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慕容德
Murong De.
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慕容德，字玄明，皝之少子也，母公孫氏夢日入臍中，晝寢而生德。 年未弱冠，身長八尺二寸，姿貌雄偉，額有日角偃月重文。 博觀群書，性清慎，多才藝。 慕容俊之僭立也，封為梁公，曆幽州刺史、左衛將軍。 及垂嗣位，改范陽王，稍遷魏尹，加散騎常侍。 俄而苻堅將苻雙據陝以叛，堅將苻柳起兵枹罕，將應之。 德勸垂乘釁討堅，辭旨慷慨，識者言其有遠略，垂竟不能用。 德兄垂甚壯之，因共論軍國大謀，言必切至。 垂謂之曰：「汝器識長進，非復吳下阿蒙也。」 枋頭之役，德以征南將軍與垂擊敗晉師。 及垂奔苻堅，德坐免職。 後遇垂敗，徙于長安，苻堅以為張掖太守，數歲免歸。
Murong De, whose courtesy name was Xuanming, was Murong Huang’s youngest son. His mother Lady Gongsun dreamed of the sun slipping into her navel, then bore him in a daytime doze. Before he came of age he already stood eight feet two inches tall, cut an imposing figure, and bore the paired “sun-brow” and “crescent moon” lines on his forehead that physiognomists read as imperial signs. He read widely, kept a cool and careful temper, and excelled at more than one craft. When Murong Jun declared himself emperor, Murong De was made duke of Liang and rose through posts as inspector of You and general of the left guard. When Murong Chui took the throne Murong De was refashioned prince of Fanyang, then advanced to prefect of the Wei capital region and given the concurrent title of regular attendant for scattered cavalry. Soon Fu Shuang, one of Fu Jian’s generals, rebelled from Shan commandery, while another general, Fu Liu, rose at Baohan to join him. Murong De urged Murong Chui to strike Fu Jian while Qin was divided, speaking with such fire that men of judgment called him far-sighted—yet Murong Chui would not act. Murong Chui, impressed, began debating statecraft and strategy with him, and Murong De’s advice was always blunt and to the point. Murong Chui told him, “Your judgment has matured—you are no longer the raw boy they used to dismiss east of the Yangzi.” At the battle of Fangtou he joined Murong Chui as general who campaigns south and helped shatter the Eastern Jin army. When Murong Chui defected to Fu Jian, Murong De lost his post as an accomplice. After Murong Chui’s rebellion collapsed he was deported to Chang’an, where Fu Jian named him prefect of Zhangye; a few years later he was sent home in disgrace.
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及堅以兵臨江，拜德為奮威將軍。 堅之敗也，堅與張夫人相失，慕容垂將護致之，德正色謂垂曰：「昔楚莊滅陳，納巫臣之諫而棄夏姬。 此不祥之人，惑亂人主，戎事不邇女器，秦之敗師當由於此。 宜掩目而過，奈何將衛之也！」 垂不從，德馳馬而去之。 還次滎陽，言於垂曰：「昔句踐棲於會稽，終獲吳國。 聖人相時而動，百舉百全。 天將悔禍，故使秦師喪敗，宜乘其弊以復社稷。」 垂不納。 乃從垂如鄴。
When Fu Jian marched his host to the great river, he named Murong De general who rouses might. After Feishui, Fu Jian was separated from Lady Zhang. Murong Chui meant to rescue her and bring her along. Murong De said gravely, “When King Zhuang of Chu annexed Chen he listened to Wu Chen and turned his back on the fatal beauty Xia Ji. Such women are ill omens—they topple kings. Camp followers and concubines have no place in a retreating army; Qin’s rout began with just this sort of indulgence. Cover your eyes and ride past—why would you drag her into our column?” Murong Chui refused to listen; Murong De spurred his horse and rode away in disgust. When they halted at Xingyang he told Murong Chui, “Goujian of Yue once swallowed humiliation on Mount Kuaiji—and in the end swallowed Wu. The sage waits for the moment; when he moves, every stroke succeeds. Heaven is already punishing Qin for its crimes—its hosts lie broken on the field. Strike now while they reel and you can win back the Murong altars.” Murong Chui would not listen. Murong De followed him north to Ye.
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及垂稱燕王，以德為車騎大將軍，復封范陽王，居中鎮衛，參斷政事。 久之，遷司徙。 于時慕容永據長子，有眾十萬，垂議討之。 群臣咸以為疑，德進曰：「昔三祖積德，遺詠在耳，故陛下龍飛，不謀而會，雖由聖武，亦緣舊愛，燕、趙之士樂為燕臣也。 今永既建偽號，扇動華戎，致令群豎從橫，逐鹿不息，宜先除之，以一眾聽。 昔光武馳蘇茂之難，不顧百官之疲，夫豈不仁？ 機急故也。 兵法有不得已而用之，陛下容得已乎！」 垂笑謂其黨曰：「司徒議與吾同。 二人同心，其利斷金，吾計決矣。」 遂從之。 垂臨終，敕其子寶以鄴城委德。 寶既嗣位，以德為使持節、都督冀、兗、青、徐、荊、豫六州諸軍事、特進、車騎大將軍、冀州牧，領南蠻校尉，鎮鄴，罷留台，以都督專總南夏。
When Murong Chui declared himself king of Yan he made Murong De grand general of chariots and cavalry, restored his princedom of Fanyang, kept him at court to secure the capital, and gave him a voice in every policy decision. In time he was promoted to minister of education. At that time Murong Yong held Changzi with a hundred thousand men under arms, and Murong Chui planned a campaign against him. The courtiers hesitated, but Murong De came forward and argued that the three royal forebears had long accumulated moral credit still remembered in song, which was why Murong Chui's rise had drawn support as if by fate; while his martial prestige mattered, old loyalty mattered too, and the elite of Yan and Zhao were willing to serve Later Yan. Now that Murong Yong had proclaimed an illegitimate regime, incited Chinese and frontier peoples, and set petty warlords loose in endless rivalry for the realm, Murong Yong should be eliminated first to align the army's will. Even Emperor Guangwu had rushed into Su Mao's crisis without sparing his weary officials; that was hardly cruelty on his part. The circumstances were desperate, and that explained it. Military doctrine allows action when there is no alternative; Murong Chui could hardly afford to stand aside. Murong Chui smiled and told his faction that the minister of education's counsel aligned with his own. Two minds in accord can cut through bronze, he said, and his decision was made. Murong Chui accepted the advice. On his deathbed Murong Chui ordered Murong Bao to place Ye in Murong De's hands. Once Murong Bao had taken the throne, he named Murong De commissioner with credentials, supreme commander over military affairs in Ji, Yan, Qing, Xu, Jing, and Yu, specially advanced, chariot-and-cavalry general-in-chief, and governor of Ji, with the southern barbarian colonelcy, based at Ye; he dissolved the rear administration and concentrated southern affairs under Murong De's unified command.
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魏將拓拔章攻鄴，德遣南安王慕容青等夜擊，敗之。 魏師退次新城，青等請擊之。 別駕韓𧨳進曰：「古人先決勝廟堂，然後攻戰。 今魏不可擊者四，燕不宜動者三。 魏懸軍遠入，利在野戰，一不可擊也。 深入近畿，頓兵死地，二不可擊也。 前鋒既敗，後陣方固，三不可擊也。 彼眾我寡，四不可擊也。 官軍自戰其地，一不宜動。 動而不勝，眾心難固，二不宜動。 城郭未修，敵來無備，三不宜動。 此皆兵家所忌，不如深溝高壘，以逸待勞。 彼千里饋糧，野無所掠，久則三軍靡資，攻則眾旅多斃，師老釁生，詳而圖之，可以捷矣。」 德曰：「韓別駕之言，良、平之策也。」 於是召青還師。 魏又遣遼西公賀賴盧率騎與章圍鄴，德遣其參軍劉藻請救于姚興，且參母兄之問，而興師不至，眾大懼。 德於是親饗戰士，厚加撫接，人感其恩，皆樂為致死。 會章、盧內相乖爭，各引軍潛遁。 章司馬丁建率眾來降，言章師老，可以敗之。 德遣將追破章軍，人心始固。
The Wei commander Tuoba Zhang assaulted Ye, and Murong De dispatched Murong Qing, Prince of Nan'an, and others on a night attack that routed him. The Wei forces pulled back to Xincheng, where Murong Qing and his colleagues asked permission to attack. Han Fan, the provincial adjutant, urged that the ancients decided victory in council before they took the field. He listed four reasons not to strike the Wei army and three reasons Later Yan should stay put. Wei's troops were deep in hostile territory and favored open battle, which was the first reason not to engage them. They had thrust close to the heartland and camped on perilous ground, which was the second reason to hold off. Their front had been beaten but their rear was consolidating, which was the third reason to avoid battle. They outnumbered Murong De's forces, which was the fourth reason not to strike. Murong De's army fought on home soil, which was the first reason not to stir. A failed sortie would shatter morale, which was the second reason to stay still. The defenses were unfinished and left Murong De exposed if the enemy came, which was the third reason to remain passive. These were classic taboos in the art of war; better to deepen ditches, heighten walls, and wait out the enemy at leisure. Their supply lines stretched a thousand li across empty country, so prolonged operations would drain their stores; repeated assaults would bleed their columns, wear would breed disorder, and careful timing could bring victory. Murong De replied that Han Fan's counsel matched the quality of Zhang Liang and Chen Ping. He therefore recalled Murong Qing and withdrew the troops. Wei dispatched Helai Lu, Prince of Liaoxi, with cavalry to cooperate with Tuoba Zhang in the siege of Ye; Murong De sent Liu Zao to Yao Xing for aid and news of his mother and brother, but no relief came and panic spread through the ranks. Murong De then hosted the soldiers himself, lavished care on them, and they repaid his kindness with a will to fight to the death. Tuoba Zhang and Helai Lu fell into mutual discord and slipped away with their commands. Ding Tong, chief clerk under Tuoba Zhang, defected with his troops and reported that Zhang's army was exhausted and vulnerable. Murong De sent a commander in pursuit who crushed Tuoba Zhang's force, and morale finally firmed.
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時魏師入中山，慕容寶出奔于薊，慕容詳又僭號。 會劉藻自姚興而至，興太史令高魯遣其甥王景暉隨藻送玉璽一紐，並圖識秘文，曰：「有德者昌，無德者亡。 德受天命，柔而復剛。」 又有謠曰：「大風蓬勃揚塵埃，八井三刀卒起來，四海鼎沸中山頹，惟有德人據三台。」 於是德之群臣議以慕容詳僭號中山，魏師盛于冀州，未審寶之存亡，因勸德即尊號。 德不從。 會慕容達自龍城奔鄴，稱寶猶存，群議乃止。 尋而寶以德為丞相，領冀州牧，承制南夏。
Meanwhile Wei troops entered Zhongshan, Murong Bao fled toward Ji, and Murong Xiang proclaimed himself at Zhongshan. When Liu Zao came back from Yao Xing's court, Yao Xing's director of astronomy Gao Lu sent his nephew Wang Jinghui with him bearing a jade seal plus charts and cryptic prophecies declaring that virtue brought prosperity and its absence brought ruin. They proclaimed that Murong De bore Heaven's mandate, supple yet ultimately unyielding. A popular verse added that whirlwinds would scour the land, cryptic signs would spark uprising, the realm would boil while Zhongshan collapsed, and only the virtuous man would seize the Three Terraces. Murong De's officials argued that with Murong Xiang's usurpation at Zhongshan, Wei's power swelling in Ji, and Murong Bao's fate uncertain, Murong De should take the imperial dignity. Murong De refused. Soon Murong Da arrived from Longcheng claiming Murong Bao was alive, and the push for enthronement stopped. Murong Bao then appointed Murong De chancellor and governor of Ji, empowering him to govern the south.
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德兄子麟自義台奔鄴，因說德曰：「中山既沒，魏必乘勝攻鄴，雖糧儲素積，而城大難固，且人情沮動，不可以戰。 及魏軍未至，擁眾南渡，就魯陽王和，據滑台而聚兵積穀，伺隙而動，計之上也。 魏雖拔中山，勢不久留，不過驅掠而返。 人不樂徙，理自生變，然後振威以援之，魏則內外受敵，使戀舊之士有所依憑，廣開恩信，招集遺黎，可一舉而取之。」 先是，慕容和亦勸德南徙，於是許之。 隆安二年，乃率戶四萬、車二萬七千乘，自鄴將徙於滑台。 遇風，船沒，魏軍垂至，眾懼，議欲退保黎陽。 其夕流澌凍合，是夜濟師，旦，魏師至而冰泮，若有神焉。 遂改黎陽津為天橋津。 及至滑台，景星見於尾箕。 漳水得白玉，狀若璽。 於是德依燕元故事，稱元年，大赦境內殊死已下，置百官。 以慕容麟為司空、領尚書令，慕容法為中軍將軍，慕輿拔為尚書左僕射，丁通為尚書右僕射，自余封授各有差。 初，河間有麟見，慕容麟以為已瑞。 及此，潛謀為亂，事覺，賜死。 其夏，魏將賀賴盧率眾附之。
Murong Lin, Murong De's nephew, fled from Yitai to Ye and warned that Wei would press its victory against Ye after Zhongshan's fall; grain reserves were ample but the sprawling walls were hard to hold, and shaken morale made fighting unwise. He urged Murong De to move the army south across the river before Wei arrived, join Murong He, Prince of Luyang, seize Huatai to stockpile men and supplies, and strike when opportunity allowed—the best course. Even if Wei seized Zhongshan, it could not linger; it would raid the population and withdraw. The populace would resist forced migration and turmoil would follow; Murong De could then project power to support them, leaving Wei caught between interior and exterior foes, while he won over the displaced with mercy and credibility and gathered the refugees for a decisive blow. Murong He had already advocated a southern shift, so Murong De agreed. In the second year of Longan Murong De moved forty thousand households and twenty-seven thousand carts from Ye toward Huatai. Storms sank the flotilla as Wei closed in, spreading panic and talk of retreating to Liyang. That night the river froze solid, allowing a night crossing; by morning Wei arrived as the ice thawed, as though the gods favored Murong De. He renamed the Liyang crossing the Heavenly Bridge Ford. Upon reaching Huatai, a propitious star appeared in the Tail and Basket lunar mansions. The Zhang River produced white jade in the form of an imperial seal. Murong De then followed Later Yan's precedent, proclaimed his own inaugural reign, amnestied capital crimes and below, and set up a full bureaucracy. He named Murong Lin minister of works and chief of the secretariat, Murong Fa central-army general, Yu Ba senior vice-president of the secretariat, Ding Tong junior vice-president, and distributed other posts accordingly. Earlier a qilin sighting in Hejian had led Murong Lin to claim it as his personal portent. When his plot surfaced he was condemned to death. That summer Helai Lu of Wei brought his command over to Murong De's side.
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至是，慕容寶自龍城南奔至黎陽，遣其中黃門令趙思召慕容鍾來迎。 鍾本首議勸德稱尊號，聞而惡之，執思付獄，馳使白狀。 德謂其下曰：「卿等前以社稷大計，勸吾攝政。 吾亦以嗣帝奔亡，人神曠主，故權順群議，以系眾望。 今天方悔禍，嗣帝得還，吾將具駕奉迎，謝罪行闕，然後角巾私第，卿等以為何如？」 其黃門侍郎張華進曰：「夫爭奪之世，非雄才不振； 從橫之時，豈懦夫能濟！ 陛下若蹈匹婦之仁，舍天授之業，威權一去，則身首不保，何退讓之有乎！」 德曰：「吾以古人逆取順守，其道未足，所以中路徘徊，悵然未決耳。」 慕輿護請馳問寶虛實，德流涕而遣之。 乃率壯士數百，隨思而北，因謀殺寶。 初，寶遣思之後，知德攝位，懼而北奔。 護至無所見，執思而還。 德以思閑習典故，將任之。 思曰：「昔關羽見重曹公，猶不忘先主之恩。 思雖刑餘賤隸，荷國寵靈，犬馬有心，而況人乎！ 乞還就上，以明微節。」 德固留之，思怒曰：「周室衰微，晉、鄭夾輔； 漢有七國之難，實賴梁王。 殿下親則叔父，位則上臺，不能率先群後以匡王室，而幸根本之傾為趙倫之事。 思雖無申胥哭秦之效，猶慕君賓不生莽世。」 德怒，斬之。
Murong Bao then fled south from Longcheng to Liyang and dispatched Zhao Si, his central palace gate director, to call Murong Zhong to escort him. Murong Zhong, who had first urged Murong De to take the throne, took offense, jailed Zhao Si, and sent a courier to inform Murong De. Murong De told his followers they had pressed him into regency for the dynasty's sake. He added that with the heir-apparent in flight and the realm leaderless, he had bowed to their advice to hold expectations together. Now that Heaven seemed to relent and the heir might return, he would ready his equipage to welcome Murong Bao, confess his faults at court, then withdraw to private life with a scholar's headwrap—what did they think? Gentleman attendant at the yellow gate Zhang Hua replied that only a heroic figure could revive the state in an age of contention. In a shifting balance of power no timid man could save the day. If Murong De indulged petty mercy, threw away a mandate Heaven had given him, and let power slip away, he would lose his life—there was no virtue in abdicating then. Murong De answered that the ancients took power boldly yet ruled legitimately, a balance he had not mastered, which left him torn and unresolved. Yu Hu volunteered to ride north and learn Murong Bao's true situation; Murong De sent him off in tears. He led hundreds of picked men north with Zhao Si plotting to murder Murong Bao. After dispatching Zhao Si, Murong Bao had learned of Murong De's assumption of power and fled north in fear. Yu Hu found no sign of Murong Bao, seized Zhao Si, and came back. Murong De intended to employ Zhao Si for his knowledge of court precedent. Zhao Si replied that even Guan Yu, honored by Cao Cao, had not forgotten his first master's grace. Though he was a castrated menial favored by the state, even dogs and horses kept loyalty—how much more a man. He begged leave to rejoin his sovereign and prove his humble loyalty. Murong De pressed him to stay. Zhao Si angrily cited how Jin and Zheng buttressed declining Zhou and how the Prince of Liang had saved Han from the Rebellion of the Seven States. As the emperor's uncle and a minister of the highest rank, he should have rallied the lords to restore the house, yet he exploited the dynasty's peril like Sima Lun's usurpation. Zhao Si could not match Shen Baoxu's weeping at the court of Qin, yet he still envied Junbin for refusing to live under Wang Mang. Murong De flew into a rage and had him executed.
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晉南陽太守閭丘羨、甯朔將軍鄧啟方率眾二萬來伐，師次管城。 德遣其中軍慕容法、撫軍慕容和等距之，王師敗績。 德怒法不窮追晉師，斬其撫軍司馬靳瑰。
The Jin governor of Nanyang, Lüqiu Xian, and Ningshuo general Deng Qifang marched twenty thousand troops against him and encamped at Guancheng. Murong De sent Central Army Murong Fa and Pacification General Murong He to meet them, and the Jin army was routed. Murong De blamed Murong Fa for breaking off the pursuit of the Jin force and executed his Pacification Army major Jin Gui.
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初，苻登既為姚興所滅，登弟廣率部落降於德，拜冠軍將軍，處之乞活堡。 會熒惑守東井，或言秦當復興者，廣乃自稱秦王，敗德將慕容鐘。 時德始都滑台，介於晉、魏之間，地無十城，眾不過數萬。 及鐘喪師，反側之徒多歸於廣。 德乃留慕容和守滑台，親率眾討廣，斬之。
When Fu Deng fell to Yao Xing, his brother Fu Guang led their followers to submit to Murong De, who named him Champion General and settled them at Qihuo Fort. Mars stood over Dongjing; some claimed Former Qin would revive. Fu Guang thereupon proclaimed himself King of Qin and routed Murong De's general Murong Zhong. Murong De had only just set his capital at Huatai between Jin and Wei, holding fewer than ten towns and only a few tens of thousands of troops. After Murong Zhong's defeat, many wavering followers went over to Fu Guang. Murong De left Murong He to hold Huatai, marched in person against Fu Guang, and killed him.
11
初，寶之至黎陽也，和長史李辯勸和納之，和不從。 辯懼謀泄，乃引晉軍至管城，冀德親率師，於後作亂。 會德不出，愈不自安。 及德此行也，辯又勸和反，和不從。 辯怒，殺和，以滑台降于魏。 時將士家悉在城內，德將攻之，韓范言於德曰：「魏師已入城，據國成資，客主之勢，翻然復異，人情既危，不可以戰。 宜先據一方，為關中之基，然後畜力而圖之，計之上也。」 德乃止。 德右衛將軍慕容雲斬李辯，率將士家累二萬餘人而出，三軍慶悅。 德謀於眾曰：「苻廣雖平，而撫軍失據，進有強敵，退無所托，計將安出？」 張華進曰：「彭城阻帶山川，楚之舊都，地險人殷，可攻而據之，以為基本。」 慕容鐘、慕輿護、封逞、韓𧨳等固勸攻滑台，潘聰曰：「滑台四通八達，非帝王之居。 且北通大魏，西接強秦，此二國者，未可以高枕而待之。 彭城土曠人稀，地平無險，晉之歸鎮，必距王師。 又密邇江、淮，水路通浚，秋夏霖潦，千里為湖。 且水戰國之所短，吳之所長，今雖克之，非久安之計也。 青、齊沃壤，號曰東秦，土方二千，戶餘十萬，四塞之固，負海之饒，可謂用武之國。 三齊英傑，蓄志以待，孰不思得明主以立尺寸之功！ 廣固者，曹嶷之所營，山川阻峻，足為帝王之都。 宜遣辯士馳說于前，大兵繼進於後，避閭渾昔負國恩，必翻然向化。 如其守迷不順，大軍臨之，自然瓦解。 既據之後，閉關養銳，伺隙而動，此亦二漢之有關中、河內也。」 德猶豫未決。 沙門郎公素知占候，德因訪其所適。 郎曰：「敬覽三策，潘尚書之議可謂興邦之術矣。 今歲初，長星起于奎婁，遂掃虛危，而虛危，齊之分野，除舊佈新之象。 宜先定舊魯，巡撫琅邪，待秋風戒節，然後北圍臨齊，天之道也。」 德大悅，引師而南，兗州北鄙諸縣悉降，置守宰以撫之。 存問高年，軍無私掠，百姓安之，牛酒屬路。
When Murong Bao came to Liyang, chief clerk Li Bian urged Murong He to admit him, but Murong He refused. Li Bian feared exposure, drew Jin troops to Guancheng, and hoped Murong De would take the field himself so Li Bian could raise revolt behind him. Murong De did not march, and Li Bian grew still more anxious. When Murong De set out on this campaign, Li Bian again pressed Murong He to revolt, and Murong He again refused. Li Bian slew Murong He in rage and handed Huatai over to Wei. With every soldier's family inside the walls Murong De prepared to strike, but Han Fan said Wei held the town and its stores, the strategic balance had flipped, morale was brittle, and battle was unwise. Han Fan urged seizing a base like Guanzhong first, building strength, then striking back as the superior course. Murong De called off the assault. Right Guard general Murong Yun executed Li Bian and led out over twenty thousand dependents, to the army's delight. Murong De asked his court how to advance against strong enemies with no rear base now that Fu Guang was dead but Huatai was lost. Zhang Hua argued Pengcheng's terrain and wealth made it a capital worth taking by force. Murong Zhong, Muyu Hu, Feng Cheng, Han Fan, and others pressed to retake Huatai, while Pan Cong called it a hub ill suited to an imperial seat. Pan Cong warned that Huatai lay open to Wei and to Yao Xing's Qin and could not be held with complacency. He added that Pengcheng was open ground where Jin would block Later Yan's advance. Pan Cong noted its nearness to the rivers, floods, and Jin's naval strength. He argued water fighting favored the southern foe, so even victory there would not secure Murong De long term. He praised Qi and Qing as Eastern Qin, populous, defensible, and rich for military power. Pan Cong said the Qi elite yearned for a worthy ruler to follow. He named Guanggu, Cao Yi's fortress, as defensible enough for a capital. He proposed envoys then an army, arguing Bi Lü Hun who had wronged Later Yan would flip or yield. If Bi Lü Hun resisted, Pan Cong expected him to collapse under pressure. Holding Guanggu would mirror Han control of Guanzhong and Henei. Murong De remained undecided. Murong De consulted the monk Lang Gong, versed in astrology. Lang Gong endorsed Pan Cong's strategy as state building. He read a comet over Xu and Wei as Qi's astrological field and an omen of renewal. He urged securing Lu, touring Langye, then besieging Linqi in autumn as Heaven's course. Murong De marched south, winning the north of Yanzhou and installing officials. His troops refrained from looting, elders were cared for, and locals brought food and drink to the road.
12
德遣使喻齊郡太守避閭渾，渾不從，遣慕容鐘率步騎二萬擊之。 德進據琅邪，徐、兗之土附者十餘萬，自琅邪而北，迎者四萬餘人。 德進寇莒城，守將任安委城而遁，以潘聰鎮莒城。 鐘傳檄青州諸郡曰：「隆替有時，義列昔經； 困難啟聖，事彰中籙。 是以宣王龍飛于危周，光武鳳起於絕漢，斯蓋歷數大期，帝王之興廢也。 自我永康多難，長鯨逸網，華夏四分，黎元五裂。 逆賊辟閭渾父蔚，昔同段龕阻亂淄川，太宰東征，剿絕凶命。 渾于覆巢之下，蒙全卵之施，曾微犬馬識養之心，復襲凶父樂禍之志，盜據東秦，遠附吳、越，割剝黎元，委輸南海。 皇上應期，大命再集，矜彼營丘，暫阻王略，故以七州之眾二十餘萬，巡省貸宗，問罪齊、魯。 昔韓信以裨將伐齊，有征無戰； 耿弇以偏軍討步，克不移朔。 況以萬乘之師，掃一隅之寇，傾山碎卵，方之非易。 孤以不才，忝荷先驅，都督元戎一十二萬，皆烏丸突騎，三河猛士，奮劍與夕火爭光，揮戈與秋月競色。 以此攻城，何城不克； 以此眾戰，何敵不平！ 昔竇融以河西歸漢，榮被于後裔； 彭寵盜逆漁陽，身死于奴僕。 近則曹嶷跋扈，見擒于後趙； 段龕幹紀，取滅於前朝。 此非古今之吉凶，已然之成敗乎？ 渾若先迷後悟，榮寵有加。 如其敢抗王師，敗滅必無遺燼。 稷下之雄，岱北之士，有能斬送渾者，賞同佐命。 脫履機不發，必玉石俱摧。」 渾聞德軍將至，從八千餘家入廣固。 諸郡皆承檄降於德。 渾懼，將妻子奔于魏。 德遣射聲校尉劉綱追斬於莒城。 渾參軍張瑛常與渾作檄，辭多不遜。 及此，德擒而讓之。 瑛神色自若，徐對曰：「渾之有臣，猶韓信之有蒯通。 通遇漢祖而蒙恕，臣遭陛下而嬰戮，比之古人，竊為不幸。 防風之誅，臣實甘之，但恐堯、舜之化未弘于四海耳。」 德初善其言，後竟殺之。 德遂入廣固。
Murong De summoned Bi Lü Hun in Qi commandery; when he refused, Murong Zhong attacked with twenty thousand men. Taking Langye, Murong De drew over a hundred thousand from Xu and Yanzhou and forty thousand more north of Langye. He took Ju as garrison commander Ren An fled, leaving Pan Cong to hold the city. Murong Zhong's proclamation to Qingzhou cited fate and classical precedent. He claimed crisis revealed the destined sage ruler. He compared Later Yan to King Xuan and Emperor Guangwu reviving ruined dynasties. He described the realm's fragmentation after Yongkang. He accused Bi Lü Hun's father Bi Wei of banditry with Duan Kan until Later Yan's eastern campaign extirpated them. He said Bi Lü Hun survived Later Yan's mercy yet oppressed Qi, courted the south, and exploited the people. He framed Murong De's great army as punishing Qi and Lu for sheltering Bi Lü Hun at Yingqiu. He likened the campaign to Han Xin's swift conquest of Qi. He cited Geng Yan's rapid victory over Bu Mao. A Later Yan host could crush a corner rebel more easily still. Murong Zhong boasted one hundred twenty thousand picked cavalry and infantry under his command. No city could withstand such an assault. No enemy could stand against that force. Dou Rong's submission to Han brought lasting honor. Peng Chong's revolt ended in ignominious death. Cao Yi's arrogance ended in capture by Later Zhao. Duan Kan's breach of order brought destruction under the previous regime. Murong Zhong asked whether history did not show clear outcomes. Bi Lü Hun would be richly rewarded if he repented. Resistance would mean total annihilation. He offered founding minister rank for Bi Lü Hun's head. If men missed the chance to defect, victor and vanquished alike would be ruined. Learning of Murong De's approach, Bi Lü Hun moved over eight thousand households into Guanggu. The commanderies submitted to Murong De on Murong Zhong's summons. Bi Lü Hun fled toward Wei with his family. Murong De sent She Sheng colonel Liu Gang to run him down and execute him at Ju. Bi Lü Hun's staff officer Zhang Ying had co-written strident edicts with him. Murong De captured Zhang Ying and reproached him. Zhang Ying calmly compared himself to Kuai Tong serving Han Xin under Bi Lü Hun. Kuai Tong was spared while he faced death, which he called ill luck beside the precedent. He accepted guilt like Fangfeng yet hinted Murong De lacked sage kings' virtue. Murong De first admired the answer but still executed Zhang Ying. Murong De marched into Guanggu.
13
四年，僭即皇帝位於南郊，大赦，改元為建平，設行廟于宮南，遣使奉策告成焉。 進慕容鐘為司徒，慕輿拔為司空，封孚為左僕射，慕輿護為右僕射。 遣其度支尚書封愷、中書侍郎封逞觀省風俗，所在大饗將士。 以其妻段氏為皇后。 建立學官，簡公卿已下子弟及二品士門二百人為太學生。
In the fourth year he took the imperial title at the southern altar, amnestied the realm, adopted the Jianping era, placed a mobile temple south of the palace, and dispatched envoys to announce the deed. He promoted Murong Zhong to steward, Muyu Ba to minister of works, Feng Fu and Muyu Hu as left and right directors. He sent Feng Kai and Feng Cheng to tour local customs and feast the troops. He named his consort Lady Duan empress. He founded an academy with two hundred students from elite families.
14
後因宴其群臣，酒酣，笑而言曰：「朕雖寡薄，恭己南面而朝諸侯，在上不驕，夕惕於位，可方自古何等主也？」 其青州刺史鞠仲曰：「陛下中興之聖後，少康、光武之儔也。」 德顧命左右賜仲帛千匹。 仲以賜多為讓，德曰：「卿知調朕，朕不知調卿乎！ 卿飾對非實，故亦以虛言相賞，賞不謬加，何足謝也！」 韓範進曰：「臣聞天子無戲言，忠臣無妄對。 今日之論，上下相欺，可謂君臣俱失。」 德大悅，賜範絹五十匹。 自是昌言競進，朝多直士矣。
Drunk at court he asked which classical ruler his modest diligent reign resembled. Ju Zhong compared him to Shaokang and Guangwu. Murong De told his staff to award Ju Zhong a thousand bolts of silk. When Ju Zhong objected to the lavish gift Murong De called it banter for banter. Murong De said Ju Zhong's flattery earned a joking reward that need not be refused. Han Fan objected that rulers should not jest and ministers should not dissemble. He called the exchange mutual deception and a failure for both sides. Murong De delighted in the rebuke and gave Han Fan fifty bolts of silk. Frank counsel flourished and the court gained upright officials.
15
德母兄先在長安，遣平原人杜弘如長安問存否，弘曰：「臣至長安，若不奉太后動止，便即西如張掖，以死為效。 臣父雄年逾六十，未沾榮貴，乞本縣之祿，以申烏鳥之情。」 張華進曰：「杜弘未行而求祿，要利情深，不可使也。」 德曰：「吾方散所輕之財，招所重之死，況為親尊而可吝乎！ 且弘為君迎親，為父求祿，雖外如要利，內實忠孝。」 乃以雄為平原令。 弘至張掖，為盜所殺，德聞而悲之，厚撫其妻子。
Murong De sent Du Hong to Chang'an for news of his mother and brother, and Du Hong vowed to reach Zhangye or die trying if he failed. Du Hong asked a county stipend for his aging father to show filial duty. Zhang Hua called Du Hong venal for asking pay before departing. Murong De refused to withhold reward for a mission to fetch his kin. He read Du Hong's request as loyalty and filial piety beneath a mercenary surface. Murong De named Du Xiong magistrate of Pingyuan. Du Hong was killed by bandits at Zhangye; Murong De mourned him and richly aided his family.
16
明年，德如齊城，登營丘，望晏嬰塚，顧謂左右曰：「禮，大夫不逼城葬。 平仲古之賢人，達禮者也，而生居近市，死葬近城，豈有意乎？」 青州秀才晏謨對曰：「孔子稱臣先人平仲賢，則賢矣。 豈不知高其梁，豐其禮？ 蓋政在家門，故儉以矯世。 存居湫隘，卒豈擇地而葬乎！ 所以不遠門者，猶冀悟平生意也。」 遂以謨從至漢城陽景王廟，宴庶老于申池，北登社首山，東望鼎足，因目牛山而歎曰：「古無不死！」 愴然有終焉之志。 遂問謨以齊之山川丘陵，賢哲舊事。 謨曆對詳辯，畫地成圖。 德深嘉之，拜尚書郎。 立冶于商山，置鹽官于烏常澤，以廣軍國之用。
The next year atop Yingqiu Murong De wondered at Yan Ying's tomb near the walls against ritual. He asked whether the sage Yan Ying meant to lie so close to the market and walls. Qingzhou graduate Yan Mo noted Confucius had praised his forebear Yan Ying. Yan Mo implied Yan Ying chose humility over pomp despite knowing better. Yan Mo explained that Yan Ying kept government in the family and used austerity to set the tone for his age. He lived in a mean alley—at death could he pick his burial ground? He lay close to the gate because he still hoped to echo Yan Ying's lifelong intent. He brought Yan Mo to the Han-era temple of Prince Jing of Chengyang, feasted elders at Shen Pool, climbed Sheshou, looked toward the tripod hills, then gazed at Mount Niu and sighed that no one escapes death. He was overcome with melancholy and half wished to end his days there. He quizzed Yan Mo on Qi's geography and famous stories. Yan Mo answered in fluent detail and sketched a map in the dust. Murong De was so impressed he named him a gentleman of the Masters of Writing. He opened ironworks on Mount Shang and salt monopolies at Wuchang Marsh to swell the army's coffers.
17
德故吏趙融自長安來，始具母兄凶問，德號慟吐血，因而寢疾。 其司隸校尉慕容達因此謀反，遣牙門皇璆率眾攻端門，殿中師侯赤眉開門應之。 中黃門遜進扶德逾城，隱於進舍。 段宏等聞宮中有變，勒兵屯四門。 德入宮，誅赤眉等，達懼而奔魏。 慕容法及魏師戰於濟北之摽榆俗，魏師敗績。
His old clerk Zhao Rong arrived from Chang'an with word of his mother and brother's deaths; Murong De howled until he coughed blood and fell gravely ill. Metropolitan commandant Murong Da seized the moment to rebel, sent Huang Kui against the Duan Gate, and won inside help from Hou Chimei. A eunuch helped Murong De over the wall into hiding. Duan Hong and the rest heard the alarm and sealed the four gates with troops. Murong De re-entered the palace, executed Hou Chimei's faction, and Murong Da fled to Wei. Murong Fa clashed with Wei north of Ji near Biaoyu and routed them.
18
其尚書韓𧨳上疏曰：「二寇逋誅，國恥未雪，關西為豺鋃之藪，楊越為鴟鴞之林，三京社稷，鞠為丘墟，四祖園陵，蕪而不守，豈非義夫憤歎之日，烈士忘身之秋。 而皇室多難，威略未振，是使長蛇弗翦，封豕假息。 人懷憤慨，常謂一日之安不可以永久，終朝之逸無卒歲之憂。 陛下中興大業，務在遵養，矜遷萌之失土，假長復而不役，湣黎庶之息肩，貴因循而不擾。 斯可以保甯于營丘，難以經措于秦、越。 今群凶僭逆，實繁有徒，據我三方，伺國瑕釁。 深宜審量虛實，大校成敗，養兵厲甲，廣農積糧，進為雪恥討寇之資，退為山河萬全之固。 而百姓因秦、晉之弊，迭相陰憲，或百室合戶，或千丁共籍，依託城社，不懼燻燒，公避課役，擅為奸宄，損風毀憲，法所不容，但檢今未宣，弗可加戮。 今宜隱實黎萌，正其編貫，庶上增皇朝理物之明，下益軍國兵資之用。 若蒙採納，冀裨山海，雖遇商鞅之刑，悅綰之害，所不辭也。」 德納之，遣其車騎將軍慕容鎮率騎三千，緣邊嚴防，備百姓逃竄。 以𧨳為使持節、散騎常侍、行台尚書，巡郡縣隱實，得廕戶五萬八千。 𧨳公廉正直，所在野次，人不擾焉。
Han Fan memorialized that Western Qin and Eastern Jin still shamed the dynasty, the old capitals lay in ruins, and loyal men should ache to strike. Yet the house of Jin still staggered, so great evils went unstruck. People muttered that a morning's peace bought no lasting safety. Murong De's policy favored mercy, light taxes, and rest for the people. That could secure Shandong but would not recover the deep south or the northwest. Rebels still held three fronts against him. Han Fan urged building food and forces for offense and defense. He described tax evasion through hidden households and urged registration reform before harsher punishments. Registering real households would help revenue and justice. Han Fan offered to carry the policy even at personal risk. Murong De agreed and sent Murong Zhen to seal the frontier against flight. He named Han Fan inspector and uncovered fifty-eight thousand concealed households. Han Fan camped in the fields and never troubled the locals.
19
德大集諸生，親臨策試。 既而饗宴，乘高遠矚，顧謂其尚書魯邃曰：「齊、魯固多君子，當昔全盛之時，接、慎、巴生、淳于、鄒、田之徒，廕修簷，臨清沼，馳硃輪，佩長劍，恣非馬之雄辭，奮談天之逸辯，指麾則紅紫成章，俯仰則丘陵生韻，至於今日，荒草頹墳，氣消煙滅，永言千載，能不依然！」 邃答曰：「武王封比干之墓，漢祖祭信陵之墳，皆留心賢哲，每懷往事。 陛下慈深二主，澤被九泉，若使彼而有知，寧不銜荷矣。」
Murong De convened the academy and presided over the examinations himself. Over wine he mourned to Lu Sui how Qi's literati had vanished into weed-covered graves. Lu Sui compared him to rulers who honored ancient worthies' graves. He said Murong De's kindness outshamed King Wu and Gaozu.
20
先是，妖賊王始聚眾於太山，自稱太平皇帝，號其父為太上皇，兄為征東將軍，弟征西將軍。 慕容鎮討擒之，斬於都市。 臨刑，或問其父及兄弟所在，始答曰：「太上皇帝蒙塵於外，征東、征西亂兵所害。 惟朕一身，獨無聊賴。」 其妻怒之曰：「止坐此口，以至於此，奈何復爾！」 始曰：「皇后！ 自古豈有不破之家，不亡之國邪！」 行刑者以刀環築之，仰視曰：「崩即崩矣，終不改帝號。」 德聞而哂之。
A charlatan named Wang Shi had declared himself emperor on Mount Tai with a full family of bogus titles. Murong Zhen took him and executed him publicly. At the block he claimed his imperial kin were 'in exile' or dead to mutiny. Only I, he said, was left alive. His wife snapped that his big mouth had doomed him. He answered, 'My empress! He asked if any dynasty lasted forever.' Even as the headsman's blade rang on his skull he insisted on his emperor title. Murong De only laughed.
21
時桓玄將行篡逆，誅不附己者。 冀州刺史劉軌、襄城太守司馬休之、征虜將軍劉敬宣、廣陵相高雅之、江都長張誕並內不自安，皆奔於德。 於是德中書侍郎韓范上疏曰：「夫帝王之道，必崇經略。 有其時無其人，則弘濟之功闕； 有其人無其時，則英武之志不申。 至於能成王業者，惟人時合也。 自晉國內難，七載於茲。 桓玄逆篡，虐逾董卓，神怒人怨，其殃積矣。 可乘之機，莫過此也。 以陛下之神武，經而緯之，驅樂奮之卒，接厭亂之機，譬猶聲發回應，形動影隨，未足比其易也。 且江、淮南北戶口未幾，公私戎馬不過數百，守備之事蓋亦微矣。 若以步騎一萬，建雷霆之舉，卷甲長驅，指臨江、會，必望旗草偃，壺漿屬路。 跨地數千，眾逾十萬，可以西並強秦，北抗大魏。 夫欲拓境開疆，保寧社稷，無過今也。 如使後機失會，豪桀復起，梟除桓玄，布惟新之化，遐邇既寧，物無異望，非但建鄴難屠，江北亦不可冀。 機過患生，憂必至矣。 天與不取，悔將及焉。 惟陛下覽之。」 德曰：「自頃數纏百六，宏綱暫弛，遂令奸逆亂華，舊京墟穢，每尋否運，憤慨兼懷。 昔少康以一旅之眾，復夏配天，況朕據三齊之地，藉五州之眾，教之以軍旅，訓之以禮讓，上下知義，人思自奮，繕甲待釁，為日久矣。 但欲先定中原，掃除逋孽，然後宣佈淳風，經理九服，飲馬長江，懸旌隴阪。 此志未遂，且韜戈耳。 今者之事，王公其詳議之。」 咸以桓玄新得志，未可圖，乃止。 於是講武於城西，步兵三十七萬，車一萬七千乘，鐵騎五萬三千，周亙山澤，旌旗彌漫，鉦鼓之聲，振動天地。 德登高望之，顧謂劉軌、高雅之曰：「昔郤克仇齊，子胥怨楚，終能暢其剛烈，名流千載。 卿等既知投身有道，當使無慚昔人也。」 雅之等頓首答曰：「幸蒙陛下天覆之恩，大造之澤，存亡繼絕，實在聖時，雖則萬隕，何以上報！」 俄聞桓玄敗，德以慕容鎮為前鋒，慕容鐘為大都督，配以步卒二萬，騎五千，克期將發，而德寢疾，於是罷兵。
When Huan Xuan prepared his coup he purged dissenters. Several Jin officials fled north to Murong De. Han Fan urged exploiting Huan Xuan's usurpation. When the hour strikes but no worthy leader stands forward, no great restoration can be achieved. When a capable man lacks the right season, even heroic designs cannot take flight. True success needed man and heaven in accord. Seven years had passed since Jin's internal collapse. Han Fan called Huan Xuan worse than Dong Zhuo and ripe for attack. No opportunity could top the present. Murong De could crush him as easily as echo follows sound. Jin's lower Yangzi defenses were still thin. Ten thousand men could sweep to the lower Yangzi and meet surrender. Victory would yield territory to face Qin and Wei. No better moment existed to enlarge the realm. Delay would let Jin recover and close the window. Miss the moment and trouble would follow. Heaven-sent chances wasted bring regret. He begged Murong De to act. Murong De answered that he nursed a long grudge against the barbarians who ruined Luoyang. He cited Shaokang and boasted his Shandong base and trained army. He still meant to pacify the north before marching south. His southern strike remained deferred. He asked his nobles to debate Han Fan's plan. The court judged Huan Xuan too strong for the moment and dropped the idea. He staged a review west of the city with hundreds of thousands on parade. He flattered the Jin defectors as avengers like Xi Ke and Wu Zixu. He urged them to live up to those models. They swore loyalty in return. When news came of Huan Xuan's fall Murong De mobilized then canceled the campaign because of illness.
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初，德迎其兄子超于長安，及是而至。 德夜夢其父曰：「汝既無子，何不早立超為太子，不爾，惡人生心。」 寐而告其妻曰：「先帝神明所敕，觀此夢意，吾將死矣。」 乃下書以超為皇太子，大赦境內，子為父後者人爵二級。 其月死，即也，時年七十。 乃夜為十餘棺，分出四門，潛葬山谷，竟不知其屍之所在。 在位五年。 偽諡獻武皇帝。
Murong Chao, whom he had summoned from Chang'an, now arrived. Murong De dreamed his father told him to adopt Murong Chao as heir. He told his consort the dream foretold his death. He named Murong Chao crown prince and issued a broad amnesty. He died the same month at seventy sui. They ran decoy coffers out each gate and hid his true burial in the hills. His reign lasted five years. His temple posthumous title was Emperor Xianwu.