Huan Shiqian

Huan Shiqian, childhood name Zhen'e, was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). His uncle was the Grand Marshal of Jin, Huan Wen. Shiqian's rise to fame began in 354, when he single-handedly saved his uncle Huan Chong from being surrounded by Former Qin forces. He later led and followed in campaigns against the Qin as they advanced south to conquer Jin. Shiqian was remembered by the people of his time for his ferocity in battle.

Huan Shiqian
桓石虔
Administrator of Hedong (河東太守)
In office
381 (381) – 384 (384)
MonarchEmperor Xiaowu of Jin
Personal details
BornUnknown
Died388
RelationsHuan Wen (uncle)
Huan Chong (uncle)
ChildrenHuan Hong
Huan Zhen
Huan Dan
Lady Huan
FatherHuan Huo
Posthumous nameMarquis of Zuotang (作唐侯)
Childhood nameZhen'e (鎮惡)
In this Chinese name, the family name is Huan.

Early career

Huan Shiqian was the son of Huan Huo, who in turn was the brother Jin's famed general Huan Wen. From a young age, he was noted for possessing a physically strong body. He first distinguished himself in 354 during his uncle's first northern campaign. During the campaign, his other uncle, Huan Chong was surrounded by thousands of Former Qin troops led by Fu Jian. Shiqian charged alone into the enemies to save him. Although they outnumbered him, the Qin soldiers did not dare attack him and Shiqian retrieved his uncle. Due to this event, Huan Shiqian became widely-feared and it was said that it became a popular thing at the time to tell the sick "Huan Shiqian has arrived! (桓石虔來!)" as a way to get them to recover.[1]

When Huan Huo was stationed in Jingzhou in 361, Shiqian also followed him there. During a hunting trip, Huan Huo's generals had heard of his strength, so they challenged Shiqian to take down a beast. Supposedly, as he drew his bow, the beast he was hunting pounced on him but Shiqian managed to jump higher than it. Once he landed on the ground, he drew his bow again and killed it. [2]

War with Yuan Zhen and Former Qin

Huan Shiqian earned first took command during Huan Wen's quelling of the Yuan clan in Shouchun in 370. Just a year before, Huan Wen lost his chance to conquer Former Yan after he was defeated at the Battle of Fangtou. He shifted blame to his general Yuan Zhen who had failed to secure their supply lines by building a canal. Yuan Zhen in response rebelled in Shouchun but passed away shortly and was succeeded by his son Yuan Qin (袁瑾). Yuan Qin received support from Former Qin and Former Yan so Huan Wen sent Shiqian and Zhu Yao (竺瑤) to stop them.[3]

Shiqian conquered the southern part of Shouchun. Yuan Qin lasted for a year but was on the verge of falling in early 371, so Fu Jian sent his generals Wang Jian (王堅) and Zhang Ci to reinforce the city. However, Shiqian and Huan Yi intercepted them at Shiqiao (石橋, around present-day Lu'an, Anhui) . They repelled Wang Jian and Zhang Ci, allowing Huan Wen to take Shouchun with no interference. Yuan Qin and his followers would be executed as a result. Shiqian then served as Prefect of Jingling.[4]

Former Qin forces conquered the Shu region from Jin in 373. The next year, a native uprising led Zhang Yu (張育) and Yang Jian (楊光) occurred, with Qin and Jin being quick to respond. Qin brought in Deng Qiang to quell the rebellion while Jin sent Shiqian and Zhu Yao in support of it. Shiqian and Zhu Yao attacked Diejiang, where they drove out Yao Chang. Zhang Yu declared himself King of Shu but soon started fighting with his subordinates. Deng Qiang and Yang An took advantage of this and routed them. Deng Qiang then head east, where headed east and defeat Shiqian and Zhu Yao. Zhang Yu was killed later that year, so Former Qin retained the region.[5]

War between Qin and Jin intensified at Fu Jian intended to conquer the south once and for all. His general Dou Gui (都貴) ordered his officers Yan Zhen (閻振) and Wu Zhong (吳仲) to invade Jingling in 381. Shiqian and his brother, Huan Shimin marched to faced them in battle. The brothers defeated the Qin forces and chased them back to Guancheng, where they captured the city. They captured the commanders and ten thousands of captives while executing a few thousand soldiers.[6]

Shiqian later followed his uncle Huan Chong to attack Xiangyang in 383. Shiqian and Guo Quan (郭銓) defeated Zhang Chong (張崇) at Wudang. However, Huan Chong was enticed into retreating after Murong Chui tricked him by setting torches to make his army appear bigger. His defeat would be avenged later that year when Xie Xuan won a decisive victory over Fu Jian at the Battle of Fei River. The battle drove out Qin forces from the south, and for Shiqian's merits, he was made Inspector of Yuzhou in 384.[7]

Final years

Shiqian was intended to follow Xie Xuan in his northern expedition after the Battle of Fei River. However, he had to resign after hearing that his mother had passed away. Instead, his position of Inspector of Yuzhou was given to Zhu Xu instead. Shiqian only returned to office in 387 and had his positions restored. Despite that, he did not hold his positions for long as he would pass away just a year later in 388. Huan Shiqian was posthumously appointed General of the Right and named Marquis of Zuotang (作唐侯).[8]

References
  1. (沖為苻健所圍，垂沒，石虔躍馬赴之，拔沖於數萬眾之中而還，莫敢抗者。三軍歎息，威震敵人。時有患虐疾者，謂曰「桓石虔來」以怖之，病者多愈，其見畏如此。) Book of Jin, Volume 74
  2. (石虔小字鎮惡。有才幹，趫捷絕倫。從父在荊州，於獵圍中見猛善被數箭而伏，諸督將素知其勇，戲令拔箭。石虔因急往，拔得一箭，猛獸跳，石虔亦跳，高於獸身，猛獸伏，復拔一箭以歸。) Book of Jin, Volume 74
  3. (燕、秦皆遣兵助袁瑾，大司馬溫遣督護竺瑤等御之。燕兵先至，瑤等與戰於武丘，破之。南頓太守桓石虔克其南城。石虔，溫之弟子也。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 102
  4. (苻堅乃使其將王鑒、張蠔等率兵以救瑾，屯洛澗，先遣精騎五千次於肥水北。溫遣桓伊及弟子石虔等逆擊，大破之，瑾眾遂潰，生擒之，並其宗族數十人及硃輔送於京都而斬之，所侍養乞活數百人悉坑之，以妻子為賞。) Book of Jin, Volume 98
  5. (夏四月，堅下書曰：「巴夷險逆，寇亂益州，招引吳軍，為唇齒之勢。特進、鎮軍將軍、護羌校尉鄧羌，可帥甲士五萬，星夜赴討。」五月，蜀人張育、楊光等起兵二萬，以應巴獠。晉威遠將軍桓石虔帥衆二萬入據墊江，張育自號蜀王，稱藩于晉。八月，鄧羌敗晉師於涪西，擊張育、楊光，屯於綿竹，皆斬之，益州平，羌勒銘于岷山而還。十二月，羌至自成都，堅引見東堂，謂之曰：「將軍之先仲華，遇漢世祖於前；將軍復逢朕於後，何鄧氏之多幸。」羌曰：「臣常謂光武之遇仲華，非獨仲華遭光武。」堅笑曰：「將軍蓋以自況，非直將軍之幸，亦朕之遇賢。」) Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 4
  6. (十二月，甲辰，石虔襲擊振、仲，大破之，振、仲退保管城。石虔進攻之，癸亥，拔管城，獲振、仲，斬首七千級，俘虜萬人。詔封桓沖子謙為宜陽侯，以桓石虔領河東太守。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 105
  7. (秋，七月，郭銓及冠軍將軍桓石虔敗張崇於武當，掠二千戶以歸。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 106
  8. (太元十三年卒，追贈右將軍。追論平閻震功，進爵作塘侯。第五子誕嗣。誕長兄洪，襄城太守。洪弟振。) Book of Jin, Volume 74
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