An Qingxu was the second son of An Lushan. Although he was not his father's initial favorite, he participated in the rebellion from its inception.
As An Lushan became increasingly violent due to illness and blindness, An Qingxu lived in constant fear of his father's wrath. Upon learning that An Lushan planned to name a younger half-brother as successor, An Qingxu conspired with the eunuch Li Ting'er and the general Yan Zhuang to assassinate his father in 757 AD.
After seizing the throne, he proved to be an ineffective leader, lacking his father's military charisma and authority. His reign was marked by military defeats against the Tang-Uyghur alliance.
In 759 AD, after the siege of Yecheng was broken, Shi Simingโwho had come to his 'rescue'โexecuted An Qingxu and his brothers, taking the throne of Yan for himself.