Chapter 108 Chapter 107: Murong Yong, King of Hedong

Murong Yong, courtesy name Shuming, was originally a minister of the former Yan clan.In the eleventh year of Jianxi (370 A.D.) before Qin destroyed Yan, Murong Yong was moved to Chang'an along with the Yan family. In the first year of Yanxing (384 A.D.), Murong Chong proclaimed himself emperor in Afang, and Murong Yong was named a general.Later, because of his meritorious service in fighting against the former Qin Dynasty, he was named Huang Menlang.In February of the first year of Jianxing (386 A.D.), Han Yan, the left general of Xiyan, killed Murong Chong, made Duan Sui king of Yan, and Murong Yong was promoted to minister.A month later, Murong Yong and his servant Murong Heng killed Duan Sui, made Murong Qiye King of Yan, and then led more than 400,000 Xianbei people who were homesick to leave Chang'an and return to their homeland.

When they arrived in Linjin, Murong Heng's younger brother Murong Tao killed Murong Qiye again.After hearing the news, Murong Yong and Diao Yun led troops to attack Murong Tao.After Murong Tao was defeated, he fled to Murong Heng's barracks.Murong Heng appointed Murong Chong's son Murong Yao as emperor without discussing with Murong Yong.The Xianbei people were very disgusted with Murong Chong, and when they heard that his son had become emperor again, they ran to Murong Yong's barracks one after another.Murong Yong made a decisive decision, killed Murong Yao, made Murong Hong's son Murong Zhong the emperor, and Murong Yong himself became the minister.In June of the same year, Murong Yong hinted that Diao Yun and others killed Murong Zhong, and asked them to support him as a general and a grand chanyu.Four months later, Murong Yong defeated the former Qin Emperor Fu Deng in Xiangling, took possession of the eldest son (now in the south of Changzhi, Shanxi), added a dragon robe, sat on the throne of the emperor, and changed his name to Zhongxing.

Murong Yong and Murong Chui, Lord of the Later Yan Kingdom, were cousins, but in Murong Chui's eyes, Murong Yong's proclaiming himself emperor was outrageous.Murong Chui then attacked Xiyan in November of the eighth year of Zhongxing (393 A.D.), and Murong Yong personally led an elite army of 50,000 people to fight.Murong Chui had already arranged an ambush, and he pretended to be defeated as soon as the battle started, leading Murong Yong into the ambush circle, and quickly defeated the Xiyan soldiers.Murong Yong fled back to his eldest son in embarrassment.Soon, the eldest son was surrounded by Murongchui again.

In the blink of an eye, it was August, and Murong Yong was so anxious that he sent his son Murong Hong to ask for help from Xi Hui, the governor of Yongzhou in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.After Murong Hong left his eldest son, Murong Yong was worried that the Eastern Jin Dynasty would die, so he sent Prince Murong Liang as a hostage.Murong Yong was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, and asked for help from the Northern Wei Dynasty. Tuoba Tao, the monarch of the Northern Wei Dynasty, wanted to take the opportunity to go south, so he sent Tuobaqian and Geng Yue to lead 50,000 cavalry to rescue Murong Yong.However, before the Northern Wei army arrived, Murong Yong's cousin Dayi Dougui and others had already opened the city gates to welcome Hou Yan's army into the city.Murong Yong was captured by Yan soldiers and beheaded, and Xiyan perished.