Li Linfu

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Li Linfu (李林甫) (d. 752), born as Li Genu (李哥奴), a member of the imperial family, was the Chancellor of Tang China under Emperor Xuanzong. He had a close relationship with An Lushan.

In 737, under Li's influence, the emperor dismissed Zhang Jiuling and appointed him as chancellor. The day after he took office, an official who tried to criticize Li was dismissed. As head of the Executive Ministry, Li dismissed the head of the Military Department because he was afraid that the latter would attract the favour of the emperor. Li also closed the traditional channels through which officials used to submit suggestions to the emperor. In reaction to Li's policies, many reformist officials in the court resigned, and many others were dismissed. Li particularly favored appointing barbarian soldiers (such as An Lushan) to high command on the theory that "it takes a barbarian to fight a barbarian" and also because he believed them too unsubtle to be able to weaken his political position.

Beginning in 745, there were power struggles between him and Yang Guozhong. Li tried to suppress the influence of the emperor's consort Yang Guifei, but was unsuccessful. Eventually, on Li's death, Yang Guozhong replaced him as chancellor. He promptly had Li's body unburied and executed for high treason, and he confiscated Li's ill-gotten wealth.

Preceded by Pei Yaoqing	Vice-Chancellor of China 734–737	Succeeded by Niu Xianke
Preceded by Zhang Jiuling	Chancellor of China 737–752	Succeeded by Yang Guozhong