Following hostility with Later Yan Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei

battle of canhe slope in tuoba gui defeated kingdom of later yan

in 395, tuoba gui led raids against later yan s border regions. later year, murong chui commissioned 80,000-men army led murong bao, assisted brothers murong nong , murong lin, try punish northern wei. tuoba gui, hearing murong bao s army, abandoned shengle , retreated west across yellow river. murong bao s army reached river in fall 395 , prepared cross river. however, point, northern wei scouts had cut off line of communication between murong bao s army , later yan capital zhongshan (中山, in modern baoding, hebei), , northern wei had captured later yan messengers declare murong chui had died, causing great disturbance in later yan army. later yan , northern wei forces stalemated across yellow river 20 odd days, when murong lin s followers tried start coup , support murong lin new leader, , while coup failed, uncertainty fell on later yan forces. winter came, later yan forces retreated and, not realizing yellow river freeze allow northern wei forces cross easily, murong bao left no rearguard retreated. tuoba gui gave chase, catching later yan forces unprepared @ battle of canhe slope, killing or capturing entire later yan army, , murong bao , number of officers escaped. tuoba gui, fearful of later yan captives, slaughtered them @ suggestion of brother-in-law kepin jian (可頻建).

in 396, concerned northern wei view murong bao lightly, murong chui led expedition against northern wei, successful , killing tuoba qian. tuoba gui became concerned , considered abandoning shengle again. however, army reached canhe slope, soldiers cried out loud fathers , brothers, , murong chui became angry , ill, forcing later yan forces retreat zhongshan. died, , murong bao succeeded him emperor.

in fall 396, tuoba gui led northern wei troops , made surprise attack on bing province (并州, modern central , northern shanxi), defeating murong nong , forcing him flee zhongshan. tuoba gui advanced east, ready attack zhongshan. accepting murong lin s suggestion, murong bao prepared defend zhongshan, leaving northern wei forces free roam on territory, believing northern wei retreat once forces worn out. however, had effect of cities garrisons in modern hebei abandoned them, except zhongshan , 2 other important cities—yecheng (in modern handan, hebei) , xindu (信都, in modern hengshui, hebei). after making initial attack against zhongshan , failing, tuoba gui changed tactic establishing rule on other cities while leaving zhongshan alone. in spring 397, xindu fell. meanwhile, however, tuoba gui had received news of rebellion near capital shengle , offered peace—which murong bao rejected, , murong bao attacked northern wei forces tuoba gui prepared retreat, instead defeated tuoba gui @ great loss. @ time, concerned coup attempt murong lin, murong bao abandoned zhongshan , fled old former yan capital longcheng (龍城, in modern jinzhou, hebei). however, remaining garrison @ zhongshan supported murong bao s nephew murong xiang (慕容詳) duke of kaifeng leader, , tuoba gui unable take zhongshan immediately. realizing had alienated later yan people having slaughtered captives @ canhe slope, tuoba gui changed policy , tried gentle conquered later yan territory, , while time required, territories began abide rule.

murong xiang, meanwhile, declared himself emperor, , put tuoba gu death try show resolve. in fall, however, murong lin made surprise attack on him, killing him , taking on zhongshan. murong lin claimed imperial title, unable stand northern wei military pressure, , zhongshan fell tuoba gui, largely gentle zhongshan s population despite resistance—although slaughtered clans of advocated tuoba gu s death. around time, however, army suffered serious plague might have killed as half of army , livestock. when generals tried persuade him suspend campaign, tuoba gui gave response might quite demonstrative of personality:

this of heaven, , can nothing it. state can established anywhere on earth there people. depends on how govern it, , not fearful people die.

around new year 398, tuoba gui ready attack yecheng, yecheng s defender murong de abandoned , fled south of yellow river, huatai (滑台, in modern anyang, henan), declared independent southern yan state. resistance north of yellow river largely gone, tuoba gui left tuoba yi , suhe ba (素和跋) viceroys on former later yan territory, , returned shengle. in order enhance communications , control, tuoba gui constructed highway between wangdu (望都, in modern baoding, hebei) , dai (代, in modern zhangjiakou, hebei), on taihang mountains. soon, however, recalled tuoba yi prime minister , replaced him cousin tuoba zun (拓拔遵) duke of lueyang.

in summer 398, tuoba gui considered restoring old name of state, dai, @ suggestion of cui hong (崔宏), kept name wei. moved capital shengle south pingcheng (平城, in modern datong, shanxi), in greater proximity conquered territories. issued edicts standardize weights , measures throughout state, , establish standard ceremonies based on chinese , xianbei traditions.

around new year 399, tuoba gui declared himself emperor. claimed descent mystical yellow emperor, legitimize reign on han.