55 Facts About Juqu Mengxun

Juqu Mengxun, known by his posthumous name as the Prince Wuxuan of Northern Liang, was the second prince of the Lushuihu-led Chinese Northern Liang dynasty, and the first from the Juqu clan.

Juqu Mengxun was considered a capable ruler when he was young, but in his old age was considered cruel and arbitrary.

Juqu Mengxun was born in 368, while the area that would later be his domain was under the rule of Former Liang, but little is known about his early years.

Juqu Mengxun was of Lushuihu ethnicity, and it was said that his ancestors served as the left Juqu for the Xiongnu Chanyus, and so they started using Juqu as the family name.

Later, during Former Qin and Later Liang rule, Juqu Mengxun became known for broad knowledge in history and military tactics and thought to be both humorous and full of strategies, and became feared by the Former Qin governor Liang Xi and the Later Liang emperor Lu Guang, and so he tried to divert attention from himself by drinking heavily and spending time on frivolous matters.

Juqu Mengxun escorted their caskets back to their home territory of Zhangye and then persuaded the various Lushuihu tribes to rise against Later Liang.

Juqu Mengxun joined Duan Ye, and was made a major general of the state.

In 398, Duan Ye sent him on an expedition against Lu Guang's nephew Lu Chun, and Juqu Mengxun captured Lu Chun, causing all remaining Later Liang cities west of Zhangye to submit to Northern Liang, further enlarging Northern Liang territory.

Lu Hong defeated him and nearly killed him, but Juqu Mengxun saved Duan Ye.

Juqu Mengxun, knowing Duan Ye's suspicions, tried to hide his ambitions.

Juqu Mengxun then told Juqu Nancheng that he felt that Duan Ye lacked abilities and was an inappropriate ruler, trying to persuade Juqu Nancheng to rise against Duan Ye.

When Juqu Nancheng refused, Juqu Mengxun requested to leave the capital to be the governor of Xi'an Commandery, and Duan Ye agreed.

When Juqu Mengxun Nancheng requested Duan Ye for such permission, Duan Ye arrested him and ordered him to commit suicide.

Juqu Mengxun then cited Duan Ye's execution of Juqu Nancheng to ask his people to rise against Duan Ye, and the people indeed rose in rebellion, because of the high regard they had for Juqu Nancheng.

The Northern Liang officials all endorsed Juqu Mengxun to take over the throne, and he took throne with the title Duke of Zhangye.

Juqu Mengxun, having taken the ducal title, promoted a number of officials who were considered capable, and it was said that the people of his state were pleased.

Juqu Mengxun nominally submitted to the Later Qin emperor Yao Xing as a vassal, although remaining in reality independent.

Juqu Mengxun became fearful, and he sent his brother Juqu Ru the Marquess of Dugu and official Zhang Qian to meet Yao Xing's uncle Yao Shuode, who had just recently sieged Later Liang's capital Guzang and forced the Later Liang emperor Lu Long to submit, offering to surrender his state to Later Qin.

Yao Shuode was pleased, but upon return to Northern Liang, while Zhang recommended such surrender, Juqu Ru argued against it, and Juqu Mengxun, while remaining nominally a Later Qin vassal, executed Zhang and never actually surrendered his state.

Juqu Mengxun tried to make peace with Southern Liang's prince Tufa Lilugu, initially sending his son Juqu Xi'nian as a hostage to Southern Liang, but Tufa Lilugu rejected Juqu Xi'nian, stating that he was too young to be a meaningful hostage and demanding Juqu Ru instead.

Around the new year 403, Liang Zhongyong, who continued to be a key official after Juqu Mengxun took over for Duan Ye, fled from his domain and joined Western Liang's prince Li Gao.

Juqu Mengxun did not betray me, but himself; I do not mind losing a man.

Juqu Mengxun sent Juqu Ru to the Later Qin capital Chang'an to declare his submission to Yao Xing.

In spring 406, Tufa Rutan launched a major attack on Northern Liang, but Juqu Mengxun was able to hold Zhangye, forcing Tufa Rutan to withdraw.

In fall 406, Juqu Mengxun made a surprise attack on Jiuquan, initially defeated Li Gao, but he could not successfully siege Jiuquan and was forced to withdraw.

In fall 407, Tufa Rutan made another attack on Northern Liang, but Juqu Mengxun was able to defeat him.

In 410, Tufa Rutan and his brother Tufa Juyan launched successive attacks on Northern Liang, and Juqu Mengxun was not only able to repel them, but then proceeded to siege Guzang.

In fall 410, Juqu Mengxun attacked Western Liang and defeated Li Gao's heir apparent Li Xin and captured the Western Liang general Zhu Yuanhu, and he subsequently made peace with Li Gao when Li Gao ransomed Zhu with silver and gold.

In spring 411, with Jiao Lang still holding Guzang, Juqu Mengxun sieged Guzang and captured him, but pardoned him.

Juqu Mengxun left Juqu Ru in command at Guzang and then attacked Southern Liang, putting Ledu under siege, and only withdrew after Tufa Rutan sent his son Tufa Anzhou as a hostage.

Tufa Rutan soon counterattacked and initially was successful, but Juqu Mengxun trailed Tufa Rutan's forces and defeated him, again putting Ledu under siege and forcing Tufa Rutan to send another son, Tufa Ran'gan as a witness before withdrawing.

In fall 411, Juqu Mengxun made a surprise attack on Western Liang, but was unsuccessful, and as he ran out of food supplies and withdrew, Li Gao sent Li Xin to attack him, defeating him.

In winter 412, Juqu Mengxun moved the capital from Zhangye to Guzang, and he claimed the greater title of Prince of Hexi.

In 413, Juqu Mengxun created his son Juqu Zhengde heir apparent.

Juqu Mengxun renewed the attack when Tufa Rutan's general Tufa Wenzhi surrendered to him, forcing Tufa Rutan to send Tufa Juyan as a hostage to him.

Also in 413, while Juqu Mengxun was sleeping, his eunuch Wang Huaizu tried to assassinate him, but only hurt his foot.

In 417, Juqu Mengxun tried to lay a trap for Li Xin by having his general Juqu Guangzong pretending to surrender to Western Liang, while Juqu Mengxun lay in wait.

However, Li Xin realized the trap and withdrew, and as Juqu Mengxun gave chase, Li Xin defeated him.

That year, Juqu Mengxun became fearful and angry when he heard that the Jin general Liu Yu had destroyed Later Qin and seized its territory, probably in fear that Liu Yu would next advance against his state.

In 418, Juqu Mengxun made an attack on Western Liang, but Li Xin refused to engage him, and he withdrew.

Juqu Mengxun pretended to attack Western Qin's city Haomen, but once reaching Haomen, immediately withdrew and hid his army at Chuanyan.

Li Xin, believing wrongly that Juqu Mengxun's defenses were down, decided to attack Zhangye, against the advice of Song Yao and Zhang Tishun, as well as his mother Princess Dowager Yin.

Juqu Mengxun quickly captured Jiuquan and most of Western Liang territory.

Juqu Mengxun largely maintained a policy of trying to pacify the Western Liang people and incorporating capable Western Liang officials into his administration, including Li Gao's half-brother Song Yao.

In winter 420, Li Xin's brother Li Xun seized Dunhuang and tried to reestablish Western Liang rule, and Juqu Mengxun initially sent Juqu Zhengde to siege Dunhuang.

Li Xun's official Song Cheng rebelled and offered the city to him, and Li Xun committed suicide, ending Western Liang; contrary to the pacification policy he carried out at Jiuquan, Juqu Mengxun slaughtered the populace of Dunhuang.

Also in 423, Juqu Mengxun sent tributes to Jin's successor state, Liu Song, which Liu Yu had established in 420.

In fall of that year, when Rouran attacked Northern Liang, Juqu Mengxun sent Juqu Zhengde to fight Rouran, but Juqu Zhengde was defeated and killed.

Juqu Mengxun then created his next son Juqu Xingguo as heir apparent.

Juqu Mengxun sent messengers to persuade the Xia emperor Helian Chang to make a surprise attack on the Western Qin capital Fuhan.

Later that year, with Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei having in turn defeated Helian Chang in battle, capturing Chang'an and nearly capturing the Xia capital Tongwan as well, Juqu Mengxun sent messengers to Northern Wei offering to submit as a vassal.

In 428, when Qifu Chipan died and was succeeded by Qifu Mumo, Juqu Mengxun made a major attack on Western Qin.

However, just several months later, Juqu Mengxun renewed his attacks on Western Qin.

In 429, Juqu Mengxun launched another major attack on Western Qin, but during the campaign, Juqu Xingguo was captured, and Juqu Mengxun was forced to withdraw, after his forces, aligned with Tuyuhun forces commanded by Murong Muliyan, the brother of the khan Murong Mugui.

Juqu Mengxun soon sent a large amount of grain to Qifu Mumo, requesting to ransom Juqu Xingguo, but Qifu Mumo refused, so Juqu Mengxun created Juqu Xingguo's younger brother, by the same mother, Juqu Puti, to be heir apparent.