A Capital in Chaos: The Aftermath of An Lushan’s Victory

In late June 756, just half a month after Emperor Xuanzong’s humiliating flight from the capital, a remarkable phenomenon emerged in the Guanzhong region – spontaneous popular resistance against the rebel forces. While the imperial court had collapsed with shocking speed, ordinary citizens and local officials began organizing their own defenses against An Lushan’s occupation.

The first sparks appeared on June 27 when commoners like Kang Jinglong in Fufeng Commandery formed militia units to attack rebel-appointed officials, killing over 200 enemy soldiers. Two days later, Chencang County Magistrate Xue Jingxian executed the rebel garrison commander and recaptured Fufeng. Meanwhile at Dazhen Pass, commander Guo Yingyi captured and beheaded rebel general Gao Song who had been attempting to bribe Tang loyalists in the Hexi and Longyou regions.

The Rebel Occupation: A Hollow Victory

An Lushan’s triumph proved more problematic than expected. Plagued by severe illness including blindness and gangrene, the rebel leader remained in Luoyang while his forces occupied Chang’an. His appointed overseer, the cruel and extravagant Sun Xiaozhe, unleashed a reign of terror – executing imperial relatives like Princess Huoguo and 83 officials associated with Yang Guozhong’s faction in gruesome fashion. The rebels systematically rounded up hundreds of officials, eunuchs and palace ladies for transport to Luoyang while massacring the families of those who had fled with the emperor.

The occupation forces, composed largely of non-Han mercenaries and tribal troops, quickly descended into looting and debauchery. An Lushan’s order for three days of unrestricted plundering after capturing Chang’an only deepened popular resentment against the rebels. Meanwhile, persistent rumors that the crown prince was marching to retake the capital caused periodic panics among rebel troops, while local militias maintained constant harassment.

The Phoenix Rises: Emperor Suzong’s Government-in-Exile

On July 15, three days after Prince Li Heng declared himself Emperor Suzong at Lingwu, the fleeing Xuanzong issued orders redistributing military authority across the empire. This decentralization of power – allowing regional commanders to raise their own troops and appoint officials – marked a crucial turning point. While intended to organize resistance, these appointments nearly created a Tang version of the War of the Eight Princes when Prince Li Lin attempted to establish an independent regime in the south.

The Lingwu government’s survival depended on two critical factors: control of the Fengyang (formerly Fufeng) logistical hub under Xue Jingxian’s defense, and the arrival of elite Western Regions troops. After initial hesitation, general Li Siye led 5,000 Anxi frontier troops eastward, joined by another 7,000 under Li Qiyun. These hardened veterans would become the core of the imperial counteroffensive.

The Unlikely Heroes: Zhang Xun’s Miraculous Defense

While the imperial court regrouped, the most extraordinary resistance emerged at Yongqiu, where general Zhang Xun employed brilliant tactics against overwhelming odds. Facing siege by rebel commander Linghu Chao, Zhang:

1. Executed six officers advocating surrender after a dramatic loyalty ceremony before the emperor’s portrait
2. Used straw dummies to trick rebels into “donating” arrows to the defenders
3. Launched daring night raids that kept the enemy off-balance
4. Implemented psychological warfare by classifying and differentially treating prisoners

Zhang’s guerrilla defense tied down significant rebel forces and inspired popular resistance across Henan. His actions demonstrated that despite the court’s collapse, local loyalism remained strong when competently led.

The Strategic Picture: Li Bi’s Master Plan

The Lingwu government’s greatest asset proved to be Li Bi, the child prodigy turned strategist who became Emperor Suzong’s de facto chief minister. Rejecting premature attempts to recapture the capitals, Li proposed a comprehensive strategy:

1. Use Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi’s forces to pin down rebel generals
2. Launch diversionary attacks to exhaust enemy forces
3. Cut rebel supply lines between Luoyang and Fan Yang
4. Eventually strike at the rebel base in the northeast

This patient, systematic approach contrasted sharply with chancellor Fang Guan’s disastrous attempt to retake Chang’an using archaic chariot tactics that resulted in the loss of 40,000 troops at the Battle of Chen Tao.

The Cost of Rebellion: A Empire’s Descent

By winter 756, the human cost became appalling. In Hebei, Shi Siming’s forces:
– Enslaved able-bodied men to carry loot northeast
– Massacred the elderly and infirm for sport
– Systematically crushed remaining resistance pockets

The heroic defense of Raoyang ended with governor Li Xi’s self-immolation, while officer Zhang Xing delivered a blistering condemnation of the rebels before being sawn to death. Meanwhile, the Tang faced new threats as the Tibetan Empire exploited the chaos to seize territory in the northwest.

The Poet and the Prince: The Yong Wang Rebellion

Complicating matters further, Prince Li Lin launched his rebellion in the south, amassing wealth and troops at Jiangling. The imperial response elevated poet-official Gao Shi to military command – an ironic twist for the frontier poet who had never traveled south of the Huai River. His appointment coincided with another literary figure’s tragic political misstep – Li Bai’s ill-fated association with the rebel prince.

Conclusion: The Long Road Ahead

As 756 ended, the Tang empire stood fractured but not broken. The spontaneous resistance across multiple fronts demonstrated enduring loyalty to the dynasty, while Li Bi’s strategic vision offered a path to eventual victory. However, the year’s events also revealed deep structural problems – from regional militarization to imperial succession disputes – that would haunt the dynasty long after the rebellion’s suppression. The An Lushan Rebellion had become not just a military conflict, but a profound test of the Tang system’s resilience.