Feng Hong, in order to try to…
435 CE
Feng Hong, in order to try to get Liu Song aid, sends a messenger in spring 435 to the Liu Song capital Jiankang to submit as a vassal.
Emperor Wen of Liu Song creates Feng Hong the Prince of Yan, but is unable to provide substantial aid.
Feng Hong now sends his general Tang Zhu to offer tribute to Northern Wei, and claiming illness as the reason that Feng Wangren is not coming.
This reason appears to have been rejected by Northern Wei, and Feng Hong again tries to seek Liu Song aid, but none is forthcoming.
In summer 435, Emperor Taiwu's brother Tuoba Pi, the Prince of Leping again arrives at Helong, and Feng Hong tries to appease him by offering cattle, wine, and armor, but Tuoba Pi's assistant general Qutu Yuan accuses Feng Hong of not sending hostages, and they seize six thousand Northern Yan men and women before withdrawing.
The entire Northern Yan state is by this point not significantly larger than the city of Helong itself, and it is weary of repeated Northern Wei attacks.
Feng Hong's general Yang Min suggests Feng Hong send Feng Wangren as a hostage but Feng Hong refused, instead considering a plan to evacuate his people to his ally Goguryeo.
Yang believes Goguryeo to be undependable but Feng Hong, not to be deterred, sends messengers to Goguryeo seeking aid and an agreement to harbor evacuees.