The Rise of the Yang Clan
Yang Guozhong, originally named Yang Zhao, was the nephew of Zhang Yizhi, a favorite consort of Empress Wu Zetian. In his youth, he was a gambler and a drunkard, despised by his relatives until he found a lifeline in the military in Sichuan. His fortune changed dramatically when his distant cousin, Yang Yuhuan, became the favored concubine of Emperor Xuanzong. Yang Yuhuan, known as Lady Taizhen and later Noble Consort Yang, was a talented dancer and musician who had originally been the wife of the Emperor’s son, Li Mao. Captivated by her beauty and charm, the Emperor made her his own, indulging her every whim, such as ordering fresh lychees to be rushed from the south via a relay of fast horses, regardless of the cost to the people.
With Yang Guifei’s rise, her entire family ascended to power. Her three sisters were titled Ladies of Han, Guo, and Qin, living lavishly within the palace circles. Yang Guozhong leveraged these connections, first gaining favor with Lady Guo and then the Emperor. Despite his lack of merit, he was rapidly promoted from imperial censor to Prime Minister and Minister of Personnel, surpassing even the powerful Li Linfu. He treated state affairs as family business, manipulating appointments for personal gain. When his son, Yang Xuan, failed the civil service exams, Yang Guozhong arrogantly ensured his promotion anyway, dismissing the examiner’s attempt to curry favor. His corruption extended to disaster management; when floods devastated the Guanzhong region, he hid the truth from the Emperor, presenting a few surviving stalks of grain as proof of minimal damage and punishing officials who reported the true extent of the famine.
The Ambition of An Lushan
While Yang Guozhong consolidated power in the capital, a formidable military force was growing in the north under An Lushan. Of Sogdian and Turkic descent, An Lushan was a multilingual warrior who rose quickly through the ranks. Emperor Xuanzong appointed him Jiedushi (military governor) of Pinglu, Fanyang, and Hedong, granting him command over a vast portion of the empire’s northern armies. An Lushan mastered the art of flattery, convincing the aging Emperor of his absolute loyalty. He famously claimed his large belly held nothing but “loyalty to the Son of Heaven” and even persuaded Yang Guifei to adopt him as her son, despite being older than her. However, he despised Yang Guozhong and, seeing the Emperor’s advanced age, began secretly preparing for rebellion, stockpiling weapons and training elite troops.
The Clash of Titans
Yang Guozhong, threatened by An Lushan’s growing power, repeatedly warned the Emperor of an impending revolt. Xuanzong, however, refused to believe his “loyal” general would betray him. In a test of loyalty, the Emperor summoned An Lushan to the capital. An Lushan arrived promptly, weeping and claiming Yang Guozhong was plotting against him. The Emperor, moved, considered making him Prime Minister, but Yang Guozhong successfully blocked the appointment, arguing that an illiterate general could not govern. Instead, the Emperor bestowed further titles and rewards upon An Lushan and his family.
Tensions escalated when An Lushan requested replacing Han officers with barbarian commanders. While some officials saw this as a clear sign of treason, the Emperor dismissed their concerns. Yang Guozhong, attempting a “tiger-luring-from-the-mountain” strategy, suggested stripping An Lushan of his military command if he were brought to the capital. When the Emperor hesitated, Yang Guozhong took matters into his own hands, raiding An Lushan’s residence in Chang’an and executing his associates. This provocation was the final straw. Upon hearing the news from his son in the capital, An Lushan resolved to rebel.
The Outbreak of War
In the autumn of 755 AD, An Lushan launched his rebellion in Fanyang, rallying over 100,000 troops under the pretext of purging Yang Guozhong. The “An-Shi Rebellion” had begun. The Tang army, unprepared and equipped with rusted weapons, crumbled before the rebel onslaught. An Lushan’s forces swept through Hebei and Henan, capturing the eastern capital, Luoyang, where An declared himself emperor. Panic spread to Chang’an. Emperor Xuanzong, finally realizing the gravity of the situation, appointed the veteran general Geshu Han to defend the strategic Tong Pass with 200,000 men.
Meanwhile, sparks of resistance ignited. Yan Zhenqing, the prefect of Pingyuan, and his brother Yan Gaoqing of Changshan, rose up against the rebels, disrupting An Lushan’s supply lines in Hebei. The court also appointed Guo Ziyi as Jiedushi of Shuofang, who recommended the capable Li Guangbi. These generals began to push back against Shi Siming, An Lushan’s lieutenant, forcing the rebels to divert forces and stabilizing the front temporarily.
The Fatal Mistake at Tong Pass
Despite the improving situation, a fatal error sealed the fate of the capital. General Geshu Han advocated a defensive strategy at Tong Pass, arguing that the rebels, overextended and low on supplies, would eventually collapse. However, Yang Guozhong, fearing Geshu Han might turn against him if left with a large army too long, pressured the Emperor to order an offensive. Misled by Yang’s arrogance and ignorance of military strategy, Emperor Xuanzong commanded Geshu Han to leave his fortifications and attack. The result was disastrous: the Tang army was ambushed and annihilated. With the defense of Tong Pass broken, the road to Chang’an lay open, and the golden age of the Tang Dynasty came to an abrupt and bloody end.
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