Under the continuation of the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, the moment the Anshi Rebellion broke out, it was like a thunderbolt in the clear sky, which made the Tang Empire fall from its former glory into the abyss. This eight-year war not only left a deep imprint on history, but also plunged the Tang Empire into a state of collapse, making people feel completely hopeless.
The shadow of the secession of the feudal town
After the Anshi Rebellion of the Tang Dynasty, the internal political turmoil and instability of the Tang Empire bore the brunt of the secession of feudal towns. For a long time, in order to maintain local stability, the Tang Dynasty set up many jiedu envoys, but these jiedu envoys gradually evolved into local separatist forces. Land, wealth, and armies were in the hands of the Jiedu envoys, making them the true rulers of the region. After the outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion, some of these jiedu envoys even chose to rebel and colluded with the rebel forces, further weakening the ruling power of the imperial court.
The feudal towns in Hebei were particularly divided, and their rich and prosperous economic conditions made these local forces even more powerful. After the end of the Anshi Rebellion, the Hebei feudal towns rose to prominence, forming a force to compete with the imperial court. Not only did they have a large army, but they also had a wealth of economic resources at their disposal, which put the imperial court's control over the Hebei region in jeopardy.
The heavy pressure of the two capitals is broken
Along with the secession of the feudal towns, there was a scene of the ruins of the two capitals. Chang'an and Luoyang, as the political and cultural centers of the Tang Empire, suffered great damage during the Anshi Rebellion. The city of Chang'an was captured by the Tibetan army, and the emperor was forced to flee in a hurry, while the city of Luoyang was not spared. The devastation of these two cities is not only a material loss, but also a pain and disappointment in the hearts of the people.
After the Anshi Rebellion, the decline of the two capitals caused the Tang Empire to lose its function as a political and cultural center, further exacerbating the turmoil in the imperial court. As two cities that symbolize the glory of the Tang Empire, their fall is undoubtedly the fall of the majesty of the Tang Empire and the shattering of hope in people's hearts.
The serious challenge of the frontier crisis
Under the attack of internal and external troubles, the crisis of the frontier of the Tang Empire has become more and more severe. Tubo and other neighboring regimes seized the opportunity to attack the Tang Dynasty's borders on an unprecedented scale. The powerful cavalry units of the Tibetan army, as well as the sophisticated equipment, brought great challenges to the border defense of the Tang Empire.
After the Anshi Rebellion, the crisis on the frontier of the Tang Empire deepened, making the imperial court even more difficult. Whether it is internal or external troubles, they are constantly eroding the power of the Tang Empire, making this once glorious empire gradually lose its former glory.
The army is weak and financially difficult
In addition to the problems mentioned above, after the Anshi Rebellion, the army of the Tang Empire also faced serious weakness. The long war depleted the empire's military strength, and many excellent generals and soldiers died in the war, making it difficult for the imperial court to effectively mobilize enough troops to maintain the country's security. At the same time, financial difficulties also had a serious impact on the army's supply and equipment, putting the army of the Tang Empire at a significant disadvantage on the battlefield.
Social unrest and hardship
After the Anshi Rebellion, the social order of the Tang Empire also suffered serious damage, and the people's lives were greatly affected. The war has led to the displacement of large numbers of people and the loss of urban prosperity. At the same time, the panic and unrest brought about by the war further deteriorated social order, and banditry was rampant, and the people were in dire straits. Coupled with the damage to agricultural production caused by the long-term war, the lack of food has made the people's livelihood of the Tang Empire face serious difficulties.
Cultural decline and elite loss
After the Anshi Rebellion, the culture of the Tang Empire also suffered a serious blow. The prolonged war had displaced literati and artists, and cultural activities had come to a virtual standstill. Many cultural heritages were consumed by the war, causing the cultural heritage of the Tang Empire to suffer serious losses. At the same time, many talented talents also chose to leave the Tang Empire in search of a more stable life and development opportunities, which caused a serious loss of elite talents in the empire and brought huge hidden dangers to the future of the Tang Empire.
A time of despair and struggle
The Tang Empire after the Anshi Rebellion, like a wounded lion, still shows a trace of its former majesty, but has lost its former sharpness and ambition. The internal and external troubles have plunged the empire into despair and struggle.