Tuoba Yulü

Biography

Early Life and Assistance to Liu Kun

Tuoba Yulü was born into the noble family of the Xianbei Suotou tribe, and his father was Tuoba Fu. In 310 (the fourth year of Yongjia in Western Jin), his uncle Tuoba Yilu ruled the Dai state. At that time, Liu Kun, the Regional Inspector of Bingzhou in Western Jin, faced a joint offensive from Liu Hu, the leader of the Xiongnu Tiefu tribe, and the Xianbei Bai tribe, and the situation was critical. Liu Kun sent an envoy with his son Liu Zun as a hostage to seek aid from Tuoba Yilu. Tuoba Yilu appreciated his sincerity and sent his nephew Tuoba Yulü to lead 20,000 cavalry to provide support. Tuoba Yulü assisted Liu Kun in breaking through the camps of Liu Hu and the Bai tribe and carried out a large-scale massacre in the camps, demonstrating his early military command capabilities.

Succession as King of Dai

In 316 (the fourth year of Jianxing in Western Jin), violent turmoil occurred within the Dai state. Tuoba Liuxiu, the eldest son of Tuoba Yilu, plotted rebellion and assassinated his father Tuoba Yilu. Tuoba Pugen, the Left Wise King (Tuoba Yulü's cousin), who was stationed outside at the time, heard the news and led troops to kill Tuoba Liuxiu, succeeding him as the leader. However, Tuoba Pugen died after only a few months in power. His son had just been born at the time and was enthroned by Pugen's mother, Wei. In the twelfth month of the same year, this infant leader died. Because Tuoba Yulü had high prestige and possessed strategy, the people enthroned him as the new King of Dai.

Military Expansion and Diplomatic Hardline

In 318 (the first year of Taixing in Eastern Jin), Liu Hu, the leader of the Xiongnu Tiefu tribe, occupied Shuofang and led troops across the Yellow River to invade the western part of the Dai state. Tuoba Yulü led troops to meet the enemy and inflicted a heavy defeat on Liu Hu, who fled back beyond the frontier on a single horse. Liu Lugu, Liu Hu's cousin, led his tribal people to surrender. Tuoba Yulü married his daughter to him to consolidate the alliance.

Subsequently, Tuoba Yulü attacked westward to seize the former territory of the Wusun and eastward to annex the region west of the Wugiji. According to historical records, the Dai state at this time had nearly a million cavalry, with strong troops and sturdy horses, becoming the hegemon of the north. In the same year, upon learning that Sima Ye, the Emperor Min of Jin, had been killed by Liu Yao of Former Zhao, Tuoba Yulü believed that the Central Plains had no master and conceived the intention of pacifying the southern regions. He refused the peace proposal from Liu Yao of Former Zhao.

In 319, Shi Le, the King of Later Zhao, sent an envoy to request a brotherly alliance with the Dai state. Tuoba Yulü killed the envoy and severed diplomatic relations. In the same year, Duan Pidi of the Xianbei, whose people were starving and scattered, wanted to move his troops to defend Shanggu. Tuoba Yulü prepared to attack, forcing Duan Pidi to abandon his wife and children and flee to Leling. In 320, Zhang Mao, the ruler of Former Liang, sent an envoy to offer tribute, which the Dai state accepted.

Assassination and Posthumous Honors

In 321 (the fourth year of Taixing in Eastern Jin), Sima Rui, the Emperor Yuan of Eastern Jin, sent the envoy Han Chang to bestow noble titles and garments on Tuoba Yulü, which he refused. At this time, he was drilling his troops and practicing martial arts, intending to unify the world. His aunt Qi, seeing that Tuoba Yulü was deeply popular and his power was strong, feared that this would be detrimental to her own son. She therefore plotted to kill Tuoba Yulü and installed her son Tuoba Heru as the successor. This coup resulted in the death of dozens of tribal leaders.

After Emperor Daowu, Tuoba Gui, established the Northern Wei, he posthumously honored Tuoba Yulü as Emperor Pingwen. In the early years of the Tianxing era, his temple name was further posthumously honored as Taizu.

Major Activities

Defeating Liu Hu

In 318, Liu Hu, the leader of the Xiongnu Tiefu tribe, crossed the river from Shuofang to invade the western part of the Dai state. Tuoba Yulü personally led troops to meet the enemy and completely defeated Liu Hu's main force in battle, forcing Liu Hu to flee back beyond the frontier on a single horse. This battle not only eliminated the threat to the west of the Dai state but also led to the surrender of Liu Hu's cousin Liu Lugu, expanding the influence of the Dai state.

Territorial Expansion

After defeating Liu Hu, Tuoba Yulü used the military advantage of the Dai state to seize the former territory of the Wusun to the west and annex the region west of the Wugiji to the east. This series of military actions allowed the Dai state to control a vast area of the north, becoming one of the most powerful forces in the north at the time, historically described as "dominant in the north."

Diplomatic Strategy

Tuoba Yulü adopted a hardline stance in diplomacy. He refused the peace proposals from Liu Yao of Former Zhao and Shi Le of Later Zhao, even killing Shi Le's envoy, indicating his unwillingness to compromise with southern regimes. At the same time, he refused the title bestowed by the Emperor Yuan of Eastern Jin, showing his ambition to be an independent hegemon. However, he accepted the tribute from Zhang Mao of Former Liang, reflecting his pragmatic diplomatic strategy aimed at isolating opponents and consolidating his own position.

His accession and his foreign relations can be set out by year: in 310 (fourth year of the Yongjia era, Western Jin) he was ordered by Tuoba Yilu to aid Liu Kun and defeated the followers of the Bai and of Liu Hu; in 316 (fourth year of the Jianxing era), after the death of Shisheng, son of Pugen, he was raised as leader; in 318 (first year of the Daxing era, Eastern Jin) Liu Hu attacked and he defeated his army, whereupon Liu Lugus came over with his followers; in 319 (second year of Daxing) Shi Le of the Later Zhao sought peace and he killed his envoy and refused an alliance; in 321 (fourth year of Daxing) he refused the rank and robes offered by the Eastern Jin and reorganised his forces, and in the same year the Wei clan carried out the coup in which he was killed and Henu installed. His accession rested on the support of the tribal following, and his marriage alliances, refusal of peace and military preparations raised the independent standing of the Tuoba in the north, though his rule was also cut short directly by a coup within the tribe.

Both his accession and his death came about through the support of the tribal following and a coup within the tribe: he was raised as leader in 316 after the death of Shisheng, son of Pugen, and in 321 the Wei clan killed him in a coup and installed Henu, taking power herself, so that the Tuoba entered a phase of rule by the empress dowager with the tribal groups unsettled. This sequence is an important clue to the structure of power in the middle and later years of the state of Dai.

Personal Relations

• Great-grandfather**: Tuoba Limi (posthumously honored as Emperor Shenyuan of Northern Wei)
• Grandfather**: Tuoba Shamohan (posthumously honored as Emperor Wen of Northern Wei)
• Father**: Tuoba Fu (posthumously honored as Emperor Si of Northern Wei)
• Uncles**: Tuoba Yiyi (posthumously honored as Emperor Huan of Northern Wei), Tuoba Yilu (posthumously honored as Emperor Mu of Northern Wei)
• Cousin**: Tuoba Pugen (Left Wise King, briefly succeeded him)
• Wife**: Wang of Lelang (posthumously honored as Empress Pingwen of Northern Wei)
• Eldest son**: Tuoba Yihuai (posthumously honored as Emperor Lie)
• Second son**: Tuoba Shiyiqian (posthumously honored as Emperor Zhaocheng of Northern Wei)
• Third son**: Tuoba Qu
• Fourth son**: Tuoba Gu (Prince of Gaoliang)
• Daughters**: Married to Liu Lugu of the Xiongnu Tiefu tribe (mother of Liu Kuren); married to Hege, the leader of the Helan tribe; married to Yuwen Qubugun, the leader of the Xianbei Yuwen tribe
• Assassin**: Qi (aunt)
• Successor**: Tuoba Heru

Historical Assessment

The Book of Wei assessed Tuoba Yulü: "His physique was robust, and he had great authority and strategy." This assessment accurately summarizes his image as a military commander. During his reign, the national power of the Dai state reached its peak, and its territory was greatly expanded, laying an important military and geographical foundation for the later establishment of the Northern Wei. However, his end, being assassinated by a close relative due to his ambition, also reflects the cruelty of political succession during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.