The Turmoil of Mid-to-Late Tang

On the occasion of the new ruler's accession, an amnesty was declared throughout the realm and officials were granted titles in abundance. Pugu Huaien, a man of great merit and prestige, acted out of self-interest, fearing that “once the rebels are defeated, my favor will wane.” He petitioned the court to enfeoff several former generals of Shi Siming who had surrendered, hoping to rely on them as allies in the future. The Tang court, “weary of warfare and hoping only for peace,” granted his request. An edict appointed Tian Chengsi as military governor over the five prefectures of Wei, Bo, De, Cang, and Ying; Xue Song as military governor over the six prefectures of Xiang, Wei, Xing, Ming, Bei, and Ci; Li Huaixian as military governor of Youzhou and Lulong; and Li Baochen as military governor of Chengde. These were the Four Garrisons of Hebei. Xue Song died soon afterward, and Tian Chengsi gradually annexed his subordinates' lands, leaving three garrisons in all. These later became notorious as the “Three Garrisons of Hebei.”