Murong XI - During Murong Bao's and Murong Sheng's Reigns

During Murong Bao's and Murong Sheng's Reigns

After Murong Chui had died in 396 and been succeeded by Murong Xi's older brother Murong Bao (Emperor Huimin)), Later Yan came under heavy attack by Northern Wei's prince Tuoba Gui, and the capital Zhongshan (中山, in modern Baoding, Hebei) was sieged by Northern Wei forces. In 397, Murong Bao decided to abandon Zhongshan and move the capital to the old Former Yan capital Longcheng (龍城, in modern Jinzhou, Liaoning), and initially, due to their young ages, Murong Xi and his brothers Murong Lang (慕容朗) the Prince of Bohai and Murong Jian (慕容鑒) the Prince of Boling were unable to catch up with Murong Bao's group as it fled Zhongshan, requiring their older brother Murong Long the Prince of Gaoyang to return to fetch them, but they finally did catch up with Murong Bao and evacuate to Longcheng.

In 398, as Murong Bao's troops were worn out by constant wars and apprehensive of Murong Bao's orders to head south to attack Northern Wei, they mutinied under the command of the officer Duan Sugu (段速骨), who supported Murong Long's son Murong Chong (慕容崇) as figurehead. In the rebellion, many imperial princes were killed, but because Murong Xi and Murong Chong were friends, Murong Chong exerted his influence to have Murong Xi spared. Later in the year, after Duan was killed by Lan Han, who then laid a trap for Murong Bao and had him killed as well and usurped power, Lan Han created Murong Xi the Duke of Liaodong, with the function of having him continue the worship of the Murongs' ancestors. When Murong Bao's son Murong Sheng subsequently killed Lan Han in a coup in late 398 and restored Later Yan, he used only a princely title initially, so imperial princes' titles were reduced to ducal titles. In accordance, Murong Xi's title became Duke of Hejian. Murong Sheng also made him a major general. In 400, when Murong Sheng attacked Goguryeo, Murong Xi served as his forward general, and contributed greatly to the victory. It was at this time that Murong Sheng commented:

Uncle, your bravery matched that of Shizu (Murong Chui's temple name), but your strategies are not as well-thought out.

Sometime during Murong Sheng's reign, Murong Xi began an affair with Murong Sheng's mother Empress Dowager Ding. When Murong Sheng was assassinated in a coup in 401, the officials largely wanted a successor older than Murong Sheng's crown prince Murong Ding (慕容定), and most wanted to see Murong Sheng's younger brother Murong Yuán (慕容元) the Duke of Pingyuan. However, Empress Dowager Ding, because of her affair with Murong Xi, had other ideas, and she made it clear that she wanted Murong Xi to succeed her son. The officials were forced to go along with her wishes, and while Murong Xi formally offered the throne to Murong Yuan first, Murong Yuan did not dare to accept, and so Murong Xi accepted the throne. He used the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang).