Guo Ziyi - Under Emperor Suzong

Under Emperor Suzong

Although the An Shi Rebellion would finally be put down in 763, Tang China was now facing another threat, this time from the Tibetans. Tibet had benefited from Tang China's prosperous period, when aid to it from the Tang Dynasty was frequent. During the An Shi Rebellion, it reached the height of its power, and it betrayed the aid the Tang had given it by supporting the rebels. Although the Tibetans had signed a peace treaty with the Tang, the Tibetans only observed the treaty so long as the Tang remained strong. Weakened by the An Shi Rebellion, the Tibetans began to harass the Chinese border. Most Jiedushi who were not born ethnically Chinese and had little incentive to defend the Tang Empire, especially when it was ruled by a weak emperor. In response, Suzong re-promoted Guo Ziyi, but only as a military figurehead with no power, in the hope that merely the threat of sending Guo against them would keep the Tibetans at bay. In 762, a general named Wang Yuanzhi murdered Li Jingzhi, the commander of Shaanxi, claiming that the troops were still so loyal to Guo that they demanded he be reinstated as Jiedushi. Suzong was forced to return Guo Ziyi to his former position. When Guo Ziyi arrived, however, instead of thanking Wang he condemned the general for his disloyalty in killing his commander. He also pointed out that such an act disrupted the chain of command, which might embolden the Tibetans to attack. General Wang submitted to his mistakes and committed suicide. Guo Ziyi quickly assumed command of the post and the Tibetans did not dare to attack Chinese border towns.