Qu Yun (died c.18 December 316[1]), was a military general of the Western Jin dynasty. 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 killed himself while imprisoned.
Qu Yun | |
|---|---|
| 麴允 | |
| Grand Commander (大都督) | |
| In office 315–316 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Min of Jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown Jincheng Commandery, Gansu Province |
| Died | 316 Pingyang, Shanxi Province |
| Posthumous name | Marquis Jiemin (節愍侯) |
Life
editReviving the Jin dynasty
editQu Yun was born in a prestigious gentry family in Jincheng Commandery in modern-day Gansu province, said to be as equally famous as another family called the You (游).[2] Nothing is known of Qu Yun's early life but by 311, he was already a subordinate to the Prince of Nanyang, Sima Mo (a younger brother of Sima Yue, the Prince of Donghai) in Chang'an. After Chang'an fell and Sima Mo was executed by Han-Zhao forces in 311, he and his peer Suo Chen fled to Anding Commandery (安定郡, present-day Zhenyuan, Gansu province).[3]
The Jin capital, Luoyang, also fell to Han forces earlier that year. At Anding, Qu Yun, Suo Chen and others plotted to revive the Jin dynasty in northern China. The conspirators decided to choose the Administrator of Anding, Jia Ya, to lead the plan in recapturing Chang'an from Han. The plan was successful as the group not only occupied Chang'an but also defeated the Han generals in a series of bouts. Not long after, Emperor Huai's nephew, Sima Ye was brought to Chang'an by Yan Ding and declared as the Crown Prince.[4]
Despite the group's success that year, they suffered major setbacks in 312 after Jia Ya was killed in a skirmish. With Jia Ya's death, Qu Yun was appointed to succeed to his position as Inspector of Yongzhou. Meanwhile, Yan Ding assassinated the Administrator of Jingzhao, Liang Zong after they contested for control over the region. Both Qu Yun and Suo Chen were fearful of Yan Ding's growing power and used his killing of Liang Zong (梁綜) as a pretext to attack him. They, along with Zong's brother, Liang Su (梁肅), raised their troops and routed Yan Ding, causing him to flee deep into Yongzhou where the Di tribesman Dou Shou (竇首) killed him and sent his head back to Chang'an.[5]
Battles with Liu Yao
editWhen news of Emperor Huai's execution reached Chang'an in 313, Sima Ye ascended the throne and was known as Emperor Min. As new emperor, he appointed Qu Yun as Deputy Director of the Left of the Masters of Writing, General Who Leads The Army, Credential Bearer, Colonel of Western Rong Tribes, and chief of affairs of the Masters of Writing. Shortly after, the Han emperor, Liu Cong ordered his generals, Liu Yao and Zhao Ran to attack Chang'an. Qu Yun camped at Huangbai (黃白城, in present-day Xianyang, Shaanxi) to resist the invasion but the Han forces defeated him several times.[6] With Qu Yun pinned down at Huangbai, Zhao Ran carried out a raid on Chang'an. Zhao Ran pillaged the city before retreating due to the arrival of Jin reinforcements. However, recent victories had made Liu Yao overconfident, causing him to lower his defences. Qu Yun took advantage and launched a successful surprise attack on Liu Yao. This defeat caused Liu Yao to retreat back to Han's capital in Pingyang.[7]
The following year in 314, Liu Yao and Zhao Ran, along with Yin Kai (殷凱) once more threatened the capital. Qu Yun attempted to counterattack their forces at Pingyi but was driven back. Qu Yun regathered his soldiers and tried another plan. At night, Qu Yun raided Yin Kai's camp and killed him in the assault. Yin Kai's defeat prompted Liu Yao to move to Huai, where he fought the Administrator of Henei, Guo Mo for the time being. Zhao Ran decided to attack Beidi (北地郡, in present-day Qingyang, Gansu) and fought Qu Yun but was killed by a crossbow bolt during the battle.[8]
Despite the deaths of his fellow generals, Liu Yao once more attacked the Jin forces in 315 through Beidi. Emperor Min appointed Qu Yun as Grand Commander and as General of the Agile Cavalry and ordered him to oppose Liu Yao. However, Qu Yun could do nothing but wait at Huangbai as he had too little troops with him to oppose Liu Yao. Qu Yun suggested to Suo Chen that they bring the emperor to the Prince of Nanyang, Sima Bao in Qinzhou who had a larger force to oppose Han, but Suo Chen rebuked him by saying that Sima Bao will surely take control of the emperor's power. Qu Yun agreed and never brought up the plan again.[9]
Liu Yao's invasion of Beidi carried on to 316. The Administrator of Beidi, Qu Chang (麴昌), was besieged by Liu Yao, so Qu Yun led his men to reinforce him. Liu Yao burned parts of the city and sent defectors to Qu Yun, who told him that Beidi had already fallen. Qu Yun believed them, and the rumour spread among his soldier, causing them to scatter in fear.[10] Liu Yao defeated Qu Yun at Panshi Valley (磻石谷, in present-day Tongchuan, Shaanxi), so Qu retreated to Lingwu.[11] Qu Yun had a reputation of being kind-hearted and giving many titles to his subordinates and allowing them to exercise their own power freely. However, when Liu Yao attacked him, many of them refused to aid Qu Yun, such as in the case of Jiao Song (焦嵩), who, when asked by Qu to aid him in protecting the capital from Han, decided to wait until Qu Yun was deep in trouble to save him.[12]
Defeat and death
editLiu Yao pressed into Chang'an that same year. Emperor Min's generals were called to camp at Bashang (霸上, located east of Xi'an) to defend but none of them dared to come. Sima Bao sent his general Hu Song (胡崧) to help but, despite routing Liu Yao on his way, decided to turn back as he did not trust Qu Yun and Suo Chen. Liu Yao arrived at Chang'an and forced Qu Yun and Suo Chen to fall back into the inner city. The situation in Chang'an was severe as food supplies were being cut off from the city due to the siege. The prices of food rose sharply and many resorted to cannibalism while others deserted their post. The Imperial Warehouse had so little food that Qu Yun only had gruel to present to the emperor for him to eat. With no food and reinforcements, Emperor Min decided to surrender to Liu Yao, lamenting, "It is Lord Qu and Lord Suo who have so mismanaged our affairs!"[13]
Emperor Min and his officers were sent to Pingyang to face Liu Cong. When Emperor Min bowed in submission before Liu Cong, Qu Yun prostrated himself and wailed. Liu Cong was angered by this and ordered Qu Yun to be imprisoned. While in prison, Qu Yun killed himself. Liu Cong was impressed by Qu's loyalty, so he posthumously appointed Qu as General of Chariots and Cavalry and named him "Marquis Jiemin (節愍侯)".[14]
References
edit- ^ ([建兴四年]冬，十一月，....壬寅，汉主聪临光极殿，帝稽首于前。麹允伏地恸哭，扶不能起。聪怒，囚之，允自杀。聪以帝为光禄大夫，封怀安候。以大司马曜为假黄钺、大都督、督陕西诸军事、太宰，封秦王。大赦，改元麟嘉。以麹允忠烈，赠车骑将军，谥节愍候。以索𬘭不忠，斩于都市。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.89
- ^ (麹允，金城人也。與游氏世為豪族，西州為之語曰：「麹與游，牛羊不數頭。南開朱門，北望青樓。」) Book of Jin, Volume 89
- ^ (初，南陽王模以從事中郎索綝爲馮翊太守。綝，靖之子也。模死，綝與安夷護軍金城麴允、頻陽令梁肅，俱奔安定。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 87
- ^ (鼎少有大志，因西土人思歸，欲立功鄉里，乃與撫軍長史王毗、司馬傳遜懷翼戴秦王之計，謂疇、捷等曰：「山東非霸王處，不如關中。」河陽令傅暢遺鼎書，勸奉秦王過洛陽，謁拜山陵，徑據長安，綏合夷晉，興起義眾，克復宗廟，雪社稷之恥。鼎得書，便欲詣洛，流人謂北道近河，懼有抄截，欲南自武關向長安。疇等皆山東人，咸不願西入，荀籓及疇、捷等並逃散。鼎追籓不及，恆等見殺，唯顗、述走得免。遂奉秦王行，止上洛，為山賊所襲，殺百餘人，率餘眾西至藍田。時劉聰向長安，為雍州刺史賈疋所逐，走還平陽。疋遣人奉迎秦王。) Book of Jin, Volume 60
- ^ (洛陽傾覆，閻鼎等立秦王為皇太子于長安，鼎總攝百揆。允時為安夷護軍、始平太守，心害鼎功，且規權勢，因鼎殺京兆太守梁綜，乃與綜弟馮翊太守緯等攻鼎，走之。會雍州刺史賈疋為屠各所殺，允代其任。) Book of Jin, Volume 89
- ^ (漢中山王曜、趙染攻麴允于黃白城，允累戰皆敗；詔以索綝爲征東大將軍，將兵助允) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 88
- ^ (漢中山王曜恃勝而不設備，十一月，麴允引兵襲之，漢兵大敗，殺其冠軍將軍喬智明；曜引歸平陽。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 88
- ^ (趙染寇北地，夢魯徽大怒，引弓射之，染驚悸而寤。旦將攻城，中弩而死。) Book of Jin, Volume 102
- ^ (麹允欲挾天子趣保，綝以保必逞私欲，乃止。自長安以西，不復奉朝廷。百官饑乏，采穭自存。) Book of Jin, Volume 60
- ^ (曜後復圍北地，太守麹昌遣使求救，允率步騎赴之。去城數十里，群賊繞城放火，煙塵蔽天，縱反間詐允曰：「郡城已陷，焚燒向盡，無及矣。」允信之，眾懼而潰。後數日，麹昌突圍赴長安，北地遂陷。) Book of Jin, Volume 89
- ^ (北地饑甚，人相食啖，羌酋大軍須運糧以給麹昌，劉雅擊敗之。麹允與劉曜戰于磻石谷，王師敗績，允奔靈武。) Book of Jin, Volume 102
- ^ (允性仁厚，無威斷，吳皮、王隱之徒，無賴凶人，皆加重爵，新平太守竺恢，始平太守楊像、扶風太守竺爽、安定太守焦嵩，皆征鎮杖節，加侍中、常侍，村塢主帥小者，猶假銀青、將軍之號，欲以撫結眾心。然諸將驕恣，恩不及下，人情頗離，由是羌胡因此跋扈。) Book of Jin, Volume 89
- ^ (劉曜復攻長安，百姓饑甚，死者太半。久之，城中窘逼，帝將出降，歎曰：「誤我事者，麹、索二公也。」) Book of Jin, Volume 89
- ^ (帝至平陽，為劉聰所幽辱，允伏地號哭不能起。聰大怒，幽之於獄，允發憤自殺。聰嘉其忠烈，贈車騎將軍，諡節湣侯。) Book of Jin, Volume 89
- Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian