| 姓： | 慕容 | ||||||||||||
| 名： | 垂 | ||||||||||||
| 字： | 道明 | ||||||||||||
| 网笔号： | 成武皇帝 | ||||||||||||
| 庙号： | 世祖 | ||||||||||||
| 陵墓： | 宣平陵 | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
慕容垂是前燕王慕容皝的第五子。史书上称他“少岐嶷有器度，身长七尺七寸，手垂过膝”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。慕容皝对其甚是宠爱，常对诸弟说：“此儿阔达好奇，终能破人家，或能成人家”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。所以取名慕容霸，字道业。后想以其为世子，后被群臣进谏而止，但慕容皝对其宠爱仍超过其他世子，这也引起后来成为燕主的慕容俊的忌妒。
咸康五年(前燕六年，339年)，慕容皝击高句丽，兵及新城，高句丽王钊乞盟，乃还。慕容皝又使授予慕容霸为骑都尉，令其跟随其兄长慕容恪(慕容皝四子)击宇文别部。时年慕容霸年仅十三岁，却勇冠三军。
在前燕的赫赫功绩
咸康八年(前燕九年，342年)，燕王慕容皝率军攻高句丽。时前燕与高句丽相邻，慕容皝常惧其乘虚而入，视为心腹之患，遂于十一月采用庶兄、建威将军慕容翰之策略，分兵两路进攻高句丽。慕容皝自率主力精锐4万从南道进攻，而慕容霸则与慕容翰为前锋。慕容皝还另命长史王寓等率兵1.5万从北道进攻。高句丽王高钊闻知，判断燕军主力必从北道而来，乃使其弟高武率精兵5 万防守北道，自率弱旅防南道。前燕军在南道大败高句丽军，乘胜追入丸都(高句丽都城，今吉林集安西)，高钊只身逃走。
东晋建元二年(前燕十一年，344年)二月，燕王慕容皝亲自带兵攻宇文逸豆归，以建威将军慕容翰为前锋将军，刘佩为副将；并命慕容霸与慕容军、慕容恪及折冲将军慕舆根等率兵分三路并进。宇文逸豆归派南罗城大(即城主)涉夜干率精兵迎击；慕容翰出战涉夜干，两军激战之时，慕容霸则率军从侧翼杀出，杀涉夜干，宇文军不战自溃，燕军乘胜追击，攻克宇文氏都城紫蒙川(今辽宁朝阳西北)。宇文逸豆归败逃，死于漠北。宇文氏从此散亡，慕容皝收其畜产，徙其部众5000余落于昌黎(今辽宁义县)，辟地千余里，慕容霸因功被封为都乡侯。
东晋永和四年(348年)，燕王慕容皝去世，慕容俊(慕容皝次子)即燕王位。永和五年(349 年)，后赵主石虎死，后赵大乱。慕容霸(时为平狄将军)上书慕容俊说：“石虎穷凶极暴，天之所弃，馀烬仅存，自相鱼肉。今中国倒悬，企望仁恤，若大军一振，势必投戈。”北平太守孙兴也上表说：“石氏大乱，宜以时进取中原”(《资治通鉴·卷第九十八》)。可慕容俊却认为后赵新遭大丧，未同意。慕容霸急至龙城(今辽宁朝阳)，亲自对慕容俊说：“难得而易失者，时也。万一石氏衰而复兴，或有英雄据其成资，岂惟失此大利，亦恐更为后患。”慕容俊说：“邺中虽乱，邓恒据安乐，兵强粮足，今若伐赵，东道不可由也，当由卢龙；卢龙山径险狭，虏乘高断要，首尾为患，将若之何？”慕容霸说：“恒虽欲为石氏拒守，其将士顾家，人怀归志，若大军临之，自然瓦解。臣请为殿下前驱，东出徒河，潜趣令支，出其不意，彼闻之，势必震骇，上不过闭门自守，下不免弃城逃溃，何暇御我哉！然则殿下可以安步而前，无复留难矣”(《资治通鉴·卷第九十八》)。
永和八年(352年)三月，赵立义将军段勤聚胡、羯万余人保据绎幕，自称赵帝。慕容霸率军前去攻打，慕容霸军至绎幕，段勤与弟段思陪举城投降。由于燕卫将军慕容恪、抚军将军慕容军、左将军慕容彪等屡荐慕容霸有命世之才，宜当大任。燕主慕容俊遂于同年以慕容霸为使持节、安东将军、北冀州剌史，镇常山。
永和十年(354年)四月，慕容俊称帝，建号元玺，史称前燕。慕容霸因训练军队之时，座骑受惊而坠马，进而折齿，更名为慕容垂。慕容垂被封为吴王，迁镇信都，以侍中、右禁将军录留台事，大收东北之利。这便慕容俊更加忌妒慕容垂，下诏将其召还。
升平元年(前燕光寿元年，357年)，前燕发兵进攻塞北(长城以北)敕勒。敕勒，又名丁零，高车。魏晋南北朝时，大批敕勒人入塞与其他少数民族杂居，留居漠北草原的敕勒则在公元四世纪日益强大，不断侵扰中原。前燕入居中原后，经常遭到敕勒人袭扰。同年五月，慕容俊派遣慕容垂(时为抚军将军)与中军将军慕容虔、护军将军平熙率步骑8万进军塞北，攻敕勒，大败之，俘斩达10余万人，获马13万匹、牛羊无数。北部边境复安。
时慕容垂娶段末柸女段氏，段氏生子慕容令、慕容宝。段氏才高性烈，与皇后可足浑氏不睦，皇后引以为恨。慕容俊向来对慕容垂不满，时有人奉可足浑之令告段氏及吴国典书令辽东高弼为巫蛊，想借此把慕容垂牵连进来。慕容俊将段氏及高弼下狱，进行拷问。但二人“志气确然，终无挠辞”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。慕容垂心痛，暗中派人对段氏说：“人生会当一死，何堪楚毒如此！不若引服。”段氏叹息道：“吾岂爱死者耶！若自诬以恶逆，上辱祖宗，下累于王，固不为也”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)！后段氏死于狱中，而慕容垂也因此得免。出平州刺史，镇辽东。并以段氏之妹为继室，皇后又将其黜之，并将其妹嫁与慕容垂，慕容垂心中不满，这使他与慕容俊关系更加恶劣。
升平三年(359年)十二月，慕容俊病危，召慕容垂回邺城(今河北临漳西南)。升平四年 (360年)正月，慕容俊病世，太子慕容暐即位。二月，尊可足浑后为皇太后，以太原王慕容恪为太宰，专录朝政；上庸王慕容评为太傅，阳骛为太保，慕舆根为太师，参辅朝政。时慕舆根自恃先朝元勋，心不服慕容恪，举动倨傲。时太后可足浑氏也颇干预外事。慕舆根想要谋反，便劝慕容恪一起谋反，遭到拒绝。后慕容恪将此事告之于慕容垂，慕容垂便劝其诛杀慕舆根，但慕容恪以大局为重，没有同意。后慕舆根密谋诛杀慕容恪与慕容评，二人闻后，遂将慕舆根诛杀。三月，慕容恪以慕容垂为使持节、征南将军、都督河南诸军事、兖州牧、荆州刺史，镇梁国之蠡台。
兴宁三年(365年)二月，慕容垂随慕容恪共攻洛阳。三月，克之，俘杀扬武将军沈劲。随即慕容恪略地至崤、渑，关中大震，秦王苻坚屯陕城以防燕军。慕容恪以慕容垂为都督荆、扬、洛、徐、兖、豫、雍、益、凉、秦十州诸军事、征南大将军、荆州牧，配兵一万，镇鲁阳。
慕容恪对慕容垂变现出来的军事才能大为惊奇，甚为倚重，常对慕容暐说：“吴王将相之才十倍于臣，先帝以长幼之次，以臣先之，臣死之后，愿陛下委政吴王，可谓亲贤兼举”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。后慕容恪病重，深虑慕容暐手中无权，而慕容评又多猜忌，便对慕容暐之兄、乐安王慕容臧说：“今劲秦跋扈，强吴未宾，二寇并怀进取，但患事之无由耳。夫安危在得人，国兴在贤辅，若能推才任忠，和同宗盟，则四海不足图，二虏岂能为难哉！吾以常才，受先帝顾托之重，每欲扫平关、陇，荡一瓯、吴，庶嗣成先帝遗志，谢忧责于当年。而疾固弥留，恐此志不遂，所以没有余恨也。吴王天资英杰，经略超时，司马职统兵权，不可以失人，吾终之后，必以授之。若以亲疏次第，不以授汝，当以授冲。汝等虽才识明敏，然未堪多难，国家安危，实在于此，不可昧利忘忧，以致大悔也”(《晋书·慕容暐载记》)。五月，慕容恪病逝，临终前，慕容暐亲临问以后事，慕容恪再次向慕容暐推荐慕容垂，说：“臣闻报恩莫大荐士，板筑犹可，而况国之懿籓！吴王文武兼才，管、萧之亚，陛下若任之以政，国其少安。不然，臣恐二寇必有窥窬之计”(《晋书·慕容恪载记》)。
慕容恪病死后，前秦、东晋均欲乘机图之。前秦因王公作乱，无暇外顾。而东晋大司马桓温则于太和四年(前燕建熙十年，369年)四月，桓温亲率步骑5万自姑孰(今安徽当涂)出发开始北伐前燕(参见晋攻前燕之战)。
桓温先派建威将军檀玄进攻湖陆(今山东鱼台东南)，克之，俘燕宁东将军慕容忠。前燕帝慕容暐任命下邳王慕容厉为征讨大都督，统率步骑2万人和晋军战于黄墟(今河南开封东)，燕军大败，慕容厉单骑逃回，燕高平太守徐翻举郡降晋。晋军前锋邓遐和朱序又在林渚(今河南新郑东北)打败燕将傅颜。慕容暐又派乐安王慕容臧统率诸军抵抗，慕容臧深感不敌。于是，派散骑常侍李凤去前秦求援。七月，桓温进驻武阳(今山东莘县东南)，前燕旧将、故兖州刺史孙元率宗族起兵响应，桓温到达枋头(今河南浚县西南)。
东晋大军连战连胜，使慕容暐和太傅慕容评十分恐惧，商议欲逃故都和龙(今辽宁朝阳)。这时，吴王慕容垂请求率兵抗晋，他说：“不然。臣请击之，若战不捷，走未晚也”(《晋书·慕容暐载记》)。慕容暐以慕容垂代替慕容臧为南讨大都督，率征南将军慕容德等5万步骑抵御桓温。
慕容暐又派散骑侍郎乐嵩往前秦求救，并答应以割，让虎牢(今河南荥阳西北汜水镇)以西的土地给秦为条件。前秦王苻坚召集群臣商议，采纳王猛先援弱击强，后再乘燕衰而取的建议。八月，派将军苟池和洛州刺史邓羌率领步骑2万救援前燕。援军从秦洛州(今河南)出发，出洛阳进屯颍川(今河南许昌东)，又派散骑侍郎姜抚去燕国报信。
桓温接连失利，粮草中断，又听说前秦援兵将要到达，遂下令焚烧战船，丢下辎重、铠仗，率军从陆路撤回。桓温从东燕(治今河南汲县东南)出发，撤退途中恐前燕追兵在上游放毒，命士卒凿井取水饮用，这样一直行走了700里。前燕诸将争欲追击，慕容垂说：“不可。温初退惶恐，必严设警备，简精锐为后拒，击之未必得志，不如缓之。彼幸吾未至，必昼夜疾趋；俟其士众力尽气衰，然后击之，无不克矣”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百二》)。于是，慕容垂亲率骑兵8000尾随桓温军行进。桓温果然加速退兵，几天以后，慕容垂告诸将曰：“温可击矣”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百二》)。遂令诸将急进，在襄邑(今河南睢县)追上桓温。慕容德先率领4000名精锐骑兵埋伏于襄邑东涧中，和慕容垂东西夹击桓温，大败晋军，斩首3万人。
时秦将苟池又于谯郡截击桓温，晋军死者复以万计。晋将孙元据守武阳抵抗燕军，被燕左卫将军孟高擒获。十月，天气渐冷，桓温收集余众，屯于山阳(今江苏淮安)。至此，桓温攻燕以失败告终。
慕容垂大败桓温，威名大振，慕容评对慕容垂是又忌又恨。后慕容垂为了奖励麾下将士，便上奏：“ 所募将士忘身立效，将军孙盖等摧锋陷陈，应蒙殊赏”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百二》)。但被慕容评压住不报。慕容垂大为不满，与慕容评相争。太后可足浑氏素恨慕容垂，遂毁其战功，与慕容评相谋，欲杀慕容垂。慕容恪之子慕容楷及慕容垂舅兰建知道后，告诉慕容垂说：“先发制人，但除评及乐安王臧，馀无能为矣。”慕容垂心中不忍，说：“骨肉相残而首乱于国，吾有死而已，不忍为也”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百二》)。不久，二人又告诉慕容垂说：“内意已决，不可不早发。” 慕容垂说：“必不可弥缝，吾宁避之于外，馀非所议”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百二》)。
慕容垂心中忧虑，未敢将此事告诉诸子，同时也是怕引起诸子的骚动。世子慕容令说：“尊比者如有忧色，岂非以主上幼冲，太傅疾贤，功高望重，愈见猜邪？”慕容垂说：“然。吾竭力致命以破强寇，本欲保全家国，岂知功成之后，返令身无所容。汝既知吾心，何以为吾谋？”慕容令说：“主上暗弱，委任太傅，一旦祸发，疾于骇机。今欲保族全身，不失大义，莫若逃之龙城，逊辞谢罪，以待主上之察，若周公之居东，庶几可以感寤而得还，此幸之大者也。如其不然，则内抚燕、代，外怀群夷，守肥如之险以自保，亦其次也”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百二》)。慕容垂觉得这个办法很好，遂同意。十一月，慕容垂以打猎为由，微服出邺，准备回故都龙城。到邯郸时，却出了意外，幼子慕容麟向来不为慕容垂所宠爱，便向慕容评告状，慕容垂左右也多有离去。慕容评知道后，在慕容暐面前尽说慕容垂坏话，遂派西平公慕容强率精骑追之，到范阳(今北京)时，慕容垂派慕容令断后，慕容强不敢追赶。时天将晚慕容令对慕容垂说：“本欲保东都以自全，今事已泄，谋不及设。秦主方招延英杰，不如往归之。”慕容垂说：“今日之计，舍此安之”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百二》)！
慕容垂“乃散骑灭迹，傍南山复还邺，隐于赵之显原陵”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百二》)。又杀白马以祭天。慕容令对慕容垂说：“太傅忌贤疾能，构事以来，人尤忿恨。今邺城之中，莫知尊处，如婴儿之思母，夷、夏同之。若顺众心，袭其无备，取之如指掌耳。事定之后，革弊简能，大匡朝政，以辅主上，安国存家，功之大者也。今日之便，诚不可失，愿给骑数人，足以办之。”慕容垂说：“如汝之谋，事成诚为大福，不成悔之何及！不如西奔，可以万全”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百二》)。
慕容垂遂率部西行，至河阳，斩津吏而渡。遂自洛阳与段夫人，子慕容令、慕容宝、慕容农、慕容隆，慕容恪之子慕容楷，舅兰建，郎中令高弼一起投奔前秦，只留可足浑氏于邺。乙泉戌主吴归率兵追击，被慕容令击退。
自慕容恪死后，前秦王苻坚便有伐燕之意，但一直未成，一是因内乱，二是忌惮慕容垂之威名。苻坚闻慕容垂来归，大喜，亲自到郊外迎接，执其手说：“天生贤杰，必相与共成大功，此自然之数也。要当与卿共定天下，告成岱宗，然后还卿本邦，世封幽州，使卿去国不失为子之孝，归朕不失事君之忠，不亦美乎！”慕容垂感谢地说：“羁旅之臣，免罪为幸。本邦之荣，非所敢望”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百二》)！苻坚爱慕容令及慕容楷之才，皆厚相待，赏赐巨万，每次进见，都属目观之。关中士民素闻慕容垂父子名，皆向慕之。
秦相王猛深知慕容垂有雄略，怕将来引以为患，便对苻坚说：“ 慕容垂，燕之戚属，世雄东夏，宽仁惠下，恩结士庶，燕、赵之间咸有奉戴之意。观其才略，权智无方，兼其诸子明毅有干艺，人之杰也。蛟龙猛兽，非可驯之物，不如除之。”苻坚未从，说：“吾方以义致英豪，建不世之功。且其初至，吾告之至诚，今而害之，人将谓我何”(《晋书·苻坚载记》)！并以慕容垂为冠军将军，封宾都侯，食华阴五百户。
时前燕纲颓纪紊，日益腐败。桓温攻燕结束后，前燕反悔食言，未将虎牢(今河南荥阳西北汜水镇)以西土地割让给前秦，前秦遂以此为借口，于十一月派王猛统将军梁成、邓羌等率步骑3万，进攻前燕(参见前秦灭前燕之战)，并以慕容令为参军，充当向导。
慕容令逃回前燕后，因忽叛忽归，而慕容垂又无恙，反而受到猜疑。燕廷将慕容令变相发配，派到极北的沙城去戍守，严加监视。的慕容令欲在沙城联络旧部，准备起事，又被慕容麟告了密，慕容令被诛杀。
投奔苻坚前秦
太和四年(369年)十一月，王猛灭前燕，慕容垂随苻坚入邺，收集诸子，相对而哭。慕容垂见燕公卿大夫及故时僚吏，慕容垂想起当年的窘迫，有不悦之色。前郎中令高弼暗中对慕容垂曰：“大王以命世之姿，遭无妄之运，迍邅妻伏，艰亦至矣。天启嘉会，灵命暂迁，此乃鸿渐之始，龙变之初，深愿仁慈有以慰之。且夫高世之略必怀遗俗之规，方当网漏吞舟，以弘苞养之义；收纳旧臣之胄，以成为山之功，奈何以一怒捐之？窃为大王不取”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。慕容垂深纳其言。
但慕容垂对慕容评却怨气难消，咸安二年(372年)二月，慕容垂便对苻坚说：“臣叔父评，燕之恶来辈也，不宜复污圣朝，愿陛下为燕戮之”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百三》)。但苻坚未同意，还让慕容评为范阳太守，前燕诸王也悉补边郡。
时苻坚已统一中国北方大部，而鲜卑人的势力也逐渐增大，这引起了一些氐族贵族的不安，宁康二年 (373年)，有彗星出现，太史令张孟认为不详，便对苻坚说：“彗起尾箕，而扫东井，此燕灭秦之象”(《晋书·苻坚载记》)。并劝苻坚诛杀慕容氏，苻坚未从。并以慕容暐为尚书，慕容垂为京兆尹，慕容冲为平阳太守。宁康二年(374年)十二月，也许是处于王猛或者苻氏重臣的授意，社会上谣言四起，说鲜卑人图谋复国。甚至有人闯入明光殿大呼：“甲申乙酉，鱼羊(鱼羊即为鲜卑的鲜字)食人，悲哉无复遗。”(《晋书·苻坚载记》)！秘书监朱肜、秘书侍郎略阳赵整等乘机请苻坚诛杀诸鲜卑人，但苻坚未听。慕容垂再逃一劫。
慕容垂及鲜卑人就这样如履薄冰般的过了几年，至到宁康二年(375年)七月，王猛病逝，才得以解脱。王猛的死，对苻坚是个很大的打击。当时在前秦虽处于鼎盛时期，但鼎盛的后面，却潜伏着社会危机。王猛死后不久，前秦的社会危机逐渐暴露出来了。太元元年(376年)，阳平国常侍慕容绍觉察到这种变化，对其兄慕容楷说：“秦恃其强大，务胜不休，北戍云中，南守蜀、汉，转运万里，道殣相望。兵疲于外，民困于内，危亡近矣。冠军叔(慕容垂)仁智度英拔，必能恢复燕祚，吾属但当爱身以待时耳”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百四》)！太元二年(377年)，慕容垂子慕容农也暗中对慕容垂说：“自王猛之死，秦之法制，日以颓靡，今又重之以奢侈，殃将至矣，图谶之言，行当有验。大王宜结纳英杰以承天意，时不可失也！”慕容垂此时已有此意，为防外泄，便笑着说：“天下事非尔所及”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百四》)。
叛离苻秦、重建燕国（后燕）的中流砥柱
太元三年(378年)，苻坚为实现统一中国的愿望，在灭凉，并代、解后顾之忧后，又经一年的休整，开始对东晋用兵。二月，苻坚派征南大将军、都督征讨诸军事、长乐公苻丕和武卫将军苟苌、尚书慕容暐率步骑7万进攻东晋襄阳，并以荆州刺吏杨安率军作为先锋。征虏将军石越率精骑1万出鲁阳关(今河南平顶山西)；领军将军苟池、右将军毛当、强弩将军王显率4万人出武当(今湖北丹江口市西北)；而京兆尹慕容垂则与扬武将军姚苌率军5万出南乡(今河南浙川西南) 攻南阳，各军会攻襄阳(今属湖北)。
由于晋军襄阳守将朱序顽强防御，至秦军久攻不下。后慕容垂攻克了南阳(今属河南)，与苻丕会于襄阳。襄阳久攻不下，前秦朝野哗然。十二月，苻坚派黄门侍郎韦华持节见苻丕，赐给他一把剑，如果来年春天仍攻不下襄阳，令其自杀。次年正月，苻丕在苻坚催逼下，命诸军全力攻襄阳。三月初六，克襄阳，俘朱序。苻坚没杀朱序，以其为度支尚书。
太元七年(382年)十月，前秦王苻坚在长安(今西安西北)与群臣商议进攻东晋的事宜。苻坚此时踌躇满志，他认为前秦可以动员97万大军，并准备亲自出讨，以统一天下，朝臣多反对。苻坚本来还是比较能够纳谏的，但在伐晋这个问题上，变得异常固执，听不进任何不同意见。后来，虽然太子苻宏、释道安、宠妃张夫人、爱子苻诜以及朝中许多大臣都一再进谏，但苻坚主意既定，不为所动。时慕容垂已有二心，便力主苻坚攻晋，他对苻坚说：“弱并于强，小并于大，此理势自然，非难知也。以陛下神武应期，威加海外，虎旅百万，韩、白满朝，而蕞尔江南，独违王命，岂可复留之以遗子孙哉！《诗》云：‘谋夫孔多，是用不集。’陛下断自圣心足矣，何必广询朝众！晋武平吴，所仗者张、杜二三臣而已，若从朝众之言，岂有混壹之功乎！”苻坚闻后大悦，说：“与吾共定天下者，独卿而已”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百四》)。并赐帛五百匹。
慕容垂逃出樊笼，如鱼得水。而权翼则秘密派兵在慕容垂经过的桥下埋伏，慕容垂已起疑心，自凉马台扎草筏渡河而去。十二月，慕容垂至安阳，派参军田山拿信去见镇守邺城的长乐公苻丕(苻坚之子)。苻丕闻慕容垂北来，虽怀疑其欲叛秦，但仍然前去迎接。赵秋劝慕容垂乘机杀死苻丕，慕容垂认为自己羽翼未丰，没有同意。而苻丕也想杀死慕容垂，后侍郎天水姜让劝阻说：“垂反形未著，而明公擅杀之，非臣子之义；不如待以上宾之礼，严兵卫之，密表情状，听敕而后图之”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百五》)。苻丕认为姜让之言有理。
苻丕让慕容垂住在邺西，并与其想见，慕容垂将兵败之事详细告诉了苻丕。苻丕走后，慕容垂与前燕旧臣暗中联系，准备重建燕国。时洛阳附近的丁零人翟斌起兵叛秦，准备攻豫州牧、平原公苻晖于洛阳，翟斌部中有大批的前燕人，苻坚便派慕容垂前去平叛。
慕容垂想入邺城参拜宗庙，苻丕不许，慕容垂便着服入城，但被亭吏阻拦。慕容垂大怒，杀吏烧亭而去。石越对苻丕说：“垂之在燕，破国乱家，及投命圣朝，蒙超常之遇，忽敢轻侮方镇，杀吏焚亭，反形已露，终为乱阶。将老兵疲，可袭而取之矣。”苻丕优柔寡断，说：“淮南之败，众散亲离，而垂侍卫圣躬，诚不可忘。”石越又说：“垂既不忠于燕，其肯尽忠于我乎！且其亡虏也，主上宠同功旧，不能铭泽誓忠，而首谋为乱，今不击之，必为后害”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。苻丕未从。石越出来后对别人说：“公父子好存小仁，不顾天下大计，吾属终当为鲜卑虏矣”(《晋书· 慕容垂载记》)。
慕容垂留慕容农、慕容楷、慕容绍于邺城，行至安阳汤池，闵亮、李毘自邺城赶来，将苻丕与苻飞龙之言告诉了慕容垂。慕容垂乘机以此激怒其众，说：“吾尽忠于苻氏，而彼专欲图吾父子，吾虽欲已，得乎”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百五》)！于是便以兵少为由，于河内募兵，几天时间便达至8000人。
平原公苻晖遣使责备慕容垂，让其赶紧进兵，慕容垂便对苻飞龙说：“今寇贼不远，当昼止夜行，袭其不意”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百五》)。苻飞龙觉得有理，便同意了。一日夜，慕容垂派慕容宝率兵居前，慕容隆率兵跟随自己，并把氐兵分散编入队伍，并与慕容宝击鼓为号，一起动手。半夜，鼓声响，慕容垂部前后合击，全歼击苻飞龙与氐兵。并给苻坚写信，告诉其杀苻飞龙的原因。
当初，其子慕容麟曾告发慕容垂投秦，慕容垂一怒之下杀其母，但未忍心杀慕容麟。时杀苻飞龙，慕容垂屡献计谋，启发慕容垂，慕容垂非常高兴，遂待其诸子一样。慕容凤及前燕旧臣之子燕郡王慕容腾、辽西段延等闻翟斌起兵，各帅其部前去归附。平原公苻晖使武平武侯毛当去讨伐翟斌。慕容凤说：“凤今将雪先王之耻，请为斩此氐奴”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百五》)。遂出兵击毛当，大败秦兵，斩毛当。癸未，慕容垂渡河焚桥，已有兵3万人，下令说：“吾本外假秦声，内规兴复。乱法者军有常刑，奉命者赏不逾日，天下既定，封爵有差，不相负也”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。慕容垂留辽东鲜卑可足浑潭集兵于河内的沙城，派田山至邺城，将功赎罪起兵之事告之于慕容农等，让其起兵兵相应。时天色已晚，慕容农与慕容楷留宿邺城，慕容绍先出城至蒲池，盗符丕骏马数百匹，等候慕容农与慕容楷。月末，二人率数十骑微服出邺城与慕容绍会合，逃往列人(今河北邯郸市东)。
太元九年(384年)正月，慕容凤、王腾、段延皆劝翟斌奉慕容垂为盟主，翟斌从之。时慕容垂欲袭洛阳，不知翟斌来降是真是假，便拒之，说：“吾父子寄命秦朝，危而获济，荷主上不世之恩，蒙更生之惠，虽曰君臣，义深父子，岂可因其小隙，便怀二三。吾本救豫州，不赴君等，何为斯议而及于我”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)！慕容垂至洛阳，平原公条符晖闻其杀苻飞龙，闭门拒守。翟斌见慕容垂对自己不来归有怀疑，便派长史郭通前去劝说慕容垂，慕容垂还是不信，后郭通说：“将军所以拒通者，岂非以翟斌兄弟山野异类，无奇才远略，必无所成故邪？独不念将军今日凭之，可以济大业乎”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百五》)！慕容垂这才同，翟斌归附后，便劝慕容垂称王，慕容垂没同意，说：“新兴侯，国之正统，孤之君也。若以诸君之力，得平关东，当以大义喻秦，奉迎反正。无上自尊，非孤心也”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。慕容垂认为：“洛阳四面受敌，北阻大河，至于控驭燕、赵，非形胜之便，不如北取邺都，据之而制天下”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。众人同意，遂回师向东。
故扶余王余蔚为荥阳太守，率众投降慕容垂。慕容垂军至荥阳，称燕王，封官拜爵，以其弟慕容德为车骑大将军，封范阳王；其侄慕容楷为征西大将军，封太原王；翟斌为建义大将军，封河南王；余蔚为征东将军，统府左司马，封扶余王；卫驹为鹰扬将军，慕容凤为建策将军。亲率20余万军队，从石门(今河南荥阳石门)渡黄河，长驱攻前秦邺城。
慕容农到河北列人后，召集鲜卑、乌桓等部众，举兵反叛。慕容农号令严整，沿途招兵买马，攻城掠地，兵至数万。苻丕派石越率步骑兵万余讨伐慕容农，石越率军到达列人西面，被燕将赵秋及参军綦母滕击败，石越设围自守。诸将劝慕容农乘胜快速进击。慕容农认为秦军装备精良，如果白天与之交战，燕军易生惧，不如待天黑以后进攻，遂命令部队严阵以待。待到天黑，慕容农率军在城西列阵，先派400名壮士突破敌阵，大军随后冲击，秦兵大败，石越被斩，慕容农将其首级送给慕容垂。石越与毛当都是前秦骁将，所以苻坚派二人帮助二子镇守要地，如今相继被杀，前秦上下人心浮动。
不久，慕容垂到达邺城附近，改前秦建元为燕元年。以前岷山公库傉官伟为左长史，肖尚书段崇为右长史，荥阳郑豁等为从事中郎，并立慕容宝为太子。慕容农也率军与之会合。
慕容垂遂招集前燕旧将与各路大军会攻邺城。慕容垂指挥大军攻城，克外城。苻丕退守中城。二月，慕容垂又率领包括丁零、乌桓等各少数民族部众共20多万人用云梯、挖地道攻城，均未攻下。遂修筑长围，与秦军相持，并把老弱转移到肥乡(今河北肥乡西南)，又修筑新兴城，用来放置辎重。四月，燕军久攻邺城不下，慕容垂召集群臣商议对策，右司马封衡建议引漳水灌城，慕容垂赞同。时慕容垂打猎，于华林园饮酒，前秦知道后，派兵借袭，矢下如雨，慕容垂几乎不得而出，多亏冠军大将军慕容隆率骑兵打退秦军，慕容垂才得以幸免。七月，翟斌恃功骄纵，索求无厌。时邺城久功不下，翟斌渐有叛心。慕容宝请求将其杀掉，慕容垂说：“河南之盟，不可负也。若其为难，罪由于斌。今事未有形而杀之，人必谓我忌惮其功能；吾方收揽豪杰以隆大业，不可示人以狭，失天下之望也。藉彼有谋，吾以智防之，无能为也。”范阳王慕容德、陈留王慕容绍、骠骑大将军慕容农都说：“翟斌兄弟恃功而骄，必为国患。”慕容垂说：“骄则速败，焉能为患？彼有大功，当听其自毙耳”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百五》)。对其礼遇更重。
翟斌还想当尚书令，慕容垂说：“翟王之功，宜居上辅；但台既未建，此官不可遽置耳”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百五》)。翟斌大怒，遂反，暗中与邺城内苻丕联络，又派丁零兵决堤放水，解除邺城被淹的危险。事泄，慕容垂杀翟斌兄弟，余者皆免。翟斌侄翟真乘夜逃往邯郸(今属河北)。太原王慕容楷和陈留王慕容绍对慕容垂说：“丁零非有大志，但宠过为乱耳。今急之则屯聚为寇，缓之则自散。散而击之，无不克矣”慕容垂从之。八月，翟真率部从邯郸逃走。慕容垂派太原王慕容楷和骠骑大将军慕容农率骑兵追击。追至下邑，慕容楷见敌阵不整，欲出战，慕容农认为，翟真营阵只见老弱，不见壮士，必有埋伏，慕容楷不纳，下令攻击，燕军大败。翟真继续北进，直趋中山(今河北定州)。后翟真为其司马鲜于乞所杀。
时前秦邺城守军长期被围，粮草渐尽。慕容垂认为：“苻丕穷寇，必守死不降。丁零叛扰，乃我腹心之患。吾欲迁师新城，开其逸路，进以谢秦主畴昔之恩，退以严击真之备”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。燕军遂解围退至新兴城，另派慕容农到清河、平原一带征收租赋，得到大批军用物资。
十二月，前燕帝慕容暐欲杀苻坚，事泄被杀。群僚闻后，劝慕容垂称帝，慕容垂以“慕容冲称号关中”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)为由，未许。
苻丕仍然保据邺城，没有离开之意。慕容垂复率兵包围邺城，只留出苻丕西走之路。苻丕势穷粮竭，急忙向东晋谢玄求援。谢玄派刘牢之、滕恬之等率领2万人马救援邺城，并从水陆运米2000斛接济苻丕。
太元十年(385年)二月，刘牢之进至枋头(今河南浚县西南)。苻丕发觉部将杨膺、姜让曾上表晋廷，许诺若晋军来援，当称臣于晋，遂杀膺、让。刘牢之获悉，徘徊不进。三月，燕军攻邺城不下，慕容垂将北去冀州，命令抚军大将军慕容麟屯驻信都(今河北冀县)，乐浪王慕容温屯中山(今河北定州)，召骠骑大将军慕容农回邺。慕容温派遣万余名士兵为慕容垂远送军粮，并在中山营造宫室。同月刘牢之进攻驻守孙就栅(今河南浚县境内)的后燕黎阳太守刘抚，慕容垂亲自率兵救援。苻丕闻后，乘机偷袭，但被慕容农击败。刘牢之进军交战，也被慕容垂击退，于是退屯黎阳(今河南浚县东北)。四月，刘牢之于邺城击败慕容垂，慕容垂退至新城。不久，又从新城北退。刘牢之不告苻丕，单独率兵追击，苻丕闻后，也发兵继后。时军情紧急，燕军连战不胜，士气低落，慕容垂认为：“秦、晋瓦合，相待为强。一胜则俱豪，一失则俱溃，非同心也。今两军相继，势既未合，宜急击之”(《资治通鉴· 卷第一百六》)。刘牢之急行军200里，在五桥泽(今河北广宗北)急夺后燕战备物资时，被慕容垂打得大败，死数千人。刘牢之单骑逃走，适逢苻丕率援军来救，得以入邺城，收集散兵，军势稍振，旋被召回。时邺城守军粮尽，无力坚持。苻丕率众西出寻找粮食。燕、秦两军相持经年，幽、冀两州发生饥荒，燕军多有饿死者，慕容垂遂下令禁止农民养蚕，好以桑椹为军粮。五月，慕容垂至常山，围翟成于行唐。并命带方王慕容佐镇守龙城(今辽宁朝阳)。六月，高句丽进攻辽东 (郡治辽阳东北)。慕容佐派司马郝景率兵救援，被高句丽打败。高句丽乘胜追击，连克辽东、玄菟(郡治今沈阳东)。七月，苻坚返回邺城。时余岩叛燕，自武邑 (今属河北)北攻幽州(治蓟，今北京西南)。慕容垂派人至幽州告诉守将将平规：“但固守勿战，比破丁零，吾当自讨之”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。平规未听，出战，果为余岩所败。余岩入蓟，掠千余户而去，遂占据令支(今河北迁安西)。不久，翟成长史鲜于得斩成出城投降；慕容垂屠行唐，尽坑翟成部众。八月，苻坚为姚苌所杀。苻丕率领城中男女共6万余人撤出，西赴潞川(今山西浊漳河)，苻丕闻苻坚死，遂即皇帝位。燕军也乘机入邺城。慕容垂以鲁王慕容和为南中郎将，镇守邺城，后燕攻邺城之战结束。并慕容农率众穿过蠮螉塞(今北京西北居庸关)北上，经凡城(今河北平泉南)，直捣龙城(今辽宁朝阳)，讨伐余岩。十一月，慕容农至龙城，就地休整，十余日后，慕容农率步骑3万至令支，余岩众震骇，不少人相继逾城投降，余岩计穷而降，为慕容农所杀。随即率步骑3万反击高句丽，大败之，收复辽东和玄菟二郡。慕容垂以慕容农为使持节、都督幽、平二州、北狄诸军事、幽州牧，镇守龙城。十二月，慕容垂至中山，对诸将曰：“乐浪王招流散，实仓廪，外给军粮，内营宫室，虽萧何何以加之”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百六》)！不久，定都中山。
太元十一年(386年)正月，慕容垂自立为帝，改元建兴，史称后燕。“立宝为太子。以其左长史库辱官伟、右长史段崇、龙骧张崇，中山尹封衡为吏部尚书，慕容德为侍中、都督中外诸军事、领司隶校尉，抚军慕容麟为卫大将军，其余拜授有差。追尊母兰氏为文昭皇后，迁皝后段氏，以兰氏配飨。博士刘详、董谧议以尧母妃位第三，不以贵陵姜嫄，明圣王之道以至公为先。垂不从”(《晋书·慕容垂载记》)。六月，慕容垂遣太原王慕容楷、赵王慕容麟、陈留王慕容绍、章武王慕容宙等攻秦苻定、苻绍、苻谟、苻亮等部；慕容楷先先写信给众人，陈述利害，苻定等遂降。八月，慕容垂留太子慕容宝守中山，以慕容麟为尚书右仆射，录留台。自帅范阳王慕容德等向南略地。十月，后燕宦官吴深在清河(郡治清阳，今属河北)反叛后燕，后燕主慕容垂发兵攻打，不克。十二月，慕容垂攻吴深垒，拔之，吴深单骑而逃。慕容垂进屯聊城之逢关陂。
太元十二年(387年)正月，慕容垂举行阅兵式。高阳王慕容隆向慕容垂建议：“温详之徒，皆白面儒生，乌合为群，徒恃长河以自固，若大军济河，必望旗震坏，不待战也”(《资治通鉴·卷第一百七》)。慕容垂从之。温详原为燕臣，后降于东晋，晋任为济北太守，屯东阿(今山东阳谷东北阿城镇)。慕容垂命镇北将军兰汗和护军将军平幼率军进攻温详。后燕军于碻磝(古津渡，今山东茌平西南古黄河南岸)西40里处渡过黄河，慕容隆率大军于北岸列阵以待。温详部将温攀、温楷见之即逃往东阿，平幼部追击，大破之。温详携家人夜逃彭城(今江苏徐州)，其部众3万余户向后燕军投降。此后，慕容垂以太原王慕容楷为兖州刺史，镇守东阿，以加强该地统治。
太元十三年(388年)二月，翟辽遣司马眭琼向后燕谢罪，慕容垂认为其反复无常，斩司马眭琼。翟辽遂自称魏天王，改元建光，并置百官。三月，慕容垂以太子慕容宝录尚书事，政事都让其处理，自已则总大纲而已。四月，慕容垂立夫人段氏为皇后，以太子慕容宝领大单于。追谥前妃段氏为成昭皇后。八月，燕护军将军平幼与章武王慕容宙共同发兵攻打吴深，吴深败走。九月，张中攻广平(今河北鸡泽东南)、王祖攻乐陵(今山东乐陵南)，燕高阳王慕容隆发兵攻讨。至十二月，太原王慕容楷、赵王慕容麟与慕容隆三路大军会师于合口(今河北沧州市西南)，攻张申。王祖为救援夜袭燕军，遭燕军反击大败而逃。慕容楷和慕容麟继续围攻张申，慕容隆与部将平幼兵分两路乘夜追击，及至天明，后燕军大获全胜，将所斩首级悬挂于张申阵前。张申见大势已去，遂缴械投降，王祖亦归降。次年五月，清河民孔金斩吴深，将其首级送中山(今河北定州)。
太元十四年(389年)正月，慕容垂召慕容农为侍中、司隶校尉。以高阳王慕容隆为都督幽、平二州诸军事、征北大将军、幽州牧，建留台于龙城，以慕容隆录留台尚书事。又以护军将军平幼为征北长史，散骑常侍封孚为司马，并兼留台尚书。
太元十六年(391年)正月，鲜卑贺兰部贺讷、贺染干兄弟为争夺本部统治权而发生内乱。鲜卑贺兰部世代居于阴山(今内蒙古阴山山脉)之北。代王拓跋什翼犍时，其豪酋贺野干为东部大人，嫁女于什翼犍世子拓跋实，生遗腹子涉圭(即复国建魏的拓跋硅)。后什翼犍为其庶长子所杀，国中大乱。拓跋硅母子往依其舅父贺讷处避难。另一舅父贺染干，颇嫉拓跋硅，屡欲攻杀之。太元十一年(386年)正月，拓跋硅在贺讷及诸部大人拥戴下，即位于牛川(今内蒙古乌兰察布盟内塔布河即锡拉木林河)，重建代国，改国号为魏。贺染干与其兄贺讷争夺对本部的统治权，互相举兵相攻。而后燕及匈奴刘卫辰又极力与魏争夺对贺兰部的控制权。太元十五年(390年)，刘卫辰派军攻贺兰部，拓跋硅出兵击退之，迁贺讷部众于魏之东境，与后燕毗邻。慕容垂乘机对贺讷软硬兼施，诱逼其叛魏降燕，封为归善王。贺染干闻讯，颇嫉其兄贺讷飞黄腾达，谋攻杀而代之。正月，贺染干与贺讷举兵相攻。拓跋珪请后燕讨伐之。四月，后燕镇北将军兰汗率兵大破贺染干于牛都(其地在牛川，放牧聚会谓之都)。六月，慕容垂遣赵王慕容麟率军击贺讷，生擒贺讷于赤城(今内蒙古托克托县东南黄河西岸)，降其部众数万。后燕主慕容垂命释放贺讷，并还其部众于原地，而徙贺染干及其部众于中山(今河北定州)，企图完全控制贺兰部，并用以牵制北魏。
慕容垂傲视关东
前秦被消灭的时候，比苻登、姚苌都要高明得多的慕容垂已经将关东七州紧紧地握于手中。
按理说，和胡戎众生的关中陇西地区比起来，关东的形势应该要简明很多。但由于西燕慕容永这慕容家旁支的徙入，加上在河南一带不停叛乱的丁零翟氏、悄然崛起的鲜卑别部拓跋氏，慕容垂统一关东的步伐迈得并不轻松。
后燕建兴元年（公元386年）八月，慕容垂在刚刚称帝不久便亲自率军南下，其前锋直指青、兖、徐等在淝水之战后刚刚被东晋“光复”的州郡。这些地方可以说是南北对峙时期的缓冲地带，后燕大军一到，纷纷投降。慕容垂重新将势力推进至淮北。
后燕的北方这时出了乱子。刘显跟拓跋珪翻了脸，想方设法要消灭拓跋珪的力量。为了笼络人心，他派弟弟刘亢埿把什翼犍小儿子拓跋窟咄迎接来。
慕容麟很有心计（前文便曾说过，这个慕容麟很会耍小聪明，即使曾经在慕容垂出逃时出卖过父兄，也没有失去慕容垂对他的喜爱，后燕的新都中山就是由他统军攻下来的。慕容垂建立后燕后常常把带兵打仗的重任交给他），他让安同赶紧跑到拓跋珪那里报告燕军的消息。北魏的将士们得知援军将至，果然恢复了不少士气，抵挡住了拓跋窟咄的进逼。慕容麟与拓跋珪会合，一仗就把拓跋窟咄杀得大败，拓跋窟咄逃到铁弗刘卫辰那里，刘卫辰岂会忘记当初两部之仇，也不顾他与拓跋珪为敌，将拓跋窟咄杀死了。
拓跋珪在这一仗中感受到了燕军的厉害。一年之后，他乘着刘显部兄弟相争，再次向慕容垂借兵，慕容垂又让慕容麟出兵相助。愚笨的刘显自取灭亡——很不给面子地把刘卫辰“孝敬”后燕的好马给抢了下来。慕容垂大怒，派侄子太原王慕容楷增援慕容麟。两个慕容与拓跋珪会战刘显，大获全胜。刘显逃到西燕，后燕得到了刘显的部众和牲畜，拓跋珪则基本收复了什翼犍时期的代国地盘。
慕容垂接下来花了五年时间经营自己的北方领土，这期间他消灭河北一带的叛军，收复清河、渤海等地，征服了北方比较强大的贺兰部，加上这之前慕容农已经率军击败高句丽，占据辽东，后燕巩固了自身统治，成为北方第一大国。
转眼间到了建兴七年（公元392年），这时的慕容垂达到其事业的颠峰，根据正史的记载，慕容垂自小到大（我们曾经在“慕容鲜卑”的第十一章“统一辽东”中介绍过慕容垂（当时的慕容霸）出场的第一仗）参加大小战役数百次，几乎无一失利（即使是在苻坚南征时的惨败中，他也是打得最漂亮的一个）。与十六国乱战中统一北方的“苻坚神话”相比，慕容垂的“不败神话”更加让人神往，然而那个在“统一辽东”中意气风发的少年，如今已经成了年近古稀的老人。
慕容垂决定毕其生命的最后力量建立后燕称霸天下的大业。在他看来，后燕的敌人只剩下了自己的同族仇敌——西燕慕容永。只是河南一带的丁零翟氏一会儿归附他，一会儿又归附东晋和西燕，很让他讨厌。慕容垂亲自带兵征讨丁零的首领翟钊。
翟钊向慕容永求救，慕容永本该懂得“唇亡齿寒”的道理，理应出兵帮助“难兄难弟”，却一味听从尚书郎鲍遵的话，以为自己是坐山观虎斗，根本不给翟钊一点救兵。
他先把营寨迁到上游四十里处的西津，造了数百艘牛皮船，载上一些兵士车仗，开始渡河。丁零翟钊在下游听说这一消息，果然带了军队前往西津抵抗。这时慕容垂才派留在黎阳慕容镇的军队连夜渡过黄河，在河南扎营。
第二天早上，后燕的军队已经驻了不少人在河南的大营了。翟钊哪里能防慕容垂这一手，又赶到下游打慕容镇，慕容镇坚守一段时间后，上游的后燕大军也已乘机渡过了黄河，燕军两路夹击，丁零军哪还有活路，全军覆没还不算，翟钊被慕容垂一路追击，只身逃到西燕，之后又被慕容永杀死。
收拾完丁零人，就轮到慕容永来后悔了。仅过了一年，慕容垂开始筹备攻打西燕。后燕将领又显得顾虑重重，认为后燕士兵连年征讨，十分疲惫，有待休整。只有范阳王慕容德同意伐西燕。慕容垂很高兴地说：“吾计决矣。且吾投老，扣囊底智，足以克之，不复留逆贼以累子孙也！”
建兴九年（公元394年），慕容垂大军在邺城西南集结，却一个多月不向西燕境内进发。慕容永反倒害怕了——慕容垂的用兵如神，天下尽知——他开始疑神疑鬼，怀疑慕容垂会从太行山的山道突入山西，赶紧分兵去封锁太行山口，在正面防御点台壁只留下一支军队。
慕容垂等的正是他这招，后燕军队突然从台壁进攻，两军一交手，西燕溃败，台壁遭围。慕容永被耍得够呛，又从太行山召回守军五万多人，然而他的手下刁云、慕容钟已被后燕的气势震住，军无斗志，投降了。
西燕门户一开，便再无补救之法。慕容垂在台壁以南摆下阵势，与慕容永会战，事先还安排了骁骑将军慕容国的精锐骑兵做埋伏。慕容垂假装败退，将西燕军引入包围圈，慕容国从其背后杀出，一场大战，西燕军光被斩首的人数就达八千，重镇晋阳也跟着丢失。
慕容永退守国都长子，向东晋和北魏求救。两方的援军尚未赶到，西燕别部的大逸豆归手下的将领便打开城门迎入慕容垂。慕容垂将慕容永和他的公卿大将悉数斩首，西燕从慕容泓称王至此十一年间的打打杀杀，成了又一阵过眼云烟。
与北魏交恶——后燕的隐患
慕容垂在与丁零、西燕的两场大战中将其战争艺术发挥到了极致，但他的后燕帝国也走到了全盛的尽头。
慕容垂在南征北战的过程中留下了一内一外两大隐患。其内部的隐患，便是慕容家的老毛病，好内斗。慕容鲜卑在慕容垂及其子侄这两代，可以说是人才济济，这里面有一直与他关系亲密的弟弟范阳王慕容德，又有儿子太子慕容宝、赵王慕容麟、辽西王慕容农、高阳王慕容隆，侄子太原王慕容楷、陈留王慕容绍，这些人在后燕平定北方时各自叱咤一方，等到一立功，一封王，就彼此不服对方。
后燕的国土挺大，东北是慕容农，东南是慕容德，西北是慕容麟，东、南、西又分别有慕容隆、慕容绍、慕容楷把持，这中间的离心力其实是相当大的，而更糟糕的是，慕容垂年纪已大，把国事交给太子慕容宝，这个慕容宝远无乃父之风，也不如当年冤死的兄长慕容令，待人处事最没原则，把本已内患重重的燕国搞得内政外交一团糟。
说到外交，就要说起后燕外部的隐患。后燕消灭丁零的前一年，慕容垂为了平定北方，再次出兵帮助了向他俯首听命的拓跋珪。拓跋珪凭借后燕的援兵，与他的世敌刘卫辰展开决战，一举将其击溃，并乘胜追击，占据了铁弗部的国土。刘卫辰在乱军中被杀，五千多人的宗族被拓跋珪下令全部斩首，扔进黄河。
拓跋珪得到了铁弗人数以百万计的牛羊马，壮大了自己的力量，逐渐不再像以前那样乖乖的听慕容垂的话。拓跋珪专门派自己的堂兄拓跋仪前往中山探听虚实。
慕容垂接见了拓跋仪，诘问他：“魏王怎么不自己来？”拓跋仪答道：“我们拓跋氏自先人以来，居住在北方，至今仍是如此。当年先王被晋朝皇帝封为代王，与你们的祖先共事一朝，彼此都是兄弟。现在我奉命出使，并无失礼之处。”
慕容垂感到这个使臣很不一般，又问他：“朕兵强马壮，威加四海，你们主公竟敢不来见朕，怎么可以说没有失礼之处呢？”拓跋仪摇头道：“燕国如若不修文德，以为靠着强大的军力就能够称霸天下的话，那就得问问我国的将帅，轮不到我这个使臣来说话了。” 拓跋仪一席话说得有理有力有节，慕容垂拿他没什么办法，就放他回了魏国。拓跋仪一回来，就对拓跋珪说：“燕国皇帝年老，太子暗弱，范阳王（慕容德）又很自负，恐怕不会安心做少主的臣子。只要慕容垂一死，燕国必有内乱，到时候自然是我们的天下，现在还不是动手的时候。”拓跋珪深受鼓舞，便暗中积蓄力量，准备与后燕翻脸。
事件的导火线始于拓跋珪派弟弟拓跋觚出使燕国，慕容垂已不理国事，一帮慕容子弟露出大国的傲慢之气，强行扣留了拓跋觚，要北魏给他们送宝马，拓跋珪不给，与后燕断绝了外交。
两年后后燕攻打西燕，拓跋珪又积极出兵援助慕容永，虽然于事无补，但在慕容垂看来，这是全不念燕、魏从前同盟多年，实在是最可恨的地方。灭亡西燕后，慕容垂本已身染重病，不想用兵，却抵不住慕容宝等人的怂恿，在建兴十年（公元395年）五月派慕容宝、慕容农、慕容麟率领大军八万伐魏，又让慕容德、慕容绍另率步骑兵一万八千人做后继，散骑常侍高湖苦谏也不管用，还被罢了官，看这架势是要一举消灭北魏了。
拓跋珪和后燕打了十多年的交道，对这个对手差不多了如指掌。慕容宝的军队开到五原（今内蒙古包头西北）的黄河北岸，南岸的拓跋珪先派人在中山到五原的路上截获后燕传送消息的使者，使得连续几个月慕容垂的消息都无法传到后燕大军营中，慕容宝兄弟惶惶不自安。
拓跋珪又拉上抓来的后燕使者到黄河岸边喊话：“你老爹已死，还不早早回去！”这一喊没关系，正是直中要害，慕容垂在后燕乃至慕容鲜卑历史上的地位何等重要？不明真相的慕容宝等人此时又担心又害怕，后燕的士兵们更是军心动摇，惊恐不已。
后燕的军队处境艰难，这边拓跋珪则安排停当，他派拓跋虔、拓跋仪各领数万骑兵驻扎在河东、河北，又让拓跋遵领了七万骑兵（拓跋珪经过十年的征战竟还能有这么多的骑兵部队，很让人怀疑这个数字的正确性，但有数万精锐骑兵应是合情合理的。）悄悄地绕到了燕军的东南面，也就是燕军的退路上。
从九月开始，燕军和魏军在五原一带相持近一个月，慕容宝的军队从一支骄兵变成了羸兵，慕容宝虽然心中发虚，却没有撤退的意思。慕容麟手下有个叫做慕舆嵩的部将觉得慕容垂是真的死了，纠合部将作乱，拥立慕容麟做皇帝。事情败露，慕容宝把慕舆嵩等人给杀了，虽则始终没抓住慕容麟的把柄，处置不了他，但心中已对这个兄弟很是疑虑。
燕军就在这样的状况下勉强支撑到了十月底，此时的五原地区已是寒风凛冽，冬日来临，慕容宝下令烧掉渡船撤军。当时的黄河水还未结冰，慕容宝认定魏军没有足够的船只，不可能渡河追击，无须采取任何防备措施，燕军一路向东撤去。
拓跋珪在南岸并未马上行动，燕军撤退后的第八天，天气突变，刮起暴风，河水迅速冻合。拓跋珪大喜过望，他赶紧留下所有辎重，连夜点起二万精锐骑兵，以最快的速度冲过黄河，朝着燕军撤退的方向追去。
慕容垂的惨淡收场——参合陂的哭声
疲惫不堪、士气低落的后燕军队走到参合陂（今内蒙古凉城东北）下，已近傍晚时分。“天有不测风云”，这个时候一阵大风平地而起，只见一道黑气如长堤一般，自燕军身后向前铺卷而来，最后完全罩住了整个军队。士兵们本已十分脆弱的心灵又蒙上一层阴影，一个名叫支昙猛的和尚顿觉不安，向慕容宝进言：“狂风暴虐，乃是魏兵将要来到的征兆，我军应当作好抵御准备。”
满以为魏军早被抛下很远的慕容宝只笑不作答。支昙猛再三请求，慕容麟在旁边听不耐烦，气呼呼地说：“以殿下的神武，我军的强盛，足以横行沙漠，小小的索虏（燕人鄙视同宗的北魏，骂其为索虏）哪里敢来？你这该死的和尚妄言惊众，应当杀了以振军威！”
支昙猛痛哭流涕：“苻坚百万雄师，却大败于淮南，正是因为恃众轻敌，不相信天道的缘故啊！”
眼看两下里就要闹僵，慕容德开口调停，他劝慕容宝还是听支昙猛的话，以防万一，慕容宝才心不在焉地让慕容麟带上三万骑兵殿后。慕容麟根本不信支昙猛，哪里肯好好设防，只放纵士兵在大军之后四处游猎。
【行军先设侦骑、斥堠，是古今战争的常识。看慕容宝带兵的方法，连后方的通讯被敌人截断他都听之任之，可见这位花花大少，对这是一点概念都没有的。但慕容麟、慕容德等人久经战阵，不可能不懂。唯一的解释是庸帅在上，悍将在下，大家都把心思用到钩心斗角上去了，互相掣肘，才会出这么大的纰漏。是所谓一将无能，累死三军。】
燕军又走了一段路，就停下脚步，在参合陂东边的蟠羊山南面依水扎营。慕容宝做梦都无法想到，急行军的魏军在当晚已经追到了参合陂西面！拓跋珪发现燕军近在咫尺，连夜部署进军计划，各将领分别带兵，士兵衔枚，战马束口，暗暗向燕军靠近。
第二天日出时分，魏军全部登上山顶，脚下便是燕军大营。这时燕国的士兵们正伸着懒腰，缓步走出营寨，准备向东进发，猛一回头，啊，眼前竟是严阵以待的北魏军队！燕军一下子就乱成一团。拓跋珪手一抬，二万精骑兵以排山倒海之势冲杀过来。燕军纷纷逃入水中，人马相互践踏，踩死的、淹死的数以万计。逃得性命的士兵刚上岸，魏军先前的伏兵拓跋遵的军队又正好杀到，燕军最后一道心理防线终于崩溃，四五万人全部乖乖地放下武器，举手投降。从乱军中逃出的不足数千，慕容宝、慕容农、慕容麟、慕容德等人凭着马快，才捡了性命，慕容垂的侄子慕容绍不幸战死，其余被俘的慕容氏王公亦有数千。
拓跋珪大获全胜，他从燕军的俘虏中挑了些可用之才留在北魏，其余的人准备悉数发还衣物粮食，遣送回国，也是借机招揽中原人心。
他的中部大人王建说：“燕国强盛，这次倾全国之力前来，我军侥幸取胜，不如杀掉降卒，将来它们再无可用之兵，打败他们就易如反掌了！”
拓跋珪叹道：“若听从你的话，只怕我将陷于不仁不义之地。”然而魏国的将领对后燕尚心有余悸，都认为王建说得有理，拓跋珪便下一道命令，将四五万后燕士兵全部活埋！
慕容宝回到中山，向父亲陈述失败的惨状，竭力请求再次伐魏。旁边慕容德又说：“索虏碰巧打了这场胜仗，有看轻太子的意思，如果不以陛下的神武把他们制服，恐怕后患无穷。”
七十岁的慕容垂听了这话，决定亲自出征，为身后的燕国谋取生存的空间。他让慕容隆和慕容盛调集旧都龙城的精兵来到中山，约定次年（公元396年）大举西征，攻打北魏。
军容精整的龙城精骑进入中山，后燕的士气重新振作。三月，慕容垂亲率燕军秘密出发，凿开太行山道，出其不意地直逼北魏占据的平城（今山西大同）。拓跋虔的三万军马驻守此地。慕容垂派慕容农和慕容隆率领龙城精兵充当前锋，突袭平城。
拓跋虔一向不设防备，看到燕军来攻，才仓促出战，龙城兵是燕国战斗力最强的鲜卑旧部，一个个奋勇争先，如下山猛虎，魏军招架不住，拓跋虔战死，残部全部被后燕收编。
拓跋虔是拓跋珪的弟弟，在北魏威望不小，他的死讯传来，拓跋珪大惊失色，就想逃走，北魏各部都开始心怀二意，拓跋珪竟不知往哪里逃。燕军一路前行，慕容垂来到了昔日战场参合陂。万人坑上的泥土犹新，一年前还是生龙活虎的数万士卒已成堆积如山的尸骨，无数冤魂仿佛还在山间飘荡。燕军设下祭坛，死难将士的父兄一起放声痛哭，声音响彻山谷。白发苍苍的慕容垂面对此情此景，心中又惭又恨，那最后一点战斗的气神再也无法坚持下去，哇的一口鲜血吐了出来。一代枭雄慕容垂，就此在血泪交加的参合陂前倒了下去。
慕容垂病情日益严重，终于丧失了继续进军的可能。燕军在平城停留了十天，修了座燕昌城（欲昌则不昌，唉），便匆匆返回，慕容宝等人的前军也只好全部撤退。拓跋珪得到后燕叛卒的消息，本想乘隙追赶，听说平城沦陷，便引兵退回阴山。
慕容垂战斗的一生，以这样一场凄惨的战争结束了，他在归途中病逝于上谷郡的沮阳（今河北怀来东南），终年七十一岁。参合陂的哭声，也和英雄慕容垂的名字一起，流传下来，直至今天。
家庭
弟弟慕容德 (范阳王)
儿子慕容宝 (惠愍帝) 、慕容隆，慕容农，慕容国，慕容镇，慕容永，慕容楷
Eastern Yonghe four years (348 years), Yan Wang Murong Huang's death, Murong Jun (Murong Huang's second son), or Yan Wang position. Yonghe five years (349 years), after the death of Zhao main Shi Hu, Zhao after the chaos. Murong Pa (when flat Di General) petition Murong Jun said: "Shi Hu Qiong Xiong very sharp, Tian Zhisuo abandoned, the remaining embers remaining, Zi Xiang fish. This Chinese hung upside down, look forward to Jen-shirt, if the army pick up, is bound to Ge vote. "Peking prefect Xing also on the table, said:" Shih chaos, when appropriate in order to progress the Central Plains "(" Comprehensive Mirror Volume 98th "). But that can Murong Jun Zhao was great after the funeral, did not agree. Murong Pa anxious to Dragon City (now in Chaoyang, Liaoning), personally Murong Jun said: "The sooner lost who, when. If Shih decline and revival, or a hero as far as its capital, Qi Wei lost this Italy, also fear of more troubles. "Murong Jun said:" Although Ye in chaos, Deng Hang It On Lok, strong food foot soldiers, now if the cutting Zhao, East Road, be prohibited from also, when the Lulong; Lulong narrow trails insurance, prisoner by the high off to, end to end, however, is to the what if? "Murong Pa said:" Hang Sui Yu Shih refused to abide by, its officers and men care about their families, who owned Chi Wai, if the provisional army of the natural collapse. Morrison Please Highness precursor, East the only river that support the potential interest, surprise, he heard of it, is bound to the horror-stricken on but shut ourselves can not help but abandoned the cities to escape the next collapse, He Xia Yu I zai! What, then His Highness can walk rather than the former, nothing as to make things difficult carry on "(" Comprehensive Mirror Volume 98th ").
Shengping first year (before Yan Guangshou first year, 357 years), the former Yan Fabing offensive Saibei (the Great Wall north of) Le imperial. Edict Le, also known as Dinglinger, high car. Southern Dynasties, a large number of people into the imperial Le mixed Serbian and other minorities, remain imperial Le Mobei grasslands growing in the fourth century, continued harassment of the Central Plains. After Former Yan Central Plains into the home, people often suffer harassment Le imperial. In the same year in May, sending Murong Jun Murong Chui (when Fu Jun, General) and the Jun Jiangjun Murong Qian, Hujun General Ping Xi rate Buji 80,000 into the northern frontier, Le imperial attack, defeated the, prisoners cut up more than 10 million who were horse 130000, cattle and sheep innumerable. Complex northern border security.
Murong Ke Murong Chui cash out of the military can be much surprised, very reliance, often on Murong Wei said: "The king will be only ten times with the minister, Xiandi to young and old of the times to the first of Robinson, Chensi after , His Majesty appointed political king is willing, indeed pro-Yin and move "(" Book of Jin Murong Chui set in mind. ") Murong Ke seriously ill after deep consideration Murong Wei hands of the right, while the addition of suspicion Murong assessment, it brother of the Murong Wei, Wang Murong Zang Lok said: "This year Jin Qin and despotic, not Bin Wu Qiang, two bandits and Huai progress, However, the risk of things not by the ear. Fuan get people in crisis, countries in the Yin Fu Hing, if we push it any allegiance, and the clan alliance, the universal lack of maps, the two enemies how can we make things difficult zai! I to often only by Xiandi Gu care of the weight, taking each swinger off, Gansu, swing a bowl, Wu, Shu Si into Xiandi behest of duty in the year Xie worry. but illness solid dying, afraid to go rather then this, no I hate it too. king talent Yingjie After a little time out, Sima level system military power, can not lose people, I end, the will to teach him. In terms of closeness rank order, not to grant thee, when the award red. Rudeng although ability and insight subtlety, however is not worthy of more difficult, national security, this is not ignorant of the interest at heart, so big regret also "(" Jinshu Mu Rong Wei set in mind. ") May, Murong Ke death, deathbed, Murong Wei asked in person after the incident, Murong Ke Murong Chui again recommended to the Murong Wei, said: "Chen Wen Shi Jian reported Enmo big, board building still can be, but state-nation Yi winnow basket! Wuwang Wen Wu and talent, management, Xiao of Asia, Your Majesty, if any govern the country the less security. Otherwise, the second bandit Morrison fear the plan must have peep hole in a wall "(" Ke Rong Jin Shumu set in mind. ")
Murong Chui westbound then led the troops to Heyang, cut Tianjin Officials and transition. Suizi Luoyang and Ms. Duan, sub Murong order, Murong Bao, Murong agriculture, Murong Long, son of Murong Murong Ke Kai, uncle blue building, with the doctor to make high-Bute Former Qin defected, leaving only be sufficient Hun's at Ye. B spring return shuaibing Wu Xu main pursuit was so repulsed Murong.
Wo four years (369 years) in November, before the destruction Yan Wang Meng, Fu Jian with the income Murong Chui Ye, collecting various schools, the relative cried. Murong Chui Yan Gongqing see it when the doctor and bureaucratic clerks, Murong Chui reminds me of the distress, with displeasure. So high before the doctor even told Murong Chui Bute said: "King to life posture of the world, was no jump of the operation, Zhunzhan wife V, the storm also Zhiyi. Apocalypse Peggy will, spiritual temporarily relocated, This is the Hongjian beginning, Long changed the beginning of a deep wish to comfort the kind. Jufu the slightly higher world will be pregnant with a relic of the regulations, side leakage when the network swallow a boat, in order to keep the meaning of Hong shell; incorporating old veterans of the stomach, to the mountains of power, it is regrettable to donate the anger? steal the king does not take "(" Book of Jin Murong Chui set in mind. ") Murong Chui deeply satisfied to his words.
UDL seven (382) October, Fu Jian, the former king in Chang'an (now Xi'an of Northwest) and the ministers discuss matters attack Eastern Jin. Fu Jian complacent at this time, he thought the Former Qin can mobilize 970,000 troops, and prepared himself out of discussions to unify the world, more than against the courtiers. Fu Jian had still more to take advice, but in cutting Jin on this issue became very stubborn and not listen to any dissenting views. Later, while Prince Edward Fu Wang, Buddhism and Taoism An, Chong Fei Ms. Zhang, son of Fu Shen and North Korea, many ministers have repeatedly plain speaking, but the established idea Fu Jian, unmoved. Murong Chui been Janus-faced when they advocated attack, Fu Jian Jin, Fu Jian, he said: "The weak and strong, and small and in large, the management potential of natural, disapproval knowledge. To His Majesty and brilliant to be on, Wyaga overseas Tiger Brigade million, South Korea, white lower-ranking, while the tiny South, alone against the Wang Ming, how can they leave them with complex genetic descendants Zai! "Poetry,": 'seek husband Hole, is not set.' His Majesty off from the Sacred Heart sufficient, why broad public consultation towards! Jinwu Ping Wu, the battle Zhang, Mrs Robinson just 23, from the Korean public words, anything of mixed One of the successful peace! "after the big Yue Wen Fu Jian, said:" and I who were given the world, independent of State only "(" Comprehensive Mirror volumes 140th "). And to give silk 500.
Murong Chui stay Murong agriculture, Murong Kai, Murong Shao Yu Ye City, OK to Anyang Tangchi, Min Liang, Li Ye City came from the border, the Pi and Fu Fu told the words of Dragon Murong Chui. Murong Chui angered the public take advantage of this, said: "I dedicate to Fu's, Erbi specifically want to plan my son, I Suiyu have, have almost" ("Comprehensive Mirror volumes 150th")! So the government Bing grounds, military recruitment in Hanoi, a few days will be up to 8,000 people.
At first, his son has denounced Murong Chui Murong vote Qin Lin, Murong Chui huff, killing his mother, but not the heart to kill Murong Lin. Time to kill Fu Dragon, Murong Chui repeated offer trick, inspired Murong Chui, Murong Chui very happy then let it the same philosophers. Yan Feng and old veterans Murong son of the former Dukes Murong Yan Teng, western Liaoning Province and other news segment Zhai Yan Bin dispatched troops, the commander went to join themselves to their department. Kung Fu Fai plain gross when we go to Wuping Wu Hou Bin Zhai crusade. Murong Fung said: "Phoenix the shame of this will be snow kings, Please cut this Di slaves" ("Comprehensive Mirror volumes 150th"). Mao then sent troops to attack when, defeated Qin Bing, cut hair when. Gui Wei, Murong Chui burning bridges cross the river, soldiers, 3 million people have been ordered, said: "I leave the outside of Qin, which regulate their recovery. Arbitrary law who have regular military punishment, not reward those who ordered over Japan, the world is established, knighthoods are poor, not with the negative also, "(" Book of Jin Murong Chui set in mind. ") Murong Chui stay muddy lake in eastern Liaoning Xianbei can set foot soldiers in Hanoi Shacheng, sent to Ye Tian Shan City, raised his army will redeem things to announce in Murong agriculture and so on, let the corresponding starting Bingbing. Night had fallen, Murong agricultural and residential Murong Kai Ye City, Murong Shaoxian out of the city to Po Chi, Pi-Fu horse stealing hundreds of horses, waiting for agricultural and Murong Murong Kai. At the end of two rates of dozens of micro-ride service from the city and Murong Ye Shao join, fled out of people (now Hebei Handan City East).
UDL nine (384) the first month, Murong Feng, Wang Teng, Duan Bin, Feng-Yan Zhai Murong Chui are advised to the chief and Zhai Bin from the. Murong Chui For when the passage of Luoyang, I do not know Zhai Bin to drop is true, then refuse the, said: "My father sent Qin life, but given the economic crisis, the main charge does not grace the world, kept the benefit of rehabilitation, although men say that monarch and his subjects , Yoshito father and son, how can its small gap, then pregnant with 23. I save Yuzhou this does not go to Jun so, what is proposed and Sri Lanka and in me "(" Book of Jin Murong Chui mind set ")! Murong Chui to Luoyang, plain public news of their death shall meet Hui Fu Dragon, refused to keep behind closed doors. Murong Chui Bin Zhai see themselves not to return in doubt, he sent Nagao go through persuasion Murong Chui Guo, Murong Chui still do not believe, after Guo Tong said: "The general refused to pass it were, does that mean to Zhai Bin brother mountain heterogeneous, no Wizards away slightly, will achieve nothing so evil? independence today with the generals do not read, can cause economic Hu "(" Comprehensive Mirror volumes 150th ")! This same Murong Chui, Zhai Bin join themselves, they advise Murong Chui king, Murong Chui did not agree and said: "Emerging Hou, country orthodoxy, solitary monarch also. If the party of power, may level off the East, when the Dayi Qin Yu, pander to anyway. supreme self-esteem, non-isolated heart "(" Book of Jin Murong Chui set in mind. ") Murong Chui said: "Luoyang on every side, the North block rivers, as control of Yu Yan, Zhao, non-type victory would be better to take Ye are the North, while the system according to the World" ("Book of Jin Murong Chui set in mind.") Everyone agrees, then return in triumph to east.
Soon, Murong Chui Ye arrived near the city, changing the first year of the Former Qin Yan Jianyuan to. Min Shan Public Library Rutan officials before the left Nagao Wei, Xiao Shang Tsung is the right section Nagao, Xingyang Cheng exempt such as in Zhonglang and signed Murong treasure the crown prince. Murong farmers also joined with his troops.
Murong Chui Yan Jiu Jiang and then recruiting from various quarters before the army would attack the city of Ye. Murong Chui command army siege, the Croatian foreign city. Fu Pi retreat in the city. February, Murong Chui has led include Dinglinger, Wuhuan Tribes and other minorities were more than 20 million people use ladders, siege tunneling, no capture. Then build long-Wai, and Qin stalemate, and the elderly and transferred to feixiang (now Hebei feixiang Southwest), they build new cities, to place the baggage. April, YAN Jun Jiu Gong Ye City high, Murong Chui discuss measures to convene the ministers, the right value for the proposed closure Sima pour cited the city of Zhangzhou, Murong Chui agree. Murong Chui when hunting, drinking in Hualin Park, Former Qin know, the troops through the passage, under the rain vector, Murong Chui almost not out, thanks to the winner repulsed cavalry general rate Murong Long Qin, Murong Chui were able to spared. July, Zhai Bin dependable power arrogant, demand no appetite. Ye City no less than successful when a long, gradual Bin Zhai rebel heart. Murong Bao request to kill, Murong Chui said: "The League of Henan, can not bear too. If its difficult, because sin bin. This thing is not visible to kill people that I fear it will function; I hero to embrace party collection Long cause, can not be said that people with narrow, lost hope of the world also. by he has in mind, I want to make intellectual defense of, inability to have. "Fan Yang Wang Murong De, Liu-Wang Murong Shao, 骠骑大将军 Murong farmers say: "Bin Zhai relies on power and arrogant brother, the country will suffer." Murong Chui said: "The arrogance is quick defeat, how can infestation? He has great merit, when listening to their own demise ear" ("First Volume Mirror 100 5 "). Courtesy of its heavier.
UDL 10 year (386 years) the first month, Murong Chui independence for the emperor, reign title Lite, known to history as Later Yan. "Li Po as the Prince. Nagao Library shame its official Wei left and right Nagao section Chong, Long Xiang, ZHANG Chong, Zhongshan Heng Yin Feng Shang for the Ministry of Personnel, as sijung Murong Germany, the military governor of various Chinese and foreign military, leading Sili XiaoWei, Fu Jun Murong Wei Lin for the great general, thanks to grant the other there are differences. Zhuizun mother as Zhen Luo gram, after moving Duan Committee election to Gram with Sleeping. Dr. Liu Long, Dong Mi mother proposed to Yao Fei-bit section Third, not to your Yuan-Ling Jiang, Ming emperors as well as the public for the first way. weeping not from the "(" Book of Jin Murong Chui set in mind. ") June, Murong Chui Kai Wang Murong removal Taiyuan, Zhaowang Mu Yung-lin, Liu-Wang Murong Shao, Zhang Zhou Wu Wang Murong set such attack Qin Fu, Fu Shao, Fu Mo, Department of Fu-liang; Murong Kai first letter to the people first, statement of interest, such as Fu will then drop. In August, leaving Prince Murong Murong Chui Po-Shou Zhongshan to Murong lin Shang You Pushe, recorded in Taiwan. Shuai Fan Yang Wang Murong Germany from slightly to the south. October, Later Yan Wu eunuch deep in Qinghe (Gunji Qing Yang, now part of Hebei) rebel Later Yan, Later Yan main Murong Chui his troops to attack, not be able to. December, Murong Chui Wu deep base attack, pulling the Wu Riding Alone fled deep. Murong Chui Jin Tun Liaocheng Zhifengguanbei.
UDL 10 years (388 years) in February, Zhai Liao Chiung-Sui backward removal Sima Yan apology, Murong Chui that the erratic, cut Sima Sui King. King then claimed Wei Liao Zhai, reign title of light construction and home Baiguan. March, Murong Chui Baoruh to Prince Murong Book of things are allowed to deal with political affairs, their own general outline it is. April, Murong Chui Mrs. Li Duan for the Queen to receive large Chanyu Prince Murong Bao. Posthumous before recovering to become Duan Fei Zhao Queen. August, Yan Zhang Hujun general level of young and Zhou Wu Wang Murong together his troops to attack Wu deep, deep defeated Wu. September, Zhang Guang-ping attack (now Hebei jize Southeast), Wong Cho attack Leling (now Shandong Leling South), Yangao Yang Wang Murong Long hair Binggong discussion. Dec, Taiyuan Wang Murong Kai, Zhao Wangmu Yung Lin and Murong Long joined forces in the jointed face three-way force (now Hebei Cangzhou city southwest of), attacked Zhang Shen. Zu-night raid to rescue YAN Jun, YAN Jun counterattack was defeated and fled. Murong Kai and Zhang Shen Murong Lin continued siege, Murong Long and the Department will catch the overnight level of young two-pronged pursuit operations until dawn, after YAN Jun victory, will the decapitation hanging on Zhang Shen sounding of class. Zhang Shen saw the hopeless situation, then surrendered, Wong Cho also clique are surrendering. The following year in May, China and Kong Qing Wu Jin cut deep, to send Zhongshan Primary (now Hebei Dingzhou).
UDL 16 years (391 years) the first month, the Department of Xianbei Helan He Ne, He dyed dry brother to fight for the right rule of the civil unrest in this Part. Department of generations living in the Helan Xianbei Yinshan (now Inner Mongolia Yin Mountain) in the North. On behalf of the king Tuoba even wing bullock, its high dry eastern Emirates Kano adults, married women were even bullock wing of Prince pa real, raw posthumous child involved in Guyana (the National Development Complex Tuoba Wei Si). Even after the wing Qianwei son killed his Shuzhang junior chaos. Silicon according to their mother and uncle to Tuoba He Ne Department refuge. Another uncle HE staining dry, quite jealous Tuoba silicon, repeated the wish Gongsha. UDL 10 year (386 years) the first month, Tuoba He Ne and the tribes of silicon in adults under support, which is located Ushikawa (Nei Tabu Ulanqab League of Inner River that Scylla timber River), reconstruction on behalf of the State, changed its title to Wei. He dyed his brother He Ne dry and compete on the Division's right to each other Ju-Bing-phase attack. Then the Huns Liuwei Chen Yan and Wei also strongly compete with the Ministry of Bush's control. UDL 15 years (390 years), Liu Weichen send Jungong Helan Department, sent troops to repel the Tuoba silicon, to move in the Wei He Ne Tribes of the East environment, and Later Yan adjacent. Murong Chui take advantage of the He Ne carrot and stick, You Bi Yan down its rebel Wei, sealed the return of good King. He dyed dry heard the news, quite jealous brother He Ne Apprentice, seeking Gongsha and replaced. The first month, HE stained with dry and He Ne Ju-Bing attack.拓跋珪 Later Yan scandal, please. April, Later Yan Chen-pei, Portland General Khan shuaibing He destroying infected cattle are dry in (the River in cattle grazing that of all parties). June, Murong Chui removal Zhaowang Mu Yung Ho Ne Lin hit his troops, captured He Ne at Akagi (Tuoketuo County, southeast of the Yellow River in Inner Mongolia today the West Bank), down tens of thousands of their Tribes. Later Yan main Murong Chui He ordered the release of Ne, and also the Tribes in situ, while the resettlement HE staining dry and Tribes in the Zhongshan (now Hebei Dingzhou) in an attempt to completely control the Helan Department, and to contain the Northern Wei Dynasty.
He first moved to go flat forty miles upstream of West Branch Tianjin, building hundreds of vessels leather boat, containing some of the soldiers Ju Zhang, begin crossing. Dinglinger Zhai Zhao told the news in the downstream, and sure enough with the troops to resist the Western Jin. Murong Chui then only sent to stay in the military town of Yang Li Murong night crossed the Yellow River in Henan camp.
Murong States eldest son John retreated to the Eastern Jin and Northern Wei for help. The two sides have not yet arrived reinforcements, West Yan Yat other Department of beans go great generals men opened the gates into the Murong Chui Ying. Murong Chui will Murong Yonghe beheaded all of his or poor general, West Yan Wang kings from Murong to this 10 year's Causing loss of lives, has become another burst of blast from the past.
Murong Chui in the Civil war left the course of a two hidden inside an outside. Its hidden inside is the old trouble Murong home, good infighting. Murong Murong Chui and nephew in the two generations can be said that many talented people, there is a close relationship has been with his brother, Fan Yang Wang Murong Germany, another son, Prince Edward Murong Bao, Zhao Wangmu Yung Lin, Wang Murong farmers in western Liaoning, Gao Yang Wang Murong Long, Taiyuan Wang Murong nephew Kai, Liu-Wang Murong Shao, Later Yan Binh Dinh in the north who became well-known when each side, until a meritorious service, a king, refuses to accept each other.
拓跋珪 been Tafel millions of cattle and sheep, the number of horses, grow their own strength, and gradually they no longer listen obediently Murong Chui words.拓跋珪 specially sent his cousin to go to Zhongshan to get an actual situation Tuoba Yi.
Was sparked by his younger brother began 拓跋珪 send envoy Tuoba Gu Yan State, Murong Chui has ignored the state, and a gang of children exposed Murong arrogance of air power, forcibly detained pa Gu, send them to the Northern Wei BMW,拓跋珪 not to, and Later Yan broke diplomatic.
拓跋珪 has captured the Later Yan way or another messenger to the Yellow River shore propaganda: "your old man is dead, not to come back early!" This call does not matter, it is straight in the vital, Murong Chui and even in the Later Yan Murong the status of historical importance? Know the truth, who at this time Murong Bao worried and frightened, Later Yan army soldiers is shaken, terrified.
YAN Jun is on life support under such conditions to the end of October, this time five of the original area is cold and windy, winter's coming, ordered the burning ferry troops Murong Bao. Yellow River water was not frozen, Murong Wei Po finds that there is not enough vessels to cross the river can not chase, do not take any precautions, YAN Jun road east removed.
Tired, demoralized army went Participating Later Yan Pei (now Inner Mongolia, northeast Liangcheng), the almost evening. "Accidents will happen", this time a strong wind sprung up and saw a black gas, such as Long Beach general, self-YAN Jun paper shop from behind forward, and finally completely over the whole army. The soldiers of the already fragile heart has cast a shadow of a monk named branch Tan Meng Dunjue anxiety into words to Murong Bao: "wind oppressive, but Bing Wei will come to a sign, our military should be better prepared to resist. "
Seeing Liangxia Li must come to an impasse, mediation opening Murong Germany, he urged support Murong Tan Meng Bao, or listen to the words, just in case, Murong Bao Lin was absent-mindedly to bring 30,000 cavalry Murong rear. Murong Lin Tan Meng simply do not believe in supporting, where willing to take maximum security, only to indulge in the army after soldiers around hunting.
拓跋珪 sighed: "If you listen to the words, I'm afraid I would find themselves in the land of injustice." Wei's generals, however, is still a lingering fear of the Later Yan, Wang Jian think are right, 拓跋珪 it has ordered, After the 4 50 000 Yan Shibing all buried alive!
Military capacity into the finishing of the Lung Jing Ji Zhongshan, Later Yan's morale to rebuild. March, YAN Jun Murong Chui personally led a secret proceeding, drilling of Taihang Road, surprise almost equal to occupy the Pingcheng Northern Wei Dynasty (now Shanxi Datong). Tuoba Qian's 30,000 army horse stationed here. Murong Chui send Murong farmers and Murong Lung elite as he led forward, attack Heijo.
Murong Chui condition worsened and finally lost the possibility to enter. YAN Jun spent 10 days in Pingcheng, repair the seat Yan Chang City (For Chang Chang is not, alas), then rush back to, Murong Bao, who also had all of the former military withdrawal. Later Yan rebel Death 拓跋珪 get the news, wanted to Chengxi catch up, I heard Pingcheng fall, they led his troops returned to Yin.
Brother Murong Germany (Fan Yang Wang)
| 后燕慕容垂 Murong Chui (384年～396年) | 后一君主 >>: 烈宗 惠愍皇帝 慕容宝 |