Li Jingxuan  Li Jingxuan (李敬玄) (615–682), formally Duke Wenxian of Zhao (趙文憲公), was an official of Tang China, serving as Chancellor of the Tang dynasty during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. He was famed for his knack of organizing the civil service system efficiently, but his downfall began in 678, when he, over his objection, was put in command of an army against the Tibetan Empire and was defeated. He was removed from his post soon thereafter, and while he would return to imperial service, he would never regain the power he had. Li Jingxuan was born in 615, late in the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui. His family was from what would become Bo Prefecture (亳州, roughly modern Bozhou, Anhui). His father Li Xiaojie (李孝節) served as the secretary general of Gu Prefecture (穀州, part of modern Luoyang, Henan) during Sui's succeeding dynasty Tang Dynasty. Li Jingxuan was said to be studious in his youth, and was particularly well-studied in various traditional ceremonies. Late in the reign of Emperor Taizong, the chancellor Ma Zhou, knowing Li Jingxuan's talent, recommended him to be a resident scholar to study with Emperor Taizong's crown prince Li Zhi. He was allowed to study books in the imperial collection of books. It was said that Li Jingxuan appeared stern and arrogant, but was diligent in his duties. Both Ma and another official, Xu Jingzong, endorsed Li Jingxuan for his abilities. In 649, Emperor Taizong, and Li Zhi took the throne (as Emperor Gaozong). Li Jingxuan's activities during the earliest years of Emperor Gaozong's reign are not clear, but as of the early part of Emperor Gaozong's "Qianfeng" era (666-668), he was serving as a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (西臺, "Xi Tai"), as well as an imperial scholar. In 669, he was promoted to the post of "Xi Tai Shilang" (西臺侍郎) -- the deputy head of the legislative bureau; he also carried additional titles as a staff member for Emperor Gaozong's crown prince Li Hong and acting deputy minister of civil service.