Editing Former Yan (section)

=== Background ===
The Murong, named after their chieftain of the same name, were a Xianbei tribe under [[Tanshihuai|Tanshihuai's]] confederation during the late-2nd century. As the confederation disintegrated, they resettled themselves around the [[Liaoxi Commandery|Liaoxi]] region, where they feuded with the neighbouring [[Duan tribe|Duan]] and [[Yuwen]] tribes. During the [[Three Kingdoms]] period, when the [[Cao Wei]] commander, [[Sima Yi]], [[Sima Yi's Liaodong campaign|campaigned]] against [[Gongsun Yuan]] in 237, the Murong offered their assistance, and after the campaign, they were allowed to move into northern [[Liaodong Peninsula|Liaodong]]. They became vassals to the Wei and then their successor, the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)|Western Jin dynasty]].

In 285, [[Murong Hui]] was installed as the new chieftain of his tribe. Although Hui rebelled against Jin shortly after ascending, he resubmitted in 289 and was given the office of Commander of the Xianbei. Hui moved his tribe inwards, eventually settling at Jicheng (棘城, in modern [[Jinzhou]], [[Liaoning]]) and making it their capital, where they adopted an agricultural lifestyle and the Jin governing system. In 307, he declared himself Grand Chanyu of the Xianbei.

During the [[upheaval of the Five Barbarians]], Murong Hui welcomed many fleeing refugees into his territory and recruited Chinese [[Scholar-official|scholar-officials]] into his administration, even setting up new commaderies to accommodate them based on their native provinces.<ref name="Schreiber">{{Cite journal |last=Schreiber |first=Gerhard |title=The History of the Former Yen Dynasty |journal=Monumenta Serica |year=1949 |volume=14 |pages=374–480 |doi=10.1080/02549948.1949.11730940}}</ref> The refugees not only provided the Murong with manpower, but also introduced them to Central Plains culture and advanced agricultural techniques. As the Jin was driven out of the north, Hui effectively held independent control over his territory, but retained his status as a Jin vassal. Between 317 and 318, the Jin court in [[Jiankang]] acknowledged his positions and offered him the title of Duke of Changli. Hui initially rejected his ducal title, but in 321, accepted the other title of Duke of Liaodong.