In November 755, An Lushan launched a rebellion, raising 150,000 troops from Fanyang and going south to rebel against the Tang Dynasty, which was also the beginning of the "Anshi Rebellion". Since the Central Plains had not experienced war for hundreds of years, the rebels were able to drive straight in and soon occupied most of the area north of the Yellow River. When Tang Xuanzong heard the news, he was very alarmed, so he hastened to appoint Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing as deputy marshals and lead 50,000 people from Chang'an to eliminate the rebels.
It should be known that Gao Xianzhi is an experienced Veteran of the Tang Dynasty, he and Feng Changqing are known as "Tang Shuangbi", with many years of experience in leading troops to fight, but in the face of The elite rebels of An Lushan, although the two are good at using troops, but helplessly their subordinates are all city disciples, combat effectiveness and rebels are not on a horizontal line at all, so on December 13, An Lushan has conquered Luoyang, Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi can only lead the Tang army to retreat to Tongguan.
However, at this time, the overseer Bian Lingcheng had a deep grudge with Gao Xianzhi in his early years, so he falsely accused Xuanzong: "Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing, who were the commanders-in-chief of the Tang Army, gave up hundreds of miles of land in Shaanxi, and also withheld the soldiers' grain on the march, please ask Your Majesty to investigate." Tang Xuanzong was furious after hearing Bian Lingcheng's words, so he sent Bian Lingcheng to the military camp to behead Changqing and Gao Xianzhi.
In January 756, Bian Lingcheng came to Tongguan, took 100 swords and axemen to the garrison of Feng Changqing first, announced the emperor's edict to him, and executed him and violently died in the wilderness. After Gao Xianzhi returned to the military camp, Bian Lingcheng said to Gao Xianzhi: "The army commander will also be executed together." Gao Xianzhi couldn't help but change his face after hearing this, and came down from his horse to protest: "Although I retired from the army because of my failure, I did not die for my sins, and as for the matter of withholding the soldiers' military food, it was pure slander, didn't Lord Bian know?"
But he could not disobey the emperor's holy will, so before he died, he said to the 50,000 soldiers: "I have withdrawn you to Tongguan for repairs, because the rebels are full of vigor and should avoid their sharp edges." If I have any sin, please shout it out, so that Lord Bian can understand it. Only to see 50,000 soldiers shouting 2 words in unison: "Wronged!" Its voice resounded through the sky. Gao Xianzhi looked at Feng Changqing's corpse again and sighed, "I promoted you in the first place, and now the two of us are going to die together, is this Providence?" Saying that Gao Xianzhi calmly went to death.