Li Jixun李继勋

Where the histories differ

The error of misattribution in the Records of the Grand Historian regarding Li Jixun's participation in the plot to establish Prince Chu

• histories differThe 'Biography of Lü Duan' and 'Biography of Kou Zhun' in the History of Song record that 'Li Jixun, Commander of the Palace Corps' participated in the plot to establish Prince Yuanzuo of Chu, and was dismissed from military office and sent to Chenzhou. This contradicts the dates of birth and death in the 'Biography of Li Jixun' and the relevant records in the 'Annals of Emperor Zhenzong' and the 'Biography of Li Jilong', presenting serious historical inconsistencies.

  According to the 'Biography of Li Jixun' in the History of Song, the famous early Song general Li Jixun had already died of illness in the early years of Emperor Taizong's Taiping Xingguo reign, making it absolutely impossible for him to participate in the plot of the eunuch Wang Ji'en to establish Prince Yuanzuo of Chu twenty years later, at the time of Emperor Taizong's death (the third year of Zhidao). Moreover, according to the 'Annals of Emperor Zhenzong' and the 'Biography of Li Chuyun, Jilong, and Jihe', the person who actually held military power at that time was Li Jilong, the elder brother of Empress Mingde and Commander of the Imperial Horse Guard. After Emperor Zhenzong ascended the throne, Li Jilong was 'promoted to Grand Councilor with the title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, and relieved of military command to return to his fief (Zhen'an Army, governing Chenzhou)', which perfectly matches the situation in the 'Biography of Lü Duan' where 'Li Jixun was made a counselor and sent to Chenzhou'. Therefore, the 'Biography of Lü Duan' and the 'Biography of Kou Zhun' mistakenly wrote Li Jilong, who participated in the plot, as the deceased Li Jixun, and also misrecorded his military title, which is an obvious error of misattribution, leading to the erroneous conflation of Li Jixun's deeds in the candidate list.