The Aftermath of Xiangji Temple and the Race for Strategic Dominance

Following the pivotal Battle of Xiangji Temple in 757 CE, the remnants of the rebel forces under An Lushan’s successor, An Qingxu, retreated to Shaan Commandery. Determined to strike back, An Qingxu mobilized all available troops from Luoyang, amassing an army of 150,000 infantry and cavalry under commanders like Yan Zhuang and Zhang Tongru. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Li Chu (later Emperor Daizong) allowed his forces only three days of rest in Chang’an before pressing forward. Both sides were locked in a desperate race—time would determine control over the critical regions between Chang’an and Luoyang.

On the 15th day of the 10th lunar month, Tang forces, led by the brilliant general Guo Ziyi, outpaced the rebels, securing the Hangu Pass and advancing to Quwo. There, they encountered the rebel army arrayed at Xindian. Guo Ziyi, learning from past mistakes (such as the disastrous overconfidence of General Geshu Han), meticulously prepared his strategy. He deployed Uyghur cavalry to scour the southern hills for hidden enemy troops, eliminating potential ambushes before engaging the main rebel force head-on. His foresight in securing high ground and maintaining reserves proved decisive.

The Decisive Clash at Xindian

The rebels, employing the same tactics used at Xiangji Temple, sent light cavalry to provoke the Tang vanguard. When the Tang forces pursued, they were lured into a trap and enveloped by rebel flanking maneuvers. Chaos ensued, and the Tang lines nearly collapsed. However, Guo Ziyi’s contingency plans saved the day. The Uyghur cavalry, positioned on the southern hills, descended like a “tiger pouncing from the mountains,” smashing into the rebel rear. Simultaneously, Tang general Li Siyu led a fierce counterattack. The rebels, caught between two fronts, suffered a catastrophic defeat, with thousands trampled in the retreat.

Yan Zhuang and Zhang Tongru abandoned Shaan Commandery, fleeing eastward. By the 16th, An Qingxu himself fled Luoyang, executing captured Tang generals, including Geshu Han, before retreating to Hebei. The Tang reclaimed Luoyang, but the Uyghur allies, authorized by Emperor Suzong (Li Heng), looted the city mercilessly. Only after desperate pleas from citizens—offering 10,000 bolts of silk—did the Uyghurs relent.

Political Missteps and the Unraveling of Victory

The Tang court’s initial leniency toward surrendered rebel officials briefly stabilized the region. However, Emperor Suzong’s later harsh reprisals—executing collaborators like Chen Xilie and Da Xi—alienated potential defectors. This policy, coupled with mistrust toward former rebel leaders like Shi Siming, reignited resistance.

Shi Siming, once a Tang ally, rebelled after discovering a plot to assassinate him, orchestrated by Tang general Li Guangbi. The emperor’s heavy-handedness and failure to unify military command (appointing nine rival节度使 without a supreme leader) further weakened the campaign. By 758, Shi Siming allied with An Qingxu, prolonging the conflict.

Legacy: The Birth of the Fanzhen Era

The Tang’s inability to decisively end the rebellion stemmed from political blunders as much as battlefield dynamics. Emperor Suzong’s distrust of his father (retired Emperor Xuanzong), erratic governance, and reliance on eunuchs like Yu Chao’en eroded stability. The An Lushan Rebellion, which could have been suppressed in two years, instead spiraled into the eight-year An-Shi Rebellion, catalyzing the Fanzhen (military governor) system that fragmented Tang authority for over a century.

The Battle of Xinsi and its aftermath underscore a pivotal lesson: military victories mean little without political wisdom. The Tang’s failure to reconcile with Hebei’s populace and integrate rebel defectors guaranteed prolonged strife, setting the stage for the dynasty’s gradual decline.