The Gathering Storm: A Divided Empire

The year 385 CE marked a pivotal turning point in China’s Sixteen Kingdoms period, as the once-mighty Former Qin empire crumbled under the weight of rebellion, betrayal, and internal strife. Emperor Fu Jian, who had nearly unified northern China after decades of conquest, now faced the consequences of his earlier decisions—particularly his leniency toward defeated rivals.

Two key figures emerged as his greatest adversaries: Murong Chong, the young and ambitious former prince of the defeated Former Yan, and Yao Chang, a Qiang chieftain who had once served under Fu Jian but now sought his own dominion. By early 385, Murong Chong had declared himself emperor in Apan, adopting the ominous reign title “Gengshi” (更始, “Renewal”), while Yao Chang consolidated control over the strategic Lingbei region.

The Rise and Fall of Murong Chong

Murong Chong’s ascent was as dramatic as it was short-lived. At just 27, he proclaimed himself emperor, but his reign was marred by arrogance, erratic governance, and poor judgment. His cousin, the astute 13-year-old Murong Sheng, saw the writing on the wall: “Even leading ten men requires competence. Murong Chong has neither merit nor wisdom, only pride. His downfall is certain.”

Murong Sheng’s foresight proved accurate. He and his younger uncle, Murong Rou, fled the volatile Western Yan court, narrowly escaping bandits through a mix of intimidation and martial skill. Those who remained—other members of the Murong clan—were later purged. Meanwhile, Murong Chong’s military campaigns against Fu Jian were initially successful, but his refusal to return east to the ancestral Yan lands alienated his followers. By early 386, he was assassinated by his own general, Han Yan, ending his ill-fated reign.

Fu Jian’s Desperate Struggle

Fu Jian, once the most powerful ruler in the north, now found himself trapped in a collapsing empire. Despite initial victories against Murong Chong at Queban Qu and Quesang, his forces were soon overwhelmed. A critical mistake came when he hesitated to pursue Murong Chong into Apan, fearing an ambush—a decision that cost him his last chance at victory.

By mid-385, Former Qin’s situation was dire. Famine ravaged Chang’an, forcing cannibalism among the populace. Fu Jian’s son, Fu Hui, committed suicide after repeated defeats, and the emperor’s remaining generals fell one by one. In a final act of defiance, Fu Jian ordered the execution of thousands of surrendered Xianbei soldiers, a brutal measure that sealed his fate.

The Tragic End of a Once-Great Ruler

With his empire in ruins, Fu Jian fled to Wujiang Mountain, hoping to regroup. Instead, he was captured by Yao Chang, his former subordinate turned nemesis. When Yao demanded the imperial seal, Fu Jian defiantly refused: “The jade seal has been sent to Jin. You, a petty Qiang, will never possess it!”

On August 25, 385, Fu Jian was strangled in a Buddhist temple, his death marking the end of an era. His body was later desecrated by Yao Chang in a futile attempt to break the curse of his defeats—a grim testament to the superstitions of the age.

The Aftermath: A Shattered North

Fu Jian’s death plunged northern China into chaos. His son, Fu Pi, declared himself emperor in Jinyang, while other remnants of the Former Qin struggled to survive. Meanwhile, Yao Chang established the Later Qin, and Lü Guang, another former Qin general, founded the Later Liang in the west.

The year 385 also saw the passing of Xie An, the Eastern Jin statesman who had masterminded the victory at the Battle of Fei River. His death marked the decline of the powerful Xie clan and the beginning of the end for the Eastern Jin’s aristocratic dominance.

Legacy of the Great Collapse

The events of 385 reshaped China’s political landscape. Fu Jian’s fall demonstrated the fragility of conquest without consolidation, while Murong Chong’s brief rise and fall underscored the dangers of unchecked ambition. The fragmentation that followed set the stage for the eventual rise of the Northern Wei under Tuoba Gui, the last of the “Five Barbarians” to reshape northern China.

As Fu Jian had bitterly declared: “The order of the Five Hu does not include the Qiang.” History would soon reveal who the final victor would be.