Chapter 7: Background II

  Before and after the An Shi Rebellion, several major events occurred in the years leading up to it. In April of the tenth year of Tianbao (751 CE), Xianyu Zhongtong, the military governor of Jianan Circuit, was defeated by the Tibetans. The Tang court then appointed Yang Guozhong as the new military governor.

  In the same year, An Lushan, the military governor of Fanyang Circuit, began to secretly gather troops and supplies in preparation for a rebellion. He also started to build up his personal army, which eventually grew to over 15,000 soldiers.

  Meanwhile, Yang Guozhong continued to dominate the Tang court, using his power to eliminate any opposition. He also appointed his own son, Yang Hui, as the military governor of Huainan Circuit, further consolidating his control over the region.

  In 755 CE, An Lushan finally launched his rebellion, declaring himself the Emperor of Yan. The Tang court was caught off guard, and its armies were quickly defeated by An's forces. The capital city of Chang'an soon fell to the rebels, and the emperor Xuanzong was forced to flee.

  The rebellion spread rapidly throughout northern China, with many cities and towns falling to An's forces. The Tang court was in disarray, with many officials either defecting to the rebels or fleeing for their lives.

  In the end, it was not until the arrival of the loyalist general Guo Ziyi that the tide of the rebellion began to turn in favor of the Tang court. However, by then, An Lushan had already occupied much of northern China and had established a powerful rebel regime.