Li Shou 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.
19 Facts About Li Shou
1.
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Li Shou was a son of Li Xiong's trusted uncle and key advisor Li Xiang, who carried the title of the Prince of Han.
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When Li Shou was 18, Li Xiong, believing in his talent, made him in general, and he distinguished himself at his post of Jinshou.
4.
Li Shou did not appear to be involved either for or against the plot by Li Xiong's sons Li Yue 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.
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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.
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In 338, Li Shou consulted the hermit Gong Zhuang, who advised him to rebel and to declare himself a Jin vassal.
7.
Li Qi, hearing some rumors of this, several times sent the eunuch Xu Fu to spy on Li Shou and poisoned Li Shou's adoptive brother Li You.
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Li Xiong 8.
Li Shou's attack was not anticipated by Li Qi, and further, Li Shou's heir apparent Li Shi, a capital guards officer, opened the gates and welcomed the forces in.
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Li Shou forced Li Qi to order the execution of Li Yue and several other officials that Li Qi trusted.
10.
Li Shou then forged an edict by Li Xiong's wife Empress Dowager Ren deposing Li Qi and creating him the Duke of Qiongdu.
11.
Li Shou then changed the name of the state from Cheng to Han and started a new imperial temple enshrining his father Li Xiang and his mother Lady Zan, making a break with Li Xiong's regime.
12.
Li Shou requested that Gong come out of his seclusion and serve as a senior advisor, but Gong, disappointed that Li Shou was not willing to be a Jin vassal, declined.
13.
Li Shou created his wife Princess Yan empress, and he created Li Shi crown prince.
14.
Li Shou used this as an excuse to execute all of Li Xiong's surviving sons.
15.
In 340, Later Zhao's emperor Shi Hu wrote to Li Shou, seeking an alliance against Jin.
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Li Shou agreed and began to build a fleet and store food supplies, ready to attack, despite opposition by Jie.
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Indeed, later that year, the chances of an alliance with Later Zhao was further damaged when Li Shou wrote Shi Hu with arrogant terms, causing Shi Hu much offense.
18.
Early in his reign, Li Shou followed Li Xiong's ruling methods of being lenient, but later, after his messengers to Later Zhao told him about how Shi Hu kept order by harsh laws, Li Shou modified his style to be far harsher and, in emulation of Shi Hu, started many construction projects.
19.
In 343, Li Shou died and was succeeded by Crown Prince Shi.