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Li Fuguo entered the palace as a eunuch during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty. Later, he became a confidant of the Crown Prince Li Heng due to his dedicated service to him. In 755 AD, the ‘An Lushan Rebellion’ broke out, and wherever the rebels went, they were unstoppable, approaching the capital Chang’an. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang fled in panic. Prince Li Heng was ordered to pacify the people in the rear, and the relocated people hoped that Li Heng would stay and resist the rebels. Li Fuguo also persuaded Li Heng to stay and resist the enemy in the name of national righteousness. The Crown Prince then split off with Emperor Xuanzong’s troops and headed north for Lingwu. Li Fuguo urged Li Heng to quickly declare himself emperor to reassure the people.
In 756 AD, Crown Prince Li Heng ascended the throne in Lingwu and became Emperor Suzong of Tang. He also honored Emperor Xuanzong of Tang as the Grand Emperor. Tang Suzong had a cowardly personality. At this moment, seeing Li Fuguo’s loyal support, he regarded him as his left and right arm and gave him the name ‘Huguo’. Later, he changed his name to ‘Fuguo’ and entrusted all military and political affairs to him.
In December 757 AD, Li Fuguo returned to Chang’an with Emperor Suzong, and was appointed as the Grand Duke of Bingguo, with the addition of the three departments of the Imperial Household Department and the establishment of the ‘Censorate Hall’ to monitor the activities of officials. Tang Xuanzong and his delegation also returned to Chang’an. At first, he lived a life of idleness, but still considered free. Tang Suzong and Li Fuguo were both afraid of Xuanzong’s restoration, so with Tang Suzong’s tacit approval, Li Fuguo pressed Tang Xuanzong step by step. At first, half of the three hundred horses favored by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang were taken back, leaving only ten; Following the imperial decree, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was ordered to move to the inner palace, leaving only a few elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people to serve him; Then he exiled his loyal eunuch Gao Lishi, who had always been loyal to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, and forced his trusted official Chen Xuanli to retire.
Li Fuguo held great power and almost all major events in the world were decided by him. The matters reported by courtiers were often handled by him before being informed to Emperor Suzong. In order to have a more accurate understanding of the movements of the ministers in the court, Li Fuguo also dispatched dozens of people to supervise the every move of the officials. Severely crack down on officials who do not comply. Li Fuguo dealt with lawsuits across the country based on his own likes and dislikes, and boasted of his imperial will. The local military governors were also appointed by Li Fuguo.
In 762 AD, Tang Suzong fell seriously ill. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang died of illness. After hearing about it, Tang Suzong’s illness worsened. In order to facilitate her future involvement in the political situation, Empress Zhang conspired to kill the Crown Prince Li Yu appointed by Emperor Suzong of Tang and replace him with Prince Li of Yue. Empress Zhang and the King of Yue organized two hundred in the palace. This move was discovered by Li Fuguo’s accomplices. Li Fuguo and others first protected the Crown Prince, then arrested the King of Yue and his supporters, and imprisoned Empress Zhang. When Emperor Suzong of the late Tang Dynasty died of illness. The next day, Tang Dynasty Emperor Li Yu ascended to the throne as emperor.
Since then, Li Fuguo has become increasingly arrogant and domineering. He once said to Emperor Tang: ‘Everyone (the common name of the emperor) should sit inside and listen to the old slaves for foreign affairs.’. Upon hearing the words of the usurper, Emperor Tang was displeased and decided to annihilate Li Fuguo. Therefore, Emperor Tang appeared to favor Fuguo and honored him as the ‘Shangfu’, granting him the titles of Sikong and Zhongshu Ling. However, he privately contacted eunuch Cheng Yuanzhen and appointed Yaozi Ang as the Marshal’s Office’s marching officer, taking control of the forbidden army and seizing military power. Abandon the official position of Fuguo and be promoted to the title of Bolu County King. Soon after, someone was sent to assassinate him late at night, cut off his head and threw it into the toilet.
