Service under Murong Hui

Murong Han was born the eldest son of the Xianbei chieftain, Murong Hui through a concubine. Records describe him as having a heroic and bold personality along with being well-versed in strategy. He had ape-like arms and was an exceptional archer who wielded a bow weighing over 3 shi and used arrows that were longer than usual. He followed his father on numerous military campaigns and eventually became his General of Hawkish Display.

Suxi Lian and Muwan Jins rebellion

In 309, two Xianbei leaders, Suxi Lian (素喜連) and Muwan Jin (木丸津), revolted and caused trouble in Liaodong. At the time, the Jin provincial armies were preoccupied with the upheaval in the Central Plains and were thus ineffective at stopping the revolt. In 311, Murong Han advised his father to campaign against the rebels, arguing that they would bring order and win the support of the people in the region while also absorbing the rebels' armies. He added that their actions would also present their loyalty to the ruling Jin dynasty and at the same time bring personal gains for their territory. Huang was impressed by son's prudence, stating "I merely thought of you as child. How could you have acquired such wisdom?" Thus, Huang campaigned against the rebels and placed Han in command of the vanguard. After killing Suxi Lian and Muwan Jin, they absorbed the rebels' armies and placed around 3,000 households under their governance.

Campaign against the Duan tribe

In 313, the Murong tribe participated in a joint campaign with the Jin Inspector of Youzhou, Wang Jun and the Tuoba tribe against the Duan tribe. Murong Hui entrusted the command over the expeditionary force to Murong Han. After departing from the Murong capital, Jicheng (棘城, in modern Jinzhou, Liaoning), Han led his army to capture Tuhe (徒河; in present-day Chaoyang, Liaoning) and Xincheng (新城; northeast of present-day Shenyang, Liaoning). He then marched to Yangle (陽樂; present-day Yi County, Liaoning), where he fought and captured the Jin Administrator of Liaoxi, Yang Dan (陽躭). However, after the Tuoba general, Tuoba Liuxiu, was defeated by the Duan, Han halted the campaign and withdrew to Tuhe, where he utilized its natural defences and remained for several years.

Battle of Jicheng (319)

In 319, the Jin Inspector of Pingzhou, Cui Bi was unsettled by Murong Hui's growing influence in Liaodong and conspired with Goguryeo, the Duan and the Yuwen tribe to launch a punitive expedition. All three states responded to this alliance by raising troops and advancing towards Jicheng. Murong Hui managed to make Goguryeo and the Duan retreat by sowing discord among their ranks, but the leader of the Yuwen, Yuwen Xiduguan, remained steadfast in his intention to conquer Jicheng and placed the city under siege. As a result, Murong Hui requested Murong Han, who was in Tuhe, to lead his men to partake in the defence of the Jicheng. However, Han sent an envoy rejecting his order, instead insisting that he operate outside of Jicheng to attack the enemy from two sides. Hui was initially unsure with the plan, but after some convincing from his official, Han Shou (韓壽), he agreed to allow Murong Han to remain at Tuhe.

As Murong Han remained stationary, Xiduguan became worried that he was secretly planning and decided to prioritize in defeating him first. He sent a separate dispatchment to carry out a surprise attack on Murong Han, but upon learning that the enemy was approaching him, Han sent his subordinates disguised as envoys of the Duan to meet with the Yuwen forces. Han's subordinates falsely informed them that Duan forces were at Tuhe, and they should quickly advance to take the city together. The Yuwen were delighted by the news and rushed to Tuhe without any precaution. Before they arrived, Han had left the city and concealed his troops to lay an ambush. Once the Yuwen army appeared, Han launched a surprised attack and captured many of their troops.

Capitalizing on his victory, Murong Han advanced and dispatched an envoy to Jicheng, requesting Murong Hui to mobilize his entire army and attack the main force of the Yuwen. In response, Murong Hui entrusted Murong Huang and his chief clerk Pei Yi with an elite force as the vanguard, while he personally led a large army as the main force. Xiduguan, completely unprepared, hastily sent out his entire army upon learning of Murong Hui's departure. At that time, Murong Han, leading a thousand cavalry, had already stationed himself behind the enemy camp. When the battle began between the vanguard forces, Murong Han took the opportunity to infiltrate Xiduguan's camp, setting it ablaze. As a result, the Yuwen army fell into chaos and suffered a great defeat, with Xiduguan barely fleeing with his own life.

Guarding Liaodong

Later that year, King Micheon of Goguryeo launched frequent raids on the Murong tribe's domain. Murong Hui sent Murong Han and Murong Ren to suppress Goguryeo, but shortly after doing so, Micheon sued for peace. Thus, the campaign was halted and the army withdrew. In 321, Hui appointed Han to guard Liaodong. Han was known for comforting the people and favoring Confucianism, and it was said that no one, from scholars to soldiers, refused to follow him. His influence was significant, and Goguryeo did not dare carry out further raids under his watch.

Service under Duan Liao

After Murong Hui died in 333, he was succeeded by his heir, Murong Huang, and Murong Han was appointed General Who Establishes Might. Despite being the heir, Huang harbored jealousy towards Han and his two other brothers, Murong Ren and Murong Zhao, as they were their father's favorites. In Han's case, although he was an illegitimate child, he also had an exceptional reputation and was backed by the local gentry. Han knew about his brother's jealousy towards him and became worried that harm would come to him. Thus, Han fled and defected to the Duan tribe with his sons. The leader of the Duan, Duan Liao, had long heard of his fame and happily received him, treating him with courtesy and respect.

Battle of Liucheng

In 334, Murong Han followed Duan Liao's brother, Duan Lan, to attack the Murong stronghold of Liucheng (柳城; southwest of present-day Chaoyang, Liaoning). Liucheng's defenders, Shi Cong (石琮) and Muyu Ni (慕輿泥) fiercely defended the city and forced the Duan army to retreat. Due to their loss, Duan Liao reprimanded Duan Lan and Murong Han and angrily forced them to take the stronghold at all cost. Duan Lan attacked Liucheng again, but was once more unsuccessful. However, he was able to inflict a great defeat on the Murong reinforcements at Niuwei Valley (牛尾谷; north of Liucheng). Seizing the opportunity, Duan Lan planned on pursuing the retreating enemy forces and penetrate deep into their territory. However, Murong Han, secretly concerned for his homeland's safety, advised Duan Lan against his decision, believing that they may be lured into a trap. Duan Lan saw through his excuse and attempted to assure him his tribe's safety, but Murong Han persisted by ordering his troops to withdraw, forcing Duan Lan to follow suit.

Fall of the Duan tribe

In 338, Shi Hu of the Later Zhao and Murong Huang began a joint campaign to conquer Liaoxi from the Duan. Attacked from various directions, Duan Liao considered on intercepting Huang's forces first, but Murong Han suggested that they concentrate their troops on the larger Zhao army. Duan Lan, who was nearby, angrily accused Han of planning to undermine the Duan as he previously did at Liucheng and refused to listen to his plan. Duan Lan led his troops to attack Murong Huang, but was decisively defeated in an ambush. As Zhao forces captured Duan cities in succession, Duan Liao decided to abandon his capital and flee with his followers to Mount Miyun (密雲山; in present-day Miyun District, Beijing). Before leaving, Duan Liao expressed his regret for not following Murong Han's advice. The two parted ways, with Han fleeing north to join the Yuwen tribe.

Service under Yuwen Yidougui

Although the chieftain of the Yuwen, Yuwen Yidougui, initially welcomed Murong Han, he soon grew apprehesive of Han due to his talents and reputation. Han, not wanting to garner anymore suspicion, pretended to be mad and drink in excess. He would ruffle his hair while singing loudly, urinate himself while lying down and kneel and beg for food. The people living within the Yuwen state believed his acting, hating him but also deeming him not a threat. As he was left unobserved, Murong Han would secretly go out to study and memorize the geography of the tribe's domain.

Returning to Murong Huang

Murong Han lived with the Yuwen tribe until 340. Murong Huang, who had become the Prince of Yan in 338, knew that Han had not fled intending to rebel against him, but due to his own suspicions. Huang sent a merchant, Wang Che (王車), to the marketplace of the Yuwen domain to observe Han's activities. When Han saw the merchant, he did not say a word, but only hit his own chest and nodded. Hearing Wang Che's report on the incident, Huang knew that Han wanted to return and sent Wang Che to welcome him back. Huang had given Wang Che a bow and arrows crafted specifically for Han, which Wang Che buried at the side of a road and informed Han of their location. In February or March 340, Murong Han stole Yidougui's prized horse, retrieved the bow and arrows, and fled with his two sons.

Yidougui sent a hundred riders to chase after him. From a distant, Han said to his pursuers, "I have long desired to return to my homeland, and now that I have obtained this valuable horse, I will never return again. In the past, I foolishly deceived you with my words, but my archery skills have not diminished. If you come any closer, you will be heading towards your own deaths!" However, the riders ignored his warning and continued their pursuit. Han then said, "I have been under the care of your state for a long time, so I have no grudge with you. Place a blade a hundred paces away from me, and I will show you that I can shoot it. If I shoot through it, you may return home. If I miss, you are free to come closer." The riders agreed to his request, and with a single shot, Han was able to shoot through the ring of the blade. Honouring their deal, the riders gave up their chase. Huang was ecstatic by his brother's return and treated him with generous treatment and favour.

Service under Former Yan

Campaign against Goguryeo

After his return, Murong Han grew to the rank of General Who Establishes Might. Eventually, Han proposed to Huang his plan to deal with Former Yan's enemies, Goguryeo and the Yuwen tribe. Having experienced living in their domain, Han informed his brother that the Yuwen tribe was in a weak state in terms of leadership and military, and their alliance with Later Zhao was nothing to worry about due to the distance between the two sides. However, he was more concern about Goguryeo, who would likely take advantage of Yan's absence should they campaign against the Yuwen tribe. Therefore, he advised Huang that they pacify Goguryeo first before going after the Yuwen tribe, believing that the Yuwen were too dependent on their defences to react. Huang was pleased with his plan and accepted it.

In 342, Huang made preparations to invade Goguryeo. There were two routes leading to Goguryeo; a flat and wide northern route, and a narrow and dangerous southern route. Han advised Huang to send the main force down the southern route to catch the enemy by surprise, as Goguryeo would likely expect an invading army to go through the northern route and concentrate their forces there. He also added that they send smaller force down the northern route to act as a distraction before falling back. Huang accepted his suggestions and made Han one of his vanguard generals.

As Murong Han predicted, the Goguryeo king, Gogugwon, sent his brother, Gomu (고무; 高武), with 50,000 elite soldiers to defend the northern route while he led weaker troops to guard the southern route. Han fought Gogugwon at Mokjeo (木底, in modern Fushun, Liaoning) long enough for Murong Huang to arrive. After a great defeat, Gogugwon went into hiding as Yan troops took the Goguryeo capital, Hwando. Yan forces ransaked and destroyed the capital and took tens of thousands captives, including Gogugwon's mother, wife and the body of Micheon, before returning. Gogugwon would submit to Yan the following year.

Campaign against the Yuwen tribe

In 343, Yuwen Yidougui sent his general, Moqian Hun (莫淺渾), to attack Yan. Murong Huang initially restrained his generals from engaging Moqian Hun, giving him the impression that the Yan forces were afraid of him. As Moqian Hun let his guard down by spending his time drinking and hunting, Huang sent Murong Han to attack him. Han greatly routed the Yuwen army, forcing Moqian Hun to barely escape with his life while capturing all the enemy troops.

In 344, Murong Huang began his conquest of the Yuwen tribe, with Murong Han serving as the vanguard general. In response, Yidougui sent the Chief of Nanluo, Yuwen Sheyegan (宇文涉夜干) with the tribe's elite soldiers to resist the Yan invaders. Huang sent a messenger to Han warning him of Sheyegan's capabilities, but Han believed that defeating a key general will cause the rest of the Yuwen tribe's forces to collapse. Han added that he was familiar with Sheyegan and knew that his reputation was merely based on rumours. He led a frontal assault against Sheyegan and enticed him to advance. Then, Huang's son, Murong Ba, brought his army to attack Sheyegan's flank. Sheyegan was killed in battle, causing the Yuwen soldiers to stop fighting and scatter. The Yan forces then advanced onto the Yuwen tribe's capital, Zimengchuan (紫蒙川, northwest of present-day Chaoyang, Liaoning), and forced Yidougui into fleeing, thus conquering their state.

Death

Despite Yan's victory over the Yuwen tribe, Murong Han was struck by an arrow during the campaign. The arrow left Han ill and bedridden, but he was able to slowly recover and practiced riding his horse at home as he recuperated. However, a witness spotted him riding, and they reported what they saw to Murong Huang, believing that Han was secretly faking his illness and plotting something devious. Huang, who remained jealous of Han even after accepting him back, thus ordered him to commit suicide. Han killed himself by poison, and before his death, he said to his attendants, "I fled with guilt, yet shamefully returned. My death today is long overdue. Yet, with the Jie Zhao still rampant in the Central Plains, I had hoped to strengthen the state and unify the world, in spite of my shortcomings. Although I could not fulfill my ambition, I hold no resentment. It must be the will of heaven."

Children

Murong Han had at least two sons, but only one son, Murong Gou (慕容鉤), was recorded. Despite the manner of his father's death, Gou served as the Administrator of Leling under Murong Huang's successor, Murong Jun. He jointly governed Yanci (厭次, around present-day Dezhou, Shandong) with the Inspector of Qingzhou, Zhu Tu (朱禿), who he often flaunted his status as member of the imperial family to. In 354, Zhu Tu grew frustrated with his behaviour and killed him before defecting to the neighbouring Duan Qi state.

生平

鮮卑悍將

慕容翰性格雄壯豪放，多有謀略，且臂力過人，猿臂擅射。慕容廆對他的才能感到驚異，於是以其為將，以其克敵制勝。而慕容翰歷次出兵亦有功勳，聲威大振，遠近的人都畏憚他。永嘉五年（311年），慕容翰就勸慕容廆討伐在遼東作亂的附塞鮮卑素連及木丸津，慕容廆及後更以慕容翰為前鋒，斬殺兩人並平定亂事。太興三年（320年）慕容仁擊敗入侵的高句麗後，慕容翰更於次年（321年）獲慕容廆予鎮守遼東郡的重任，而慕容翰安撫當地人民，又愛儒學，在當地很有威信和恩惠，上至士大夫，下至軍人都愛戴他，而高句麗亦沒有再入侵。

出奔國外

咸和八年（333年），慕容廆逝世，慕容皝繼位。因為慕容皝向來忌憚慕容翰，如今一直寵愛慕容翰的父親已死，慕容翰怕慕容皝容不下自己，因此帶著兒子叛逃段部鮮卑避禍。而因段部首領段遼早已聽聞慕容翰的才能，故此受到段遼器重。咸和九年（334年），段遼派段蘭與慕容翰進攻柳城，因慕容皝守將石琮堅守而不能攻破，但及後段蘭卻擊敗來援的慕容汗軍，並意圖乘勝追擊敗軍。慕容翰此時怕段蘭攻滅了慕容鮮卑，於是建議段蘭審慎行軍，以免孤軍深入離境而被伏軍所敗，更稱一旦貪功進擊而兵敗，將無面目返國。段蘭當時認為慕容皝必成擒，猜度慕容翰是怕他本國滅亡，於是說他會迎立當時據守平郭、與慕容皝對立的慕容仁為君，以承國祀；不過慕容翰堅稱自己已不考慮本國存亡了，而只為段部籌謀，更聲言要率自己部眾單獨還軍，逼使段蘭放棄追擊。及後段蘭仍未能攻破柳城，撤軍時更被石琮擊敗。

咸康三年（337年），慕容皝聯結後趙攻略段部鮮卑，至次年（338年）後趙進攻段部，而慕容皝則派軍攻略段部都城令支以北諸城。當時段遼打算追擊，但慕容翰認為慕容皝親自領軍前來，必家戰勝，於是要段遼專心對抗後趙，不要攻擊慕容皝。不過，段遼就因慕容翰在柳城力阻其追擊的事指斥慕容翰，於是率兵追擊，卻被慕容皝擊敗。同年，令支被後趙攻陷，段遼出奔密雲山，而慕容翰就投奔宇文鮮卑。

思戀歸國

慕容翰到宇文鮮卑後，自認為威名早著，終不會在宇文部平安獲全，於是顯得縱酒發狂，披頭散髮的大叫高呼。宇文鮮卑首領宇文逸豆歸相信，於是不限制他的行動，而慕容翰就肆意周遊當地，故當地山川地形和戰略要點的形勢全都清楚了解。後慕容皝派了一名叫王車的商人暗中見慕容翰，慕容翰見後並沒發言，只撫著自己胸口。王車回去後，慕容皝知慕容翰有歸意，於是命王車送弓矢給慕容翰。慕容翰及後就偷了宇文逸豆歸的駿馬，與兩個兒子一同逃歸前燕，宇文逸豆歸派百餘騎追捕，慕容翰遙對追捕的騎兵說不忍殺他們，要他們在百步外豎起佩刀而自己射一箭，若射中他們就回去；若不中，他們才繼續追。最終慕容翰一箭射中刀身上的的圓環，騎兵於是離開。慕容翰回前燕後，獲慕容皝禮待。

咸康八年（342年），慕容翰認為當時是消滅宇文鮮卑的時機，但高句麗亦在伺機侵略前燕，若進攻宇文鮮卑必將刺激他們來攻，於是建議慕容皝先攻高句麗，然後才回來消滅宇文鮮卑，一併消滅東邊後方的主要敵人，進圖中原。慕容皝同意，於是決定派兵進攻，慕容翰又以通往高句麗的北道平坦寬闊，高句麗知道前燕來攻必定派重兵駐守；相反南邊險峻狹窄，駐兵自當較北道少，於是建議慕容皝率主力從南道走，別遣偏時從北道分散兵力，出其不意，直取其都城丸都。慕容皝聽從，並在當年十一月正式出兵，以慕容翰和慕容垂為前鋒，另派王寓從北道引誘敵軍，最終在果然引高句麗精兵守北道，而慕容皝成功攻陷丸都，大掠而返。次年（343年），高句麗就向前燕稱臣。

高句麗向前燕稱臣後，宇文逸豆歸又派了國相莫淺渾來攻，但被慕容翰所敗，部眾皆被前燕所俘。建元二年（344年），慕容皝決心攻打宇文鮮卑，以慕容翰為前鋒將軍。當時宇文逸豆歸派大將抵抗慕容翰，當時慕容皝以涉奕于勇冠三軍，建議慕容翰稍避其鋒芒；不過慕容翰熟知涉奕于為人雖有虛名但易對付，擊敗他更能擊潰宇文鮮卑士氣，不必退避，於是進攻。慕容翰親自出陣攻擊，涉奕于亦出來應戰，慕容垂於是在旁邀擊，陣斬涉奕于。涉奕于死後，宇文部士氣果然受創，不戰而潰，宇文逸豆歸敗死漠北，前燕吞併了宇文鮮卑。

弟忌致死

慕容翰在與涉奕于對戰時被流矢擊中受傷，臥病養傷了一段時間。傷漸癒後，就在家中試習騎馬，卻被人告發，認為他想背叛前燕。慕容皝其實向來都很忌憚其能力，聽後就賜死慕容翰。慕容翰從使者中得知後，對使者表示沒有感到憤恨，又自述想為國家平定中原，今天雖不能如願，但仍不感遺憾，順應命運。說後就服毒藥而死。

後代

• 慕容鉤，慕容翰子，前燕樂陵太守，被前燕青州刺史朱禿所殺。