Great Tang: From the Start, I Advise Li Longji

During the Kaiyuan Golden Age, Li Longji welcomed honest remonstrance from anyone. By the Tianbao era, no one dared speak frankly to him. Only Jiang Ji remained unchanged, offering advice and remonstrating with Li Longji from beginning to end. It wasn’t that Li Longji had become more receptive to criticism. It was that Jiang Ji’s position kept rising. He climbed from a low-ranking eighth-grade official, whose words carried little weight, to the powerful military governor of Longyou, Hexi, and Shuofang, with authority over the empire. Jiang Ji: “Your Majesty, An Lushan commands the three military governorships of Pinglu, Fanyang, and Hedong. His wolfish ambition is plain for all to see!” An Lushan: “Your Majesty, Jiang Ji commands the three military governorships of Longyou, Hexi, and Shuofang. His power dominates the court. He deserves to die!” Watching Jiang Ji and An Lushan become bitter enemies, Li Longji delighted in playing them off against each other, until the An Lushan Rebellion finally broke out and he realized he had taken things too far.