Murong Sheng, courtesy name Daoyun, known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Zhaowu of Later Yan, was an emperor of the Xianbei-led Later Yan dynasty of China.
23 Facts About Murong Sheng
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Murong Sheng was the oldest son of Murong Bao, and after Murong Bao was killed by Lan Han avenged his father in a coup and took the throne.
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Murong Sheng was succeeded by his uncle Murong Xi.
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Murong Sheng was born in 373, to Murong Bao and his concubine Lady Ding, and was likely born in or near the Former Qin capital Chang'an, since Murong Bao was then a low-level official there.
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The first historical reference to him was around the new year 385, when the Former Qin emperor Fu Jian, in response to an attempted rebellion by the former Former Yan emperor Murong Wei, ordered all Xianbei in Chang'an executed.
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In spring 385, upon hearing news that Murong Sheng Wei had been killed, Murong Sheng Chong declared himself emperor.
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Murong Sheng was not impressed with Murong Chong, and he secretly told Murong Rou that he believed that Murong Chong will amount to nothing.
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Murong Sheng's judgment was correct, for although Murong Chong captured Chang'an in summer 385, he did not govern his people well, and his Xianbei people became resentful that he stayed in Chang'an rather than seeking to head back east to their homeland.
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Several months later in winter 386, Murong Sheng warned Murong Rou and Murong Hui that, because of their status as Murong Chui's family, they were being suspected by Murong Yong.
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Murong Sheng Chui was very pleased at their arrival and declared a general pardon to celebrate.
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In 389, at the age of 16, Murong Sheng was put in charge by Murong Chui of the old Former Yan capital Jicheng.
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Murong Sheng, 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.
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Murong Sheng followed his father in joining his brother Murong Hui's army, which had advanced south from Longcheng.
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Murong Sheng, not trusting his father-in-law, advised his father to secretly advance south to try to join forces with his granduncle Murong De, who had been still defending Yecheng, not realizing that by that point Murong De had abandoned Yecheng and regrouped at Huatai and declared his own independent state of Southern Yan.
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Murong Sheng, after being unable to change his father's mind, left his father and hid himself.
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Lan Han spared Murong Sheng Qi the Prince of Taiyuan, whose mother was a daughter of Lan Han.
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Murong Sheng, meanwhile, suggested to Lan Han that Lan Ti, not himself, was behind Murong Qi's rebellion.
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Lan Han's crown prince Lan Mu, meanwhile, suggested that Murong Sheng be killed, and Lan Han initially agreed, but Murong Sheng, upon hearing the news through Princess Lan, declined to attend an imperial meeting that Lan Han called, and Lan Han soon changed his mind.
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Murong Sheng used this opportunity to join some army officers whom he had persuaded to join his cause, and they killed Lan Han and Lan Mu, and then Lan Ti, Lan Jia'nan, and Lan Han's other sons Lan He the Duke of Lu and Lan Yang the Duke of Chen.
20.
Murong Sheng then declared Later Yan's restoration and took the throne, but in order to show humility, did so with his present title of Prince of Changle, rather than claiming imperial title immediately.
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However, Murong Sheng was praised by historians for his attention to ordinary criminal cases, and that he was able to institute a system where he personally heard criminal appeals and was able to discern the truth without resorting to torture.
22.
Around new year 400, Murong Sheng created his son Murong Ding the Duke of Liaoxi.
23.
Murong Sheng personally led the palace guards to fight with the rebels and was initially successful.