The Seeds of Rebellion in Late Sui China

The early 7th century marked a turbulent period in Chinese history as Emperor Yang of Sui’s ambitious projects—including the Grand Canal construction and disastrous campaigns against Korea—drained imperial resources and alienated both commoners and aristocracy. This discontent created fertile ground for rebellion, with Yang Xuangan emerging as one of the most significant challengers to Sui authority in 613 AD.

As the son of Yang Su, a powerful chancellor under Emperor Wen, Yang Xuangan belonged to the elite Guanlong Group that had helped establish both Northern Zhou and Sui dynasties. His privileged position gave him unique insight into the regime’s weaknesses. When Emperor Yang committed nearly a million troops to the second Goguryeo campaign, Yang Xuangan saw his moment. Appointed as logistics supervisor in Liyang (modern Xunxian, Henan), he controlled critical grain supplies—a strategic advantage for any rebellion.

Li Mi’s Three Strategies and Yang’s Fateful Choice

The arrival of Li Mi, a brilliant strategist from another prominent Guanlong family, proved pivotal. Li presented Yang with three options that historians still analyze for their military wisdom:

1. The Superior Strategy: March north to seize Youzhou (modern Beijing), cutting off Emperor Yang’s retreat from Korea. This would trap the emperor between Korean forces and rebel troops.
2. The Middle Strategy: Strike west to capture Chang’an (the western capital), leveraging Guanlong Group support while using the Tong Pass as a defensive stronghold.
3. The Inferior Strategy: Attack nearby Luoyang, where strong defenses and rapid imperial reinforcements made success unlikely.

Yang Xuangan, overconfident with his initial 10,000 troops (soon swelling to 100,000), rejected Li’s advice. He fixated on Luoyang’s symbolic value as the eastern capital, believing its capture would demoralize the regime. This decision reflected a critical miscalculation—Luoyang’s walls had been reinforced after earlier rebellions, and its granaries could withstand long sieges.

The Luoyang Campaign: Initial Success and Strategic Collapse

The rebellion’s early phase showed promise. Yang’s brother Yang Xuanting won five consecutive victories, while defections from Sui officials’ sons lent credibility. The rebel army’s humane treatment of civilians—distributing captured grain—contrasted sharply with Sui oppression, swelling their ranks.

However, three fatal errors emerged:

1. The Siege Stalemate: Without siege engines, Yang’s forces couldn’t breach Luoyang’s walls. Governor Yang Tong and minister Fan Zigai organized fierce resistance.
2. Leadership Failures: Yang dismissed Li Mi after favoring the duplicitous Wei Fusi, ignoring warnings about Wei’s opportunism.
3. Premature Imperial Ambitions: Encouraged by advisor Li Zixiong, Yang considered declaring himself emperor—a move Li Mi warned would alienate potential allies.

As Sui generals Yuwen Shu, Qu Tutong, and Lai Hu’er converged with veteran troops from Korea, Yang belatedly switched to Li Mi’s middle strategy. But the delay proved catastrophic.

The Final Retreat and Historical Consequences

Yang’s westward march toward Chang’an stalled at Hongnong (modern Sanmenxia), where Governor Yang Zhiji provoked him into a futile three-day siege. This allowed Sui forces to encircle the rebels. In a Shakespearean ending, Yang ordered his brother Yang Jishan to kill him rather than face capture.

The rebellion’s aftermath reshaped the empire:

– Escalating Persecutions: Emperor Yang intensified purges of the Guanlong Group, executing Li Hun and Li Min based on prophecies about “Li” replacing “Yang.”
– Li Yuan’s Survival: The future Tang founder avoided suspicion by feigning incompetence—getting drunk and accepting bribes publicly.
– Rebellion Blueprint: Li Mi’s strategies directly influenced Li Yuan’s successful 617 uprising, which followed the Chang’an-focused middle strategy.

Cultural Impact and Prophetic Politics

The rebellion amplified the power of political prophecies. The “Peach-Plum Song” (桃李子歌) prophesied a Li clan’s rise, creating both danger and opportunity for figures like Li Yuan. Emperor Yang’s paranoia manifested in the 615 massacre of Li Hun’s clan, demonstrating how folklore could shape realpolitik.

Yang Xuangan’s story endures as a case study in revolutionary leadership. His initial advantages—noble birth, popular support, and talented advisors—were squandered through tactical impatience and strategic inflexibility. The rebellion’s failure accelerated the Sui collapse, paving the way for the Tang Dynasty’s golden age—a transition masterminded by those who learned from Yang’s mistakes.