Su Fengji (蘇逢吉) (died January 2, 951[1][2]) was a chancellor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Later Han.
Su would carry the files that needed approval around with him, and find times when Liu was agreeable to discussing the matters to do so.
However, as he was not learned, and he made decisions capriciously, the result was that Later Han laws lacked cohesion and were characterized by cruelty.
[5] Meanwhile, when Liu's general Shi Hongzhao attacked south but was initially stymied by the Liao-commissioned prefect of Ze Prefecture (澤州, in modern Jincheng, Shanxi), Zhai Lingqi (翟令奇), Liu considered recalling Shi and hesitated in his initial plans to head south himself.
Shortly after, Liu was able to head south and take over Luoyang and the former Later Jin capital Daliang, allowing him to be viewed as the emperor of the Central Plains.
[8] Part of the harsh laws that Liu immediately promulgated, as emperor, was that, because of the seriousness of the banditry in the realm at that time, that all thieves, no matter how much they stole, would be executed, and a number of special officers were commissioned to chase after the bandits.
At that time, Su Fengji received the title of Zuo Pushe (左僕射)[7] and was put in charge of editing the imperial history.
He entrusted his younger son Liu Chengyou to Su Fengji, Yang, Shi, and Guo, stating, "My remaining breaths are getting short, and I cannot speak much.
Given that there are troubles west of the pass [(i.e., in the Guanzhong region, where the general Wang Jingchong was fostering a rebellion)], how can we, your subjects and ignore the affairs of the state?
[8] Meanwhile, Li Song, whose mansion had been given to Su Fengji, had returned from Liao and been given an honorary position with little power, and, knowing that he did not have allies at the Later Han court, was careful in his behavior.
They had discussed and resolved that, because of frequent Liao incursions and the inability for the circuits to coordinate their defenses, Guo Wei should be sent to Yedu (鄴都, in modern Handan, Hebei) to serve as its defender (as well as the military governor of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered at Yedu) to coordinate the defense against Liao.
Su Fengji opposed, pointing out that there had been no precedent to allow a military governor to continue to retain chief of staff title.
At the feast, Shi, when toasting Guo, spoke in a harsh voice, "How could there have been opposition when we discussed this matter yesterday at the imperial gathering?
Shi responded, again in a harsh voice, "To settle the state, it takes long spears and large swords.
Later, when Guo was about to leave the capital, he went to see Liu Chengyou and stated to him:[1] The Empress Dowager had long followed the deceased Emperor, and she has experienced many things.
As far as what happens on the battlefield, I, your subject, wishes to expend all of my foolish and foolhardy efforts, hopefully being worthy of your service.Liu Chengyou showed a serious expression and thanked Guo.
The director of diplomatic protocol, Yan Jinqing (閻晉卿), was seated next to Shi, and repeatedly reminded him of what the game's rules were.
However, Shi took the comment badly — as he thought that Su was satirizing his wife Lady Yan, who was once a prostitute working in a drinking hall.
When Liu Chengyou heard of this, he sent the director of palace affairs, Wang Jun, to try to moderate, but could not repair the relationship between them.
Su considered requesting an assignment as a circuit military governor, but then decided that if he left the capital, Shi could easily destroy him, and so did not.
Part of the friction came from how his close associates and relatives of the empress dowager were trying to gain power, but were being thwarted by Yang and Shi.
Further, Hou Kuangzan (後匡贊) the director of imperial stables, Guo Yunming (郭允明) the director of tea and wine, and Nie Wenjin (聶文進) the liaison officer at the office of the chiefs of staff, were all favored by Liu Chengyou, but had long not been promoted, causing them to be resentful.
When Consort Geng died, Yang opposed Liu Chengyou's wishes to have her buried with the ceremonies due an empress.
Liu Chengyou reported his plans to Empress Dowager Li, who responded, "How can such things be easily considered!
When Empress Dowager Li tried to speak again, Liu Chengyou responded angrily, "The matters of state cannot be decided in the halls of a woman!
"[1] On December 24, 950,[1][2] as the officials were arriving at the palace for the imperial gathering, a number of soldiers appeared and killed Yang, Shi, and Wang Zhang.
Subsequently, Liu Chengyou declared that they had committed treason, and stated to the chancellors and the other officials, "Yang Bin and the others viewed us as a young child.
The slaughter shocked Su, who, while he resented Shi, did not expect something like this to happen, and he privately told his associates, "This was done too quickly.
Liu Chengyou was killed in the confusion, and Su Fengji, Yan, and Guo Yunming committed suicide.
Later, after Guo Wei seized the throne and established Later Zhou as its emperor, he gave Su's son a mansion at Luoyang.