Li Shiji - During Emperor Gaozong's Reign

During Emperor Gaozong's Reign

Almost immediately after taking the throne, Emperor Gaozong promoted Li Shiji to be the general in charge of Luoyang. (As Emperor Gaozong also, at the same time, declared naming taboo was to be observed as to the characters shi and min (Emperor Taizong, as his name had two common characters, previously only ordered that naming taboo was to be observed against the use of shimin consecutively), thereafter, Li Shiji became known as Li Ji.) Almost as immediately, Emperor Gaozong repromoted him back to the post of chancellor de facto. He then further made him Puye (Executive State Secretary).

In winter 650, Li Ji requested to be relieved of the post of Puye. Emperor Gaozong agreed, but had him remain as chancellor de facto.

In 653, Emperor Gaozong bestowed the highly honorific title of Sikong (司空, Minister of Works) on Li Ji, who continued to be chancellor de facto.

In 655, with Emperor Gaozong having lost favor in his wife Empress Wang and greatly favoring his concubine Consort Wu, he wanted to depose Empress Wang and create Consort Wu empress. Almost all high level officials opposed -- on the account that Consort Wu had previously been a concubine of Emperor Taizong and therefore having her as a wife would be considered incest, and on the account that Empress Wang was from an honored clan while Consort Wu, while herself from a noble family, was not as highly born -- with the conspicuous exceptions of Li Ji, Zhangsun Wuji, and Yu Zhining, each of whom was silent, although Zhangsun and Yu showed their disapproval. The opposition from Chu Shuiliang was particularly fervent. However, when Emperor Gaozong summoned Li Ji to ask his opinion, Li Ji responded, "This is your family matter, Your Imperial Majesty. Why ask anyone else?" Emperor Gaozong therefore deposed Empress Wang and her ally Consort Xiao to commoner rank and created Consort Wu empress instead, having Li Ji serve as the ceremonial emissary. (Later, at Empress Wu's request, Emperor Gaozong further executed the former Empress Wang and Consort Xiao.) Empress Wu soon became dominant at court, installing officials who favored her ascension in chancellor posts and carrying out a near complete purge of the officials who opposed her or showed disapproval, even including Zhangsun (who, as Emperor Gaozong's uncle, was a major advocate for his having been made crown prince), but Li Ji, not having opposed her, escaped such actions. (Li Ji was nominally put in charge of the investigation during false accusations against Zhangsun for treason (brought by Empress Wu's associate Xu Jingzong), but it does not appear that he was actually responsible for Zhangsun's demise.) In 663, Li Ji was in charge of the corruption probe against another associate of Empress Wu's, the chancellor Li Yifu, leading to Li Yifu's removal, although, again, Li Ji's own involvement was not clear.

Around new year 667, after Yeon Gaesomun's death and infighting between Yeon's sons Yeon Namsaeng and Yeon Namgeon, leading to Yeon Namsaeng's fleeing to Tang, Emperor Gaozong launched an army, commanded by Li Ji, with Yeon Namsaeng (by this point renamed Cheon Heonseong/Quan Nansheng, as Yeon (淵) was the same character as Emperor Gaozu's name and therefore unusable per naming taboo) serving as his guide. In fall 667, Li Ji first captured Sinseong (新城, in modern Fushun), and then advanced further. Meanwhile, the generals serving under him, Pang Tongshan (龐同善), Gao Kan (高侃), and Xue Rengui, also defeated Yeon Namgeon's forces. However, the fleet commanded by Guo Daifeng (郭待封, Guo Xiaoke's son) ran into problems with food supplies, and wanted to seek aid from Li Ji, but was fearful that if his request fell into Goguryeo hands that his weakness would be revealed, so he wrote the request in code, written as a poem, and sent it to Li Ji. Li Ji, initially not understanding that it was code, was angry that Guo was writing poems on the frontline, but his secretary Yuan Wanqing (元萬頃) was able to decode the poem, showing Li Ji the request, so Li Ji sent food supplies to Guo. (Yuan was later, however, exiled when he wrote a declaration against Goguryeo that stated, "You do not even know to defend Yalu River!" after which Yeon Namgeon responded by stating, "I accept your suggestion!" and defended Yalu River, not allowing Li Ji to cross.) Only in fall 668 was Li Ji able to cross Yalu River and advance to Pyongyang and put the city under siege. The King Bojang, Yeon Namgeon's younger brother Yeon Namsan, and a number of officials surrendered, but Yeon Namgeon continued fighting. A few days later, though, his general, the Buddhist monk Shin Seong (信誠), opened the city gates and surrendered. Yeon Namgeon tried to commit suicide, but was captured and saved by Tang forces. This was the end of Goguryeo. Later that year, after Li Ji returned to Chang'an, a great procession was held in his honor, and around the new year 669, when Emperor Gaozong offered sacrifices to Heaven, he had Li Ji sacrifice after he did -- an extraordinary honor.

Later in 669, Li Ji grew ill. Emperor Gaozong summoned all of Li Ji's brothers and sons who were serving outside the capital back to Chang'an to attend to him. Li Ji took only medications given him by Emperor Gaozong and Li Hong the Crown Prince, but otherwise refused medical treatment, stating:

I was only a farmer east of the Mountains. I happened to encounter holy emperors, and I was able to become one of the Three Excellencies. I am also almost 80. Is it not the protection of Heaven? How long a life will be is already preordained. How can I beg for a longer life from doctors

One day, Li Ji summoned his younger brother Li Bi (李弼) and told Li Bi that he was feeling better that day, and should summon all of his relatives to hold a feast. At the end of the feast, he stated to Li Bi:

I know that my illness will not be cured. This feast is a farewell to you all. Do not cry, but listen to me. I saw with my own eyes how Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui worked hard all their lives and established their fame, but they encountered wicked descendants who overturned their clans, without further hope. All of my sons and grandsons are here, and I entrust them to you. After I die and am buried, move to my bedroom and care for the young ones. Look over them carefully. If any of them think in dangerous ways or associate with people without virtues, batter them to death, and then report to the Emperor.

He spoke no further, and not long after, around the new year 670, he died. He was buried with extraordinary honors, and by Emperor Gaozong's orders, his tomb was made into the shape of several great mountains within Eastern Tujue and Xueyantuo territory, to commemorate his victories over them.

The Song Dynasty historian Sima Guang, in his Zizhi Tongjian, stated:

Li Ji, as a military commander, was full of strategies and capable of making excellent decisions. When he discussed issues with others, he accepted good suggestions as fast as the flowing water. When he achieved a victory, he credited his subordinates. The awards of gold, silver, and silk he received were all distributed to his officers and soldiers. People were willing to sacrifice for him, so whenever he launched an attack, he was always successful. He always selected, as his officers, those with proper appearances and who were tolerant and serious. When asked why, his response was, "Those who are of ill fortune will not be successful." His reign over his household was strict but loving. Once, when he was Puye, his sister was ill, and he personally cooked porridge for her. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew the flame, which burned his beard. His sister said, "You have many male and female servants. Why do you have to labor yourself?" He responded, "It is not that I have no one to order. It is only that you are old, and I am old. Would there really be enough times for me to be able to cook porridge for you?

Li Ji's oldest son Li Zhen (李震) predeceased him, so the title of Duke of Ying was inherited by Li Zhen's son Li Jingye. In 684, after Emperor Gaozong's death and after Empress Dowager Wu deposed her third son with Emperor Gaozong, Emperor Zhongzong, replacing him with her fourth son Emperor Ruizong but was posturing toward taking the throne herself, Li Jingye rose in rebellion. In reprisal, Empress Dowager Wu destroyed Li Ji's tomb, posthumously stripped him of his titles, and slaughtered most, but not all, of his descendants. In 705, after Emperor Zhongzong was restored following a coup against his mother (who was then ruling as "Emperor" of her state of Zhou), Li Ji's tomb and titles were restored.