Chapter One: The Outbreak of the An-Shi Rebellion

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On the ninth day of the eleventh month in the fourteenth year of the Tianbao era of the Great Tang Dynasty, An Lushan, who held command over the three military governorships of Fanyang, Pinglu, and Hedong, united the forces of the Tongluo, Xi, Khitan, Shiwei, Turkic and other tribes to form an army of 150,000, boasting of 200,000, and, under the pretense of “concern for the nation’s peril” and a secret imperial edict to punish Yang Guozhong, raised the banner of rebellion in Fanyang, openly defying the empire.

A tremendous crisis had descended upon the flourishing Tang Dynasty!

Since ascending the throne, Emperor Li Longji had devoted himself to diligent governance, eradicating deep-rooted maladies, reforming the bureaucracy, employing the virtuous and capable, and implementing a series of reforms in politics, economy, the people’s livelihood, and the military. Through over twenty years of wise rule and loyal ministers, the nation had developed rapidly in all respects, achieving great peace; the Tang had entered its golden age, known to history as the “Prosperous Era of Kaiyuan.” Yet after so many years of peace and glory, neither ruler nor subjects harbored any sense of crisis. Officials and the people alike had grown lax in matters of war. Wherever An Lushan’s rebel army went, it met little resistance, and the provinces and counties of Hebei surrendered without a fight. In a short time, the rebels controlled most of Hebei and part of Henan, with their blades pointing toward the Eastern Capital, Luoyang, and the Western Capital, Chang’an.

On the fourteenth day of the eleventh month, Emperor Li Longji received news of An Lushan’s rebellion and was greatly enraged. He immediately issued edicts to muster the imperial forces, commanding Feng Changqing, Military Governor of Anxi, and Gao Xianzhi, Grand General of the Right Guard, to lead hastily assembled troops eastward from Tong Pass, preparing to block the rebels’ advance.

But An Lushan’s troops were veterans, long stationed at the borders and seasoned in battle, their combat prowess among the best in the Tang military. The court’s hastily gathered forces were powerless to halt the rebel juggernaut. Feng Changqing, who was holding Luoyang, suffered defeat after defeat!

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the Eastern Capital, Luoyang, fell.

After capturing Luoyang, the rebels did not pause but pressed westward, their advance aimed directly at Chang’an.

It was only because the year’s end was near and heavy snow had fallen that their progress slowed somewhat.

After his defeat at Luoyang, Feng Changqing fell back to Shan County, where he joined forces with Gao Xianzhi. Realizing they could not defeat the rebels quickly, Feng and Gao abandoned Shan County and retreated to defend Tong Pass. Tong Pass was the gateway to Chang’an; if it fell, Chang’an would be lost.

But Feng Changqing’s string of defeats, and his decision—along with Gao Xianzhi—to retreat to Tong Pass, offended Emperor Li Longji. At the strong urging of the Prime Minister Yang Guozhong and the testimony of the eunuch monitor Bian Lingcheng, who accused them of “sowing discord among the troops, abandoning territory for hundreds of miles, and embezzling the soldiers’ rations,” the court finally executed Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi for “losing discipline and bringing ruin to the army.”

After their execution, the Tang court appointed Geshu Han, the recuperating Military Governor of Longyou, as supreme commander, elevated him to Left Chancellor of the Department of State Affairs and Chancellor of the Secretariat, and put him in charge of defending Tong Pass.

On the first day of the first month of the fifteenth year of Tianbao, An Lushan declared himself emperor in Luoyang, naming his state “Great Yan” and the era “Shengwu.”

On the eleventh day of the first month, An Lushan dispatched his son An Qingxu to attack Tong Pass.

After a bitter struggle, Geshu Han repelled the assault but did not pursue, choosing instead to hold the pass.

An Lushan then ordered his general Cui Qianyou to garrison Shan City, while Tian Qianzhen advanced to the foot of the pass.

Cui Qianyou and Tian Qianzhen frequently sent troops to harass and provoke the defenders at Tong Pass. Geshu Han, however, ignored them and refused to engage, relying on the natural fortifications of the pass for defense. When the rebels attacked, he concentrated his elite troops on the walls to repel them; when they did not attack, he rested his men and drilled them relentlessly.

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Unable to breach Tong Pass, the rebels could only sigh in frustration and camped tens of miles outside the walls, locked in a stalemate with Geshu Han’s army.

As the rebels seized Luoyang and marched toward Chang’an, uprisings against them broke out across the land, causing them no end of trouble. Yan Gaoqing, Governor of Changshan, and his brother Yan Zhenqing, Governor of Pingyuan, rallied officials and citizens from seventeen prefectures in Hebei to resist, cutting off the courier route between Luoyang and Fanyang, and for a time, even shaking the morale of An Lushan’s troops.

Guo Ziyi, Military Governor of Shuofang, led his forces eastward, defeated An Lushan’s general Gao Xiuyan, captured the Jingbian Army, and seized Mayi; Li Guangbi, Military Governor of Hedong, advanced through Binglu and took Changshan City. After a string of victories, Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi’s armies joined forces.

The rebels’ eastward push was blocked at Yongqiu by a volunteer army led by County Magistrate Zhang Xun of Zhenyuan, and their southern advance was checked at Nanyang by Lu Jiong, Military Governor of Shannan.

With their rear unstable and Tong Pass still unconquered, An Lushan grew increasingly anxious and considered abandoning Luoyang and retreating to his stronghold in Fanyang.

The overall strategic situation was turning in favor of the Tang forces.

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The fifteenth year of Tianbao, the second day of the sixth month.

In Xingqing Palace, within the Hall of Xingqing, Emperor Li Longji, his face alight with joy, sat upright upon his throne, gazing cheerfully at his assembled ministers.

A succession of good news had lifted spirits throughout the court. For more than half a year, Li Longji’s brow had been furrowed in worry, but now he could finally relax.

The situation was developing overwhelmingly in favor of the court. An Lushan was preparing to withdraw from Luoyang and return to Fanyang. Having received these successive tidings, Li Longji summoned his senior ministers early the next morning to discuss the next steps.

Li Longji, who had ruled the Tang for over forty years, was now past seventy. In recent years, indulging in musical pursuits and what he called “love” with Yang Yuhuan, he had long lost the vigor and resolve of his youth. Age had left him somewhat faded. The steady stream of bad news over the past months had worn him down. Though his spirits were good today, the signs of age were still plain on his face.

Once the summoned ministers had all arrived, Li Longji straightened in his seat and addressed them: “My loyal ministers, the brothers Yan Gaoqing and Yan Zhenqing have severed communication between Luoyang and Fanyang in Hebei. Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi have dealt heavy blows to the rebel forces. An Lushan’s army is considering retreat to Fanyang. With the situation so favorable, I wish to hear your counsel: what strategy should we now adopt to defeat the enemy?”

The ministers glanced at one another and then toward Prime Minister Yang Guozhong, Minister of Civil Affairs, who sat at the head of the assembly. No one dared to answer the emperor first.

When the rebellion broke out, the court’s forces were unable to resist the rebels’ onslaught. Luoyang fell within days, and the situations in other theaters were dire. The imperial armies had scarcely tasted victory. Two months prior, the emperor, in a fit of rage, had executed his top generals, Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi, plunging everyone into fear and uncertainty. Now, with news of success and the rebels apparently in retreat, many ministers were at a loss, unsure how to proceed.

Power in the court was concentrated in the hands of Yang Guozhong, who enjoyed the trust of Emperor Li Longji. His proposals were seldom opposed—except when he had warned of An Lushan’s impending rebellion, which Li Longji had dismissed at the time. Now, with the truth vindicating Yang Guozhong’s warnings, the emperor was more inclined than ever to heed him, even to the point of executing distinguished generals like Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi at his urging.

Yang Guozhong, pleased with the ministers’ deference, stepped forward and made his report: “Your Majesty, the rebels’ momentum is exhausted; their defeat is near! The northern campaign favors the court. The traitor is about to abandon even Luoyang and will soon retreat from Tong Pass. In my view, with a string of victories behind us and the morale of our troops at its peak, we should seize the moment and annihilate the rebel forces at Tong Pass in a single decisive battle! Geshu Han commands some two hundred thousand men at Tong Pass, far more than the rebels. If we launch a surprise attack while the enemy is unprepared, we are certain to break them!”

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With Yang Guozhong taking the lead, the other ministers relaxed. Wei Jiansu, Minister of War, promptly stepped forward to second Yang’s proposal: “Your Majesty, I concur. The rebels’ morale has faltered. Only a few tens of thousands face us at Tong Pass, while we have nearly two hundred thousand. We should charge out while their spirits are low; one battle could reverse our fortunes and perhaps quell the rebellion entirely!”

After Wei Jiansu spoke, several other senior ministers rose to express their agreement. Just as consensus seemed at hand, however, General Chen Xuanli of the Dragon Martial Guard stood forth in objection. “Your Majesty, I must dissent! The rebels around Luoyang and Tong Pass remain formidable. Geshu Han’s troops are newly recruited and can barely defend the city, let alone sally forth to fight. If we commit all our forces to battle, the pass will be left undefended. Should the enemy strike, Tong Pass would be lost, and with it, Chang’an would be imperiled! I believe we should rely on the natural stronghold of Tong Pass, wait for the various relief armies to arrive, and only then engage. To commit all our forces now is to court disaster!”

Yang Guozhong, seeing someone contradict him—and with longstanding grievances against Geshu Han, whom he wished to see ruined—was incensed. He immediately rose to counter: “Your Majesty, I must oppose General Chen’s view. Now is not the time for passivity! With our recent victories, our army’s morale is soaring, while the rebels are deeply anxious. We should strike while our numbers are superior and the enemy is exhausted. With overwhelming force, we are certain to triumph and restore order! If the rebels are routed, not only will Chang’an be saved, but the rebellion may be crushed at once!”

“Your Majesty, I again oppose Chancellor Yang’s proposal!” Chen Xuanli insisted, his voice trembling with urgency. “Your Majesty, the forces from Anxi and Longyou have not yet arrived near Chang’an. These raw recruits cannot withstand the rebels. If we do not hold the city, we will be defeated! The wise course is to avoid the enemy’s edge, exploit Tong Pass’s natural defenses, and await reinforcements, as Geshu Han himself has repeatedly argued. Your Majesty, you must not order Geshu Han to lead our entire force out of the pass!”

“General Chen, you are mistaken! If we sit and allow the rebels to encircle Tong Pass without taking the initiative, our army’s morale will only sink lower. Right now, only a few tens of thousands face us outside the pass—it would be easy to defeat them. If we wait until all their forces arrive, victory will be all but impossible! General Chen, do not speak further of such delay!” So saying, Yang Guozhong bowed to the emperor, who had sat silent and withdrawn throughout. “Your Majesty, I urge you to act decisively—order Geshu Han to lead all forces out to meet the enemy and bring this rebellion to a swift end!”

Seeing Yang Guozhong’s overbearing insistence, Chen Xuanli could only withdraw in grief and indignation.

“Hmm! Minister Yang’s words are most reasonable—I concur.” At last, Emperor Li Longji made up his mind. “Issue my decree: Order Geshu Han to lead all his forces out of Tong Pass to annihilate the enemy vanguard, retake Shan County, and capture Luoyang!”

Having given his command, Li Longji rose from the throne to depart, his trusted eunuch Gao Lishi following at his side.

With the emperor’s decision pronounced, the ministers dispersed, each with their own thoughts.

But none could foresee that the decision reached at today’s urgent council would bring catastrophe upon the Great Tang.

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PS: A new book begins! I look forward to the support of both new and old readers—recommendations, favorites, rewards... all welcome! Hehe.