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卷一百〇八 載記第八 慕容廆

Volume 108 Records 8: Murong Hui

Chapter 108 of 晉書 · Book of Jin
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Chapter 108
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1
Murong Hui
2
西
A Xianbei leader from Jicheng in Changli, style Yiluogui. They claimed Youxiong ancestry, lived beyond the frontier at Zimeng, and were known as Eastern Hu. They matched the Xiongnu in strength—two hundred thousand horsemen with parallel customs. Early Han defeat drove them onto Xianbei Mountain and gave them their tribal name. Mohuba earned Wei's trust against the Gongsuns and planted Murong power north of Jicheng. A hat nicknamed him Buyao until listeners corrupted it into Murong. Another etymology ties Murong to reverence for Heaven, Earth, and the luminaries. Muyan served as Left Wise Prince. Shegui won the Shanyu title for Liucheng and guided the clan toward Chinese ways.
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姿
Even young he stood eight chi tall—striking, heroic, broad. Zhang Hua predicted the boy would master an age of turmoil. He gave Hui his cap pin and turban as farewell gifts. Uncle Nai seized power and hunted him until kinsmen restored Hui. The tribe slew Nai and enthroned Hui.
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西 使
He sought imperial blessing to avenge Shegui's feud with the Yuwen. The western Jin court refused. He lashed out with raids across western Liaoxi. Imperial troops routed him at Feiru. He kept harassing Changli afterward. He shattered Buyeo, drove its king to suicide, and dragged captives home. He Kan tried to crown a new Buyeo king while Murong ambushed the escort. Jia Shen killed Sun Ding and restored Buyeo. He urged submission to Jin—barbarians could not long defy the Middle Kingdom. He chose peace over wasting herdsmen. He sent envoys west to surrender. The court named him commander over the Xianbei. He appeared at He Kan's yamen in scholar dress. When Kan lined up troops, Hui donned armor instead. He insisted hosts owe ritual before guests. Kan swallowed his pride and deferred. Yuwen and Duan rivals feared annexation and raided endlessly. He bought quiet with gifts and soft words.
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In Taikang ten he moved to Green Mountain on the Tu River. He rebuilt Greater Jicheng on Zhuanxu's legendary capital. He taught farming and Jin-style statutes. Yongning floods opened his granaries to Youzhou. The emperor rewarded him with court robes.
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Tai'an brought Yuwen raids he smashed personally. Su Yan's hundred thousand terrified Jicheng. He dismissed Su Yan's rabble as leaderless. He promised victory if troops stood firm. He personally crushed Su Yan and harvested ten thousand heads.
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使
Yongjia opened with his claim to Great Shanyu. Pang Ben's murder of Li Zhen let Sulian and Muqin devastate Liaodong. Yuan Qian stumbled while Feng Shi begged truce. Endless raiding sent refugees streaming to Murong lands. Murong Han urged royalist war on the bandit chiefs. The slaughter exceeded anything earlier chaos had shown. The warlords wore Pang Ben as their excuse. Feng Shi's execution of Pang Ben bought no peace. Ruined Liaodong cried out for loyal arms. He called for sanctioned campaigns against Sulian and Muqin. Victory would restore Liaodong, absorb both tribes, and broadcast Murong virtue. Hui adopted the plan. He executed both chiefs, resettled tribes at Jicheng, and drew up Liaodong commandery.
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使 使
Wang Jun's honors could not buy him. Emperor Min offered guard-general rank and twin ducal patents. Jiankang repeated appointments under Yuan-di; Hui still refused empty grandeur. Lu Chang argued only imperial seals could awe rival tribes. Murong prestige needed Jiankang's mandate. Envoys pushing Yuan-di to enthrone himself could sanctify northern campaigns. He sent Wang Ji across the sea to urge enthronement. Ming's envoy Tao Liao could not force ducal robes on him.
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西西
Clear rule drew refugee elites carrying children on their backs. He grouped exiles into hometown prefectures. He staffed government with refugee scholars and set Liu Zan to teach heir Huang. He audited the school himself until courtesy songs filled the roads.
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使使 使 使
Cui Bi waited for refugees that Murong had already welcomed. Bi enlisted Goguryeo, Yuwen, and Duan against Murong territory. The triple alliance trusted Bi's fiction—ripe for divide-and-rule. Discord doomed their coalition. Fresh allies wanted a quick pitched battle. A hasty sally played into their trap. Delay would breed mutual suspicion. Each ally would fear Jin-style double-dealing until morale collapsed. He locked Jicheng and staged a fake tryst with Bi's envoys before the Yuwen. Two allies suspected Yuwen treachery and marched home. Siduguan vowed to seize their lands alone. He stacked thirty li of camps around Jicheng. He gave Huang crack troops for the van. Murong Han struck the flank with elite horse. Hui rolled forward in formation. Siduguan's overconfidence left camps wide open. Han's raid fired Yuwen tents and shattered their host. Captives yielded imperial seal cords sent south to Jiankye. Bi feigned congratulations through nephew Tao. The allied envoys blamed Pingzhou inspector Cui Bi. Hui trapped Tao and exposed Bi's plot. Bi groveled in terror. Hui offered surrender or flight. Troops pressed Bi toward decision. Bi fled to Goguryeo while Murong settled his people at Jicheng. Murong troops beat back Goguryeo's next Liaodong raid.
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使 使
Pei Yi's return brought Pingzhou inspector titles and added fiefs. He gained staff authority, chariot-and-cavalry command, Liaodong duke with ten thousand households. Vermilion writ and iron tally let him staff Pingzhou east of the sea.
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He raided unprepared Duan Mobo at Lingzhi for horses and loot.
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使 使
He rebuffed Shi Le's overtures. He shipped Later Zhao envoys south to Jiankang. Shi Le answered Murong's snub by ordering Yuwen Qidegui north; Huang blocked him. Huang split wings—Pei Yi and Suotou on the right, Ren circling from Pinggu—crushing Qidegui. They looted the Yuwen capital and resettled tens of thousands southward.
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Chengdi added him palace attendant with eminent precedence. He refused Three-Duke parity again in Xianhe five.
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便
He warned that justice holds lives in the balance. He insisted rulers must honor worthy men. He ranked farming as the dynastic bedrock. He condemned debauchery that unmakes rule. He codified family maxims expounding those themes.
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使
His letter to Tao Kan began:
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使
He flattered Tao Kan's prestige on the Yangzi. Geography severed Murong from court.
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使輿 忿
He mourned Luoyang's fall and the court's exile south. He asserted Jin's cosmic legitimacy survived. He confessed Murong power insufficient alone while rebels threatened Jiankang. He catalogued Jin's domestic rebels beside Han villains. He reproached southern ministers for inertia against Shi Le.
19
He urged Tao Kan to emulate Chu loyalists against barbarians. He cited Spring and Autumn shame-forged virtue. Wu-Yue precedent proved peripheral grit could win. He contrasted Wu talent with southern lethargy. Northern expedition should sweep Shi Le easily. Sun Jian's loyalty anchored Wu rise. Sun lineage sacrifice deserved respect. Sun Quan's teamwork humbled northern power. Successive Wu kings threatened central plains. He challenged southern elites to show courage. He invoked Wu's famed commanders. Northern Chinese suffered imminent ruin under Shi. Shi Le's regime was brittle. Pseudo-emperors fell quickly before true mandate.
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使 使
He praised Wang Dao's quiet survival craft. He noted Yu Liang's cautious stance. Murong loyalty endured despite distance. Tao Kan alone could tip balance. Joint northward strike could restore Jin. Murong pledged full support from Liaodong. Coordinated fronts needed secret Jin allies. Letter ran long by necessity.
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使
The first embassy drowned crossing the sea. Murong coordinated a joint petition southward.
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使
Opening lament on dynastic cycles. Jin founding triumphs outshone antiquity. Hui's reign disasters enabled Shi Le. Shi Le exceeded ancient northern foes.
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輿
Divine aid sustained Jin survivors. Petition praised Murong youth and loyalty. Southern courts sustained mandate. Murong fixation on restoration despite barriers. Steady tribute demonstrated virtue. Shi's realm sprawled north. Petition argued Murong deserved kingly rank to command allies.
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使 西 使
Communication lag hindered investiture. Geographic loss demanded counter-title. Petition requested Murong kinghood like Han vassals. Royal patent would sway northerners. Kingship empowered lawful campaigns. Murong humility delayed acceptance. Petitioners stressed practical need.
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使西 退 使
Tao Kan praised Murong's loyalty and frontier victories. Northern raids still troubled Murong. Eastern offices needed royal coordination before king-making. Tao cited precedent for promotion. He acknowledged logistical limits yet praised devotion. Tao would forward petition to court. Jiankang stalled on investiture. Hui's death in Xianhe eight ended king talks. Murong ruled forty-nine years at sixty-five. Court gave posthumous honors Xiang. Later Former Yan canonized Wu-Xuan.
26
西
Pei Yi bio opens—style Wenji, Hedong Wenxi. Father Pei Chang held metropolitan colonel rank. Pei climbed central posts before chaos. He pursued Changli post near Murong. Death recalled him with nephew Kai. Liaoxi obstruction drove him to Murong. Early refugees wavered over Murong's regime. Pei Yi imposed order on refugee protocols. Murong made him chief strategist.
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使
Pei planned strike on disorderly Yuwen host. The raid succeeded on Pei's advice. Pei Yi chosen for Jiankang embassy.
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使 輿使 使
Jiankang underestimated Liaodong. His briefing rewrote metropolitan opinion. Pei declined detention citing Jin loyalty. He honored imperial favor. He justified returning to Murong's restoration cause. Detention would wound Murong morale. Pei insisted on returning envoy duty. Court conceded. Pei Yi returned north. Murong hailed Pei as heaven-sent. Pei governed Liaodong then Langle.
29
調
Gao Zhan bio—style Ziqian, Bohai Xiu. Gao stood eight chi two cun. Guangxi posting brought him to ministry. He urged abandoning Bohai for safer refuge. He pointed to Wang Jun's Yan stronghold. He polled elders. The assembly endorsed his plan. He and Uncle Yin marched thousands north toward Youzhou. Wang Jun's erratic rule drove them under Cui Bi toward Liaodong.
30
姿 西
Zhan warned against Cui Bi's triple alliance; Bi ignored him. After Bi's rout Zhan submitted with the refugees. Murong named him general; Zhan feigned sickness. Murong pressed him personally, insisting shame not sickness stalled him. Murong proclaimed plans to sweep bandits from Luoyang and Chang'an and escort Jin home. He urged Zhan to shed ethnic prejudice for restoration. He cited sage kings born beyond Huaxia. Zhan stayed "ill"; Murong grew bitter. Song Gai baited Murong to execute Zhan. Word of the plot terrified Zhan to death.
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