Huyan Yan | |
|---|---|
呼延晏 | |
| Grand Tutor (太傅) | |
| In office 323–? | |
| Monarch | Liu Yao |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | Unknown |
Huyan Yan (fl. 4th century) was a military general and minister of Han Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was an important benefactor of the Disaster of Yongjia in 311 and was also a supporter of Liu Yao following Jin Zhun's coup in 318.
Not much is known about Huyan Yan except that he was from the Xiongnu Huyan clan, an ally to Liu Yuan's clan through Empress Huyan's marriage with him. He and his clan members worked as officers under Liu Yuan's state of Han Zhao and would continue to do so going into Liu Yao's reign.
Huyan Yan's most important contribution to the state and arguably the period as a whole was during the Disaster of Yongjia in 311. Liu Yao, Shi Le and Wang Mi were instructed by Liu Cong to take the capital of Luoyang from the Jin dynasty. As the Jin defences continued to falter, Liu Cong sent Huyan Yan with fresh troops to aid the trio in taking the capital. Before they could meet up, Huyan Yan placed his supplies at a rampart near Luoyang. [1]
Huyan Yan was first to arrive at Luoyang, setting fire to many of the city's important infrastructures, plundering its wealth and capturing prisoners as he waited for his reinforcements to arrive. The Jin emperor, Emperor Huai, who was in the capital wanted to escape the city by boat, but Huyan Yan had them burned too. Reinforcements finally arrived in the form of Wang Mi. The two men led their men into the palace, taking whatever they could find in the building from treasures to servants. Emperor Huai attempted to flee, but Wang Mi and Huyan Yan's men found and held him. This event was the beginning of the end for Jin's control over their northern territories. [1]
The following year in 312, Huyan Yan was appointed as Liu Cong's Supervisor of the Right. [2]
In 315, Liu Cong had removed his close advisor, Chen Yuanda from power as he remonstrated him for his controversial marital practice of having multiple empresses at once. Huyan Yan was one of the many ministers to sign a petition offering their positions to Chen Yuanda, so Liu Cong recalled Chen Yuanda to the government. In 318, Liu Cong was dying, so he made a number of appointments to his officials, including making Huyan Yan the Grand Guardian and authority over the Masters of Writings.
Liu Cong's death was followed by turmoil as the chancellor Jin Zhun slaughtered his family and his successor Liu Can in Pingyang the same year. Liu Yao and Shi Le combined forces to attack Jin Zhun. Huyan Yan led the surviving loyalists from Pingyang to meet Liu Yao at Chibi, where they urged him to become emperor. Liu Yao did so, granting amnesty and giving appointments. Huyan Yan in particular was made Minister of Works, and following this, Liu Yao and Shi Le quickly put down Jin Zhun's rebellion. [3]
In 320, Liu Yao was struck with a crisis as the non-Xiongnu tribes in the Guanzhong region rebelled and place his capital under pressure. He had previously imprisoned the minister, You Ziyuan, who was against his decision to execute all the conspirators of a prior rebellion that led to the more drastic current one. Now that he had been proven wrong, Liu Yao wanted to kill You Ziyuan too, but Huyan Yan and his peers pleaded for his innocence, and that Liu Yao should forgive and release him instead. Liu Yao agreed and with You Ziyuan, he managed to quell the rebellion in only a few months. [4]
Liu Yao went to war with Former Liang in 323. Huyan Yan was tasked in attacking Liang's county of Sangbi (桑壁, in present-day Longxi County, Gansu). However, the war ended with the two sides peacefully withdrawing and Liang offering their vassalage to Liu Yao. [5] Huyan Yan's last appearance in history was in later in 323. Liu Yao's son Liu Yin had returned after he went missing during Jin Zhun's coup back in 318. He was in support of having Liu Yin replace Liu Xi (Liu Yao's other son) as Crown Prince, but this was met with a lengthy debate from the other ministers. Huyan Yan was no longer recorded from this point on. [6]
Wang Jun (252–314), courtesy name Pengzu, was a military general and warlord who lived during the Western Jin dynasty of China. By the time of Sima Lun's usurpation of the Jin throne he was established as a military commander in You Province. Although he became a target of Sima Ying as the War of the Eight Princes unfolded, he survived the chaos, ultimately supporting Sima Yue's faction. At the time of the Disaster of Yongjia which saw the collapse of Jin control in northern China, he was one of Jin's few remaining provincial powers in the north. However among claims of imperial ambitions and corruption, he clashed not only with northern tribal powers but also his Jin Dynasty rival Liu Kun the Inspector of Bingzhou, before his final defeat and death at the hands of Shi Le, who had previously won Wang Jun's trust.
Liu Kun (270–318), courtesy name Yueshi, was a Chinese military general and poet of the Jin dynasty. He was a famous writer during the Western Jin dynasty and was known for his services as the Inspector of Bingzhou where he continuously fought with the growing Xiongnu threat of Han Zhao. Despite his determination and active role in fighting back Han Zhao, he lacked the sufficient skills in administration and military to match his enemies and suffered repeated losses to Liu Yao and Shi Le. He was eventually driven out from Bingzhou after suffering a decisive defeat to Shi Le in 316 and fled to Youzhou, where he allied with the Xianbei, Duan Pidi. However, after Pidi suspected him of betrayal, he was eventually executed via strangulation in 318.
Wang Mi, was a Chinese bandit leader and military general of Han Zhao during the Western Jin dynasty. He participated in a rebellion led by Liu Bogen during the War of the Eight Princes but after it was quelled, he fled to Mount Zhangguang where he became a notorious outlaw and was given the nickname "Flying Leopard". After two years of banditry, he joined the Xiongnu king, Liu Yuan and his state of Han Zhao in 308. He became one of the state's most important commanders in their war against Jin, playing a crucial role in capturing Luoyang during the Disaster of Yongjia. However, Wang Mi's career was cut short after he was assassinated by his peer and rival Shi Le in 311.
Qu Yun, was a military general of the Jin Dynasty (266-420). He was a prominent member of the group from Anding who swore to restore the Jin Dynasty in northern China following the Disaster of Yongjia and was one of Emperor Min of Jin's closest advisors in resisting Han Zhao. Despite the group's early success, the regime was short-lived as the lack of support and trust among themselves led to it eventually being overwhelmed by Han's forces in 316. After Emperor Min's surrender, Qu Yun took his own life while imprisoned.
Suo Chen, courtesy name Juxiu, was a military general of the Jin Dynasty (266-420). He was a prominent member of the group at Anding to restore Jin authority in the north following the Disaster of Yongjia in 311 and was Emperor Min's most powerful official alongside Qu Yun. Throughout Emperor Min's reign, he constantly clashed with the Han Zhao general Liu Yao with mixed results but was ultimately unable to halt Han's advances into Chang'an. After the fall of Chang'an in 316, Suo was executed for disloyalty, after he had used Emperor Min's surrender as a means to secure a high position for himself in the Han regime. His name can be rendered as Suo Lin.
Deng Qiang was a Chinese military general of Former Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He came to prominence during the reign of Fu Sheng when he helped defeat and kill the Qiang warlord Yao Xiang, but for most of his career he would serve Sheng's successor, Fu Jian. He was a leading figure in the rise of Former Qin, usually in conjunction with Wang Meng, as he led Fu Jian's army to victory against Zhang Ping and Former Yan, stamping out corruption in the government while putting down the rebellions of Fu Jian's relatives and Zhang Yu (張育). He and his peer Zhang Ci were known as the "Enemies of Ten Thousands (萬人敵)", a title previously held by the Shu Han generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei during the end of the Han dynasty.
Zhang Ci, originally named Gong Ci, was a military general of Former Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was the adopted son of the warlord Zhang Ping (張平), who served Later Zhao and Former Qin but later rebelled against the latter. After he was captured in battle, Zhang Ci served Former Qin's ruler Fu Jian, participating in his campaigns against Former Yan, Dai and the Jin dynasty until his presumed death in 386 while serving Fu Pi. He and Deng Qiang were known as the "Enemies of Ten Thousands (萬人敵)", a title previously held by the Shu Han generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei during the end of the Han dynasty. His name can be rendered as Zhang Hao or Zhang Qi.
You Ziyuan was a minister and military general of Han Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He helped Liu Yao defeat a major rebellion in 320 when the non-Xiongnu tribes in the Guanzhong region rose up against him.
Chen Yuanda, courtesy name Changhong, was a Xiongnu minister of Han Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Yuanda joined Liu Yuan during his establishment of his state in 304, becoming a mainstay in its early years. During the reign of Liu Cong, Yuanda was persistent in going against his emperor's wishes that many at the time were seen as inappropriate, usually revolving around his empresses. In 316, he and a group of ministers fought against the corrupted eunuch, Wang Chen and his inner circle after they had convinced Liu Cong to side with them. However, following the death of his friend Liu Yi (劉易) as a result of the debacle, Yuanda killed himself out of despair.
Cao Ni was a military general of Han Zhao and warlord during the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was one of the followers of the bandit Wang Mi and followed him into service with Liu Yuan's state of Han. Wang Mi entrusted him to secure his family in Qingzhou but after Wang Mi was killed by Shi Le in 311, Cao Ni gradually became an independent warlord, causing much concern in the Han Zhao court. He was finally killed in 323 when Shi Le sent his nephew Shi Hu to subdue him once and for all. His name can be rendered as Cao Yi.
Cheng Xia was a minister of Later Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. His sister, Consort Cheng, was a wife of Shi Le and also the mother to the Crown Prince Shi Hong. Cheng Xia was thus given an important role in Shi Le's administration although he was not very liked by Shi, as he lacked the qualities of Shi's favoured advisor Zhang Bin. Cheng Xia was a strong opposition to Shi Le's powerful nephew, Shi Hu, who he feared would usurp the throne once Shi Le passes. His attempts at diminishing Shi Hu's influence captured his scorn, and after he launched a coup in 333 following Shi Le's death, Shi Hu had Cheng Xia and his ally Xu Guang executed.
Xu Guang, courtesy name Jiwu, was a minister of Later Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was captured by Shi Le's general Wang Yang (王陽) and served as a servant, but after discovering his potential, he was recruited into Shi Le's army instead. Misconducts by Xu Guang angered Shi Le who had him and family imprisoned in 326. However, Xu Guang won Shi Le's favour back in 328, after his advice earned them a victory over Zhao's rival Han Zhao. As he became a prominent member of the administration, Xu Guang tried to reduce the power of Shi Le's nephew, Shi Hu but could not convince Shi Le to fully remove him. Shi Hu resented him for this, and when he launched his coup in 333, Shi Hu had him and his ally Cheng Xia executed.
Chen An, courtesy name Huhou, was a Chinese military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Han Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. During the aftermath of the Disaster of Yongjia that plagued northern China, Chen An became a favored general of the Jin prince Sima Bao in Qinzhou. An assassination attempt on him in 315 prompted Chen An to set himself up as a warlord in Longcheng. He submitted to Han Zhao in 319 but following a misunderstanding between him and Liu Yao, Chen An rebelled in 322, declaring himself King of Liang but was killed the following year.
Wang Yan (256–311), courtesy name Yifu, was a Chinese politician. He served as a minister and was one of the pure conversation leaders of the Jin dynasty (266–420). During the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, Wang Yan grew popular among the court for his mastery in Qingtan and for being a patron of Xuanxue. Wang Yan vacillated between the warring princes during the War of the Eight Princes until he ended up with Sima Yue, who gave him a considerable amount of power in his administration. Yue died in 311 and Wang became the de facto leader of his government. However, not long after, he and the rest of Sima Yue's officials were captured and executed by the Han Zhao general, Shi Le. Wang was considered by many as a bright scholar but was criticized for neglecting political affairs and encouraging the other ministers to do so through his beliefs.
Zhang Fang was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was the powerful general of the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong during the War of the Eight Princes who helped him in subduing the Prince of Changshan, Sima Ai, and had the imperial family under his control in 304. Though capable, he was most noted for his cruelty, allowing his soldiers to plunder and kill freely and also having them engaged in cannibalism. Zhang was killed by Sima Yong under his order in 306 in a desperate attempt to use his death to settle for peace with the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue.
Zhang Chai was a minister of Later Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was a close ally to Shi Hu's empress, Empress Liu, who helped her establish themselves as the paramount leaders of Zhao through her son Shi Shi following the death of Shi Hu in 349. The pair attempted to centralise their power and eliminate their rivals, but a popular coup led by Shi Zun saw their reign barely lasting a month as they were removed and subsequently executed. Despite the coup's success, it was the beginning of an internal power struggle within the Shi family over the throne that led to the destruction of Later Zhao in 351 in the hands of Ran Min.
Guo Mo, courtesy name Xuanxiong, was a Chinese military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420). During the Disaster of Yongjia, Guo acclaimed himself a wuzhu (塢主), an unofficial lord who practiced autonomy over their territory and took in fleeing refugees before working under Li Ju against the northern barbarian states. However, Guo had a reputation of betrayal and desertion, and after killing a contemporary named Liu Yin in 330, Tao Kan and Yu Liang led their troops against him and had him executed.
Li Ju, courtesy name Shihui, was a military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was a wuzhu (塢主) during the Han Zhao conquest of northern China who took in fleeing refugees and held semi-autonomous control over his territory. With his nephew Guo Song and fellow wuzhu Guo Mo, Li traded blows with Han Zhao and Later Zhao near the Luoyang region, even managing to occupy the ancient capital for a brief period since its fall in 311. However, he had little support from the court in Jiankang and his position was being increasingly challenged as the barbarians continued to eliminate Jin's northern vassals. After a string of defeats in 324, he was forced to abandon his base and retreat to Jiankang, during which he died in a horse riding accident in 325.
Jia Mi, courtesy name Changyuan, originally named Han Mi, was a Chinese politician of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was the grandson of the Jin minister Jia Chong and nephew of Jin's de facto ruler between 291 and 300, Jia Nanfeng. Jia Mi was trusted with state affair by his aunt throughout her regency and wielded much influence over the Jin court. Between 299 and 300, Jia Mi pushed his aunt for the removal and later execution of the Crown Prince, Sima Yu, a decision that would lead to the Jia clan's destruction. In 300, Jia Mi was killed during Sima Lun's coup d'état.
Wang Hun (223–297), courtesy name Xuanchong, was a Chinese military general and politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period and Western Jin dynasty period. He spent most of his early career serving at the eastern borders of Jin and Eastern Wu, where he occasionally battled with the southern state. He was most known for his role in the Conquest of Wu between 279 and 280, during which he destroyed Wu's main forces under Zhang Ti, as well as his subsequent dispute with Wang Jun, who he accused of going against orders by capturing Jianye on his own and stealing Wang Hun's chance at glory. Despite the controversy surrounding him following the conquest, he remained an accomplished and well-respected figure within the state.