Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, is often associated with another name when people mention him, Yang Guifei Yang Yuhuan. Indeed, their story is more well-known compared to other events involving Li Longji, but this does not mean that there was only one thing in Li Longji’s life, after all, he was also an emperor. In his later years, as the Grand Emperor, Li Longji lived a very miserable life. What was the reason for this situation? Why was Li Longji so desolate in his later years?
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, was a monarch with mixed merits and demerits. Although he personally pushed the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty to its peak, he also personally buried the glory of the Tang Dynasty.
After An Lushan rebelled, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang fled hastily and staged a mutiny at Mawei Slope. The soldiers and soldiers forced Li Longji to hang Yang Guifei. Afterwards, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang fled to Chengdu, and Crown Prince Li Heng fled to Shuofang. With the support of eunuch Li Fuguo and soldiers, the Crown Prince ascended to the throne in Lingwu, known as Emperor Suzong of Tang.
In 757 AD, An Lushan was killed, and Li Longji returned to Chang’an and resided in Xingqing Palace, known as the Supreme Emperor. At this time, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was only accompanied by two caring attendants, Chen Xuanli and Gao Lishi. In his later years, Emperor Xuanzong returned to Chang’an feeling guilty about the death of Yang Guifei, and his longing for her grew stronger. So they sent people to mourn Yang Guifei; Later, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang wanted to change the burial, but was opposed by eunuch Li Fuguo. Li Fuguo secretly ordered the eunuchs to move the body of the noble consort for burial, which he did not allow Emperor Xuanzong to find.
Li Fuguo repeatedly spoke ill of Tang Xuanzong in front of Li Heng because he supported him as emperor and feared that it would be detrimental to him if Tang Xuanzong regained his position in the future. Li Fuguo once said to Li Heng: Emperor Xuanzong of Tang lived in Xingqing Palace and thought about making friends with ministers outside every day. Moreover, Chen Xuanli and Gao Lishi also wanted to assassinate His Majesty. Li Heng, as he was after all the son of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, only comforted Li Fuguo that he was a loyal minister and did not take any sanctions against Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.
Once, Li Fuguo took advantage of Tang Suzong’s serious illness and falsely issued an imperial decree to relocate Tang Xuanzong from Xingqing Palace. On the way for Tang Xuanzong to move out, Li Fuguo arranged 500 cavalry and armored soldiers to block the carriage with great force. At that time, Tang Xuanzong thought that these people were planning to harm him and was frightened. Shortly thereafter, Gao Lishi was exiled on charges of treason, Chen Xuanli was dismissed from his post and returned home, and all of Tang Xuanzong’s close aides were purged. In his later years, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was left with only himself hanging in a human shadow, which was not tragic, but eventually died of melancholy.
