Duan Pidi

Duan Pidi (died 321) was a Duan-Xianbei chieftain during the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Sixteen Kingdoms period. Pidi was initially a general under his brother and head of the clan, Duan Jilujuan but in 314, Pidi went his own way by declaring himself a Jin vassal based in Youzhou, warring against Han Zhao. Pidi was considered as Jin's most powerful vassal in the north, more so after the Inspector of Bingzhou, Liu Kun lost his province in 316. However, after his controversial execution of Liu Kun, who he swore an oath with, support for him quickly faded away as his people no longer deemed him trustworthy. He was continually defeated by Shi Le that by 319, he had lost his province and was living under another Jin vassal, Shao Xu in Yanci (厭次, around present-day Dezhou, Shandong). Pidi fought on until 321, when he was finally handed over to Shi Le by Shao Xu's family. Although treated well in captivity, Pidi showed little respect to Shi Le, and was eventually executed due to worries that he would revolt. His name can be rendered as Duan Pixi.

Duan Pidi
段匹磾
Inspector of Youzhou(幽州刺史)
In office
314–321
MonarchEmperor Min of Jin/Emperor Yuan of Jin
Champion General (冠軍將軍)
In office
321–321
MonarchShi Le
Personal details
BornUnknown
Died321
RelationsDuan Jilujuan (brother)
Duan Wenyang (brother)
Duan Shujun (brother)
FatherDuan Wuwuchen
In this Chinese name, the family name is Duan.

Early life and career

Duan Pidi was a member of the Duan clan of Liaoxi who were of Xianbei ethnicity. His father was Duan Wuwuchen, who was the head of the clan between 303 and 311. At the start of the 4th century, the Duan tribe had allied with the Youzhou warlord, Wang Jun and contributed greatly to his rise to power during the War of the Eight Princes. They continued to aid him diligently, helping him in his wars against Han Zhao and his rival warlord, Liu Kun. Wuwuchen died sometime between 310 and 311 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Duan Jilujuan.[1]

In 312, the Han Zhao controlled city of Yuanxiang (苑鄕, in present-day Hebei and Beijing) surrendered to Wang Jun. In retaliation, the Han general, Shi Le sent out his generals to recapture the city. To divert their attention, Wang Jun struck at Shi Le's base in Xiangguo, sending his Protector Wang Chang (王昌) and Duan Jilujuan. Jilujuan brought along Pidi together with his brother Duan Wenyang (段文鴦) and his cousin Duan Mopei (otherwise known as Duan Mopo).[2] During the battle at Xiangguo, Mopei was captured by Shi Le, but was shown courtesy despite being a prisoner. It was then when Jilujuan decided to associate his family with Shi Le, seeing that he has no grudge to his family whatsoever. This resulted in the Duan clan turning on Wang Jun that year, starting his steady decline in power.[3]

Wang Jun was executed in 314 after Shi Le captured him in Jicheng. After Wang's defeat, Shi Le appointed a man named Liu Han (劉翰) to be the acting Inspector of Jizhou and had him positioned at Wang's former capital. However, Liu Han did not want to serve Shi Le, so he fled to Duan Pidi, who he offered control over Jicheng. Pidi accepted, occupied the city and eventually submitted himself to Sima Rui, the paramount leader of Jin in the south.[4] For his submission, Sima Rui made him Inspector of Youzhou.Pidi also invited Shi Le's Administrator of Leling, Shao Xu to submit to the Jin prince as well. Shao Xu agreed, despite some opposition, so Shi Le sent his army to besiege Shao Xu. Pidi sent Duan Wenyang to reinforce Shao Xu, so Shi Le called off his attack.[5]

As Inspector of Youzhou

Alliance with Liu Kun

In 316, Shi Le sent his nephew Shi Hu to attack the Administrator of Wei Commandery, Liu Yan. Pidi sent Wenyang to rescue Liu Yan (劉演), and while Wei fell to Shi Hu, Liu managed to escape to Wenyang's army.[6] Later that year, the Inspector of Bingzhou, Liu Kun was decisively defeated and lost his province to Shi Le. As Liu Kun was left with nowhere to go, Pidi sent a letter to invite him over to his base in Jicheng. Liu Kun took what was left of his army to meet with Pidi and the two men befriended each other upon meeting. While establishing a brotherly bond, Pidi and Liu Kun arranged their relatives to marry one another.[7]

The next year in 317, Pidi and Liu Kun took their friendship a step further and swore an oath of alliance by smearing their lips with blood. Afterwards, they sent respective envoys to deliver a joint petition urging Sima Rui to claim the imperial title in Jiankang. Liu Kun chose his nephew Wen Jiao to deliver the petition while Pidi chose his Chief Clerk of the Left, Rong Shao (榮卲). After sending the envoys, Pidi acclaimed Liu Kun as Grand Commander. He also tried to get his Duan Jilujuan to join forces with him and launch a campaign against Shi Le from Gu'an. However, Duan Mopei advised Jilujuan against agreeing with Pidi, as he thought that the elder brother should not be taking orders from the younger. Jilujuan did not respond, and Pidi had to cancel his campaign.[8]

Arrest and execution of Liu Kun

Jilujuan passed away in early 318 and was succeeded by his uncle, Duan Shefuchen, as Jilujuan's heir was too young to lead. Pidi left Jicheng to attend his funeral but without his knowledge, Duan Mopei manipulated Shefuchen into believing that Pidi was only attending to usurp his power. At Zuobeiping, Shefuchen attacked Pidi, leaving himself defenseless. From behind, Mopei betrayed Shefuchen and assassinated him, declaring himself the new Chanyu. Mopei then took command of the attack and routed Pidi while capturing Liu Kun's son Liu Qun (劉群), who was escorting Pidi to the funeral.[9]

Mopei treated Liu Qun well and was even considering to support Liu Kun in becoming the new Inspector of Youzhou. He had Liu Qun write a letter to his father asking him to work as an agent within Pidi's camp but his messenger was caught by Pidi's scouts en route. Liu Kun knew nothing of the letter, so Pidi decided to confront and inform him of the incident. Pidi harboured no suspicion towards him and Liu himself assured him that he had no intentions to betray him. Pidi let him off at first but then his younger brother, Duan Shujun (段叔軍), told him, "We are tribesmen, after all, and anyone who can retain the loyalty of the Jin people (ethnic Han) will fear our own forces. Now there is this strife within our family, splitting apart the flesh and the bones, and Liu Kun must have planned for this day all along. If you allow Liu Kun to rise, it will mean the end of all our clan."[10]

Pidi reconsidered his decisions and had Liu Kun arrested. Liu Kun's son, Liu Zun (劉遵), upon hearing his father's arrest, mounted a defense in his own camp but Pidi soon arrived and captured it. Two of Liu Kun's generals, Pilü Song (辟閭嵩) and Han Ju (韓據), also planned to retaliate but Pidi had them and their followers executed after their plot leaked. On the 22nd of June, Pidi claimed that he had received an imperial edict to arrest Liu Kun and subsequently executed him and four of his sons and nephews through strangulation.[11]

Sima Rui took no action against Pidi despite his killing of Liu Kun, as he and the court believed that Pidi was still a strong and valuable ally worth keeping. No mourning was held for Liu Kun either but petitions from Wen Jiao and Duan Mopei to have him posthumously honoured were made and came into effect years later. Liu Kun was still a popular figure when Pidi killed him and furthermore, the breaking of his oath caused many of the Han Chinese and tribal people to lose their trust for Pidi, beginning his steady decline in power.[12]

Alliance with Shao Xu

Fleeing to Shao Xu

Duan Mopei took the opportunity to attack Pidi shortly after Liu Kun's death. Pidi led his army away from battle and tried to flee to Shao Xu, now Inspector of Jizhou, in Leling but was badly routed by Shi Le's general Shi Yue (石越) at Mount Yan. Pidi retreated back to Jicheng while Mopei declared himself the new Inspector of Youzhou. Pidi remained in his city for a year but by 319, the situation had worsened. Shi Le's general Kong Chang had taken all of Youzhou's commanderies while most of Pidi's soldiers abandoned him due to the lack of food. Pidi planned on moving to Shanggu but the Prince of Dai, Tuoba Yulü, was preparing to attack him there. With nowhere left to go, Pidi abandoned his wife and children and fled to Shao Xu, this time successfully arriving at Leling.[13]

Defence of Yanci

In 320, Pidi's army was attacked and defeated by Mopei. Pidi pleaded to Shao Xu to assist him in getting back at Mopei, so the two men lead their forces and routed him. Pidi followed up his victory by attacking Jicheng together with Duan Wenyang but this proved a fatal mistake as Shao Xu was left exposed to Shi Le. Shi Le sent his nephew Shi Hu to attack Yanci, where he captured Shao Xu alive. News of Shao Xu's capture reached Pidi, causing him to rush back to save the city. Duan Wenyang managed to help their army fight their way back into the city, where Pidi led the defense together with Shao Xu's family. Wenyang also scored a victory against Kong Chang the middle of that year but it was not enough to completely repel Shi Le.[14]

Fighting continued on to the next year in 321. Shi Hu attacked Pidi at Yanci again while Kong Chang occupied his inner cities. Duan Wenyang volunteered himself to lead a daring charge with his cavalries to push back the invaders. Wenyang valiantly fought and killed dozens of Shi Hu's soldiers. Even after his horse had collapsed, Wenyang fought back with his spear, and when his spear snapped, he fought with his blade. This lasted for a day but Wenyang was finally captured Shi Hu, and his defeat lowered the morale of the Jin defenders within the city.[15]

Defeat and death

Faced with imminent defeat, Pidi planned to flee alone to the south to seek protection under Sima Rui. However, Shao Xu's brother, Shao Le (邵樂) detained him, while also having Sima Rui's envoy, Wang Ying (王英) sent to Shi Hu. Pidi scolded Shao Le, "It is bad enough that you are unable to honor your brother's legacy and that you stop me from going to join the court. But now you want to arrest the envoy of the Son of Heaven too. Even I, a tribesman, have never heard of such a thing before!" Shortly after, Shao Ji and his sons bound themselves to coffins and went out to surrender.[16]

When Pidi met with Shi Hu, he said to him, "I have received the favor of Jin, and my ambition was to destroy you. It is my misfortune that things have come to this, but I cannot respect you." Shi Le and Shi Hu had always respected Pidi, so much so that after his capture, Shi Hu lifted him up in the air and had him saluted. Pidi was made Champion General while Wenyang was made General of the Household Gentlemen of the Left. Pidi's defeat meant that Shi Le now possessed all of Youzhou, Jizhou and Bingzhou.[17]

Despite Shi Le's favour for him, Pidi was not as mutual towards Shi Le. Pidi often dressed himself in clothings used in the Jin court and held the imperial staff of authority that Sima Rui presented him with. Shi Le grew concern that Pidi's attitude was foreboding a future revolt. In the end, Shi Le had Pidi put to death together with his brother Wenyang and his former ally Shao Xu, although his other immediate family members were spared.[18]

References
  1. (就六眷與弟匹磾、從弟末波等率五萬餘騎圍石勒於襄國。) Book of Northern Wei, Volume 103
  2. (就六眷與弟匹磾、從弟末波等率五萬餘騎圍石勒於襄國。) Book of Northern Wei, Volume 103
  3. (王浚使棗嵩督諸軍屯易水，召段疾陸眷，欲與之共擊石勒，疾陸眷不至。浚怒，以重幣賂拓跋猗盧，幷檄慕容廆等共討疾陸眷。猗盧遣右賢王六脩將兵會之，爲疾陸眷所敗。廆遣慕容翰攻段氏，取徒河、新城，至陽樂，聞六脩敗而還，翰因留鎭徒河，壁青山。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 88
  4. (劉翰不欲從石勒，乃歸段匹磾，匹磾遂據薊城。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 89
  5. (會段匹磾以書邀續同歸左丞相睿，續從之。其人皆曰：「今棄勒歸匹磾，其如乂何？」續泣曰：「我豈得顧子而爲叛臣哉！」殺異議者數人。勒聞之，殺乂。續遣劉胤使江東，睿以胤爲參軍，以續爲平原太守。石勒遣兵圍續，匹磾使其弟文鴦救之，勒引去。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 89
  6. (石勒使石虎攻劉演于廩丘，幽州刺史段匹磾使其弟文鴦救之；虎拔廩丘，演奔文鴦軍，虎獲演弟啓以歸。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 89
  7. (琨不從，悉發其眾，命澹領步騎二萬爲前驅，琨自爲後繼。勒先據險要，設伏以擊澹，大敗之，一軍皆沒，並土震駭。尋又炎旱，琨窮蹙不能復守。幽州刺史鮮卑段匹磾數遣信要琨，欲與同獎王室。琨由是率眾赴之，從飛狐人薊。匹磾見之，甚相崇重，與琨結婚，約爲兄弟。) Book of Jin,Volume 62
  8. (建武初，匹磾推劉琨為大都督，結盟討勒，並檄涉復辰、疾陸眷、末杯等三面俱集襄國，琨、匹磾進屯固安，以候眾軍。勒懼，遣間使厚賂末杯。然末杯既思報其舊恩，且因匹磾在外，欲襲奪其國，乃間匹磾於涉復辰、疾陸眷曰：「以父兄而從子弟邪？雖一旦有功，匹磾獨收之矣。」涉復辰等以為然，引軍而還。匹磾亦止。) Book of Jin, Volume 63
  9. (就六眷死，其子幼弱，匹磾與劉琨世子羣奔喪。匹磾陰卷甲而往，欲殺其從叔羽鱗及末波而奪其國。末波等知之，遣軍逆擊，匹磾、劉羣為末波所獲。匹磾走還薊。) Book of Northern Wei, Volume 103
  10. (匹磾奔其兄喪，琨遣世子群送之，而末波率眾要擊匹磾而敗走之，群爲末波所得。末波厚禮之，許以琨爲幽州刺史，共結盟而襲匹磾，密遣使齎群書請琨爲內應，而爲匹磾邏騎所得。時琨別屯故征北府小城，不之知也。因來見匹磾，匹磾以群書示琨曰：「意亦不疑公，是以白公耳。」琨曰：「與公同盟，志獎王室，仰憑威力，庶雪國家之恥。若兒書密達，亦終不以一子之故負公忘義也。」匹磾雅重琨，初無害琨志，將聽還屯。其中弟叔軍好學有智謀，爲匹磾所信，謂匹磾曰：「吾胡夷耳，所以能服晉人者，畏吾眾也。今我骨肉構禍，是其良圖之日，若有奉琨以起，吾族盡矣。」匹磾遂留琨。琨之庶長子遵懼誅，與琨左長史楊橋、并州治中如綏閉門自守。匹磾諭之不得，因縱兵攻之。琨將龍季猛迫於乏食，遂斬橋、綏而降。) Book of Jin, Volume 62
  11. (然琨既忠於晉室，素有重望，被拘經月，遠近憤歎。匹磾所署代郡太守辟閭嵩，與琨所署雁門太守王據、後將軍韓據連謀，密作攻具，欲以襲匹磾。而韓據女爲匹磾兒妾，聞其謀而告之匹磾，於是執王據、辟閭嵩及其徒黨悉誅之。會王敦密使匹磾殺琨，匹磾又懼眾反己，遂稱有詔收琨。初，琨聞敦使到，謂其子曰：「處仲使來而不我告，是殺我也。死生有命，但恨仇恥不雪，無以下見二親耳。」因歔欷不能自勝。匹磾遂縊之，時年四十八。子侄四人俱被害。朝廷以匹磾尚強，當爲國討石勒，不舉琨哀。) Book of Jin, Volume 62
  12. (悅，林之曾孫也。朝廷以匹磾尚強，冀其能平河朔，乃不爲琨舉哀。溫嶠表「琨盡忠帝室，家破身亡，宜在褒恤；」廬諶、崔悅因末柸使者，亦上表爲琨訟冤。後數歲，乃贈琨太尉、侍中，諡曰愍。於是夷、晉以琨死，皆不附匹磾。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 90
  13. (末柸遣其弟攻匹磾，匹磾帥其衆數千將奔邵續，勒將石越邀之於鹽山，大敗之，匹磾復還保薊。末柸自稱幽州刺史。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 91
  14. (六月，後趙孔萇攻段匹磾，恃勝而不設備，段文鴦襲擊，大破之。) Book of Jin, Volume 91
  15. (又令文鴦北討末杯弟于薊城，及還，去城八十里，聞續已沒，眾懼而散，復為石季龍所遮，文鴦以其親兵數百人力戰破之，始得入城。季龍復抄城下，文鴦登城臨見，欲出擊之，匹磾不許。文鴦曰：「我以勇聞，故百姓杖我。見人被略而不救，非丈夫也。令眾失望，誰復為我致死乎！」遂將壯士數十騎出戰，殺胡甚多。遇馬乏，伏不能起。季龍呼曰：「大兄與我俱是戎狄，久望共同。天不違願，今日相見，何故復戰？請釋杖。」文鴦罵曰：「汝為寇虐，久應合死，吾兄不用吾計，故令汝得至此，吾寧死，不為汝擒。」遂下馬苦戰，槊折，執刀力戰不已。季龍軍四面解馬羅披自鄣，前捉文鴦。文鴦戰自辰至申，力極而後被執。城內大懼。) Book of Jin, Volume 63
  16. (匹磾欲單騎歸朝，續弟樂安內史洎協兵，不許，洎復欲執臺使王英送于季龍，匹磾正色責之曰：「卿不能遵兄之志，逼吾不得歸朝，亦以甚矣，復欲執天子使者，我雖胡素，所未聞也。」) Book of Jin, Volume 63
  17. (遂渡黃河南。匹磾著朝服，持節，賓從出見季龍曰：「我受國恩，志在滅汝。不幸吾國自亂，以至於此。既不能死，又不能為汝敬也。」勒及季龍素與匹磾結為兄弟，季龍起而拜之。) Book of Jin, Volume 63
  18. (勒及季龍素與匹磾結為兄弟，季龍起而拜之。匹磾到襄國，又不為勒禮，常著朝服，持晉節。經年，國中謀推匹磾為主，事露，被害。文鴦亦遇鴆而死，惟末波存焉。及死，弟牙立。牙死，其後從祖就陸眷之孫遼立。) Book of Jin, Volume 63
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.