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Overview Other names Life and dates Family Key source chapters Career and standing Places and affiliations Learning and skills Works and attributed material Events and relationships Assessments and attributes Source notes References in the histories
Overview Li Mian was an official and Imperial Clansman.
Identity Historical · Male
Other names Type English Chinese Pinyin
Courtesy name
Xuanqing
玄卿
Xuanqing
Life and dates Death Age Attested activity
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Family
Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.
Key source chapters
Old Book of Tang, Chapter 135
Volume 131 Biographies 81: Li Mian; Li Gao and His Sons Xianggu and Daogu
38 passages
Old Book of Tang, Chapter 129
Volume 125 Biographies 75: Zhang Yi, Liu Congyi, Xiao Fu, Liu Hun
4 passages
Old Book of Tang, Chapter 150
Volume 146 Biographies 96: Xue Bo, Bao Fang, Li Ziliang, Li Shuo, Yan Shou, Xiao Xin, Du Ya, Wang Wei, Li Ruochu, Yu Qi, Lu Zheng, Yan Ping, Zheng Yuan, Du Jian, Pei Bin, Xue Pi
4 passages
New Book of Tang, Chapter 141
Volume 141 Biographies 66: Cui, Deng, Wei, Wei, Li Han, Lu, Gao
2 passages
New Book of Tang, Chapter 150
Volume 150 Biographies 75: Li, Chang, Zhao, Cui, Qi, Lu
1 passage
Career and standing acting left vice director and supreme commander 檢校左僕射充都統
Appointed
Bian-Song military governor 汴宋節度使
Appointed
chief councilor 平章事
Appointed
Grand Protector of the Heir Apparent 太子太保
Appointed
investigating censor 監察御史
Appointed
marshal of Kaifeng 開封尉
Appointed
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metropolitan governor of Jingzhao 京兆尹
Appointed
minister of works 工部尚書
Appointed
observation commissioner of Jiangxi 江西觀察使
Appointed
prefect of Guangzhou and Lingnan military governor 廣州刺史兼嶺南節度觀察使
Appointed
vice governor of Henan 河南少尹
Appointed
Chief Minister 宰相
AD 784 to AD 785 復江南使回 · Held
overseer of the Bureau of Punishments 判刑部
Held
posthumous Grand Tutor 太傅
Granted
Entered
Retired
imperial clansman 宗臣
Imperial clansman · Held
Places and affiliations Polity Tang 唐 · Relation ServedPolity Tang 唐 · Relation ServedAt Lingwu 靈武 · Relation Traveled toAt private residence 第 · Relation Resided atLearning and skills Skill poetry 詩 · Level practicedSkill civil governance 臨民蒞事 · Level renownedSkill zither 琴 · Level skilledWorks and attributed material Memorial · Author Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Lu Han (盧翰) · Units s0244 Speech · Speaker Assessments and attributes Assessment among the finest of the imperial house; talents differed from Gao but moral way not far apart · Mode historian-judgmentAssessment compared with Liu of Yicheng, we are all people bound by convention · Target Person Id Liu Hun (柳渾) · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Li Mian (李勉) Mian fell far short of Gao in military affairs 勉不及皋遠矣
Assessment far inferior to Li Gao in military command and campaign success · Mode historian-judgment
Assessment model among imperial clansmen · Mode historian-judgmentAssessment upright and incorruptible · Mode historian-judgmentfinest of the imperial clan 宗臣之英
Assessment upright, dignified, incorruptible; earned praise in governance; finest of the imperial clan · Mode historian-judgment
Show 1 more source-backed claim
Item southern goods, rhinoceros horn, ivory 南貨犀象 · Relation Discarded References in the histories
No matching passages.
Old Book of Tang, Chapter 129 Volume 125 Biographies 75: Zhang Yi, Liu Congyi, Xiao Fu, Liu Hun · 4 passages
復出，宰相李勉、盧翰、劉從一方同歸中書，中使馬欽緒至，揖從一，附耳語而退，諸相各歸閣。
Fu went out. Chief ministers Li Mian, Lu Han, and Liu Congyi together returned to the Secretariat. Palace envoy Ma Qinxu arrived, bowed to Liu Congyi, whispered in his ear, and withdrew. The ministers each returned to their offices.
從一詣復曰：「適欽緒宣旨，令與公商量朝來所奏便進，勿令李勉、盧翰知。」
Liu Congyi went to Fu and said, "Just now Qinxu announced the imperial intent, ordering me to consult with you and immediately advance this morning's memorial. Do not let Li Mian and Lu Han know."
今勉、翰不可在相位，即去之；
If Li Mian and Lu Han ought not be in chief minister posts, then remove them;
時李勉、盧翰皆退罷居第，相謂曰：「吾輩方柳宜城，悉為拘俗之人也。」
At that time Li Mian and Lu Han had both retired and lived at their residences. They said to each other, "Compared with Liu of Yicheng, we are all people bound by convention."
Old Book of Tang, Chapter 135 Volume 131 Biographies 81: Li Mian; Li Gao and His Sons Xianggu and Daogu · 38 passages
李勉，字玄卿，鄭王元懿曾孫也。
Li Mian, whose courtesy name was Xuanqing, was a great-grandson of Prince Zheng, Yuanyi.
勉幼勤經史，長而沉雅清峻，宗於虛玄，以近屬陪位，累授開封尉。
As a boy Mian applied himself diligently to the classics and histories. In maturity he was reserved, refined, and austere, inclined toward Daoist subtlety, and through proximity to the throne was repeatedly appointed marshal of Kaifeng.
時升平日久，且汴州水陸所湊，邑居龐雜，號為難理，勉與聯尉盧成軌等，並有擒奸擿伏之名。
Peace had lasted many years, and Bianzhou—where land and water traffic met—was crowded and chaotic, notorious as difficult to administer. Mian, along with associate marshal Lu Chenggui and others, earned a reputation for apprehending wrongdoers and uncovering concealed crimes.
大將管崇嗣於行在朝堂背闕而坐，言笑自若，勉劾之，拘於有司，肅宗特原之，歎曰：「吾有李勉，始知朝廷尊也。」
The general Guan Congsi sat in the mobile court's audience hall with his back to the throne, chatting and laughing as though unconcerned. Mian impeached him and had him held by the proper authorities. Emperor Suzong personally pardoned Guan and sighed, "Only with Li Mian do I learn that the court commands respect."
時關東獻俘百餘，詔並處斬，囚有仰天歎者，勉過問之，對曰：「某被脅制守官，非逆者。」
More than a hundred captives from east of the Pass were presented at court, and an edict ordered them all put to death. One prisoner looked up to heaven and sighed. Mian stopped to question him, and the man answered, "I was forced to hold office under duress; I was no rebel."
勉乃哀之，上言曰：「元惡未殄，遭點污者半天下，皆欲澡心歸化。
Moved to pity, Mian memorialized the throne: "The chief villain is not yet destroyed. Half the empire has been tainted by association, and all wish to purify their hearts and submit. If we execute them all, we will drive the world into the rebels' arms.
勉以故吏前密縣尉王晬勤干，俾攝南鄭令，俄有詔處死，勉問其故，乃為權幸所誣。
Mian had appointed his former subordinate Wang Hui, once magistrate of Mi County, to act as magistrate of Nanzheng on account of his diligence and ability. Soon an edict ordered Wang's execution. When Mian inquired, he learned that Wang had been framed by powerful favorites at court.
勉詢將吏曰：「上方藉牧宰為人父母，豈以譖言而殺不辜乎！」
Mian asked his officers and staff, "The throne now depends on local magistrates to be fathers and mothers to the people. How can it put an innocent man to death on a whispered accusation?"
即停詔拘晬，飛表上聞，晬遂獲宥，而勉竟為執政所非，追入為大理少卿。
He at once withheld the edict, detained Wang Hui, and sent an urgent memorial to the throne. Wang was spared, but Mian was censured by the chief ministers and recalled to the capital as vice minister of justice.
王晬後以推擇拜大理評事、龍門令，終有能名，時稱知人。
Wang Hui was later recommended and appointed reviewer in the Court of Judicial Review and magistrate of Longmen. He retained a reputation for competence to the end, and contemporaries praised Mian for discerning talent.
肅宗將大用勉，會李輔國寵任，意欲勉降禮於己。
Suzong was on the point of giving Mian major responsibility when Li Fuguo, then in high favor, expected Mian to show him deference.
勉不為之屈，竟為所抑，出歷汾州、虢州刺史，改京兆尹、檢校右庶子、兼御史中丞、都畿觀察使。
Mian refused to bend and was ultimately blocked by Li Fuguo. He was sent out as prefect of Fen and Guo, then appointed metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, acting right vice grand mentor, censor-in-chief, and observation commissioner of the capital region.
賊帥陳莊連陷江西州縣，偏將呂太一、武日升相繼背叛，勉與諸道力戰，悉攻平之。
The rebel leader Chen Zhuang overran prefectures and counties across Jiangxi. Subordinate generals Lü Taiyi and Wu Risheng rebelled in succession. Mian fought alongside troops from other circuits and subdued them all.
部人有父病，以蠱道為木偶人，署勉名位，瘞於其隴，或以告，曰：「為父禳災，亦可矜也。」
A subordinate whose father was ill used sorcery to fashion a wooden figure, inscribed it with Mian's name and title, and buried it on his father's grave. When someone reported this, Mian said, "He did it to ward off disaster for his father. That deserves pity."
及勉蒞職旬月，朝恩入監，府吏先期有請，勉曰：「軍容使判國子監事，勉候太學，軍容宜厚具主禮。
About ten days after Mian took office, Yu Chao'en came to the directorate. The prefectural clerks asked in advance how to receive him. Mian said, "As army-observing commissioner supervising the Directorate of Education, he should be received at the Imperial College with full honors befitting the host.
勉忝京尹，軍容倘惠顧府廷，豈敢不具蔬饌。」
As metropolitan governor I would be unworthy if he did not visit my yamen; but should he deign to come to the prefectural offices, I would of course provide a meal—nothing more."
朝恩聞而銜之，因不復至太學，勉亦尋受代。
Yu Chao'en took offense and never visited the college again. Mian was soon replaced in his post.
勉至，遣將李觀與容州刺史王翃人並力招討，悉斬之，五嶺平。
On arriving, Mian sent the general Li Guan and Rongzhou prefect Wang Hong to campaign together against them. All were executed and the Five Ridges were pacified.
前後西域舶泛海至者歲才四五，勉性廉潔，舶來都不檢閱，故末年至者四十餘。
In earlier years only four or five Western merchant ships reached port each year. Mian was incorruptible by nature and never inspected incoming vessels, so that in his last year more than forty ships arrived.
及滑亳永平軍節度令狐彰卒，遺表舉勉自代，因除之。
When Linghu Zhang, military governor of the Huai-Bo-Yongping circuit, died, his final memorial recommended Mian as his successor, and Mian was appointed in his place.
十一年，汴宋留後田神玉卒，詔加勉汴州刺史、汴宋節度使。
In the eleventh year Tian Shenyu, acting military governor of Bian-Song, died. An edict appointed Mian prefect of Bian and military governor of Bian-Song.
未行，汴州將李靈曜阻兵，北結田承嗣，承嗣使侄悅將銳兵戍之。
Before Mian could take up the post, the Bianzhou general Li Lingyao rebelled and allied himself with Tian Chengsi to the north. Chengsi sent his nephew Tian Yue with elite troops to hold the city.
詔勉與李忠臣、馬燧等攻討，大破之，悅僅以身免。
An edict ordered Mian, Li Zhongchen, Ma Sui, and others to attack them. The rebels were routed and Tian Yue barely escaped with his life.
靈曜北走，勉騎將杜如江擒之以獻，代宗褒賞甚厚。
Li Lingyao fled north, but Mian's cavalry officer Du Rujiang captured him and presented him as a prisoner. Emperor Daizong rewarded Mian handsomely.
既而李忠臣代鎮汴州，而勉仍舊鎮。
Li Zhongchen was then assigned to garrison Bianzhou while Mian remained at his original command.
忠臣遇下貪虐，明年為麾下所逐，詔復加勉汴宋節度使，移理汴州，餘並如故。
Zhongchen governed with greed and cruelty and was driven out by his own troops the following year. An edict restored Mian as military governor of Bian-Song and transferred his headquarters to Bianzhou; his other titles remained unchanged.
德宗嗣位，加檢校吏部尚書，尋加平章事。
When Emperor Dezong succeeded to the throne, Mian was made acting minister of personnel and soon appointed chief councilor.
勉城守累月，救援莫至，謂其將曰：「希烈兇逆殘酷，若與較力，必多殺無辜，吾不忍也。」
Mian held the city for months, but no relief came. He told his generals, "Xilie is savage and cruel. If we fight him head on, countless innocents will die. I cannot bring myself to do that."
既至朝廷，素服請罪，優詔復其位，勉引過備位而已。
On reaching court he appeared in plain dress to accept blame. A gracious edict restored his rank, and Mian simply acknowledged his fault and resumed his seat.
他日，上謂勉曰：「眾人皆言盧杞奸邪，朕何不知！
On another occasion the emperor said to Mian, "Everyone says Lu Qi is treacherous and corrupt. Do you think I do not know it?
對曰：「天下皆知其奸邪，獨陛下不知，所以為奸邪也。」
Mian answered, "The whole world knows he is treacherous and corrupt. Only Your Majesty does not know it. That is precisely what makes him treacherous and corrupt."
勉坦率素淡，好古尚奇，清廉簡易，為宗臣之表。
Mian was forthright and unpretentious, loved antiquity and valued the unusual, and lived with incorruptible simplicity. He was a model among the imperial clan.
或曰：「勉失守梁城，亦可貶也。」
Some said, "Mian lost Bianzhou and ought to have been demoted."
況勉應變非長，援軍莫至，又其時關輔已俶擾矣，人心已動搖矣。
Moreover Mian was not a master of crisis, no relief force came, the capital region was already in turmoil, and popular morale was collapsing.
歷處、隨、唐、睦四州刺史，由黔中觀察為鄂、岳、沔、蘄、安、黃團練觀察使，時元和十一年也。
He served as prefect of Chu, Sui, Tang, and Mu prefectures, then rose from observation commissioner of Qianzhong to training and observation commissioner over E, Yue, Mian, Qi, An, and Huang—in 816.
史臣曰：李勉、李皋，稟性端莊，處身廉潔，臨民蒞事，動有美聲，可謂宗臣之英也。
The historiographer writes: Li Mian and Li Gao were upright and dignified by nature, lived with incorruptible integrity, and in governing the people and conducting affairs always earned praise. They may truly be called the finest of the imperial clan.
若夫治軍旅，禦寇戎，謀必臧，戰必勝，則又勉不及皋遠矣。
In raising armies, repelling invaders, and achieving unfailing strategy and victory in battle, however, Mian fell far short of Gao.
贊曰：我宗之英，曰皋與勉，才雖不同，道豈相遠。
The commendation reads: The finest of our house are Gao and Mian. Their talents differed, yet how far apart could their moral way have been?
Old Book of Tang, Chapter 150 Volume 146 Biographies 96: Xue Bo, Bao Fang, Li Ziliang, Li Shuo, Yan Shou, Xiao Xin, Du Ya, Wang Wei, Li Ruochu, Yu Qi, Lu Zheng, Yan Ping, Zheng Yuan, Du Jian, Pei Bin, Xue Pi · 4 passages
八月，希烈自帥眾三萬，圍哥舒曜於襄城，又詔河南都統李勉援之。
In the eighth month, Xilie personally led thirty thousand men and besieged Geshu Yao at Xiangcheng, and Li Mian, overall commander of Henan, was also ordered to relieve him.
勉舍襄城，令大將唐漢臣等選勁兵，徑襲許州以解圍。
Mian left Xiangcheng and ordered his chief generals Tang Hanchen and others to select crack troops and strike Xuzhou directly in order to lift the siege.
勉恐東都危急，乃分兵數千赴洛，又為賊所隔。
Fearing that the Eastern Capital was in peril, Mian detached several thousand troops for Luoyang, but they too were cut off by the rebels.
賊眾急攻汴、滑，勉走宋州，朝廷大聳，乃詔誼為揚州大都督，持節荊襄、江西、沔鄂等道節度，兼諸軍行營兵馬元帥，改名誼。
As rebel forces pressed their attacks on Bian and Hua, Mian fled to Songzhou. The court was thrown into alarm, and Yi was appointed Grand Governor of Yangzhou with authority over the Jingxiang, Jiangxi, Mian, E, and related circuits, and concurrently supreme commander of all campaign armies; his name was also changed to Yi.
New Book of Tang, Chapter 141 Volume 141 Biographies 66: Cui, Deng, Wei, Wei, Li Han, Lu, Gao · 2 passages
New Book of Tang, Chapter 150 Volume 150 Biographies 75: Li, Chang, Zhao, Cui, Qi, Lu · 1 passage