24 Facts About Murong Chao

Murong Chao was the nephew of the founding emperor Murong De who was trapped under the rule of the Later Qin dynasty, but was welcomed to the Southern Yan after his uncle found out about his existence.

Later, after Later Liang surrendered to Later Qin in 403, Huyan Ping, Lady Duan, and Murong Chao were among the populace of the Later Liang capital Guzang forcibly relocated to the Later Qin capital Chang'an.

Murong Chao was apprehensive that his true identity would be known, and so he became a beggar and pretended to be insane.

Murong Chao informed Yao Xing of this and suggested that Yao Xing give Murong Chao a minor official position to secure him.

In 405, after Murong De, who had by then established Southern Yan and become its emperor, had become aware that Murong Chao was being detained in Chang'an, he sent secret messengers to encourage him to flee to Southern Yan.

Murong Chao did not dare to tell even his mother and wife, and fled to Southern Yan.

Murong De was greatly pleased when Murong Chao arrived at the capital Guanggu, and Murong Chao presented him the golden knife that Murong De left Lady Gongsun before leaving.

Murong De died that night, and the next day, Murong Chao took the throne as the emperor.

Murong Chao immediately showed himself to be capricious and unwilling to listen to criticism.

Murong Chao immediately made one of his associates, Gongsun Wulou, a major general, despite Gongsun's commonly perceived lack of qualifications, and he disassociated himself from the officials Murong Zhong the Prince of Beidi and Duan Hong, whom Murong De had entrusted with great responsibilities.

Murong Chao was further described as being surrounded by flatterers and engaging his time on hunting and tours, refusing all advice against doing so.

Murong Chao further wished to restore punishments that included facial tattooing, cutting off noses, cutting off feet, and castration, but with popular opposition, he did not carry out those actions.

Murong Chao was described as imposing heavy tax and labor burdens on the people.

Feng was executed, and Murong Chao sent generals Murong Zhen the Prince of Guilin and Han Fan to attack Murong Zhong, Murong Fa, and Duan Hong.

In 407, Murong Chao sent his official Feng Kai to Later Qin to negotiate to have Yao Xing turn his mother and wife over to him.

Murong Chao readily agreed to be a vassal, but hesitated at both alternative demands.

On lunar new year 409, Murong Chao held the traditional imperial gathering, and he lamented the lack of imperial musicians, and he proposed an attack on Jin to capture people to be trained as musicians, despite the opposition from Han Zhuo.

Gongsun Wulou and Murong Chao Zhen proposed that Southern Yan armies defend Daxian Mountain and not allow Jin forces to pass.

Murong Chao further rejected suggestions that the crops be burned to prevent them from being used as food supply by Jin forces.

When Murong Zhen commented to Han Zhuo that this would lead to the empire's destruction, Murong Chao threw Murong Zhen into prison.

Liu Yu was very pleased that Murong Chao did not defend Daxian, as he feared.

The Jin and Southern Yan forces engaged near Linqu, while Murong Chao himself waited in the city of Linqu.

Murong Chao released Murong Zhen and requested his assistance in defending the city, but when Murong Zhen suggested that he pitch one final battle rather than just defending Guanggu, he balked, and he instead sent Han Fan to Later Qin to request emergency assistance.

Murong Chao was delivered to the Jin capital Jiankang and executed, and some 3,000 Southern Yan officials and nobles were executed as well.