When I first transmigrated into the body of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, I was full of ambition. Yet I ignored the candid advice of veteran ministers like Zhang Jiuling and trusted Li Linfu's flattery instead, letting him build a faction at court and throw the government into disarray.
After Li Linfu died, Yang Guozhong rose to power. He had no talent for governing and cared only about fighting for influence, endlessly feuding with An Lushan. I did nothing to stop him, allowing tensions at court to grow ever more severe. I lost myself in the comforts of Yang Guifei's embrace, sparing no expense or effort to please her. I had lychees transported from thousands of miles away, feasted and drank day after day, and neglected the affairs of state.
To fill the treasury's shortfall, I followed Yang Guozhong's advice and raised taxes at will, driving the people to desperation and sparking uprisings in many regions. In military affairs, I overestimated the strength of the empire and gave the military governors far too much power. An Lushan was appointed military governor of three provinces and commanded a huge army. When others warned me about his ambitions, I stubbornly chose to trust his loyalty.
It was only when the An Lushan Rebellion broke out and the rebels advanced on Chang'an that I had no choice but to flee. At Mawei Station, a mutiny erupted, and Yang Guifei perished. Faced with the chaos and misery around me, I finally came to my senses. I had always believed I could change history and become a wise ruler, yet without realizing it, I had followed the same path of folly as Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. The warnings I ignored, the disasters caused by my trust in treacherous ministers, and the mistakes I made to satisfy my own desires had all become evidence of how I had driven the prosperous Tang dynasty toward ruin. Only then did I realize that I had truly become Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. The image of a wise ruler I had once held was gone, leaving only regret and helplessness.
