Murong Bao, courtesy name Daoyou, Xianbei name Kugou, known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Huimin of Later Yan, was an emperor of the Xianbei-led Chinese Later Yan dynasty.
24 Facts About Murong Bao
1.
2.
Murong Bao inherited from his father Murong Chui a sizable empire but lost most of it within a span of a year, and would be dead in less than three, a victim of a rebellion by his granduncle Lan Han.
3.
Murong Bao was Murong Chui's fourth son, by his first wife Princess Duan while he was the Prince of Wu under his brother Murong Jun.
4.
When, after the army collapsed, the Former Qin emperor Fu Jian fled to Murong Chui's army, Murong Bao tried to persuade his father to kill Fu Jian and declare a rebellion, but Murong Chui declined.
5.
In 388, when he was 33 and Murong Bao Chui was 62, Murong Bao Chui transferred most of the imperial authority to him, only retaining decision power over the most important matters.
6.
In 391, Murong Bao was, in all likelihood, involved in an incident that would fatefully lead to the breakup in relations with Later Yan's vassal Northern Wei.
7.
Tuoba Gui, hearing about Murong Bao's army, abandoned his capital Shengle and retreated west across the Yellow River.
8.
However, as the army reached Canhe Slope, the soldiers cried out loud for their fathers and brothers, and Murong Bao Chui became angry and ill, forcing the Later Yan forces to retreat to Zhongshan.
9.
Murong Bao soon died, and Murong Bao succeeded him as emperor.
10.
One of the first things that Murong Bao did as emperor was forcing his stepmother Duan Yuanfei to commit suicide, still resentful that she advised his father to remove him as crown prince.
11.
Further, Murong Sheng the Duke of Changle, who was slightly older than Murong Hui, did not want Murong Hui to be crown prince, and so encouraged Murong Bao to create Murong Ce crown prince.
12.
Murong Bao did so in fall 396, and created Murong Hui and Murong Sheng princes.
13.
Murong Long offered to lead the remaining forces in Zhongshan in a battle against Northern Wei and Murong Bao agreed, but Murong Bao then vacillated and eventually, because Murong Lin opposed, cancelled the plan.
14.
Murong Bao vacillated between whether to accept a proposal to return Tuoba Gu to Northern Wei and ceding Bing Province for peace.
15.
Murong Bao agreed, and they abandoned Zhongshan to join Murong Hui's forces.
16.
Murong Bao sent assassins to kill Murong Long and Murong Nong, but was only successful in killing Murong Long.
17.
Meanwhile, Murong Bao adopted Gao Yun as his own son and created him the Duke of Xiyang.
18.
Murong Bao Xiang declared himself emperor, but was defeated and killed by Murong Bao Lin, who declared himself emperor.
19.
Murong Bao De did so, and once at Huatai, in spring 398, he effectively declared independence by claiming the title Prince of Yan and changing era name, establishing Southern Yan.
20.
Meanwhile, not knowing this and having received Murong De's earlier report requesting that he return to the south, Murong Bao prepared a campaign to recover lost territory, against Murong Nong and Murong Sheng's pleas that the army was already worn out.
21.
Murong Bao, who had reached Jicheng by this point, wanted to head back, but Murong Sheng persuaded to try to head south to seek aid from Murong De, not realizing that Murong De had declared independence.
22.
Once they reached the vicinity of Huatai they heard about how Murong Bao De had assumed imperial powers and therefore fled back north.
23.
Many cities on the way offered to coalesce around Murong Bao to start a new resistance against Northern Wei, but Murong Bao resolved to head back to Longcheng.
24.
When Murong Bao approached Longcheng in early summer 398, Lan Han sent his brother Lan Jia'nan to welcome Murong Bao but in actuality to guard him.