Shence Armies

The Shence Army (simplified Chinese: 神策军; traditional Chinese: 神策軍; pinyin: Shéncè Jūn; literally: "Divine strategy") was a Tang dynasty (618–907) army unit established in 754 CE by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, and based in Chang'an, forming the core of the imperial guards responsible for protecting the emperor. The command of the Shence Army was originally given to Longyou Military Governor (隴右節度使) Geshu Han. Headquartered to the west of Lintao County, Gansu Province at Mohuan Chuan (磨環川) (south east of modern-day Lintan County), the Shence Army defended the western border close to the capital against the Tibetan Empire. The Shence Army played a pivotal role as a tool of the eunuchs in establishing and keeping control over the Tang court through military clout.

During the An Shi Rebellion (755–763), General Wei Boyu (卫伯玉/衛伯玉) and 1,000 of his Shence troops were dispatched to assist the embattled central authorities. Thereafter Wei Boyu defended the area around Sanmenxia where troops from Tufan had already occupied Lintao County. At the same time Yu Chao'en was appointed Army Censor (监军/監軍) by the imperial court and later commanded the Shence Army. In 763 CE Tubo attacked Chang'an whereupon Emperor Daizong of Tang fled to Sanmenxia. Yu Chao’en’s army and the Sanmenxia armies combined and were collectively referred to as the Shence Army. When Daizong later returned to the capital, the Shence Army became one of the imperial guard units and gradually increased in strength.

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