An Lushan's strategy and the helpless choice of the northern army.
During the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, An Lushan's rebellion caused a shock in the early days of Xuanzong, and it was hard to believe that a well-loved general had betrayed. This article will delve into the reasons why the northern army of the Tang Dynasty chose to follow An Lushan in the rebellion during the Tang Dynasty.
Before the outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion, the entire Tang Dynasty was immersed in prosperity and abundance. From the emperor down to the commoners, they enjoyed the feast, leading people to indulge in pleasure rather than be wary of future turmoil. This state of drunkenness and dreaming of death made the Shu people unprepared for the rebellion of An Lushan and Shi Siming, and the Tang army was caught off guard in a short period of time and retreated on all fronts.
The reason why the northern army of the Tang Dynasty rebelled with An Lushan was mainly due to the close interests. In the early days, the Tang Jiedu envoys only had military command and lacked the right to recruit troops. With the collapse of the government military system, the Jiedu envoy obtained the right to recruit troops, so that these soldiers belonged to the Tang Dynasty and obeyed the orders and transfers of the Jiedu envoy. This system provided an opportunity for An Lushan to cultivate his own power, and he was able to better control the army.
When selecting army commanders, An Lushan gave preference to those who were the most basic generals, because these people did not have prominent family backgrounds and were easier to control. Through careful selection and training, An Lushan successfully established his own team of trusted generals, including Li Guiren, Sun Xiaozhe, Cai Xide and others. Most of these people came from poor backgrounds, and after being promoted, they felt deeply dependent on An Lushan's power and were loyal to him.
There are three types of people in An Lushan Group: directly promoted generals, ministers, and relatives. These three groups of people are closely linked to An Lushan's interests and are unlikely to contradict them. In An Lushan's high position, his decisions are often constrained by the interests of the entire group, and he must think about everyone, not just personal gains and losses. This kind of internal conspiracy makes An Lushan have to conform to the interests of the group, otherwise he may face the risk of being completely eliminated by his subordinates.
Although the low-level officers and soldiers did not have much to do with An Lushan's interests, An Lushan skillfully deceived them. An Lushan used the pretext of going to Beijing to crusade against the traitor Yang Guozhong under the will of Xuanzong, so that the soldiers were willing to follow him to raise troops against the Tang Dynasty. The soldiers had always regarded obedience to orders as their duty, and coupled with their hatred of Yang Guozhong, the soldiers moved quickly, hoping to reap a handsome reward for surrendering to the Tang army.
An Lushan skillfully used strategy in the early days of the war, which made the middle and low-level officers and soldiers taste the sweetness. They fought desperately to survive, for the great wealth that happened overnight. However, the upper echelons of the Tang Dynasty sensed the problem and finally decided to pardon the soldiers and hold only the upper commanders accountable. Seeing the hope of being pardoned, coupled with the strong power of the Don army, the soldiers surrendered one after another to find a way to survive for themselves.
The reasons for An Lushan's rebellion were complex and profound, involving many aspects such as the intrigue within the group and the helpless choices of the low-level soldiers. An Lushan controlled the hearts and minds of the people within the group, while the low-level soldiers were influenced by his deception and the vulnerability of the Tang Dynasty army, and chose to surrender for the sake of survival and profit. The lessons of the Anshi Rebellion allow us to better understand the profound social turmoil and human weakness behind history.
This article deeply analyzes the reasons why the northern army of the Tang Dynasty chose to follow An Lushan in the early days of the Anshi Rebellion. During this period, the Tang Dynasty was in its heyday, however, through the analysis of various levels, the article reveals the fundamental motivation of the An Lushan rebellion and the choice of low-level soldiers.
First of all, the article clearly points out the social conditions during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, from the emperor down to the common people, who were in a state of drunkenness and dreaming of death, preferring to enjoy rather than warn of future turmoil. This social atmosphere provided fertile ground for An Lushan's rebellion, making it unbelievable for his betrayal.
Secondly, the article expounds the means by which An Lushan won the support of the northern provinces through interests. Tang Jiedu envoys were given the right to recruit soldiers, and An Lushan skillfully used this opportunity to cultivate his own power in the army. He chose basic generals and succeeded in building his own team of cronies by prioritizing those with no family background. This kind of interest made these generals choose to support An Lushan when he raised troops.
The article also describes in detail An Lushan's management of his own forces and his intentions towards lower-level generals. Through the careful selection of the promoted army commanders, An Lushan secured their loyalties. Most of these promoted generals came from poor backgrounds, and after being promoted by An Lushan, they believed that their power depended on An Lushan, so they decided to be loyal to him in their hearts. This management strategy has effectively consolidated An Lushan's leadership position.
In addition, the article reveals the reasons why the low-level soldiers followed An Lushan to rebel. Through An Lushan's clever use of the pretext of Fengxuanzong's will to enter Beijing to crusade against the traitor Yang Guozhong, the soldiers were convinced that his actions were for the justice of the country. Soldiers consistently obey orders, and it is impossible for soldiers to oppose the orders of their superiors. This desire was quickly conveyed to the low-level officers and soldiers through the soldier's sense of duty and hatred for Yang Guozhong, so that they acted quickly to support An Lushan.
Taken together, this article shows the complex reasons why the northern Tang army chose to follow An Lushan in the early days of the Anshi Rebellion through a nuanced analysis. Through an in-depth study of the political, social, and internal levels of the military, it provides readers with a profound space for historical interpretation and reflection.
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