Murong Zhao Flees to Zhangzi

In the second month, Chui, the King of Yan Murong Chui, the founding emperor of Later Yan, 326–396 AD, assigned duties to his various generals. They set out through Huguan, Fukou, and Shating to strike at Western Yan. He publicly signaled his intended routes, and each army reached its designated position to wait.

Yong, the ruler of Western Yan Murong Yong, heard of this and divided his forces to defend the various routes. He stockpiled grain at Taibi A strategic fortress located in modern-day Shanxi and dispatched troops to garrison it. Shortly thereafter, Chui halted his army southwest of Ye The major regional capital for over a month.

Because Chui did not advance, Yong suspected that he intended to take a deceptive route through the Taihang Mountains. Consequently, Yong withdrew all his scattered forces to block the Taihang Pass, leaving only a single army to guard Taibi.

In the fourth month, Chui led his main force out through Fukou and entered via Tianjing Pass. In the fifth month, he reached Taibi and crushed the defenses there. Yong recalled his troops from the Taihang region and personally led them to resist the invasion. Chui drew up his battle array south of Taibi, but secretly dispatched a thousand cavalry to lie in ambush within a mountain stream.

When the battle commenced, Chui feigned a retreat. Yong’s forces pursued him, at which point the ambushers in the stream emerged and cut off their rear. The various Yan armies then advanced from all four sides, decisively defeating the enemy. Yong fled.