Li Tan - During Anshi Rebellion

During Anshi Rebellion

In 755, the general An Lushan rebelled against Emperor Xuanzong's rule, and by 756 was approaching the Tang capital Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to flee with his family and close associates. Emperor Xuanzong intended to flee to Jiannan Circuit (劍南, roughly modern Sichuan and Chongqing), but as he reached Mawei (馬嵬, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi), the imperial guards escorting him, blaming An's rebellion on Emperor Xuanzong's favorite concubine Consort Yang Yuhuan and her cousin, the chancellor, Yang Guozhong, slaughtered the Yang household and forced Emperor Xuanzong to execute Consort Yang. After the incident, Emperor Xuanzong was intent on continuing to Chengdu (the capital of Jiannan Circuit). Li Heng did not follow Emperor Xuanzong, and initially remained at Mawei in response to the people of the region's request that he remain to fight against An. Li Heng initially stated that he wished to follow Emperor Xuanzong to Chengdu, but Li Tan convinced him to stay, saying:

The rebellious Hu has revolted, and the realm is breaking into pieces. If you do not follow the wishes of the people, how can the dynasty recover? For those responsible for the state, the greatest filial piety would be to preserve the state. Now, if you follow the Supreme One into the Shu region, then the region east of the San Pass will no longer be possessed by the imperial house, and how can you then maintain the support of the people? Your Royal Highness should gather brave men and temporarily go to Hexi to gather the troops and examine the border armies. There will be at least 100,000 men, and then summon Li Guangbi and Guo Ziyi to join forces with you. This is the best way to let the empire recover.

Li Tan's proposal was supported by his older brother Li Chu the Prince of Guangping, and Li Heng finally agreed and sent messengers to report this to Emperor Xuanzong, who agreed and gave Li Heng part of the imperial guard troops before heading further toward Chengdu. Li Tan then suggested that they head to the important border outpost Lingwu and gather troops there, and Li Heng agreed. On the way to Lingwu, Li Heng's small group of guards had to repeatedly battle bandits and deserting soldiers, and Li Tan repeatedly had to personally lead troops to protect his father. Whenever Li Heng had nothing to eat, Li Tan would weep. His acts of bravery and filial piety impressed the soldiers.

Once Li Heng reached Lingwu and gathered the troops there, at the urging of the generals, he took imperial title (as Emperor Suzong). He considered making Li Tan the supreme commander of the armed forces, but at the urging of his officials, who pointed out that this would create an ambiguity as to whether Li Chu, who was his oldest son, or Li Tan, would be his heir, Emperor Xuanzong made Li Chu the supreme commander. (According to the Zizhi Tongjian, it was Emperor Suzong's close advisor Li Mi who suggested this, and Li Tan, who was faithful to his brother, thanked Li Mi for proposing this to reduce the ambiguity.) Li Tan was instead given the command of the imperial guards.

Li Tan soon ran into conflict with Consort Zhang and the powerful eunuch Li Fuguo, who were allies, and he often accused Consort Zhang and Li Fuguo of improprieties. On one occasion, when he praised Emperor Suzong for following Li Mi's recommendation to strip a jewel-studded saddle that Emperor Xuanzong gave to Consort Zhang as a gift of its jewels and give the jewels to the soldiers as rewards, Consort Zhang became angry and bore grudges against both him and Li Mi. Further, Li Tan plotted to kill Consort Zhang and Li Fuguo. Consort Zhang and Li Fuguo instead acted first, falsely accusing Li Tan of planning to kill Li Chu to that he could become Emperor Suzong's heir. Emperor Suzong, believing in Consort Zhang's and Li Fuguo's accusations, ordered Li Tan to commit suicide in early 757.