10 Facts About Zhai Liao

Zhai Liao was a leader of the western Dingling horde and the founder of the Dingling-led Zhai Wei dynasty of China.

However, in 384, as Murong Chui sieged the important city Yecheng, which was defended by Fu Jian's son Fu Pi, Zhai Bin, seeing that Murong Chui was unable to capture the city quickly, began to consider other options.

In late 384, Zhai Liao was defeated by Murong Chui's sons Murong Lin and Murong Nong and forced to flee to his cousin Zhai Zhen.

However, Zhai Liao escaped the massacre and sought refuge with Teng Tianzhi, Jin's governor of Liyang Commandery.

In 386, when Teng was on a campaign, he commissioned Zhai Liao to keep guard of Liyang; instead, Zhai Liao succeeded Liyang after Teng was ambushed during campaign.

Zhai Liao led reinforcements to crush the siege and defeated the Yan army.

In winter 387, Zhai Liao repudiated allegiance to Later Yan and attacked Later Yan's Qinghe and Pingyuan Commanderies.

Zhai Liao himself had been titled the Khagan or Heavenly King.

Zhai Liao started new era name and established an imperial government, replaced ancient Siberian ruling structure with Chinese structure.

Zhai Liao sent his general Gu Ti to pretend to surrender to the Later Yan Prince of Lelang, Murong Wen and assassinate Murong Wen, although that maneuver yielded him no territory as Gu's forces were quickly destroyed by Murong Nong.