#ws033

[craftercat]

Northern Wei Part 8: Relations with Later Qin, 386-415

This was originally going to be about Chaibi, but not much is written about Chaibi, not enough to need a separate article. So I decided to focus on relations with Later Qin in general during the reigns of Tuoba Gui and Tuoba Si before 416.

THE BACKGROUND OF LIU BOBO

Understanding the relationship between Tuoba Gui and Yao Xing between 391 and 402 does need some context in the early life of Liu Bobo (later Helian Bobo).

Liu Bobo was the son of Liu Weichen (WS095, JS130). In 391, Tuoba Gui conquered the territory of Liu Weichen, and much of the Liu family was slaughtered (WS002). Liu Bobo, then 10 years old, escaped and sought shelter in the chief Xuegan [1] Taixifu [2] (WS095, JS130). In 393, Tuoba Gui asked for Taixifu to send over Liu Bobo, probably to execute him, but he refused [3]. Tuoba Gui therefore attacked Taixifu and slaughtered much of his tribe, relocating the others (WS002). Liu Bobo fled to the chief and vassal of Yao Xing, Meiyiyu (WS002).

Taixifu also fled to Yao Xing, and he served as a major threat to Tuoba Gui's authority south of the Yellow River in 395, and Tuoba Gui appears to have abandoned this region to Yao Xing by 400 (WS002). In 395, Tuoba Gui sent Xu Qian to ask Yao Xing for aid under an invasion led by Murong Bao, but this came to nothing as Tuoba Gui won at Canhe Slope without Later Qin aid (WS024).

This is important as the issue with Liu Bobo later became a contentious point between Later Qin and Northern Wei with Tuoba Gui's attack on Meiyiyu, which was likely intended to target Liu Bobo. Yao Xing's sheltering of Liu Bobo likely also strained relations.

BREAKDOWN IN RELATIONS AND BATTLE OF CHAI RAMPART

Later, when Yao Xing attacked Luoyang, Eastern Jin asked for aid. Tuoba Gui sent his envoy Zhang Ji to inspect the situation (WS033). While he promised to help save Luoyang, the city fell to Yao Xing before Tuoba Gui's relief force arrived, despite holding out for 100 days (ZZTJ111). Despite this, Tuoba Gui had a diplomatic exchange with Later Qin in 400 (WS095).

During this time, Tuoba Gui proposed a marriage alliance, presumably involving him marrying Yao Xing's daughter (JS118). Yao Xing refused upon hearing that Tuoba Gui had already established Empress Murong as his empress. He also detained Tuoba Gui's envoy Helan [4] Digan [5] (WS028).

In 401-2, Tuoba Gui sent Tuoba Zun to attack Meiyiyu, who fled along with Liu Bobo, but Tuoba Zun received the tribe's wealth and relocated its people (WS002). Meiyiyu was a vassal of Yao Xing, and this appears to have been the trigger for Yao Xing's invasion of Northern Wei, but this was the culmination of declining relations.

At the time, Yao Xing was on a winning streak, as he had conquered Western Qin and taken Luoyang from Eastern Jin. Tuoba Gui had feared of Yao Xing invading him earlier that year, as he supplied grain to the defensive fort Qian Rampart (WS002). Yao Xing's main general Yao Ping attacked Qian Rampart for sixty days. The defenders were few and they soon ran out of water, so Yao Ping took the rampart (WS095).

In response to the invasion, Tuoba Gui personally led the army to counterattack, and had Tuoba Shun and Baba Fei lead his vanguard. Yao Ping had a general lead a small force to act as scouts, but they were counterattacked and defeated by the Northern Wei vanguard (WS095). Yao Ping was so unsettled that he retreated, but Tuoba Gui caught up with him at Chai Rampart. Yao Ping therefore retreated into Chai Rampart to defend it (WS095).

Yao Xing's personal forces arrived, wanting to take Tian Crossing to facilitate food supply (WS033). Tuoba Gui established an outer siege line at Chai Rampart, with the outer rampart for defending against Yao XIng's relief force (WS095). Due to the geography of the region, the only way for Yao Xing to save Chaibi was to cross the Fen River from the west side, so the official An Tong suggested to Tuoba Gui that he should prepare defenses on the west of the Fen River (WS030).

Tuoba Gui followed this advice, so he used pontoon bridges to cross the river and built defenses along the west bank of the Fen River (WS095). He then crossed east again to counterattack Yao Xing. Yao Xing's army lacked morale, and so Tuoba Gui defeated them. Yao Xing retreated and Yao Ping did not dare to come out of Chai Rampart (WS095). Tuoba Gui then sent troops to defend Mengkeng Pass, Tian Crossing and other strategic locations so that Yao Xing could not aid Yao Ping. Yao Xing tied up cypress and sent it upstream to try and destroy the pontoon bridges, but Tuoba Gui's army fished out the wood with hooks and used it as firewood (WS095).

Soon, Yao Ping ran out of supplies and arrows, and so he attempted to break out of the siege (JS117, WS095). But there was a breakdown of communication between Yao Xing and Yao Ping due to being cut off at the Fen River. Yao Ping thought that Yao Xing would launch a joint attack with him, while Yao Xing thought that Yao Ping was going to first fight hard to escape (WS095). Although they called out to each other, they were unable to threaten the siege lines.

Without support from Yao Xing, Yao Ping realised that he could not break out, so he threw himself into the Fen River and drowned (WS095). His generals tried to follow him into the river, but Tuoba Gui sent swimmers to fetch them out of the river, so none of his generals and soldiers were able to escape (WS095). The WS states that 30,000 soldiers were captured (WS095), the JS states that it was 40,000 (JS117) and the ZZTJ states that it was 20,000 (ZZTJ112). Forty officers were also captured. We don't know what happened to these captured soldiers, but I assume that Tuoba Gui learned his lesson from Canhe Slope and didn't massacre them, especially as the officers were later returned.

AFTERMATH AND LATER RELATIONS

Yao Xing, after the defeat, asked for peace from Tuoba Gui, but Tuoba Gui refused and advanced to attack Later Qin's border city of Puban (WS002). However, Tuoba Gui was unable to quickly take Puban (JS117), and he heard that the Rouran were going to invade (WS002), so he abandoned the counter-campaign and retreated.

By 407, Tuoba Gui and Yao Xing had restored peaceful relations (JS118). Yao Xing returned his envoy Helan Digan (WS028), while Tuoba Gui returned captured officers from Chaibi (JS118). This angered Liu Bobo, who killed Meiyiyu and rebelled against Yao Xing (JS130). Yao Xing was unable to defeat Liu Bobo, and Liu Bobo's attacks severely weakened Later Qin.

During the reign of Tuoba Si, the Later Qin and Northern Wei alliance became stronger. Later Qin sent tribute to Northern Wei in 411, 413 and 414 (WS095). According to the WS, Yao Xing proposed a marriage alliance between states (WS003), but the JS states that it was Tuoba Si who proposed the alliance (JS118). Either way, this time the marriage alliance succeeded, and Yao Xing sent his daughter to marry Tuoba Si in 415 (WS003).

CONCLUSION

Tuoba Gui won at Chai Rampart due to his strategic abilities, while Yao Xing and Yao Ping were unable to effectively communicate due to their route being cut off at the Fen River. It is also clear that Later Qin were not really committed to the invasion, as many ministers had opposed it to begin with (WS095), Yao Ping retreated after a minor defeat, and Yao Xing's soldiers lost morale when Tuoba Gui's army arrived to counterattack them at Mengkeng (WS095).

After Chai Rampart, there were no more major military engagements under Tuoba Gui. Instead, his final years focused on internal governance, whether for better or for worse. How tyrannical was Tuoba Gui in his final years? How did he consolidate power? And what would eventually cause his murder at the hands of his own son? These questions will be the focus of the next few articles which will focus on Tuoba Gui's final years and death.

ENDNOTES

1.As per the Weishu. The Jinshu states that Liu Bobo was taken in by the Chigan tribe. I think that the tribe probably were the Chigan, and that the Weishu combined Chigan with their post-sinicisation family name of Xue.

2. Also referred to as Tadoufu in the Jinshu.

3. The Jinshu version has Taixifu (or Tadoufu) try to send Liu Bobo to Tuoba Gui, but he is stopped by his nephew Ali, who sent him to Meiyiyu.

4. Both the Helai and Helan clans later changed their names to He. It's generally agreed that the tribes were closely related, if not different transcriptions of the same tribe. Since Helan Lu is referred to as Helai Lu in the Jinshu, I lean towards the different transcriptions theory. I think that Helan should be the transcription for members who remained north beyond the Great Wall, and Helai should be the transcription for those who lived south of the Wall, though some have argued the other way in that Helai is the Xianbei transcription and Helan is the Han transcription. Since Helan Digan originated from Dai, he should be from a minor branch of the Helan tribe rewarded with the name for their loyalty.

5. The WS writes that the breaking off of the marriage alliance and Helan Digan being detained happened upon Yao Xing ascending to the throne, and that the marriage was arranged by Yao Chang, but Yao Xing came to the throne in 394, six years before Tuoba Gui created an empress. The WS may have confused timelines, or it could be that Tuoba Gui and Yao Chang agreed for Yao Xing's daughter to marry Tuoba Gui when she was older. When she was old enough, Tuoba Gui asked Yao Xing to send her over, and he initially agreed, but Yao Xing refused when he heard that Tuoba Gui already had an empress.

[bookofjin]

Biography of Song Yin

[From WS033]

Song Yin, courtesy name Chumo, was a native of Jiexiu in Xihe. His great-grandfather Shi was Jin's Grand Warden of Changli. He later became Murong Hui's Senior Clerk. His grandfather Huo was Overseer of the Palace Writers. His father Gong was Master of Writing and Inspector of Xu Province. When Murong Jun moved to Ye, Gong started to have his family in Lieren in Guangping.

Yin was by nature extremely filial, at the age of thirteen he readily had the aspirations of a complete man. He solely concentrated on his fondness for studying, and did not consider military difficulties to change his commitment. He served Murong Chui successively as Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, Palace Retainer to the Heir-Apparent, and Separate Carriage to the Home Province.

When Taizu pacified Zhongshan, he designated Yin Gentleman of the Personnel Section to the Masters of Writing. When the Chariot Drove to return north, decreed Yin to use his original office and assist the King of Wey, Yi, with garrisoning Zhongshan. Soon after he transferred to Right Assistant of the Acting Tribunal, to act on selection like before. At his designation, he begged to retire due old age and illnesss. Taizu did not allow it. Soon after he returned home to Lieren due to mourning for his mother.

After the funeral, he was summoned but firmly declined due to illness, yet the province and commandery pressed however for a time and place. Yin therefore left behind wife and children, and travelled covertly to escape from it. He later hid in Jing county in Changle, after several years he passed on. Approaching the end, he spoke to his sons, nephews and others, saying:

If at all able, when entering [you] obey father and elder brother, when setting out are respectful to village and kin, [you] serve the commandery's favour until reaching Clerk of the Board of Merit, and use loyalty and purity on receiving it, then it will be enough. Do not labour far away and go to the terraces and chambers. [I] fear you will not be capable of plentiful honours, and in vain stretch out the households' troubles, that is all. If you neglect my words, [then you] really will be not like your father. [When you] send for the spirits of the dead and make it known, I will not return to eat!

He had five sons.

The third son was Wen. In the time of Shizu he was summoned to serve as Broad Scholar of the Palace Writers. He passed on, and was posthumously conferred General who Establishes Power and Inspector of Yu province, and Settling [ding] Marquis of Lieren.

Wen's younger brother Yan at the beginning of Xianzu's reign accompanied the campaign against Pengcheng and had merit. He was designated General who Clarifies Power and Grand Warden of Jibei.

Yan's son Fu, courtesy name Boyu, was Separate Carriage of the province.

Yin's younger brother Fu#, courtesy name Churen, as young had a brave forbearance and had great commitment, with a broad overlook of the crowd of books. The province nominated him Separate Carriage. He passed on early.

Yin's junior uncle Qia was Murong Chui's Master of Writing. At Taizu's siege of Zhongshan, Qia led his command to solely defend the northern part of the siege. Where Qia's command was, many in the official army were wounded or killed, Taizu was especially deeply wroth and angry. When the city was pacified, he thereupon killed him. His sons Shun and Xun were both submitted to the punishment of castration.

Qia's fourth son Xuan, courtesy name Daomao, at the time was a few years old. His relatives stealthily ran off, and so he escaped. Later, he and Lu Xuan of Fanyang, Gao Yun of Bohai, and his nephew Yin were all summoned, and designated Broad Scholars of the Palace Writers. Soon after he also became Cavalier Regular Attendant, and was sent to Liu Yilong.

He concurrently became General of the Best of the Army, and was bestowed the feudal rank of Marquis of Zhongdu, nominally Attendant Gentleman of the Palace Writers, and Acting Colonel Minister of Retainers. 7th Year of Zhenjun [446 AD], he passed on,  he was conferred Minister of Retainers, his posthumous title was Simple [jian] Marquis.

His son Mo, courtesy name Qianren, inherited the feudal title. He passed on as Grand Warden of Liaoxi.

His son Luan, courtesy name Zhenhe, inherited the feudal title. He was Grand Warden of Dongguan.

Luan's younger brother Qiong, courtesy name Puxian, as young was praised for his filial actions. His mother was increasingly ill. In the last month of autumn, she longed for gourd without end. Qiong in a dream imagined he saw one, he searched and then acquired it. At the time people declared it marvellous. After his mother reached her end, the province and commandery frequently nominated him, every time he did not go. He passed on at home.

His son Zhongmei at the end of Wuding [543 – 550] was Gentleman of the Water Section to the Masters of Writing.

[bookofjin]

Biography of Wang Xian

[Grandson of a certain Meng. From WS033]

Wang Xian, courtesy name Xianze, was a native of Ju in Beihai. His grandfather Meng was Fu Jian's Imperial Chancellor. His father Xiu was Grand Warden of Hedong. Xian was orphaned as a young child, and accompanied his senior uncle Yong to Ye. When Fu Pi claimed the venerated title, he then used Yong as Imperial Chancellor. Yong was killed by Murong Yong, and Xian ran to Qinghe where he hid among the common families.

Middle of Huangshi [396 – 398], the Carriage Drove to stay at Gaoyi in Zhao commandery. Xian therefore reverted to sincerity. Taizu saw him and said:

This is Wang Meng's grandson.

He lavishly and courteously waited on him, and used him as Central Corrector of his home province, to act on the affairs of the Selection Board, and also hold in his hands the beneath the gates.

When Shizu was enthroned, he acted as Commandant of Justice minister. He set out to be Grand Warden of Shanggu, concurrently General of the Central Ramparts, and was bestowed feudal rank of Count of Gaotang. He was pure and personally led his subordinates, his manners and reforms were great acts.

Soon after he was designated Great Official of the Outer Capital, he later became Palace Gentleman. He successively served on two boards, and when judging lawsuits he was praised for his opinions. He advanced in feudal rank to Marquis of Ju county, concurrently Dragon Prancing General. He set out to be Inspector of Bing province, concurrently General who Calms the South, and advanced in feudal rank to Duke of Beihai. Within his region, he was pure and dignified.

When he turned back to the Imperial City, as an exemplary elder statesman, he was specially bestowed brocades and embroidery, cloth and silks, floss silk in variegated colours, and precious delicacies, and was courteously provided for. At the beginning of Tian'an [466 – 467] he passed on, aged 89. He was conferred General who Garrisons the South and Inspector of Qing province, his posthumous title was Prosperous [kang].

His son Chong inherited. He passed on early. His son Zhongzhi inherited. He was successively Attendant Gentleman of Zhongshan, General who Calms the West, and Inspector of Ying province. He was praised for purity and levelness.

Chong's younger brother Yi, courtesy name Daochang, as young, due to his father's competence he became Student of the Palace Writers, and little by little moved to Grandee of the Southern Section. At the beginning of Gaozu's reign, he set out to as a messenger to patrol and examine Qing, Xu, Yan and Yi, to console and comfort new adherents, and to observe and scrutinize manners and customs.

He returned, and moved to Master of Writing of the Southern Section, he was at that post for 14 years. At the time the southern provinces had many affairs, the written memorials on the plentiful dangers, the accusations filled the gates. Yi was by nature timid and indulgent, he made allowances and followed along and did not pass judgement. All day he sat, and at dusk he dozed off, and that was all.

Li Su, Deng Zongqing and others were noted as clarifying investigators, industriously managing the times necessities, yet the two people in the end were executed and massacred. For the remaining tens of people, some were demoted and some were dismissed. Only Yi finally managed to protect himself. At the time people made a saying about it, which said:

Complete moron completely in the dark, in the end managed to protect [his] life.

He was concurrently Cavalier in Regular Attendance and General of the Right, and was bestowed feudal rank of Marquis of Dongping. Before long, he was designated General who Calms the East, and advanced in feudal rank to Duke of Le'an. He set out to be Holding the Tally, General who Garrisons the West, Inspector of Qin province, and changed to be Duke of Huashan,  Cavalier in Regular Attendance like before. Later he entered to be Great Official of the Inner Capital. He passed on.

His son Zunian inherited the feudal rank. In office he reached Grand Warden of Dongping. According to regulations he was demoted in feudal rank to be a Marquis. He passed on, and was conferred General who Soothes the Boreal, and Inspector of Guang province.

His son Qingzhong inherited the feudal rank. He was Serving within the Palace. His food was filthy and he took no action, he was convicted in the affair and his feudal rank was removed.

Zunian's younger brother Yun, courtesy name Luohan, quite was stylish above else. From Gentleman of the Masters of Writing he entered to be Retainer to the Palace Writres. He moved to Separate Carriage of Si province and Brilliantly Blessed Junior Minister, then changed his conferral to Commandant of Guards Junior Minister.

He set out to be General of the Best of the Army, Master of Writing, and Inspector of Yan province. Soon after he was advanced in title to General who Conquers the Caitiffs. While in the province he was convicted for accepting wealth and goods from the Defence Master of Bujing Mountain, Du Yu, and also for taking public silk, and because of that sullied and cut away easily. The Imperial Clerks investigated and examined, and delivered him to the Commandant of Justice. He came upon a pardon and was relieved. 2nd Year of Xiping [517 Ad], he passed on in office. He was conferred General who Pacifies the South and Inspector of Yu province, his posthumous title was Civil and Luminous [wenzhao]. He had nine sons.

His oldest son Xin, courtesy name Yuanjing, at the end of Wuding [543 – 550] was Overseer of Affairs to the Heir-Apparent.

Xin's younger brother Hui, courtesy name Yuanxu, was early praised for ingenuity and perceptive. He was successively Gentleman on the Board of Ceremony for the Masters of Writing, and Retainer to the Palace Writers. He was conferred Cavalier Regular Attendance, General of the Garrison Army, and Inspector of Yan province.

Hui's younger brother Gan, courtesy name Zhongming, was Gentleman of the Private Writers and Master of Accounts to the Minister over the Masses. Middle of Tianping [534 – 537], he was murdered by bandits.

[bookofjin]

Biography of Zhang Pu

[From WS033]

Zhang Pu, courtesy name Xuanze, was a native of Xiuwu in Henei. Originally named Mo, he later changed to Pu. He was a descendant of Han's Grand Commandant Yan. His father Pan was Murong Chui's Imperial Clerk Palace Assistant and Master of Writing of the Troops Section, and was praised for his purity and squareness.

Pu as young had his father's manners, he was quite studied in the writings and histories, and was recognized for his uprightness and prudence. He became Murong Bao's Grand Warden of Yangping and Hejian commanderies, and Assistant of the Left to the Masters of Writing. When Taizu settled Zhongshan, many of those in Bao's hierarchy of officials and ministers were demoted in grade and salary, but he had habitually heard about Pu's fame, and continued to designate him as Assistant of the Left to the Masters of Writing.

Middle of Tianxing [398 – 404], since Pu was pure, prudent, square and proper, moved him to Grandee of the Eastern Section. Later he was designated Grandee of the Grand Centre. When Taizong was enthroned, he became Great Official of the Inner Capital, and bestowed feudal rank of Count of Taichang. He assisted and judged in numerous lawsuits, when privately visited he did not act, and was marked as just and proper.

At the beginning of Taichang [416 – 423], Zhai Mengque of the Dingling chased and pressured the magistrates and people to enter Baijian Mountain, planning to make a great rebellion. Decreed Pu, the Inspector of Ji province, Zhangsun Daosheng and others to go and chastise him. Daosheng and others wished to directly use a great number of troops to strike him. Pu said:

The good people who are accompanying Mengque are not happy with the chaos, yet are there, all were pressured by his fell power and forced to submit to him, that is all. Now suppose we straight-away use a great army to approach him, the magistrates and people, though they wish to go back to goodness, there are no opportunities in their way.

Also they will fear execution and extermination, and surely combine their strength and resist the official army. Afterwards they will enter the mountains and rely on hindrances, and deceive and confuse ignorant people. This is possibly a calamity not easy to to plan against.

It is not as good as first dispatching messengers to explain to them, to make the people who do not have the same plans as Mengque not be implicated, then the people will surely be joyful, and all together surrender.

Daosheng very much considered it to be so, and set it forth as memorial to make it known. Taizong decreed Pu's army to be in front to console and explain. He therefore took the submission of several thousand families, and returned to where they originally belonged, and Pu always calmed and collected them. Mengque and his intimate partisans, more than a hundred people, ran and escaped. Pu, Daosheng, and others pursued, cut off Mengque's head, and sent it off to the Imperial City.

Later when Liu Yu robbed and stole at the He border, used Pu as Commander of the Palace Gentlemen of the South and Colonel of the Southern Man, [to be] subservient to the Great General who Pacifies the South, Zhangsun Song, and go and attend on him. Yu entered Chang'an, they therefore turned back.

Later he changed to be Count of Shouzhang. He and the Duke of Anping, Shusun Jian, and others, brought along troops to cross east from Pingyuan. They patrolled and took the submission of Liu Yifu's various commanderies in Qing and Yan. A decree added to him General of Chen Troops and Inspector of Ji province. Again he and Jian attacked Qing province, they did not overcome it and turned back.

When Shizu was enthroned, since Pu was pure and poor, his wife and children's clothes and food were not provided for. He therefore set out to be Inspector of Xiang province. He supported the weak, and pressed down the strong, he advanced the good and demoted the bad, his teachings and reforms were great acts. 3rd Year of Shiguang [426 AD], he passed on in the province, aged 72.

The magistrates and population were anguished and sad about it. Pu was classified among the planners, but again and again set out to be a general. At the imperial court he debated openly, he often was declared foremost. He was conferred General who Pacifies the East and Duke of Guangping, hist posthumous title was Civil and Respectful [wengong].

His son Zhao had aspirations and integrity. Middle of Tianxing [398 – 404], as the son of a merited subject, he became a student of the Grand School. When Taizong was enthroned, he became Interior Master of Books. Later he inherited his father's feudal rank. Middle of Shenrui [414 – 416], he accompanied on campaigned against the Ruanruan, and due to his merit he advanced in feudal rank to Marquis of Xiuwu, concurrently General who Pacifies the Distant.

2nd Year of Yanhe [433 AD], he set out to be Inspector of You province, Opening Office, concurrently General who Soothes the East. At the time in You province the grain had not ripened for years, the provincial granaries were empty and depleted, much of the population had a famished look. Zhao spoke to the population and magistrates, saying:

Why are our non-virtuous yet getting along with their times?

He therefore made wealthy people passed on and aid the poor and needy, the families with chariots and horses to purchase grain and transport it [from] outside the region. The poor and weak he recommended to consider farming mulberry trees. That year there there was a great harvest. Men and women praised and lauded him. He was at the post for three years and passed on.

His son Chang inherited the feudal rank, he passed on early.

Chang's younger brother Lingfu in the 8th Year of Zhenjun [447 AD], filled the vacancy of Broad Scholar of the Palace Writers. Middle of Heping [460 – 465], a commoner of Xianyang commandery, Zhao Chang, assembled a faction to make rebellion, the hundred families were disturbed and agitated. Decreed Lingfu to proclaim the intention to comfort and explain. The population therefore returned to their professions.

Beginning of Tian'an [466 – 467], he moved to Attendant Gentleman of the Palace Writers, and was bestowed feudal rank of Count of Changguo. Middle of Yanxing [471 – 476], he was sent to Nanyu province to observe and examine the manners and customs.

4th Year of Taihe [480 AD], he appointed General who Establishes Power and Grand Warden of Guangping. He moved to be Left Assistant to the Masters of Writing and Great Central Corrector of Si province. Later he was appointed General who Garrisons the Distant and Inspector of Qi province. 16th Year [492 AD], he transferred to Inspector of Guang province, concurrently General who Sets up Loyalty. He passed on.

[bookofjin]

Biography of Qu Zun

[From WS033. Probably he descended from a Xianbei family among the Murong’s original adherents, and his family name was actually Qutu.]

Qu Zun, courtesy name Zipi, was a native of Tuhe in Changli. He was widely studied and had many abilities, his fame was visible in the time period. He became Murong Yong's Supervisor of the Masters of Writing and Duke of Wuyuan. When Yong was exterminated, Chui used him as Prefect of Boling.

During Taizu's southern attack, the Chariot Drove to favour Lukou. The Grand Warden of Boling, Shen Yong ran south outside the He. The Grand Warden of Gaoyang, Cui Xuanbo fled east to sea coast. The senior magistrates belonging to the city led many to abscond and run away. Zun alone informed his personnel and population, saying:

In the past year, Bao's host was greatly defeated, now this time Cui campaigned and did not come back. When Heaven abandons Yan, people will not hold it up. The Wei Emperor's divine martial ability instructs the generation and is widely humane and good at receiving. He manages a multitude of a million, shouting commands like they were one, this is the host of Tang and Wu. I wish to revert to the instructions. If you all avoid [?] it, you will not meet auspicious fortune, but have calamities [like] previously.

Thereupon he reverted to Taizu. Taizu habitually heard about his fame, and substantially added decorum to him. He was designated Prefect of the Palace Writers, set out to admit the kingly words, and also had overall control of written proclamations. When the Central Plains had been pacified, he was bestowed feudal rank of Count of Xiacai. He accompanied the Carriage to return to the Imperial City, and passed on. At the time he was aged 70.

His son Xu inherited. He was appointed Grand Warden of Changle, additionally General who Garrisons the Distnant, and advanced in feudal rank to Marquis of Xindu. He passed on, and was conferred General who Soothes the North and Duke of Changli, his posthumous title Respectful [gong].

His youngest son Chuzhen inherited the feudal rank. Chuzhen passed on, his son Chequ inherited the feudal rank. At the beginning of Gaozu's reign, he set out to be Garrison Comamander of Dognyang, he passed on, and was conferred Inspector of Qing province, his  posthumous title Dignified [zhuang].

Xu's oldest son Yuan, courtesy name Changsheng, was deeply immersed and had measures for government. As young he continued the family legacy, and was particularly good at writing plans. At the beginning of Taizu's reign, he served affairs at various boards. In Taizong's generation, he moved to Overseer of Architecture, controlling the Imperial City's various government offices. When Shizu was enthroned he  moved to Supervisor of the Right of the Masters of Writings, concurrently Palace Attendant. Due to his merit in routing Pingliang, he was bestowed feudal rank of Duke of Jibei, concurrently General who Pacifies the south. Later he shifted to Army Leader of the Centre.

When Gongzong was in the Eastern Palace, Yuan was nominally Junior Tutor to the Heir-Apparent. Later he supervised the various armies on the eastern attack, and was advanced in title to Great General who Garrisons the East. When the host stayed at Helong, Feng Wentong presented cattle and alcohol so as to entertain the army, and offered 3 000 sets of armour. Yuan called him to account for not sending off hostage sons, and counted out to him accordingly the kingly instructions. Thereupon he carried off 6 000 men and women, and turned back.

Yuan in office was just and proper, inside and outside praised his impartiality. Shizu trusted and relied on, and appointed him to great government affairs. When the Chariot Drove to set out on campaigns, he often dwelt inside and stayed behind to garrison. He and the Duke of Xiangcheng, Lu Luyuan together were bestowed armour and mansions. Shizu several times approached to favour, his rewards and bestowals were abundant and substantial.

4th Year of Zhenjun [443 AD], he fell off the horse and passed on, at the time aged 55. At the time Shizu was favouring Yin Mountain. Gongzong dispatched messengers to ride after and transmit a memorial on the circumstances. Shizu very much lamented and rued it, he spoke to the messengers, saying:

You all killed Our good subject, how [can you] make use of riding a horse.

Thereupon he ordered them to return home on foot.

He was conferred Great General who Conquers the West, his posthumous title was Completing [cheng] Duke.

His oldest son Guan passed on early. Shizu pitied him, and bestowed on his son the feudal rank of baron.

Guan's younger brother Daoci inherited his grandfather's feudal rank. Daoci, as young, due to the reliance on his father, attended inside on left and right. He little by little moved to Master of Guest, and advanced to Master of Writing, concurrently Cavalier in Regular Attendance. He was good at riding and shooting, was clever, eloquent, and had a wordy disposition. He accompanied the campaign against Gai Wu, and moved to Supervisor of the Right of the Masters of Writing, concurrently Palace Attendant. They had turned back and reached Yanmen, when he suddenly fell ill and passed on. His posthumous title was Lamented [ai] Duke.

His son Ba inheritance the feudal rank. Ba as young was fond of the yin and yang school. Shizu recalled and thought of his father and grandfather, and, at the age of 14, used him as Grandee of the Southern Section. At the time Shizu went on a southern attack, and seized Liu Yilong's general Hu Shengzhi, and so turned him over to Ba. Ba was drunk on alcohol, and did not wake up when Shengzhi escaped and left. Shizu was very furious, and instructed to behead him. When he was about to lay down on the executioner's block, Shizu dejectedly said:

Suppose ghosts exists and have knowledge, and Changsheng asks about his son and grandson, how will We respond to him?

He therefore pardoned Ba, and dismissed him to be Unassigned Grandee.

Later Xianzu considered him the son of a merited subject, and designated him Inspector of Ying province. He passed on, his son Yongxing inherited the feudal rank.