Muzhun Sheng

The eldest son Muzhun Bao . Since in early 370, Early Yan was destroyed by the Early Qin state , and most of the Syanbians were resettled in the internal Qin lands, he was most likely born in Chang'an , where his father became a low-level Qin official.

The first historical mention of Muzhun Shen dates back to 385, when after the defeat of the Qin troops from the Jin army in the battle on the Fei River, the state weakened, and part of the Syanbi took advantage of this to rebel: when in the spring of 385 Muzhun Chun proclaimed himself emperor, Muzhun Shen Uncle Muzhun Zhou told his secret that Muzhun Chun is really nothing special. History showed that he was right: after the capture of Chang'an, Mujun Chun was killed in a palace coup, and the Syanbis who were resettled in Guangzhou were moved east, eventually establishing the state of Western Yan in the southern part of the modern Shanxi province with its capital in Zhangzi . Muzhun Sheng came with them with uncle Muzhun Zhou and brother Muzhun Hui.

Along the way, it became known that Muzhun Chui founded the state of Late Yan on the former Early Nyan lands. When it became apparent that the rulers of Western Yan intend to rule separately from Late Yan, Muzhun Sheng warned Muzhun Zhou and Muzhun Hui that their relationship with the emperor of a rival state could lead to disaster, and in the winter of 386 they fled to Late Yan (history showed that Muzhun Sheng was right, since not long after that Muzhun Yun killed everyone who could challenge his right to the imperial throne due to kinship with the imperial family of Early Yan). The path to the Late Nian capital Zhongshan took them several months. Muzhun Chui was glad for the arrival of his son and grandchildren, and announced a general amnesty on this occasion.

In 389, the 16-year-old Muzhun Sheng was placed at the head of the former capital of Early Yan in Jicheng . He stayed there until 396, when his father was defeated by the troops of the state of North Wei - after which Muzhun Chui called him, among others, to the capital Zhongshan with the troops available to form a new army for the war with North Wei. Muzhun Chuya’s campaign was successful, but on the way back he fell ill and died, and Muzhun Bao inherited the throne.

Having become emperor, Muzhun Bao made the heir to the throne his third son Muzhun Tse. This did not please the second son Muzhun Hui, who was the favorite of the late Muzhun Chuya and himself was methyl on the place of the heir to the throne, and he conceived the uprising. However, Muzhun Bao was not up to it yet: the troops of North Wei unexpectedly attacked the Binzhou province (north of modern Shanxi ) and, having defeated the Yang forces there, turned east to the Yang capital Zhongshan. Muzhun Bao decided to focus on the defense of the capital, but the Wei troops moved to seize the territory, as a result of which, by the spring of 397, only Zhongshan and Yecheng remained under Mujun Bao’s rule. The Wei ruler Toba Gui heard the news of the uprising in his capital, and he proposed Muzhun Bao peace, but this proposal was rejected. Muzhun Bao tried to attack the retreating Wei army, but was defeated, suffering heavy losses.

Meanwhile, Muzhun Hui revolted. Muzhun Bao took refuge in the old Syanbian capital of Luncheng , and Muzhun Hui besieged her, but received an unexpected blow from Gao Yun , and retreated to Zhongshan; Muzhun Bao then made Gao Yun his adoptive son and elevated him to princely dignity. All this time Muzhun Sheng followed his father, becoming one of his main generals.

While Muzhun Bao was in Luncheng, he lost contact with Zhongshan and Yecheng. Muzhun Xiang (a descendant of Muzhun Huang ) in the summer of 397 proclaimed himself emperor in Zhongshan, but was killed, captured and killed by Muzhun Lin (the younger brother of Muzhun Bao), who, in turn, also proclaimed himself emperor. However, Zhongshan was then taken by the North European forces, and Muzhun Lin fled to Yecheng, where, abandoning the imperial title, prompted Yecheng's defender, Uncle Muzhun Bao Muzhun Dae , to flee to the southern shore of the Yellow River . Muzhun De did just that, and in 398 he proclaimed the formation of the independent state of South Yan in Huatai . Unaware of this, Muzhun Bao led the army out of Luncheng in order to conquer the territory from North Wei, however, General Duan Sugu rebelled, and the army left Muzhun Bao, who was forced to flee back to Luncheng. Duan Sugu besieged Luncheng, but Muzhun Bao and Muzhun Sheng managed to escape before the city fell. They counted on the help of Muzhun De, but only in the vicinity of Huatai did they learn that he had proclaimed independence and turned back. Muzhun Bao decided to return to Luncheng, while Muzhun Sheng chose to continue the resistance and left him. Power in Luncheng in the meantime was captured by Han Han (uncle Muzhun Chuya), by whose order Muzhun Bao was executed in front of the gates of Luncheng.

After that Muzhun Sheng nevertheless arrived in Luncheng to perform mourning events for his father; he hoped that Lan Han would spare his son-in-law, and his hopes were realized. Lan Han also spared Muzhun Qi, whose mother was also the daughter of Lan Han. Muzhun Shen managed to arouse the suspicion of the Lan Han in relation to the brothers Lan Jiangan and Lan Ti. Muzhun Sheng also persuaded Muzhun Qi to flee Luncheng and raise a rebellion, while Lan Han persuaded that it was not he, but Lan Ti, who was behind the Muzhun Qi rebellion. After that, Lan Han began to pray in the family temples of the Muzhun clan, assuring the spirit of Muzhun Bao that it was Lan Jiangan who was guilty of his death, and not Lan Han; Learning of this, Lan Ti and Lan Jiangan rebelled against Lan Han.

Lan Mu (the son of Lan Han) defeated Lan Ti and Lan Jiangan, and a big celebration was organized for the victorious soldiers, at which Lan Han and Lan Mu got drunk drunk. Taking advantage of the situation, Muzhun Sheng with his loyal officers killed Lan Han, Lan Mu, Lan Ti, Lan Jiangan, as well as the sons of Lan Han - Lan He and Lan Yang, after which Muzhun Shen himself ascended the throne.

At first, Muzhun Sheng wanted to immediately execute his wife as belonging to the family of Lan, but the mother opposed, indicating that she spoke in defense of her and Muzhun Shen. Muzhun Sheng obeyed his mother, but when he officially adopted the imperial title in the winter of 398, he did not begin to elevate his wife to the dignity of the empress.

As a result of all that happened, Muzhun Sheng became very suspicious, and executed many close associates on charges of real or imaginary conspiracies. In the fall of 401, generals Muzhun Guo, Qin Yu, and Duan Zan attempted a coup, but the plot was uncovered, after which more than 500 people were executed. Five days later, General Duan Ji, as well as Qin Xing (son of Qin Yu) and Duan Tai (son of Duan Zan) attacked the palace; Muzhun Sheng personally led the palace guard, who defended the palace, and the attack was repelled, but Muzhun Sheng was mortally wounded. The official heir was his son Muzhun Ding, but his mother, who was in connection with his uncle Muzhun Xi , violated his will, and after the death of Muzhun Shen, she elevated Mujun Si to the throne.

• Muzhong Dae's official biography in The Jin Book ( Chinese )
• Official Biographies of the Rulers of South Yan in " Springs and Autumn of Sixteen States " ( Chinese )