Who is the mastermind behind " Maweiyi Mutiny "? Is it Prince Li Heng? Or the Forbidden Army General Chen Xuanli ? Or is it someone else? This is quite controversial historically.
In 755 AD (the fourteenth year of Emperor Xuanzong's Tianbao ), An Lushan used the excuse of crusade against Emperor Yang Guozhong to rebel in Fanyang. The rebels went south all the way, and their offensive was rapid.
In 756 AD, the rebels broke through Tongguan, Guanzhong, and opened the door to the country in Guanzhong. Changan, Chang'an, was in danger. Tang Xuanzong did not dare to stay in Chang'an, so he fled in a hurry with some of the royal family, cronies and soldiers of the Imperial Army, preparing to flee to Shu for refuge.
Li Longji
When they arrived at Maweiyi, the soldiers were very tired, hungry, and very angry inside. Chen Xuanli, the general of the Forbidden Army, believed that this situation was caused by the treacherous prime minister Yang Guozhong. Yang Guozhong had caused harm to the country and the people and deserved to die.
Chen Xuanli wanted to get rid of Yang Guozhong, so he told the eunuch Li Fuguo of the East Palace, and asked Li Fuguo to tell the prince Li Heng. Li Heng couldn't make up his mind and was hesitant in his heart.
At that time, a Tibetan envoy stopped Yang Guozhong's horse and asked Yang Guozhong for food to satisfy his hunger. This scene was seen by the soldiers. The soldiers shouted: "Yang Guozhong colluded with the Hu people and planned to rebel!" Then they shot Yang Guozhong with bows and arrows, hitting Yang Guozhong's saddle. Yang Guozhong panicked and ran away in a hurry. When he fled to the west gate of Maweiyi, he was overtaken by soldiers. The soldiers killed Yang Guozhong, took Yang Guozhong's head, hung it in public outside the west gate, and then killed Yang Guozhong's son Yang Xuan.
Yang Guozhong
When the imperial censor Wei Fangjin saw this, he scolded the soldiers: "You are so bold that you dare to kill the prime minister of the dynasty!" The soldiers couldn't help but stepped forward and killed Wei Fangjin. Wei Jiansu Hearing the chaos outside, he came to see what was going on. When the soldiers saw Wei Jiansu, they raised their whips and beat him, injuring Wei Jiansu. Fortunately, Chen Xuanli appeared in time and saved Wei Jiansu's life.
Soldiers surrounded the inn. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty asked the attendant what happened. The attendant replied that Yang Guozhong had rebelled and was killed by the soldiers. Tang Xuanzong came out, comforted the soldiers and asked them to retreat, but the soldiers did not listen. Tang Xuanzong asked Gao Lishi to ask Chen Xuanli what to do. Chen Xuanli said: "Yang Guozhong was killed for rebelling. Yang Guifei can no longer stay with your majesty. I hope your majesty can bear the pain and put Yang Guifei to death." After hearing this, Tang Xuanzong said: "I will handle this matter myself." After that, he returned to the inn.
Tang Xuanzong was in extremely sad mood at this moment. Concubine Yang was his beloved concubine, how could he be willing to execute her? As the emperor of a country and the lord of the world, he couldn't even keep his beloved concubine.
Yang Guifei
Tang Xuanzong leaned on his staff and sighed, hesitating. Wei Er, who joined the army in Jingzhao Division, said to Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty: "Your Majesty, the situation is extremely critical because of the public anger. For the sake of your Majesty's safety, please make a decision quickly." As he spoke, he knelt down and kowtowed until his face was covered with blood.
Tang Xuanzong said: "The imperial concubine has lived in the palace for a long time and has no contact with people outside the palace. How could she know that Yang Guozhong was rebellious?"
At this time, Gao Lishi advised: "The imperial concubine is not guilty, but the soldiers killed Yang Guozhong, but the imperial concubine is still serving his majesty. The soldiers will not feel at ease. Now they can only execute the imperial concubine." Concubine, the soldiers will be at ease, and the soldiers will be at ease, and your majesty will be safe."
Tang Xuanzong had no choice but to hang Concubine Yang to death in the Buddhist hall, and then carried Concubine Yang's body outside. When Chen Xuanli and others saw it, they took off their armor , knelt down and shouted long live, and the soldiers retreated.
Tang Xuanzong thought this was planned by Prince Li Heng, and was heartbroken. The father and son parted ways in Maweiyi. Tang Xuanzong continued to go to Shu. Prince Li Heng went north to Lingwu and proclaimed himself emperor in Lingwu as Suzong of Tang Dynasty. After Li Heng ascended the throne, he respected Tang Xuanzong as the Supreme Emperor.
What happened to Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was actually caused by himself. He was mediocre in his later years. He favored traitors like Yang Guozhong, doted on Concubine Yang, and did not listen to the words of loyalty. He had long since lost the wisdom and strength he had in those days.
Who is most beneficial to the Maweiyi mutiny? It must be Prince Li Heng. The mastermind behind this mutiny was probably the Crown Prince. He took advantage of the anger of the soldiers, not only to get rid of Yang Guozhong, who was in conflict with him, but also to take the opportunity to take power into his own hands. It could be said that he killed two birds with one stone.
Li Heng
(the pictures in the text are from the Internet)
