Han Huang (Jin dynasty)
Han Huang | |
|---|---|
| 韓晃 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown He County, Anhui |
| Died | 329 Mount Pinglang, Liyang, Jiangsu |
| Occupation | Military general |
Han Huang was a Chinese military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420) who served as a subordinate to the rebel Su Jun.
Life
The earliest mention of Han Huang was in 324. That year, Su Jun marched south from Linhuai to join Emperor Ming of Jin's loyalist coalition against the rebel Wang Dun. Su Jun's men had only arrived and were exhausted from marching, which prompted Wang Dun's commanders, Qian Feng and Shen Chong, to attack them immediately. The two crossed the Qinhuai River at Zhuge Islet and captured the barriers before engaging in battle. However, Su Jun ordered Han Huang to flank and attack the rebels from the southern levee, dealing the rebels a huge rout. Wang Dun's insurrection was put down later that year.[1]
In 326, the Later Zhao general Shi Cong (石聰) invaded Jin. The Jin court initially ignored Zu Yue's call for help when Cong attacked Shouchun but panicked when Junqiu (浚遒, in present-day Feidong County, Anhui) and Fuling (阜陵; in present-day Quanjiao County, Anhui) were threatened. Wang Dao was sent to stop him, but just before he could act, Su Jun had already sent Han Huang to help Zu Yue repel Shi Cong. Han Huang and Zu Yue defeated Shi Cong, causing him to retreat back to Zhao.[2]
The following year, Su Jun and Zu Yue rebelled against Jin. Su Jun's first course of action was to capture Jin's food supply at Gushu (姑孰, in present-day Dangtu County, Anhui). Han Huang and his contemporaries went to capture it, and once they did, they marched to Cihu (慈湖, in present-day Jinjiazhung District, Anhui) where they killed the Prefect of Yuhu (于湖, in present-day Wuhu, Anhui), Tao Fu (陶馥) and the general Sima Liu (司馬流).[3] Later, Han Huang campaigned against Huan Yi at Wuhu. After pushing him back, Han Huang advanced to Xuancheng, pillaging the area before returning to Su Jun.[4]
As loyalist troops began surrounding Su Jun, Su Jun sent Han Huang to Yixing. Han Huang fought with Huan Yi's general Yu Zong (俞縱) at Lanshi (蘭石, in present-day Xuancheng, Anhui). Although Han Huang was close to annihilating Yu Zong's army, Yu refused to retreat and perished in battle. Han Huang proceeded to attack Jing County where Huan Yi had camped. Han Huang killed Huan in battle after Huan's subordinate Jiang Bo (江播) betrayed him.[5]
Han Huang was in the midst of taking Daye (大業, in present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) when news of Su Jun's death reached him in November. Su Jun's followers had appointed his brother Su Yi (蘇逸) as his successor at Shitou, so Han Huang withdrew from Daye to meet with his new superior. The following year, Han Huang joined Su Yi in attacking the governmental complex at Jiankang. Han Huang fought Mao Bao where the two was said to have exchanged banter. Han said to Mao, "Sir, aren't you renowned for your valour and skill? Why not come out and fight?" to which Mao replied, "Sir, aren't you renowned for your stalwart leadership? Why don't you come in here and fight?" Han laughed before withdrawing.[6]
After the death of Su Jun's other brother, Su Shuo (蘇碩), Han Huang and the rebels became worried as loyalist forces approached Shitou. Han Huang and the others decided to lead Su Yi and his remaining forces to Qu'a (曲阿, in present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) to join Zhang Jian (張健). However, the passes and gates in Shitou were so narrow that the rebels began stampeding on each other, leaving thousands dead. It also gave loyalist troops ample time to catch up with the rebels. They managed to capture and execute Su Yi, but Han Huang and the others were able to escape, changing their destination to Guzhang.
The loyalist commander, Chi Jian, sent his Army Advisor, Li Hong (李閎), to pursue the remaining rebels. Li Hong caught up with the rebels and surrounded them at Mount Pingling (平陵山, in present-day Liyang, Jiangsu). Zhang Jian and the rest of the rebel leaders were afraid to come down from the mountain, but Han Huang personally went out with two quivers of arrows and sat on a chair. Han Huang took aim at the loyalists and killed many of them. It was not until he ran out of arrows that he would be killed. Shortly after, the rebel commanders surrendered and were executed, thus ending Su Jun's rebellion.[7]
References
- ^ (敦遣峻兄說峻曰：「富貴可坐取，何為自來送死？」峻不從，遂率眾赴京師，頓于司徒故府。道遠行速，軍人疲困。沈充、錢鳳謀曰：「北軍新到，未堪攻戰，擊之必克。若復猶豫，後難犯也」賊於其夜度竹格渚，拔柵將戰，峻率其將韓晃于南塘橫截，大破之。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
- ^ (石勒將石聰攻壽陽，不克，遂侵逡遒、阜陵。加司徒王導大司馬、假黃鉞、都督中外征討諸軍事以禦之。歷陽太守蘇峻遣其將韓晃討石聰，走之。) Book of Jin, Volume 7
- ^ (峻遣將韓晃、張健等襲姑孰，進逼慈湖，殺于湖令陶馥及振威將軍司馬流。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
- ^ (辛未，彝進屯蕪湖。韓晃擊破之，因進攻宣城，彝退保廣德，晃大掠諸縣而還。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 93
- ^ (韓晃又攻宣城，害太守桓彝。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
- ^ (蘇逸、蘇碩、韓晃幷力攻臺城，焚太極東堂及祕閣，毛寶登城，射殺數十人。晃謂寶曰：「君名勇果，何不出鬬？」寶曰：「君名健將，何不入鬬？」晃笑而退。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 94
- ^ (健又疑弘徽等不與己同，盡殺之，更以舟軍自延陵向長塘，小大二萬餘口，金銀寶物不可勝數。揚烈將軍王允之與吳興諸軍擊健，大破之，獲男女萬餘口。健復與馬雄、韓晃等輕軍俱走，閎率銳兵追之，及於岩山，攻之甚急。健等不敢下山，惟晃獨出，帶兩步靫箭，卻據胡床，彎弓射之，傷殺甚眾。箭盡，乃斬之。健等遂降，並梟其首。) Book of Jin, Volume 100
- Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.