Wang Rong was a general serving under the Jin Dynasty following the later years of the Three Kingdoms period of China.
Wang Rong served under Jin as the 3rd East General. Wang Rong participated during the final , where he led his army as far as to that of Wuchang . Following this, Wang Rong's army merged with 's and they advanced towards the Wu capital . Later, Wang Rong became very well known throughout the Jin Dynasty for being one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Wei Guan
Wei Guan , courtesy name Boyu , formally Duke Cheng of Lanling , was a Cao Wei and Jin Dynasty official.
Wei Guan was from Hedong Commandery . His father Wei Ji was a high-level Cao Wei official and a marquess, who died in 229. Wei Guan inherited his title, and when he grew older became a low-level official. Throughout the years, he became known for his capability and was continuously promoted. After Cao Huan became emperor, he became the justice minister, and was known for his strength in logical thinking.
When the Cao Wei regent Sima Zhao commissioned Zhong Hui and Deng Ai to attack Shu Han in 263, Wei served as Deng's deputy. After Shu Han's fall that year, Zhong planned a rebellion, and the first step of his preparation was to falsely accuse Deng of crimes. Sima Zhao, believing Zhong's accusations, ordered Deng arrested, and Zhong in turn ordered Wei to arrest Deng, hoping that Wei would fail and be killed by Deng so that he could further affirm his accusations against Deng. Wei knew this, and surprised Deng in the middle of the night and arrested him successfully. When Zhong later declared his rebellion, Wei pretended to be seriously ill. Zhong therefore did not guard him securely, and later, Wei participated in rousing the troops to kill Zhong and thus end the rebellion. Fearful that Deng would then retaliate him, he had Deng tracked down and killed. When Du Yu publicly denounced Wei, instead of becoming angry and retaliate against Du, Wei visited Du to apologize to him. He also declined a larger that Sima Zhao was ready to bestow on him for his accomplishments.
In 265, Sima Zhao died and was succeeded as regent by his son Sima Yan, who later that year forced Cao Huan to abdicate to him, ending Cao Wei and establishing Jin . Throughout Emperor Wu's reign, Wei Guan continued to be an important official and general, serving in a variety of roles capably. As a result, one of his brothers and one of his sons were granted marquess titles. Wei attempted to implement a revised civil service system, where the civil service examiner would have less input on grading officials, and actual job performance would become more important, but while Emperor Wu liked Wei's suggestions, he did not carry them out.
Wei was one of the few officials who dared to openly speak to Emperor Wu about his choice of crown prince, his son Sima Zhong, who was . On one occasion, Emperor Wu, after Wei hinted that Crown Prince Zhong should not be crown prince, sent a number of inquiries to Crown Prince Zhong to have answered. When the inquiries were appropriately answered , Emperor Wu was happy and publicly showed Wei the answers, embarrassing Wei greatly and making it clear to other officials that Wei had said something.
After Emperor Wu's death in 290, , the father of assumed the regency for Crown Prince Zhong , but in 291 was overthrown and killed by Empress Jia. Wei was then made regent, along with Emperor Hui's granduncle Sima Liang. Wei and Sima Liang did tried to get the government on track, but Empress Jia continued to interfere with governmental matters. They also became concerned about the violent temper of Emperor Hui's brother Sima Wei the Prince of Chu and therefore tried to strip him of his military command, but Sima Wei persuaded Empress Jia to let him keep his military command. Sima Wei's assistants Qi Sheng and Gongsun Hong thereafter falsely told Empress Jia that Sima Liang and Wei planned to depose the emperor. Empress Jia, who had already resented Wei for having, during Emperor Wu's reign, suggested that he change his heir selection, also wanted more direct control over the government, and therefore resolved to undergo a second coup.
In summer 291, Empress Jia had Emperor Hui personally write an edict to Sima Wei, ordering him to have Sima Liang and Wei removed from their offices. His forces thereby surrounded Sima Liang and Wei's mansions, and while both men's subordinates recommended resistance, each declined and was captured. Against what the edict said, both were killed -- Sima Liang with his heir Sima Ju and Wei with nine of his sons and grandsons. After Empress Jia, concerned about Sima Wei's power, then falsely declared that the edict was forged by Sima Wei and had him executed, Wei was posthumousy honored and created a duke.
Early life and career during Cao Wei
Wei Guan was from Hedong Commandery . His father Wei Ji was a high-level Cao Wei official and a marquess, who died in 229. Wei Guan inherited his title, and when he grew older became a low-level official. Throughout the years, he became known for his capability and was continuously promoted. After Cao Huan became emperor, he became the justice minister, and was known for his strength in logical thinking.
When the Cao Wei regent Sima Zhao commissioned Zhong Hui and Deng Ai to attack Shu Han in 263, Wei served as Deng's deputy. After Shu Han's fall that year, Zhong planned a rebellion, and the first step of his preparation was to falsely accuse Deng of crimes. Sima Zhao, believing Zhong's accusations, ordered Deng arrested, and Zhong in turn ordered Wei to arrest Deng, hoping that Wei would fail and be killed by Deng so that he could further affirm his accusations against Deng. Wei knew this, and surprised Deng in the middle of the night and arrested him successfully. When Zhong later declared his rebellion, Wei pretended to be seriously ill. Zhong therefore did not guard him securely, and later, Wei participated in rousing the troops to kill Zhong and thus end the rebellion. Fearful that Deng would then retaliate him, he had Deng tracked down and killed. When Du Yu publicly denounced Wei, instead of becoming angry and retaliate against Du, Wei visited Du to apologize to him. He also declined a larger that Sima Zhao was ready to bestow on him for his accomplishments.
Career during Jin
In 265, Sima Zhao died and was succeeded as regent by his son Sima Yan, who later that year forced Cao Huan to abdicate to him, ending Cao Wei and establishing Jin . Throughout Emperor Wu's reign, Wei Guan continued to be an important official and general, serving in a variety of roles capably. As a result, one of his brothers and one of his sons were granted marquess titles. Wei attempted to implement a revised civil service system, where the civil service examiner would have less input on grading officials, and actual job performance would become more important, but while Emperor Wu liked Wei's suggestions, he did not carry them out.
Wei was one of the few officials who dared to openly speak to Emperor Wu about his choice of crown prince, his son Sima Zhong, who was . On one occasion, Emperor Wu, after Wei hinted that Crown Prince Zhong should not be crown prince, sent a number of inquiries to Crown Prince Zhong to have answered. When the inquiries were appropriately answered , Emperor Wu was happy and publicly showed Wei the answers, embarrassing Wei greatly and making it clear to other officials that Wei had said something.
After Emperor Wu's death in 290, , the father of assumed the regency for Crown Prince Zhong , but in 291 was overthrown and killed by Empress Jia. Wei was then made regent, along with Emperor Hui's granduncle Sima Liang. Wei and Sima Liang did tried to get the government on track, but Empress Jia continued to interfere with governmental matters. They also became concerned about the violent temper of Emperor Hui's brother Sima Wei the Prince of Chu and therefore tried to strip him of his military command, but Sima Wei persuaded Empress Jia to let him keep his military command. Sima Wei's assistants Qi Sheng and Gongsun Hong thereafter falsely told Empress Jia that Sima Liang and Wei planned to depose the emperor. Empress Jia, who had already resented Wei for having, during Emperor Wu's reign, suggested that he change his heir selection, also wanted more direct control over the government, and therefore resolved to undergo a second coup.
In summer 291, Empress Jia had Emperor Hui personally write an edict to Sima Wei, ordering him to have Sima Liang and Wei removed from their offices. His forces thereby surrounded Sima Liang and Wei's mansions, and while both men's subordinates recommended resistance, each declined and was captured. Against what the edict said, both were killed -- Sima Liang with his heir Sima Ju and Wei with nine of his sons and grandsons. After Empress Jia, concerned about Sima Wei's power, then falsely declared that the edict was forged by Sima Wei and had him executed, Wei was posthumousy honored and created a duke.
Wen Jiao
Wen Jiao , courtesy name Taizhen , formally Duke Zhongwu of Shi'an , was a renowned Jin Dynasty general and governor.
Wen Jiao's father Wen Dan was a commandery governor, and his uncle Wen Xian was an early Jin prime minister. His maternal aunt was the wife of the general Liu Kun , who for years tried in vain to stop Han Zhao forces from seizing Bing Province from Jin.
In 317, after had been captured by Han Zhao, Liu Kun, who had then lost Bing Province and was at the headquarters of Duan Pidi , the governor of You Province , commissioned Wen Jiao to head to Jiankang to offer the Prince of Langye a petition to assume imperial title. Although his mother Lady Cui tried to stop him from leaving, he went anyway. Once Wen arrived in Jiankang, many of the Jin officials in the provisional capital, including Wang Dao, Zhou Yi , and Yu Liang were impressed by his talents and sought to befriend him. He sought to return north, but Sima Rui ordered him to stay. When Liu Kun was killed by Duan in 318 , Wen, having heard that his mother Lady Cui had also died in the interim, again sought to return north, but Sima Rui, who had by now taken the imperial title , ordered him to stay and further ordered him to serve in his administration. He became a friend and a trusted advisor of the crown prince, Emperor Yuan's son . When the warlord Wang Dun resisted Emperor Yuan and captured the capital Jiankang in 322, it was Wen who stopped Crown Prince Shao from taking the risky maneuver of engaging in a final confrontation with Wang. As the years went by, Wen became known for being a good judge of talent.
After Emperor Yuan died in 323, Crown Prince Shao took the throne as Emperor Ming. He continued to consult Wen on many important matters, and Wang Dun sought to stop that by forcing Wen to become an assistant of his. Once Wen arrived at Wang's camp, he pretended to submit to Wang, flattering him and giving him many practical suggestions. Wang came to believe he had won Wen over and, in 324, as he grew ill and pondered his next move, he sent Wen back to Jiankang as its mayor, so that Wen could watch the emperor's move. Instead, Wen revealed Wang's illness and plans to Emperor Ming, which helped lead to Wang's forces' defeat when they attacked the capital later that year.
After Emperor Ming died in 325, his will left a number of high level officials in charge of his four-year-old son 's administration. However, Yu Liang, as the brother of Empress Dowager Yu, was the actual regent. His youthful arrogance quickly offended the generals Su Jun, Zu Yue , and Tao Kan, and he therefore in 326 made Wen the governor of the key Jiang Province , to defend against possible military rebellions. Later, when Su became sufficiently angered by Yu that he rebelled in 327, Wen wanted to immediately come to Yu's aid, but Yu, overly confident that he could defeat Su and further concerned about Tao , declined.
However, in early 328, it became clear that the imperial forces in the capital were in trouble, as Su defeated every single force that stood in his way. Wen quickly headed toward Jiankang notwithstanding Yu's reservations, but could not get to Jiankang before the capital fell to Su. Yu was forced to flee, and Emperor Cheng and his mother Empress Dowager Yu were captured. Empress Dowager Yu soon died from distress. Yu joined Wen, and they considered how they could defeat Su. Wen's cousin Wen Chong suggested that they offer the title of the supreme commander to Tao, and they did so. However, Tao was still resentful of Yu and therefore initially refused. Eventually, however, after his anger was over, he accepted, and he, Wen, and Yu combined their forces and headed east to Jiankang. In winter 328, during a battle with Su, Su was killed, and they subsequently defeated the remnants of Su's army in 329. For his contributions, Wen was created the Duke of Shi'an.
Jiankang having been heavily damaged during the war , Wen considered moving the capital to Yuzhang , but after Wang Dao opposed, noting that Jiankang was in a better position to monitor the northern defenses against Later Zhao, Wen agreed to keep the capital at Jiankang. Most officials requested that he stay in Jiankang to serve as regent, but Wen, believing that Emperor Ming had intended that Wang Dao serve in that role, declined and, after leaving all of his supplies with Wang, set out to return to Jiang Province. On the way, however, he suffered problems with his tooth or teeth, and after having it/them pulled, suffered a stroke and died. He was buried at Yuzhang. The imperial government, because of his great contributions, considered building a magnificent tomb for him north of Emperor Ming's tomb, but Tao noted that Wen himself was thrifty in his own spendings and would not have wanted the government to expend effort for money for such a tomb, and so the proposal was not carried out.
Family
Wen Jiao's father Wen Dan was a commandery governor, and his uncle Wen Xian was an early Jin prime minister. His maternal aunt was the wife of the general Liu Kun , who for years tried in vain to stop Han Zhao forces from seizing Bing Province from Jin.
Biography
Duan Pidi affiliation
In 317, after had been captured by Han Zhao, Liu Kun, who had then lost Bing Province and was at the headquarters of Duan Pidi , the governor of You Province , commissioned Wen Jiao to head to Jiankang to offer the Prince of Langye a petition to assume imperial title. Although his mother Lady Cui tried to stop him from leaving, he went anyway. Once Wen arrived in Jiankang, many of the Jin officials in the provisional capital, including Wang Dao, Zhou Yi , and Yu Liang were impressed by his talents and sought to befriend him. He sought to return north, but Sima Rui ordered him to stay. When Liu Kun was killed by Duan in 318 , Wen, having heard that his mother Lady Cui had also died in the interim, again sought to return north, but Sima Rui, who had by now taken the imperial title , ordered him to stay and further ordered him to serve in his administration. He became a friend and a trusted advisor of the crown prince, Emperor Yuan's son . When the warlord Wang Dun resisted Emperor Yuan and captured the capital Jiankang in 322, it was Wen who stopped Crown Prince Shao from taking the risky maneuver of engaging in a final confrontation with Wang. As the years went by, Wen became known for being a good judge of talent.
Consort to Emperor Ming
After Emperor Yuan died in 323, Crown Prince Shao took the throne as Emperor Ming. He continued to consult Wen on many important matters, and Wang Dun sought to stop that by forcing Wen to become an assistant of his. Once Wen arrived at Wang's camp, he pretended to submit to Wang, flattering him and giving him many practical suggestions. Wang came to believe he had won Wen over and, in 324, as he grew ill and pondered his next move, he sent Wen back to Jiankang as its mayor, so that Wen could watch the emperor's move. Instead, Wen revealed Wang's illness and plans to Emperor Ming, which helped lead to Wang's forces' defeat when they attacked the capital later that year.
Yu Liang
After Emperor Ming died in 325, his will left a number of high level officials in charge of his four-year-old son 's administration. However, Yu Liang, as the brother of Empress Dowager Yu, was the actual regent. His youthful arrogance quickly offended the generals Su Jun, Zu Yue , and Tao Kan, and he therefore in 326 made Wen the governor of the key Jiang Province , to defend against possible military rebellions. Later, when Su became sufficiently angered by Yu that he rebelled in 327, Wen wanted to immediately come to Yu's aid, but Yu, overly confident that he could defeat Su and further concerned about Tao , declined.
However, in early 328, it became clear that the imperial forces in the capital were in trouble, as Su defeated every single force that stood in his way. Wen quickly headed toward Jiankang notwithstanding Yu's reservations, but could not get to Jiankang before the capital fell to Su. Yu was forced to flee, and Emperor Cheng and his mother Empress Dowager Yu were captured. Empress Dowager Yu soon died from distress. Yu joined Wen, and they considered how they could defeat Su. Wen's cousin Wen Chong suggested that they offer the title of the supreme commander to Tao, and they did so. However, Tao was still resentful of Yu and therefore initially refused. Eventually, however, after his anger was over, he accepted, and he, Wen, and Yu combined their forces and headed east to Jiankang. In winter 328, during a battle with Su, Su was killed, and they subsequently defeated the remnants of Su's army in 329. For his contributions, Wen was created the Duke of Shi'an.
Death
Jiankang having been heavily damaged during the war , Wen considered moving the capital to Yuzhang , but after Wang Dao opposed, noting that Jiankang was in a better position to monitor the northern defenses against Later Zhao, Wen agreed to keep the capital at Jiankang. Most officials requested that he stay in Jiankang to serve as regent, but Wen, believing that Emperor Ming had intended that Wang Dao serve in that role, declined and, after leaving all of his supplies with Wang, set out to return to Jiang Province. On the way, however, he suffered problems with his tooth or teeth, and after having it/them pulled, suffered a stroke and died. He was buried at Yuzhang. The imperial government, because of his great contributions, considered building a magnificent tomb for him north of Emperor Ming's tomb, but Tao noted that Wen himself was thrifty in his own spendings and would not have wanted the government to expend effort for money for such a tomb, and so the proposal was not carried out.
Wen Yang
Wen Yang was an officer during the Three Kingdoms Period of China. Wen Yang was the son of Wen Qin. It is said that Wen Yang's real name is When Shu, but carried "Yang" as his childhood name up into adulthood. Wen Yang wielded his famous steel whip and was compared to Zhao Yun with his uncomparable skill in battle. Wen Yang alone faced off against many troops that were under Sima Shi during Wen Yang's assistance of the rebel leader Guanqiu Jian. After Wen Qin ended up being killed, Yang then went on to join .
* Father
** Wen Qin
* Brother
** Wen Hu
Personal information
* Father
** Wen Qin
* Brother
** Wen Hu
Xie Xuan
Xie Xuan , courtesy name Youdu , formally Duke Xianwu of Kangle , was a Jin Dynasty general who is best known for repelling the Former Qin army at the Battle of Fei River, preventing the Former Qin emperor Fu Jiān from destroying Jin and uniting China.
Xie Xuan's father Xie Yi was an older brother of the Jin prime minister Xie An. Xie Xuan's sister Xie Daoyun was known for her literary talent and quick wit. Early in his career, both Xie Xuan and his uncle Xie An served on staff of the paramount general Huan Wen. Huan Wen greatly prized Xie Xuan's ability, and once commented, with regard to him and his colleague Wang Xun , both of whom served as his secretaries:
:''By age 40, Mr. Xie will possess a great general's banner and staff, and Mr. Wang will be a prime minister even while his hair is black. Both are uncommon talents.''
After Huan Wen's death in 373, Xie Xuan initially served on the staff of Huan Wen's brother Huan Huo . In 377, when the imperial government was looking for a general capable of defending the northeastern border against Former Qin, Xie An, against the usual custom of not recommending one's own clan members, recommended him. The official Chi Chao , who ordinarily feuded with Xie An on nearly all matters, immediately remarked, "Xie An, in his good judgment, made an uncommonly good move against public sentiment, and Xie Xuan would surely not fail his expectations." Chi made these remarks based on the time when he also served on Huan Wen's staff and saw Xie Xuan's abilities.
Xie Xuan recruited elite soldiers, and among the ones that joined him was Liu Laozhi , who in later campaigns served as his assistant and forward commander. Eventually, Xie put together an army that was the most elite of the Jin forces, known as the Beifu Forces . His army first distinguished itself in 378, when Former Qin forces made simultaneous attacks on the important Jin cities Xiangyang , Weixing , and Pengcheng . Xiangyang and Weixing fell to Former Qin, as did Pengcheng, but Xie, charged with relieving Pengcheng, made a fierce counterattack in 379, defeating the Former Qin generals Ju Nan and Peng Chao and recapturing Pengcheng. This was the first major victory that Jin had over Former Qin in decades, and it was a major morale booster.
In 383, as Former Qin launched a major assault with intent to destroy Jin once and for all, Xie Xuan and his Beifu Force was sent to the frontline, reporting to the command of his uncle Xie Shi . Xie Shi, initially intimidated by the much larger Former Qin force, considered merely trying to block Former Qin progress without major engagement, but after he was advised otherwise by the Former Qin ambassador Zhu Xu -- a Jin general who was captured by Former Qin in 379 but who secretly remained loyal to Jin -- and chose to engage Former Qin forward troops that arrived first. Xie Xuan, charged with engaging Former Qin forces, along with Liu Laozhi, dealt them minor defeats, reducing their morale. When Former Qin troops gradually arrived, the Former Qin and Jin forces became stalemated across the Fei River .
Xie Xuan sent a message to the Former Qin commanding general Fu Rong with a proposal -- to have Fu Rong order his troops to retreat slightly to allow the Jin forces across, so the armies could engage. Fu Rong, after discussing with Fu Jiān, agreed, and ordered a retreat. However, once the Former Qin troops went into retreat, it panicked, and as Fu Rong tried to calm his troops down, his horse suddenly fell, and he was killed by Jin soldiers. Once that happened, Xie Xuan and other generals, Xie Yan and Huan Yi fiercely attacked Former Qin troops, which then completely collapsed. Former Qin would face major rebellions starting in 384 that eventually led to its disintetgration and would not again pose a threat to Jin.
Due to his achievements at the Battle of Fei River, Xie Xuan was created the Duke of Kangle. When the major general Huan Chong died in 384, initially Xie Xuan was to succeed him, but Xie An thought the Huan clan might be unhappy about yielding Huan Chong's command to others, so divided Huan Chong's domain into three and distributed them to members of the Huan clan. Later that year, however, Xie Xuan was put in charge of a force targeting the recovery of central China, along with Huan Shiqian . He quickly recovered most of the territory south of the Yellow River on Jin's behalf, and, in an odd case of enemies quickly turning allies, briefly relieved Fu Jiān's son Fu Pi, who was defending against rebels led by Murong Chui, who had just founded Later Yan.
Xie apparently considered further operations to try to seize territory north of the Yellow River, but as Murong Chui quickly entrenched himself north of the Yellow River, it became clear it would be difficult to do so. In 386, after the generals Zhai Liao and Zhang Yuan rebelled, in light of popular opinion that believed that the troops were being worn out, Xie abandoned the plans entirely, and indeed moved his headquarters from Pengcheng south to Huaiyin , although Jin continued to hold most of the territory south of the Yellow River.
After that point, it appeared that Xie suffered a series of illnesses that made it impossible for him to conduct any further campaigns and which also made him to repeatedly try to resign his command. Eventually, he was made the governor of Kuaiji Commandery -- an important, but almost entirely civilian, post. He died in 388 while still serving as the governor of Kuaiji.
Early career
Xie Xuan's father Xie Yi was an older brother of the Jin prime minister Xie An. Xie Xuan's sister Xie Daoyun was known for her literary talent and quick wit. Early in his career, both Xie Xuan and his uncle Xie An served on staff of the paramount general Huan Wen. Huan Wen greatly prized Xie Xuan's ability, and once commented, with regard to him and his colleague Wang Xun , both of whom served as his secretaries:
:''By age 40, Mr. Xie will possess a great general's banner and staff, and Mr. Wang will be a prime minister even while his hair is black. Both are uncommon talents.''
After Huan Wen's death in 373, Xie Xuan initially served on the staff of Huan Wen's brother Huan Huo . In 377, when the imperial government was looking for a general capable of defending the northeastern border against Former Qin, Xie An, against the usual custom of not recommending one's own clan members, recommended him. The official Chi Chao , who ordinarily feuded with Xie An on nearly all matters, immediately remarked, "Xie An, in his good judgment, made an uncommonly good move against public sentiment, and Xie Xuan would surely not fail his expectations." Chi made these remarks based on the time when he also served on Huan Wen's staff and saw Xie Xuan's abilities.
Xie Xuan recruited elite soldiers, and among the ones that joined him was Liu Laozhi , who in later campaigns served as his assistant and forward commander. Eventually, Xie put together an army that was the most elite of the Jin forces, known as the Beifu Forces . His army first distinguished itself in 378, when Former Qin forces made simultaneous attacks on the important Jin cities Xiangyang , Weixing , and Pengcheng . Xiangyang and Weixing fell to Former Qin, as did Pengcheng, but Xie, charged with relieving Pengcheng, made a fierce counterattack in 379, defeating the Former Qin generals Ju Nan and Peng Chao and recapturing Pengcheng. This was the first major victory that Jin had over Former Qin in decades, and it was a major morale booster.
The Battle of Fei River
In 383, as Former Qin launched a major assault with intent to destroy Jin once and for all, Xie Xuan and his Beifu Force was sent to the frontline, reporting to the command of his uncle Xie Shi . Xie Shi, initially intimidated by the much larger Former Qin force, considered merely trying to block Former Qin progress without major engagement, but after he was advised otherwise by the Former Qin ambassador Zhu Xu -- a Jin general who was captured by Former Qin in 379 but who secretly remained loyal to Jin -- and chose to engage Former Qin forward troops that arrived first. Xie Xuan, charged with engaging Former Qin forces, along with Liu Laozhi, dealt them minor defeats, reducing their morale. When Former Qin troops gradually arrived, the Former Qin and Jin forces became stalemated across the Fei River .
Xie Xuan sent a message to the Former Qin commanding general Fu Rong with a proposal -- to have Fu Rong order his troops to retreat slightly to allow the Jin forces across, so the armies could engage. Fu Rong, after discussing with Fu Jiān, agreed, and ordered a retreat. However, once the Former Qin troops went into retreat, it panicked, and as Fu Rong tried to calm his troops down, his horse suddenly fell, and he was killed by Jin soldiers. Once that happened, Xie Xuan and other generals, Xie Yan and Huan Yi fiercely attacked Former Qin troops, which then completely collapsed. Former Qin would face major rebellions starting in 384 that eventually led to its disintetgration and would not again pose a threat to Jin.
After the Battle of Fei River
Due to his achievements at the Battle of Fei River, Xie Xuan was created the Duke of Kangle. When the major general Huan Chong died in 384, initially Xie Xuan was to succeed him, but Xie An thought the Huan clan might be unhappy about yielding Huan Chong's command to others, so divided Huan Chong's domain into three and distributed them to members of the Huan clan. Later that year, however, Xie Xuan was put in charge of a force targeting the recovery of central China, along with Huan Shiqian . He quickly recovered most of the territory south of the Yellow River on Jin's behalf, and, in an odd case of enemies quickly turning allies, briefly relieved Fu Jiān's son Fu Pi, who was defending against rebels led by Murong Chui, who had just founded Later Yan.
Xie apparently considered further operations to try to seize territory north of the Yellow River, but as Murong Chui quickly entrenched himself north of the Yellow River, it became clear it would be difficult to do so. In 386, after the generals Zhai Liao and Zhang Yuan rebelled, in light of popular opinion that believed that the troops were being worn out, Xie abandoned the plans entirely, and indeed moved his headquarters from Pengcheng south to Huaiyin , although Jin continued to hold most of the territory south of the Yellow River.
After that point, it appeared that Xie suffered a series of illnesses that made it impossible for him to conduct any further campaigns and which also made him to repeatedly try to resign his command. Eventually, he was made the governor of Kuaiji Commandery -- an important, but almost entirely civilian, post. He died in 388 while still serving as the governor of Kuaiji.
Yang Hu
Yang Hu , courtesy name Shuzi , was a Jin Dynasty general whose great advocacy for plans to conquer the Eastern Wu finally persuaded to carry them out, but he would not live to see the plans implemented. He was known for his humility and foresight.
Both Yang Hu's grandfather Yang Xu and father Yang Chai were commandery governors, and his mother was a daughter of the well-known Han Dynasty historian and musician Cai Yong. His sister was Sima Shi's third wife, subsequently honored as an Empress Dowager after Emperor Wu established Jin Dynasty in 265.
Yang Hu lost his father at age 11. He was raised by his uncle and served his uncle filially. As he grew in age, he became known for his intelligence, knowledge, and physical beauty. The general Xiahou Wei became impressed with him and married his niece to Yang. After his father-in-law defected to Shu Han in 249 in light of Sima Yi's coup against Cao Shuang, Yang was one of the few who were related by marriage who still dared to associate with the Xiahou clan. He served as a low level official during the reigns of Cao Wei's emperors Cao Mao and Cao Huan. Because he warned Sima Zhao about Zhong Hui's intentions, Sima trusted his judgment greatly after Zhong rebelled in 264, and he served as an executive secretary for Sima.
After Sima Zhao's death in 265, his son Sima Yan succeeded him, and later that year forced Cao Huan to abdicate to him, ending Cao Wei and establishing Jin . Emperor Wu wanted to create Yang a duke, but Yang declined.
Throughout the early part of Emperor Wu's reign, Yang was one of the few key officials who strenuously advocated for a plan to conquer the rival Eastern Wu. Emperor Wu, who liked the strategies that Yang submitted, had him become in charge of the western border with Eastern Wu and stationed at Xiangyang . In 272, Yang participated in a failed mission to rescue the Eastern Wu defector Bu Chan from Xiling , and was temporarily demoted but was soon restored to his rank. After that defeat he set up a détente with the Eastern Wu general Lu Kang and treated the Eastern Wu border residents with kindness, with intent to win their hearts. The strategy worked, and while Lu tried to counter it by reciprocating, after Lu's death in 274 the Eastern Wu border residents became more and more impressed with Jin in light of Yang's kindness.
By 277, Yang was ill, with plans of conquest that he submitted having been approved by Emperor Wu but not quite at implementation. He carried out one last act that was helpful to the empire -- recommending the capable Du Yu to succeed him, and Du would eventually be a major part of the success against Eastern Wu. He died in 278. The people of Xiangyang built a monument for Yang on Mount Xian , and ever after Yang's death, visitors to the monument often wept at the monument in memory of his benevolent governance, and so the monument became known as the "Monument of Tears" . After Jin conquered Eastern Wu in 280, Emperor Wu had the declaration of victory read at Yang's shrine, and created his wife Lady Xiahou a lady over 5,000 households in appreciation.
Both Yang Hu's grandfather Yang Xu and father Yang Chai were commandery governors, and his mother was a daughter of the well-known Han Dynasty historian and musician Cai Yong. His sister was Sima Shi's third wife, subsequently honored as an Empress Dowager after Emperor Wu established Jin Dynasty in 265.
Yang Hu lost his father at age 11. He was raised by his uncle and served his uncle filially. As he grew in age, he became known for his intelligence, knowledge, and physical beauty. The general Xiahou Wei became impressed with him and married his niece to Yang. After his father-in-law defected to Shu Han in 249 in light of Sima Yi's coup against Cao Shuang, Yang was one of the few who were related by marriage who still dared to associate with the Xiahou clan. He served as a low level official during the reigns of Cao Wei's emperors Cao Mao and Cao Huan. Because he warned Sima Zhao about Zhong Hui's intentions, Sima trusted his judgment greatly after Zhong rebelled in 264, and he served as an executive secretary for Sima.
After Sima Zhao's death in 265, his son Sima Yan succeeded him, and later that year forced Cao Huan to abdicate to him, ending Cao Wei and establishing Jin . Emperor Wu wanted to create Yang a duke, but Yang declined.
Throughout the early part of Emperor Wu's reign, Yang was one of the few key officials who strenuously advocated for a plan to conquer the rival Eastern Wu. Emperor Wu, who liked the strategies that Yang submitted, had him become in charge of the western border with Eastern Wu and stationed at Xiangyang . In 272, Yang participated in a failed mission to rescue the Eastern Wu defector Bu Chan from Xiling , and was temporarily demoted but was soon restored to his rank. After that defeat he set up a détente with the Eastern Wu general Lu Kang and treated the Eastern Wu border residents with kindness, with intent to win their hearts. The strategy worked, and while Lu tried to counter it by reciprocating, after Lu's death in 274 the Eastern Wu border residents became more and more impressed with Jin in light of Yang's kindness.
By 277, Yang was ill, with plans of conquest that he submitted having been approved by Emperor Wu but not quite at implementation. He carried out one last act that was helpful to the empire -- recommending the capable Du Yu to succeed him, and Du would eventually be a major part of the success against Eastern Wu. He died in 278. The people of Xiangyang built a monument for Yang on Mount Xian , and ever after Yang's death, visitors to the monument often wept at the monument in memory of his benevolent governance, and so the monument became known as the "Monument of Tears" . After Jin conquered Eastern Wu in 280, Emperor Wu had the declaration of victory read at Yang's shrine, and created his wife Lady Xiahou a lady over 5,000 households in appreciation.
Yin Hao
Yin Hao , courtesy name Shenyuan , was a Jin Dynasty politician.
Yin Hao was from an aristocratic family, and when he was young, he became known for intelligence and metaphysical discussions. He temporarily served on Yu Liang's staff, but subsequently declined an invitation by Yu Liang's younger brother Yu Yi to serve on his staff, and he lived the life of a hermit. Gradually, officials and commoners began to believe that he had the ability to guide the Jin state to great things, and people even observed his behavior to venture guesses as to what the fortunes of the state would be. In 346, he finally agreed to join the government as the governor of the capital region.
In 348, after Huan Wen destroyed Cheng Han and merged its territory into Jin's, key officials of the Jin imperial government began to fear that he would use his military might to try to dominate the government. The regent for , the Prince of Kuaiji therefore invited Yin to participate in important government decisions. Yin and Huan immediately developed a rivalry and suspected each other of treachery.
In 350, intent on proving himself as much of a general as Huan, Yin had himself commissioned with a large army, preparing to recover central and northern China as rival Later Zhao was collapsing into civil war, but for reasons unknown delayed the campaign. Later that year, he took even greater power, as after another major official, Cai Mo , repeatedly declined an imperial honor, he accused Cai of being disrespectful and had Cai imprisoned. He was prepared to further execute Cai, but was persuaded not to, but Cai was still demoted to commoner status.
Around the new year 352, Huan, upset that his requests to lead armies north had been rebuffed by Yin and Sima Yu, mobilized his troops and gestured as if he were about to attack the capital. Yin was shocked, and initially considered either resigning or send the imperial banner of peace to order Huan to stop. After advice from Wang Biaozhi , however, he instead asked Sima Yu to write a carefully worded letter to Huan, persuading Huan to stop.
Later in 352, Yin launched his own campaign, but upon the start of the campaign, former Later Zhao generals in control of Xuchang and Luoyang rebelled, and his venture had to halt to deal with these rebellions. Subsequently, when his assistants, the generals Xie Shang and Yao Xiang tried to attack Zhang Yu , the general in control of Xuchang, Former Qin forces came to Zhang's aid and defeated Xie's troops. Yin then abandoned the campaign entirely.
In fall 352, Yin prepared a second campaign. Initially the campaign had some success, recovering Xuchang from Former Qin. However, Yin became suspicious of Yao's military capabilities and independence, and therefore tried to assassinate Yao. Yao discovered this, and, as Yin headed north, he ambushed Yin's troops, inflicting heavy losses on Yin. Yao then took over the Shouchun region. The people despised Yin for his military losses, and Huan submitted a petition demanding Yin's ouster. The imperial government was compelled to demote Yin to commoner status and exile him to Xin'an .
At a later point, Huan, still believing that Yin was capable, offered him an important purely civilian post, and wrote Yin a letter stating his intentions. Yin was very pleased and was about to accept, but he, hesitating at the appropriate language for the acceptance, wrote and rewrote his response, and eventually, in a trance-like state from his anxiety, sent Huan a blank letter. When Huan received it, he was enraged, and from that point refused to have any further communication with Yin. Yin died in 356, while still in exile.
Yin Hao was from an aristocratic family, and when he was young, he became known for intelligence and metaphysical discussions. He temporarily served on Yu Liang's staff, but subsequently declined an invitation by Yu Liang's younger brother Yu Yi to serve on his staff, and he lived the life of a hermit. Gradually, officials and commoners began to believe that he had the ability to guide the Jin state to great things, and people even observed his behavior to venture guesses as to what the fortunes of the state would be. In 346, he finally agreed to join the government as the governor of the capital region.
In 348, after Huan Wen destroyed Cheng Han and merged its territory into Jin's, key officials of the Jin imperial government began to fear that he would use his military might to try to dominate the government. The regent for , the Prince of Kuaiji therefore invited Yin to participate in important government decisions. Yin and Huan immediately developed a rivalry and suspected each other of treachery.
In 350, intent on proving himself as much of a general as Huan, Yin had himself commissioned with a large army, preparing to recover central and northern China as rival Later Zhao was collapsing into civil war, but for reasons unknown delayed the campaign. Later that year, he took even greater power, as after another major official, Cai Mo , repeatedly declined an imperial honor, he accused Cai of being disrespectful and had Cai imprisoned. He was prepared to further execute Cai, but was persuaded not to, but Cai was still demoted to commoner status.
Around the new year 352, Huan, upset that his requests to lead armies north had been rebuffed by Yin and Sima Yu, mobilized his troops and gestured as if he were about to attack the capital. Yin was shocked, and initially considered either resigning or send the imperial banner of peace to order Huan to stop. After advice from Wang Biaozhi , however, he instead asked Sima Yu to write a carefully worded letter to Huan, persuading Huan to stop.
Later in 352, Yin launched his own campaign, but upon the start of the campaign, former Later Zhao generals in control of Xuchang and Luoyang rebelled, and his venture had to halt to deal with these rebellions. Subsequently, when his assistants, the generals Xie Shang and Yao Xiang tried to attack Zhang Yu , the general in control of Xuchang, Former Qin forces came to Zhang's aid and defeated Xie's troops. Yin then abandoned the campaign entirely.
In fall 352, Yin prepared a second campaign. Initially the campaign had some success, recovering Xuchang from Former Qin. However, Yin became suspicious of Yao's military capabilities and independence, and therefore tried to assassinate Yao. Yao discovered this, and, as Yin headed north, he ambushed Yin's troops, inflicting heavy losses on Yin. Yao then took over the Shouchun region. The people despised Yin for his military losses, and Huan submitted a petition demanding Yin's ouster. The imperial government was compelled to demote Yin to commoner status and exile him to Xin'an .
At a later point, Huan, still believing that Yin was capable, offered him an important purely civilian post, and wrote Yin a letter stating his intentions. Yin was very pleased and was about to accept, but he, hesitating at the appropriate language for the acceptance, wrote and rewrote his response, and eventually, in a trance-like state from his anxiety, sent Huan a blank letter. When Huan received it, he was enraged, and from that point refused to have any further communication with Yin. Yin died in 356, while still in exile.
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