47 Facts About Murong Chui

Murong Chui was originally a general of the Former Yan.

Murong Chui was a controversial figure in Chinese history, as his military abilities were outstanding, but as he was forced to flee Former Yan due to the jealousies of the regent Murong Ping, he was taken in and trusted by the Former Qin emperor Fu Jian, but later betrayed him and established Later Yan, leading to a reputation of him as a traitor.

Further, his reputation was damaged in that soon after his death, the Later Yan state suffered great defeats at the hands of Northern Wei dynasty's founder Emperor Daowu, leading to the general sense that Murong Chui contributed to the defeats by not building a sound foundation for the empire and by choosing the wrong successor.

The future Murong Chui was born in 326, while his father Murong Huang was still the heir apparent to Murong Hui the Duke of Liaodong, a vassal of Jin Dynasty.

Murong Chui's mother was Consort Lan, a concubine of Murong Huang.

Murong Chui Ba became a general for his father early, after his father claimed the title of Prince of Yan and established Former Yan, although nominally still being a Jin vassal.

In 344, for his contribution in the conquest of the Yuwen tribe, Murong Chui Ba was created the Marquess of Duxiang.

Later, Murong Chui Ba was posted to the border with the powerful rival Later Zhao, whose general Deng Heng was charged with looking for opportunities to conquer Former Yan, and Murong Chui Ba resisted Deng successfully, causing Deng to be unable to launch a campaign.

Murong Chui was saddened by his wife's suffering, and he sent her a message trying to persuade her to end her suffering by admitting to the charge.

Murong Chui then married her sister as his new princess.

Murong Chui did not dare to refuse, but he was displeased, and Empress Kezuhun became even more resentful of him.

Murong Chui was succeeded by his son and crown prince Murong Wei, with Murong Jun's younger brother and Murong Chui's older brother Murong Ke the Prince of Taiyuan as regent.

Later that year, he sent Murong Chui to pacify southern provinces which became disturbant in light of Murong Jun's death.

Murong Chui tried to convince Murong Wei's older brother Murong Zang the Prince of Le'an and his own uncle and co-regent Murong Ping the Prince of Shangyong of the wisdom of giving at least the post of commander of the armies to Murong Chui.

In 368, when four dukes of the rival Former Qin rebelled against its emperor Fu Jian, Murong Chui was one of the advocates for assisting the four dukes, who sought Former Yan assistance, and further taking the opportunity to conquer Former Qin.

However, Murong Chui Ping declined to do so, and Former Qin was able to capture and execute the four dukes.

However, Murong Chui volunteered to make one last stand against Huan Wen, and he and his brother Murong De were able to deal Huan a major defeat.

Murong Chui then changed his plan and sought to flee to Former Qin instead.

Murong Chui then scattered his followers and fled back south.

Murong Chui created Murong Chui the Marquess of Bintu and greatly honored him, despite misgivings by his prime minister Wang Meng.

Later in 369, after Murong Chui Ping refused to cede the Luoyang region to Former Qin, as Former Yan had promised when seeking Former Qin's aid against Jin, Fu Jian sent Wang to attack Former Yan.

Late in 370, after Wang defeated Murong Ping and conquered Former Yan, Murong Chui accompanied Fu Jian to visit the Former Yan capital Yecheng.

In 378, Murong Chui participated in the campaign commanded by Fu Jian's son Fu Pi against Jin's key city of Xiangyang.

Murong Chui told Fu Jian that he was fearful that the people over the Former Yan territory would rebel, and that it would be best if he led a force to pacify the region.

Murong Chui took the army and arrived at Yecheng, which was being defended by Fu Pi.

Murong Chui then entered into an alliance with Zhai Bin, who urged him to take imperial title.

Murong Chui refused at this point but accepted the title of Prince of Yan, formally breaking away from Former Qin and establishing Later Yan.

Fu Pi tried to persuade him to stop his rebellion, but he refused, and instead tried to persuade Fu Pi to leave Yecheng with his forces intact; Fu Pi refused, and Murong Chui put Yecheng under siege.

Zhai Bin's nephew Zhai Zhen rebelled against Later Yan, and for the next several years, while battling Former Qin remnants, Murong Chui had to battle Dingling forces under Zhai Zhen and later his cousins Zhai Cheng and Zhai Liao.

However, after moving north to pacify most of modern Hebei, Murong Chui was eventually able to take Yecheng late in 385 when Fu Pi abandoned it and moved west.

Around the new year 386, Murong Chui decided to make Zhongshan, which his nephew Murong Wen the Prince of Lelang had managed to rebuild despite the warfare, his capital.

Murong Chui sent Murong Lin to help him, and Northern Wei was preserved.

In 387, Murong Chui's youngest son Murong Rou, and Murong Bao's sons Murong Sheng and Murong Hui fled back from Western Yan, which had been entrenched in modern Shanxi and whose emperor Murong Yong was a distant relative of Murong Chui's and who thus greatly suspected Murong Rou and his nephews.

Later in 387, Murong Chui personally attacked Zhai Liao, who was then occupying Liyang Commandery, and Zhai Liao submitted to him.

However, later that year, Zhai Liao rebelled again, and when Zhai Liao made another overture to submit in 388, Murong Chui refused, and Zhai Liao declared himself the "Heavenly King" of Wei.

That year, Tuoba Gui sent his brother Tuoba Gu to Later Yan to offer tribute, and Murong Chui's sons detained Tuoba Gu and ordered Tuoba Gui to offer horses to trade for Tuoba Gu's freedom.

In 392, after Zhai Liao's son and successor Zhai Zhao attacked Later Yan's border region, Murong Chui personally led an army against Zhai Zhao's capital Huatai.

Zhai sought aid from Western Yan, but Murong Yong declined to send a relief force, and Murong Chui quickly crossed the Yellow River and captured Huatai, conquering Zhai's Wei state.

In winter 393, Murong Chui turned his attention to Western Yan.

Murong Yong sought aid from Jin and Northern Wei, but before Jin and Northern Wei forces could arrive, Murong Chui captured Zhangzi, killing Murong Yong and annexing Western Yan territory into Later Yan.

In 395, in response to Northern Wei's continuous pillaging of the border region, Murong Chui sent Murong Bao, Murong Nong, Murong Lin, Murong De, and Murong Shao to lead a 90,000+-men army in a punitive expedition against Northern Wei, with Murong Bao in command.

Murong Bao's forces gave chase and eventually became worn out, and Tuoba Gui announced false rumors that Murong Chui had died, causing the soldiers to become worried.

Murong Chui therefore summoned his son Murong Long the Prince of Gaoyang and grandson Murong Sheng back to the capital Zhongshan with reinforcements from the northern part of the empire, ready to launch another attack against Northern Wei in 396.

Murong Chui then launched the attack, quickly capturing Northern Wei's important city Pingcheng and aimed for Shengle, and Tuoba Gui, in panic, considered abandoning Shengle again.

When Murong Chui led his army through the Canhe Slope the soldiers saw the bodies of the dead soldiers and began to cry bitterly, and Murong Chui became so enraged and embarrassed that he grew extremely ill.

Murong Chui's death was not announced until the army reached Zhongshan and he was buried with imperial honors.

Murong Chui Bao succeeded him, but in less than a year most of Later Yan would fall into Northern Wei's hands.