Early Reign
As the new emperor was only 10 years old, his cousin, Emperor Kang's wife Empress Dowager Chu, served as regent, but the decisions were actually being made by Xie An and Wang Tanzhi, as Huan, apparently fearful of being entrapped, declined an offer to be regent. However, there would continue to be fears that Huan was about to seize the throne, and in 373, when Huan finally visited the capital Jiankang, it was rumored that Huan would execute Wang and Xie and seize the throne. However, Huan hesitated and did not do so, and after he died later that year, the fears of a Huan usurpation dissipated, as his brother and successor Huan Chong was committed to the survival of the imperial government.
A major issue for the Jin government early in Emperor Xiaowu's reign was the continued military pressure exerted by the powerful northern rival Former Qin. In 373, Former Qin would attack and seize Jin's Liang (梁州, modern southern Shaanxi) and Yi (益州, modern Sichuan and Chongqing) provinces. Internally, however, Jin was apparently well-governed by Xie and Huan Chong.
In 375, Emperor Xiaowu married Wang Fahui, the daughter of the official Wang Yun (王蘊), as his empress. He was 13 and she was 16. He also started studying the Chinese classic texts and writing poetry. In 376, Empress Dowager Chu officially removed herself from the regent position and returned her powers to Emperor Xiaowu, although the decisions were still largely being made by Xie.
In 376, the Jin vassal Former Liang was attacked by Former Qin, and Jin forces, under Huan Chong's command, attempted to relieve the pressure on Former Liang by attacking Former Qin, but Former Liang fell quickly, and Huan withdrew his forces. In apprehension of a Former Qin attack, Jin evacuated much of its population north of the Huai River to regions south of the Huai River.
In 378, Former Qin made major attacks against the important Jin cities of Xiangyang, Weixing (魏興, in modern Ankang, Shaanxi), and Pengcheng. While the general Xie Xuan was able to immediately recapture Pengcheng after it fell, Xiangyang and Weixing were taken by Former Qin forces in 379.
In 380, Empress Wang died. Emperor Xiaowu would not have another empress for the rest of his life.
In 381, Emperor Xiaowu began to study Buddhist sutras, and he established a Buddhist study hall inside his palace, inviting monks to live within.
In 383, Huan Chong made a counterattack against Former Qin, hoping to recapture Xiangyang and the southwest. However, after some initial losses, Huan abandoned the campaign.
Read more about this topic: Emperor Xiaowu Of Jin
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