In late Tang period , the empire was worn out by recurring revolts of regional warlords , while internally , as scholar-officials engaged in fierce factional strife , corrupted eunuchs amassed immense power . Catastrophically , the Huang Chao Rebellion , from 874 to 884 , devastated the entire empire for a decade . The sack of the southern port Guangzhou in 879 was followed by the massacre of most of its inhabitants , along with the large foreign merchant enclaves . By 881 , both capitals , Luoyang and Chang ' an , fell successively . The reliance on ethnic Han and Turkic warlords in suppressing the rebellion increased their power and influence . Consequently , the fall of the dynasty following Zhu Wen 's usurpation led to an era of division
massacre
Guangzhou massacre
History of China