Biography
Family Background and Early Years
Kuai En came from humble origins, and the standard histories do not record his family background. The Kuai clan of Lanling was not a prominent lineage at the time, and little is known of his early life apart from a local reputation for physical strength. After the Sun En rebellion began, the Eastern Jin court and local governments conscripted troops and laborers. The county administration of Cheng County in Lanling Commandery called up Kuai En as a conscripted commoner assigned to military labor, especially carrying fodder for horses.
Kuai En was exceptionally strong and could carry more than twice the ordinary load of fodder. Ambitious and unwilling to remain merely a stable laborer, he would throw down his bundles and lament that a man ought to draw a three-shi bow and kill enemies in battle rather than spend his life carrying horse fodder. The remark reached Liu Yu, then an important commander of the Beifu Army campaigning against Sun En. Liu Yu immediately provided him with weapons and armor and promoted him to the fighting ranks. Kuai En was delighted and thereafter accompanied Liu Yu against Sun En, repeatedly charging at the front and killing many enemies.
Emergence and the Campaign against Huan Xuan
After gaining battle experience Kuai En was known for extraordinary courage as well as loyalty and careful conduct, and he won Liu Yu's trust. At the battle of Lou County, northeast of present-day Kunshan in Jiangsu, a stray arrow struck his left eye; the *History of the Southern Dynasties* gives the right eye. He continued fighting despite the wound.
In 404, the third year of Yuanxing, Liu Yu rose at Jingkou against Huan Xuan, who had usurped the Jin throne, and Kuai En took part. After Huan Xuan fled and Liu Yu's army recovered Jiankang, Kuai En led a unit as General Who Pacifies the Distant. He then accompanied General Who Displays Martial Power Liu Daogui, Liu Yu's younger brother, westward against Huan Xuan's remaining forces. In the Jiangling fighting, Kuai En captured Huan Xianke and took Yanyue Fort, helping Liu Daogui pacify Jiangling. This was the first of three campaigns in which the Chinese entity credits Kuai En with helping pacify Jiangling.
Accumulating Military Merit and Enfeoffment
In 406, the second year of Yixi, the rebel Zhang Jian occupied Yingcheng, present-day Yingcheng in Hubei. Kuai En defeated him and was enfeoffed Marquis of Duxiang, his first noble title.
In 409 Kuai En joined Liu Yu's major northern campaign against Southern Yan and distinguished himself during the siege of Guanggu, present-day Qingzhou in Shandong. In 410, Lu Xun and Xu Daofu took advantage of Liu Yu's northern expedition to advance toward Jiankang. Kuai En hurried back with Liu Yu and fought Lu Xun's forces at Chapu, near present-day Qingliangshan in Nanjing. He then pursued the rebels with Wang Zhongde and others and defeated Lu Xun's general Fan Chongmin at Nanling. After Lu Xun withdrew toward Guangzhou, Kuai En led one thousand men under Liu Fan in pursuit of Xu Daofu and killed him at Shixing, present-day Shaoguan in Guangdong. For this service Kuai En was promoted to General of the Dragon Cavalry and Administrator of Lanling.
Three Pacifications of Jiangling and the Conquest of Shu
In 412, the eighth year of Yixi, Liu Yu launched a western campaign against Jingzhou Inspector Liu Yi. Kuai En and Wang Zhen'e led light troops as the vanguard in a direct strike on Jiangling. Kuai En entered by the eastern gate, turned north to attack the archery hall, then advanced against the eastern gate of the inner citadel. Working with Wang Zhen'e's force, he helped drive Liu Yi to defeat and suicide, and Jiangling was again pacified.
In 413, Liu Yu ordered Yizhou Inspector Zhu Lingshi to attack Qiao Zong, who controlled Shu and had established the Western Shu regime. Kuai En retained his existing office, concurrently served on the expeditionary staff, and led two thousand troops. In 414 the Jin army reached Pengmo, in present-day Pengshan, Sichuan. Kuai En's troops formed the vanguard and fought the Shu army from morning until evening. The Chinese entity says his courage increased as the battle continued. The Shu army collapsed, and the Jin force captured Chengdu and destroyed Western Shu. Kuai En was promoted on the expeditionary staff and re-enfeoffed as a fifth-rank Baron of Beizhi County.
Holding against Lu Gui and Later Service
In 415 Liu Yu campaigned against Jingzhou Inspector Sima Xiuzhi and Yongzhou Inspector Lu Zongzhi. Kuai En and General Who Establishes Martial Power Xu Kuizhi advanced first. Xu Kuizhi was defeated and killed at Pozhong by Lu Zongzhi's son Lu Gui, creating a dangerous situation. Kuai En deployed his men below an embankment. Lu Gui attacked with the momentum of victory as arrows fell like rain and battle cries shook the field. Kuai En encouraged his soldiers and maintained a firm formation; repeated assaults could not break it, and Lu Gui withdrew. Liu Yu later praised Kuai En for his steadiness in command. After Jiangling was pacified, Kuai pursued Lu Gui to Shicheng, then to Xiangyang and as far as Luyang Pass before returning.
Liu Yu remembered that Kuai En had repeatedly led charges in moments of crisis, fought in more than a hundred engagements, and suffered multiple serious wounds. In recognition of his accumulated merit, Liu Yu enfeoffed him Baron of Xinning County with five hundred households. When Liu Yu launched his northern expedition against Later Qin, Kuai En stayed in the capital to guard Liu Yu's heir Liu Yifu, and court officials were instructed to maintain relations with him. Kuai En became even more modest. In conversation he addressed others by their official titles while calling himself merely “this humble man.” He maintained military discipline and treated soldiers well, earning their attachment. He was later promoted to Advisory Army Major, then General Who Assists the State and Administrator of Huailing.
Killed at Qingni
In 417 Liu Yu's expedition against Later Qin succeeded and Chang'an was captured, but the Chinese entity says Liu Yu was eager to return east to deal with the succession to imperial power and left his twelve-year-old second son Liu Yizhen in charge of Guanzhong. In 418 Liu Yu ordered Kuai En into Guanzhong to escort Liu Yizhen east and appointed Zhu Lingshi to remain behind. During the withdrawal Liu Yizhen was reluctant to abandon possessions and did not move lightly or quickly. Hu Xia emperor Helian Bobo sent forces in pursuit. Kuai En and Fu Hongzhi fought a series of rear-guard actions. At Qingni, present-day Lantian County in Shaanxi, the Jin army was heavily defeated. The forward troops scattered, most of Kuai En's force was killed or wounded, and Kuai himself was captured after fierce resistance. He later died in Hu Xia territory.