Feng Lun, courtesy name Deyi, better known as Feng Deyi, formally Duke Miao of Mi, was a Chinese official of the Sui and Tang dynasties who served as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Gaozu of Tang and Emperor Taizong of Tang.
22 Facts About Feng Deyi
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Feng Deyi was praised for his quick thinking but criticized by historians for his being overly attentive to the emperors' desires.
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Feng Deyi was born in 568, when his grandfather Feng Longzhi was a high level official for Northern Qi.
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Sometime after Northern Qi was destroyed by Northern Zhou in 577, Feng Zixiu fled back north, and was made a provincial governor by Emperor Wen of Sui, whose Sui dynasty succeeded Northern Zhou in 581.
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Yang Su was fearful that Emperor Wen would punish him, but Feng Deyi correctly predicted that when Emperor Wen's wife Empress Dugu arrived at the palace, Yang Su would not only not receive punishment, but would be rewarded.
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That indeed happened, and when Yang Su, impressed with Feng Deyi's prediction, asked him the reason, Feng Deyi responded:.
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Feng Deyi often touched his seat and stated, "One day Master Feng will have this seat," and he recommended Feng to Emperor Wen, who made Feng a mid-level official, Neishi Sheren, within the legislative bureau of his government.
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In or around 617, Feng Deyi became a trusted advisor to the chancellor Yu Shiji.
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Feng Deyi was harsh in his application of laws, and often reduced rewards to officials with contributions.
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Feng Deyi was therefore blamed by the Old Book of Tang for Emperor Yang's increasing favors for Yu and the deteriorating state of Sui governance.
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Feng Deyi made Feng the head of the legislative bureau, a position that Feng continued to hold after Yuwen poisoned Yang Hao and declared himself the emperor of a new Xu state at Liaocheng.
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Feng Deyi, seeing that Yuwen Huaji, who was repeatedly defeated by other rebel leaders, including Li Mi the Duke of Wei, Li Shentong the cousin of Li Yuan, and Dou Jiande the Prince of Xia, was being weakened by the losses, befriended Yuwen Huaji's brother Yuwen Shiji, and suggested to Yuwen Shiji that he request permission from Yuwen Huaji to leave Liaocheng to collect food supplies for the army.
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Yuwen Huaji agreed, and Yuwen Shiji and Feng Deyi both left Liaocheng.
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Pleased, Emperor Gaozu praised Feng Deyi, comparing his advice to that of the Jin dynasty official Zhang Hua, whose advice had permitted Emperor Wu of Jin to destroy Eastern Wu.
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Feng Deyi was praised for his efficiency in the post.
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In 624, when Li Jiancheng was found to have improperly requisitioned soldiers to serve in his guard corps, and his guard commander Yang Wen'gan then rebelled in fear, Emperor Gaozu considered deposing Li Jiancheng and replacing him with Li Shimin, but Feng Deyi made a secret submission arguing against such a move, and at least partly because of Feng Deyi's intercession, Emperor Gaozu did not depose Li Jiancheng.
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In 625, Feng Deyi was created the greater title of Duke of Dao, a title soon changed to Duke of Mi.
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Feng Deyi reorganized his government, and as part of the reorganization, Xiao Yu and Feng Deyi were made co-heads of the important executive bureau, with the title of Shangshu Pushe.
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In 627, Feng Deyi became ill while handling official matters at the executive bureau, and Emperor Taizong visited him personally, and then used an imperial wagon to take him back to his mansion.
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Feng Deyi soon died, and Emperor Taizong posthumously honored him with the high title Sikong, giving him the posthumous name Ming.
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When Feng Deyi died, Emperor Taizong had not known that Feng Deyi was in fact associating with both him and Li Jiancheng, but as he reviewed imperial archives several years later, he began to realize this.
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Emperor Taizong accepted the advice of another official, Tang Jian, who pointed out that Feng Deyi had contributions while he was alive and that the offices should not be stripped but suggested that the posthumous honors be stripped.