Quan Yi

Quan Yi (fl. 4th century), courtesy name Ziliang, was a minister of Former Qin and Later Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Quan Yi was one of the followers of the Qiang general, Yao Xiang, who surrendered from Later Zhao to the Jin dynasty (266–420). After Yao Xiang was killed in 357, Quan Yi followed Xiang's brother, Yao Chang and surrendered to Former Qin, where he served for 28 years. Following the disastrous Battle of Feishui in 383, Quan Yi attempted to stop Murong Chui from reaching the north and declaring independence but was outmaneuvered. As Western Yan troops encircled the capital Chang'an, Quan Yi fled to Yao Chang, now ruler of Later Qin, where he remained until his death.

Quan Yi
權翼
Assistant Gentleman Attendant of the Yellow Gate (給事黃門侍郎)
In office 357 – ?
Monarch	Fu Jian
Secretary of the Personnel (吏部尚書)
In office ? – 370
Monarch	Fu Jian
Deputy Director of the Right of the Masters of Writing (尚書右僕射)
In office 370 – ?
Monarch	Fu Jian
Colonel-Director of Retainers (司隸校尉)
In office ? – 385
Monarch	Fu Jian
Minister of Ceremonies (太常)
In office ? – ?
Monarch	Yao Chang
Personal details
Born	Unknown Lueyang County, Hanzhong, Shaanxi
Died	Unknown
Relations	Quan Deyu (descendant)
Courtesy name	Ziliang (子良)

Quan Yi was also supposedly the ancestor of the Tang dynasty chancellor, Quan Deyu.

As follower of Yao Xiang

In 352, the ruling Shi family of Later Zhao was destroyed by Ran Min. The Zhao general, Yao Yizhong, gave orders to his sons to flee south and serve the Jin dynasty as he grew deathly ill. After his death, his son Yao Xiang succeeded him and immediately carried out his dying wishes. Yao Xiang and his followers made his way down south but stopped along the way at Que'ao Crossing (碻磝, in present-day Chiping District, Shandong) to hand out appointments to his underlings. One of them was Quan Yi, a native of Lueyang County, and he was given the responsibility of being Yao Xiang's Army Advisor together with Xue Zan (薛贊). Although the group was intercepted by Former Qin forces along the way, Yao Xiang managed to reach Jin territory in the end and submitted to the court.[1]

Service under the Jin dynasty

However, Yao Xiang did not get along with Jin's leading commander, Yin Hao. During the Jin northern expedition of 353, Yin Hao grew disturbed of Yao Xiang's independent power and wanted to get rid of him. He tried to assassinate him twice but both attempts failed. In the second attempt, Yin Hao's general Wei Jing (魏憬) led the ill-fated ambush against Yao Xiang and was killed. After his death, Wei Jing's family continuously visited Yao Xiang and Yin Hao's base in Shouchun, much to Yao Xiang's worries. Yao Xiang sent Quan Yi to talk to Yin Hao regarding the recent turn of events.[2]

As Quan Yi and Yin Hao discussed, Yin Hao accused Yao Xiang of acting discretely without consulting him. Quan Yi remonstrated him by saying that the reason his lord served Jin was because he had heard of how well the ministers ran the state. He further accused Yin Hao of being the main culprit for the suspicion between the two. Yin Hao continued to criticize Yao Xiang by saying that he executes anyone as he pleases but allowed one of his soldiers to go free after he stole Yin Hao's horse. Quan Yi replied, “You had said that the General Yao is a powerful man, too difficult to control, and that you plan to subdue him one day. That was why he took your horse, in order to defend himself." Yin Hao laughed and simply said, "Now how could that be?"[3]

Shortly after the talk, another northern expedition was held, but during the campaign, Yao Xiang rebelled and successfully ambushed Yin Hao's army. Quan Yi followed Yao Xiang throughout his independent career until his lord was killed by Former Qin forces in 357. Quan Yi followed his brother Yao Chang, who brought over the army to surrender to the Qin forces after his death.[4]

Service under Former Qin

After he joined the state, Quan Yi found himself favouring Fu Jian, the cousin of the Qin emperor, Fu Sheng. However, Quan Yi and Xue Zan were both concerned of Fu Sheng's tyrannical behaviours and wanted Fu Jian to rise up against him. They told him, "Our Lord is distrusting and cruel, those within and outside are appalled by him. Qin deserves a better ruler, and who else could it be but Your Highness?" After consulting Lü Polou (呂婆樓), Fu Jian agreed, recruited the hermit Wang Meng, and, when the time was ripe, he led the troops against Fu Sheng and deposed him.[5]

After Fu Jian ascended the throne, Quan Yi was appointed Assistant Gentleman of the Yellow Gates. He and Xue Zan worked together with Wang Meng, handling confidential affairs in the government.[6] During a visit to Longmen, where Fu Jian carried out sacrifices to the Five Shrines (龍門五畤), Fu Jian began to admire the scenery, and told his ministers, "Beautiful, yet these mountains and rivers are ever impenetrable." Quan Yi replied, "Wu Qi once said that there is no danger in virtue, and I sincerely hope that Your Majesty will follow the examples of Yao and Shun and cherish virtue. The strength of these mountains and rivers are not enough." Fu Jian was pleased by his input.[7]

For the next few years, Quan Yi rose to the position of Supervisor of the Masters of Writing. In 370, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Right of the Masters of Writing.[8]

That same year, he met with the ten-year-old Murong Feng (慕容鳳), son of Murong Huan (慕容桓). His father was killed after he tried to continue the war even after his emperor, Murong Wei had surrendered. Quan Yi advised him, "Child, you display promising talents. Do not follow your father, who was ignorant of destiny." Murong Feng scolded him, "My father merely acted out of loyalty! Even if he failed, he possessed the trait of a minister! If people accepted what you had said, how can the future be persuaded to righteousness?" Quan Yi quickly apologized to him and later informed the incident to Fu Jian. He laments Feng's wasted potential and his refusal to wholly serve Qin, saying 'a wolf-like child has an evil heart (但狼子野)' in regards to him.[9]

Intercepting Murong Chui

For the next decade, Fu Jian continued his conquest of China, eventually leaving the Jin dynasty as the last remaining state in China to oppose the Qin expansion. Fu Jian wanted to conquer the southlands once and for all. However, this was met with heavy opposition from some prominent officials including Quan Yi, Fu Rong, Dao'an and Shi Yue in 382. Quan Yi argued that although Jin was weak, the alliance of Huan Chong and Xie An was strong and their officials were still loyal to their dynasty. Quan Yi also submitted a petition remonstrating him but his suggestion fell on deaf ears.[10]

As many had expected, Fu Jian's string of success came to a screeching halt with a terrible defeat at the Battle of Feishui in 383. Although Fu Jian managed to return to the north, the effects of the battle were beginning to show, as the Murong clan began to make their moves. Murong Chui was persuaded by his son, Murong Nong to revive their fallen state of Yan in Liaodong. Chui agreed, and at Mianchi, he successfully tricked Fu Jian into letting him move to the northern borders, supposedly to secure the area from revolts. Quan Yi saw through his ruse, and quickly told Fu Jian to recall him back to the capital. However, Fu Jian was confident in Murong Chui's loyalty and refused to do so.[11]

Despite Fu Jian's rejection, Quan Yi was determined to stop Murong Chui from reaching the north. Quan Yi, without Fu Jian's knowledge, sent warriors to intercept Murong Chui at the bridge across the Yellow River south of Kongcang (空倉). Murong Chui suspected something was off, so instead of taking the bridge, he created rafts in order for he and his men to cross the river. Meanwhile, he had one of his officers, Cheng Tong (程同) to wear his clothes and ride his horse while leading his boy attendants to use the bridge. Quan Yi's men ambushed Cheng Tong but he managed to escape, and so did Murong Chui.[12]

Fall of Chang'an

The following year in 384, Former Qin began to fall apart. Murong Chui broke away and formed Later Yan, while his nephew Murong Hong created Western Yan. Yao Chang would also later declare independence and form Later Qin that year. Fu Jian regretted not following Quan Yi's advice and asked him what their next move should be. Quan Yi told him, "The enemies would not last for long. Murong Chui is preoccupied in securing east of the mountains, and will not pose a threat. Our primary concern should be within the capital region, where the Xianbei clans densely reside. You should deal with this immediately." Fu Jian agreed and handed out new appointments to his loyalists officials.[13]

In 385, Western Yan forces were close to conquering Qin's capital of Chang'an. Fu Jian had fled the city, promising to return with an army to save it. However, Fu Jian never returned as he was captured by Later Qin forces and eventually executed. Meanwhile, the Western Yan forces eventually overwhelmed the defenses, prompting Fu Jian's son, Fu Hong (苻宏) to abandon the capital. Quan Yi also fled the city with many others including Xue Zan, Huangfu Fu (皇甫覆), Zhao Qian (趙遷) and Duan Keng (段鏗) over to Later Qin.[14]

Service under Later Qin

Quan Yi was once a subordinate of Yao Chang and his brother, which was why he decided to go over to his state. Yao Chang accepted Quan Yi's surrender and even allowed him to serve in his government. His only known position during his stint in Later Qin was the Minister of Ceremonies. He remained with the state for the rest of his life, but is not exactly known when he passed away.

Yao Chang was straightforward and harsh with his criticism, not afraid to insult and humiliate anyone he saw wrong in front of everybody. One day, Quan Yi admonished him to tone down his character. He said to the emperor, "Your Majesty holds a self-ordained position. You should not entertain this sort of triviality. To attract the heroes, he casted his net to the talented, and remembered the good while forgiving the bad. These were the qualities of Han Gaozu. It is not too late to change your ways." However, Yao Chang replied, "This is simply my nature. Not a single part of me resembles Emperor Shun, and I have quite a few of Han Gaozu's flaw. But if the people do not hear my words, how else would they know of their wrongdoings?"[15]

References

1. (弋仲死，襄秘不發喪，率戶六萬南攻陽平、元城、發幹，皆破之，殺掠三千餘家，屯於碻磝津。以太原王亮為長史，天水尹赤為司馬，略陽伏子成為左部帥，南安斂岐為右部帥，略陽黑那為前部帥，強白為後部帥，太原薛贊、略陽王權翼為參軍。南至滎陽，始發喪行服。) Book of Jin, Volume 116
2. (魏憬子弟數往來壽春，襄益疑懼，遣參軍權翼使於浩。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 99
3. (襄遣權翼詣浩，浩曰：「姚平北每舉動自由，豈所望也。」翼曰：「將軍輕納奸言，自生疑貳，愚謂猜嫌之由，不在於彼。」浩曰：「姚君縱放小人，盜竊吾馬，王臣之體固若是乎？」翼曰：「將軍謂姚平北以威武自強，終為難保，校兵練眾，將懲不恪，取馬者欲以自衛耳。」浩曰：「何至是也。」) Book of Jin, Volume 116
4. (襄後為苻眉所殺... 襄之敗也，萇率子弟降於苻堅。) Book of Northern Wei, Volume 95
5. (東海王堅，素有時譽，與故姚襄參軍薛贊、權翼善。贊、翼密說堅曰：「主上猜忍暴虐，中外離心，方今宜主秦祀者，非殿下而誰！願早為計，勿使它姓得之！」堅以問尚書呂婆樓，婆樓曰：「僕，刀鐶上人耳，不足以辦大事。僕裡捨有王猛者，其人謀略不世出，殿下宜請而咨之。」) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 100
6. (秦王堅以權翼為給事黃門侍郎，薛贊為中書侍郎，與王猛並掌機密。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 100
7. (二年四月，堅如龍門五畤。六月，如河東，祀后土。八月，自臨晉登龍門，顧謂羣臣曰：「美哉，山河之固。」權翼對曰：「吳起有言，在德不在險，深願陛下追蹤唐虞，懷遠以德。山河之固，不足恃也。」堅大悅，至韓原，觀晉魏顆鬼結草抗秦軍之處，賦詩而歸。) Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 4
8. (三月，秦王堅以吏部尚書權翼為尚書右僕射。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 102
9. (慕容桓之子鳳，年十一，陰有復仇之志。鮮卑、丁零有氣干者，皆傾身與之交結。權翼見而謂之曰：「兒方以才望自顯，勿效爾父不識天命！」鳳厲色曰：「先王欲建忠而不遂，此乃人臣之節；君侯之言，豈獎勸將來之義乎！」翼改容謝之，言於秦王堅曰：「慕容鳳忼慨有才器，但狼子野心，恐終不為人用耳。」) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 102
10. (尚書左僕射權翼曰：「昔紂為無道，三仁在朝，武王猶為之旋師。今晉雖微弱，未有大惡。謝安、桓沖皆江表偉人，君臣輯睦，內外同心。以臣觀之，未可圖也。」堅嘿然良久，曰：「諸君各言其志。」) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 105
11. (堅未及關而垂有二志，說堅請巡撫燕岱，並求拜墓，堅許之。權翼固諫以為不可，堅不從。) Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 4
12. (權翼密遣壯士邀垂於河橋南空倉中，垂疑之，自涼馬台結草筏以渡，使典軍程同衣己衣，乘己馬，與僮僕趣河橋。伏兵發，同馳馬獲免。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 106
13. (堅謂權翼曰：「吾不從卿言，鮮卑至是。關東之地，吾不復與之爭，若將泓何？」翼曰：「寇不可長，慕容垂正可據山東為亂，不暇近逼，今暐及宗族種類，盡在京師，鮮卑之衆，布於畿甸，實社稷之憂，宜遣重將討之。」堅乃以廣平公熙鎮蒲阪。苻睿為都督，配兵五萬，姚萇為司馬，討泓于華澤。) Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 4
14. (沖入長安。堅司隸校尉權翼、尚書趙遷、大鴻臚皇甫覆、光祿大夫薛贊、扶風太守段鏗等文武數百人奔於萇。) Book of Jin, Volume 116
15. (立社稷于長安。百姓年七十有德行者，拜為中大夫，歲賜牛酒... 貳城胡曹寅、王達獻馬三千匹。以寅為鎮北將軍、并州刺史，達鎮遠將軍、金城太守。萇性簡率，群下有過，或面加罵辱。太常權翼言於萇曰：「陛下弘達自任，不修小節，駕馭群雄，苞羅俊異，棄嫌錄善，有高祖之量。然輕慢之風，所宜除也。」萇曰：「吾之性也。吾於舜之美，未有片焉；漢祖之短，已收其一。若不聞讜言，安知過也！」) Book of Jin, Volume 116

• Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
• Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.
• Cui, Hong (501-522). Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms (Shiliuguo Chunqiu)