Zi Zhi Tong Jian

Chapter 51
【Translation】

Tang Xuanzong Tianbao two years (AD 743)
In the first month of the spring of this year, An Lushan entered the court to meet the emperor.Emperor Xuanzong of Tang loved and treated him very favorably and allowed him to visit him at any time.One day, An Lushan told Tang Xuanzong: "Last autumn, a large number of locusts devoured the seedlings in Yingzhou. I burned incense and prayed to God: 'If I, An Lushan, have a wrong heart and serve the emperor unfaithfully, then please ask the locusts to kill me. eat your heart; if I have not failed the gods, then please let the locusts fly away by themselves.' Then a flock of birds flew from the north and ate up all the locusts in an instant. I begged the historian to take this matter Write down the matter." Tang Xuanzong readily nodded and agreed to his request.

In the first month of the sixth year of Tianbao (747 A.D.), Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty made An Lushan, the envoy of Fan Yang and Pinglu Jiedu, concurrently serve as the doctor of imperial history.An Lushan was fat and strong, and the fat on his stomach even hung down to his knees. He once claimed that his belly alone weighed [-] catties.He looks a little demented on the outside, and he seems straightforward on the surface, but he is very sinister and cunning on the inside.He often ordered General Liu Luogu to stay in the capital to spy on the court's movements, and to report to him immediately if there was any situation.Sometimes he planned to submit a memorial to the emperor, so Liu Luogu wrote the memorial for him.An Lushan presented a large number of captives, miscellaneous livestock, exotic birds, exotic animals, and treasures and jades to the court every year. Due to the variety of goods, the stations along the way were often exhausted by transshipment of these items.

An Lushan was very courteous in front of Tang Xuanzong. He was very adaptable, quick in response, and humorous in speaking, which often made Tang Xuanzong laugh.Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once teased An Lushan, pointing to his stomach and said: "What is in your stomach, a barbarian, that is so big?" An Lushan replied: "There is nothing superfluous, only I am loyal to His Majesty!" Tang Xuanzong couldn't help being overjoyed after hearing this.Tang Xuanzong once ordered An Lushan to visit the prince, but An Lushan did not kneel down to pay respects after seeing the prince.The attendants on the left and right asked him to kneel down quickly, but he stood up and said, "I am a barbarian. I don't know the etiquette in the court, and I don't know what the official position of the prince is?" Tang Xuanzong said: "The prince is the future emperor. Afterwards, he will be the king and lead you on my behalf." An Lushan said: "I am born stupid and ignorant, and I only know that there is Your Majesty, but I don't know that there is a prince." There was no other choice, and then he knelt down and bowed.Tang Xuanzong actually believed his words, and later favored him even more.

Once, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once held a banquet in the Palace of Qinzheng, and all the civil and military officials sat downstairs, but only for An Lushan, he displayed a golden rooster barrier on the east side of his throne and placed a bed for An Lushan. Lu Shan sat in front, and asked people to roll up the curtains to show their special favor to An Lu Shan.Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty ordered the three brothers and sisters Yang Kui, Yang Qi, and Concubine Yang to treat An Lushan kindly, so An Lushan took the opportunity to ask Tang Xuanzong to be the son of Concubine Yang.Tang Xuanzong sat side by side with Yang Guifei, An Lushan worshiped the noble concubine first, and then Tang Xuanzong, Tang Xuanzong asked him why, An Lushan replied: "Our Hu people's etiquette is to put mothers first and then fathers. " Tang Xuanzong was very happy when he heard this.

[Original text]

Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty to the great sage of Taoism and Emperor Xiao of the Ming Dynasty, Tianbao's tenth birthday, Jiachen, Lushan's birthday, the emperor and the noble concubine gave clothes, treasures, wine and food very generously.In the next three days, Lushan was called into the ban, and the noble concubine wrapped it in Jinxiu as a big swaddle, so that the palace people would wear it with colorful clothes.When I heard the laughter in the harem, I asked why, and the left and right said that the imperial concubine washed Lu'er in three days.Looking at it from the past, I am happy, give gold and silver money to the noble concubine to wash her children, and give Lushan generously, and let it be happy.Since Lushan couldn't help going in and out of the palace, or eating with the imperial concubine, or staying out all night, there was quite a scandal outside, and the superiors did not doubt it.Lushan not only led the three towns, but also rewarded and punished himself, and became more and more arrogant.Since I didn't worship the prince in the past, I was quite afraid when I saw the height of the spring and autumn; I also saw the decline of the military equipment, and I had the heart to belittle China.Yan Zhuang, the official of Kongmu, and Gao Shang, the secretary in charge, persuaded him to make trouble because of his interpretation of the prophecy.

In the spring of the 13th year of Tianbao of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, on the first month, Jihai, Anlu Mountain entered the court.At that time, Yang Guozhong said that Lushan would rebel, and said: "Your Majesty tried to call him, but he will not come." The envoy called him, and Lushan arrived immediately after hearing the order.Gengzi, seeing you in Huaqing Palace, wept and said: "I am a barbarian. Your majesty has favored me so much. I am sick of the loyalty of the country. I will die forever!" The words of national loyalty cannot enter.The prince also knew that Lushan would be turned against him, and he would not listen to what he said.

【Translation】

On the 751th day of the first lunar month in the tenth year of Tianbao ([-] A.D.), An Lushan celebrated his birthday. To make An Lushan happy, Tang Xuanzong and Yang Guifei rewarded him with many clothes, jewelry, utensils, wine and delicacies.Three days later, Concubine Yang specially summoned An Lushan into the palace, wrapped An Lushan in a big swaddle made of brocade, and asked the maids to lift him up in colorful sedan chairs.When Tang Xuanzong heard the laughter in the harem, he asked his attendants what happened, and the people around him said that the imperial concubine was doing a three-day baptism for his son An Lushan.After Tang Xuanzong heard it, he went to watch it in person. He was very happy, and then rewarded Concubine Yang Guifei with gold and silver coins for Xier, and also rewarded Anlu Mountain heavily, and then everyone dispersed happily.From then on, An Lushan could enter and leave the harem at will without restriction. Sometimes he would eat at the same table with Concubine Yang, and sometimes he would not even leave the harem all night.For a while, many people inside and outside the court knew about this scandal, but Tang Xuanzong didn't doubt it.An Lushan was also the envoy of Fanyang, Pinglu, and Hedong, and he was in control of the power, and the rewards and punishments were all decided by him alone, and he became more and more arrogant and willful.He thought that the prince would be jealous when he saw that the prince didn't bow down in time. Seeing that Tang Xuanzong was old, he was deeply afraid.He also saw that the Tang Dynasty's military equipment was becoming increasingly degraded and relaxed, so he felt contemptuous of the court.Yan Zhuang, the Kongmu official, and Gao Shang, the secretary in charge, sensed his psychological contradictions, so they took the opportunity to explain the prophecy to him, predict good and bad luck, and persuade him to take the opportunity to make trouble and rebel against the Tang Dynasty.

In the thirteenth year of Tianbao (754 A.D.), on the third day of the first lunar month, An Lushan entered the court to have an audience.At that time, Yang Guozhong told Tang Xuanzong that An Lushan would rebel, and said: "Your Majesty will try to call him into the court, and he will definitely not come." So Tang Xuanzong sent someone to call An Lushan to see him, and Anlushan received it. Immediately after the edict, he got up and rushed to the court.On the fourth day of the first lunar month, An Lushan met Tang Xuanzong in Huaqing Palace, crying and said: "I was originally a barbarian, and I was promoted to today's position because of your majesty's favor, but Yang Guozhong hated me because of it. I am afraid I will die." It’s not far away.” After Tang Xuanzong heard this, he felt very sorry for An Lushan, and rewarded him heavily, and from then on he trusted him even more, but he didn’t believe Yang Guozhong’s words at all.Prince Li Heng also knew that An Lushan would definitely rebel, so he reported the truth to Tang Xuanzong, but Tang Xuanzong still refused to listen.

[Comment and Analysis]

Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty had been the Emperor of Taiping for more than 20 years, and gradually developed a sense of pride and laziness, and pursued a life of pleasure.He listened to the slander, dismissed Zhang Jiuling, a virtuous minister, and appointed Li Linfu, who was full of honey and swords, as his minister. A large number of virtuous ministers were expelled from the court.Li Linfu appointed Hu people as Jiedu envoys, and he took a fancy to An Lushan.An Lushan was very good at flattering Tang Xuanzong. He responded quickly and spoke humorously. He often made Tang Xuanzong laugh and won Tang Xuanzong's favor, but he secretly cultivated generals and prepared to rebel.

Mawei mutiny
[Original text]

Emperor Suzong of Tang Dynasty Civilization Wude Dasheng Daxuanxiao Emperor Zhide Yuanzai
From Bingshen to Mawei Station, the soldiers were hungry and tired, and all angry.Chen Xuanli wanted to punish Yang Guozhong for misfortune, but Li Fuguo, the eunuch of the East Palace, sued the prince, but the prince was still pending.More than [-] Tubo envoys covered the country's loyal horses, complaining that there was no food, and the country's loyalty was not up to par. The sergeant shouted: "The country's loyalty and the Hulu conspired against each other!" Or shoot them, and hit the saddle.When Guozhong walked to the west gate, the soldiers chased him down, slaughtered his body, exposed his head with guns outside the gate of the post, and killed his son, Minister of the Household Department Xuan Xuan, Mrs. Han and Mrs. Qin.Wei Fangjin, the official censor, said: "How dare you, Cao, harm the prime minister!" The crowd killed him again.Wei Jiansu heard about the chaos and came out. He was captured by the chaos, and his brain was bleeding.The crowd said: "Don't hurt Wei Xianggong." Save him, and you will be spared.The sergeant surrounded the post, heard the commotion, asked what was going on outside, and opposed it with national loyalty.Put up the stick and go out of the post gate to comfort the sergeant, and order the team to withdraw, but the sergeant should not.The envoy Gao Lishi asked, and Xuanli said to him: "The loyalty of the country is rebellious, and noble concubines are not suitable for worship. May your majesty cut the grace and rectify the law." The emperor said: "I will deal with it myself."For a long time, Jing Zhaosi recorded Wei Er's preface and said: "Today, public anger is hard to offend, and the safety lies in the sundial carving. May Your Majesty make a quick decision!"Shang said: "The imperial concubine always lives in the deep palace, and she knows that the national loyalty is rebelling!" Gao Lishi said: "The imperial concubine is sincerely innocent, but the soldiers have killed the national loyalty, and the imperial concubine is at your majesty's side, how dare you be at peace! May your majesty think about it! If the generals are safe, Your Majesty will be safe." Shang Nai ordered the powerful men to lead the noble concubine to the Buddhist hall and hang her to death.The corpse was placed in the post court, and Xuanli and others were called to watch it.Xuanli and others were exempted from the helmet and released their armor. They pleaded guilty, went up to comfort them, and ordered them to tell the sergeant.Xuanli and others all called long live, and then bowed out, so they began to make plans for the whole team.

Er, see the son of Su.Guozhong's wife Pei Rou and her youngest son Xi, Guo Guo's wife and wife's son Pei Hui all left to Chencang, where the county magistrate Xue Jingxian was hunted down and executed.

【Translation】

Tang Suzong to De Yuanzai (756 AD)
On June 20th, Tang Xuanzong and his entourage came to Mawei Station, and the entourage was hungry and exhausted, and all of them were full of anger.General Chen Xuanli of Longwu thought that all the country's disasters were caused by Yang Guozhong, so he planned to kill him, so he asked Li Fuguo, the eunuch of the East Palace, to report to the prince, who hesitated.At this time, more than [-] Tubo envoys stopped Yang Guozhong's horse and told him that there was no food to eat.Before Yang Guozhong could answer, the soldiers shouted: "Yang Guozhong wants to conspire with the barbarians!" So someone shot an arrow at Yang Guozhong and hit the saddle of Yang Guozhong's mount.Yang Guozhong fled in a hurry and fled to the west gate of Mawei Station, where he was killed by the soldiers who were chasing him.The soldiers dismembered Yang Guozhong's body, hung his head on a spear and put it outside the post gate for public display, and killed Yang Guozhong's son, household servant Yang Xuan, Mrs. Han and Mrs. Qin.Wei Fangjin, the official censor, reprimanded the soldiers and said, "You are so bold that you dare to kill the prime minister!" The soldiers then killed him again.Wei Jiansu heard the commotion outside, so he went out of the post gate to check, but was also beaten by the rebels with a whip until his head was bleeding.Everyone shouted: "Don't hurt Wei Xianggong!" So they stepped forward to rescue, and Wei Jiansu survived.The sergeants immediately surrounded the post station. After Tang Xuanzong heard the noise outside, he asked what happened outside, and the people around him told him that Yang Guozhong had conspired against him.Tang Xuanzong then walked out of the post gate on crutches, and the sergeant Wei Lao ordered them to withdraw the encirclement, but the sergeant refused.Tang Xuanzong asked Gao Lishi to ask why, and Chen Xuanli replied: "Yang Guozhong was beheaded by the soldiers for his rebellion, Yang Guifei should not continue to serve His Majesty, I hope His Majesty can bear the pain and kill Concubine Yang Guifei on the spot, so as to rectify the court. Tang Xuanzong replied: "I have my own opinion." After speaking, he walked into the post gate and stood with his head bowed on crutches.After a long time, Jingzhao Silu joined the army and Wei Er stepped forward and said: "Nowadays, public anger is hard to come by, and safety is at stake. I hope Your Majesty can make a decisive decision!" Wei Er knelt on the ground and kowtowed until the blood flow all over the face.Tang Xuanzong said: "Concubine Yang lives in the harem all year round and does not communicate with others. How can she know that Yang Guozhong rebelled?" How can they feel at ease when they accompany His Majesty? I hope His Majesty can judge the situation, only when the soldiers are at peace can Your Majesty be safe!" Tang Xuanzong then ordered Gao Lishi to lead Concubine Yang to the Buddhist hall and strangle her to death.Then Gao Lishi ordered Yang Guifei's body to be placed in the courtyard of the post station, and Chen Xuanli and others were called to the post station to check.When they confirmed that it was Concubine Yang's body, Chen Xuanli and others immediately took off their armor, put down their weapons, and kowtowed to Tang Xuanzong to apologize.Tang Xuanzong comforted them and ordered them to pass on to other sergeants.Chen Xuanli and the others immediately shouted long live, bowed twice and then exited the post station, then straightened out the team and continued marching.

Weier is the son of Wei Jiansu.Yang Guozhong's wife Pei Rou, his youngest son Yang Rixi, Mrs. Guo Guo and her son Pei Hui all took the opportunity to escape. After fleeing to Chencang County, they were hunted down by officials and soldiers led by county magistrate Xue Jingxian.

[Comment and Analysis]

"Yuyang came to the ground with agitation, and the neon clothes and feathers were shocked. The smoke and dust in the nine-fold city tower, thousands of rides and thousands of riders traveled southwest. Cuihua swayed and stopped, and went west for more than a hundred miles from the gate of the capital. The horse died in front of the horse. The flower tin was left in the ground and no one collected it. The emerald sparrow jade scratched its head. The king hid his face and couldn’t save him, and looked back at the blood and tears flowing together..." Bai Juyi's "Song of Everlasting Regret" is about what happened in Mawei Station.After the An Lushan rebellion, Tang Xuanzong Li Longji did not want to fight against the bandits. Instead, he took Concubine Yang, all the court ladies, ministers and others to flee to the southwest. After killing the prime minister Yang Guozhong, he was determined to execute Yang Guifei.In desperation, Tang Xuanzong had no choice but to order Concubine Yang Guifei to be strangled to death.How sad that a once powerful emperor could only cover his face and cry when his concubine was strangled to death.

Zhang Xunshoucheng
[Original text]

Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty, the great sage of civilized martial arts, the great sage of Xuanxiao, the second year of his virtue
Qingxu appointed Yin Ziqi as the governor of Bianzhou and the envoy of Jiedu in Henan.Jiaxu, Ziqi Yigui, Tanji, Tongluo, and Xi Bing 13 people in Suiyang.Xu Yuan turned to Zhang Xun in a hurry, and Xun led troops from Ningling to Suiyang.There are 3000 patrolling soldiers, and 800 soldiers together with Yuanbing.The thieves know that the crowds are pressing the city, patrolling and encouraging the soldiers, fighting hard day and night, or from one day to twenty; every sixteen days, more than [-] thieves will be captured, and more than [-] soldiers will be killed.Yuan said Xun said: "Yuan is cowardly, does not practice soldiers, the public is wise and courageous, and the public is wise and brave. Please guard the public and fight for the public." Planning a tour.The thief fled at night.

Yin Ziqi led his troops to attack Suiyang again.Zhang Xun said to the soldiers: "I have received the grace of the country, and I am guarding it. I am dying. But I think that the kings sacrificed their lives, anointed the grass and fields, and rewarded but not honored, so it hurts my ears!" The soldiers all encouraged and cheered.Patrol Sui Zhui Niu, feast on soldiers and soldiers, and go out to battle with all the troops.The thief saw that there were few soldiers and laughed.Patrolling the flag, the handsome generals rushed straight to the bandits.The thieves were defeated, beheading more than [-] generals and killing more than [-] soldiers, chasing them for dozens of miles.Tomorrow, the thieves will join forces to the city again, patrolling and fighting, dozens of days and nights, repeatedly destroying their fronts, and the thieves continue to attack and besiege.

【Translation】

The second year of Emperor Suzong of Tang Dynasty to Germany (757 AD)
An Qingxu asked Yin Ziqi to serve as governor of Bianzhou and governor of Henan.On the 25th of the first lunar month, Yin Ziqi led a total of 13 soldiers from Guizhou, Tanzhou, Tongluo and Xiren to attack Suiyang.Xu Yuan asked Zhang Xun for help, and Zhang Xun personally led his troops from Ningling to Suiyang.Zhang Xun had 3000 soldiers under his command, and after joining forces with Xu Yuan, there were 800 soldiers in total.The rebel army attacked the city with all its strength. Zhang Xun personally went forward to supervise the battle, encouraged the soldiers, and fought hard day and night with the rebel army, sometimes even more than 20 rounds a day. The war lasted for 60 days. More than 2 generals of the rebel army were captured alive and killed There are more than [-] soldiers in the army.For a time, the morale of the officers and soldiers doubled.Xu Yuan said to Zhang Xun: "I am cowardly by nature and do not understand military strategy. You are both wise and brave. I ask you to stick to it and command the battle on my behalf." The left-behind army only dealt with chores, and all the planning and planning of the war were handed over to Zhang Xun.The thieves attacked the city for a long time, but then fled by night.

(End of this chapter)