33 Facts About Murong De

Murong De, name changed in 400 to Murong Beide, courtesy name Xuanming, known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Xianwu of Southern Yan, was the founding emperor of the Xianbei-led Southern Yan dynasty of China.

The Book of Jin described Murong De as having a stalwart and extraordinary appearance and was about two metres tall.

Murong De was born in 336 to Murong Huang and his concubine Consort Gongsun, who had previously given birth to his older brother Murong Na.

At that time, Murong Huang was the Duke of Liaodong and a vassal of Jin, although in 337 he claimed for himself the title of Prince of Yan.

Murong De suggested to the regent, his uncle Murong Ping, that Former Yan activate its troops to aid one of them, Fu Sou the Duke of Wei and further take the chance to conquer Former Qin, but his strategy was rejected by Murong Ping.

Murong De's older brother Murong Chui volunteered to make one last attempt against Huan, and Murong De was a general under his command.

When Murong Chui refused, citing Fu Jian's kindness to him, Murong De then tried to persuade Murong Wei to do so, but Murong Wei refused.

In particular, around the new year 387, he, assisted by his nephew Murong De Long, was successful in defeating the Jin vassal Wen Xiang and the Jin rebel Zhang Yuan, taking the territory near the Yellow River.

In or around 388, Murong De married Duan Jifei, the younger sister of Murong Chui's wife, Empress Duan Yuanfei.

In 393, when Murong De Chui considered conquering the rival claimant Murong De Yong of Western Yan, most officials opposed the proposal, arguing that the troops were worn out.

Murong De was one of the few who agreed with the proposal, reasoning that Murong Yong was causing confusing among the people as to who was the legitimate successor.

Murong De Chui agreed, and in 394 carried out campaigns that led to Western Yan's destruction.

In 395, Murong De was one of the generals who served under the command of Murong Chui's crown prince Murong Bao in an action calculated to punish Northern Wei's prince Tuoba Gui's pillaging of Later Yan borders, but with Murong Bao's incompetence, even with Murong De and other capable generals on staff, the army was crushed by Northern Wei at the Battle of Canhe Slope, and most of the army was captured and then slaughtered by Northern Wei.

Murong De Chui agreed, and in 396 carried out a major attack on Northern Wei again.

The campaign was initially successful, but as the army passed through Canhe Slope, the army was so mournful that Murong De Chui became embarrassed and angry, and he fell ill.

The army was forced to withdraw, and Murong De Chui died on the way back to the capital Zhongshan.

Soon the entire state was under Northern Wei attack, and Murong De Bao decided to defend just large cities in the Hebei plains to wear down Northern Wei troops, while Northern Wei took the rest of the territory.

Murong De fought off several attempts by Northern Wei to capture Yecheng, but in the meantime, Murong Bao had abandoned Zhongshan and fled back to the old Former Yan capital Longcheng, and Murong De lost regular contact with him.

On several occasions his subordinates asked him to take imperial title, but each time, after receiving confirmation that Murong De Bao was still alive, he did not do so.

Murong De agreed, and in spring 398 abandoned Yecheng, taking his troops to Huatai.

Soon, Murong De had to consider whether to kill another nephew.

Murong Bao had, unaware that Murong De had effectively declared independence, started a campaign against Northern Wei, but his tired soldiers mutinied, initially forcing him back to Longcheng, and then further capturing Longcheng and forcing him to flee south.

Murong De initially considered abdicating and welcoming Murong Bao back, but after contrary advice by Zhang Hua and Muyu Hu, he changed his mind and was prepared to seize Murong Bao and put him to death, but by the time that a detachment commanded by Muyu arrived at Murong Bao's hiding spot, Murong Bao had discovered what happened and fled back north.

Murong De kept Zhao, but after Zhao cursed him for having been an usurper, he executed Zhao.

Murong De personally attacked Fu Guang and killed him, but as he did so, his nephew Murong He the Prince of Luyang, left to guard Huatai, was assassinated by his general Li Bian, who then offered the city to Northern Wei.

Murong De considered putting Huatai under siege, but at the advice of his general Han Fan, who argued that sieging Huatai would be difficult, he took his troops and advanced east instead, against the Jin governor of Qing Province, Pilu Hun.

From this point on, Murong De carried out few military campaigns, appearing to be content with controlling his small but stable empire.

Apparently disappointed, in 404, Gao and Liu Jingxuan plotted to assassinate Murong De and replace him with Sima Xiuzhi, but the plot was leaked after they told Liu Gui, who disagreed with the plot.

Since Murong De was without any surviving sons, he intended to make Murong Chao his heir, and therefore selected capable men to be Murong Chao's assistants.

Murong De Chao impressed most Southern Yan officials, and most considered him the rightful heir.

Several months later, during the fall, Murong De fell ill, and he created Murong Chao crown prince.

Murong De died soon thereafter, and Murong Chao succeeded him.

Murong De's burial was done in an odd way, probably at his own instruction; after he died, more than 10 caskets were carried out of the various gates of Guanggu and buried in secret spots, with only one of them containing the real body of Murong De.