The Seeds of Rebellion in Early Tang China

The early Tang Dynasty (618-907) was a period of fragile consolidation after centuries of division. Emperor Gaozu (Li Yuan) had reunified much of China, but regional warlords who had helped overthrow the Sui Dynasty now posed threats to centralized authority. Among these figures was Fu Gongshi, a former lieutenant of the powerful rebel-turned-Tang-ally Du Fuwei.

Fu Gongshi’s rebellion in 623 emerged from this volatile context. After Du Fuwei voluntarily traveled to the Tang capital Chang’an to demonstrate loyalty—leaving Fu in charge of their southeastern territories—Fu saw an opportunity. His first move was securing military control by eliminating Wang Xiongdang, Du’s loyal general who commanded local forces. When Wang refused to join the revolt, declaring it suicidal against the Tang’s might, Fu had him executed—a decision that shocked both soldiers and civilians who admired Wang’s integrity.

The Ill-Fated Song Dynasty of Danyang

With military preparations complete, Fu Gongshi staged his rebellion through calculated deception. Claiming to possess secret orders from Du Fuwei (allegedly detained by the Tang), Fu mobilized troops under false pretenses. By 623, he declared himself emperor in Danyang (modern Nanjing), establishing the short-lived “Song Dynasty.” His regime revived the administrative framework of the earlier Chen Dynasty, appointing officials like Zuo Youxian as Minister of War.

The Tang response was swift and overwhelming. Emperor Gaozu dispatched four elite armies led by future Tang legends:

– Li Xiaogong (naval forces from Jiangzhou)
– Li Jing (troops from Lingnan and Min regions)
– Huang Junhan (cavalry from Qiao and Bozhou)
– Li Shiji (infantry from Huai-Si region)

This military dream team reflected the rebellion’s seriousness—three commanders would later be enshrined in the Lingyan Pavilion honoring Tang’s greatest contributors.

Psychological Warfare and Turning Points

The campaign featured remarkable episodes of military psychology. Before departure, Li Xiaogong transformed a superstitious omen—water turning red, seen as a blood portent—into a morale booster by declaring it symbolized Fu’s impending defeat. Meanwhile, Fu’s forces scored initial successes through subterfuge, including the assassination of Tang general Zhou Faming by disguised fishermen.

The Tang retaliated in kind. General Li Daliang tricked Fu’s ally Zhang Shanan into capture through feigned camaraderie, then exploited divisions within Zhang’s ranks by spreading disinformation about his “voluntary” surrender. This mirrored earlier rebel tactics, showcasing the era’s ruthless pragmatism.

The Decisive Campaign and Fu’s Downfall

By 624, Tang forces converged on Fu’s strongholds. At the strategic Bowang and Qinglin Mountains, Fu’s defenses included river blockades and fortresses. Here, Li Jing’s tactical brilliance shone—he rejected bypassing these positions to attack Danyang directly, instead luring Fu’s troops into open battle.

A psychological masterstroke came when Du Fuwei’s adopted son Kan Leng appeared before former comrades, causing mass defections. With Fu’s defenses crumbling, he abandoned Danyang with dwindling followers until peasants captured him near Huzhou. His execution marked the rebellion’s end—but spawned darker consequences.

The Tang’s Political Reckoning

In the rebellion’s aftermath, suspicious deaths and political purges unfolded:

1. Du Fuwei’s sudden death in Chang’an (officially from alchemical poisoning) during the campaign raised eyebrows, especially after Fu’s fabricated letters were “discovered.”
2. Li Xiaogong, exploiting the chaos, confiscated properties of Du’s loyalists like Kan Leng—who was executed on dubious conspiracy charges.
3. Posthumously, Du Fuwei was stripped of honors until Emperor Taizong’s 631 rehabilitation.

These events revealed the Tang’s lingering distrust of southeastern powerbrokers, even those like Du who had surrendered voluntarily. The suppression’s thoroughness—from military campaigns to political memory-erasure—demonstrated early Tang state-building tactics.

Legacy: Centralization vs Regional Autonomy

Fu Gongshi’s failed revolt accelerated Tang efforts to dismantle regional autonomy. The campaign also showcased:

– The importance of psychological operations in medieval warfare
– How rebel legitimacy often relied on fabricated narratives (e.g., Fu’s “orders” from Du)
– The Tang’s willingness to rehabilitate reputations when politically expedient (as with Du’s posthumous restoration)

The rebellion’s crushing marked a milestone in Tang consolidation, paving the way for the golden age under Emperor Taizong. Yet its darker episodes—political purges, fabricated evidence, and the tragic fates of figures like Wang Xiongdang and Kan Leng—served as cautionary tales about power transitions in imperial China.

Fu Gongshi’s ephemeral “Song Dynasty” lasted barely a year, but its story encapsulates the turbulent birth pangs of one of China’s greatest dynasties—where military might, political cunning, and contested loyalties shaped the empire’s trajectory.