Yin Zhongkan

Yin maintained an uneasy alliance with Huan and Yang. Though the two mutually saw Huan as a threat, Yin was also highly suspicious of Yang and hesitated to take any military action out of fear of being betrayed. In the end, Huan Xuan took advantage of a famine in Jing to attack Yin's base at Jiangling in 399. Yang attempted to relieve Yin, but was captured and killed by Huan's forces, and Yin soon suffered the same fate.

Background, early life and career Yin Zhongkan was from the Yin clan of Chen Commandery as the grandson of the minister of ceremonies, Yin Rong (殷融) and the son of the Administrator of Jinling, Yin Shi (殷師). Yin Shi was also a cousin of Yin Hao, the Jin commander who led two expeditions against the northern barbarian states before he was exiled in disgrace. A talented writer and orator, Yin Zhongkan became a celebrity among scholars for his Qingtan discussions. He was also a devout follower of the Taoist Way of the Celestial Masters since his childhood and enjoyed reading the Tao Te Ching. Yin received his first position within the government as an assistant scribe.

In 379, during the war against the Former Qin, the general Xie Xuan invited Yin Zhongkan to serve as an Army Advisor. At the time, Yin also received an offer from the court to serve as a Master of Writing, but he declined and became a member of Xie's staff. Xie made him a chief clerk and treated him with utmost respect. Yin once wrote to Xie that, in conjunction with his military efforts, he should also prioritize in winning the hearts of the northerners through altruistic and humane policies, which Xie strongly agreed.

Yin Zhongkan later served as the Administrator of Jinling, where he issued several decrees that were described as reasonable. He obliged the people to report all birthing of sons and forbade prolonged delays in burials. He also abolished the practice of holding a soldier's parents as hostage, which was previously done so to deter them from deserting. Yin became famous at this time for his filial piety, as while serving in office, he took exceptional care of his father, Yin Shi, who suffered from bad health for many years. He even went as far as studying medicine for a cure and went blind in one of his eyes as he often rubbed away his tears while his hands were still covered in medicine. After his father's death, Yin resigned from his position to carry out his mourning period.

At the end of the period, he was summoned by Emperor Xiaowu of Jin to serve as the palace cadet to the crown prince. Yin developed a trusting relationship with the emperor, and he was soon appointed Gentleman of the Yellow Gate.

As Inspector of Jing province Emperor Xiaowu was embroiled in a power struggle with his brother, the Prince of Kuaiji, Sima Daozi, who wanted to monopolize power in the imperial court for himself. To counter his brother's growing influence, the emperor sent several of his confidants out of the capital, Jiankang, to serve as commanders in neighbouring provinces with the aim of providing him external support. In 392, with the death of the inspector of Jing province, Wang Chen (王忱), Yin Zhongkan was stationed at Jiangling after he was appointed by Emperor Xiaowu to replace Wang and given the additional offices of chief controller of military affairs in the provinces of Jing, Yin and Ning and General Who Inspires Might.

Due to Yin's reputation, many of the officials and commoners in Jing initially welcomed his administration. Shortly after taking office, Yin was lenient with the law, but at the same time committed small act of kindness and generosity to win over the locals. On one occasion, he spared an official from death after he was found lying about preparing a funeral for his father who had long passed, as he argued that the penalty was only reserved for those who lied while their parents were still alive. At the time, it was against the law and etiquette to adopt children with different surnames, so Yin stipulated childless individuals with adopted children can only have one person to preside over ancestral rites and were not allowed to register for separate households to evade corvée labor.

Wang Gong's Second Insurrection In 398, Wang Gong, at the urging of the Inspector of Yu province, Yu Kai once again raised his armies to march against Sima Daozi, this time to pressure him into removing the Inspector of Jiang province, Wang Yu (王愉) and the Prince of Qiao, Sima Shangzhi and his brothers. They invited Yin Zhongkan to join them, and this time, Yin confidently agreed, remembering Wang' s success from the previous year. He immediately sent Yang Quanqi and Huan Xuan, now the Inspector of Guang province but still remained in Jing, to lead the vanguard while he commanded the rear to act as reserves. However, when he reached Wuhu, he received news that Yu Kai had been defeated while Wang Gong was assassinated by his general, Liu Laozhi. Yang Quangqi and Huan Xuan were alarmed when they saw Liu Laozhi approaching with the elite Beifu army and promptly fell back to Caizhou (蔡洲; southwest of present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu). On the other hand, the imperial court was unsure of the true strength of the rebel forces, so were also reluctant to engage.

Essays and fus Aside from being an administrator, Yin Zhongkan and his cousin, Yin Ji were renowned literary talents from their time. A few of his letters can be found in his biography in the Book of Jin, notably his letter to Xie Xuan and his letter to Huan Xuan. There were at least 95 fascisles of miscellaneous essays and other works attributed to his name, but most of them were lost during the Song dynasty. Yin also composed a number of rhapsodies or fus, such as his Youyuan Fu (游園賦) and Jiangli Fu (將離賦), though only fragments of these fus survived.