Li Shou

Li Shou (Chinese: 李壽; 300–343), courtesy name Wukao (武考), formally Emperor Zhaowen of (Cheng) Han ((成)漢昭文帝), was an emperor of the Chinese/Ba-Di state Cheng Han. He was the cousin of Cheng Han's founding emperor Li Xiong, but after he overthrew Li Xiong's son Li Qi in 338, he disassociated himself from Li Xiong's regime by renaming the state from Cheng to Han, and further setting up a different imperial ancestral temple. Traditional historians, however, did not consider his regime a separate state and treated the succession from Li Xiong to Li Shou's son Li Shi as a single Cheng Han state. Li Shou was initially known for lenience and thriftiness—the same virtues commonly associated with Li Xiong—but later imitated the ruling style of Shi Hu the emperor of Later Zhao by ruling harshly and extravagantly, greatly inflicting burdens on the people and damaging the Cheng Han state.

Li Shou was a son of Li Xiong's trusted uncle and key advisor Li Xiang (李驤), who carried the title of the Prince of Han. When Li Shou was 18, Li Xiong, believing in his talent, made him in general, and he distinguished himself at his post of Jinshou (晉壽, in modern Guangyuan, Sichuan). After his father died in 328, he was given a number of important posts and created the Duke of Fufeng. In a campaign in 332 and 333, he further led a Cheng Han army to conquer the Jin possession Ning Province (寧州, modern Yunnan and Guizhou) -- which Cheng Han forces had previously been unable to conquer, further solidifying his reputation as a general. For this victory, he was created the Prince of Jianning.

After Li Xiong died in 334 and was succeeded by his nephew and crown prince Li Ban, pursuant to Li Xiong's edict, Li Shou was one of the key officials in control of the government, along with He Dian (何點) and Wang Gui (王瓌). He did not appear to be involved either for or against the plot by Li Xiong's sons Li Yue (李越) and Li Qi to overthrow Li Ban, and after Li Yue assassinated Li Ban later that year and made Li Qi emperor, Li Shou was created the Prince of Han and continued to initially be in control of the government. When Li Qi's cousin Li Shi (李始) asked Li Shou to join him to depose Li Qi, Li Shou refused—and Li Shi in turn falsely accused him of treason, but Li Qi instead asked Li Shou to attack Li Ban's brother Li Wu (李玝), who had warned Li Ban previously about Li Yue and Li Qi. Li Shou sent messengers to persuade Li Wu to persuade him to flee and left a path for Li Wu to do so, so Li Wu fled to Jin. After this campaign, Li Qi made Li Shou the governor of Liang Province (梁州, modern northern Sichuan) with his post at Fucheng (涪城, in modern Mianyang, Sichuan).

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