In the late Tang Dynasty, continuous natural disasters led to widespread famine, especially severe in the regions south of the Yellow River. Farmers, already struggling to survive, were further oppressed by imperial officials, prompting them to launch uprisings one after another.
In 875 AD, Wang Xianzhi, Shang Rang, and others launched an uprising in Changyuan (present-day northeastern Changyuan, Henan Province), marking the beginning of the late Tang Dynasty peasant rebellions. Leading several thousand peasants, Wang Xianzhi quickly captured Puzhou and Caozhou, where local farmers flocked to join the revolt, steadily swelling the ranks of the insurgent forces.
Huang Chao was a native of Yuanqu (present-day northwest of Cao County, Shandong). He took the imperial examinations multiple times but repeatedly failed. Later, he made a living by selling illegal salt, accumulating a certain amount of wealth. After witnessing Wang Xianzhi's uprising, he gathered several thousand people, including his clansmen, brothers, sons, and nephews, to launch a rebellion in support of Wang Xianzhi.
After this, Huang Chao led his rebel forces to join forces with Wang Xianzhi's rebel army, making their momentum even stronger. They attacked Yizhou (present-day Linyi, Shandong) to the east but failed to capture it, so they began to strike at areas around Luoyang, capturing eight counties including Jiacheng (present-day Zheng County, Henan) and Yangdi (present-day Yu County, Henan). In 876 AD, Wang Xianzhi and Huang Chao led the rebel army to capture Ruzhou, taking the prefectural governor Wang Liao prisoner. The imperial troops sent to suppress the rebellion fought multiple battles with the rebels but were defeated each time. The prefectural governor of Qizhou, Pei Wu, decided to offer Wang Xianzhi amnesty. Pei Wu wrote to Wang Xianzhi, promising that if he surrendered, the imperial court would appoint him as Left Divine Strategy Army Commander and Supervisory Censor. Wang Xianzhi began to waver and considered accepting the offer. When Huang Chao learned of this, he severely berated Wang Xianzhi, even striking him on the head with a staff, causing Wang Xianzhi's head to bleed profusely.
After this, Huang Chao broke away from Wang Xianzhi and led two thousand men to fight against government forces. In 877 AD, Huang Chao led the rebel army to capture Yunzhou (present-day Yuncheng, Shandong) and Yizhou. Wang Xianzhi captured Ezhou (present-day Wuchang, Hubei) and then joined Huang Chao to take Songzhou (present-day southern Shangqiu, Henan), before launching an attack on Yingzhou. Yang Fuguang, who served as Deputy Commander of the Tang Dynasty's pacification forces, knew that Wang Xianzhi was considering surrender and once again tried to persuade him. Wang Xianzhi sent Chu Yanwei and Shang Junzhang to negotiate surrender terms with Yang Fuguang. However, before Chu Yanwei and Shang Junzhang could meet Yang Fuguang, they were arrested by Song Wei, the Tang pacification commissioner. Song Wei sent them to Chang'an, where they were quickly executed. Upon learning of this, Wang Xianzhi was furious and changed his mind, deciding to fight the Tang army to the end. In 878 AD, Wang Xianzhi was defeated at Huangmei (present-day northwestern Huangmei, Hubei) and killed by Tang forces.
After Wang Xianzhi died, his remaining forces joined forces with Huang Chao's rebel army, and Huang Chao was elected by the group as the "Yellow King," with the title "Great General Who Charges to the Heavens." From then on, Huang Chao became the leader of the rebel army.
Huang Chao led his rebel army to continue fighting against the Tang forces. After capturing Puzhou and Yizhou, he planned to attack the eastern capital, Luoyang. The reigning Emperor Xizong of Tang was terrified and immediately dispatched reinforcements to Luoyang. Huang Chao realized that Luoyang was heavily defended with many troops and generals, and his rebel army lacked sufficient strength to take it, while the Tang forces along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River were weak. Therefore, Huang Chao directed his rebel army to advance southward.
Huang Chao led the rebel army into Fujian, captured Fuzhou, and killed many landlords and officials there. In 879 AD, Huang Chao's rebel army occupied Guangzhou. At that time, a plague broke out in Guangzhou, so Huang Chao ordered the army to rest and regroup for two months. After the rest, Huang Chao led the rebel army northward. He proclaimed himself "Supreme Commander of the Righteous Army" and declared his intention to march into the Guanzhong region. The rebel army gained the support of the common people and quickly swelled to hundreds of thousands.
In 880 AD, Huang Chao led his rebel army to defeat Zhang Lin, a general under the military governor of Huainan Circuit, at Xinzhou (modern-day Shangrao, Jiangxi). They then crossed the Yangtze River, traversed the Huai River, and captured the eastern capital, Luoyang. Along the way, peasants flocked to join the rebel forces, steadily strengthening their numbers. After taking Luoyang, Huang Chao did not linger but pressed westward, seizing Tong Pass and advancing directly on Chang'an. Emperor Xizong of Tang, terrified, immediately fled to Chengdu.
In 881 AD, Huang Chao led his rebel army into Chang'an. The city's residents were overjoyed, lining the streets to welcome the insurgents. Huang Chao's general, Shang Rang, told the people, "King Huang raised his army for the sake of the common people; we will never treat you as cruelly as the Tang emperor did. Go about your daily lives without any worry." Afterwards, the rebel army distributed large amounts of wealth and goods to the poor, and the people cheered with delight.
At the end of that year, Huang Chao ascended the throne in the Hanyuan Hall, changing the dynasty's name to Qi and establishing the reign title of Jintong. All Tang officials ranked fourth grade or above were dismissed, while those below fourth grade were retained. Huang Chao appointed Shang Rang as Grand Commandant and also as Chief Minister of the Secretariat, Meng Kai as Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and Gai Hong as Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. All members of the Tang imperial family who remained in Chang'an were killed by the rebel army.
Although Huang Chao occupied Chang'an and established the Daqi regime, it lacked necessary economic policies and could only consume its resources without replenishment.
In 882 AD, the Tang army launched a counteroffensive. Huang Chao's general Zhu Wen was defeated in battle against the Tang forces and subsequently surrendered to them. Emperor Xizong of Tang bestowed upon him the name Quanzhong and appointed him as General of the Right Jinwu Guard. Thereafter, Li Keyong, the chieftain of the Shatuo tribe from the northwest, led ten thousand cavalry to support the Tang army. Huang Chao's troops suffered successive defeats and were forced to withdraw from Chang'an.
After that, Huang Chao appointed Meng Kai as his vanguard, captured Caizhou, and laid siege to Chenzhou (present-day Huaiyang, Henan). The governor of Chenzhou led the defenders in a stubborn resistance, and Huang Chao's repeated attempts to take the city failed. In the end, Huang Chao was defeated and committed suicide at Langhu Valley in Mount Tai.
The Huang Chao Rebellion, lasting about ten years from start to finish, was the largest peasant uprising in Tang Dynasty history, dealing a heavy blow to the brutal and decaying Tang rule. Shortly after the rebellion ended, the Tang Dynasty itself collapsed.