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Securing the West and the North Upon ascending the throne, Emperor Gaozu of Tang found himself ruling a fragmented empire. Numerous warlords had declared themselves emperors, and true sovereignty required their subjugation. The immediate threat in the west was Xue Ju, the self-proclaimed emperor of Jincheng (modern Lanzhou). Although Xue Ju died of illness,…
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The Spark of Resistance The first major uprising against the Sui Dynasty was ignited in 611 AD by Wang Bo, a blacksmith and scholar from Zouping in Qi Commandery (modern Shandong). Devastated by severe floods and famine, the region faced yet another blow: an imperial conscription order. Wang Bo, fearing that compliance would lead…