A World of Heavenly Treasures

The thirteenth year of Tianbao in the Great Tang dynasty. The last glow of the Kaiyuan Golden Age had faded. The Great Tang stood at the height of its power, with a population of more than eighty million and a realm stretching for thousands of miles. Anxi and Beiting guarded the Western Regions, the armies of Hexi and Longyou were the strongest in the land, and foreign envoys from every nation came to pay homage in Chang’an. In his old age, Emperor Xuanzong had grown weary of governing, indulging in extravagance and favoring his in-laws as the court fell into disorder. The Right Chancellor Yang Guozhong monopolized power, driving out loyal officials and building a faction for his own gain until the upright voices of the court were silenced. The fubing system had completely collapsed. The realm now relied entirely on recruited soldiers, with tens of thousands stationed in the frontier commanderies. Generals claimed troops as their personal retainers, kept the revenues for themselves, and appointed their own officials. An Lushan commanded three frontier regions. He raised private troops, stockpiled weapons and armor, and gathered supporters, plotting rebellion and waiting only for the right moment. The Tibetans raided Hexi and Longyou year after year. The fighting never ceased, while the frontier troops endured bitter hardship, often lacked provisions and pay, and rarely received rewards for their service. Land was being consolidated at a furious pace, and refugees were gathering in the east. Beneath the trappings of a golden age, the seeds of chaos were scattered throughout the realm.