Chen An

Chen An (died 323), courtesy name Huhou, was a Chinese military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Han-Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. During the aftermath of the Disaster of Yongjia in northern China, Chen An became a favored general of the Jin prince Sima Bao in Qinzhou, but an assassination attempt on him made by one of Bao's subordinates in 315 prompted him to declare independence in Longcheng (隴城, in modern Qin'an County, Gansu). He submitted to the Han-Zhao state in 319 but then rebelled in 322, declaring himself the King of Liang. His reign was short-lived, as he was defeated and executed by Han-Zhao forces the following year.

Chen An
陳安
King of Liang (涼王)
Reign322 – 323
Inspector of Qinzhou (秦州刺史)
In office
319 (319)–322 (322)
MonarchLiu Yao
Personal details
BornUnknown
Died323
RelationsChen Ji (brother)
Courtesy nameHuhou (虎侯)
In this Chinese name, the family name is Chen.

Chen An was well-respected among his soldiers and those living in his territory. The people of Longshang (隴上; north of present-day Shaanxi and west of present-day Gansu) dedicated an ode in his memory, and the prestigious Tang dynasty poet Li Bai even wrote a poem based on him.

Background

Chen An was born into a peasant family in Chengji County (成紀, in modern-day Tianshui, Gansu), Tianshui Commandery. It was said that one day, while reading, he exclaimed, "The true man possesses a crown and chariot and bears the staff of authority. How can I continue to plow and hoe for long?" He soon left his hometown for the capital, Luoyang, to study more books. During this time, he read the Book of Wei and gained an admiration for the Cao Wei military general, Xu Chu, so much so that he decided to change his courtesy name to Huhou (虎侯; meaning "Tiger Marquis", one of Xu Chu's nicknames).[1]

After the War of the Eight Princes broke out in Jin, Chen An took the opportunity to establish ties with the ruling Sima family. He soon found himself serving the Prince of Nanyang, Sima Mo in Guanzhong as the Commandant of Sima Mo's personal tent. In 311, Sima Mo came into conflict with the Inspector of Qinzhou, Pei Bao (裴苞), so he sent Chen An to attack him. Chen An defeated Pei Bao and forced him to flee to Anding Commandery.[2]

Service under Sima Bao

However, not long after, Sima Mo was captured and killed by Han-Zhao forces in Chang'an. Chen An fled to Qinzhou and submitted to Mo's son, Sima Bao, who was serving as the provincial inspector at the time. In 315, Chen An commanded a successful campaign to suppress the rebelling Qiang tribes in Qinzhou. For his feats, Sima Bao showered him with great courtesy and respect.[3]

Sima Bao's special treatment of Chen An was not taken well by one of Bao's officials, Zhang Chun (張春). Zhang Chun slandered Chen An to Sima Bao, claiming that he would rebel. Sima Bao was convinced by Zhang Chun's words, but he also could not bring himself to order Chen's execution. Taking matters into his own hands, Zhang Chun sent an assassin to kill Chen An, but Chen was only wounded by the assassin's blade before escaping to Longcheng. There, Chen An declared his autonomy and became a warlord. Although the two were now at odds, Chen An still respected Bao. He sent a messenger to Bao stating his promise to continuously pay tribute.[4]

As a warlord and submission to Han-Zhao

In 316, the Jin government in Chang'an fell to Han-Zhao and Emperor Min of Jin became their captive. 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.[5]

Shortly after, Chen An allied 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.[6]

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 another state, 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 Liang reinforcements.[7]

Sima Bao was killed by his subordinates Yang Ci (楊次) and Zhang Chun in 320 over numerous disagreements (another source states he died naturally). Zhang Chun appointed a junior kinsman of Sima Bao named Sima Zhan (司馬瞻) to succeed Bao. Chen An petitioned Liu Yao (now Emperor of Han-Zhao) to allow him to campaign against Sima Zhan, which Liu Yao permitted and promptly appointed Chen An Grand General. Chen An attacked Sima Zhan forces and killed him, capturing Yang Ci and forcing Zhang Chun to flee to Fuhan (枹罕; southwest of present-day Linxia County, Gansu). Chen An beheaded Yang Ci before Sima Bao's coffin as a sacrifice and later buried his former lord at Shanggui. He then carried out funeral rites similar to the one of the Son of Heaven and posthumously named Sima Bao "Prince Yuan".[8]

Rebellion and as King of Liang

In 322, Liu Yao was returning from a campaign in Chouchi. Although he forced Chouchi into submission, a plague had struck his army, and Liu Yao himself became deathly ill. While Liu Yao was returning, Chen An requested to meet with him, but due to his illness, Liu Yao turned him down. Chen An was offended at his rejection, so much so that he concluded that Liu Yao was dead. Before leaving to intercept the returning army, Chen An plundered Han-Zhao's territory.[9]

After reaching Liu Yao's party, 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 believing 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 and kill him. He then had his brother, Chen Ji (陳集) to chase after Liu Yao but Chen Ji was killed in a counter-attack from Huyan Yu (呼延瑜).[10]

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. Chen An then declared himself King of Liang and appointed a number of titles for himself. Lu Ping (魯憑), a former subordinate of Huyan Shi and Chen An's Army Advisor, 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.[11]

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 attack the invaders, but was defeated in all his bouts. 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.[12]

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 general, Ping Xian (平先) to pursue him. Chen An was said to have dual-wielded a great blade and a serpent spear, which he used to kill many of his pursuers. He also had a bow to dispatch enemy troops from afar as he fled. Ping Xian eventually caught up with him, and the two duelled with one another. 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.[13]

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. However, 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, where he was subsequently captured and beheaded.[14]

Posthumous tributes

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 were saddened, and decided to compose a song in honor of his recent death 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.[15]

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)".[16]

References
  1. (陳安，字虎侯，成紀平莊人也。家世農民，少慷慨。讀書曰：“大丈夫當軒冕杖節，安能久執犁鋤乎？”遂東遊京師，頗學書字。讀《魏書》，見許褚而歎之，乃自字虎侯。) Shiliuguo Chunqiu, vol.10
  2. (表遣世子保為西中郎將、東羌校尉，鎮上邽，秦州刺史裴苞距之。模使帳下都尉陳安率眾攻苞，苞奔安定。) Jin Shu, vol.37
  3. (模之敗也，都尉陳安歸於保，保命統精勇千餘人以討羌，寵遇甚厚。) Book of Jin, Volume 37
  4. (保將張春等疾之，譖安有異志，請除之，保不許。春等輒伏客以刺安，安被創，馳還隴城，遣使詣保，貢獻不絕。) Book of Jin, Volume 37
  5. (遣太府司馬韓璞、滅寇將軍田齊、撫戎將軍張閬、前鋒督護陰預步騎一萬，東赴國難。命討虜將軍陳安、故太守賈騫、隴西太守吳紹各統郡兵為璞等前驅。戒璞曰：「前遣諸將多違機信，所執不同，致有乖阻。且內不和親，焉能服物！今遣禦督五將兵事，當如一體，不得令乖異之問達孤耳也。」復遺南陽王保書曰：「王室有事，不忘投軀。孤州遠域，首尾多難，是以前遣賈騫，瞻望公舉。中被符命，敕騫還軍。忽聞北地陷沒，寇逼長安，胡崧不進，麹允持金五百請救於崧，是以決遣騫等進軍度嶺。會聞朝廷傾覆，為忠不達於主，遣兵不及於難，痛慨之深，死有餘責。今更遣韓璞等，唯公命是從。」) Book of Jin, Volume 86
  6. (時焦崧、陳安寇隴石，東與劉曜相持，雍秦之人死者十八九。初，永嘉中，長安謠曰：「秦川中，血沒腕，惟有涼州倚柱觀。」至是，謠言驗矣。) Book of Jin, Volume 86
  7. (保聞湣帝崩，自稱晉王，建元，署置百官，遣使拜寔征西大將軍、儀同三司，增邑三千戶。俄而保為陳安所叛，氐羌皆應之。保窘迫，遂去上邽，遷祁山，寔遣將韓璞步騎五千赴難。陳安退保綿諸，保歸上邽。未幾，保復為安所敗，使詣寔乞師。寔遣宋毅赴之，而安退。) Book of Jin, Volume 86
  8. (是歲，保病薨，時年二十七。保體質豐偉，嘗自稱重八百斤。喜睡，痿疾，不能禦婦人。無子，張春立宗室司馬瞻奉保後。陳安舉兵攻春，春走，瞻降于安，安送詣劉曜，曜殺之。安迎保喪，以天子禮葬于上邽，諡曰元。) Book of Jin, Volume 37
  9. (陳安請朝，曜以疾篤不許。安怒，且以曜為死也，遂大掠而歸。) Book of Jin, Volume 103
  10. (曜疾甚篤，馬輿而還，使其將呼延實監輜重於後。陳安率精騎耍之於道。實奔戰無路，與長史魯憑俱沒于安。安囚實而謂之曰：「劉曜已死，子誰輔哉？孤當輿足下終定大業。」實叱安曰：「狗輩！汝荷人榮寵，處不疑之地，前背司馬保，今復如此。汝自視何如主上？憂汝不久梟首上邽通衢，何謂大業！可速殺我，懸我首於上邽東門，觀大軍之入城也。」安怒，遂殺之。以魯憑為參軍，又遣其弟集及將軍張明等率騎二萬追曜，曜衛軍呼延瑜逆戰，擊斬之，悉俘其眾。) Book of Jin, Volume 103
  11. (安懼，馳還上邽。曜至自南安。陳安使其將劉烈、趙罕襲汧城，拔之，西州氐羌悉從安。安士馬雄盛，眾十餘萬，自稱使持節、大都督、假黃鉞、大將軍、雍涼秦梁四州牧、涼王，以趙募為相國，領左長史。魯憑對安大哭曰：「吾不忍見陳安之死也。」安怒，命斬之。憑曰：「死自吾分，懸吾頭于秦州通衢，觀趙之斬陳安也。」遂殺之。曜聞憑死，悲慟曰：「賢人者，天下之望也。害賢人，是塞天下之情，夫承平之君猶不敢乖臣妾之心，況于四海乎！陳安今於招賢采哲之秋，而害君子，絕當時之望，吾知其無能為也。」) Book of Jin, Volume 103
  12. (陳安圍趙征西將軍劉貢于南安，休屠王石武自桑城引兵趣上邽以救之，與貢合擊安，大破之。安收餘騎八千，走保隴城。秋，七月，趙主曜自將圍隴城，別遣兵圍上邽。安頻出戰，輒敗。右軍將軍劉幹攻平襄，克之，隴上諸縣悉降。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 92
  13. (安留其將楊伯支、姜沖兒守隴城，自帥精騎突圍，出奔陜中。曜遣將軍平先等追之。安左揮七尺大刀，右運丈八蛇矛，近則刀矛俱發，輒殪五六人，遠則左右馳射而走。先亦勇捷如飛，與安搏戰，三交，遂奪其蛇矛。會日暮雨甚，安棄馬與左右匿於山中；趙兵索之，不知所在。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 92
  14. 明日，安遣其將石容覘趙兵，趙輔威將軍呼延青人獲之，拷問安所在，容卒不肯言，青人殺之。雨霽，青人尋其迹，獲安於澗曲，斬之。 Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 92) 明日，安遣其將石容覘趙兵，趙輔威將軍呼延青人獲之，拷問安所在，容卒不肯言，青人殺之。雨霽，青人尋其迹，獲安於澗曲，斬之。)
  15. (安善於撫接，吉凶夷險與眾同之，及其死，隴上歌之曰：「隴上壯士有陳安，驅幹雖小腹中寬，愛養將士同心肝。聶驄父馬鐵瑕鞍，七尺大刀奮如湍，丈八蛇矛左右盤，十蕩十決無當前。戰始三交失蛇矛，棄我聶驄竄嚴幽，為我外援而懸頭。西流之水東流河，一去不還奈子何！」曜聞而嘉傷，命樂府歌之。) Book of Jin, Volume 103
  16. "163 李白 司馬將軍歌 Translation: Sima General Song, by Li Bai | East Asia Student". eastasiastudent.net. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
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