The Emperor (天子) | 24 Histories

Overview

The Emperor was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 756 十五載
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 246, 251, 259, 266
AD 755 及安祿山反
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 244

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 104, passages 244, 287

Events and relationships

Approved training of herd boys
AD 756 十五載 · Political · Approver
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 251
Fled the capital
AD 756 十五載 · Political · Subject
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 287
Ordered full assault
AD 756 十五載 · Military · Commander in chief
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 259
Recalled and appointed
AD 755 及安祿山反 · Military · Appointing authority · With Ge Shuhan (哥舒翰)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 244
Saw off army
AD 755 及安祿山反 · Ritual · Host · At Hall of Diligent Government 勤政樓
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 245

Assessments and attributes

Assessment long at peace and unused to war; swayed by Yang Guozhong · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 266

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 104, passage 244

References in the histories

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 104Volume 100 Biographies 50: Yin Sizhen, Li Jie, Jie Wan, Bi Gou, Su Xiang, Zheng Weizhong, Wang Zhiyin, Lu Congyuan, Li Chaoyin, Pei Cui, Wang Qiu · 6 passages

Open chapter

及安祿山反，上以封常清、高仙芝喪敗，召翰入，拜為皇太子先鋒兵馬元帥，以田良丘為御史中丞，充行軍司馬，以王思禮、鉗耳大福、李承光、蘇法鼎、管崇嗣及蕃將火拔歸仁、李武定、渾萼、契苾寧等為裨將，河隴、朔方兵及蕃兵與高仙芝舊卒共二十萬，拒賊於潼關。 When An Lushan rebelled, because Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi had been defeated, the emperor summoned Han and appointed him Vanguard Commander of the Heir Apparent's Army; Tian Liangqiu was made Vice Censor-in-Chief and Campaigning Major; Wang Sili, Qian'er Dafu, Li Chengguang, Su Fading, Guan Chongsi, and the barbarian generals Huoba Guiren, Li Wuding, Hun E, Qibi Ning, and others were made deputy generals — Hexi, Longyou, and Shuofang troops and barbarian soldiers together with Gao Xianzhi's old troops, two hundred thousand in all, to resist the rebels at Tong Pass.

上御勤政樓勞遣之，百僚出餞於郊。 The emperor saw them off from the Hall of Diligent Government; the officials feasted them outside the walls.

詔從之，遂遣劍南軍將李福、劉光庭分統焉。 The emperor agreed and sent Jiannan generals Li Fu and Liu Guangting to command them.

賊將崔乾祐於陜郡潛鋒蓄銳，而覘者奏雲「賊殊無備」，上然之，命悉眾速討之。 Rebel general Cui Qianyu was secretly massing at Shan, but scouts reported "the rebels were unprepared"; the emperor believed it and ordered a full assault at once.

上久處太平，不練軍事，既為國忠眩惑，中使相繼督責。 The emperor, long at peace and unused to war, was swayed by Guozhong; palace envoys pressed Han in succession.

及遇羯賊，旋致敗亡，天子以之播遷，自身以之拘執，此皆命帥而不得其人也。 They met the rebels and were swiftly destroyed — the emperor fled, they were captured — all because the wrong men were given command.