Chen Xuanli was General Commander of Imperial "Yülin Army" (羽林军) during the Chinese Tang Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...

. He was subject loyal to Xuanzong Emperor

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...

 of Tang Dynasty.

Biography

Chen Xuanli was formerly serve as low officer guard in palace, he help Li Longji launch a coup to Empress Dowager Wei

Empress Wei (Zhongzong)

Empress Wei was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. She was the second wife of Emperor Zhongzong, who reigned twice, and during his second reign, she tried to emulate the example of her mother-in-law Wu Zetian and seize power...

 in 710 and succeed. When Li Longji took the throne as Xuanzong Emperor, Chen was appointed as commander of Imperial Guard and become the most favourite general of Xuanzong. In 755 , Chen escort Xuanzong Emperor and Yang Guifei

Yang Guifei

Consort Yang Yuhuan , often known as Yáng Guìfēi , known briefly by the Taoist nun name Taizhen , was known as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China...

 when flee from Tang's capital Chang'an during the Anshi Rebellion

An Shi Rebellion

The An Lushan Rebellion took place in China during the Tang Dynasty from CE December 16, 755 to CE February 17, 763, beginning when general An Lushan declared himself emperor, establishing the rival Yan Dynasty in Northern China...

. Chen Xuanli become ill and die in the same year after Xuanzong death in 762.

Rumors

During the execution of Yang Guifei, Chen secretly plot with Gao Lishi

Gao Lishi

Gao Lishi , formally the Duke of Qi , was a eunuch official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, becoming particularly powerful during Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's reign...

 to bring another woman to replace Yang. Because Chen was in charge of examining Yang bodies, he managed her to escape to Shankou County, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

.

Reference

• Book of Tang, vol. 184.
• New Book of Tang, vol. 208.
• "The Riddle of the Death of Concubine Yang Yuhuan" http://english.cri.cn/1702/2005-5-5/121@227674.htm