Murong Hui, with the courtesy name Yiluogui, was a Xianbei native of Changli Jicheng. His ancestors were descendants of the Xiong clan, residing for generations in the northern frontier, establishing villages in the Zimeng region, referred to as Donghu. Later, they grew powerful like the Xiongnu, with over two hundred thousand skilled archers, sharing customs and official titles similar to those of the Xiongnu. After being defeated by the Xiongnu during the Qin and Han dynasties, they retreated to the Xianbei Mountains and came to be known as such. His great-grandfather Mo Huba, during the early Wei Dynasty, led various tribes to migrate to the west of Liaoning, followed Emperor Xuan in defeating the Gongsun clan, was granted the title of King of Shuaiyi, and founded a state north of Jicheng. At that time, many people in the Yan and Dai regions donned steppe caps, which Mo Huba admired, prompting him to cut his hair and wear the cap. The various tribes referred to him as Buyao, which later evolved into Murong. Some say he adopted the surname Murong out of admiration for the virtues of Yin and Yang, reflecting the balance of heaven and earth. His grandfather Muyan was the Left Virtuous King, and his father Shegui was elevated to Xianbei Chanyu due to his merits in defending Liucheng, and he relocated the capital to the northeast of the Liao River, gradually approaching Central Plains culture.
Murong Hui grew up tall, strong, and handsome, standing eight feet tall, with a heroic and dignified character. General Zhang Hua of Anbei was renowned for his ability to judge character. When Murong Hui was still a child, he went to visit him, and Zhang Hua was greatly impressed, saying, "You will surely become a remarkable talent when you grow up, capable of supporting the state and saving the day!" He then gifted Murong Hui his hat and hairpin before bidding him farewell. Later, after Murong Shegui died, his brother Nai seized the throne and wanted to kill Murong Hui, so Murong Hui secretly fled to escape the impending danger. Eventually, the people overthrew Nai and crowned Murong Hui as king.
At first, Murong Hui had some grudges against Yuwen Xianbei in his heart, thinking of avenging his grandfather, so he requested the court to send troops to attack. However, Emperor Wu refused. In anger, Murong Hui led his troops to invade Liaoxi, resulting in many deaths. The Emperor sent troops from Youzhou to fight against Murong Hui, and the two armies clashed at Feiru, with Murong Hui suffering a disastrous defeat. He then went to plunder Changli County almost every year. He also led a large army to march east to attack the Fuyu Kingdom, where the Fuyu King, fearing defeat, contemplated suicide. Murong Hui destroyed the cities of Fuyu and captured over ten thousand people. The Eastern Yi Chief, He Gan, sent Du Hu Jia Shen to meet the son of the Fuyu King and help him reclaim the throne. Murong Hui sent his general Sun Ding with cavalry to intercept them. Jia Shen fought hard, killed Sun Ding, and thus the Fuyu Kingdom was restored. Murong Hui discussed with his subordinates, stating, "Our ancestors have served the Central Plains dynasty for generations, and our Xianbei customs are different from those of the Han people. How can we oppose the Jin Dynasty? Why hurt our own people instead of living in harmony?" He subsequently sent envoys to offer his surrender. The Emperor was very pleased and appointed him as the Commander of the Xianbei. Murong Hui went to the Eastern Yi Prefecture to meet He Gan, dressed in simple attire for the visit, observing the customs of a scholar. He Gan arranged a military formation to receive him, so Murong Hui donned his armor before entering. When asked why he did this, Murong Hui said, "If the host is discourteous, why should the guest adhere to formality?" He Gan felt ashamed and more respectful towards Murong Hui. At that time, the Eastern Hu Yuwen Xianbei Duan clan saw Murong Hui's growing power and feared being swallowed up by him, resulting in constant harassment and plundering of the border. Murong Hui employed humble words and generous gifts to placate them.
In the tenth year of Taikang, Murong Hui moved the capital to the Qing Mountain by the Tuhe River. Murong Hui believed Dajicheng to be the ancient territory of Emperor Ku. He did not move here until the fourth year of Yuankang. He taught the people to farm and raise silkworms, and the legal system mirrored that of the Central Plains. During the Yongning period, a major flood occurred in the Yan region. Murong Hui opened the granaries to provide relief for the victims, and the people of Youzhou received relief. The emperor was very pleased to hear about this and rewarded him with clothing and official robes. During the Taian period, Yuwen Mogui sent his brother Qu Yun to attack the border cities. Furious, Qu Yun led the general Su Yan to attack and plunder various tribes. Murong Hui personally led the troops to defeat them. Su Yan, feeling angry, led a hundred thousand troops to besiege Dajicheng. Everyone was frightened, and morale was low. Murong Hui said, "Although Su Yan has many soldiers in numbers comparable to dogs, sheep, and ants, their army lacks discipline, which I expected. As long as we all fight hard, we’ve got nothing to worry about." He then personally put on his armor, charged out, and defeated Su Yan. Murong Hui pursued them for over a hundred li, capturing and killing tens of thousands of enemy soldiers. In the early years of Yongjia, Hui (pronounced yáo) proclaimed himself the Grand Chanyu of the Xianbei. Pang Ben, the Governor of Liaodong, killed Colonel Li Zhen of the Eastern Yi out of personal grudges. He then conspired with Xianbei leaders such as Suli and Mujin, under the pretense of avenging Li Zhen, but actually plotting to rebel. They attacked and captured several county towns, massacring civilians everywhere. Governor Yuan Qian suffered defeats in multiple battles, and Colonel Feng Shi, feeling fearful, requested peace talks.
For several consecutive years, the Xianbei people have been raiding, resulting in widespread unemployment among the common people, and refugees have been flocking in daily seeking shelter. Hui's son Han said to Hui, "If you want to gain support from the princes, the best way to gain support is to be loyal to the court. Since ancient times, successful rulers have relied on this to accomplish their ambitions. Now, with Suli and Mujin so brazenly arrogant, the imperial forces have faced one defeat after another, and the common people are being slaughtered. How can we tolerate this! They claim to be fighting against Pangben, but in reality, they are exploiting the chaos as bandits. The officials who requested to attack Pangben and seek peace have only exacerbated the situation. The Liao Dong region is on the brink of collapse; this turmoil has persisted for nearly two years, and the Central Plains are in constant turmoil, with the armies of the states suffering repeated defeats. Now is the opportune moment to demonstrate loyalty to the court and uphold justice! The Chanyu should demonstrate the might of your nine victories, save the people of Liao Dong who are in imminent danger, bring Suli and Mujin to justice for their crimes, and rally righteous forces to eliminate them. This will restore order in Liao Dong from the top down, showcasing your loyalty while benefiting our nation. This will be the beginning of our path to greatness, eventually gaining the support of the princes."
Hui followed his son's advice. That day, he led cavalry to attack Suli and Mujin, achieving a resounding victory and slaying them, and both tribes surrendered. Hui resettled them in Jicheng, reestablished the Liao Dong commandery with renewed authority, and then he returned.
The emperor was trapped in Pingyang. Wang Jun acted unilaterally and appointed Ran Min as Imperial Attendant, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Grand Commander of the Vanguard, and Grand Chanyu, but Ran Min declined. During the Jianxing period, Emperor Min appointed Ran Min as General Who Guards the Army, Duke of Changli, and Duke of Liaodong. In the early Jianwu years, Emperor Yuan acted unilaterally and appointed Ran Min as Acting General, Imperial Attendant, Commander of Various Troops in Liaozuo, General of the Dragon Riders, Grand Chanyu, and Duke of Changli, but Ran Min still declined. General Lu Chang told Ran Min: "Now both capitals have fallen, the emperor is in exile, and Prince Langye holds great power in Jiangdong. This is a significant matter that affects everyone's fate! General, you command the northern coast, but many tribes still depend on their numbers and resist submission, mainly because your official position is not appointed by the emperor himself, and they believe they are strong. We should send someone to Langye to convince him to take the throne, and then you can follow orders to suppress those rebels. Who would dare to disobey then?" Ran Min agreed with Lu Chang's assessment and sent his Chief of Staff, Wang Ji, to persuade Langye. After Prince Langye took the throne, the envoy Tao Liao reiterated the earlier orders, bestowing upon Ran Min the titles of general and chanyu, but Ran Min firmly rejected the title of duke.
At that time, both capitals had fallen, and Youzhou and Jizhou had been captured. Ran Min enforced strict laws in the region and was open to advice. Many refugees came to him with their families seeking shelter. Ran Min set up counties to oversee these refugees, including Jiyang County for the people of Jizhou, Chengzhou County for the people of Yuzhou, Yingqiu County for the people of Qingzhou, and Tangguo County for the people of Bingzhou. He promoted talented individuals to manage government affairs, including Pei Yu from Hedong, Lu Chang from Daijun, and Yang Dan from Beiping as his chief strategists; Feng Xian from Beihai, You Sui from Guangping, Xi Fangqian from Beiping, Feng Chou from Bohai, Song Shi from Xihe, and Pei Kai from Hedong as his key assistants; Feng Yi from Bohai, Song Gai from Pingyuan, Huang Fu Ji from Anding, and Miao Kai from Lanling, these outstanding scholars held significant positions; Zhu Zuochen from Kuaiji, Hu Wuyi from Taishan, and Kong Zuan from Lugu, Ran Min treated these highly respected individuals as guests and friends; Liu Zan from Pingyuan was appointed as the head of the Eastern Institute, where his son Ran Huang and other noble youths studied as well. In addition to handling governmental affairs, Ran Min personally listened to the opinions of the people, resulting in praise for him being heard everywhere, and the social atmosphere became increasingly respectful and harmonious. The Inspector of Pingzhou and Colonel of Dongyi, Cui Bi, believed he had significant prestige in the south and attempted to rally the refugees, but none showed up. Frustrated, Cui Bi secretly conspired with Goguryeo, Yuwenguo, Duanguo, and others to plot against Murong Hui and divide his territory.
During the Taixing period, the three kingdoms joined forces to attack Murong Hui. Murong Hui said, "They believe Cui Bi's nonsense, seeking short-term benefits, just a disorganized mob. They have no unified command internally and do not obey each other; I will definitely defeat them. However, they've just come together and are quite formidable in battle, so I need to resolve this quickly. If I counterattack, I'll be playing right into their hands. I should watch the situation quietly, letting them sow doubts and suspicions among themselves. On one hand, they will suspect that I am colluding with Cui Bi and turn against them; on the other hand, they will suspect that someone in the three kingdoms has a secret agreement with me. When their morale is weakened, then attacking them will be a sure victory."
So, the armies of the three kingdoms attacked Jicheng. Murong Hui kept the city gates closed and did not engage in battle, instead sending people to offer cattle and wine to reward the Yuwen army, openly stating, "Cui Bi sent envoys here a few days ago!" This made the Yuwen and Duan kingdoms suspect that Yuwen and Murong Hui were in cahoots, so they withdrew their troops. General Xidu Guan of the Yuwen kingdom, however, said, "Although the other countries have withdrawn, do I really need anyone else for that?" So, he concentrated all his forces to launch a fierce assault on Jicheng, pushing forward thirty miles. Murong Hui selected elite soldiers to be commanded by Murong Huang to lead the vanguard into battle; Murong Han led elite cavalry as a surprise attack force, breaking through the enemy camp from the side; Murong Hui led the main army in a frontal attack. Xidu Guan, relying on his large numbers, did not prepare for defense, and when he saw Murong Hui's army approaching, he hastily led his troops to resist. As soon as the vanguard engaged in battle, Murong Han had already entered the enemy camp, setting the camp ablaze. The enemy army was in complete disarray, not knowing what to do, and ultimately faced a crushing defeat. Xidu Guan escaped alone, while the rest were captured. In the enemy camp, the imperial seal, featuring three knobs, was discovered, and Murong Hui sent Chief Historian Pei Yu to take it to Jianye.
Cui Bi was afraid of Murong Hui's retaliation, so he sent his nephew Cui Tao to feign congratulations to Murong Hui. Coincidentally, envoys from the Three Kingdoms also came to seek peace, saying, "That was never our intention; it was all instigated by Cui Pingzhou!" Murong Hui called Cui Tao over, pointing to the traces of the siege, and sternly questioned, "Your uncle instigated the Three Kingdoms to destroy me, but you came pretending to congratulate. What does this mean?" Cui Bi, feeling fearful, surrendered willingly. Murong Hui sent Cui Tao back to persuade Cui Bi: "Surrender is the best option; escape is the worst," and sent troops in pursuit. Cui Bi, with dozens of cavalry, left his family behind and fled to Goguryeo. Murong Hui incorporated Cui Bi's army, relocated Cui Tao and Gao Zhan and others to Jicheng, and treated them well. Shortly thereafter, Goguryeo invaded Liaodong, and Murong Hui sent troops to defeat them.
After Pei Yu returned from Jianye, the emperor sent envoys to appoint Murong Hui as the military commander of Pingzhou, the General of Anbei, and the governor of Pingzhou, also increasing his land grant by two thousand households. Shortly thereafter, the emperor promoted him to the title of Imperial Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs of the Eastern Yi in Youzhou, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Governor of Pingzhou, and granted him the title of Duke of Liaodong County with a land grant of ten thousand households. He also retained his previous titles of Palace Attendant and Chanyu; he was awarded a red book and an iron voucher, enabling him to independently manage affairs in the Haidong region, appoint officials himself, and establish the prefect of Pingzhou.
Duan Mobo had just begun to control his own country, but he failed to take proper precautions, so Murong Hui sent Murong Huang to attack him, invaded Lingzhi City, plundered his prized horses and treasures, and returned.
Shi Le sent envoys to negotiate peace with Murong Kai, but he refused and sent Shi Le's envoys to Jianye City. Shi Le was furious and sent Yuwen Qi to attack Murong Kai. Murong Kai sent Murong Huang to resist. He appointed Pei Yi as the right commander, led Suo Tou as the right wing, and let his youngest son Murong Ren depart from Pingguo and rush to Bolin as the left wing to attack Yuwen Qi. They won the battle, captured all enemy troops, pursued them, captured their cities, seized countless treasures, and relocated tens of thousands of families.
After Emperor Cheng ascended to the throne, he promoted Murong Kai to the position of attendant with the rank of Special Grandee. In the fifth year of Xianhe, the emperor wanted to appoint him as the governor of the palace with equal ceremonial rites, but he firmly declined.
Murong Kai once casually said, "Judging cases involves people's lives and should never be taken lightly. Virtuous people and gentlemen are the foundation of the country and must not be neglected. Agricultural production is the foundation of the country and must not be ignored. Wine, lust, wealth, and extravagance are great enemies of morality and must not be taken lightly." He then wrote a several thousand-word "Family Instructions" to explain his views.
He also sent envoys to write a letter to the Grand Commandant Tao Kan, which read: "Respected Sir under the same sky: Your virtue and prestige have brought stability to all directions, your efforts in civil and military affairs have kept the army in good order. I have long held you in high regard, and my respect for you increases with each passing day. The distance between us is far, separated by Yan and Yue; whenever I look out over the shores of the Yangtze River, I miss you even more."
Heaven is truly blind; disasters keep coming one after another, our homeland has been lost, now under the control of the Hu people. The emperor had to lead us all to flee, seeking temporary refuge in the states of Wu and Chu. Since the founding of the Great Jin Dynasty, the country has enjoyed enduring prosperity, and the signs of good fortune are clear. Therefore, those brave heroes are all burning with indignation. Even though I have no accomplishments, I have received special favor from the court. Yet, I am powerless to eliminate the Hu people above, nor can I personally take to the battlefield to fight the enemy. Instead, I find myself tolerating those treacherous officials who keep encroaching on the capital. First, Wang Dun caused chaos, and later, Su Jun committed his own atrocities, more brutal than Dong Zhuo, more vicious than Jue and Si. Everyone across the land is furious! I truly cannot understand why those civil and military officials, who bask in the glory and wealth of the court, cannot defeat the enemies of the Central Plains and wash away the shame of our nation.
You have firmly established yourself in Jiangyang, with a reputation that resonates throughout Jingzhou and Hengshan. You wield the power of Lord Ye and embody the loyalty and righteousness of Bao Xu in your heart. However, tyrants like Bai Gong and Wu Yuan have thrived, which makes me feel ashamed on behalf of the Spring and Autumn historian Qiu Ming! The small state of Chu, with people like Zi Zhong, still feels ashamed of the weakness of the ruler and the inferiority of the ministers to their ancestors. They hold themselves to strict standards, caution others, and thus govern the states of Chen and Zheng effectively. Even Fan Li from Yue managed to assist Goujian and achieve dominance at Huang Chi; moreover, with so much talent emerging in Wu today, they fail to assist the emperor or launch a northern campaign to reclaim lost territories. If you could raise your voice for justice against those barbaric tyrants, call upon the former subjects, and appease those who wish to return to their homeland, wouldn't it be like a gust of wind sweeping away fallen leaves, moving forward with the speed of a rolling wheel? Furthermore, when the Sun family came to prominence, they used the troops of Changsha to defeat Dong Zhuo, with the aim of supporting the Han dynasty. Although they encountered setbacks along the way and their ideals were not realized, their sincere heart and disregard for personal safety are admirable. Later on, they occupied Yangzhou and Yuezhou, backed by Zhou Yu, Zhang Zhao, Lu Su, and Lu Xun, defeating Cao Cao at Chibi and taking Xiangyang. Since then, the successive rulers of the Sun family have been able to invade Xuzhou and Yuzhou, keeping the state of Wei on high alert. Why are the heroes of Jiangdong hiding their talents and courage now? Are they to surpass the achievements of Lu Meng and Ling Tong? Moreover, the barbarians are particularly brutal and ruthless now, and the people of the Central Plains are in a difficult situation, their peril is even greater than that of precariously stacked eggs. The barbarians are merely bluffing, and their unity has already begun to fracture, making them easy to defeat. Wang Lang and Yuan Shu, who also declared themselves emperors, had weak foundations and soon fell. These are all truths you have witnessed, sir.
Wang Situ is a man of integrity and few desires, takes great care of himself, much like the historical figure Cao Can, having reached a level of mastery akin to "drawing one." Duke Yu, the Emperor's uncle, holds a high position, occupying an important role like Shen Bo, and is detached from worldly affairs, very wise and powerful. However, in times of crisis, he deeply felt that he was in a remote place, unable to lend his strength to the Great Jin Dynasty, only able to watch from a distance, filled with frustration. Now the entire nation is counting on you. You are the pivotal figure who can sway the balance between Chu and Han. If you can rally the people of the Central Plains and secure the borders of Yanzhou and Yuzhou, persuading those who lean towards justice to lay down their arms and rally to your cause, then the Jie tribes and bandits can surely be defeated, and the stain of national shame can be erased. I will do everything in my power at the frontier. However, if a lone force advances recklessly, it won't be enough to instill fear in the enemy, and those nostalgic for the old dynasty will be unable to coordinate. Thus, I wrote a letter to outline the situation, but I was unable to finish my thoughts.
Regrettably, the envoy dispatched by General Hui was caught in a storm and lost at sea. Subsequently, General Hui composed another letter and dispatched over thirty individuals, including Colonel Feng Chou of the Eastern Yi and Minister Han Jiao from Liaodong, to deliver the letter to Kanfu. The letter stated:
Throughout history, nations and families alike have faced cycles of rise and fall. Since the Great Jin Dynasty's ascent, following the pacification of Shanmeng and Kuaiji, demonstrating martial prowess that surpassed all prior eras. By the end of Emperor Hui's reign, infighting among factions had escalated within the court, and calamities began to plague the capital, even the royal family found themselves entangled, ultimately enabling the Jie tribes and bandits to exploit the chaos, overthrowing the Central Plains dynasty. The old capital fell, and the imperial tombs were desecrated; both mortals and deities mourned, while heaven and earth raged. While the Xianyun and Xiongnu were formidable forces in their time, they were never as cruel as the Jie tribes are today, trampling over the Central Plains and audaciously declaring themselves emperors.
During the Jin Dynasty, Murong Hui, this young lad, rose to the rank of general while still in his youth. He was loyal to the court, upright and humble, constantly dreaming of making contributions to his country. At that time, the world was in turmoil, forcing the emperor to relocate frequently. It wasn't easy for Emperor Yuan to restore the dynasty, and Emperor Su Zong then pacified Jiangnan. Even though Murong Hui was cut off by mountains and seas and besieged by the Jie tribe, he worried day and night about the court, longing to give his life for his country. He paid tribute year after year, with a constant flow of ships, never delaying, always doing his best.
Now the Jie tribe is growing increasingly arrogant, exploiting their numbers to seize the lands of Zhao and Wei, and encroaching on the territories of Yan and Qi. Although Murong Hui led the righteous army to fight against these rebels, he couldn't help but recall Guan Zhong aiding Duke Huan of Qi, where it was said that the rewards were insufficient. Furthermore, Murong Hui helped the court and played a vital role in stabilizing the country, yet his official rank was low and his title insignificant. He hadn't even been granted the title of Nine Lives Official. How does this reflect the rewards and recognition for heroes on the frontier?
The imperial decree isn't being delivered at all now. The journey is too long, and it takes at least a year for the messenger to go back and forth. The old territory of Yan State is now occupied by enemies, from the Zhou Dynasty's desert in the north, to Le Lang in the east, to Dai Shan in the west, and Ji Zhou in the south. It's no longer our territory. My subordinates think we should follow the examples set by the Zhou and early Han Dynasties, and promote Murong Hui to King of Yan while also appointing him Grand General. This way, he can lead the various armies and reclaim the land taken by the enemy, bringing the people of Ji Zhou back under imperial rule. If Murong Hui accepts the decree, he can unite different factions, quell the rebels, and achieve great feats like Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin, which would be a huge boon for the country. However, Murong Hui is too humble. Every time the court tries to reward him, he turns it down for years, and none of us, his subordinates, can persuade him. I'm speaking up this time not to flatter him, but out of genuine concern for the country.
The report roughly states: "General Cheqi, deeply concerned for the country and the people, has exhausted himself in service; his tribute gifts have even blocked the roads. The Jie bandits sought peace, and the general even sent envoys to send them back. He subdued the Duan kingdom in the west, defeated enemies outside the border in the north, and even the distant barbarians from Sotou came to pay tribute. The northern region is the only one that has not fully submitted, and the general has led multiple military expeditions. Regarding the officials in the east, their ranks are mixed and lack a clear hierarchy, lacking the authority to promote or demote, nor do they receive corresponding treatment. Therefore, there is a proposal to make General Cheqi the King of Yan and grant him a royal title." This is a time-honored tradition of rewarding merit! Although General Cheqi did not manage to fully subdue those officials, he was loyal and dedicated! He should be promoted and granted a title without delay—let's make him the King of Yan! However, there was no agreement within the court, and after eight years, General Cheqi passed away, and the matter remained unresolved. He lived to the age of sixty-five and served for forty-nine years. The emperor posthumously appointed him as Grand General and conferred the title of Xiang. Later, after Shi Le proclaimed himself emperor, he posthumously honored him with the title of Emperor Wuxuan.
Pei Yi, style name Wenji, was from Wenxi of Hedong. His father, Pei Chang, was a Colonel of the Imperial Secretariat. Pei Yi was upright and talented, rising through the ranks to become a Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, then later serving as an Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and the Prefect of Xingyang. During a time of great chaos, Pei Yi's elder brother, Pei Wuxian, was appointed as the Prefect of Xuanwu, so Pei Yi requested to be appointed as the Changli Prefect. After arriving in Changli and spending some time there, his brother passed away. The court summoned him back to the capital, and he brought his brother's son, Pei Kai, with him on the journey south for the funeral. Along the way in Liaoxi, the roads were blocked, so he and Pei Kai sought refuge with Murong Xuan. Many scholars who were stranded outside saw that Murong Xuan had just started a rebellion and were considering whether to join him. Pei Yi was the first to step forward and declare his allegiance, leading the others to do the same. Murong Xuan was delighted and appointed Pei Yi as his Chief of Staff, entrusting him with military and state affairs. Later, when Xi Duguan besieged the city with his troops, chaos erupted inside and outside the city. Murong Xuan sought advice from Pei Yi, who suggested selecting elite troops to catch the enemy off guard. Murong Xuan followed his advice, resulting in the defeat of the enemy. Murong Xuan's prestige greatly increased as a result, and he planned to send someone to report the victory to Jianye. He carefully selected an envoy and tasked Pei Yi with delivering the message to Jianye.
At first, the court thought that Murong Hui, the King of Liaodong, was in a remote and desolate place and viewed him as just a local warlord. However, when Pei Yu arrived in Liaodong, he praised Murong Hui's talent and prestige, stating that many talents from all over the world were serving him, which shifted the court officials' perspective. When Pei Yu was about to return to the capital, the emperor wanted him to stay and monitor the situation, but Pei Yu declined, saying: "My family has received imperial grace for generations, and I have served in the court and was assigned to a distant place for official duties. Now that the world is peaceful, I have the opportunity to meet the emperor and have been granted permission to return to the capital. If I stay in the capital, it would be a great favor to me personally. However, the imperial palace has been relocated, the imperial tomb has been desecrated, General Murong Longxiang remains loyal to the royal family and is currently stabilizing the Central Plains, preparing to welcome the emperor's return. Therefore, he sent envoys from afar to express his loyalty. If I stay now, Murong Hui will definitely think that the court is underestimating him, doubting his loyalty, and causing him to feel disheartened. So I would rather risk my own safety to return quickly and report." The emperor said, "You are right." So he let Pei Yu go back. Murong Hui later told his subordinates, "Pei Changshi is well-known in the court, yet he willingly serves under me. Isn't this a sign from above to aid me?" As a result, Murong Hui appointed Pei Yu as the Prime Minister of Liaodong and later promoted him to Prefect of Lelang.
Gao Zhan, courtesy name Ziqian, was a native of Cixian in Bohai. He was handsome and talented when he was young, standing at eight feet two inches tall. During the Guangxi period, he was appointed as Shangshu Lang. After the Yongjia Rebellion broke out, he returned to his hometown and held discussions with the local elders, saying, "Now that the court is weak and there is constant warfare, our county is fertile, surrounded by mountains and rivers. If there is war or famine, it will definitely become a target for enemies and not a safe place to settle. Wang Jun's ancestors once held territories in Yan and Dai, with a strong army and wealth, so we could seek refuge with him. What do you all think?" Everyone agreed with his idea. So he and his uncle led several thousand households to migrate north to Youzhou. Later, due to the frequent changes in Wang Jun's policies, he joined Cui Bi and went to Liaodong with him.
It is said that Cui Bi, in consultation with the leaders of the Three Kingdoms, was discussing attacking the Xianbei leader Hui. Zhan strongly advised against the attack, but Bi disregarded his counsel. As a result, Bi was defeated and fled, and Zhan surrendered to Hui along with the others. Hui appointed Zhan as a general, but Zhan feigned illness, claiming he could not get out of bed.
Hui greatly admired Zhan's temperament and appearance, visited him many times, and even held his hand, saying, "Your illness is not in the body, but in the heart! Now the emperor is in exile, the world is divided, and the common people are in misery, not knowing what to do. I am thinking of joining you generals to restore the imperial family, eliminate the rebels likened to whales and wild boars, bring the emperor back to Wu and Kuaiji, pacify the world, and achieve extraordinary feats; all of which are my wishes! You come from a prominent family in the Central Plains, a talent of the country's pillar; you should be deeply troubled and always prepared for battle. Why hold resentment simply because of our different ethnic backgrounds? Besides, Great Yu was from the Western Qiang people, and King Wen was from the Eastern Yi people; we should focus on their talents and strategies; can’t we unite despite our different customs?" Zhan continued to insist he was gravely ill, which left Hui feeling quite discontented. Zhan had a conflict with Song Gai, who secretly urged Hui to kill him. Upon learning this, Zhan grew increasingly anxious and ultimately succumbed to his worries.
