Duan Ye - Before Reign

Before Reign

Not much is known about Duan Ye's life before 397. He was from Jingzhao Commandery (京兆, roughly modern Xi'an, Shaanxi), and was probably a low-level official that Former Qin sent to Liang Province (涼州, modern central and western Gansu) after conquering Former Liang in 376. His wife and children remained in Jingzhao.

The first historical reference to Duan Ye was in 388, when he was one of the officials under the ruler of Later Liang, Lü Guang, then carrying the title the Duke of Jiuquan. At a feast, Lü Guang and his officials were discussing his administration, when Duan Ye told Lü Guang that he was being overly harsh in his application of laws. Lü Guang, citing the examples of the legalists Wu Qi and Shang Yang, defended his harsh applications. Instead of backing down, Duan Ye pointed out that Wu and Shang both died as a result of their use of laws, and that what Lü Guang was doing was not in accordance of the wishes of the people. Lü Guang solemnly apologized. (However, what this conversation revealed about Duan Ye's own personal philosophy on governance may demonstrate the reasons why he was later ineffective as a ruler.)

In 396, when Lü Guang claimed the greater title of Prince of Sanhe, he made Duan Ye one of his ministers.

In 397, by which time Lü Guang, then with imperial title, was facing a rebellion from Juqu Mengxun and Juqu Nancheng after listening to false accusations and executing their uncles Juqu Luochou (沮渠羅仇) and Juqu Quzhou (沮渠麴粥), Duan Ye was the governor of Jiankang Commandery (建康, in modern Zhangye, Gansu). Juqu Nancheng put Jiankang under siege, but sent messengers to try to persuade Duan Ye that the Later Liang regime was becoming so corrupt as to be nearing destruction, and that with Duan's talents, he should be a leader. Duan Ye initially refused, but after 20 days of siege, no aid came from the Later Liang capital Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu). Duan Ye's advisors suggested that he accept Juqu Nancheng's proposal, and Duan Ye, who was also apprehensive of Lü Guang's officials Fang Gui (房晷) and Wang Xiang (王詳), with whom he had inimical relationships, agreed. He took the title the Duke of Jiankang and changed era name, signifying a declaration of independence from Later Liang and the establishment of Northern Liang. He entrusted most important affairs of state to Juqu Nancheng.