Map Introduction

The Three-Province Administration during the Peak of Former Qin (370–383 AD)

After Fu Jian's conquest of Former Yan in 370 AD, the territory of Former Qin stretched east to the sea and south to the Huai River. Within this domain, Ji Province (Yecheng), Yan Province (Puyang), and Xu Province (Pengcheng) formed the core eastern administrative region. These three provinces served not only as crucial military strongholds but also as key testing grounds for Former Qin's sinicization policies and its efforts to integrate northern China.

Ji Province: New Administration in an Old Capital - Yecheng, the former capital of Former Yan (350–370 AD), was designated as the Eastern Secretariat by Former Qin in 370 AD and was garrisoned by Fu Rong, a clansman of Fu Jian. - Here, Former Qin implemented a "segregated administration" policy, preserving certain privileges for the Xianbei aristocracy while forcibly relocating powerful Han Chinese families from Guanzhong to bolster the population (371 AD). - Economically, hydraulic projects in Yecheng were restored. However, the Xianbei nobles secretly amassed power (post-380 AD), laying the groundwork for Murong Chui's eventual restoration of Yan (384 AD).

Yan Province: The Yellow River Defense Line - Puyang became a bridgehead for defending against Northern Expeditions by Eastern Jin (post-370 AD). Wang Meng once established agricultural garrisons here to support troops (372 AD). - Former Qin relocated surrendered Dingling and Qiang tribes to this area (375 AD), both to strengthen border defenses and to disperse their potential influence. - Following the Battle of Fei River (383 AD), the Dingling leader Zhai led a rebellion here (384 AD), establishing the short-lived Zhai Wei regime.

Xu Province: The Stalemate in Huaibei - Pengcheng (Xu Province) marked the de facto boundary between Former Qin and Eastern Jin (370–383 AD), with the Huai River forming the frontline. - Former Qin established an "Inspector of Xu Province" here (371 AD), but its actual control was limited to northern Huai strongholds like Pengcheng and Xiapi. - Local gentry families superficially submitted but secretly maintained contact with Eastern Jin (post-380 AD), resulting in an unstable foundation for Qin rule.

Characteristics of Rule - Military Priority: Garrisons in these three provinces constituted one-third of Former Qin's total military strength (375 AD), with Yecheng, Puyang, and Pengcheng forming a triangular defensive network. - Ethnic Conflicts: The forced relocation of powerful Di families to secure the region (370–380 AD) intensified conflicts with the Xianbei, Dingling, and other groups. - Brief Prosperity: During intermittent periods of peace (370–383 AD), agriculture in the three provinces recovered somewhat, but this quickly collapsed after the Battle of Fei River (383 AD).

Key Turning Point: The Battle of Fei River (383 AD)

Following the devastating defeat in the winter of 383 AD, control over the three provinces collapsed like dominoes: - In Ji Province, Murong Chui seized the opportunity to restore the Yan state (384 AD), establishing Later Yan. - In Yan Province, the Zhai clan carved out an independent regime based at Huatai (384 AD) and declared an emperor. - In Xu Province, Eastern Jin forces under Liu Laozhi launched a Northern Expedition (384 AD), reclaiming lost territories.

Former Qin's 13-year rule over these three provinces (370–383 AD) was, in essence, a brief consolidation under military hegemony. It failed to resolve underlying ethnic tensions and ultimately disintegrated completely following its military defeat.