Muyu Gen

In 338, following a victorious joint campaign against the Duan clan, the ruler of Later Zhao, Shi Hu, turned against Murong Huang and invaded his territory. The Zhao troops were able to arrive at Jicheng in June, causing him to panic. Huang wished to flee, but Muyu Gen remonstrated him, believing that doing so is playing right into Zhao's hands. He also convinced Huang that the city would be strong enough to hold out and that there would be ample time to flee if worst comes to the worst.[4]

Huang took his advice, but was still anxious of defeat. It was not until Liu Pei's (劉佩) successful charges and Feng Yi's encouragement that Huang regained his confidence. The Zhao army encircled the entire city, but Muyu Gen and the others fought back fiercely day and night. The siege lasted for ten days before the Zhao army was ordered to retreat. Once they did, Huang had his son Murong Ke pursue them, and Ke dealt them a heavy defeat. Muyu Gen was rewarded following their victory.

Muyu Gen became General Who Breaks And Charges some time after. In 339, Muyu Gen along with Murong Ping, Murong Jūn and Muyu Ni (慕輿泥) invaded Zhao's dominion in Liaoxi. The generals captured thousands of households before turning back. Zhao in response sent Shi Cheng (石成), Huyan Huang (呼延晃) and Zhang Zhi (張支) to pursue them, but the generals managed to fight them off, even killing Huang and Zhang.

In 346, Muyu Gen commanded one of the armies during Murong Huang's campaign against Buyeo. The campaign was a huge success as they were able to capture King Hyeon (王玄) along with roughly 50,000 households.

Murong Huang died in October 348 and was succeeded by his son, Murong Jun. In 349, Zhao was thrown into a series of civil wars between Shi Hu's sons. Jun was advised by his officials to take advantage of Zhao's misfortunes, but he was reluctant to do so as he was still in a state of mourning. His brother, Murong Ba, attempted to persuade him into holding an invasion on Zhao, and when Jun asked Feng Yi and Huang Hong (黃泓) for their advice, their opinions aligned with that of Ba's.

At last, he asked Muyu Gen, and Gen said to him, "The people of the Middle Kingdom are entangled in the chaos caused by the Shi clan's. They all long for a change in ruler to save them from impending doom. This opportunity only comes once in a thousand years; we must not waste it. Since the time of Prince Wuxuan (Murong Hui), we have been nurturing the people, cultivating the farms, and training the troops, all to prepare ourselves for this very day. If we do not act, and instead place our concerns elsewhere, then why is Heaven's will not to pacify the evil within this realm? Or is it because Your Highness does not want to win the world?" Jun laughed and agreed with his statement. He immediately began preparations for an invasion, amassing an army of roughly 200,000 strong.[5][6]

Murong Jun began his conquest in early 350. In May, Murong Jun led his army to attack Lukou (魯口; in present-day Raoyang County, Hebei), which was defended by Zhao's general Deng Heng (鄧恆). Deng's general, Lu Bozao (鹿勃早), carried out a night raid on Jun's camps which caught the Yan troops by surprise, but they were able to regroup and form a defence. Seeing how persistent the enemy was, Jun considered falling back, but Muyu Gen advised against it, stating that the enemy must be weaker than they were if they have to resort to a night raid. After reassuring Jun, Muyu Gen volunteered to lead an attack against Lu Bozao.

Despite that, Jun was still concerned, so his official, Li Hong, escorted him to the top of a high mound. With several hundred strong soldiers, Muyu Gen led them from Jun's camp to the frontlines, spearheading the attack. Li Hong would also join him later in the assault, bringing along a cavalry unit. The two managed to rout the enemy and continued to pursue them after they retreated. Lu Bozao barely escaped with his life, while his remaining soldiers were all killed. After this, Murong Jun led his army back to Ji.[7]

Later Zhao's condition continued to deteriorate, eventually resulting in Ran Min (Shi Hu's adopted grandson) creating his state of Wei in 350 and Zhao's destruction in 351. However, by May 352, Ran Min had been captured (and later executed) by Yan forces while his heir, Ran Zhi, was holed up in his capital in Yecheng. Muyu Gen was sent to assist Murong Ping in taking Yecheng together with Huangfu Zhen and Murong Jūn. The city fell in September 352, and Ran Wei was conquered.

Near the end of 352, a man from Zhongshan named Su Lin (蘇林) rebelled in Wuji and declared himself the Son of Heaven. Murong Ke, who was campaigning against the warlord Wang Wu (王午) in Lukou at the time, marched to Wuji to quell the rebellion. Murong Jun sent Muyu Gen to reinforce Ke, and they were able to kill Su Lin.

In 358, the Yan general in Shangdang, Feng Yang (馮鴦) rebelled against the state. Murong Ping was dispatched to defeat him, but he was unable to get the upper hand, so the court also sent Muyu Gen to serve as reinforcements. After arriving, Muyu Gen told Murong Ping that they should intensify their attack. Ping disagreed initially, stating that Feng's defences were formidable, but Gen argued that the enemy's morale had fallen and are in a disorderly state due to Gen's reinforcements. Ping bought his reasoning, so they pressed on into Feng Yang's city. Gen's prediction turned out to be true, as Feng Yang's men had grown suspicious with each other and refused to work together. Feng fled to Lü Hu in Yewang, while his remaining forces surrendered back to Yan.[8]