Juqu Mengxun

Biography

Family Background and Early Years

Juqu Mengxun came from the Lushui Hu Juqu clan. His ancestors had held the Xiongnu office of Left Juqu and took the office title as their family name. The Lushui Hu were described in the source as a branch of the Xiongnu who had long lived around Linsong and Zhangye in the Hexi Corridor. The Juqu clan was locally influential. In youth, Mengxun read widely in historical works and had considerable knowledge of astronomy. He was regarded as talented, ambitious, humorous, and highly adaptable. Liang Xi, Inspector of Liang Province under Former Qin, and Lü Guang, later ruler of Later Liang, were both said to have recognized and feared his ability. Mengxun understood that too much display of talent could provoke suspicion, so he often concealed his capabilities behind hunting and drinking.

Raising Troops and Supporting Duan Ye

In 397, Juqu Mengxun's uncles Juqu Luochou and Juqu Quzhou followed Lü Guang of Later Liang on campaign against the territory identified in the source as Western Qin. After the vanguard suffered a major defeat, Juqu Quzhou urged Luochou to rebel, but Luochou refused on the grounds of family loyalty. Both men were soon executed by Lü Guang. More than ten thousand members of related clans and allied groups gathered for their joint funeral. Juqu Mengxun used the occasion to denounce Lü Guang's cruelty and call for revenge. The crowd responded enthusiastically. Mengxun killed Ma Sui, a military protector under Lü Guang, and Jing Xiang, magistrate of Linsong, swore an oath with his followers, gathered more than ten thousand troops within ten days, and occupied Jinshan southwest of present-day Shandan in Gansu.

Juqu Mengxun and his cousin Juqu Nancheng then agreed to support Duan Ye, Administrator of Jiankang under Later Liang, as commander with extensive military authority, General of the Dragon Cavalry, Governor of Liang Province, and Duke of Jiankang. Duan Ye adopted the era name Shenxi and established Northern Liang. He appointed Juqu Mengxun Administrator of Zhangye and Juqu Nancheng General Who Assists the State, entrusting major military and political affairs to the two men.

Service under Duan Ye

In 398, Duan Ye planned to send Juqu Mengxun against the important Later Liang stronghold of Xijun, in present-day Yongchang County, Gansu. Others doubted the plan, but Mengxun argued that Xijun occupied a strategic position and had to be taken. He diverted water to flood the city, caused part of its wall to collapse, captured Administrator Lü Chun, and returned in victory. Wang De at Jinchang and Meng Min at Dunhuang later surrendered to Duan Ye, and Mengxun was rewarded as Marquis of Linchi.

That same year, Later Liang commander Lü Hong abandoned Zhangye and fled east. Duan Ye wanted to pursue him. Juqu Mengxun warned against blocking a returning army or pursuing a desperate enemy, but Duan ignored the advice and was defeated by Lü Hong, surviving only because Mengxun rescued him. Duan Ye lamented that he had failed to listen to his "Zhang Zifang." Later, Duan built Xi'an City and appointed Zang Mohai as administrator. Mengxun warned that Zang was brave but lacked judgment and would fail; Duan again ignored him, and Zang was soon defeated by Lü Zuan.

In 399, Duan Ye took the title Prince of Liang, changed the era name to Tianxi, and appointed Juqu Mengxun Left Assistant Director of the Department of State Affairs. When Later Liang forces under Lü Shao and Lü Zuan attacked, Duan wanted battle. Mengxun argued that Yang Gui had ambitions of his own and that Lü Shao and Lü Zuan, placed in a desperate position, would fight to the death; he advised waiting. Duan accepted the advice and the Later Liang army withdrew.

Although Mengxun repeatedly assisted Duan Ye, he feared Duan would not tolerate him and deliberately concealed his intelligence. Duan did in fact distrust Mengxun's martial reputation, transferred him to be Administrator of Linchi, and replaced him at Zhangye with Palace Attendant Ma Quan. Ma Quan was politically capable and favored by Duan Ye, but repeatedly humiliated Mengxun. Mengxun slandered Ma Quan to Duan, who had Ma Quan killed.

Coup and Seizure of Power

Juqu Mengxun had previously discussed removing Duan Ye with Juqu Nancheng, but Nancheng refused, calling the idea inauspicious. As Duan's suspicion increased, Mengxun requested appointment as Administrator of Xi'an. Fearing that refusal might provoke rebellion, Duan agreed.

In 401, Mengxun sought a pretext for revolt. He invited Juqu Nancheng to sacrifice at Lanmenshan, while secretly having his own officer Xu Xian report to Duan Ye that Nancheng intended rebellion. Duan fell for the scheme, arrested Nancheng, and ordered him to commit suicide. Nancheng explained the truth before death, but Duan did not believe him. After learning that Nancheng had died, Mengxun wept before the troops, saying that Nancheng had been loyal to Duan yet unjustly killed and asking whether they would avenge him. Because Nancheng had long enjoyed the troops' affection, they responded emotionally. By the time Mengxun reached Dichi, his army exceeded ten thousand. Commander Zang Mohai joined him, as did many Qiang and Hu forces.

Duan Ye released the previously imprisoned General of the Right Tian Ang and sent him with Guard General Liang Zhongyong against Mengxun. At Houwu, Tian Ang instead led five hundred cavalry over to Mengxun. In the fifth lunar month, Mengxun advanced on Zhangye. Tian Ang's nephew Tian Cheng'ai opened the city gate, Duan's followers scattered, and Duan asked to return home to reunite with his family. Mengxun ultimately had him executed.

Founding and Expansion of Northern Liang

In the sixth lunar month of 401, Liang Zhongyong, Fang Gui, Tian Ang, and others acclaimed Juqu Mengxun as commander with extensive authority, Great General, Governor of Liang Province, and Duke of Zhangye. Mengxun took control of Northern Liang, proclaimed a general amnesty, and adopted Yong'an as era name.

Early in his rule, Mengxun pursued outward conciliation and strategic restraint. He sent envoys to Later Qin and accepted appointment from Yao Xing as General Who Pacifies the West, Inspector of Sha Province, and Marquis of Xihai. He also at one point sent his son Juqu Xinian as hostage to Southern Liang. In 407, Southern Liang ruler Tufa Rutan attacked with fifty thousand troops, but Mengxun defeated him at Junshi. In 410, Mengxun attacked Southern Liang and inflicted a major defeat at Qiongquan, then advanced to Guzang. More than ten thousand households there surrendered. Tufa Rutan was forced to seek peace and soon moved his capital to Ledu. Jiao Lang and others occupied Guzang independently, but Mengxun attacked with thirty thousand troops and captured the city.

In 412, Mengxun moved his capital to Guzang, assumed the title Prince of Hexi, adopted Xuanshi as era name, and organized offices following the old Later Liang system. In 413 he again defeated Tufa Rutan and forced Southern Liang to provide hostages and conclude peace.

Destruction of Western Liang and Unification of Hexi

Li Gao had established Western Liang one year before Duan Ye's death, and it remained an enemy of Northern Liang. In 411, Juqu Mengxun launched a light raid on Western Liang but was defeated by Crown Prince Li Xin. After Li Gao died in 417 and Li Xin succeeded him, Mengxun launched repeated campaigns. In 420, taking advantage of Li Xin's campaign against Western Qin at Haomen, Mengxun spread false information to lure him forward and defeated him at Huaicheng. Li Xin refused to retreat, fought again at Liaoquan, was defeated and killed. Mengxun then captured the Western Liang capital Jiuquan and destroyed the regime. The following year he captured Dunhuang, eliminated Western Liang's remaining forces, and unified Liang Province. Northern Liang later occupied Gaochang and extended its territory into the Western Regions, becoming the strongest state in Hexi.

Later Years and Death

In his later years Juqu Mengxun maintained diplomatic relations with both Liu Song and Northern Wei. In 421, Liu Song granted him the title Prince of Hexi. In 431, Northern Wei sent an envoy granting him the title Prince of Liang. Juqu Mengxun died in 433 at age sixty-six, received the temple name Taizu and posthumous title Prince Wuxuan, and was buried at Yuanling. Because his designated heir Juqu Puti was still young, the nobles supported his older son Juqu Mujian as successor.

Rising in Vengeance and Setting Up Duan Ye

In 397, when the Later Liang ruler Lü Guang campaigned against Henan (Western Qin) and his vanguard was heavily beaten, Juqu Mengxun's uncles Juqu Luochou and Juqu Quzhou were both in the army. Juqu Quzhou urged his elder brother to rise, saying that the ruler was old and benighted, arrogant and self-indulgent, that his sons formed factions and ruined one another and that slanderers were always about, and that with the army beaten and death at hand this was the very moment when suspicion was most easily incurred; that the two brothers were the men they feared, and that it was better to lead the troops away than to die in a ditch. Juqu Luochou answered that it was as he said, but that their house had been loyal and filial for generations and was looked up to by the region, and that he would rather be wronged by others than wrong them. Soon afterwards both were killed by Lü Guang. More than ten thousand of their clan and connexions came to the funeral, and Juqu Mengxun wept and told them that when the Han mandate declined his ancestor had aided Dou Rong and kept the west of the river at peace, and that Lü Guang, old and mad, was cruel and without the Way, so that they could not but carry on their forebears' will and not leave the two fathers grieving in the underworld; and all shouted ten thousand years. He then killed Lü Guang's commander of the central fields, Ma Sui, and the magistrate of Linsong, Jing Xiang, to seal their oath, and within ten days had more than ten thousand men, encamping at Jinshan. He then took counsel with his elder cousin Juqu Nancheng and set up Duan Ye, governor of Jiankang under Later Liang, as commissioner with the staff of authority, grand commander, general of the soaring dragon, governor of Liangzhou and duke of Jiankang, changing Lü Guang's second year of Longfei to the first of Shenxi; and Duan Ye made Juqu Mengxun governor of Zhangye and Juqu Nancheng general of the state's support, "entrusting them with military and civil affairs."

His Advice While Serving Duan Ye

When Duan Ye would have sent him against Xijun, and all were doubtful, Juqu Mengxun said that the commandery held the key of the mountains and must be taken, and he breached its walls by turning the river into them and brought back its governor Lü Chun a prisoner; afterwards Wang De with Jinchang and Meng Min with Dunhuang surrendered to Duan Ye, and Mengxun was enfeoffed marquis of Linchi. When the Later Liang general holding Zhangye, Lü Hong, abandoned the town and fled east and Duan Ye wished to pursue, Mengxun advised that a returning army must not be blocked nor a cornered enemy pursued, which was a rule of war, and that it would be better to let him go and deal with him later; but Duan Ye said that to let an enemy go for a day brought regret too late, went in pursuit and was beaten by Lü Hong, and only Mengxun's rescue saved him, so that Duan Ye sighed that he had not followed Zifang's words and had come to this. When Duan Ye built the town of Xi'an and made his general Zang Mohai its governor, Mengxun said that Mohai was brave but without strategy, knowing only how to advance and forgetting to retreat, and that what was being built for him was a tomb and not a town; Duan Ye would not listen, and Mohai was presently beaten by Lü Zuan. In 399 Duan Ye usurped the title of prince of Liang and made Mengxun president of the left of the Secretariat; and in the same year, when Lü Guang sent his sons Lü Shao and Lü Zuan against Duan Ye, who asked help of Tufa Wugu, and Wugu sent his brother Lugu with Yang Gui, Lü Shao, thinking the enemy strong, wished to move east along the mountains by the Sanmen pass, and Lü Zuan held that to cling to the mountains was to show weakness and the road to defeat, and that they should form ranks and advance so that the enemy would fear to fight. Duan Ye prepared to attack, and Mengxun advised that Yang Gui, relying on the strength of his barbarian horse, had designs of his own, and that Lü Shao and Lü Zuan, with their troops in a death-ground, would fight to the death for survival, so that not to fight meant safety like Mount Tai and to fight meant danger like a stack of eggs. Duan Ye agreed and held his troops, and Lü Shao, finding it hard, also withdrew.

Slandering Ma Quan, Destroying Nancheng by a Trick, and Seizing Zhangye

Duan Ye, fearing Mengxun's martial vigour, wished to keep him at a distance, and made Mengxun's junior uncle Juqu Yisheng governor of Jiuquan and Mengxun governor of Linchi; and Duan Ye's chancellery attendant Ma Quan, "of brilliant and unrestrained spirit and surpassing military skill," was made governor of Zhangye in Mengxun's place and greatly favoured, and often slighted Mengxun. Mengxun, both in fear and resentment, slandered him to Duan Ye, saying that the empire was not worth worrying about and that Ma Quan alone was to be feared, and Duan Ye killed him. Mengxun then told Juqu Nancheng that Duan Ye was benighted and no talent for saving a disordered age, trusting slander and loving flatterers with no judgement to discern, that the only men he feared were Suo Si and Ma Quan, and that both were now dead, and asked whether he should remove Duan Ye and serve his cousin; but Nancheng answered that Duan Ye was a wanderer and a solitary, that they had set him up, and that with the two brothers he was like a fish in water, and that for men who were close to them to turn against him was inauspicious, and the plan dropped. Mengxun, uneasy at being feared by Duan Ye, asked to be governor of Xi'an, and Duan Ye, fearing a sudden change from a man of great ambition, granted it. In 401, Mengxun arranged with Nancheng to sacrifice together at the Lanmen mountain and secretly sent his marshal Xu Xian to tell Duan Ye that Nancheng meant to rebel and had promised to rise when he got leave, so that if he asked to sacrifice at Lanmen mountain the words would be proved; and it fell out so, and Duan Ye arrested Nancheng and ordered him to kill himself. Nancheng, before dying, said that it was Mengxun who meant to rebel and had told him so beforehand, that he had kept silent for kinship's sake, and that Mengxun, fearing his men would not follow while Nancheng lived, had fixed a day to sacrifice on the mountain and then accused him; that if he died in the morning Mengxun would rise in the evening; and he begged Duan Ye to pretend that he was dead and publish his crimes, so that Mengxun would certainly rebel and he himself could attack him at once, and the thing could not fail. Duan Ye would not. Hearing of Nancheng's death, Mengxun wept before the host and said that Nancheng had been loyal to Duke Duan and had been wrongly butchered, and asked whether they could avenge him; that the fighting in the province showed that Duan Ye could not save it; and that the reason he had first served him was that he took him for a Chen She or Wu Guang, but that he trusted slander, was full of suspicion and destroyed the loyal and good, so that they could not lie at ease and watch the people fall into the mire. Nancheng had long had the people's trust, and all wept in anger and followed him; by the time he reached Dichi his host was over ten thousand, the garrison commander Zang Mohai came over with his troops and the Qiang and Hu rose in answer in many places.

Duan Ye had earlier suspected his general of the right, Tian Ang, and imprisoned him, but now apologized and released him, sending him with the guard general Liang Zhongyong to attack Mengxun; and the general Wang Fengsun advised that in Xiping the Tian had rebelled in every generation, and that Ang, courteous in appearance but cruel at heart, great in ambition and dangerous in feeling, could not be trusted; but Duan Ye said he had long suspected him and had no one else to send against Mengxun, and did not listen. Tian Ang, reaching Houwu, came over to Mengxun with five hundred horse. In the fifth month Mengxun reached Zhangye, Tian Ang's nephew Tian Cheng'ai opened the gate to him, and Duan Ye's followers scattered; Mengxun shouted to ask where the general of the west was, and Duan Ye, saying that he was one solitary man raised by their house, begged to be spared and to flee south of the mountains so that he might go east and see his wife and children; but Mengxun had him beheaded. In the sixth month Liang Zhongyong, Fang Gui, Tian Ang and the rest made Mengxun commissioner with the staff of authority, grand commander, general-in-chief, governor of Liangzhou and duke of Zhangye, proclaimed an amnesty in the province and changed the era to Yongan.

Peace Abroad, Order at Home, the Answer on Yao Xing's Titles, and the Taking of Guzang

At the outset Mengxun was outwardly friendly with his neighbours and bided his time, sending the gentleman of the household Li Dian on a mission to Yao Xing of Later Qin to establish good relations. When Yao Xing sent Yao Shuode against Lü Long at Guzang, and Lü Long surrendered to Yao Xing while Jiuquan and Liangning revolted to Li Gao, Mengxun sent Juqu Na and the chief of staff Zhang Qian to Yao Shuode at Guzang to ask for troops to receive them and to lead the people of the commandery east; Yao Shuode was delighted and made Zhang Qian governor of Zhangye and Juqu Na governor of Jiankang. Zhang Qian urged Mengxun to move east, but Juqu Na said privately that the Lü were still there, that Guzang was not yet taken and that Shuode, his grain exhausted, would soon go far away and could not stay long, and asked why they should leave their native place and be controlled by others; and the general of the state's support Zang Mohai agreed with him, so that Mengxun beheaded Zhang Qian and issued a proclamation saying that he, being of little worth, had come upon the times but had not been able to spread the great way and sweep away the wicked, so that the war chariots moved again and again, the spears were never laid down, the farmers lost the three seasons of their work and the people had no grain in their houses, and that therefore all labour services should be remitted, the whole effort given to the southern fields, and clear rules set up so that the land yield its utmost. Yao Xing then sent Liang Fei and Zhang Gou to make Mengxun general of the west, governor of Shazhou and marquis of Xihai, at the same time making Tufa Nutan general of the chariots and cavalry and duke of Guangwu. Mengxun, hearing it, was displeased and asked why Nutan had the place of a ducal minister while he was only a marquis; and Zhang Gou answered that Nutan was light and cunning and without benevolence, his sincerity unproved, and that the court had raised him only to commend his turning to good, whereas the court "measures rank by merit and does not let office exceed virtue," citing Yin Wei, Yao Chao, Qi Nan and Xu Luo, founders and veteran commanders all of the second grade and no more than marquises or counts, and asking how Mengxun could precede them, and pressing him with the example of Dou Rong, who earnestly declined and would not sit above the old servants. Mengxun then asked why the court did not simply enfeoff him with Zhangye instead of the distant Xihai, and Zhang Gou answered that Zhangye lay within the plan and was already his, while the distant Xihai was given to enlarge his domain, at which Mengxun was greatly pleased and accepted.

In the seventh year of Yongan (407) Mengxun attacked Tufa Nutan with thirty thousand horse and foot and halted at Xijun, when "a great wind came from the north-west and the air was of five colours, and presently the day grew dark"; he went to Xianmei, moved several thousand households and returned, and Nutan caught him at Qiongquan. Mengxun would have attacked while his generals said that the enemy had made camp and could not be touched, but he judged that Nutan, thinking him wearied from afar, must be careless and unprepared, and that before the ramparts were finished he might be destroyed at one blow; he attacked and beat him, and pressing the victory to Guzang, where the Yi and the Xia surrendered to the number of more than ten thousand households. Nutan in fear sued for peace, which was granted, and withdrew; and when he fled south to Ledu and Jiao Lang of Wei'an held Guzang and set himself up, Mengxun attacked him with thirty thousand horse and foot, took him and pardoned him; he feasted his officers and men in the Qianguang Hall and gave out gold and horses in gradations, and because Zhang Mu of Dunhuang was widely read in the classics and histories and of clear and ample talent he raised him out of order to be president of the Secretariat and gave him secret business. Afterwards Nutan attacked and Mengxun beat him at Ruohouwu; Nutan's governor of Huanghe, Tufa Wenzhi, held Huangchuan, and the guard general Cheng Yihou brought his men over, so that Mengxun appointed Wenzhi general of the east, governor of Guangwu and marquis of Zhenwu, Cheng Yihou general of awe-inspiring might and governor of Huangchuan, and the palace general Wang Jian governor of Huanghe, issuing a proclamation that the wise kings of old who answered the times and ended disorder all first ordered the eight quarters before spreading the pure customs, and reciting Nutan's crimes before declaring that "we shall loose our horses on the Golden Mountain and the people shall be at rest for ever," and ordering it published far and near. In the fighting with Qifu Chipan of Western Qin, Mengxun sent troops with grain to Huanghe, took Chipan's Guangwu commandery with his own forces, and because the grain did not arrive went from Guangwu to Huanghe and crossed the Haomen, killing Chipan's general Qifu Tuiniyin; and when Chipan sent Wang Heng, Zhe Fei and Qu Jing with ten thousand horse to hold the Lejie ridge, Mengxun fought and advanced by turns and broke them heavily, taking Zhe Fei and seven hundred others, Qu Jing fleeing home. When Chipan raided Huanghe with thirty thousand men, Mengxun's brother Juqu Hanping fought hard in defence and sent his marshal Wei Ren out by night to kill several hundred; and Chipan, meaning to withdraw, first sent off his weak and old, but Hanping's chief of staff Jiao Chang and the general Duan Jing secretly wrote to invite Chipan, who attacked again, and Hanping, taking the advice of Chang and Jing, bound himself and came out to surrender. Wei Ren with more than a hundred braves held the south gate tower for three days and could not be dislodged, and being outnumbered was taken, and Chipan in anger ordered him killed, but Duan Hui remonstrated that Ren, facing danger and treading peril and sparing not his life, was a loyal man who should be spared to encourage loyalty in servants, so that Chipan kept him and took him away; after five years with Chipan, and on Duan Hui's repeated request, he was returned to Guzang, where Mengxun took his hand and said that he was "my Su Wu," and made him governor of Gaochang.

Luring Li Xin, Destroying Western Liang, and the Submission of the Western Regions

After Li Xin came to the throne in 417 Mengxun campaigned against him repeatedly, and once, being beaten by Li Xin at Jiezhi creek, he gathered his scattered men to fight again, and his general of the vanguard Chengdu advised him with the example of the Han founder's defeat at Pengcheng, which ended in the founding of the great Han, and urged him to withdraw for a later attempt, which Mengxun did, building Jiankang and returning. In 420 the grand astrologer Zhang Yan told him that "this year west of the town of Linze a beaten army will be," and Mengxun posted his heir Juqu Zhengde at Ruohouwu; and going west to Bai'an he told Zhang Yan that he meant to settle something that year, but that with the year-star in shen and the month also in shen he could not go west, and would therefore make a southern progress to await their return in order to accord with heaven's mind, and that the plan lay in seizing the moment and must not be disclosed. He then attacked Haomen, when a snake coiled before his tent, and Mengxun laughed and said that formerly it had been the soaring serpent and now it coiled in his tent, so that heaven meant him to turn back and settle Jiuquan first; and he burned his siege engines and withdrew to Chuanyan. Hearing that Li Xin was calling up troops to attack Zhangye, he said that his own plan had been entered into, and that he feared only that Li Xin, hearing of his withdrawal, would not dare advance, since in war one must love expedients; so he published a proclamation on the western frontier claiming that he had taken Haomen and would advance into Huanggu, and Li Xin, hearing it, was delighted and entered the Duku ravine, whereupon Mengxun hid his troops and met him, beating him at Huaicheng and taking Jiuquan. In the town "the people were as peaceful as before and the army took nothing for itself," and he made his son Juqu Maocheng governor of Jiuquan, employing Li Xin's old servants according to their ability. Li Xin's brother Li Xun, governor of Dunhuang, held the commandery and styled himself general-in-chief of the champions; and in the first month of 421 Mengxun marched in person against Dunhuang, built a long dyke and turned the river into the town, which held out for scores of days until Li Xun's guard general Song Cheng and the general of martial breadth Zhang Hong surrendered the town, whereupon Mengxun killed Li Xun and put Dunhuang to the sword and took Li Xun's nephew Li Bao prisoner at Guzang, and the Li house of Western Liang came to an end. Thereupon the king of Shanshan, Bilong, came to court, and the thirty-six states of the Western Regions all sent envoys to acknowledge Mengxun as their lord and offer tribute; and Liu Song sent envoys to make him general-in-chief of the garrison, commissioner with equal ceremonial to the three excellencies and governor of Liangzhou. Li Bao fled to Jinchang, and in the twelfth month Tang Qi, governor of Jinchang, seized the commandery and rebelled, and Mengxun sent his heir Zhengde against him; Zhengde took Jinchang, and Tang Qi with his brother Tang He and his nephew Li Bao fled to Yiwu and became subjects of the Rouran, and when the Rouran attacked and Mengxun sent Zhengde against them, Zhengde advanced with light horse, was beaten and killed, and Mengxun set up his second son Juqu Xingguo as heir.

Debating War in the Qianguang Hall, Discussing the Sage in the Youlin Hall, and His Later Culture and Buddhist Patronage

In the first month of 422 Mengxun feasted his ministers in the Qianguang Hall and said that an evil vapour crossed the sky in the south, the sign of a sudden war, and that within ten days there would be an attack, and he had the troops drilled in the Eastern Park; and Western Qin did send seven thousand horse, which turned back at Sunhou ridge on hearing he was ready. In the seventh month of 425 he built the Youlin Hall in the inner park with portraits of the sages and worthies of antiquity, and when it was finished in the ninth month he feasted his ministers and discussed the classics and histories, asking the gentleman of the household Liu Bing what sort of man Confucius was; and when Liu Bing said a sage, Mengxun replied that a sage does not stick fast in things but moves with the age, and asked whether Confucius, who was beset at Kuang, disgraced at Chen and had trees felled and his footprints erased, was such; and Liu Bing could not answer, whereupon Mengxun told the tale of the man of Lu who was carried out to sea and lost his way and came to the isle of Danzhou, where Confucius and his seventy-two disciples gave him a wooden staff and told him to close his eyes and ride it and go home to tell the marquis of Lu to build walls against invaders, and when the man came out to sea and threw the staff into the water it became a dragon, and when he told the marquis he would not believe until tens of thousands of swallows brought earth and raised the wall, after which the marquis believed and walled Qufu and the Qi invaders came and could not take Lu — and that this was why Confucius was called a sage. He gave much attention to culture: Zhang Mu of Dunhuang, widely read in the classics and histories and of clear talent, was raised to be president of the Secretariat and given secret business; Kan Yin of Dunhuang, widely read in the canonical and historical works and so quick that "he could recite the three histories and the words of the schools after one look," so that men called him the "walking recitation," who had annotated Wang Lang's commentary on the Changes and written the Record of the Thirteen Provinces, was greatly valued by Mengxun, kept ever at his side and consulted on the gains and losses of government, made a gentleman of the secretariat for examination and given thirty clerks to collate the classics and settle the works of the philosophers in more than three thousand scrolls, with the rank of chariot escort; and Liu Yanming of Dunhuang, gentleman of the secretariat, whose learning was first of the age, was decreed the title of Master of the Mystic Void and received with the rites of the three elders, with the Lushen Contemplation built in the Eastern Park for him. As to Buddhism, the Kashmiri monk Dharmakshema, versed in all the scriptures and treatises, translated with the monk Zhisong and others more than ten works including the Nirvana sutras at Guzang, and being also skilled in prognostication and incantation and often right in foretelling the safety of other states, was consulted by Mengxun on affairs of state; but later, when the emperor Shizu of Wei ordered Mengxun to send Dharmakshema to the capital, he was loath to part with him and did not send him, and afterwards, fearing Wei's anger, had him killed. Liangzhou had believed in Buddhism since the time of Zhang Gui, Dunhuang bordered the Western Regions and clergy and laity shared the old forms, villages and stockades followed one another and there were many pagodas and temples, a state of things that continued through Mengxun's reign. In his last years Mengxun exchanged envoys with Liu Song in the south and with Northern Wei: in 421 Liu Song enfeoffed him prince of Hexi, and in 431 Northern Wei sent envoys to make him prince of Liang. In 433 Mengxun died at the age of sixty-six, with the temple name Taizu and the posthumous name prince Wuxuan, and was buried at Yuanling; and because his designated heir Juqu Puti was young, the nobles set up his elder son Juqu Mujian in his place.

Major Activities

Military Campaigns

Juqu Mengxun displayed considerable military ability. While serving Duan Ye, he captured Xijun by flooding its walls. After taking control of Northern Liang, he defeated Southern Liang and Western Liang and ultimately destroyed Western Liang, unifying most of the Hexi Corridor. Major actions included victory over Tufa Rutan at Junshi in 407; the major defeat of Southern Liang at Qiongquan and advance to Guzang in 410; the victories over Li Xin at Huaicheng and Liaoquan and destruction of Western Liang in 420; and the capture of Dunhuang in 421.

Political Strategy

Juqu Mengxun survived among stronger neighboring states through flexible diplomacy. Early in his rule he maintained good relations with neighboring powers, accepted subordinate status and formal appointments from Later Qin and Southern Liang at different times, gave hostages, and focused on internal development. He promoted capable officials and secured support from civil and military personnel. The source records that he valued agricultural production, issued proclamations reducing labor obligations, and emphasized farming and sericulture. He also sometimes used astronomical signs in making decisions and, during drought, publicly blamed himself and proclaimed pardons below the level of capital crimes.

Cultural Exchange

Juqu Mengxun was well read in history and knew astronomy. He sent his heir Juqu Xingguo to Liu Song to borrow books including the Book of Changes and requested the Soushen Ji from Liu Song official Wang Hong. He supported Buddhism and honored the monk Dharmakṣema from the Western Regions as state preceptor, consulting him on affairs of state. Dharmakṣema translated Buddhist scriptures in Liang Province and contributed to the spread of Buddhism in Hexi. Mengxun also sacrificed at a temple of the Queen Mother of the West and ordered Secretariat Court Gentleman Zhang Mu to compose a rhapsody on the Xuanshi Shentu kept there and inscribe it before the temple.

Relations with Contemporaries

Juqu Mengxun maintained relations with many contemporary powers. He was on friendly terms with Yao Xing of Later Qin and accepted his appointments; fought repeatedly and also negotiated repeatedly with Tufa Rutan of Southern Liang; fought a long war against Li Gao and Li Xin of Western Liang; and exchanged envoys with Liu Song and Northern Wei. His orchestration of the deaths of his cousin Juqu Nancheng and former ruler Duan Ye led the Book of Jin to condemn him for forgetting righteousness when faced with advantage and bringing disaster upon his own kin.

His Strategy of State, Agricultural Policy and Cultural Patronage

In founding the state of Northern Liang, Mengxun showed a clear tendency, when surrounded by strong neighbours, to be outwardly friendly and inwardly to build up his own strength: at the outset he sent envoys to be on good terms with Later Qin and accepted Yao Xing's titles of general of the west, governor of Shazhou and marquis of Xihai, and once sent his son Juqu Xinian to Southern Liang as a hostage, gaining room to develop within; and when Yao Shuode invited him to move east and his chief of staff Zhang Qian pressed him to do so, he took the advice of Juqu Na and Zang Mohai and beheaded Zhang Qian, showing that he would not "leave his native place and be controlled by others." In agriculture, in the proclamation issued after Zhang Qian's death he said plainly that "the war chariots have moved again and again and the spears are never laid down, so that the farmers lose the three seasons of their work and the people have no grain in their houses," and therefore required that "all labour services be remitted, the whole effort given to the southern fields, and clear rules set up, so that the land yield its utmost"; and after taking Jiuquan he kept "the people as peaceful as before, the army taking nothing for itself," so that his discipline in government and war is often praised by historians.

In culture and institutions he was widely read in the histories, understood astronomy and made good use of scholars: he raised Zhang Mu of Dunhuang to be president of the Secretariat with secret business, received Liu Yanming with the title Master of the Mystic Void and built the Lushen Contemplation for him, made Kan Yin gentleman of the secretariat for examination to collate the classics and settle more than three thousand scrolls of the philosophers, and set up the offices of a hundred departments at his capital on the Later Liang model, building a city and palaces, and in the inner park raised the Youlin Hall with portraits of the sages and worthies of antiquity for the discussion of the classics. In religion he made the Western monk Dharmakshema his state preceptor and consulted him on affairs of state, and Dharmakshema's translations at Liangzhou had great influence on the spread of Buddhism in the Hexi region. In foreign relations he was on good terms with Yao Xing of Later Qin and received his titles, fought and made peace by turns with Tufa Nutan of Southern Liang, warred long with Li Gao and Li Xin of Western Liang, and exchanged envoys with Liu Song and Northern Wei, being enfeoffed prince of Hexi by Song and prince of Liang by Wei; his heir Juqu Xingguo was even sent to Liu Song to borrow the Changes and other books and to ask the Song minister Wang Hong for the Records of Searching for Spirits, which shows his care for books. As to his end, from his seizure of power in 401 to his death in 433 he held the Hexi region for more than thirty years; and the Wei envoy Li Shun, returning, told the emperor Shizu that Mengxun had "wielded sole authority west of the river for some thirty years, passed through many hardships and knew something of expedients, and by gathering in the remote corners had made distant men stand in some awe of him, so that though he could not lay up a plan for his grandsons he was able to last out his own lifetime," adding that he had promised in the previous year to send Dharmakshema in the tenth month and yet, when the envoy came to fetch him, went back on it, which showed him disloyal and faithless.

Personal Relations

• Juqu Luochou: uncle
• Juqu Quzhou: uncle
• Juqu Nancheng: cousin
• Juqu Yisheng: younger paternal relative
• Juqu Nu: younger brother
• Empress Meng: wife
• Lady Peng: wife
• Juqu Zhengde: son
• Juqu Xingguo: son
• Juqu Mujian: son
• Juqu Puti: son
• Juqu Wuhui: son
• Juqu Anzhou: son
• Juqu Yide: son
• Juqu Bing: son
• Juqu Donglai: son
• Juqu Xinian: son
• Princess Xingping: daughter
• Juqu Shuxi: daughter
• Zhang Mu: Secretariat Court Gentleman
• Dharmakṣema: state preceptor and monk from the Western Regions
• Duan Ye: former ruler, later killed by Juqu Mengxun
• Liang Zhongyong: subordinate
• Fang Gui: subordinate
• Tian Ang: subordinate
• Zang Mohai: subordinate
• Yao Xing: ruler of Later Qin and source of formal appointments
• Tufa Rutan: ruler of Southern Liang and opponent
• Li Gao: ruler of Western Liang and opponent
• Li Xin: ruler of Western Liang and opponent
• Lü Guang: ruler of Later Liang who killed Mengxun's uncles
• Ma Quan: political rival killed after Mengxun slandered him
• Liu Xiang: palace court gentleman killed after an incident described in the source

Historical Assessment

Northern Liang and Contemporary Assessments

• Duan Ye once lamented that he had failed to listen to Mengxun, comparing him to Zhang Zifang; the remark is recorded in the Book of Jin, vol. 129.
• Juqu Nancheng accused Mengxun of planning rebellion and warned of his intentions, according to the Book of Jin.
• The source records that Juqu Nu privately urged caution concerning a possible eastward move when Yao Shuode appointed Zhang Qian Administrator of Zhangye, illustrating caution among Mengxun's own followers.

Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties

• The Book of Jin described Juqu Mengxun as widely read in history, knowledgeable in astronomy, heroic and strategically gifted, humorous, and skilled at adapting to circumstances, while also condemning him for sacrificing loyalty and kinship for advantage.
• Cui Hong's Spring and Autumn of the Sixteen Kingdoms recorded his career and recognized his role as the effective founder of Northern Liang.

Tang and Song Periods

• Tang historian Liu Zhiji discussed Juqu Mengxun's political adaptability in the Shitong when considering the history of the Sixteen Kingdoms.
• Sima Guang's Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance records Mengxun's career in detail, including his military campaigns and political strategy.

Modern Assessments

• Lü Simian's History of the Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties called Juqu Mengxun a "hero of Hexi" and credited his unification of the region.
• Wang Zhongluo's History of the Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties identifies him as one of the more capable rulers of the late Sixteen Kingdoms period in Hexi.
• Zhou Yiliang's Notes on the History of the Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties discusses his diplomatic relationship with Liu Song.