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Yang Nandi (died 334) was a ruler of Chouchi during the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was the son of Yang Maosou who founded Chouchi in 296. During his reign, attacks on Chouchi by Former Zhao and Cheng-Han became more frequent. Nandi met these with mixed results, sometimes having to resort to vassalage, but was ultimately successful in preserving the survival of Chouchi.

Early life and career

Nandi was the son of Yang Maosou, a Di chieftain from Qingshui County in Lueyang Commandery, who in 296, led his followers to Chouchi and declared independence during Qi Wannian's rebellion in Qinzhou and Yongzhou.

In an unspecified year, Nandi sent his adopted son to Liangzhou for a business trip. However, he was caught and executed by the provincial inspector, Zhang Guang (張光) when it was discovered that he had illegally sold a slave. Nandi was angry when he heard of his son's death and bore a grudge against Zhang Guang.

By 313, Zhang Guang was at war with a rebel named Yang Hu (楊虎). Both sides called for Chouchi to aid them and Maosou chose to support Zhang Guang in their conflict. Nandi was sent to assist Zhang Guang but due to their bad history and Zhang's refusal to grant him funds, Nandi was not eager to help him. Meanwhile, Yang Hu decided to win over Nandi with bribes and also told him that Zhang Guang possessed innumerous amount of treasure for Nandi to take if he were to fight him. In the end, Nandi agreed to join Yang Hu but waited to catch Zhang Guang off guard.

Zhang Guang and Yang Hu's armies met with one another later that year. Zhang Guang had his son Zhang Mengchang (張孟萇) lead the front while Nandi defended the rear. As the two sides fought, Nandi attacked Mengchang from behind. Nandi and Yang Hu routed Zhang Guang's army and killed Zhang Mengchang. Zhang Guang retreated back into Hanzhong, where he died shortly after and was succeeded by his son Zhang Mai (張邁). However, in a later battle, Zhang Mai went missing and was replaced by his subordinate Hu Zixu (胡子序).

Nandi and Yang Hu pressed on into Hanzhong, causing Hu Zixu to abandon the city. The attackers dug up Zhang Guang's grave and had his corpse burnt. Nandi then took Zhang Guang's dancers and instrument before appointing himself the new Inspector of Liangzhou. In 314, Yang Hu plundered the region and fled to Cheng-Han. Around the same time, the people of Liangzhou rose up against Nandi and ousted him back to Chouchi before surrendering their territory over to Cheng-Han.

Reign

Yang Maosou died in 318 and Nandi would take his throne. Upon ascending the throne, Nandi chose to split command over the state between him and his younger brother, Yang Jiantou (楊堅頭). Nandi became the Worthy King of the Left and based in Xiabian (下辯; northwest of present-day Cheng County, Gansu) while Jiantou became Worthy King of the Right and based in Hechi (河池, in modern Baoji, Shaanxi).

In 322, Former Zhao invaded Chouchi. The Zhao emperor, Liu Yao, personally led the army to conquer him. Nandi brought his troops out to attack the invading army but was defeated, so he retreated back to his defenses. Many of the Di and Qiang tribes in Chouchi began to surrender to Liu Yao, and Liu had them relocated to Chang'an. As Liu Yao marched into Chouchi, a plague struck his army and Liu Yao himself had caught a disease. Liu Yao wanted to retreat but was worried that Nandi would attack from behind. Instead, he sent an envoy in the form of Wang Guang (王獷) to negotiate with Nandi. After lengthy discussions regarding his position, Nandi was convinced by the envoy to become a vassal to Zhao. For his submission, Nandi was showered with new offices including that of the Prince of Wudu.

Chouchi's vassalage would barely last a year, however. Capitalizing his victory over Chen An in Qinzhou in 323, Liu Yao invaded Former Liang and Chouchi to keep up with his momentum. Liang submitted to Zhao's authority leaving Chouchi the last of Zhao's western rivals. Nandi and Jiantou fled to Cheng-Han through Hanzhong. The Zhao general Liu Hou (劉厚) pursued them and captured a number of their followers. Zhao occupied Chouchi and had Tian Song (田崧) to serve as the Inspector of Yizhou. Nandi surrendered to Cheng-Han and even sent hostages but managed to bribe the Han general and nephew to the emperor Li Xiong, Li Zhi (李稚) to not send him to the Cheng capital, Chengdu.

When the Zhao forces withdrew, Nandi occupied Chouchi and betrayed Cheng-Han. Li Zhi regretted his miscalculation and begged Li Xiong to have him lead a campaign against Nandi. Despite objections from minister, Li Xiong sent Li Zhi on his way together with Zhi's brothers Li Han (李琀), Li Shou (李壽) and Li Wu (李玝) to subdue him. In the campaign, Li Han and Li Wu were blocked by Nandi's soldiers while Li Zhi and Li Shou marched too deep into Chouchi until they reached Xiabian. Li Zhi and Li Shou were encircled and killed by Nandi's troops while their armies were nearly decimated, causing Cheng-Han to retreat.

Back when Nandi recaptured Chouchi, he captured Tian Song along with it. In 325, Nandi demanded him to pay respect to him but instead, Tian Song told him "You Di cur! How can a border commander appointed by the Son of Heaven bow down before a bandit?" Nandi attempted to calmed him down but Tian Song only grew more aggressively. After insulting him one last time, Tian Song grabbed a sword and plunged at him. Nandi escaped with no injury and had Tian Song ordered to be executed.

For the next few years, Nandi continued to face invasion from his neighbours. In 327, the Zhao general Liu Lang (劉朗) attacked Chouchi but only captured very few territory before retreating. In 331, it was Cheng-Han that attacked Chouchi. This time, Cheng-Han managed to get Nandi to submit after capturing Yinping (陰平; present-day Wen County, Gansu) and Wudu. Nandi died in 334, and was succeeded by his son Yang Yi.

References

1. (初，茂搜子難敵遣養子適賈梁州，私買良人子一人。光怒，鞭殺之。難敵以是怨光，曰：「使君初來，大荒之後，兵、民之命，仰我氐活。氐有小罪，不能貰也。」陰謀討光。) Huayang Guozhi, Volume 7.9
2. (難敵求貨於光，光不與。楊虎厚賂難敵，且曰：「流民珍貨，悉在光所，今伐我，不如伐光。」難敵大喜。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 88
3. (九月，光憤激成疾，僚屬勸光退據魏興。光按劍曰：「吾受國重任，不能討賊，今得死如登仙，何謂退也！」聲絕而卒。州人推其少子邁領州事，又與氐戰沒，衆推始平太守胡子序領梁州。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 88
4. (冬十月，虎與氐急攻州城。子序不能守，委城退走。氐、虎得州城，發光冢，焚其屍喪。難敵得光鼓吹妓樂，自號刺史。) Huayang Guozhi, Volume 7.9
5. (虎領吏民入蜀。漢中民張咸等討難敵。難敵退還。咸復入蜀。於是三州沒為雄矣...) Huayang Guozhi, Volume 8.9
6. (愍帝以為驃騎將軍、左賢王。時南陽王保在上邽，又以戊搜子難敵為征南將軍。建興五年，戊搜卒，難敵襲位。與堅頭分部曲，難敵號左賢王，屯下辯，堅頭號右賢王，屯河池。) Book of Liu-Song, Volume 99
7. (趙主曜自將擊楊難敵，難敵逆戰不勝，退保仇池。仇池諸氐、羌及故晉王保將楊韜、隴西太守梁勛皆降於曜。遷隴西萬餘戶於長安，進攻仇池。會軍中大疫，曜亦得疾，將引兵還；恐難敵躡其後，乃遣光國中郎將王獷說難敵，諭以禍福，難敵遣使稱藩。曜以難敵爲假黃鉞、都督益‧寧‧南秦‧涼‧梁‧巴六州‧隴上‧西域諸軍事、上大將軍、益‧寧‧南秦三州牧、武都王。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 92
8. (元帝太興四年，劉曜伐難敵，與堅頭俱奔晉壽，臣於李雄，曜退，復還仇池。) Book of Liu-Song, Volume 99
9. (稚悔失計，連白雄求伐氐。雄許之。群臣多諫，雄不從。遣稚兄琀以侍中、中領軍統稚攻難敵，由白水道；「壽」遣〔壽〕與稚弟玝由陰平入，二道討氐。難敵等先拒壽、玝。玝、壽不進。而琀、稚逕至下辨；以深入無繼，大為氐所破，稚、琀皆死；死者千餘人。雄深自咎責，以謝百姓。琀，蕩之元子，有名望志尚，雄欲傳以後嗣，甚痛惜之。) Huayang Guozhi, Volume 9.2
10. (楊難敵襲仇池，克之；執田崧，立之於前，左右令崧拜；崧瞋目叱之曰：「氐狗！安有天子牧伯而向賊拜乎！」難敵字謂之曰：「子岱，吾當與子共定大業，子忠於劉氏，豈不能忠於我乎！」崧厲色大言曰：「賊氐，汝本奴才，何謂大業！我寧爲趙鬼，不爲汝臣！」顧排一人，奪其劍，前刺難敵，不中。難敵殺之。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 93
11. (趙武衞將軍劉朗帥騎三萬襲楊難敵於仇池，弗克，掠三千餘戶而歸。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 93
12. (秋七月，李雄將李壽侵陰平，武都氐帥楊難敵降之。) Book of Jin, Volume 7
13. (難敵死，子毅立，自號使持節、龍驤將軍、左賢王、下辨公，以堅頭子盤為使持節、冠軍將軍、右賢王、河池公。臣晉，晉以毅為征南將軍。) Book of Northern Wei, Volume 101

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• Shen, Yue (501-522). Book of Song (Song Shu)

• Chouchi
• Former Zhao generals
• 334 deaths