Liu Yu Opens the Southern Dynasties

Huan Xuan's time as emperor lasted only about half a year before Liu Yu drove him down.

Emperor An returned to Jiankang. Eastern Jin still had an emperor, but the person who now held the military and political situation was Liu Yu.

Liu Yu Takes Hold of Eastern Jin

After destroying Chu and restoring Jin, Liu Yu naturally received high honors.

He became General of Chariots and Cavalry, commander over sixteen provinces, governor of Qing, Xu, and Yan provinces, Duke of Yuzhang, and commander of the Beifu Army.

Two years later, Wang Mi died, and the governorship of Yangzhou also passed to Liu Yu.

By this point, he controlled Eastern Jin's military power, political power, and financial base. He was the real master of the court.

Now he needed authority that everyone could see.

His target soon became Southern Yan.

Murong Chao Gives Liu Yu a Reason

Southern Yan's ruler Murong Chao came from one of the most prestigious lines in the Murong world.

His grandfather Murong Huang had laid the foundation for Former Yan. His uncle Murong Chui founded Later Yan. His uncle Murong De founded Southern Yan. His cousin Murong Hong had founded Western Yan.

Prestige did not bring Murong Chao stability. When Fu Jian once purged the Murong clan, Murong Chao had survived by pretending madness. Later, he joined Murong De and finally settled. After Murong De died, he took the throne.

Once enthroned, however, Murong Chao quickly gave himself to pleasure and neglected government.

He disliked the quality of palace music and wanted to train new performers. So he sent Southern Yan troops to harass Eastern Jin's northern border and seize young men and women.

This gave Liu Yu the reason he needed.

Since Eastern Jin had retreated south, many northern campaigns had failed to destroy a northern state. Liu Yu wanted prestige. Southern Yan became the proper target.

In 409, Liu Yu personally led a northern expedition against Southern Yan.

Mount Daxian Is Left Open

Murong Chao called a council when he heard Liu Yu was coming.

General Gongsun Wulou advised against a quick open battle. Jin had come from far away. Southern Yan should clear the countryside, hold Mount Daxian, and send cavalry to cut Jin's supplies.

Murong Chao refused.

He believed Southern Yan had Shandong territory and tens of thousands of armored cavalry. It should not hide behind defensive measures. He abandoned Mount Daxian and planned to draw Jin deep inside, then crush it with cavalry.

That decision gave Liu Yu a clear road.

The Jin army passed through Mount Daxian and entered Southern Yan's heartland. Near Linqu, it met Murong Chao's main force.

Southern Yan had many cavalry, and the plain around Linqu first gave them an advantage.

Then Hu Fan, one of Liu Yu's staff officers, led a small force around the battlefield and attacked Linqu city. He suddenly seized it. When Southern Yan soldiers heard that their rear had fallen, their morale collapsed.

Murong Chao abandoned the field and fled to Guanggu.

The Siege of Guanggu

After entering the inner city of Guanggu, Murong Chao immediately sent Zhang Gang to ask Later Qin for help.

Liu Yu took the outer city and surrounded the inner city.

But Later Qin had troubles of its own. Helian Bobo had founded Xia and was pressuring Later Qin in the northwest, making it hard for Yao Xing to move.

Later Qin still sent an envoy to threaten Liu Yu: if Jin did not withdraw, Qin would send troops.

Liu Yu was not afraid. He told the envoy to report that he had originally planned to attack Guanzhong three years after destroying Yan. If Later Qin wanted to come now, it should come quickly. He judged that the threat was mostly empty.

The Qin aid did not arrive.

When Zhang Gang returned from asking for help, he did not know that Liu Yu had already taken the outer city. He entered the Jin position by mistake and was captured. Zhang Gang understood siege machines, and he then designed equipment for the Jin army.

As the new year came, Murong Chao and his empress looked down from the walls and saw Jin's attack tightening. They held each other and wept. When ministers advised surrender, Murong Chao killed the speaker.

Two days later, Jin launched its final assault. Southern Yan's defenders could not hold and opened the gates.

Murong Chao tried to flee with a few dozen riders. Jin captured him and sent him to Jiankang for execution.

Southern Yan fell.

Liu Yu had learned from Fu Jian's earlier leniency toward the Murong clan and its later consequences. He ordered captured Murong clan members killed.

By destroying Southern Yan, Liu Yu became the first Eastern Jin strongman to eliminate a northern state.

Lu Xun, Qiao Shu, and Later Qin

After Southern Yan, Liu Yu's prestige grew sharply.

He then suppressed Lu Xun's rebellion. Lu Xun had inherited Sun En's followers and had disturbed Eastern Jin's coasts and Lingnan for years. Liu Yu's victory removed a major internal threat.

Next, Liu Yu turned toward Sichuan. Jin forces entered Ba-Shu and destroyed the Qiao Shu regime founded by Qiao Zong. Ba-Shu returned to Eastern Jin control.

Southern Yan, Lu Xun, and Qiao Shu were now all solved. Liu Yu's position at court had no rival.

The next target was Later Qin.

Later Qin had been the senior power behind Southern Yan and Qiao Shu. Their destruction damaged Qin's prestige. Worse, Yao Xing died, and his son Yao Hong succeeded him.

Yao Hong was mild and weak. He struggled to control the realm, while many royal relatives had ambitions of their own. Rebellions kept breaking out inside Later Qin.

Liu Yu judged that the moment had come.

In 416, he left Liu Muzhi to guard Jiankang and led elite forces north in four routes.

Later Qin hurried to discuss defense. Yao Shao, an old minister of Yao Xing, advised concentrating forces at Chang'an. Liu Yu had come far, and his line was long. If Qin defended the core, it might wear Jin down.

Yao Hong's brother Yao Yi disagreed. He feared that gathering princes and generals in Chang'an would start internal war. Yao Hong also feared losing control, so he scattered the forces.

The cost appeared quickly. After Liu Yu reached Pengcheng, Wang Zhen'e and Tan Daoji moved north toward Xuchang and Luoyang. Qin garrisons surrendered wherever they passed.

Tan Daoji pressed Luoyang. Its defender asked Chang'an for help, but Yao Yi did not move. Other reinforcements were defeated. Luoyang surrendered, and Jin's armies joined around the old capital.

When Qin princes heard that Luoyang had fallen, they blamed Yao Hong. Yao Yi soon declared himself emperor, and other princes also rose. Yao Shao finally suppressed the disorder, but Qin's best strength had been consumed.

Tong Pass and Northern Wei

Liu Yu continued along the Yellow River. Later Qin's last main force, led by Yao Shao, defended Tong Pass against Wang Zhen'e, Tan Daoji, and other Jin commanders.

Yao Hong asked Northern Wei for help.

By now Tuoba Gui had died, and his son Tuoba Si ruled Northern Wei. Many Wei officials believed Liu Yu had suffered heavy losses on the long expedition and that Wei cavalry could cut his supplies.

Cui Hao disagreed. He argued that Liu Yu had chosen the moment after Yao Xing's death because he meant to win. Wei should let Jin pass along the Yellow River and wait to profit after the result became clear.

Tuoba Si did not fully accept this. He sent 30,000 cavalry to help Later Qin, but ordered them to harass rather than fight a decisive battle.

Wei cavalry followed Jin ships along the north bank of the Yellow River. When wind blew some Jin boats to the northern bank, Wei troops seized boats and supplies.

Liu Yu was angered. He placed several thousand picked soldiers on the northern bank in the crescent-moon formation. When Wei cavalry attacked, Jin defeated them badly.

With Northern Wei's pressure removed, Jin continued against Tong Pass. Yao Shao lost repeatedly and died after vomiting blood in rage and shame.

Tong Pass began to loosen.

Wang Zhen'e Enters Chang'an

When Liu Yu reached Shanxian, he used a diversion. He sent Shen Tianzi with a small force to occupy Qingni.

Yao Hong had gathered tens of thousands to attack Liu Yu at Shanxian. When he saw Shen Tianzi appear, he decided to destroy that smaller force first.

Shen Tianzi learned that Qin was coming for him. He encouraged his men to strike first and caught the Qin army off guard. Yao Hong was defeated and fled to Bashang.

Then Wang Zhen'e led a naval force up the Wei River toward Chang'an.

People in Guanzhong rarely saw ships like these moving without sails against the current. Many thought divine help was carrying the Jin fleet and did not block it.

After taking Weiqiao, Wang Zhen'e ordered all troops to abandon the ships and let the current carry them away. He told his men that their boats and grain were gone. They could return only by winning.

Wang Zhen'e defeated Qin troops and entered Yao Hong's palace. Yao Hong saw that the situation was over and surrendered.

He was soon executed. Later Qin ended after more than thirty years.

Liu Yu entered Chang'an.

Chang'an Is Won and Lost

Liu Yu first wanted to rest in Guanzhong and then work on the north. But news came from Jiankang: Liu Muzhi, the man holding his rear, had died.

Without that support, Liu Yu had to fear trouble in Jiangnan if he stayed too long.

He decided to return south.

He left his twelve-year-old son Liu Yizhen in Chang'an with Wang Zhen'e, Shen Tianzi, and other commanders, then marched back to Jiangnan.

Once Liu Yu left, Chang'an became a target. Helian Bobo of Xia saw the chance and sent troops south.

Worse, Jin officials and generals left in Chang'an fell into internal conflict and killed one another. Liu Yu was alarmed and sent Zhu Lingshi to guard Chang'an while ordering Liu Yizhen to return south.

Before leaving, Liu Yizhen seized large amounts of treasure and people. His convoy moved too slowly and was overtaken by Xia forces. He abandoned the wealth and escaped alone.

Chang'an was lost again and fell to Helian Bobo.

Still, Eastern Jin retained large areas south of the Yellow River, north of the Huai, and along the upper Han River. The military achievements were more than enough to make Liu Yu unmatched at court.

Liu Yu Replaces Jin With Song

In 418, Liu Yu accepted the titles of chancellor and governor of Yangzhou, formed the state of Song from ten commanderies, became Duke of Song, and received the nine bestowments.

This was the final stage before replacing Jin.

Soon, Liu Yu decided Emperor An could no longer remain as emperor. He sent men to kill Sima Dezong and placed the emperor's younger brother Sima Dewen on the throne as Emperor Gong.

Then Liu Yu forced Emperor Gong to abdicate.

In 420, Liu Yu became emperor. His state was Song, known in history as Liu Song.

Eastern Jin ended.

From this moment, Chinese history enters the Southern and Northern Dynasties period. Liu Song begins the Southern Dynasties. In the north, Northern Wei was also rising toward a new height.