Li Ru 李儒 was a civil official and general for the Han. He is notable for killing Emperor Shao under the orders of Dong Zhuo. Over history, Li Ru has been transformed from being a relatively obscure footnote into one of Dong Zhuo's main and trusted advisors.
Biography[]
He was a civil official, holding the title of Academician by 185, where he was one of the local officials thanking Cao Quan 曹全 for his service as Prefect of Heyang.[1] Dong Zhuo ordered him to have former Emperor Shao drink poisoned wine, and so Li Ru visited the Emperor. Li Ru held it to the Emperor and said, "Take this medicine as to expel your ailment." However, Emperor Shao replied, "I am not sick! You really want to kill me, that is all!" With this blunt refusal, Li Ru then forced the wine into the Emperor's mouth.[2] Emperor Xian hated Li Ru for this.[3] It is said that Li Ru was with Li Jue's group when they took Chang'an, and it is said Li Ru engaged Zhong Fu's group and killed them.[4] He also engaged Lü Bu's forces and repelled them.[5]
Later on, when Li Jue recommended Li Ru to serve as Palace Attendant, Emperor Xian released this edict. "When Ru previously served as 郎中令 to the Prince of Hongnong, he forcibly killed my older brother. This indeed ought to add such a sin to him." However, Li Jue replied, "What Dong Zhuo has done were not Ru's original intentions. Do not punish the innocent." Whether Li Ru was instated as Palace Attendant was never clarified.[3]
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Notes[]
Fact vs. Fiction[]
Historically…
- …Was not recorded being Dong Zhuo's son-in-law.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 《漢郃陽令曹全碑》曰：「徵博士李儒文優五百」(This stele was built in 185)
- ↑ 明年，山東義兵大起，討董卓之亂。卓乃置弘農王於閣上，使郎中令李儒進酖，曰：「服此藥，可以辟惡。」王曰：「我無疾，是欲殺我耳！」不肯飲。強飲之，不得已，乃與妻唐姬及宮人飲讌別。
Fan Ye. "Biography of Empresses" in the Book of the Later Han, cited by Li Xian 李賢. - ↑ 3.0 3.1 李傕舉博士李儒為侍中。詔曰：「儒前為弘農王郎中令，迫殺我兄，誠宜加罪。」辭曰：「董卓所為，非儒本意，不可罰無辜也。」
Yuan Hong. "Annals of Emperor Xian" in the Annals of the Later Han. - ↑ 張璠《漢記》曰：太常種拂與李儒戰而死 Cited in the Taiping Yulan
- ↑ 《魏書》曰：布后應王允，於門刺殺卓，卓將李儒等阻兵。