The Making of a Merciless Enforcer

Lai Junchen (651–697) emerged as one of the most feared figures during the reign of China’s only female emperor, Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty. Born in Yongzhou Wannian (modern-day Xi’an, Shaanxi), his early life foreshadowed his ruthless career. Described as vicious and unprincipled from youth, Lai avoided honest labor, instead cultivating skills in manipulation and betrayal. His path to power began with opportunistic denunciations—a tactic perfectly suited to Wu Zetian’s politically volatile court.

The mid-Tang period under Wu Zetian (r. 690–705) created fertile ground for figures like Lai. Having seized power through unprecedented means, the empress relied heavily on informers to eliminate opposition. The secret police apparatus became her weapon against aristocratic clans and bureaucratic factions still loyal to the Li-Tang imperial house. Lai’s lack of scruples and talent for fabrication made him invaluable in this system where survival depended on preemptive strikes against potential rivals.

Machinery of Terror: The Systems of Persecution

Lai institutionalized state terror through systematic methods. Collaborating with fellow notorious interrogators Zhou Xing and Suo Yuanli, he co-authored the Manual of Entrapment (Luozhi Jing), a sinister guidebook teaching how to fabricate charges. This text standardized false accusation procedures—first submitting doctored evidence to obtain imperial approval for confiscations, then bypassing pardon decrees by executing prisoners before announcements.

His interrogation techniques became legendary for cruelty:
– Pouring vinegar into prisoners’ nostrils
– Confining suspects in flaming ceramic jars
– Crushing skulls with iron rings and wooden wedges
Psychological warfare preceded physical torture; displaying instruments often compelled false confessions. The “Investigation Bureau” at Luojing Gate in Luoyang—nicknamed “The Gate of Certain Death”—operated under Lai’s command with a 99% mortality rate. Officials would bid farewell to families before court appearances, uncertain of return.

The Psychology of Power: Why Wu Zetian Tolerated Lai

Wu Zetian’s protection of Lai despite his well-documented crimes reveals the calculated brutality of her reign. Though Lai twice faced corruption charges, the empress shielded him—until his usefulness expired. His value lay in creating an atmosphere where:
1. No official felt secure enough to organize opposition
2. Wealthy families could be dispossessed to fill state coffers
3. The threat of arbitrary arrest paralyzed potential dissent

Contemporary records suggest Lai destroyed over 1,000 families, executing countless individuals on fabricated charges. This reign of terror served Wu’s larger strategy: maintaining absolute control during her unprecedented female rulership in a Confucian patriarchal system.

The Inevitable Fall: When the Hunter Became the Hunted

Lai’s downfall illustrates the precariousness of power in tyrannical systems. In 697, overreaching ambition proved fatal when he antagonized Wu Zetian’s relatives—the powerful Wu clan princes—and her daughter Princess Taiping. Their combined influence turned the empress against her once-indispensable enforcer.

His execution became a public spectacle reflecting pent-up societal rage. Citizens reportedly devoured his flesh in the streets, while relieved officials celebrated that “now we can finally sleep with our backs touching the mats again.” This macabre scene symbolized collective catharsis after years of oppression.

Historical Echoes: Lai Junchen’s Legacy in State Terror

Lai’s methods left enduring marks on Chinese political culture:
1. Institutionalized Paranoia: Demonstrated how systematic false accusations could become governance tools
2. Manualized Violence: The Luozhi Jing anticipated later authoritarian handbooks on suppressing dissent
3. The Enforcer’s Dilemma: Showed how terror apparatus creators often become their own systems’ victims

Modern parallels emerge in 20th-century secret police organizations, reminding us that state terror follows recognizable patterns across eras. Lai’s career remains a case study in how unchecked power corrupts absolutely—and how societies remember those who inflict collective trauma.

The story of Lai Junchen transcends its Tang Dynasty setting, offering timeless insights into the mechanics of oppression and the fragile loyalty between dictators and their henchmen. His rise and fall encapsulate the brutal logic of political survival in authoritarian systems—where today’s indispensable enforcer becomes tomorrow’s expendable scapegoat.