生平

征抚辽东－前燕文明帝慕容皝时期

慕容恪年幼时就已谨慎笃厚，深沈有大度，但因为母亲高氏并不得宠，所以没有被慕容皝所重视。直至慕容恪十五岁时，慕容皝才发觉他的才能，让他掌兵。多次随军出征，都多有奇策。

东晋成帝(东晋)|咸康四年（338年）

后赵天王石虎率步骑十万，水师十万与其父前燕辽东公慕容皝一起进攻辽西段部鲜卑首领段辽，形成夹击之势，随后攻下辽西之地。但而后石虎以慕容皝不前来会师为理由，率军讨伐慕容皝，数十万大军前来围攻前燕都城棘城，沿途郡县响应石虎而叛变的便有三十六座城池之多，慕容皝见后赵大军兵势极盛，本想出逃，但在部将慕舆根、玄菟太守刘佩的劝说力战下坚定了对抗石虎的决心。

后赵军队在前燕将士的抵抗下，围攻十馀日却迟迟无法攻陷棘城，因此只好退兵。趁此时机，慕容皝派遣慕容恪率骑兵两千人在凌晨杀出棘城，大败后赵军队，斩首敌军三万多级。

咸康七年（341年）

经过慕容皝特使刘翔的努力下，东晋朝廷册封其父慕容皝为使持节、大将军、都督河北诸军事、幽州牧、大单于、燕王并加殊礼。而后在冬十月，慕容恪被受命为度辽将军，出镇平郭（今辽宁盖州市）。慕容恪安抚怀柔当地民众，屡败高句丽军，令高句丽畏惧而不敢进犯前燕国境，继慕容翰和慕容仁后成功安定辽东。

东晋晋康帝|康帝(东晋)|建元元年（343年）

春二月，高句丽王高钊因前一年前燕的攻伐而元气大伤，遣使向前燕称臣。燕王慕容皝便归还其父乙弗利的尸体，将高钊的母亲留下作为人质。。

建元二年（344年）

燕王慕容皝领兵亲征宇文鲜卑头领宇文逸豆归，其中以慕容翰为前锋将军，刘佩为副手，而后分别命令慕容军、慕容恪、慕容霸及折冲将军慕舆根领兵，以三路并进的方式直逼宇文部。在慕容霸、等人的勇武下成功消灭宇文部，前燕领土辟地千馀里。

东晋晋穆帝|穆帝(东晋)|永和元年（345年）

冬十月，慕容恪再奉命进攻高句丽，攻陷南苏城（今辽宁丹东五龙山南）并留兵戍守。。

永和二年（346年）

世子慕容儁与慕容恪和慕舆根率骑兵一万七千人进攻夫馀国，此役慕容儁居中指挥，而慕容恪则率军亲身杀敌，所向披靡，终俘获夫馀玄王以及其部落共五万多人。而后慕容皝以馀玄为镇军将军，还把女儿嫁给他为妻。

征战中原－前燕景昭帝慕容儁时期

永和四年（348年）

慕容皝去世，临死前嘱咐慕容儁要重用慕容恪。慕容儁即位后，亦对慕容恪颇见亲待。

永和五年（349年）

后赵皇帝石虎去世，国内因诸子争位而大乱，慕容儁决心乘时夺取中原，于是以慕容恪为辅国将军，与辅义将军阳骛及辅弼将军慕容评合称「三辅」，慕容霸为前锋都督、建锋将军。更选精兵二十多万，作好出兵的准备。

永和六年（350年）

慕容儁分三路大军南进，慕容恪任慕容儁所率军队的前锋，成功攻下蓟城（今北京）、范阳（今保定和北京一带）等城池。随后慕容儁安排幽州各地攻下的郡县太守。

九月，慕容儁大军直逼冀州，攻下章武、河间、乐陵等郡，并以慕容评为章武太守，封裕（封衡之父）为河间太守，受慕容恪和慕容儁器重，可以百步不伤牛只射中毛发的贾坚为乐陵太守，治高城。

永和七年（350年）

慕容恪又攻中山，遭冉魏中山太守侯龛及守将白同固守所阻，于是留兵继续攻城，自己先攻常山。因慕容恪厚待投降的魏郡太守李邽，并与其一同回攻中山，令侯龛主动出降，慕容恪成功攻下中山，斩白同，并迁城内将帅、土豪数十家到蓟城，其馀百姓的生活则一如往常，慕容恪军令严明，对于百姓秋毫不犯。

永和八年（352年）

冉魏皇帝冉闵攻下襄国（今河北邢台），灭后赵，于是据掠前燕夺取的常山、中山各郡，慕容儁于是命慕容恪攻伐冉魏。慕容恪追冉闵军，直至廉台（今河北无极东）才追上。慕容恪屡次不能战胜冉闵，因冉闵向来有勇猛的名声，且手下都是精兵，所以令燕军都忌惮他。慕容恪此时以冉闵有勇无谋、士卒饥疲来激励军心，亦听从参军高开建议引冉闵到有利于燕军骑兵作战的平地才决战。成功引冉闵到平地后，慕容恪分兵三路，决心引冉魏全力进击以铁锁连马构成的中军方阵，从而在侧翼袭击冉闵。最终冉闵兵败被俘，后又击杀前来袭击的冉魏将领金光，进据常山。因著同时叛变的段勤投降，慕容儁命慕容恪回镇中山，自己则率军进攻冉魏都城邺城，最终成功攻灭冉魏，入主中原。

八月戊辰，慕容恪受燕王慕容儁的命令与封弈、阳骛攻打自称「安国王」的王午，王午见燕军前来紧闭城门固守，把冉闵之子冉操送给前燕，燕人把他们的庄稼砍掠一空后返回。而后慕容恪屯兵安平，广积粮食、制作攻城器具等，隋后先后击败王午、吕护、李犊、苏林等反抗前燕的力量。

十一月戊辰，慕容儁称帝，国号「燕」，年号「元玺」，史称「前燕」。慕容恪获授侍中、衞将军。

永和九年（353年）

时任侍中、衞将军的慕容恪与抚军将军慕容军、左将军慕容彪等人屡次推荐时任给事黄门侍郎的慕容霸，说他具有改变当世的优异才能，应该对其付以重任。因此，景昭帝便任命慕容霸为使持节、安东将军、北冀州剌史，坐镇常山。

永和十年（354年）

夏四月，景昭帝开始封赏诸位宗室大臣，为众人加官进爵。其中慕容恪升任大司马、侍中、大都督、录尚书事，封太原王。已位极人臣。

永和十一年（355年）

冬十月，东晋镇北将军、齐公段龛因非议慕容儁叛晋称帝一事激怒慕容儁。十一月，景昭帝于是任命太原王慕容恪为大都督、抚军将军，以阳骛为副手，率军攻打段龛。景昭帝对慕容恪说道:「段龛军队强大，若他派兵拒守黄河河畔，无法渡河，那就转向直取吕护。」于是慕容恪便派轻军到黄河上观察广固城中段龛的意图。段龛之弟段罴，骁勇善战又有智谋。段罴对段龛进言：「慕容恪善于用兵，现在他兵力众多，若任他渡过黄河，进军城下，那时我们想投降，也不被允许了。请兄长固守城池，让我率精兵到黄河抵御，若战胜，兄长率大军跟进，定会成功。若战败，不如早点投降，还可保住千户侯之位。」段龛不听。段罴还是坚持，把段龛激怒，杀掉了段罴。

永和十二年（356年）

春正月，慕容恪渡过黄河，并于淄水大败前来迎击的三万段龛军，斩杀了段龛的右长史袁范，并抓住段龛之弟段钦，并进围段龛固守的广固（今山东青州市西北）。面对段龛坚守不出，慕容恪并未猛烈攻城，反而招降了段龛领下的王腾、薛云等。及后段龛粮尽出城决战，被围城的慕容恪击败而狼狈撤回城中，被逼投降。后慕容恪又率兵成功抵御东晋泰山太守诸葛攸的攻击，进略河南等地。

东晋晋穆帝|穆帝升平三年（359年）

十二月辛酉景昭帝慕容儁患病，对时任大司马的太原王慕容恪说：「我病得这么虚弱，恐怕是好不了。寿命长短，都没有甚么可怨恨的了！不过现在东晋和前秦未除，景茂（慕容暐字）年幼，担心他应付不来。我想效法宋宣公，将皇位交给你，如何?」但慕容恪坚决拒绝的回道:「太子虽然年幼，但却是可以使恶人从良、让国家清平昌盛的明主，臣是何人，岂能干预正统?」，慕容儁怒道:「兄弟之间，就不要讲究虚伪的礼节了。」慕容恪再次回拒道：「陛下如果认为臣具有能够承担安定天下重责的才能，又为何认为臣就不能好好辅助少主！」慕容儁听后欣慰的开心说道:「你能做周公，我就没什么好忧虑的了。」并推荐李绩给慕容恪。后来慕容恪亦向慕容暐推荐李绩，但慕容暐因旧怨而不肯重用他。

摄政安国－前燕幽帝慕容暐时期

升平四年（360年）

春正月，慕容儁在邺城举行盛大的阅兵，想派大司马慕容恪和司空阳骛领兵征讨东晋，病情却急转直下，随后不久去世，年仅11岁的太子慕容暐继位，改元「建熙」，是为前燕幽帝。慕容儁临终时遗命慕容恪与上庸王司徒慕容评、司空阳骛及领军将军慕舆根一同辅政。

二月，慕容恪于是升位太宰、录尚书事，行周公事，总摄朝政。不过，当时作为太师辅政的慕舆根自恃战功显赫，显得高傲自大，看不起慕容恪。慕舆根为挑起事端以作乱，先以可足浑太后干政来挑拨慕容恪，说道:「今主上年幼，太后干政，殿下应预防意外的发生，以保全自身，况且如今大燕江山，多出自殿下之手，兄终弟及乃是自古有之，故殿下应废除主上，自立为帝才是，如此，才是我大燕的福气啊。」，支持慕容恪夺位。但慕容恪不受，说道：「公喝醉了?怎敢说出如此大逆不道的言论，我等皆受先帝的托孤重任，怎可有此想法呢?」，慕舆根只好惭愧离去。吴王慕容垂以及皇甫真等人都劝他诛杀慕舆根，但慕容恪以皇帝新死，国家安稳为首要，决定忍耐。

慕舆根挑拨慕容恪不成，于是试图离间慕容暐母子和慕容恪，想要太后诛杀慕容恪等，但慕容暐却支持慕容恪，劝止了母亲。与此同时，由于前燕已经在灭冉魏后迁都邺城，留旧都龙城（今辽宁朝阳市）为留京，而慕舆根却思恋辽东祖地，对太后和慕容暐建议还都龙城，变相放弃中原。慕容恪知道后就与慕容评密奏慕舆根罪状，最终诛杀了慕舆根及其党羽。

面对皇帝新死，更发生了诛杀重臣的事件，国内都忧虑情绪都很高，但慕容恪却显得举止如常，出入都只有一人跟从，不肯加添守衞，于是令人心稍为安定。同时，原先徵集在邺城的各郡军人都因为国家内部纷乱而经常逃跑，而邺城向南方领地的道路通讯仍不通，故慕容恪又命慕容垂为使持节、征南将军、都督河南诸军事、兖州牧、荆州刺史，镇守蠡台（今河南商丘），傅颜为护军将军，率领骑兵二万人南巡至淮河，终令国家安稳下来。

十一月，身为太宰的慕容恪想要任命李绩为尚书右仆射，幽帝慕容暐却因昔日曾经被李绩向其父说道喜好游猎音乐的旧怨，因而不允许。慕容恪屡次请求皆不被答应，而后慕容暐说道：「国家一切事务，皆委托叔父，但伯阳(李绩的字)这个人，就交给我处理裁断吧」于是李绩被任命为章武太守，最后在任上郁郁寡欢，不得志而死。

力夺洛阳

升平五年（361年）

据守野王，原本已归附前燕的河内太守吕护叛归东晋，被任命为冀州刺史。而后吕护想引东晋军队前来攻打前燕都城邺城。

于是在三月，太宰慕容恪率兵5万与冠军将军皇甫真率兵1万前去讨伐吕护。大军到了野王后，吕护环城防守，护军将军傅颜请求快速将其攻陷，以减少损耗，但慕容恪决定以逸待劳，起长围作持久战。

最终在围城数个月以后，成功逼得粮尽的吕护出击并大败对方，令其元气大伤，被逼出逃荥阳。慕容恪又招抚其馀众。而后吕护再次背叛东晋，投奔前燕，前燕朝廷赦免其罪，任命他为广州刺史。及后慕容恪又派兵攻略许昌、汝南、陈郡等地，并派遣镇南将军慕容尘屯兵许昌。东晋驻洛阳的守军渐见孤立，援兵和粮食都缺乏。

东晋晋哀帝|哀帝(东晋)|兴宁二年（364年）

前燕太宰慕容恪为了攻占洛阳而做了多方准备，派遣手下去招纳当地的士民，于是远近诸坞都归降前燕。之后便派遣他手下的司马悦希屯兵于盟津（今河南省孟津县东北，古代黄河渡口名），豫州刺史孙兴屯兵于成皋，以备之后的洛阳征讨。

兴宁三年（365年）

二月，太宰慕容恪与吴王慕容垂一同进攻洛阳，慕容恪对诸将说道：「众位常忧虑我不攻，如今洛阳城高而兵力疲弱，极易攻克，切勿畏懦而因此怠惰！」随后便下令攻打，当时洛阳守将东晋冠军将军陈佑已弃守洛阳，只馀下扬武将军沈劲所率五百人守城。

三月，最终成功攻下洛阳，并俘虏了沈劲，慕容恪本想赦免他，但中军将军慕舆虔认为，沈劲乃是当世奇士，且不会为前燕所用，放他走必成后患，只好杀了沈劲。

而后慕容恪带兵一路攻陷崤山、渑池等地，使得关中大为震动，连前秦天王苻坚赶紧率兵屯于陕城（今河南三门峡市以西）以防慕容恪来攻。

而后前燕任命左中郎将慕容筑为洛州刺史，镇守在金墉，吴王慕容垂为都督荆、扬、洛、徐、兖、豫、雍、益、凉、秦十州诸军事、征南大将军、荆州牧，领兵一万，镇守在鲁阳。慕容恪回到邺城以后，对于杀掉沈劲，觉得十分愧疚。

遗荐吴王

东晋晋废帝|废帝(东晋)|太和元年（366年）

三月，前燕太宰、大司马慕容恪与太傅、司徒慕容评，决心归政于已经17岁的幽帝慕容暐，将官印及权力交出去，但却被慕容暐拒绝。

太和二年（367年）

慕容恪很早就知道慕容垂的才能，并曾向慕容儁推荐。不过慕容儁始终猜忌慕容垂，一直都不放心任用。

五月，慕容恪患病甚是严重，临死前慕容暐来询问后事，慕容恪于是向慕容暐推荐吴王慕容垂接替自己。他又知道慕容暐政不在己，慕容评常猜忌他人，于是也向慕容臧及慕容评推荐慕容垂为大司马。

不过，慕容评最终都没有听从慕容恪的话，反倒更逼慕容垂出走前秦，终招来前秦灭国。慕容恪死后，前燕举国痛惜，而桓温和苻坚知道慕容恪死讯后亦开始准备攻伐前燕。慕容恪获赐諡号桓。

性格特徵

• 慕容恪高八尺七寸，严肃稳重。

• 慕容恪虽综大政，但每事必与叔父慕容评商议，未尝独断。同时亦虚心对待士人，善于谘询他人意见，因应官员的才能而授官。而官员若有过失，慕容恪都不会当众揭破，也不会贬他们的官，只是调他们到别的位置，就作为对他们的贬谪。当时的人因为惭愧，都不敢犯罪，犯了小过亦会自责。另慕容恪亦擅长军事，守辽东、伐高句丽、征扶馀、取中原、平段龛等各项战事都展现出其军事才能。桓温在慕容儁死后仍觉得未是时机攻伐前燕，就是因为顾虑慕容恪的才能，他不仅是战场上的强将，亦是能匡扶前燕的能臣。

• 慕容恪为国尽忠，如曾有一个叫丁进的方士，很得慕容暐宠信，更图讨好慕容恪，劝他杀死太傅慕容评。而慕容恪没有动容，亦不以他得皇帝宠信而顾忌，即上奏将其处斩。

• 慕容恪带兵不以身份欺凌部属，而是加以恩惠与信任，在军务上则是把握大原则，不会太严苛，使士卒可以安心待在军营。平时营中虽然宽纵，对手看来好像有机可乘，然而警备严密，敌人来到却无法靠近，因此慕容恪打仗未尝吃过败仗。

评论

• 慕容皝：「今中原未一，方建大事，恪智勇俱济，汝其委之。」

• 段罴：「慕容恪善用兵。」

• 王猛：「慕容玄恭信奇士也，可谓古之遗爱矣！」

• 崔浩：「慕容恪之辅幼主，慕容暐之霍光也。」

• 成海应:「玄恭之材之性, 似非夷裔之产也. 盖慕容氏, 部族英杰之多, 最于五胡, 而玄恭为最. 非但行师攻敌, 皆合机宜, 其忧国忠勤, 如孔明之于蜀也, 羊佑之于荆也. 使玄恭不死, 暐虽庸主, 独不可保燕乎. 殆鲜卑之运将竭, 玄恭安得久生乎. 秦虽强盛, 且王猛柄国, 在玄恭时, 无所著见矣.」

• 明·张大龄:「慕容自龙骧以来，世豪东夏，其子孙俱英朗雄杰，发在童孺，天之所兴，其谁废之！太原德业迈于狐赵，吴王才器不下管萧。昔舜生诸冯，东夷之人可以其鲜卑而少之？偿恪而不死，更得明主事之，与吴王垂左提右挈，驱驾才俊，混一之业，指顾而定矣！乃吴王力足以讨评，而不为首乱；时足以取坚，而还其旧兵；威足以困丕，而开以生路，尤人所难者。至于八十之龄，取西燕如拾芥，挫魏兵如发蒙，真太原所谓命世之才也。后来亡国之主，犹自翘然，身在鼎俎，神色不变。盖先世大有功德，故子孙蹶而复奋，不若诸胡之一败涂地。予于和龙之君，独有取尔者以此。太尉裕平燕之日，欲坑广固，得韩范谏而止。呜呼！燕何罪哉！前燕开基，取之刘石。后燕恢复，夺之苻秦。燕何罪哉！而戮之若斯之惨也。太尉此举，不惟远愧三代吊伐之师，且近有怍于玄恭景略矣。惜哉！」

• 明·王夫之:「五胡旋起旋灭，而中原之死于兵刃者不可殚计。殚中原之民于兵刃，而其旋起者亦必旋灭。其能有人之心而因以自全者，唯慕容恪乎！故中国之君，一姓不再兴，而慕容氏既灭而复起。恪围段龛于广固，诸将请亟攻之，恪曰：「龛兵尚众，未有离心，尽锐攻之，杀吾士卒必多矣，自有事中原，兵不暂息，吾每念之，夜而忘寐，要在取之，不必求功之速。」呜呼！恻悱之言，自其中发，功成而人免于死，恪可不谓夷中之铮铮者乎！」

地位

唐宋武成王庙位列其中。

家庭

母

高氏，慕容皝的妾室，高氏不得宠，所以慕容恪年幼时没有被慕容皝所重视。

子媳

• 慕容楷，太原王，諡元。

• 慕容楷妻、兰汗女兰氏

• 慕容肃，384年与慕容暐一同被苻坚所杀

• 慕容绍，陈留王，395年卒于参合陂之战，諡悼，

孙辈

• 慕容楷与兰汗女兰氏之子慕容奇

后裔

出自北史、北齐书、隋书、《隋故金紫光禄大夫淮南郡太守河内公慕容府君墓志铭并序》、《大周故左肃政台侍御史慕容府君墓志》、《大周故相州临漳县令慕容府君墓志》、《唐故太中大夫隰州司马慕容府君墓志》、《大唐故洺州肥乡县尉慕容府君墓志》、《唐故三品孙慕容君（知礼）墓志铭并序》 、《大唐故朝散大夫上柱国行河内郡武德县令慕容府君（相）兼夫人晋昌县君唐氏志文并序》、《大周故左卫翊卫天官常选慕容府君（思观）墓志铭并序》、《唐故河南府渑池县丞慕容君（瑾）墓志铭并序》

• 三代孙（曾孙）：慕容腾，归降北魏后，居住在代郡（今河北蔚县一带），子慕容郁

• 四代孙：慕容郁，北魏昌黎郡公、岐州刺史，子慕容远

• 五代孙：慕容远，北魏昌黎郡公、并州大中正、恒州刺史，子慕容绍宗

• 六代孙：慕容绍宗（501年－549年），东魏燕郡景惠公、永乐县子，官至东魏尚书左仆射、东南道大行台，节度三徐、二兖州军事、开府仪同三司，追赠武威郡王。子慕容士肃、慕容三藏

• 七代孙：

　• 慕容士肃：东魏散骑常侍，而后以谋反伏诛

　• 慕容三藏（546年－613年7月3日）：先为北齐燕郡公、开府仪同三司、右卫将军、加封范阳县公，后为北周开府仪同大将军、吴州刺史，再后来为隋朝河内县开国公、金紫光禄大夫、淮南郡太守，有子慕容正言、慕容正则

• 八代孙：

　• 慕容正言：唐朝请大夫（从五品上）、行卫州长史（上州，从五品上）、兖州都督府司马（上都督府，从四品下），有子慕容知廉、慕容知敬、慕容知礼、慕容知晦

　• 慕容正则：隋工部侍郎（正四品）、后来唐时为陇州吴山县令（中县，正七品上），有子慕容怀固、慕容思廉、慕容思观

• 九代孙：

　• 慕容知廉（640年－698年）：武周左肃政台侍御史（从六品下），有子慕容相

　• 慕容知敬：唐绛州司户参军事（雄州，从七品下），有子慕容升

　• 慕容知礼（641年－659年）：

　• 慕容知晦：唐汾州刺史（望州，从三品），有子慕容瑾

　• 慕容思观（?年－684年）：武周左卫翊卫天官常选

　• 慕容思廉（630年－712年）：唐太中大夫（从四品上）、隰州司马（下州，从六品上）

　• 慕容怀固（?－702年）：武周相州临漳县令（上县，从六品上）

• 十代孙：

　• 慕容相（677年－731年）：知廉第四子，唐朝散大夫（从五品下）、上柱国（视同正二品）、行河内郡武德县令（望县，从六品上）

　• 慕容升：唐洺州肥乡县尉（上县，从九品上）

　• 慕容瑾：唐河南府渑池县丞（畿县，正八品下）

注释

Early life

Murong Ke was Murong Huang's fourth son, by his concubine Consort Gao. In the Book of Jin, Murong Ke was described as over 2.1 metres tall and had an imposing look when he was just 15 years old. In his youth, he became known for his deep-thinking and tolerance of others, but was not viewed highly by his father because his father did not favor his mother. Only after he turned 14, when his father began to be impressed by the strategies that he had, was he given important responsibilities. Sometime before 345, he was given the important defense post of Liaodong (辽东, in modern Liaoyang, Liaoning) with the responsibility of defending the eastern border against Goguryeo. In 345, he was sent by Murong Huang to launch an attack on Goguryeo, and the attack was successful. In 346, formally under the command of his brother, the heir apparent Murong Jun, but with him in actual command, he attacked Buyeo (Fuyu (夫馀) in Chinese), capturing its capital and its king Fuyu Xuan (夫馀玄).

In 348, Murong Huang neared death, and he told Murong Jun that he should rely on his brother Murong Ke if he wanted to accomplish great things. He died soon thereafter and was succeeded by Murong Jun, who made Murong Ke one of his major generals.

During Murong Juns reign

In 349, as rival Later Zhao was collapsing in light of internecine wars between the sons of the deceased emperor Shi Hu and his adoptive grandson Shi Min, Murong Jun, under the advice of another brother Murong Ba, planned an invasion into the North China Plain, and Murong Ke was one of the major generals for the planned invasion. In 350, Former Yan forces quickly captured Later Zhao's You Province (幽州, modern Beijing, Tianjin, and northern Hebei). Murong Ke's military discipline was said to be so strict that not even trees and grass were harmed as his army marched through a region, and he quickly seized a number of commanderies in Ji Province (冀州, modern central Hebei) from Ran Wei, the new state established by Shi Min (who had by now changed his name to Ran Min, back to the family name that his father had before he was adopted by Shi Hu).

In 352, Ran Min marched north, ready to engage Former Yan forces. Former Yan soldiers were apprehensive of Ran Min's reputation for being a fierce warrior, but Murong Ke devised a plan to trap Ran, whose forces were largely infantry and had been based in forests. Murong Ke pretended to repeatedly lose engagements, and Ran Wei forces were drawn into the plains. Murong Ke then put his cavalry into square formations, with horses locked in formations with chains, and the Ran Wei infantry could not stand the pressure and collapsed. Ran Min was still battling when his horse suddenly died, and he fell and was captured. Murong Jun executed him and then marched on to the Ran Wei capital Yecheng (邺城), where Ran Min's wife Empress Dong, his crown prince Ran Zhi, and high level officials continued to try to fend off Former Yan for a while, but late in 352, Yecheng fell, and most of Ran Wei's territory fell to Former Yan. When Murong Jun then claimed imperial title, he created Murong Ke the Prince of Taiyuan in 353.

During the next few years, as a number of former Later Zhao generals were still trying to maintain independence and vacillated between Former Yan, Former Qin, and Jin, Murong Ke was involved in a number of successful campaigns to destroy them or force their submission. These included campaigns against Su Lin (苏林) in winter 352, Li Du (李犊) in summer 353, and Lü Hu (吕护) in spring 354. In 356, Murong Ke further defeated Duan Kan (段龛), the Jin vassal who had occupied Shandong Peninsula under the title Duke of Qi, sieging his heavily fortified capital Guanggu (广固, in modern Qingzhou, Shandong) and forcing his surrender. In 358, he repelled a Jin attack led by Zhuge You (诸葛攸) and further counterattacked, seizing a number of Jin commanderies south of the Yellow River.

Around new year 360, Murong Jun grew ill, and he told Murong Ke that since his 10-year-old son, Murong Wei the Crown Prince, was too young, and that the empire was facing threats from Jin and Former Qin, he was ready to pass the throne to Murong Ke. Murong Ke declined, persuading Murong Jun that if his abilities were capable of ruling over the empire, then they were also capable of assisting the young emperor. Murong Jun soon died, entrusting his son to Murong Ke, Yang Wu, his uncle Murong Ping the Prince of Shangyong, and Muyu Gen, but with Murong Ke as regent.

As regent for Murong Wei

Murong Ke soon had to face a challenge against Muyu Gen, who considered himself the senior official, having accomplished much during the reigns of Murong Huang and Murong Jun, and was unwilling to submit to the much younger Murong Ke. He first tried to create a rift by trying to persuade Murong Ke to take over the throne—which Murong Ke rebuked him about but declined to kill him despite suggestions to do so from Murong Chui (formerly known as Murong Ba) the Prince of Wu and Huangfu Zhen. Instead, Muyu then tried to persuade Murong Jun's wife Empress Dowager Kezuhun and the young emperor that Murong Ke and Murong Ping were planning a rebellion. Empress Dowager Kezuhun believed him, but the emperor did not and refused to authorize action. After Murong Ke heard about this, he executed Muyu and his coconspirators. With Murong Jun recently deceased and a major purge having followed, the officials in the Former Yan regime all were terrified, but Murong Ke calmed them by calm demeanor—including only having one servant accompany him wherever he went, without heavy guards. As far as his military command style was concerned, this was said about it in Sima Guang's Zizhi Tongjian:

:Murong Ke did not rely on terrorizing his army with punishments, but relied on kindness and faithfulness. He calmed his soldiers and paid attention to important things, and did not micromanage. Everyone felt protected by order. In ordinary times, the military laws were relaxed, and it might appear as if he lacked discipline and could be defeated easily. Instead, reality was that he paid great care to defense, and enemies could not get close. Therefore, he never lost a battle.

Indeed, in recorded history there was not a single mention that Murong Ke lost a battle. He was also described as a capable regent, being humble and willing to listen to suggestions. He did not deal out heavy punishments for officials' mistakes, and he consulted with Murong Ping on all important decisions. In 361, a magician much favored by the young emperor, Ding Jin (丁进), tried to flatter Murong Ke by persuading him to kill Murong Ping and take all power. Murong Ke, instead, had the magician executed. Later that year, Lü Hu, whom Murong Ke had forced the surrender of years earlier, rebelled, and Murong Ke defeated him, forcing him to flee to Jin.

In 364, Murong Ke led an army against Luoyang, which had been in Jin hands since 356. In 365, after a fierce attack, Luoyang fell, and he captured the Jin general Shen Jing (沈劲), whom he initially wanted to spare, but who continuously refused to submit and therefore whom his deputy Muyu Qian (慕舆虔) insisted on executing. Murong Ke, upon return to Yecheng, stated that he felt ashamed that he was unable to preserve Shen's life and allow his abilities to be used by Former Yan.

In 366, both he and Murong Ping offered to resign their posts and return all authority to the 16-year-old emperor Murong Wei. Murong Wei declined.

In 367, Murong Ke grew ill. He was afraid that a post that was part of his responsibility, the commander of the armies, would be given in an inappropriate person. He therefore tried to persuade Murong Wei's older brother Murong Zang (慕容臧) the Prince of Le'an and Murong Ping that the post should be given to Murong Chui, whose abilities he was greatly impressed with (but who had been viewed with suspicion by Empress Dowager Kezuhun). On his death bed, he also tried to persuade the young emperor of the same thing. However, after he died later that year, Murong Ping disagreed and took most of the power, giving the commander of the armies post to Murong Wei's younger brother Murong Chong the Prince of Zhongshan. What Murong Ke feared happened, as with Murong Ping in charge, Former Qin destroyed Former Yan in 370, just three years after his death. (As Former Qin's capable prime minister Wang Meng approached the Former Yan capital Yecheng, his army showed the same discipline that Murong Ke's did, and the people joyously stated, "We have met the Prince of Taiyuan again!" Upon hearing this, Wang, who had been quite confident about his own abilities, became impressed at Murong Ke, and sent messengers to offer sacrifices to him.)

Descendants

The Eastern Wei general, Murong Shaozong (慕容绍宗), was also his descendant.

Sons

• Murong Kai (慕容楷), Prince of Taiyuan (created 384).

• Murong Su (慕容肃), executed by Fú Jiān 384 along with Murong Wei

• Murong Shao (慕容绍), Prince of Chenliu, killed in Battle of Canhe Slope 395

Grandsons

• Murong Qi (慕容奇), son of Murong Kai and a daughter of Lan Han, would succeed Kai's title and died 395.