Chen An

Chen An was serving the Prince of Nanyang, Sima Mo by the time of the Disaster of Yongjia in 311. As the disaster broke out, Sima Mo was captured and killed by Han Zhao forces, and Chen An decided to flee to his son, Sima Bao, who was the Inspector of Qinzhou at the time. During his time with Sima Bao, Chen An led a campaign suppressing the rebelling Qiang tribes in Qinzhou, and for this, Sima Bao showed him great courtesy and respect.[1]

Chen An's special treatment was not well-received by another general of Sima Bao, Zhang Chun (張春). In 315, Zhang slandered Chen An and convinced Sima Bao that he would rebel at any given time. Although they were in agreement, Sima Bao could not bring himself to execute Chen An, so Zhang Chun took matters in his own hands. He sent an assassin to kill Chen An, but Chen was only wounded by the assassin's blade before he rode away to Longcheng. There, Chen An made himself an independent warlord, but he did send a messenger informing Sima Bao that he would continuously send tribute to him.[2]

The Jin government in Chang'an fell to Han Zhao forces and Emperor Min of Jin was held captive in 316. In early 317, Former Liang forces led by Han Pu were preparing to launch a counter-attack against Han, and Chen An involved himself to serve as a vanguard. The attack never took place, as Han Pu's forces met with difficulties in marching into Han territory.[3]

Shortly after, Chen An sided himself with Han Zhao. He and another minor warlord named Jiao Song (焦嵩) invaded Sima Bao's territory in Longshi together with the Han general Liu Yao. Their invasion had a devastating effect, as a large portion of the Yongzhou and Qinzhou population was wiped out. Chen An and Jiao Song carried on their assault into the following year in 318, when they were now threatening Sima Bao's capital of Shanggui.[4]

In 319, fulfilling his imperial ambition, Sima Bao declared himself the Prince of Jin. In response, Chen An named himself Inspector of Qinzhou and formally submitted to both Han Zhao and Cheng Han. As Chen An encroached into Shanggui, Sima Bao fled to Nan'an (南安; southeast of present-day Longxi County, Gansu) but reinforcements from Former Liang pushed Chen An back to Mianzhu, so Sima Bao returned to his capital. Chen An threatened Shanggui again not long after but once again withdrew due to Former Liang reinforcements.[5]

Sima Bao was killed by his subordinates Yang Ci(楊次) and Zhang Chun in 320 over his disagreements (another source states he died naturally). Zhang Chun appointed a junior kinsman of Sima Bao to succeed him named Sima Zhan (司馬瞻), who was also made Grand General. Chen An petitioned to Liu Yao (now Emperor of Han Zhao) to campaign against Sima Zhan. Liu Yao made Chen An Grand General and the latter attacked and killed the newly made successor. Zhang Chun fled to Fuhan (枹罕; southwest of present-day Linxia County, Gansu) but Yang Ci was captured. Chen An beheaded Yang Ci in front of Sima Bao's coffin as a sacrifice and later buried his former lord at Shanggui. Chen An carried out funeral rites exactly to that of the Son of Heaven and posthumously named Sima Bao "Prince Yuan".[6]

In 322, Liu Yao was returning from a campaign in Chouchi. Although somewhat a success, a plague had struck his army and Liu Yao himself was made deathly ill. While returning, Chen An requested that he meet with the emperor, but as Liu Yao was still sick, he was denied. Chen An was greatly angered at his rejection, so much so that he came to the conclusion that Liu Yao was actually dead. Before leaving to intercept the returning army, Chen An plundered the area he was in.[7]

As he reached Liu Yao, Chen An was met with Liu's general, Huyan Shi (呼延寔) at the rear. Chen An ambushed and captured him but later invited him to join his army, still thinking that Liu Yao had passed. However, Huyan Shi raised his voice at him and told him to kill him instead, causing Chen An to be enraged. Chen An had him killed and had Huyan's Chief Clerk, Lu Ping (魯憑) to serve him as Army Advisor. He then proceeded to have his brother, Chen Ji (陳集) to chase after Liu Yao but Ji was killed in a counter-attack from Huyan Yu (呼延瑜).[8]

Chen An retreated to Shanggui and had his generals subdue Qian County (汧縣; south of present-day Long County, Shaanxi). The Qiang and Di tribes of Longshang all surrendered to Chen An, expanding his troops number. Chen An then declared himself Grand Commander, Bearer of the Golden Battle-axe, Grand General, Governor of Yongzhou, Liangzhou, Qinzhou, and Lianzhou, and King of Liang. Lu Ping wept and said to Chen An, "I cannot bear to see your death!" Chen took his remark negatively and had him beheaded. Before he died, Lu Ping told him, "After you've cut off my head, hang it up in the marketplace at Shanggui, so I can watch Zhao behead Chen An in turn!" Liu Yao heard of Lu Ping's death and thought that Chen An's inability to gather talents will be his downfall.[9]

The following year in 323, Chen An besieged the Zhao general Liu Gong (劉貢) at Nan'an. He was greatly routed as enemy reinforcements led by Shi Wu (石武) arrived to assist Liu Gong. With his remaining cavalries, he fled back to Longcheng where he prepared to defend himself. In autumn, Liu Yao personally led an army to attack Longcheng while sending another to subjugate Shanggui. Chen An would usually come out and carry out attacks on the invaders but these all ended in defeat. Meanwhile, Liu Yao's general Liu Gan (劉幹) captured Pingxiang (平襄; in present-day Tianshui, Gansu) and prompted the counties of Longshang to surrender.[10]

Chen An left his generals Yang Bozhi (楊伯支) and Jiang Chong'er (姜沖兒) to defend Longcheng while he led his elite cavalry to break through and flee to Xiazhong (陜中; south of present-day Qin'an County, Gansu). As he fled, Liu Yao sent his Ping Xian (平先) to pursue him. Chen An dual wielded a great blade and a serpent spear which he used to kill many of his pursuers. He also had a bow which he used to dispatch enemy troops from a far as he fled. Ping Xian eventually caught up to him and the two dueled with one another, and in three bouts, Ping Xian managed to disarm Chen An's spear. However, night was approaching and there was a heavy downpour. Chen An used this to his advantage and slipped away into the hills with his followers.[11]

The Zhao troops carried out searches but could not find him. The next day, Chen An sent his general Shi Rong (石容) to scout on the Zhao troops. Unfortunately for him, Shi Rong was caught by the Zhao general Huyan Qingren (呼延青人). Shi Rong was interrogated and tortured but would not give away Chen An's location. In the end, he was killed, and Huyan Qingren instead used Shi Rong's traces to find Chen An. Chen An was discovered at the bend of a river gully, and was subsequently captured and beheaded on the spot.[12]

Chen An was said to have been very close to his generals and soldiers as he would subjugate himself to the same hardships that they went through. After he was killed, the people of Longshang was saddened, and decided to compose a song in honour of his recent passing called "Ode to a Stalwart Warrior (壯士之歌)". When Liu Yao heard about this song, he grew sentimental and ordered it to be sung.[13]

Chen An was also a subject of a poem written by the 8th century Tang dynasty poet, Li Bai. In his poem, "Song of the Sima General (司馬將軍歌)", he subtitled the poem with "On Behalf of Longshang Soldier Chen An (以代隴上健兒陳安)".[14]

• Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
• Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian