Is “Gao Xianzhi retreated to defend Tong Pass and was killed due to slander by Bian Lingcheng” true?
The New Book of Tang, 'Biographies of the Sons of Emperor Suzong' records that when An Lushan rebelled, 'Gao Xianzhi was appointed as deputy commander,' and Gao Xianzhi led troops to retreat to Tong Pass to fortify defenses. The eunuch supervisor Bian Lingcheng, due to personal grudge, went to court and falsely accused him, causing Emperor Xuanzong to angrily execute Gao Xianzhi. In the Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Chapter 090, it is written that 'Gao Xianzhi followed his advice and retreated with Feng Changqing to guard Tong Pass,' and Bian Lingcheng, failing to extort bribes, slandered them and caused their deaths, which matches the official history.
In the official history, Gao Xianzhi retreated to Tong Pass and was falsely killed by the eunuch supervisor Bian Lingcheng. The novel faithfully presents the unjust case of a good general's wrongful death.
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