Li Gao - Early Reign

Early Reign

Li Gao set his capital at Dunhuang. In 401, the important Northern Liang city Jiuquan (酒泉, in modern Jiuquan, Gansu) defected to him, and particularly in light of Later Qin's attacks on Later Liang that year, this caused Juqu Mengxun (who had killed Duan Ye earlier that year and taken over as the ruler of Northern Liang) to consider surrendering his state to Later Qin, although Juqu Mengxun later decided against it and continued his state's existence. In light of Later Qin's advances, however, Li Gao nominally submitted to Later Qin as a vassal.

In 404, Li Gao's heir apparent Li Tan (李譚) died, and he created Li Tan's younger brother Li Xin as the new heir apparent.

In 405, Li Gao claimed additional honorific titles, and at the same time, while not renouncing Later Qin, also sent messengers to Jin, requesting to be a vassal. He also moved his capital from Dunhuang to Jiuquan, closer to the Northern Liang capital Zhangye, to put additional pressure on Northern Liang. He also wrote a letter to all of his sons, which is still extant, encouraging them to be open-minded and think logically, and be mild in temperament.

In 406, Li Gao entered into a peace agreement with Southern Liang's prince Tufa Rutan, with an implicit understanding of an alliance against Northern Liang, but no actual joint military action was ever taken. Later that year, Juqu Mengxun made an attack on Jiuquan, and Li Gao suffered a defeat to Juqu Mengxun near Jiuquan and was forced to return to the city to defend it against a siege, but Juqu Mengxun, not having enough strength to siege it, withdrew.