Chapter 125 Chapter 124: Last Lord Murong Chao

Nanyan was a short-lived dynasty that died in the second generation.From the founding of the country in the first month of the third year of Long'an in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 396) to its fall in the second month of the sixth year of Yixi (AD 410), it took only 12 years, and the king of the subjugated country was Murong Chao. Murong Chao, courtesy name Zu Ming, is the son of Murong De's elder brother Murong De, the Lord of Southern Yan.When Murong was in Qianyan, he was named the King of the North Sea.After the former Qin Fujian destroyed Yan, he took Murong as the prefect of Guangwu. He was dismissed a few years later and moved to Zhangye with his family and lived with Murongde, who was the prefect of Zhangye at that time, and his mother, Gongsun.In the eighth year of Taiyuan in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (383 A.D.), Murong De followed Fu Jian to the south to attack Jin. He thought that if Fu Jian was defeated, Bendang and Murong Chui would join forces to return to Yan. The future is difficult and the victory or defeat is uncertain. , I do not know when we will meet again.Therefore, I was reluctant to part with my wife, children, mother and brother. Before leaving, I left a golden knife to my mother as a token. First, let Gongsun see the knife as if seeing a person, and talk about the feelings of missing. .

In the battle of Feishui, Fu Jian was defeated.In the second year, Murong Chui and Murong De raised troops to return to Yan.The new Zhangye prefect Fu Chang immediately executed Murong Rong and Murongde's sons who stayed in Zhangye.Gongsun was spared because of his age.Mu Rongrong's wife, Duan Shi, is pregnant. According to the rules, she must be executed after giving birth to a child, and she is detained in prison.Fortunately, Hu Yanping, the warden in charge of the prison, was an old subordinate of Murong De. He had committed a capital crime and was pardoned by Murong De.It was there that Duan gave birth to Murong Chao.This year was the ninth year of Taiyuan in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (384 A.D.).

Fast forward 10 years, and Gongsun's eyesight was already blurred, and it was difficult for him to move.At the end of his life, he called Murong Chao, who was 10 years old, and handed him the golden knife, saying: "If the world is peaceful and you can return to the east, you can return this knife to your uncle." Shi and Murong Chao went to Liangzhou.In the second year of Yuanxing in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 403), Yao Xing, the ruler of the later Qin Dynasty, destroyed Houliang and moved the people of Liangzhou to Chang'an. Murong Chao and others went to Chang'an again.At this time, Hu Yanping suddenly fell ill and died, leaving behind a daughter.Mrs. Duan saw how pitiful this girl was alone, and her age and appearance could match Murong Chao's class, so she said to Murong Chao: "My mother and son can live to this day, thanks to Hu Yanping's help. Now that Hu Yanping has passed away, I think I will marry his daughter for you to repay his kindness to us." Thus, 19-year-old Murong Chao married Huyan.

Murong Chao felt that his uncle Murong De and many uncles and brothers were all in Shandong, fearing that he would be implicated, he would be arrested by Yao Xing, the emperor of the later Qin Dynasty, so he pretended to be crazy and begged along the street.When Qin Dongping Gong Yao Shao saw Murong Chao, he thought he was extraordinary and not like a down-and-out person, so he felt a little strange, and said to Yao Xing: "I'm afraid Murong Chao is not really crazy, it's better to give him an official position so as to win over him." Him." Yao Xing asked Murong Chao to talk to him, and Murong Chao deliberately pretended to be crazy, answering indiscriminately, or simply not answering.Seeing this, Yao Xing despised him very much, and said to Yao Shao: "As the saying goes, 'A beautiful appearance can't be covered with stupid bones', it seems that it's just nonsense!" Then he sent Murong Chao back.

After Murong De proclaimed himself emperor in Guanggu, he kept inquiring about his mother, brother, wife and children. Later, he learned that they were all dead, and only his nephew Murong Chao was still in Chang'an, so he sent Wu Bian from Jiyin (now Dingtao, Shandong) to pick him up. He returns east.Wu Bian found Zong Zhengqian, a fellow villager who was doing divination in Chang'an, and asked Zong Zhengqian to inform Murong Chao.Murong Chao was afraid that the news would leak, so he and Zong Zhengqian changed their names and fled back to Nanyan without even telling his mother and wife.

In April of the first year of Yixi (AD 405), 21-year-old Murong Chao came to Guanggu.Murong De, the 70-year-old leader of Nanyan, heard that his nephew had arrived, and hurriedly sent 300 cavalry to take Murong Chao into the city.When Murong Chao saw his uncle, he presented the golden saber with both hands, and recounted in detail the dying words of his grandmother, Gongsun. Murong De stroked the golden saber, remembering the death of a person, couldn't help feeling very sad, and cried a lot.Immediately, people collected the golden knife Haosheng, and looked at the nephew carefully.Murong Chao is eight feet long, with broad shoulders and round waist. He is very burly, with a ruddy complexion, full of energy and extraordinary manners.The sons of Murong De were killed by Fu Chang long ago. They were weak and sick for many years, and they were worried that there would be no successors. They were very happy to see their nephew Murong Chao, who was a good-looking talent.So he was named the King of the North Sea, paid homage to Shizhong, Hushi General, and Sili Captain, and carefully selected some famous sages as his assistants, and built a mansion for him in Wanchun Gate, so that See you soon.Murong Chao has been through wind and rain since he was a child, and has seen the world, so he naturally understood what Murong De meant, so he flattered his uncle, and he was courteous to his ministers, without putting on airs.Before long, Murong Chao was praised all over the world, and everyone felt that he was the most ideal successor.

Soon Murong De's condition suddenly turned critical, his eyes were closed tightly and he could not speak.Empress Duan couldn't help getting anxious when she saw this, and hurriedly shouted into Murong De's ear: "Is it okay to call the Minister of Zhongshu to write an imperial edict to make Murong Chao the crown prince?" Murong De opened his eyes with difficulty, looked After reading the paragraph, he nodded his head slightly to express his agreement, and died immediately.The next day, Murong Chao took the title of emperor as the crown prince and changed Yuan Taishang. After Murong Chao succeeded to the throne, he felt that his foundation was shallow, and he had to rely on the elders of the clan at first. Therefore, Murong Zhong was appointed as the governor of Chinese and foreign military affairs, and Murong Fa was the general who conquered the South, and the governor of Xu, Yan, Yang, and the four southern states. military.But soon Murong Zhong was sent out to serve as Qingzhou Mu (governing Donglai, now Laizhou, Shandong), Duan Hong became Xuzhou governor (governing Jucheng), and his confidant, the upstart Gongsun Wulou, as the general of Wuwei, led the army. Tunqi school lieutenant, participated in military and state affairs.The elder Feng Fu said: "Murong Zhong is an important minister of the clan and a pillar of the country, and Duan Hong is a foreign relative with high morals. They should be allowed to assist the country's great affairs. Now let them go out of the town, and let Gongsun Wulou, a lowly person, assist in the house , I am deeply disturbed." Murong Chao went to discuss with the fifth floor, and the fifth floor had long wanted to drive Murong Zhong and others out, let him arbitrarily judge the government, and take the opportunity to spread some slander, so Feng Fu's words were considered in vain.

Murong Zhong and Duan Hong were both angry and said in private, "It seems that the fur of the yellow dog is really going to be patched into the fox fur coat." When Gongsun Wulou heard about it, he gritted his teeth with hatred, and the two sides established a rift again.Because of being excluded, Murong Zhong, Murong Fa, Duan Hong and others gradually had the desire to seize power.Zuo Servant shot Feng Song to work for Empress Dowager Duan, saying: "The emperor was not born of the Empress Dowager, and I am afraid that something like the first year of Yongkang (referring to Murong Bao forcing the death of Empress Dowager Duan) will happen." Duan asked Murong Fa to find a way , Murong Fa and others actively prepared and plotted a coup.When Murong Chao got the news, he ordered Murong Zhong to go to Beijing, but Murong Zhong said he was ill.Murong Chao then arrested his party members and executed Murong Tong, the general of the right guard, Duan Feng, the general servant of Sanqi, and others.Zhengnan Sima Buzhen reported that Feng Song had frequent contacts with Murong Fa and was suspected of being an accomplice, so he handed Feng Song over to the court officer for interrogation.When Empress Dowager Duan heard that Feng Song was being interrogated, she was frightened, so she told Murong Chao the whole plot process. Murong Chao saw that Feng Song was one of the masterminds, tortured him, and drove him apart outside the east gate.After hearing the news, Feng Song's younger brother Xi Zhonglang, General Feng Rong, immediately defected to the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Murong Chao sent Murong Town to attack Qingzhou, Murong Yu to attack Xuzhou, Murong Ning and Han Fan to attack Yanzhou.Duan Hong, governor of Xuzhou, abandoned the city and voted for the Northern Wei Dynasty.At this time, Feng Rong recruited another group of troops to attack and kill Nanyan general Yu Yu who was stationed in Shisai City (now Changqing, Shandong), which shocked the whole country of Nanyan and made people's hearts unstable.Murong Ning tried to kill Han Fan, and then turned to attack Guanggu, but was defeated by Han Fan pre-emptively. Murong Ning defected to Yanzhou, and Han Fan then captured Yanzhou.At this time, Murong Zhen also captured Qingzhou, and Murong Zhong fled to Houqin.Although the internal turmoil and massacre subsided this time, Nanyan's ruling power was also greatly weakened.

After the rebellion of the family members was suppressed, Murong Chao thought that he was in power, so he devoted himself to having fun, ignored the government, continuously increased taxes and corvee, and changed the system at will, which caused criticism from the government and the opposition.Servant Han Fan and Yuan Lao Feng Fu made repeated admonitions, but he refused to listen.In the second year of Nanyan Taishang (AD 406), Murong Chao asked Feng Fu one day: "Can I be compared with the emperor in the past?" "Lord Jie Zhou!" Feng Fu said mercilessly.Murong Chao was ashamed and angry, but Feng Fu walked out without changing his face.Sikong Ju Zhong, who was standing by the side, was so frightened that his face was as white as a sheet of paper, and he broke out in a cold sweat. After he came out, he said to Feng Fu, "How can you be so harsh when speaking to the emperor? You'd better go back and apologize to the emperor immediately." Feng Fu said He said: "I am seventy years old, and the tomb and coffin have been prepared. I just want to die in a suitable place." I didn't even apologize.In the second year, the old man fell ill and died. From then on, no one dared to speak up again.

At this time, Gongsun Wulou had become a servant and minister, leading the general of the right guard and arbitrarily ruling the government.His elder brother Gongsun Gui was named Changshan Gong and Champion General, and his uncle Gongsun Tugui was also named Wuwei General and Xingle Gong.The clan relatives on the fifth floor all hold important positions around Murong Chao, making waves and committing crimes, so that all the princes and officials inside and outside the court are afraid of them.Some treacherous villains took the opportunity to flatter and flatter them, hoping to gain official positions.There was a small official, Wang Yan, who was originally the Minister of Shangshu Du Lingshi. He won the favor of the fifth floor by this method.At that time, the folks made up two rumors and proverbs to satirize this matter: "If you want to get it, do it on the fifth floor." At this time, new changes appeared in the internal situation of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.After Liu Yu eliminated Huanxuan, his position became more and more consolidated. In the fourth year of Yixi (408 A.D.), he moved to be the governor of Yangzhou and Lu Shangshushi, and took control of the real power of the Eastern Jin government.I am looking for an opportunity to use troops abroad in order to improve my prestige.Nanyan, which had already been greatly weakened and continued to provoke the border of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, became an ideal target for crusade. In March of the fifth year of Yixi (AD 409), Liu Yu went up to attack Nanyan.Starting from Jiankang in April, the boat master entered the Huaihe River for swimming.Arriving at Xiapi in May, leaving behind ships and supplies, they traveled by land to Langye (now Linyi, Shandong). The dangerous places they passed along the way were guarded by soldiers in Tucheng to prevent Yan soldiers from blocking their way. When Murong Chao heard that the Jin division was coming to attack, he discussed countermeasures with his officials.Gongsun Wulou was quite good at fighting, and he proposed three strategies: "Defend Daxian, procrastinate, dampen the spirit of the Jin army, and then send 2,000 fine cavalry to go south along the coast to cut off the Jin army's food road, and then send Duan Hui led the people from Yanzhou to go down the mountain to flank the Jin army. Xian, and then go out of the city to fight, this is the worst strategy." Murong Chao chose the worst strategy, advocating "Let the Jin army cross Daxian, and then trample them with iron cavalry on the flat ground, I am afraid that they will be defeated!" Taiwei Murong Zhen repeatedly said: "It is not appropriate Let the enemy enter Xian, and give up the danger." Murong Chao just refused to listen.Murong Zhen is also the clan Yuan Rong, a veteran of Xianbei. Seeing Murong Chao's self-willedness, he became furious, and said to Han Fan: "The Lord neither wants to go out to fight in Daxian, nor refuses to fortify the wall and clear the field. Let the enemy enter the hinterland and wait to be besieged. Zhenhe Same with Liu Zhang! If the country is destroyed this year, I will definitely die, and Chinese people like you (Han Fan is a Han) will also become Nanban with tattoos.” When Murong Chao heard about it, he arrested Murong Zhen and put him in prison.Therefore, all the guards at Ju and Liang were withdrawn, and the people were recruited to repair the Guanggu city wall, recharge their batteries, and wait for the Jin soldiers to arrive. The Jin army had already passed Daxian, and Murong Chao became nervous, and personally led 40,000 people to Linqu to prepare for the battle.The south of Linqu City happens to be a plain, which is convenient for cavalry to gallop.The Xianbei Murong tribe was originally a nomadic people in the north, and they were good at bowing horses, so Murongchao came out in full force, trying to use the superior cavalry to wipe out the Jin army here.However, the Jin army was good at infantry and water warfare, and was not good at riding and shooting. Liu Yu adopted the tactics of mixed combat of multiple arms: the infantry was in the center, and 4,000 chariots were divided into left and right wings. Swimming support.When they were a few miles away from Linqu, the iron cavalry of the Yan army came from all directions, and a shocking decisive battle began on the open plain.The two sides fought from morning to afternoon, blood flowed into rivers and corpses were strewn all over the fields. It was still indistinguishable and the outcome was undecided.At this time, Hu Fan, who joined the Jin army, suggested to Liu Yu: "The Yan army will come out in full force, and there must be few guards in Linqu City. I am willing to use strange soldiers to attack the city from an uninhabited path." Liu Yu then ordered Hu Fan and Tan Shao, Xiang Mi and others led elite soldiers to go around to the rear of the Yan army and raid Linqu.Xiang Mi took the lead, put on his armor and ascended the city, and Linqu was conquered.Murong Chao rode out of the city alone and fled to Duan Hui's troops who were fighting in the south of the city.Seeing that Linqu had succeeded, Liu Yu swung his troops to attack in an all-round way, and the Yan army was defeated. More than 10 generals including Duan Hui became ghosts under the sword of the Jin soldiers. Run back to Guanggu. Taking advantage of the victory, the Jin army went straight to Guanggu, the capital of Yan, and then broke through the outer city. Murong Chao moved all the people from the outer city into the inner city to defend. Liu Yu saw that the inner city of Guanggu was very strong and difficult to break through easily, so he ordered his soldiers to build a siege of three feet high, and dug three deep trenches to surround Guanggu city.For the newly occupied Qilu prefectures and counties, he vigorously appeases and selects talented people, so that all Xianbei and Han people are satisfied.People bring their own weapons and dry food to join the Jin army, and there are thousands of people every day.With sufficient sources of troops and food, the Jin army no longer had to rely on the Jianghuai water transport, and could fight a protracted war with the Yan army. The two armies confronted each other, time passed, and the new year came quietly.On the morning of the first day of the first lunar month in the sixth year of Taishang (AD 410), Murong Chao, the lord of Nanyan, climbed to the south gate tower of Guanggu. Keep the city. However, there were no reinforcements outside, and the food and grass in the city were gradually running out. No matter how hard Murong Chao cheered, the Yan army was still panicked, and another month passed.As the weather gradually warmed up, most of the soldiers and civilians trapped in the city for a long time, no matter men, women, old or young, were dizzy with hunger, their legs and feet were swollen, and those who could walk sneaked out of the city and surrendered to the Jin army.Murong Chao was forced to go to the city to supervise the battle in person.Yan Shangshu Yueshou persuaded him to "be flexible", meaning to surrender. Murong Chao sighed and said, "It's a waste of life. I will die. I would rather die with a sword than survive with a jade in my hand!" At the beginning of February, Liu Yu ordered all sides to attack the city with all his strength.Yueshou knew that he could no longer defend, so he opened the city gate and let Jin Shi into the city.Murong Chao escaped with dozens of cavalry and was chased by the Jin army.Liu Yu sent him to Jiankang, where he was beheaded by Shicao. He was 26 years old at the time and had only been emperor for 6 years. Liu Yu beheaded more than 3,000 people below the princes and nobles of Nanyan, and made more than 10,000 of their family members into slaves, and the city of Guanggu was also razed to the ground. Nanyan, a once powerful country, disappeared immediately.