Empress Li (Later Han)

It is not known when the future Empress Li was born, but it is known that she was from Jinyang (晉陽, i.e., Taiyuan) and that her father was a farmer. Her future husband Liu Zhiyuan was then a soldier in the army of Jin, which had its capital at Taiyuan, and one night, when he was out letting his horses graze, he intruded into her house, seized her, and made her his wife. Of his three sons — Liu Chengxùn (劉承訓), Liu Chengyou, and Liu Chengxūn (劉承勳, note different tone than his brother) — it is known that Liu Chengyou was born of her, but it is not known whether Liu Chengxùn or Liu Chengxūn was. After Liu Zhiyuan became a prominent general during Later Jin, she was given the title of Lady of Wei. She had six brothers, of whom Li Hongjian (李洪建), Li Hongyi (李洪義), and Li Ye (李業) were known in history and all of whom were younger. The oldest brother was named Li Hongxin (李洪信), and it is not known whether he was older or younger than she. == During Later Han ==

During Liu Zhiyuan's reign In 947, Later Jin fell to an invasion by the Khitan Liao dynasty. Liao's Emperor Taizong declared himself the emperor of central China as well, and Liu Zhiyuan, then the military governor (Jiedushi) of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in Taiyuan), after some initial hesitations, rose in resistance against Liao, declaring himself emperor. (He initially did not declare a name for his state, but the state later became known as Later Han.) To fund his resistance of Liao, he considered forcibly borrowing money from the general populace so that he could give the money as reward to the soldiers. Lady Li opposed, stating: Liu accepted her suggestion and cancelled the plan to forcibly borrow money. He gave out what was stored in the personal headquarters, and when the news spread, the people were impressed, both at Hedong and elsewhere. Shortly after, he created her empress. During Liu Chengyou's reign However, soon a dispute arose between Su Fengji, who was then the leading chancellor and Yang Bin, over the fact that Su was filling many official positions that had long been left open, but Yang, who was then one of the chiefs of staff (Shumishi), believed that these were unnecessary positions that were waste of government resources, and therefore often criticized Su's requests. Another chancellor, Li Tao, submitted a petition to Liu Chengyou, arguing that Yang and Guo, who was also serving as Yang's deputy, should be relieved of their positions and made military governors of key circuits, while the chief of staff positions should be entrusted to Su Fengji and Su Yugui. When Yang and Guo became aware of Li Tao's petition, they went to Empress Dowager Li and stated to her, weepingly: : "Your subjects have followed the deceased emperor ever since difficult times. Now, the Son of Heaven is accepting other people's word and wants to send us out. Given that there are troubles west of the pass [i.e., in the Guanzhong region, where the general Wang Jingchong was fostering a rebellion], how can we, your subjects and ignore the affairs of the state? If we are not to remain, we hope to at least remain until the deceased emperor's burial." Empress Dowager Li was angered, and she went to Liu Chengyou, stating to him, :"These are the old and accomplished subjects of the state. Why are you listening to others and expelling them?" When Liu Chengyou blamed the matter on the chancellors in general, Li Tao took the blame by himself, and was relieved of his chancellor position. Subsequently, Yang was given an additional chancellor position, while Guo was made co-chief of staff, such that Yang became the main decision-maker, with the two Su chancellors (along with the other chancellor Dou Zhengu) no longer having real chancellor authority. With Wang Jingchong soon rising in rebellion at Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi) in alliance with Li Shouzhen the military governor of Huguo Circuit (護國, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) and Zhao Siwan (趙思綰), an officer who then controlled Yongxing Circuit (永興, headquartered in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi), Guo was sent against Li Shouzhen. Guo defeated Li Shouzhen in 849, and Li committed suicide, as did Wang. Zhao surrendered, but then considered rebelling again, and was executed. With the three rebels defeated, it was said that Liu Chengyou became arrogant and frivolous, spending much time with his favorite attendants Hou Kuangzan (後匡贊) and Guo Yunming (郭允明). Empress Dowager Li frequently tried to correct his ways, but he did not listen to her. Guo and Wang Jun initially wanted Liu Chengxūn to be named emperor, but Empress Dowager Li revealed to them privately, and later, when needed to, publicly, that Liu Chengxūn had been so ill that he was constantly bedridden, so instead, they asked for Liu Yun to be named emperor. Under Guo's suggestion, the senior official Feng Dao, along with other officials Wang Du (王度) and Zhao Shangjiao (趙上交), were sent to Wuning's capital Xu Prefecture (徐州) to welcome Liu Yun to the capital. For the time being, the empress dowager served as the regent for the state, and it was to her that all important state businesses were submitted for decision. Her brother Li Hongjian was among the conspirators who were executed, while Li Ye initially fled to Li Hongxin, who was then military governor of Baoyi Circuit (保義, headquartered in modern Sanmenxia, Henan), but after Li Hongxin refused to shelter him, was killed in flight. == During Later Zhou ==

After the establishment of Later Zhou, Empress Dowager Li moved to the western palace. Guo Wei honored her with the title "Empress Dowager Zhaosheng." == Notes and references ==

• Old History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 104. • New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 18. • Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291.