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In the first month of the fifteenth year of Tianbao, An Lushan proclaimed himself emperor in Luoyang, called the national name Dayan, and changed his name to Shengwu. He appointed Da Xixun as a squire, Zhang Tongru as Zhongshuling, and Gao Shang and Yan Zhuang as Zhongshu Shilang.
Prior to this, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang appointed Geshuhan as the generalissimo to guard Tongguan. However, the relationship between Geshuhan and the An Lushan brothers has not been harmonious. Before An Lushan's rebellion, his brother, Hube Shangshu An Sishun, reported information in advance, so Emperor Xuanzong of Tang did not punish An Sishun. Geshuhan then forged An Sishun's charges at Tongguan, leading Emperor Xuanzong of Tang to execute An Sishun and his younger brother An Yuanzhen.
The relationship between Geshuhan and Yang Guozhong was also tense, and Yang Guozhong was worried that Geshuhan had heavy troops and might pose a threat to him, so he encouraged Emperor Xuanzong of Tang to urge Geshuhan to go out and recover Luoyang as soon as possible.
However, Goshuhan believed that now was not the right time, because An Lushan was well prepared to start a war quickly. He pointed out that all the officers and men have not yet been assembled, and suggested waiting.
Some of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's ministers, such as Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi, also believed that the defenders of Tongguan should not attack rashly. However, Yang Guozhong persuaded Tang Xuanzong that now was the best time to attack An Lushan, because An Lushan was not well prepared, and Geshuhan would delay any longer, fearing that he would lose his fighters. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang then sent eunuchs to Tongguan one after another to urge Geshuhan to march.
Geshuhan was helpless, "soothed and wept", and had to lead the army out of the customs in June. As a result, the Tang army was fiercely attacked by Cui Qianyou, a general of An Lushan, at Tongguan and suffered a bitter defeat.
The terrain outside Tongguan was narrow and long, and Cui Qianyou's ambush soldiers rolled down stones and logs from high places to kill countless officers and soldiers, resulting in a large number of officers and soldiers unable to form formations, and spears and long guns could not be used. Cui Qianyou attacked the front of the official army with fire, and the fireworks filled the sight of the Tang army, and the official army was so smoked that they could not open their eyes, blindly shooting arrows, until the arrows were exhausted, and they found that there was no enemy army ahead.
Cui Qianyou sent elite cavalry to outflank the Tang army's back road, causing the official army to rout and rush back to Guanzhong. The three deep trenches outside Tongguan were one foot deep and two feet wide, and in a blink of an eye, they were filled with the corpses of officers and soldiers. Of the 200,000 people who escaped, only 8,000 escaped.
Cui Qianyou took advantage of the victory to capture Tongguan, and Geshuhan was captured and sent to Luoyang.
The loss of Tongguan caused a shock throughout the country. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang hurriedly fled Chang'an with his cronies for Shuzhong. An Lushan did not expect Emperor Xuanzong of Tang to abandon Chang'an so quickly, so the rebels stayed at Tongguan for ten days before continuing westward.
The gap of these ten days plunged the entire Chang'an City into anarchy and chaos. Rich and capable people fled Chang'an with their belongings and took refuge in the valley, including many palace concubines. The fleeing crowd stretched for hundreds of miles.
The once prosperous Chang'an City suddenly became empty, and the houses of many aristocratic families were unguarded. The rogues in the city looted and even the palace's treasury was spared, and in some places it was set on fire.
When An Lushan's army arrived, he saw that all the property inside and outside the city had been robbed, and he was furious. So he ordered Dasuo for three days. The so-called "big rope" is the looting of the column. The property in Chang'an City, whether your own or stolen and stolen by you, must now be handed over. The prefectures and counties near Chang'an were not spared.
In addition to looting and looting wealth, An Lushan also wanted to avenge his deceased son An Qingzong and kill Tang Xuanzong's relatives. However, in the middle of the ten days, the capable imperial princes had already fled, leaving some distant and usually neglected imperial princes and some princesses, a total of more than 100 people, all of whom were brutally killed to pay tribute to An Qingzong.
In addition, all the ministers who fled with Tang Xuanzong, and the families who remained in Chang'an, suffered heavy reprisals, and their clans were destroyed. The rebels and officials fought fiercely in the counties around Chang'an, resulting in numerous massacres of civilians and the entire city in ruins.
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To watch the graphic and text transfer video, please click here ➡️ [Historical Story] Tongguan Pass fiasco: the Tang hegemony is in danger, and the dynasty is on the front line