The Turning Point of the Tang Dynasty: the Anshi Rebellion

In Li Longji's later years, the prime ministers and officials around him corrupted the imperial court for their own selfish interests. An Lushan took advantage of the emperor's favor and took the opportunity to become bigger. Finding that the Central Plains was empty of weapons, An Lushan secretly stocked up on weapons and set his sights on Chang'an. Encouraged by a group of political advisers, An Lushan led an army of 200,000 to march to Chang'an, quickly seizing Hebei and capturing Luoyang. On the battlefields in Hebei and Henan, a group of loyal ministers, good generals, and righteous men emerged from the people and formed an alliance to attack the rebels from behind, forcefully holding back the rebels' westward advance, and shattering An Lushan's dream of a quick victory. Li Guangbi and Guo Ziyi led the Tang army to stop the rebels. An Lushan took advantage of the internal conflicts among the Tang Dynasty's top leaders to break through Tongguan and occupy Chang'an. Li Longji fled to Jiannan, and the Tang army regrouped in Lingwu under the leadership of the new emperor Li Heng. After a series of battles, with victories and defeats, the Tang army finally succeeded in regaining Chang'an and Luoyang. The rebel leaders An Lushan and Shi Siming were killed successively. The Tang army finally won. During the eight-year war, a large number of people with lofty ideals emerged. They were resourceful and brave, fought tenaciously against powerful enemies, and displayed deep feelings for their family and country and rich and colorful political and military strategies.