Hebei (河北, 'North of the River') is a territory in northeast China. It was a circuit during the Tang dynasty[1][2] while in the present-day, it is a province of the People's Republic of China.[3]
As a Tang circuit, Hebei was subdivided into twenty-four commanderies (郡),[4][5] also known as prefectures (府),[2] and was also known as Yanzhao (燕趙) after Yan and Zhao of the Warring States period.[6] The most significant prefecture was Youzhou, which was centred on the major city of Fanyang and became a military district under the rule of a semi-autonomous military governor known as a jiedushi. Other notable Hebei commanderies were Changshan, whose local government under the Yan family rallied early resistance against the An Lushan Rebellion, and Qinghe, the hometown of the Hidden One Li E[4][7] which was instrumental in organizing a counter-rebellion alliance with Pingyuan.[6]
History[]
Because Fanyang was the base of jiedushi An Lushan, Hebei naturally became the first site of war when he rose in rebellion against the Tang in late 755.[4] He brought a 150,000 strong army to bear on Changshan city, demanding passage through to the Yellow River. Grand Protector Yan Gaoqing of Changshan could offer no resistance and acquiesced to an occupation by Lushan's forces, but he secretly sent his son Yan Jiming to issue a call-to-arms to the top officials of every commandery and county in Hebei. Jiming raced to do just that, but he was met with rejection after rejection. Some administrators appealed to the authority of Lushan, whose official pretext was to oust the corruption of Chancellor Yang Guozhong to save the Tang. Most were simply paralyzed by defeatism, recognizing the might of the warlord, whose army grew in size to 200,000 and was estimated to be 1/3 of Tang forces across all China. One grand protector even fled for his life and abandoned his people to certain doom in a defenceless city.[4]
All the while, Lushan wrought devastation in his march south towards the Yellow River. He had Julu (鉅鹿) razed to the ground because a pun on the city's name that could mean "repel Lu(shan)" was seen as an ill omen. Beacons punctuated China's landscape at regular distances, but the warlord had those he encountered along the way occupied with garrisons of his elite Yeluohe to ensure that they always emitted a "peace" signal.[5]
Out of the twenty-four commanderies of Hebei, only in Qinghe did Jiming receive a positive response, for it was the home of Li E, an Assassin indebted to him and sworn to fight against injustice. Li E lived among a Mohist community of orphaned children and disabled veterans which could not lend any aid either, but he was confident that his assistance was all that was needed for Jiming to begin turning the tide. True to his word, the two were able to eliminate the Yeluohe guarding the Julu beacon and light the signal for danger. This act had a cascading effect as it inspired Tang loyalists throughout Hebei to do the same. The warning spread as far as the Great Wall of China and along its length, ensuring that Lushan's hold on north China would be tenuous throughout the war.[8]
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Dynasty – Beacon Fire (Part 2)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
Administrative divisions of the Tang dynasty on Wikipedia
- ↑
Administrative divisions of China on Wikipedia
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Assassin's Creed: Dynasty – Beacon Fire (Part 5)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Assassin's Creed: Dynasty – Beacon Fire (Part 8)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed: Dynasty – The Hidden Ones (Part 3)
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Dynasty – Beacon Fire (Part 6)
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Dynasty – Beacon Fire (Part 9)