Muzhun Yun

In 342, Muzhun Huang (the founder of the Early Yan state) invaded the Protokorean state of Goguryo, temporarily occupied its capital Wandu (in the territory of the modern city county of Jian province of Jirin province), captured many members of the ruling dynasty there and resettled them in Qingshan (in the territory of the modern city district Jinzhou , Liaoning Province); so they and their descendants became subjects first of Early Yan and then of Late Yan . Since "Koguryo" in Chinese was written in hieroglyphs, which were read as "GaoGouLi," they usually took the Gao hieroglyph as their last name.

Gao Yun belonged precisely to such descendants of immigrants from Goguryeo. In 397, when Emperor Late Yan Muzhun Bao was forced to leave his capital Zhongshan under the blows of the state of North Wei , Gao Yun served in his administration. Muzhun Hui (the younger brother of Muzhun Bao, who himself was aiming for the imperial throne and was unhappy that his father did not choose him as his heir), tried to seize the opportunity, rebelled and besieged Muzhun Bao in the old Syanbi capital of Longcheng . At night, Gao Yun led a detachment of 100 fighters made a sortie, sowed panic and forced Muzhun Hui to lift the siege; Muzhun Hui fled to Zhongshan and was killed there. For this act Muzhun Bao gave Gao Yun the title of “Siyan Gong” (夕陽 公) and adopted, as a result of which he changed his name from “Gao” to “Muzhun”. Around the same time, Gao / Muzhun Yun made friends with General Feng Ba .

Little information is available about the next years of Muzhun Yun's life. When in 406, the “heavenly prince” Muzhun Xi (he did not use the title “emperor”) to entertain his young wife Fu Xunying, attacked Koguryo, Muzhun Yun was wounded by an arrow and used this as an excuse to leave his post and retire home .

In the summer of 407, Empress Fu passed away. Muzhun Xi ordered the construction of a huge tomb for her, and then went there with a funeral procession. Taking advantage of his departure, General Feng Ba raised an uprising in Luncheng, stormed the palace, closed the city gates and proclaimed Mujun Yun, the new heavenly prince, who agreed to lead the rebels. Muzhun Xi returned to Luncheng, and prepared to attack the city, but then suddenly panicked and hit the run. His general, Muzhun Ba, nevertheless tried to take Luncheng, and at first he was even successful, but when it became known about Muzhun Xi's escape, the attack stopped and Muzhun Ba was killed by Feng Ba soldiers. Muzhun Xi was caught in civilian clothes in the forest and taken to Muzhun Yun. Muzhun Yun personally read him a list of his crimes, after which Muzhun Xi and his sons were beheaded.

After the death of Muzhun Xi Muzhun Yun regained the name "Gao". Fearing for his life and for the throne, he surrounded himself with a powerful guard, led by Li Ban and Tao Ren. Feng Ba and his brothers and cousins ​​took control of the country.

In 408, Gao Yun buried Muzhun Xi and his wife with imperial honors. He received the embassy from the Kogurye van Kwangatho and established diplomatic relations with Goguryeo.

In 409, Gao Yun was killed for some unknown reason. Hearing that something was happening in the palace, Feng Ba raised his troops and began to expect a clarification of the situation, but at that time his subordinates Zhang Tai and Li Sang entered the palace and killed Li Ban and Tao Ren, who allegedly committed regicide. After that, the courtiers suggested that Feng Ba take the throne, and he agreed. Gao Yun and his wife were buried with imperial honors.

• Official Biographies of the Rulers of Late Yan in the Book of Jin ( Chinese )
• Official Biographies of the Rulers of Late Yan in the Spring and Autumn of Sixteen States ( Chinese )