，与冀争之。冀怒，不从。从事中郎马融主为冀作章表，融时在坐，祐谓融曰：“李公之罪，成于卿手。李公若诛，卿何面目视天下人！”冀怒，起，入室；祐亦径去。固遂死于狱中；临命，与胡广、赵戒书曰：“固受国厚恩，是以竭其股肱，不顾死亡，志欲扶持王室，比隆文、宣。何图一朝梁氏迷谬，公等曲从，以吉为凶，成事为败乎！汉家衰微，从此始矣。公等受主厚禄，颠而不扶，倾覆大事，后之良史岂有所私！固身已矣，于义得矣，夫复何言！”广、戒得书悲惭，皆长叹流涕而已。冀使人胁杜乔曰：“早从宜，妻子可得全。”乔不肯。明日，冀遣骑至其门，不闻哭者，遂白太后收系之；亦死狱中。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.53

[1] Li Gu's biography in volume 63 of Book of the Later Han recorded that he was 54 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died. Thus by calculation, his birth year should be 94.

[2] According to Emperor Huan's biography in Book of the Later Han, Li Gu died in the 11th month of the 1st year of the Jianhe era of his reign. This corresponds to 11 Dec 147 to 8 Jan 148 on the Julian calendar. [建和元年]十一月....。前太尉李固、杜乔皆下狱死.) Houhanshu, vol.07

[3] (李固字子坚) Houhanshu, vol.63

[4] Aat Emile Vervoorn Men of the Cliffs and Caves 1990 9622014151 p.161 "One of these was the remarkable figure of Li Gu 李固 (94-147), who had himself been recommended to the court on the strength of his reputation as a disengaged scholar."

[5] (李固字子坚，汉中南郑人，司徒合之子也。) Houhanshu, vol.63

[6] Houhanshu, vol.82, part 1.

[7] Emperor An's biography in Houhanshu recorded that Li He was made sikong on 21 Jun 117 and dismissed on 24 Nov 120 ([元初四年]五月丁丑，太常李郃为司空。.....[永宁元年]冬十月己巳，司空李郃免。). He was then made situ on 30 May 125 ([延光四年]夏四月丁酉，....前司空李郃为司徒。) and dismissed on 10 Mar 126, per vol.51 of Zizhi Tongjian ([永建元年]春，正月，.....辛巳，....司徒李郃罢。).

[8] Emperor Chong's biography in Book of the Later Han recorded that Li Gu was made Grand Commandant on the dingchou day of the 8th month of the 1st year of the Jiankang era of Emperor Shun's reign. This corresponds to 27 Sep 144 on the Julian calendar. ([建康元年八月]丁丑，...大司农李固为太尉，参录尚书事。) Houhanshu vol.06

[9] (及冲帝即位，以固为太尉，...) Houhanshu, vol.63

[10] (固以清河王蒜年长有德，欲立之，谓梁冀曰：“今当立帝，宜择长年高明有德，任亲政事者，愿将军审详大计，察周、霍之立文、宣，戒邓、阎之利幼弱。”冀不从，乃立乐安王子缵，年八岁，是为质帝。) Houhanshu vol.63

[11] Emperor Zhi's biography in Book of the Later Han recorded that he died aged 9 (by East Asian reckoning) on the jiashen day of the leap month of the 1st year of the Benchu era of his reign. This corresponds to 26 Jul 146 on the Julian calendar. ([本初元年]闰月甲申，大将军梁冀潜行鸩弑，帝崩于玉堂前殿，年九岁。) Houhanshu, vol.06

[12] (冀忌帝聪慧，恐为后患，遂令左右进鸩。帝苦烦甚，使促召固。固入，前问：“陛下得患所由？”帝尚能言，曰：“食□饼，今腹中闷，得水尚可活。”时冀亦在侧，曰：“恐吐，不可饮水。”语未绝而崩。固伏尸号哭，推举侍医。冀虑其事泄，大恶之。) Houhanshu, vol.63

[13] (固、广、戒及大鸿胪杜乔皆以为清河王蒜明德著闻，又属最尊亲，宜立为嗣，朝臣莫不归心。而中常侍曹腾尝谒蒜，蒜不为礼，宦者由此恶之。初，平原王冀既贬归河间，其父请分蠡吾县以侯之；顺帝许之。翼卒，子志嗣；梁太后欲以女弟妻志，征到夏门亭。会帝崩，梁冀欲立志。众论既异，愤愤不得意，而未有以相夺。曹腾等闻之，夜往说冀曰：“将军累世有椒房之亲，东摄万机，宾客纵横，多有过差。清河王严明，若果立，则将军受祸不久矣！不如立蠡吾侯，富贵可长保也。”冀然其言，明日，重会公卿，冀意气凶凶，言辞激切，自胡广、赵戒以下莫不慑惮，皆曰：“惟大将军令！”独李固、杜乔坚守本议。冀厉声曰：“罢会！”固犹望众心可立，复以书劝冀，冀愈激怒。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.53.

[14] Emperor Zhi's biography in Book of the Later Han recorded that Li Gu was dismissed as Grand Commandant on the dinghai day of the leap month of the 1st year of the Benchu era of his reign. This corresponds to 29 Jul 146 on the Julian calendar. ([本初元年闰月]丁亥，太尉李固免。) Houhanshu, vol.06

[15] ([建和元年]十一月，清河刘文与南郡妖贼刘鲔交通，妄言：清河王当统天下，欲共立蒜。事觉，文等遂劫清河相谢暠曰：“当立王为天子，以暠为公。”暠骂之，文刺杀暠。于是捕文、鲔，诛之。有司劾奏蒜；坐贬爵为尉氏侯，徙桂阳，自杀。梁冀因诬李固、杜乔，云与文、鲔等交通，请逮按罪；太后素知乔忠，不许。冀遂收固下狱；门生渤海王调贯械上书，证固之枉，河内赵承等数十人亦要𫓧鍎诣阙通诉；太后诏赦之。及出狱，京师市里皆称万岁。冀闻之，大惊，畏固名德终为己害，乃更据奏前事。大将军长史吴祐伤固之枉，与冀争之。冀怒，不从。从事中郎马融主为冀作章表，融时在坐，祐谓融曰：“李公之罪，成于卿手。李公若诛，卿何面目视天下人！”冀怒，起，入室；祐亦径去。固遂死于狱中；临命，与胡广、赵戒书曰：“固受国厚恩，是以竭其股肱，不顾死亡，志欲扶持王室，比隆文、宣。何图一朝梁氏迷谬，公等曲从，以吉为凶，成事为败乎！汉家衰微，从此始矣。公等受主厚禄，颠而不扶，倾覆大事，后之良史岂有所私！固身已矣，于义得矣，夫复何言！”广、戒得书悲惭，皆长叹流涕而已。冀使人胁杜乔曰：“早从宜，妻子可得全。”乔不肯。明日，冀遣骑至其门，不闻哭者，遂白太后收系之；亦死狱中。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.53

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