後燕建立前

慕容農九歲時，問太史令黃泓：「俗稱參辰相見，萬人相食，各自一宿，何為如是？」黃泓說：「昔高辛氏有二子，長子伯閼，次子實沈，總是爭鬥，自相征討，後來高辛氏身體不好，使伯閼主辰，實沈主參，別而離之，相見則爭，故代傳言如此。」慕容農說：「天有定宿，以人甄之，而成憎愛。二子之前，參辰何雲？」黃泓不能對，慕容垂對他也深以為奇。

建熙十年（369年），還是前燕皇叔的慕容垂因被皇帝慕容暐的母后可足渾皇太后和攝政慕容評所忌，逃往前秦。慕容農和父親一起逃跑。建元十三年（377年）春，他見秦仗著自己強大，宮室奢侈，告訴父親：能幹的丞相王猛剛死，秦帝苻堅的統治狀況正在惡化，你應該趁機複闢燕國（建熙十一年（370年）前燕為前秦所滅）。慕容垂對此一笑置之，但並沒有忘懷。

十九年（383年）十一月，前秦伐晉失敗，在淝水之戰中更是元氣大傷，慕容農再次向父親提出複闢：「父親不迫人于險，其義聲足以感動天地。農聽聞秘記說：『燕複興當在河陽。』在果子未熟或自落之際取之，不過相差十天之間，但論到難易美惡，相去遠了！」這一次，慕容垂同意了，說服苻堅讓自己奉詔去安撫前秦的東北地區，十二月卻趁機反叛，殺秦將苻飛龍。慕容垂在黃河以南的洛陽附近起事。先前慕容農和堂兄弟慕容楷、慕容紹等被留在鄴城，被苻堅子長樂公苻丕留下，慕容垂遣田山去鄴城密告慕容農等，讓他們起兵相應。當時已黃昏，慕容農與慕容楷留宿，慕容紹先出到蒲池，盜苻丕駿馬數百匹以待慕容農、慕容楷，次日二人率數十騎微服出鄴，一同逃到列人（今河北邯鄲市東）。二十年（384年）正月，苻丕大會賓客，請慕容農不得，才察覺有變，遣人四出訪求，三天後才知道他已在列人起兵。慕容農最初住在烏桓人魯利家，魯利為之置飲食，慕容農笑而不食。魯利對妻子說：「惡奴郎君是貴人，我家貧無以給他吃飯，奈何？」其妻說：「郎有雄才大志，今無故而至，必將有異，不是為飲食而來。君當急出，遠望以備非常。」魯利從之。慕容農說自己要在列人集結軍隊以圖複國，說服魯利和烏桓人張驤等人一同響應，于當年春在黃河以北起兵反秦。驅列人居民為士卒，斬桑榆為兵器，裂襜裳為旗幟，派趙秋遊說屠各人畢聰，畢聰與屠各人卜勝、張延、李白、郭超及東夷餘和、敕勒、易陽烏桓人劉大各率部眾數千趕來合兵。慕容農假張驤為輔國將軍，劉大為安遠將軍，魯利為建威將軍。慕容農親自率兵攻破館陶，收其軍資器械，遣蘭汗、段贊、趙秋、慕輿悕掠取康台牧馬數千匹。慕容農步騎雲集，眾至數萬，張驤等共推慕容農為使持節、都督河北諸軍事、驃騎大將軍，監統諸將，隨才部署，上下肅然。起初因為父親未至，慕容農不敢封賞將士，在趙秋建議下才作了封賞，結果使更多人前來歸附，此舉也得到了慕容垂的嘉許。他還招納了上黨的庫傉官偉、東阿的乞特歸、原燕國的光烈將軍平睿和其兄汝陽太守平幼，派蘭汗攻克頓丘。苻丕派名將石越率步騎萬餘討慕容農。慕容農說：「石越有智勇之名，今不南拒大軍而來這裡，是畏懼父王而針對我；他肯定不設防備，可用計取之。」眾人請求修繕列人城，慕容農說：「善用兵的人，用心結交士人，不用異物。如今起義兵，只求破敵，當以山河為城池，修繕列人怎麼夠呢！」石越兵到列人城西，慕容農派趙秋和參軍綦毋滕擊破石越前鋒。參軍趙謙對慕容農說：「石越甲仗雖精，人心危駭，易擊破，應該急擊之。」慕容農說：「他的甲在外，我的甲在心，白天交戰，則士卒見敵軍外貌就害怕了，不如等黃昏再擊之，可以必克。」令軍士嚴備以待，不要妄動。石越立柵自固，慕容農笑著對諸將說：「石越兵精士眾，不乘其初至的銳氣來擊我，而另外立柵，我知其無能為了。」黃昏，慕容農鼓譟而出，在城西列陣。牙門將劉木請先攻石越柵，慕容農笑道：「凡人見美食，誰不想要呢，何必獨自請求！然你猛銳可嘉，當讓你做先鋒以為恩惠。」劉木就率壯士四百人破柵而入，秦軍潰敗，慕容農督大眾隨之，大敗秦軍，斬石越，送首級于慕容垂，引兵會合慕容垂攻鄴城。秦驍將石越、毛當相繼敗亡，人情騷動，所在之處，盜賊群起。慕容垂派慕容農向東經營清河、平原，征督租賦。慕容農成為前秦軍的主要威脅之一，明立約束，均適有無，軍令嚴整。慕容農不侵害百姓，路上都有糧食，軍資豐贍，慕容垂很開心。

慕容垂在位期間

當年春，慕容垂宣布建立後燕，任慕容農為驃騎大將軍，並認可慕容農所授官職。慕容農曾和慕容紹、叔父慕容德建議慕容垂除掉翟斌兄弟，未果，後來翟斌果然反叛。八月，翟斌之侄翟真從邯鄲北逃，慕容農和慕容楷追擊至下邑，慕容農認為士卒飢倦且敵營不見丁壯，恐怕有埋伏，慕容楷不聽，果然戰敗。慕容農後又從清河出兵接應其弟冠軍大將軍慕容隆、龍驤將軍張崇，在廣阿俘獲被慕容隆等大破而敗逃的前秦陽平太守邵興。十一月，慕容農從信都出兵，在魯口擊敗翟真從兄翟遼，屯兵槁城以逼敵，十二月又和其弟慕容麟大破翟遼，翟遼單騎投奔翟真。第二年，慕容農繼續致力于對前秦餘部及趁前秦垮台而半獨立的將領們作戰，功勞很大，于黃泥攻敗翟嵩。慕容垂有北上定都中山之意，慕容農率眾數萬相迎。二月，他和慕容麟在中山合兵攻翟真，先率數千騎至承營，觀察形勢，翟真望見，陳兵而出，諸將欲退，慕容農說：「丁零人不是不勁勇，而翟真懦弱，如今簡拔精銳，望翟真所在而衝殺之，翟真逃跑，其眾必散，再邀門而截殺，可盡殺之。」派驍騎將軍慕容國率百餘騎衝之，翟真走，其眾奪門，自相踐踏，死者大半，燕軍遂攻克承營外城。三月，慕容垂攻打鄴城久不下，召歸慕容農，附近因而以為燕軍不振，懷有二心。慕容農到高邑，從事中郎眭邃奉命巡視未歸，被長史張攀彈劾，慕容農不為所動，反而假傳父命封眭邃為高陽太守，將家在趙北的參佐都假署官職放歸，舉補太守三人，長史二十餘人，說等他北還時，眭邃必然相迎。慕容農又奉父命攻打鄴城，晉龍驤將軍劉牢之攻燕黎陽太守劉撫于孫就柵，慕容垂親自引軍去救，慕容農奉命留守，挫敗了苻丕的夜襲。慕容垂北上中山，讓慕容農先行，眭邃等果然前來迎候，張攀才服了慕容農的智略。八月，出蠮螉塞，經凡城趨龍城，討叛將餘巖。十一月，慕容農至龍城，休士馬十餘日。諸將都說：「殿下此來，取道甚速，現在至此，久留不進，為什麼？」慕容農說：「我速來是擔心餘岩過山劫掠，侵擾良民。余岩沒有過人之才，誘騙饑民，所部是烏合之眾，沒有綱紀。我已扼其喉，久了他的部眾將要離散，無能為。現在這田要熟了，沒收割就行軍，是徒勞耗損；等收割了，再出兵就梟余岩首級，也不出十天。」不久，率步騎三萬至令支，余岩部眾震駭，有人越城歸順慕容農。余岩計窮出降，慕容農克令支，斬余岩兄弟，進擊高句麗，收複遼東、玄菟二郡，回到龍城上，上疏請繕修陵廟。慕容垂以慕容農為使持節、都督幽、平二州、北狄諸軍事、幽州牧，鎮龍城。慕容農于是創立法制，事從寬簡，清刑獄，省賦役，勸課農桑，居民富贍，四方流民前後來到者達數萬口。之前幽、冀流民多入高句麗，慕容農以驃騎司馬龐淵為遼東太守，招撫之。當年，慕容垂封他為遼西王。清河太守賀耕聚眾定陵叛變，南應翟遼，慕容農討斬之，毀定陵城。

建興四年（389年）正月，慕容農認為幽、平已經太平了，便上表慕容垂，請求回首都中山（在今河北保定），以獲得上陣殺敵的機會。在上表中，他指出手下將士安逸多年，而青、徐、荊、雍四州尚未平定，當時前三州在東晉管下，雍州在後秦管下。這說明慕容農至少有打敗東晉和後秦的野心。

慕容垂收到上表，便召慕容農回中山為侍中、司隸校尉，命高陽王慕容隆去龍城接替他。慕容隆遵循慕容農舊規，並進行拓展，遼、碣于是安定。慕容農回到中山，被任為都督兗豫荊徐雍五州諸軍事，鎮鄴城。十月，翟遼派丁零人故堤詐降樂浪王冀州刺史慕容溫，將慕容溫和長史司馬驅刺殺，率兩百戶守軍奔西燕，慕容農在襄國予以截擊，全部截獲，故堤隻身逃走。此後，慕容農多次參與其父的軍事行動，在六年（391年）打敗了翟魏天王翟釗對鄴城的進攻。七年（392年）六月，慕容垂伐翟魏，隔河對峙，秘密遣中壘將軍桂林王慕容鎮在河南立了營，翟釗回軍攻慕容鎮等營，往返疲憊，又不能攻克，將離去，慕容鎮等引兵出戰，慕容農從西津渡河與慕容鎮等夾擊，大破之。翟釗逃回滑台率妻兒和餘部北渡黃河登白鹿山憑險自守，燕軍不得進。慕容農說：「翟釗無糧，不能久居山中。」便引兵回，留騎兵等候之。翟釗果然下山，燕軍回師掩擊，盡獲其眾，翟釗單騎逃奔西燕，翟魏滅亡。十二月，慕容垂以慕容農為都督兗、豫、荊、徐、雍五州諸軍事，鎮鄴城。在九年（394年）消滅西燕的戰事中，慕容農也發揮了重要作用，二月，他兵出壺關，幫助後燕控制了山西。五月，燕軍至台壁，西燕帝慕容永從子征東將軍慕容小逸豆歸出戰，被慕容農擊破，斬西燕右將軍勒馬駒，擒鎮東將軍王次多，遂圍台壁。慕容永親率精卒五萬來拒，慕容垂列陣于台壁之南，慕容農、慕容楷分為二翼，慕容國伏千兵于深澗，與其大戰。慕容垂引軍偽退，慕容永追奔數里，慕容國發伏兵馳斷其後，慕容楷、慕容農夾擊之，慕容永軍大敗，斬首八千餘級，慕容永奔還長子。十月，慕容農渡河與安南將軍尹國略地青、兗，慕容農攻廩丘，尹國攻陽城，皆攻克，慕容農與尹國與晉東平太守韋簡交戰于平陸，韋簡戰死，高平、太山、琅邪諸郡都棄城潰走，慕容農進軍臨海，十一月，又襲擊東晉治下由原先附庸于後燕的闢閭渾所管轄的青州，敗闢閭渾于龍水，入臨淄，慕容垂告捷于龍城之廟。但十二月，不知何故，慕容垂召他回中山，放棄了青州的戰事。

慕容垂在位期間，慕容農、慕容隆兩兄弟是最得到認可的皇子。因此，皇后段元妃曾嚮慕容垂建議，太子慕容寶缺乏政治才能，應選擇慕容農或慕容隆為太子，趙王慕容麟奸詐強愎，以後必為國家之患，應該早圖之。但慕容垂認可慕容寶，拒絕了，反而怪段元妃離間父子關係。

然而，慕容農的無敵神話在建興十年（395年）在一次戰役中開始破滅，儘管他並非最高指揮官。因被原附庸于後燕的北魏王子拓跋珪的騷擾襲擊所激怒，當年五月，慕容垂命慕容寶率軍八萬，由慕容農和慕容麟輔助，慕容德、慕容紹以步騎一萬八千為後繼，想滅北魏。但在呼和浩特附近殭持後，慕容寶因誤信慕容垂已駕崩而撤退，結果被拓跋珪在參合陂之戰中大敗，幾乎損失了舉國的軍隊。慕容農和其他兄弟們都倖免于難，慕容紹戰死。曾任慕容農記室參軍的驃騎長史、帶昌黎太守賈彞被俘。

十一年（396年）三月，慕容垂御駕親征，想收服北魏，親率眾出參合，鑿山開道，次于獵嶺，遣慕容寶與慕容農出天門，慕容隆、慕容寶庶長子慕容盛逾青山，到獵嶺，遣慕容農、慕容隆為前鋒襲魏陳留公拓跋虔于平城，拓跋虔素無防備，閏三月，燕軍敗殺拓跋虔，收其眾三萬餘戶而還。慕容垂最初取得了一些勝利，拓跋珪震怖欲逃，諸部聞拓跋虔之死都懷有貳心，拓跋珪不知去哪裡好。但燕大軍剛過參合陂時，慕容垂在難過和憤怒中病倒了，大軍也被迫撤退。慕容垂不久駕崩，慕容寶繼位。

慕容寶在位期間

慕容寶雖然忌恨段元妃之前把太子換成慕容農或慕容隆的建議，以至于迫使段元妃自殺，但很信任這兩個兄弟，任命慕容農為都督並、雍、益、梁、秦、涼六州諸軍事、并州牧，鎮晉陽，抵禦北魏入侵。慕容農率部曲數萬去并州，但當即就在籌糧時犯了錯誤，他的安排超出了正忍受饑荒之苦的百姓的能力。他還派軍官監視胡人部落。百姓斷然反叛，送信給北魏，要求拓跋珪進軍并州。九月，拓跋珪到達晉陽，並擊敗了出戰的慕容農，慕容農奔還晉陽，司馬慕輿嵩閉門拒之，慕容農與妻兒率數千騎向東逃，魏中領將軍長孫肥在潞川追上，俘獲慕容農妻兒。慕容農負傷僅率三騎逃回中山。拓跋珪遂得并州。

拓跋珪繼續向中山進軍。中山被圍日久，燕將士們都想著出城一戰，慕容寶給慕容農一小支部隊防禦中山，出屯安喜，但大部分軍務被委託給建議不要與北魏交鋒的衛大將軍慕容麟，此舉令慕容農、慕容隆沮喪。永康二年（397年）三月，慕容麟政變失敗逃離中山，慕容寶害怕慕容麟會掌握自己的庶次子清河王慕容會所率的一支援軍先占據龍城，就召來慕容農和慕容隆，決定放棄中山去龍城。慕容農和慕容隆的部下都勸他們留守而不是跟著慕容寶，但他們都沒有聽從，認為為了效忠必須跟著慕容寶。其中慕容農部將谷會歸勸慕容農：「城中之人皆是拓跋珪在參合陂所殺者的父子兄弟，泣血踊躍，欲與魏戰，而為衛軍所抑，主上當北遷，皆曰：『得慕容氏一人奉而立之，以與魏戰，死無所恨！』大王幸而留此，以副眾望，擊退魏軍，撫寧畿甸，奉迎大駕，亦不失為忠臣。」慕容農聞言想殺谷會歸，卻又可惜其才，說：「只能如此才能指望活下來的話，不如就死！」于是他們和慕容寶、慕容盛、太子慕容策一起率萬餘騎加入了慕容會的軍隊。

但慕容會因被立為太子的是嫡出的弟弟慕容策而不是自己，心懷不滿，想武力奪權。慕容寶察覺慕容會怏怏有恨色，試圖把慕容會所部轉移到慕容農和慕容隆管下，卻加深了慕容會的怨恨。魏軍在夏謙澤追上慕容寶，慕容會整軍陣與戰，慕容農、慕容隆等率從南邊來的騎兵衝殺之，魏兵大敗，追奔百餘里，斬首數千級。此勝後，慕容會愈發驕矜，和慕容隆的矛盾也加深。慕容會因慕容農、慕容隆都曾鎮守龍城，地位尊重，名望在自己之上，擔心一旦到龍城，自己就沒有權了，又知道自己不能為嗣，就圖謀作亂。幽、平軍隊都懷慕容會之恩，不樂屬慕容農、慕容隆，請于慕容寶，希望慕容寶等留在薊宮，他們要隨慕容會一同解京師之圍，再來迎駕。但慕容寶左右都厭惡慕容會，認為慕容會一旦解圍，必將自立。慕容寶就對軍眾說慕容會年少，才不及慕容農、慕容隆，不可當專征之任，且正需要慕容會為羽翼，不可離左右。軍眾不悅而退。慕容寶左右又勸其殺慕容會，侍御史仇尼歸聞之，勸慕容會誅慕容農、慕容隆，廢太子，自處東宮，兼將相之任，以匡複社稷。慕容寶又對慕容農、慕容隆說慕容會必反，應早除之。二人認為社稷正危，慕容會鎮撫舊都，遠赴國難，威名之重足以震動四鄰，逆狀未顯而殺之，不但傷父子之恩，也恐怕大損威望。慕容寶說：「慕容會逆志已成，卿等慈恕不忍早殺，恐一旦為變，必先害諸叔父，然後殺我，到時候別後悔自己的自負！」慕容會聞之，更害怕了，四月，先對叔父們下手，派其黨仇尼歸、吳提染幹率壯士二十餘人分道行刺慕容農、慕容隆，慕容隆被殺，慕容農也受了重傷，擒住仇尼歸，逃入山中。因仇尼歸被擒，慕容會知道此事要暴露，就夜間見慕容寶說：「農、隆謀逆，臣已除之。」慕容寶欲討伐慕容會，故意假作好言安撫：「我本就疑心二王很久了，除之很好。」慕容農從山中出來，慕容寶呵斥他：「何以自負！」命擒之。行軍十餘里，慕容寶召群臣吃飯，議慕容農罪，意欲擊殺慕容會，但沒有殺死，慕容會公開發動政變，事敗被殺。慕容農頭骨破裂，連腦子都外露了，慕容寶親自為他裹傷，才保住性命。

慕容寶在龍城安歇，進慕容農為左僕射，不久又拜他為司空、領尚書令，八月又命他都督中外諸軍事、大司馬、錄尚書事。三年（398年）正月，得知中山已失守，慕容農提出剛遷都，不可急于南征，應當派軍襲擊庫莫奚，取其牛馬以充軍資，再觀察虛實，待明年再議南征，慕容寶起初停止了收複失地的想法，但當月又不顧慕容農、慕容盛反對，斷然南征，以撫軍將軍慕輿騰為前軍大司馬，慕容農為中軍大司馬，慕容寶親自為後軍大司馬，步騎三萬，連營百里，次于乙連。但剛離開龍城，慕容隆舊部段速骨就利用諸軍的厭戰之心反叛了，迫使慕容隆之子高陽王慕容崇為首，殺宗室諸王，慕容寶率十餘騎奔慕容農營，慕容農出迎，左右抱其腰止之，說：「應該觀察一下，不可立即出去。」慕容農引刀要砍他們，于是出見慕容寶，又派快馬持信追慕輿騰。慕容寶、慕容農引兵回大營討段速骨等。慕容農營的軍隊也厭戰，皆棄兵器而逃，慕輿騰的軍營也崩潰了。慕容寶與慕容農當即逃回龍城，賴留守的慕容盛引兵出迎而得免。段速骨包圍龍城。儘管有慕容垂的舅舅尚書頓丘王蘭汗暗助，段速骨起初並不成功，直到三月段速骨攻城之際，慕容農被蘭汗所誘騙，秘密出城進入段速骨軍中以求自保。次早，段速骨攻城，守軍堅持拒戰，段速骨傷亡慘重，就帶著慕容農繞城。龍城守軍倚仗慕容農的忠節威名，見他在城下，驚愕而鬥志崩潰、潰逃，龍城終于被段速骨攻陷。段速骨縱兵殺掠，囚禁慕容農于殿內，他的謀主阿交羅又進言說慕容崇幼弱，不如改立慕容農為主。慕容崇的親信鬷讓和出力犍聞訊，殺了阿交羅和慕容農。慕容農故吏左衛將軍宇文拔逃奔遼西。慕容農被追謚桓烈。

評價

廖基添《慕容農與後燕興衰——以「列人集團」為中心的考察》指出慕容農「列人集團」的存在，指出：

• 其急行軍到龍城的首要目的是排擠由平州刺史調任平郭的帶方王慕容佐，對余岩和高句麗作戰只是幌子；

• 與慕容麟一同戰鬥的慕容溫被害後，冀州刺史由「列人集團」的慕容楷繼任，可能造成慕容麟與「列人集團」生隙；

• 慕容垂在滅西燕的戰鬥中徵發「列人集團」的軍隊，還派慕容會代慕容農鎮守鄴城，期間在鄴城東南逗留一月有餘，實際上是在奪取「列人集團」對鄴城的控制權；

• 參合陂之戰的參戰主力是慕容農等「列人集團」的軍隊，慕容垂讓慕容寶領軍的意圖是樹立慕容寶的威望及讓慕容寶逐步掌握「列人集團」的軍隊，不料遭此大敗；

• 在慕容垂親征北魏前奉命從冀州出兵時叛亂的平規、平翰兄弟很快被鎮壓了，可見是倉促之下被逼反的，慕容垂在平叛後從「列人集團」手中奪取了冀州；

• 「列人集團」是慕容農成就赫赫武功的基礎，慕容垂為了鞏固慕容寶的地位，對「列人集團」進行了瓦解，才導致慕容農最終的悲劇；

• 慕容農、慕容隆雖然傾向于回到他們的根據地龍城，但放棄華北也就失去華北士族的支持，這也是導致他們悲劇的深層原因。

注釋

Before Later Yans founding

The first reference to Murong Nong in history was in 369, when Murong Chui, then a Former Yan prince, fled to Former Qin after he came after suspicion of the emperor Murong Wei's mother Empress Dowager Kezuhun and the regent Murong Ping; Murong Nong was one of his sons who fled with him. He was mentioned as having told his father in 377 that, in light of the capable prime minister Wang Meng's death, the Former Qin emperor Fu Jiān's reign appeared to be deteriorating and that Murong Chui should consider reestablishing Yan (which had fallen to Former Qin in 370). Murong Chui laughed off his suggestion at this point but kept it in mind.

Murong Nong would renew his suggestion in 383 after Former Qin had failed in its attempt to conquer Jin and been severely weakened in the defeat at the Battle of Fei River. Murong Chui agreed this time, and after receiving Fu Jiān's permission to go on a mission to try to pacify the northeastern empire, instead plotted rebellion. As part of the plan, as Murong Chui rose south of the Yellow River near Luoyang, Murong Nong and his cousin Murong Kai (慕容楷) started a rebellion of their own north of the Yellow River in spring 384. He quickly defeated the highly regarded Former Qin general Shi Yue, and became a major menace for Former Qin troops, and he was known both for his military strategies and strict discipline.

During Murong Chuis reign

In spring 384, Murong Chui declared the establishment of Later Yan, and Murong Nong continued to contribute greatly to the campaigns that he would wage the next year against Former Qin remnants and other generals who had maintained semi-independence in light of Former Qin's collapse. Around the new year 386, Murong Nong stamped out all remaining Former Qin resistance in the You (幽州, modern Beijing, Tianjin, and northern Hebei) and Ping (平州, modern Liaoning) Provinces, including the rebel Yu Yan (餘巖), and further recovered some commanderies that Goguryeo had seized. Murong Chui made him effective viceroy of You and Ping Provinces, in charge of the old Former Yan capital Longcheng (龍城, in modern Jinzhou, Liaoning), and he remained in that post for several years, apparently greatly favored by the people of the region. In 386, Murong Chui created him the Prince of Liaoxi.

In 389, believing that there were no longer matters for him to attend to in the You/Ping region, Murong Nong submitted a report to Murong Chui requesting a recall to the capital Zhongshan (中山, in modern Baoding, Hebei), stating, in part:

:I initially advanced my forces here to suppress rebels, and I was ordered to keep these provinces safe. My soldiers have rested for several years, and there are still many bandits in Qing (青州, modern central and eastern Shandong), Xu (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu and Anhui), Jing (荊州, modern Hubei), and Yong (雍州, modern central and northern Shaanxi) Provinces. I hope that soon someone will succeed me here, so that I may return and expend all my effort for the empire -- so that I do not have unspent strength while I am alive and regrets when I die.

(At that time, Qing, Xu, and Jing Provinces were under Jin rule, while Yong Province was under Later Qin, so Murong Nong was showing his ambition in conquering or at least defeating Jin and Later Qin.)

Murong Chui, upon receiving the report, summoned Murong Nong to the capital, and had his brother Murong Long the Prince of Gaoyang succeed him at Longcheng. For the next several years, Murong Nong participated in a number of his father's campaigns and was particularly effective in the campaign that destroyed the independent state of Wei and its emperor Zhai Zhao in 392. He also played a major role in Later Yan's destruction of Western Yan in 394, allowing Later Yan to seize modern Shanxi. In 394, Murong Nong attacked Jin's Qing Province, then under the governance of former Later Yan vassal Bilü Hun (辟閭渾) and had some success against Bilü, but around the new year 395, for reasons unknown, Murong Chui ordered him to return to Zhongshan and abandon the campaign.

During Murong Chui's reign, Murong Nong and Murong Long were the most well-regarded princes. Because of this, Murong Chui's wife Empress Duan Yuanfei once suggested to him that the crown prince Murong Bao lacked abilities to govern, and Murong Chui should choose either Murong Nong or Murong Long instead. Murong Chui, believing Murong Bao to be capable, rejected her suggestion.

Murong Nong's aura of invincibility, however, began to wane in 395—albeit in a campaign that he was not the supreme commander of. That year, aggravated by the harassing raids by the former Later Yan vassal Northern Wei's prince Tuoba Gui, Murong Chui sent Murong Bao to command an 80,000-men army, with Murong Nong and Murong Lin as his assistant commanders, to try to crush Northern Wei. However, after stalemates with Northern Wei near Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, Murong Bao retreated after false reports of Murong Chui's death—and was, in retreat, crushed by Tuoba Gui at the Battle of Canhe Slope, with loss of nearly the entire army. Murong Nong was, along with his brothers, able to escape death.

In early 396, Murong Chui personally led forces to try to force Northern Wei's submission, and Murong Nong and Murong Long were the forward commanders. They had initial successes against Northern Wei, but as the army passed through Canhe Slope, they mourned in such a great manner that Murong Chui, in shame and anger, grew ill, and the army was forced to retreat. He died soon thereafter and was succeeded by Murong Bao.

During Murong Baos reign

Murong Bao, although aware of Empress Duan's earlier suggestion to make Murong Nong or Murong Long crown prince (and in fact was so resentful of it that he forced her to commit suicide), appeared to trust his brothers greatly, and he made Murong Nong the viceroy of Bing Province (并州, modern central and northern Shanxi) to guard against a Northern Wei attack. However, Murong Nong immediately made the mistakes of collecting food for his troops—too much for the local population, then suffering from a famine, to support—and sending military officers to watch over non-Han tribes. The people became resolved to revolt, and they sent messengers to Northern Wei, requesting Tuoba Gui to advance on Bing Province. In late fall 396, he arrived at the capital of the province, Jinyang (晉陽, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), and when Murong Nong engaged Tuoba Gui in battle, Tuoba Gui defeated him, and he was forced to flee back to Zhongshan, but his wife and children were captured by Northern Wei and he himself was wounded.

Tuoba Gui continued his advance on Zhongshan. Murong Bao gave Murong Nong a small force to command in the defense of Zhongshan, but most of the military matters were entrusted to Murong Lin the Prince of Zhao, who advised Murong Bao not to engage Northern Wei forces, much to the frustration of Murong Nong and Murong Long. In spring 397, after Murong Lin failed in a coup attempt, he fled out of the capital, and Murong Bao, in fear that Murong Lin would seize a relief force commanded by his son Murong Hui the Prince of Qinghe, decided to abandon Zhongshan. Murong Nong's and Murong Long's subordinates tried to persuade each to stay in Zhongshan rather than to follow Murong Bao, but each refused, feeling that loyalty to their brother required them to follow him. They therefore followed Murong Bao and joined Murong Hui's army.

However, Murong Hui was resentful that he was not made crown prince, a position given to his younger brother Murong Ce (慕容策), and he considered seizing the position by force. Murong Bao, realizing this, tried to transfer some of Murong Hui's army to the commands of Murong Nong and Murong Long, but this only made Murong Hui more resentful, and he acted first against his uncles, sending assassins against them. Murong Long was killed, but Murong Nong survived the attack but was severely wounded (described as having suffered a wound so deep that his brain was visible), and Murong Hui, who then openly declared a coup, was then defeated and killed.

Murong Bao, who settled in at Longcheng, made Murong Nong his prime minister. At Murong Nong's suggestion, Murong Bao initially stopped his thoughts of regaining the lost provinces, but in early 398, against the advice of Murong Nong and Murong Sheng the Prince of Changle, Murong Bao resolved to try to advance south—but his army was worn out. As soon as Murong Bao left Longcheng, his general Duan Sugu (段速骨) started a rebellion, and the army abandoned Murong Bao, who immediately fled back to Longcheng. Meanwhile, Duan, having forced Murong Long's son Murong Chong (慕容崇) the Prince of Gaoyang as leader, sieged Longcheng. Even with secret help from Lan Han the Prince of Dunqiu—Murong Chui's uncle—however, Duan was initially unsuccessful, until Murong Nong inexplicably, in fear of his life, surrendered to him. This greatly destroyed the morale of Longcheng's defense forces, as everyone relied on Murong Nong's leadership, and Longcheng fell to Duan. Duan imprisoned Murong Nong, but his strategist Ajiao Luo (阿交羅) suggested that Murong Nong might be a better puppet than Murong Chong. Upon hearing this news, however, Murong Chong's attendants Zong Rang (鬷讓) and Chuli Jian (出力犍) assassinated Ajiao and Murong Nong.