The Former Qin regime was not originally strong, only about the middle corner of the land, but with the assistance of the famous Xiang Wang Meng, it quickly became stronger, destroying the former Yan, Qiuchi, Former Liang and other states, and also capturing the western region, Bashu and other places, basically unifying the northern region. At that time, Former Qin's military strength far exceeded that of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the southeast of An' southeast, but The Jian Jian, who had millions of troops, not only failed to unify the world, but died and destroyed the country.
The decline and fall of Former Qin was directly related to a war, which was the famous Battle of Shuishui in history! In 383, Jian Jian mobilized a national army, including 600,000 infantry and 270,000 cavalry, to launch an all-out war against the Eastern Jin Dynasty, intending to eliminate the Eastern Jin Dynasty in one fell swoop and achieve the unification of the world. As a result, in the Battle of Shuishui, the Former Qin army collapsed and suffered a crushing defeat, and Jian Jian was wounded by an arrow and fled into the wilderness.
After the Battle of Shuishui, the Former Qin regime quickly collapsed, and rebellions broke out in the country. The Former Yan imperial family of Murong Chui first rebelled, and later proclaimed himself the King of Yan, establishing the Later Yan regime. In 384, Murong Hong, the head of Former Qin's northern region and former Yan's imperial family, also led a rebellion and established the Western Yan regime. In the same year, Former Qin general and Qiang leader Yao Cang proclaimed himself Great General, Dadan Yu, and King of Wannian Qin, established the Later Qin regime, and besieged Chang'an City.
In August 385, after being captured, he was killed, and Han died at the sinpyeong Buddhist temple at the age of 48. With the death of Jian Jian, the Former Qin regime, although it lasted for ten years, had already died in name only. It can be said that the rise and fall of Former Qin was "cheng also jian jian, defeat also jian jian"! However, if Jian Jian listened to Wang Meng's words, he could have avoided such an ending, so what did Wang Meng say before he died?
It should be said that without Wang Meng's assistance, Jian Jian may not be able to unify the north at all, and later generations have commented, "If Wang Meng rules the country, Jian Jian's management Zhongye." Wang Meng was not only an excellent politician, but also a military expert who was good at commanding battles, at that time, Former Qin's military strength was far inferior to Former Yan's, but he defeated the main force of Former Yan with 60,000 people and successfully destroyed Former Yan. Later, Wang Meng became ill from overwork and fell ill in June 375.
In July of that year, Wang Meng was seriously ill, and Jian Jian went to visit the patient and "asked about the future." Wang Meng said the last suggestion of his life, "Although Jin is secluded and ugly, Wu and Yue are inherited by Zheng Shuo. Kindness and good neighborliness, the treasure of the country also. After the subject is gone, he is willing not to take jin as a picture. Humble and humble, my vendetta, will eventually be afflicted, and it is advisable to gradually get rid of it so that it can be community-oriented. After saying these words, Wang Meng died at the age of 51. Jian Jian was very sad and said, "Doesn't Heaven want to make Wu Ping one six evil?" How to seize my scenery of the speed also! ”
Then let's analyze Wang Meng's last words. In fact, in this passage, Wang Meng had two suggestions: First, do not attack the Eastern Jin Dynasty, but also maintain friendly relations with it. Second, the leaders of the Xianbei and Qiang tribes are the biggest problem for our confidants, and we should slowly get rid of them to ensure peace. Who does the so-called "xianbei and qiangfu" refer to? Xianbei refers to the Former Yan imperial family headed by Murong Chui, because the Former Yan regime was established by the Xianbei people. "Qiangyu" refers to Yao Cang, the qiang leaders who surrendered to Former Qin.
In the process of Former Qin's unification of the north, "Xianbei and Qiangyu" were once their enemies, and the reason why Murong Chui and Yao Cang surrendered to Former Qin can be said to be forced, and they were not very willing in their hearts. As soon as former Qin had problems, they would launch a rebellion. Facts have proved that Wang Meng's analysis is completely correct, and it is precisely because of the defeat at the Battle of Shuishui that the Xianbei and Qiang ethnic groups took the opportunity to rebel, thus subverting the entire Former Qin regime!
References: 1. Book of Jin, 2. Zizhi Tongjian