The Inheritance of a Fractured Empire

When Emperor Dezong (Li Shi) ascended the throne in 779 CE, he inherited a Tang Dynasty still reeling from the An Lushan Rebellion’s devastation. His father, Emperor Daizong, had left him a precarious legacy—a realm where regional military governors (jiedushi) operated with alarming autonomy. The most volatile region was Henan, where the powerful Yongping Army controlled seven strategic prefectures: Bian, Song, Hua, Bo, Chen, Ying, and Si.

Dezong, determined to assert central authority, made his first decisive move in January 781. He dismantled the Yongping Army’s power base, carving out a new Xuanwu Army under Song Prefecture’s governor Liu Qia. Simultaneously, he transferred Si Prefecture to Huainan’s governor Chen Shaoyou. This restructuring wasn’t merely administrative—it was a deliberate strategy to counterbalance the threat posed by Li Zhengji, the rebellious Pinglu-Ziqing governor.

The Powder Keg Ignites: Alliances and Betrayals

Dezong’s actions sent shockwaves across the region. Misinformation reached Li Zhengji, who misinterpreted the emperor’s汴州 (Bianzhou) city expansion as preparation for a grand封禅 (fengshan) ceremony at Mount Tai—a symbolic act of imperial supremacy. Paranoid, Li Zhengji mobilized 10,000 troops to Cao Prefecture, while Tian Yue of Weibo prepared for war. The stage was set for conflict.

By February, Dezong dispatched 12,000 elite京西防秋兵 (frontier troops) to the east, including the formidable神策军 (Shence Army). Their commander, Yang Huiyuan, famously refused a celebratory drink, vowing to toast only after victory. This symbolic gesture underscored Dezong’s break from his father’s conciliatory policies.

Meanwhile, in襄阳 (Xiangyang), Governor Liang Chongyi—a nominal ally of the court—grew increasingly suspicious. Historical precedent haunted him: his predecessor, Lai Tian, had been executed despite surrendering to the throne. When Dezong’s envoy Li Zhou (notorious for inciting mutinies) arrived, Liang barred him from entering, fearing manipulation.

The War Unfolds: Victories and Strategic Blunders

The conflict erupted on multiple fronts:
1. The Northern Theater: Tian Yue attacked Zhaoyi Army territories, aiming to seize邢州 (Xingzhou) and磁州 (Cizhou). However, his piecemeal strategy—focusing on临洺 (Linyong) instead of securing the critical滏口陉 (Fukou Pass)—proved disastrous.
2. The Imperial Counteroffensive: Dezong unleashed his “three aces”:
– Ma Sui (Hedong Army): A tactical genius who outmaneuvered Tian Yue at洹水 (Huanshui).
– Li Baozhen (Zhaoyi Army): Reformed his troops into a disciplined force.
– Li Sheng (Shence Army): The emperor’s elite guard.
Their coordinated assault crushed Tian Yue at Linyong (July 781), forcing a retreat to魏州 (Weizhou).

3. The Southern Campaign: Li Xilie, the ambitious Huaixi governor, besieged Xiangyang. Liang Chongyi’s forces collapsed after defeats at蛮水 (Man River) and疏口 (Shukou). His suicide in September 781 marked a temporary victory—though Li Xilie’s subsequent looting exposed his untrustworthiness.

The Tide Turns: Opportunism and Fragile Triumphs

By late 781, the rebellion began unraveling:
– Li Zhengji’s Death: His son Li Na concealed his father’s death but lost徐州 (Xuzhou) to defectors.
– Zhu Tao’s Intervention: The Youzhou governor allied with the court against Li Weiyue (Li Baochen’s son), exploiting divisions in Chengde.
– Zhang Xiaozhong’s Defection: The Yizhou commander’s surrender isolated Li Weiyue, who was later betrayed and killed by his own general, Wang Wujun (February 782).

By early 782, Dezong seemed unstoppable. Tian Yue was cornered in Weizhou, Li Na’s forces crumbled in濮州 (Puzhou), and the漕运 (Grand Canal) reopened, restoring vital grain shipments to Chang’an.

The Hubris of Victory: A Self-Inflicted Crisis

Yet Dezong’s triumph contained the seeds of disaster. His heavy-handed redistribution of Chengde’s territories alienated former allies:
– Zhu Tao, expecting rewards, received only partial control.
– Wang Wujun, instrumental in Li Weiyue’s downfall, was sidelined.
– Li Xilie, sensing weakness, openly rebelled in 783.

The emperor’s refusal to compromise—a stark contrast to his grandfather’s pragmatic diplomacy—triggered the泾原兵变 (Jingyuan Mutiny), forcing him to flee Chang’an.

Legacy: A Cautionary Tale of Centralization

Dezong’s early reign remains a masterclass in the perils of overreach. His military successes—though dazzling—were undermined by political inflexibility. The fragmentation of regional power, while temporarily checked, resurfaced with a vengeance, foreshadowing the Tang Dynasty’s eventual decline. Modern historians often cite this era as a pivotal moment when the balance between central authority and regional autonomy tipped irreversibly—a lesson in the limits of imperial ambition.

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