Lai Min

Historical Record

Lai Min, styled Jingda, was a man of Xinye in Yiyang and a descendant of the famous Han minister Lai Xi. His father Lai Yan once rose to the office of Han Minister of Works and was renowned for loving learning and humbling himself before scholars, opening a hall to raise disciples^[1]. During the great chaos at the end of the Han, Lai Min followed his brother-in-law Huang Wan to Jing Province. Because Huang Wan was a nephew of Liu Zhang's grandmother, Liu Zhang sent an envoy to welcome Huang Wan's wife, and Lai Min thereby went into Shu with his sister and became an honored guest of Liu Zhang^[1].

Lai Min read widely, was especially expert in the Zuo Tradition of the Spring and Autumn, was deeply learned in the exegetical study of the Cang and the Ya, and devoted himself to correcting the texts^[1]. After Liu Bei pacified Yi Province, he appointed Lai Min Colonel in Charge of Learning. When the heir apparent was established, he was made Household Director. After the Later Sovereign Liu Shan succeeded to the throne, Lai Min was promoted to General of the Rapid Tigers. While the Chancellor Zhuge Liang was garrisoned at Hanzhong, he summoned Lai Min as Libationer of the Army and General Who Assists the Army. However, Lai Min was charged and dismissed because his speech was unrestrained and his conduct deviated from the norm. According to Zhuge Liang's account, Lai Min had shown his discontent to Shangguan, complaining that newcomers had snatched away his honors and station, and believing that everyone hated him. Zhuge Liang pointed out that when Chengdu was first settled, Lai Min was already criticized as "one who disturbs the company," and the late Emperor Liu Bei, owing to the special circumstances of the early settlement, had been tolerant of him but did not employ him prominently. Later Liu Zichu recommended him to serve as the heir apparent's Household Director; though displeased, the late Emperor could not bear to refuse. After Liu Shan succeeded to the throne, Zhuge Liang, admitting his own shortcomings in judging men, promoted Lai Min again as Libationer to the General, going against the cautious opinions of the critics and the late Emperor's distancing attitude, intending thereby to deepen and reform the customs of the time and to guide him with rightness. But things turned out contrary to his wishes, and Zhuge Liang finally memorialized to ask that Lai Min retire from office and have him shut his door to reflect on his faults^[1].

After Zhuge Liang died, Lai Min returned to Chengdu and served as Grand Steward, but before long was dismissed again for cause. Thereafter he was repeatedly promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, but was once more removed for a fault. Lai Min was demoted again and again, all because his "speech was unrestrained and his conduct deviated from the norm"^[1]. At the time, Meng Guang, who was likewise regarded as a venerable elder scholar, was also criticized for being careless about confidential matters and meddling in current affairs, but his situation was still better than Lai Min's. Nevertheless, owing to his status as a member of a famous Jing-Chu clan and his seniority as a former servitor of the Eastern Palace, Lai Min received special favor and so was able to be cast out and then reinstated^[1]. Later the court appointed Lai Min General Who Acts with Caution, the intent being to make him admonish himself through the weight of office. Lai Min finally died during the Jingyao era at the age of ninety-seven^[1]. His son Lai Zhong also read the classics widely and much resembled his father in bearing, and together with the Master of Writing Xiang Chong and others assisted the Grand General Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei praised his ability and appointed him Adviser to the Army^[1].

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not give Lai Min any independent literary portrayal, and his deeds are not clearly recorded in the novel, so there is no way to compare them with the sources or point out deviations. Lai Min is mentioned in the novel only once, appearing in Chapter 91^[2], but with no specific episode developed.

Key Relationships

* Huang Wan (brother-in-law): Lai Min's brother-in-law. Because Huang Wan was a nephew of Liu Zhang's grandmother, Lai Min was able to go into Shu with his sister and become a guest of Liu Zhang^[1].
* Shu Han (serves): After Liu Bei settled Yi Province, Lai Min successively served as Colonel in Charge of Learning and the heir apparent's Household Director. After the Later Sovereign Liu Shan succeeded to the throne, he successively held such posts as General of the Rapid Tigers, Libationer of the Army, General Who Assists the Army, Grand Steward, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, and General Who Acts with Caution, serving the Shu Han regime all his life^[1].
* Zhuge Liang (superior/promoter/critic): Zhuge Liang once promoted Lai Min as Libationer of the Army and General Who Assists the Army, but also dismissed him because his "speech was unrestrained and his conduct deviated from the norm," and sternly criticized and reflected on his behavior^[1].
* Liu Bei (late Emperor/the tolerant one): When first settling Yi Province, Liu Bei was tolerant of Lai Min, who was criticized as "one who disturbs the company," but did not employ him prominently^[1].
* Liu Shan (Later Sovereign/lord): After Liu Shan succeeded to the throne, Lai Min was at times promoted and at times repeatedly dismissed, but owing to his special status he was able to be cast out and then reinstated^[1].
* Lai Zhong (son): Lai Min's son, who read the classics widely, had his father's bearing, and later assisted Jiang Wei^[1].

Iconic Scenes

* Entering Shu as a guest: In the great chaos at the end of the Han, Lai Min followed his brother-in-law Huang Wan into Shu and became a guest of Liu Zhang. This was the starting point of his political career and laid the foundation for his later official path in Shu Han^[1].
* Zhuge Liang's dismissal and reflection: Lai Min was dismissed by Zhuge Liang because his "speech was unrestrained and his conduct deviated from the norm." In his decree Zhuge Liang set out the reasons for the dismissal in detail and reflected deeply on his own failure to judge men, which not only reveals Lai Min's character but also shows Zhuge Liang's candor and self-examination as Chancellor^[1].
* Cast out and reinstated: Although Lai Min was demoted many times for improper speech and conduct, because of his special status as "a member of a famous Jing-Chu clan and a former servitor of the Eastern Palace" he received the court's special favor and was able to be "cast out and then reinstated," finally rising to General Who Acts with Caution and living to ninety-seven, which reflects a certain tolerance and regard of Shu Han for famous noble clans and former servitors^[1].