A Plain-Language Sequel to the Tang Dynasty: A Revised Edition

The Later Tale of the Tang is a vernacular historical novel from the Ming Dynasty, also known as The Story of the Xue Family's Expedition to the West, The Tale of the Tang's Pacification of the West, and The Later Tale of the Great Tang. It comprises eight volumes and thirty-two chapters, with five additional chapters at the beginning, for a total of thirty-seven. The title page credits it to "compiled by Zhong Xing, Boying of Jingling, and revised by Li Zhi, Zhuowu of Wenling," though this attribution is likely false. The book was completed in the late Ming Dynasty.

The story mainly covers three parts. The first, from the five opening chapters through the first two chapters of Volume One, tells of Xue Rengui leading an army on a western campaign, defeating the Liao, and protecting the emperor. The second, from Chapter Three of Volume One to Chapter Ten of Volume Three, recounts Wu Zetian's rise to the throne and Empress Wei's uprising in the palace. The third, from Chapter Eleven of Volume Three to the end, follows Yang Yuhuan's rise to favor, An Lushan's rebellion, the Mawei Incident, Guo Ziyi's suppression of the rebellion, and Consort Jiang's return to the palace. Its sprawling plot spans a long stretch of history and blends the supernatural and martial arts with historical storytelling. The narrative twists and turns, the descriptions are vivid and moving, and the writing is clear and lively, rich with striking imagery.