Li Ru, style name

Chinese style name

A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...

 Wenyou (文優), was a scholar and advisor to the warlord Dong Zhuo

Dong Zhuo

Dong Zhuo was a politician and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He seized control of the capital city Luoyang in 189 when it was in a state of turmoil following the death of Emperor Ling and a clash between the eunuch faction and some court officials led by...

 during the late Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...

 period of Chinese history

History of China

Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...

. He was a native of Heyang (郃陽), Pingyi (馮翊), located in the capital province Sili (司隷).

Biography

Li Ru was appointed as Prefect of the Household (郎中令) when Dong Zhuo controlled the imperial court. He served under Li Jue after Dong Zhuo's death. In 190, Li Ru was sent by Dong Zhuo to poison the Prince of Hongnong

Prince of Hongnong

The Prince of Hongnong , was briefly an emperor of China during the Han dynasty. He is also known as "Emperor Han Shao" , a name which he shares with several other emperors with brief reigns...

 (the deposed Emperor Shao). In the winter of 192, Li Jue recommended Li Ru to be a Palace Attendant (侍中), but Emperor Xian

Emperor Xian of Han

Emperor Xian of Han , personal name Liu Xie, style name Bohe, was the last emperor of the Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...

's decree stated: "(Li) Ru was formerly a Prefect of the Household under the Prince of Hongnong. He killed my older brother and ought to be punished." In defence of Li Ru, Li Jue said, "It was not Li Ru's intention to follow Dong Zhuo's orders. We should not punish the innocent."

In fiction

In Luo Guanzhong

Luo Guanzhong

Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...

's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...

, Li Ru was a son-in-law of Dong Zhuo. He served as an advisor to Dong Zhuo on various campaigns against Ma Teng

Ma Teng

Ma Teng was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He controlled Liang Province together with his sworn brother Han Sui...

, the Ten Attendants

Ten Attendants

The Ten Attendants were a group of eunuchs from the Eunuch Faction of the Han Imperial Court in China...

, and later his attempts to keep Emperor Xian under his control. When Dong Zhuo was sent to the capital to deal with the Ten Attendants, Li Ru advised him to replace Emperor Shao

Prince of Hongnong

The Prince of Hongnong , was briefly an emperor of China during the Han dynasty. He is also known as "Emperor Han Shao" , a name which he shares with several other emperors with brief reigns...

 with his younger brother, Liu Xie, who would become Emperor Xian later.

When Dong Zhuo announced his plans to the court, Ding Yuan

Ding Yuan

Ding Yuan was a regional governor and minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. In 189, both he and Dong Zhuo were summoned into the capital Luoyang with their individual troops to assist in the struggle against the powerful eunuch faction...

 and his adopted son Lü Bu

Lü Bu

Lü Bu was a military general and later a minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, Lü Bu was highly-skilled in horse-riding and archery, and was thus nicknamed "Flying General"...

 objected to Dong Zhuo's plans. Dong Zhuo attempted to attack Ding Yuan, but after seeing his adopted son Lü Bu, Li Ru would put off Dong Zhuo, probably saving his life. The next day Ding Yuan challenged Dong Zhuo to a battle outside the capital with a small force. However Dong Zhuo's force was no match for Lü Bu. Li Su, a friend of Lü Bu, offered to bring Lü Bu to Dong Zhuo's side by offering him the horse, Red Hare

Red Hare

Red Hare was Lü Bu's horse during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Historical records only mention the horse when Lü Bu temporarily became a subordinate of Yuan Shao, where he charged and defeated the armies of Zhang Yan while riding the Red Hare...

. Dong Zhuo was reluctant but on the advice of Li Ru, he gave up the horse to Lü Bu, who killed Ding Yuan, and joined Dong Zhuo along with Zhang Liao

Zhang Liao

Zhang Liao was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He participated in many campaigns, including those against Yuan Shao's clan and the Wuhuan tribes...

 and Gao Shun

Gao Shun

Gao Shun was a military general serving under the warlord Lü Bu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Although he only had 700 men under his command, he was nicknamed as the "camp crusher " for his destructive charges, and came to be known as Lü's most able commander...

.

In 190, Dong Zhuo deposed Emperor Shao, and sent Li Ru to assassinate him and his mother Empress He

Empress He (Ling)

Empress He , personal name unknown, formally known as Empress Lingsi was an empress of the Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. She was Emperor Ling's second wife...

 with poisoned wine. Li Ru offered Emperor Shao the wine by saying, "The Chancellor wishes you your health by offering this cup of wine", and the empress challenged Li Ru to drink it. Li Ru refused and the emperor's consort wept and requested that Li Ru let her drink the wine and not harm the emperor and empress dowager. Li Ru refused, and the empress told him "You will be condemned for aiding the traitor Dong!". Li Ru became angry at this and threw the empress out of the nearest window before forcing wine down the deposed emperor's throat and ordering his consort to be strangled.

After the eighteen regional warlords led by Yuan Shao

Yuan Shao

Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...

 attacked Dong Zhuo at Hulao Pass

Hulao Pass

Hulao Pass is a mountain pass northwest of Xingyang, Henan, China. It is the site of many historical battles, being the eastern guard for the capital Luoyang for several dynasties. With Mount Song to the south, the Yellow River to the north, the pass holds up a formidable defense...

, Li Ru advised that they move the capital from Luoyang

Luoyang

Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...

 to Chang'an

Chang'an

Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...

 and leave Lü Bu to ambush any of the warlords who attempted to pursue. Thanks to Li Ru's plan, Cao Cao

Cao Cao

Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...

 was ambushed and almost killed before being saved by Cao Hong

Cao Hong

Cao Hong was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He started his career during the late Han Dynasty under the warlord Cao Cao, who was also his cousin.-Early career:...

, leaving Dong Zhuo to make a clean getaway.

Li Ru helped Dong Zhuo to set up his capital at Chang'an and their power grew immensely after the eighteen regional warlords went their separate ways after many disagreements. After hearing that Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan

Gongsun Zan

Gongsun Zan , style name Bogui , a native of Liaoxi , was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history.-Biography:...

 were fighting in northern China, Li Ru suggested that Dong Zhuo send an imperial decree in Emperor Xian's name for the two to make peace to gain the support of both of them. The plan worked and both the warlords withdrew after some reasoning from Ma Midi

Ma Midi

Ma Midi was an official who lived during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He is also featured as a character in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. When Wang Yun decided to execute Cai Yong for showing sympathy with respect to Dong Zhuo's death, it was Ma...

 and Zhao Qi

Zhao Qi (Han Dynasty)

Zhao Qi was an official who served as Minister Coachman during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the author of Commentaries on Mencius , one of the only major commentaries on Mencius from that period still in existence. He is also featured as a character in Luo Guanzhong's...

.

Li Ru, after finding out a rift had developed between Dong Zhuo and his adopted son Lü Bu over the maiden Diaochan

Diaochan

Diaochan was one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. She was said to have been born in 161 or 169 or 176, depending on the source. However, unlike the other three beauties, there is no known evidence that suggests her existence, therefore she is likely to be a fictional character.Diaochan...

, attempted to repair the rift between them, by telling Dong Zhuo to reward Lü Bu. Dong Zhuo apologized to Lü Bu, and offered him 300 ounces of gold. However, a few days later Dong Zhuo had argued with Lü Bu again over Diaochan. Li Ru proposed that Dong Zhuo offer Diaochan to Lü Bu, however Dong Zhuo refused but promised to pardon Lü Bu. After learning this Li Ru sighed to the heavens "We're doomed to fall because of this woman!".

A few days after this incident Li Ru was arrested in his own home by one of his servants. He was taken to the palace where Dong Zhuo had been assassinated by Lü Bu and Wang Yun

Wang Yun

Wang Yun was a Minister over the Masses under Emperor Xian during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. During Wang Yun's time, the emperors were mere puppets under the power of eunuchs and warlords. In 192, Wang Yun plotted and successfully staged Lü Bu's assassination of Dong Zhuo, the...

. Lü Bu and Wang Yun ordered Li Ru to be executed for being an accomplice to Dong Zhuo.