21 Facts About Tufa Lilugu

Tufa Lilugu, formally Prince Kang of Hexi, was a prince of the Xianbei-led Southern Liang dynasty of China.

Tufa Lilugu was a younger brother of the founder Tufa Wugu.

Tufa Lilugu was described as a capable ruler open to different opinions.

Tufa Lilugu was, somewhat contradictorily, described as having entrusted most important affairs of state to his talented brother Tufa Rutan who later succeeded him.

The first historical reference to Tufa Lilugu was in 397, shortly after Tufa Wugu had declared independence from Later Liang and established Southern Liang.

The fall of that year, Tufa Wugu sent him to assist the Later Liang rebel Guo Nen.

Tufa Lilugu was described with the title Duke of Xiping at this point, although it was probably that Tufa Wugu created him with this title in 397, even though that was not mentioned.

In summer 399, Tufa Lilugu Wugu sent him to assist Northern Liang's prince Duan Ye when Northern Liang was under attack by Lu Zuan and Lu Guang's crown prince Lu Shao, forcing Lu Zuan and Lu Shao to withdraw.

Later that year, Tufa Lilugu Wugu suffered a serious horse-riding accident when drunk, and in his last words ordered that an older person be selected to succeed him.

The Southern Liang nobles therefore selected Tufa Lilugu to succeed him.

Indeed, when Lu Zuan attacked anyway notwithstanding Yang's words, Tufa Lilugu Wugu sent Tufa Lilugu Rutan against him and defeated him.

In summer 400, when Lu Zuan made a major attack on Northern Liang, Tufa Rutan, probably at Tufa Lilugu's instruction, made a surprise attack on the Later Liang capital Guzang, entering Guzang's eastern half and then retreating after successfully pillaging the city, forcing Lu Zuan to abandon his Northern Liang campaign.

However, when Qifu Gangui subsequently redefected to Later Qin, Tufa Lilugu much regretted the decision not to exile or kill him.

Later, when Qifu Gangui's son Qifu Chipan tried to defect as well to join his father, Tufa Lilugu was prepared to execute him, but at Tufa Rutan's urging, did not do so.

In spring 401, at the urging of many of his officials, Tufa Lilugu considered declaring himself emperor.

However, there was no record of Tufa Lilugu changing his policies due to Shi's suggestions.

Juqu Mengxun made a humbler submission after that point and sent his uncle Juqu Kongzhe to promise to send Juqu Ru as a hostage, before Tufa Lilugu would withdraw his troops and return the people they captured.

However, Tufa Lilugu himself was aware of his own power's limitations, and he nominally submitted to Yao Xing, the emperor of Later Qin, sending tributes to Yao Xing, and in 401, when Later Qin attacked Later Liang, he ordered his troops to withdraw to yield a path for Later Qin troops.

Around the new year 402, in response to a request for assistance from the Later Liang rebel Jiao Lang, Tufa Lilugu sent Tufa Rutan to assist Jiao, and Tufa Rutan and Jiao then attacked Guzang, dealing Later Liang a major defeat.

Oddly enough when Northern Liang attacked Later Liang in spring 402, Tufa Lilugu sent Tufa Rutan to aid Later Liang, although by the time Tufa Rutan arrived, Northern Liang had already retreated.

Later in spring 402, Tufa Lilugu grew ill, and he instructed that the state be entrusted to Tufa Rutan.