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Overview Li Lin was an official.
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New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 57 Volume 57 Miscellaneous Biographies 37: Li Song, Li Lin, Jia Wei, Duan Xiyao, Zhang Yun, Wang Song, Pei Hao, Wang Renyu, Pei Yu, Wang Yan, Ma Zhongji, Zhao Yanyi · 21 passages
李鏻，唐宗室子也。
Li Lin was a member of the Tang imperial clan.
鏻少舉進士，累不中，客河朔間，自稱清海軍掌書記，謁定州王處直，處直不為禮。
As a young man Lin repeatedly failed the jinshi examination; he wandered in the Hebei region, styling himself secretary of the Qinghai Army, and called on Wang Chuzhi of Dingzhou, who received him coldly.
其後張文禮弒镕自立，遣鏻聘唐莊宗於太原。
Later Zhang Wenli murdered Rong and seized power, and sent Lin as envoy to Emperor Zhuangzong of Tang at Taiyuan.
鏻為人利口敢言，乃陰為莊宗畫文禮可破之策。
Lin was quick-tongued and bold; he secretly devised for Zhuangzong a strategy to break Zhang Wenli.
後文禮敗，莊宗以鏻為支使。
After Zhang Wenli's defeat, Zhuangzong appointed Lin branch commissioner.
莊宗即位，拜鏻宗正卿，以李瓊為少卿。
When Zhuangzong ascended the throne he appointed Lin director of the imperial clan and Li Qiong as vice director.
獻祖、懿祖墓在趙州昭慶縣，唐國初建，鏻、瓊上言：「獻祖宣皇帝建初陵，懿祖光皇帝啟運陵，請置臺令。」
The tombs of the Exalted Ancestor and the August Ancestor lay in Zhaoping County, Zhao Prefecture; when the Tang was first established, Lin and Qiong memorialized: "The Exalted Ancestor, Emperor Xuan, lies at Jianchu Mausoleum; the August Ancestor, Emperor Guang, at Qiyun Mausoleum—we ask that platform directors be appointed."
有民詣寺自言世為丹陽竟陵臺令，厚賂宗正吏，鏻、瓊不復詳考，遂補為令。
One man presented himself at the directorate claiming his family had for generations held the post of platform director at Danyang and Jingling; he bribed the directorate clerks heavily; Lin and Qiong failed to investigate and appointed him director.
鏻不學無知，不足以備九卿。」
Lin is ignorant and unlearned and unfit to hold one of the Nine Ministers' posts."
明宗即位，以鏻故人，召還，累遷戶部尚書。
When Mingzong took the throne he recalled Lin as an old acquaintance and promoted him repeatedly until he became minister of revenue.
鏻意頗希大用，嘗謂馮道、趙鳳曰：「唐家故事，宗室皆為宰相。
Lin eagerly sought high office and once told Feng Dao and Zhao Feng, "By Tang precedent, imperial clansmen all became chief ministers.
今天祚中興，宜按舊典，鏻雖不才，嘗事莊宗霸府，識今天子於藩邸，論才較業，何後眾人？
Now that the dynasty is restored, the old rules should apply; though I am without talent, I once served in Zhuangzong's princely headquarters and knew the present emperor when he was still a prince—measured by talent and service, how am I behind the others?
後楊溥諜者見鏻言事，鏻謂安重誨曰：「楊溥欲歸國久矣，若朝廷遣使諭之，可以召也。」
Later a spy from Yang Pu came to discuss affairs with Lin; Lin told An Chonghui, "Yang Pu has long wished to submit to the dynasty; if the court sends an envoy to instruct him, he can be recalled."
重誨信之，以玉帶與諜者使為信，久而無效，由是貶鏻兗州行軍司馬。
Chonghui believed him and gave the spy a jade belt as credentials; after a long while nothing came of it, and Lin was demoted to acting military administrator of Yanzhou.
鏻與廢帝有舊，湣帝時，為兵部尚書，奉使湖南，聞廢帝立，喜，以謂必用己為相。
Lin had old ties with the deposed emperor; under Emperor Min he was minister of war and on a mission to Hunan; when he heard the deposed emperor had taken the throne he rejoiced, certain he would be made chief minister.
乃就從誨求寶貨入獻以為賀，從誨與馬紅裝拂二、猓犭然皮一，因為鏻置酒，問其副使馬承翰：「今朝廷之臣，孰有公輔之望？」
He then asked Conghui for valuables to present as congratulatory gifts; Conghui gave him two horses with red trappings and whisks and one orangutan hide, and over wine asked his vice envoy Ma Chenghan, "Among the court ministers today, who is likely to become chief minister?"
從誨笑顧左右，取進奏官報狀示鏻顗與文紀皆拜平章事矣。
Conghui smiled, turned to his attendants, and produced the memorial courier's report showing that Hao and Wenji had both already been appointed councilors.
鏻慚失色。
Lin flushed and went pale.
初，李愚自太常卿作相，而盧文紀代之，及文紀作相，鏻乃求為太常卿。
Earlier Li Yu had risen from director of imperial sacrifices to chief minister, and Lu Wenji replaced him; when Wenji became chief minister, Lin sought the post of director of imperial sacrifices.
鏻事晉累遷太子太保。
Lin served the Later Jin and rose through repeated promotions to grand preceptor of the heir apparent.
漢高祖即位，拜鏻司徒，居數月卒，年八十八，贈太傅。
When Later Han Gaozu took the throne he appointed Lin minister of education; he died several months later at eighty-eight and was posthumously honored as grand tutor.