Li Xi

Li Xi or Li Qi (李谿 per the Zizhi Tongjian and the History of the Five Dynasties or 李磎 per the Old Book of Tang and the New Book of Tang) (d. June 4, 895), courtesy name Jingwang (景望), nicknamed Li Shulou (李書樓), was an official of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong. With imperial power dwindling, Li Xi's fellow chancellor Cui Zhaowei, who associated with the warlords Li Maozhen, Wang Xingyu, and Han Jian, encouraged Li Maozhen, Wang, and Han to march on the capital Chang'an. Once the three warlords arrived in Chang'an, they put Li Xi and his fellow chancellor Wei Zhaodu to death. Background and early career It is not known when Li Xi was born. His family claimed to be descended from the Warring States period State of Zhao general Li Mu and also claimed ancestry through a line of officials of Qin Dynasty, Han Dynasty, and Jin Dynasty (266–420). His grandfather Li Yong was briefly chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xianzong, but resigned soon after being named chancellor. Li Xi's father Li Shi (李拭) served as a chronicler of the emperor's acts and also served in several other important positions, including military governor (Jiedushi) of two different circuits. Li Xi was considered well-learned and a skillful writer. He passed the imperial examinations in 859, during the reign of Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Xuānzong, in the Jinshi (進士) class, on his first try. At one point, he was made Hubu Langzhong (戶部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of census (戶部, Hubu), but had his office at the eastern capital Luoyang, not at the capital Chang'an. He had once submitted a petition accusing the eunuch Hao Jingquan (郝景全) of impropriety, but was instead himself accused of violating naming taboo of Emperor Xianzong's father Emperor Shunzong (who was named Li Song) by using the character Song (訟, a different character than Emperor Shunzong's name) in his petition; he was initially punished by having part of his salary withheld.