Li Xin

Biography

Early life and designation as heir

Li Xin, courtesy name Shiye and childhood name Tongchui, was the second son of Li Gao. In 399, Suo Si, a Northern Liang general, was sent west by Duan Ye to replace Li Gao at Dunhuang. On the advice of Zhang Miao and Song Yao, Li Gao sent Song Yao to investigate. Li Xin subsequently joined Li Rang, Zhang Miao and Song Yao in opposing Suo Si, who was defeated and withdrew to Zhangye. This is an explicit record of Li Xin’s early military activity.

In 404, after Li Gao’s eldest son Li Tan died, Li Xin was designated heir. Li Gao moved the capital to Jiuquan in 405. Li Xin subsequently took part in campaigns against Northern Liang as his father’s successor. When Northern Liang broke an agreement and attacked in 410, Li Gao sent Li Xin to intercept its army. Li Xin won and captured the general Qiequ Bainian.

Accession and war with Northern Liang

Li Gao died in the second month of 417 and Li Xin succeeded him. Western Liang officials acclaimed him as Grand Commander, Grand General, Duke of Liang, Governor of Liangzhou and Colonel Protector of the Qiang. He honored his mother, Lady Yin, as empress dowager, adopted the era name Jiaxing and appointed Song Yao and Suo Xian. He informed Eastern Jin of his accession. Eastern Jin granted him a staff of authority, command over military affairs in seven commanderies, the title of Grand General Who Pacifies the West, the office of Colonel Protector of the Qiang and the title Duke of Jiuquan. These appointments reflected the continuation of Western Liang’s nominal allegiance to Eastern Jin.

In 417, Northern Liang sent Juqu Guangzong, Governor of Zhangye, to feign surrender and lure Li Xin into sending troops. Li Xin sent Wen Yi and others to receive him and followed with supporting forces. After discovering Juqu Mengxun’s ambush, he withdrew and then defeated the Northern Liang army at Jiezhijian. When Juqu Mengxun attacked again in 418, Li Xin prepared to engage him, but abandoned the operation after a strong remonstrance by Zhang Tishun. Northern Liang’s troops harvested local crops before withdrawing. That year Li Xin also sent an envoy to Eastern Jin and received the title Duke of Jiuquan.

Controversial government and defeat

The Book of Jin describes Li Xin’s punishments as severe and records continuing palace construction. In 419, Zhang Xian submitted a memorial arguing that the division of Liangzhou among three powers could not last, and urged agricultural development, lighter punishments and an end to construction. The registrar Fan Cheng also invoked ominous events to urge him to stop building palaces and hunting, and to recruit capable officials. Neither memorial changed Li Xin’s conduct. Explanations involving Heaven and omens formed part of contemporary political argument; they are not evidence that omens caused political change.

In 420, Liu Yu replaced Eastern Jin with the Liu Song dynasty. Juqu Mengxun used an apparent attack on Western Qin to conceal his return and prepare an ambush. Hearing that Northern Liang’s main force was away, Li Xin decided to attack Zhangye despite opposition from Song Yao, Zhang Tishun and his mother. He marched east with 30,000 infantry and cavalry and was defeated at Huaicheng. His subordinates urged him to fall back to Jiuquan, but he advanced again, was defeated at Liaoquan and was killed. Juqu Mengxun then entered Jiuquan. Li Xin’s brother Li Xun subsequently continued the Western Liang regime at Dunhuang until that city fell in 421.

Major Activities

Early military activity

Before becoming ruler, Li Xin had already participated in his father’s campaigns. He helped defeat Suo Si in 399 and intercepted Northern Liang’s army in 410, capturing Qiequ Bainian. In 417, after Northern Liang’s feigned surrender, he withdrew in time and defeated the pursuing troops at Jiezhijian. These accounts show his direct involvement in the conflict both before and after his accession.

Accession, diplomacy and government

After succeeding his father, Li Xin maintained nominal allegiance to Eastern Jin and received titles including Duke of Jiuquan. Northern Liang remained his principal military opponent. The historical accounts also describe severe punishments and continued palace construction. Zhang Xian and Fan Cheng remonstrated in succession, but he did not accept their advice. The Book of Jin and the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government repeatedly refer to these decisions when discussing his rule.

The campaign of 420 and loss of Jiuquan

In 420, Li Xin attempted to exploit Northern Liang’s apparent movement toward Western Qin to capture Zhangye. Juqu Mengxun used a feint and an ambush to draw him deeper into enemy territory. After losing at Huaicheng, Li Xin refused to withdraw to Jiuquan and was killed in the subsequent battle at Liaoquan. The campaign directly led to Northern Liang’s capture of the Western Liang capital. Li Xun nevertheless continued the regime at Dunhuang for approximately another year, so Li Xin’s death and the final end of Western Liang were separate events.

The sequence of events can be set out by year. In 410, as heir, Li Xin intercepted Northern Liang’s army and captured Qiequ Bainian. In 417 he succeeded Li Gao, received the offices and title of ruler of Liang and adopted the Jiaxing era. That year he recognized Northern Liang’s feigned surrender, withdrew and defeated the pursuers at Jiezhijian. In 418 he accepted Zhang Tishun’s advice against engaging Northern Liang, then sent an envoy to Eastern Jin and received titles including Duke of Jiuquan. In 419 he rejected memorials by Zhang Xian and Fan Cheng criticizing punishments and construction. In 420 he rejected warnings from Lady Yin and Song Yao, marched east with 30,000 troops, lost at Huaicheng and Liaoquan, and was killed by Juqu Mengxun. Western Liang thereby lost Jiuquan.

Li Xin’s four-year reign ended with the loss of Jiuquan, decisively changing the balance of power in the Hexi region.

Domestic government is also recorded. Zhang Xian and Fan Cheng criticized severe punishments and continuing construction, while Lady Yin and Song Yao opposed the eastern campaign. These remonstrances and their outcomes appear in the Book of Jin and relevant accounts in the Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms. His success against the feigned surrender at Jiezhijian shows that he was not wholly without military judgment; his final defeat was associated with a misreading of the situation and rejection of advice.

His diplomacy is likewise recorded: in 418 he sent an envoy to Eastern Jin and received titles including Duke of Jiuquan. Under military pressure, Western Liang continued seeking recognition from the southern court.

Two aspects of his predominantly military record deserve distinction. His victory at Jiezhijian in 417 demonstrates an ability to recognize deception. His final campaign, however, followed a misjudgment of Northern Liang’s strength and his own position. Lady Yin and Song Yao urged him not to advance, but he proceeded and lost his army at Huaicheng and Liaoquan. Li Xun’s continuation of the regime at Dunhuang lasted approximately another year, while the balance in Hexi shifted toward Northern Liang.

The Jiaxing era was used during Li Xin’s four-year rule; Western Liang’s remaining government continued afterward under Li Xun.

After Li Xin’s death, the remaining Western Liang government at Dunhuang survived for only approximately another year.

Following his defeat and death, Jiuquan and then Dunhuang changed hands.

The main thread of his four-year reign was confrontation with Northern Liang. Accounts of rejected remonstrance concern punishment and military decision-making. After Western Liang fell, Northern Liang dominated the region until Northern Wei entered the Hexi Corridor.

His embassy to Eastern Jin did not remove his military disadvantage, but the appointments he received maintained the connection between Western Liang and the southern court.

After his defeat, his brother Li Xun continued the remaining Western Liang government at Dunhuang for approximately another year.

After his death, his brother Li Xun continued the remaining Western Liang regime at Dunhuang.

The Jiaxing era corresponded to Li Xin’s reign, rather than to the entire existence of Western Liang.

His death and the loss of Jiuquan occurred in the same year.

Personal Relations

• Li Gao: father and founding ruler of Western Liang; Li Xin succeeded him.
• Lady Yin: mother, honored as empress dowager after his accession; opposed the eastern campaign in 420.
• Li Tan: elder brother and Li Gao’s eldest son; after his death, Li Xin was designated heir.
• Li Xun: younger brother and former Governor of Dunhuang; continued the regime there after Li Xin’s death.
• Li Chong’er: son; according to the Book of Jin, fled south after Western Liang’s defeat, served Liu Song and later entered Northern Wei.
• Song Yao: senior Western Liang official, entrusted by Li Gao with advising Li Xin; repeatedly opposed his campaigns.
• Juqu Mengxun: ruler of Northern Liang and principal opponent; defeated Li Xin at Huaicheng and Liaoquan and captured Jiuquan.

Historical Assessment

The Book of Jin describes Li Xin’s punishments as severe and his construction as continuous. The Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government likewise criticizes excessively severe punishments and his interest in palace building. These assessments correspond to the memorials of Zhang Xian and Fan Cheng. Accounts of his military decisions record that he launched his final eastern campaign despite repeated warnings from his mother and officials, leading to defeats at Huaicheng and Liaoquan and the loss of Jiuquan. Evaluating his reign requires distinguishing the historians’ moral judgments from the recorded outcomes of campaigns.