Gao Huan: from a Small Soldier in Huaishuo to a Powerful Official in the Eastern Wei Dynasty

Gao Huan, named He Liuhun in Xianbei, was a powerful figure who stirred up the northern world during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the actual power in the Eastern Wei Dynasty, and the founder of the Northern Qi Dynasty. His parents died young and he lived in the home of his brother-in-law Wei Jing. When he became an adult, he became a low-level garrison soldier. He had nothing and was despised by others. By chance, he met Lou Zhaojun, a young lady from a distinguished family in Huaishuo. She recognized a hero with her sharp eyes. Regardless of the disparity in family status and the heavy pressure from her family, she gave him a large amount of money privately to help him propose marriage. She sold her dowry to buy a war horse for him. She was the most important nobleman in Gao Huan's life. A great uprising broke out in the six towns of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the world was in chaos. Gao Huan did not want to be trapped in the border town. With his calm mind and military management skills, he gathered Hou Jing, Duan Rong, Sima Ziru and other close brothers. He first defected to Du Luozhou and Ge Rong. After seeing through the narrow structure of the rebel army, he turned to Er Zhurong, the powerful official of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Step by step, he accumulated military power, seized the opportunity when the Erzhu family was in civil strife, raised troops to counterattack, and completely destroyed the power of the Erzhu family. In the third year of Yongxi's reign, Emperor Xiaowu of the Northern Wei Dynasty was unwilling to be manipulated by Gao Huan and fled westward to Yuwentai in Guanzhong. Gao Huan took advantage of the situation and established Yuan Shanjian as emperor, moved the capital to Yecheng, and established the Eastern Wei Dynasty. Since then, he has held all the military and political power of the Eastern Wei Dynasty. The emperor in the court is like a puppet and has become a veritable uncrowned minister. The long-term confrontation with the Western Wei Dynasty controlled by Yuwentai in the west broke out in four key battles: Xiaoguan, Shayuan, Heqiao, and Mangshan, dividing the northern world into two parts. Internally, he rectified the officialdom, appeased the conflicts between the Xianbei soldiers and the Han people, and consolidated the foundation of the country. In the fifth year of Wu Ding's reign, Gao Huan besieged Yubi of the Western Wei Dynasty for a long time and could not take it. The army suffered heavy losses and died of illness due to mental depression. The eldest son, Gao Cheng, and the second son, Gao Yang, inherited power. A few years later, Gao Yang forced the Eastern Wei Dynasty to take the throne, formally established the Northern Qi Dynasty, and worshiped Gao Huan as the God of Qi.