Is “An Qingxu secretly plotted to murder An Lushan and usurp the throne” true?
The New Book of Tang, Biographies of Rebel Officials, records that An Lushan favored his youngest son An Qing'en and intended to depose the eldest. Yan Zhuang and Li Zhuer plotted to murder An Lushan and establish An Qingxu, 'and with the general Yang Huiyuan defeated An Qingxu's general Wang Fude at Shushe.' The Sui and Tang Romance, chapter 096, writes 'in the end, An Lushan was killed by his son An Qingxu,' and An Qingxu, after killing his father and usurping the throne, was later killed by Shi Siming, all consistent with the official history.
In the official history, An Qingxu, fearing deposition, plotted to murder An Lushan and was later killed by Shi Siming. The novel truthfully records his patricide and subsequent execution.
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