Murong Han (died 344), courtesy name Yuanyong, was an ethnic Xianbei military general of China's Former Yan dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.
He was an accomplished commander under his father, Murong Hui, and was most known for his victory over the Yuwen tribe in the Battle of Jicheng in 319. After his half-brother, Murong Huang, succeeded their father in 333, he was forced to flee due to Huang's suspicion of him. For seven years, he served the Murong clan's rival tribes, the Duan and Yuwen, but was eventually welcomed back by Huang shortly after the latter declared himself Prince of Yan. Han was a vital figure in the early years of Former Yan as he played roles in the state's success against Goguryeo and the Yuwen. However, he soon caught the suspicion of Huang once more, and was finally forced to commit suicide.
Service under Murong Hui Murong Han was born the eldest son of the Xianbei chieftain, Murong Hui through a concubine. Records describe him as having a heroic and bold personality along with being well-versed in strategy. He had ape-like arms and was an exceptional archer who wielded a bow weighing over 3 shi and used arrows that were longer than usual.(翰彎弓三石馀，矢尤長大...) Shiliuguo Chunqiu, vol.30 He followed his father on numerous military campaigns and eventually became his General of Hawkish Display.(慕容翰，字元邕，廆之庶長子也。性雄豪，多權略，猿臂工射，膂力過人。廆甚奇之，委以折沖之任。行師征伐，所在有功，威聲大振，為遠近所憚。) Jin Shu, vol.109
Suxi Lian and Muwan Jin's rebellion In 309, two Xianbei leaders, Suxi Lian (素喜連) and Muwan Jin (木丸津), revolted and caused trouble in Liaodong. At the time, the Jin provincial armies were preoccupied with the upheaval in the Central Plains and were thus ineffective at stopping the revolt. In 311, Murong Han advised his father to campaign against the rebels, arguing that they would bring order and win the support of the people in the region while also absorbing the rebels' armies. He added that their actions would also present their loyalty to the ruling Jin dynasty and at the same time bring personal gains for their territory. Huang was impressed by son's prudence, stating "I merely thought of you as child. How could you have acquired such wisdom?"(廆少子鷹揚將軍翰言於廆曰︰「自古有爲之君，莫不尊天子以從民望，成大業。今連、津外以龐本爲名，內實幸災爲亂。封使君已誅本請和，而寇暴不已。中原離亂，州師不振，遼東荒散，莫之救恤，單于不若數其罪而討之。上則興復遼東，下則幷吞二部，忠義彰於本朝，私利歸於我國，此霸王之基也。」廆笑曰︰「孺子乃能及此乎！」) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.87 Thus, Huang campaigned against the rebels and placed Han in command of the vanguard. After killing Suxi Lian and Muwan Jin, they absorbed the rebels' armies and placed around 3,000 households under their governance.
Campaign against the Duan tribe In 313, the Murong tribe participated in a joint campaign with the Jin Inspector of Youzhou, Wang Jun and the Tuoba tribe against the Duan tribe. Murong Hui entrusted the command over the expeditionary force to Murong Han. After departing from the Murong capital, Jicheng (棘城, in modern Jinzhou, Liaoning), Han led his army to capture Tuhe (徒河; in present-day Chaoyang, Liaoning) and Xincheng (新城; northeast of present-day Shenyang, Liaoning). He then marched to Yangle (陽樂; present-day Yi County, Liaoning), where he fought and captured the Jin Administrator of Liaoxi, Yang Dan (陽躭). However, after the Tuoba general, Tuoba Liuxiu, was defeated by the Duan, Han halted the campaign and withdrew to Tuhe, where he utilized its natural defences and remained for several years.(廆遣慕容翰攻段氏，取徒河、新城，至陽樂，聞六脩敗而還，翰因留鎭徒河，壁青山。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.88
Battle of Jicheng (319) In 319, the Jin Inspector of Pingzhou, Cui Bi was unsettled by Murong Hui's growing influence in Liaodong and conspired with Goguryeo, the Duan and the Yuwen tribe to launch a punitive expedition. All three states responded to this alliance by raising troops and advancing towards Jicheng. Murong Hui managed to make Goguryeo and the Duan retreat by sowing discord among their ranks, but the leader of the Yuwen, Yuwen Xiduguan, remained steadfast in his intention to conquer Jicheng and placed the city under siege. As a result, Murong Hui requested Murong Han, who was in Tuhe, to lead his men to partake in the defence of the Jicheng. However, Han sent an envoy rejecting his order, instead insisting that he operate outside of Jicheng to attack the enemy from two sides. Hui was initially unsure with the plan, but after some convincing from his official, Han Shou (韓壽), he agreed to allow Murong Han to remain at Tuhe.(廆使召其子翰於徒河。翰遣使白廆曰：「悉獨官舉國爲寇，彼衆我寡，易以計破，難以力勝。今城中之衆，足以禦寇，翰請爲奇兵於外，伺其間而擊之，內外俱奮，使彼震駭不知所備，破之必矣。今幷兵爲一，彼得專意攻城，無復他虞，非策之得者也；且示衆以怯，恐士氣不戰先沮矣。」廆猶疑之。遼東韓壽言於廆曰：「悉獨官有憑陵之志，將驕卒惰，軍不堅密，若奇兵卒起，掎其無備，必破之策也。」廆乃聽翰留徒河。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.91
As Murong Han remained stationary, Xiduguan became worried that he was secretly planning and decided to prioritize in defeating him first. He sent a separate dispatchment to carry out a surprise attack on Murong Han, but upon learning that the enemy was approaching him, Han sent his subordinates disguised as envoys of the Duan to meet with the Yuwen forces. Han's subordinates falsely informed them that Duan forces were at Tuhe, and they should quickly advance to take the city together. The Yuwen were delighted by the news and rushed to Tuhe without any precaution. Before they arrived, Han had left the city and concealed his troops to lay an ambush. Once the Yuwen army appeared, Han launched a surprised attack and captured many of their troops.(乃分遣數千騎襲翰。翰知之，詐爲段氏使者，逆於道曰：「慕容翰久爲吾患，聞當擊之，吾已嚴兵相待，宜速進也。」使者旣去，翰卽出城，設伏以待之。宇文氏之騎見使者，大喜馳行，不復設備，進入伏中。翰奮擊，盡獲之，乘勝徑進，遣間使語廆出兵大戰。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.91
Capitalizing on his victory, Murong Han advanced and dispatched an envoy to Jicheng, requesting Murong Hui to mobilize his entire army and attack the main force of the Yuwen. In response, Murong Hui entrusted Murong Huang and his chief clerk Pei Yi with an elite force as the vanguard, while he personally led a large army as the main force. Xiduguan, completely unprepared, hastily sent out his entire army upon learning of Murong Hui's departure. At that time, Murong Han, leading a thousand cavalry, had already stationed himself behind the enemy camp. When the battle began between the vanguard forces, Murong Han took the opportunity to infiltrate Xiduguan's camp, setting it ablaze. As a result, the Yuwen army fell into chaos and suffered a great defeat, with Xiduguan barely fleeing with his own life.(悉獨官初不設備，聞廆至，驚，悉衆出戰。前鋒始交，翰將千騎從旁直入其營，縱火焚之，衆皆惶擾，不知所爲，遂大敗，悉獨官僅以身免。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.91
Guarding Liaodong Later that year, King Micheon of Goguryeo launched frequent raids on the Murong tribe's domain. Murong Hui sent Murong Han and Murong Ren to suppress Goguryeo, but shortly after doing so, Micheon sued for peace. Thus, the campaign was halted and the army withdrew. In 321, Hui appointed Han to guard Liaodong. Han was known for comforting the people and favoring Confucianism, and it was said that no one, from scholars to soldiers, refused to follow him. His influence was significant, and Goguryeo did not dare carry out further raids under his watch.(廆徙慕容翰鎭遼東，慕容仁鎭平郭。翰撫安民夷，甚有威惠；仁亦次之。) Zizhi Tongzhi, vol.91
Service under Duan Liao After Murong Hui died in 333, he was succeeded by his heir, Murong Huang, and Murong Han was appointed General Who Establishes Might. Despite being the heir, Huang harbored jealousy towards Han and his two other brothers, Murong Ren and Murong Zhao, as they were their father's favorites. In Han's case, although he was an illegitimate child, he also had an exceptional reputation and was backed by the local gentry. Han knew about his brother's jealousy towards him and became worried that harm would come to him. Thus, Han fled and defected to the Duan tribe with his sons. The leader of the Duan, Duan Liao, had long heard of his fame and happily received him, treating him with courtesy and respect.(為皝所深忌，及廆死，翰乃歎曰：「吾受事於先公，不敢不盡力，幸賴先公之靈，所向有功，此乃天贊吾國，非人力也。而人謂吾之所辦，以為雄才難制，吾豈可坐而待禍邪？」遂與其子出奔段遼。) Shiliuguo Chunqiu, vol.30
Battle of Liucheng In 334, Murong Han followed Duan Liao's brother, Duan Lan, to attack the Murong stronghold of Liucheng (柳城; southwest of present-day Chaoyang, Liaoning). Liucheng's defenders, Shi Cong (石琮) and Muyu Ni (慕輿泥) fiercely defended the city and forced the Duan army to retreat. Due to their loss, Duan Liao reprimanded Duan Lan and Murong Han and angrily forced them to take the stronghold at all cost. Duan Lan attacked Liucheng again, but was once more unsuccessful. However, he was able to inflict a great defeat on the Murong reinforcements at Niuwei Valley (牛尾谷; north of Liucheng). Seizing the opportunity, Duan Lan planned on pursuing the retreating enemy forces and penetrate deep into their territory. However, Murong Han, secretly concerned for his homeland's safety, advised Duan Lan against his decision, believing that they may be lured into a trap. Duan Lan saw through his excuse and attempted to assure him his tribe's safety, but Murong Han persisted by ordering his troops to withdraw, forcing Duan Lan to follow suit.(栁城之戰，段蘭欲乘勝深入。翰慮成本國之害，詭說於蘭曰：「夫為將，當務慎重，審已量敵。若非萬全，不可輕動。今雖挫其前鋒，一作偏師，未能屈其大勢。皝多權詐，好為潛伏。若悉國中之眾自將以拒我，我懸軍深入，眾寡不敵，此危道也。且受命之日，正求此捷。若違命貪進，萬一取敗，功名俱喪，何以返命？」蘭曰：「此已成擒，無有歸理。卿正慮遂滅卿國耳。今千年在東，若進而得志，吾將迎之以為國嗣，終不負卿，使宗廟不祀也。」 翰曰：「吾投身相依，無復還。理國之存亡於我何有，但欲為大國之計，且相為惜功名耳。」乃命所部欲獨還。蘭遂不進。 ) Shiliuguo Chunqiu, vol.30
Fall of the Duan
In 338, Shi Hu of the Later Zhao and Murong Huang began a joint campaign to conquer Liaoxi from the Duan. Attacked from various directions, Duan Liao considered on intercepting Huang's forces first, but Murong Han suggested that they concentrate their troops on the larger Zhao army. Duan Lan, who was nearby, angrily accused Han of planning to undermine the Duan as he previously did at Liucheng and refused to listen to his plan. Duan Lan led his troops to attack Murong Huang, but was decisively defeated in an ambush.(遼議欲追之，翰知皝躬自總戎，戰必克勝，乃謂遼曰：「今石氏向至，方對大故，不宜復以小小為事。燕王自來，士馬精銳。兵者凶器，戰有危慮，若其失利，何以南禦乎！」蘭怒曰：「吾前聽卿誑說，致成今患，不復入卿計中矣。」乃率眾追皝，蘭果大敗。) Jin Shu, vol.109 As Zhao forces captured Duan cities in succession, Duan Liao decided to abandon his capital and flee with his followers to Mount Miyun (密雲山; in present-day Miyun District, Beijing). Before leaving, Duan Liao expressed his regret for not following Murong Han's advice. The two parted ways, with Han fleeing north to join the Yuwen tribe.(將行，執翰手而泣曰：「不用卿言，自取亡敗。我固甘心令卿失所，深以為愧。」翰遂北奔宇文氏。) Shiliuguo Chunqiu, vol.30
Service under Yuwen Yidougui Although the chieftain of the Yuwen tribe, Yuwen Yidougui, initially welcomed Murong Han, he soon grew apprehensive of Han due to his talents and reputation. Han, not wanting to garner anymore suspicion, pretended to be mad and drink in excess. He would ruffle his hair while singing loudly, urinate himself while lying down and kneel and beg for food. The people living within the Yuwen state believed his acting, hating him but also deeming him not a threat. As he was left unobserved, Murong Han would secretly go out to study and memorize the geography of the tribe's domain.
Returning to Murong Huang Murong Han lived with the Yuwen tribe until 340. Murong Huang, who had become the Prince of Yan in 338, knew that Han had not fled intending to rebel against him, but due to his own suspicions. Huang sent a merchant, Wang Che (王車), to the marketplace of the Yuwen domain to observe Han's activities. When Han saw the merchant, he did not say a word, but only hit his own chest and nodded. Hearing Wang Che's report on the incident, Huang knew that Han wanted to return and sent Wang Che to welcome him back. Huang had given Wang Che a bow and arrows crafted specifically for Han, which Wang Che buried at the side of a road and informed Han of their location. In February or March 340, Murong Han stole Yidougui's prized horse, retrieved the bow and arrows, and fled with his two sons.(時，皝亦以翰初非叛亂以嫌疑出奔。雖在他國，常潛為燕計。乃遣商人王車通市於宇文部，以窺翰。翰見車，無言，撫膺頷之而已。車還以白皝曰：“翰欲來也。”複使車迎之。翰彎弓三石馀矢，尤長大。皝為之造可手弓矢，使車埋於道旁而宻告之。) Shiliuguo Chunqiu, vol.30