4th century), courtesy name Chuji, was a Chinese official of Former Yan during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.
One of the few officials to serve four generations of Murong Hui's lineage, Zhen was an outlier of the group, as he was able to live long enough to see Yan's demise to Former Qin in 370.
Zhen was also commended for being Yan's last few competent ministers during its final four years of existence as corruption under Murong Ping's regency led the state to its downfall.
Huangfu Zhen was from Chaona County in Anding Commandery (安定郡, present-day Zhenyuan, Gansu province).
Although Huang had only taken his father's place, he immediately began imposing harsh and strict laws which unsettled many of his people who were used to Hui's more lenient governance.
Months later, Huang's younger brother, Murong Ren, rebelled and easily took over Liaodong after many among the populace decided to surrender to him.
Huang regretted not taking Huangfu Zhen's earlier warnings, so he had him appointed Attendant Officer With Separate Carriage of Pingzhou.
Huangfu Zhen proposed to Huang that they reduce their taxes and grant them more rest from corvée labour.
He began giving out new positions to his officials including Huangfu Zhen, who he made rong qi chang shi (宂騎常侍).
Following the succession of his son, Murong Jun, Huangfu Zhen was called into the court to serve as Prefect of the Canons and Texts.
Serving as Prefect of the Directors of Writing, Huangfu Zhen was assigned to the rear, where he was tasked in handling state affairs while Jun and the others oversaw the offence.
Ye eventually fell and Ran Zhi was captured on 8 September 352, thus ending the short-lived state.
[3] On 3 January 353, prior to becoming Emperor, Murong Jun handed out imperial offices to his officials, including Huangfu Zhen who became Deputy Director of the Left of the Masters of Writing.
[4] Now that this incident came to light, Zhen told Ke that he must do what was best for the state and get rid of Muyu Gen before he causes trouble in the future.
Murong Ke originally refused to take his advice, believing it to be inappropriate for a regent to kill a co-regent.
However, Huangfu Zhen disagreed, pointing out that Lü Hu have betrayed Yan three times already in the past nine years.
Murong Ke took his advice and brought Zhen to lead a joint campaign on Lü Hu with him.
Lü's base in Yewang (野王縣; present-day Qinyang, Henan) was besieged for months, and the situation for him gradually deteriorated.
Qin's ruler, Fu Jian, sent the Xiongnu chieftain Cao Gu (曹轂) to visit Yan ostensibly to present tribute, but following Cao was Jian's agent, Guo Bian (郭辯) who he tasked in inspecting the situation in Yan.
"[7] After Yang Wu died in 367, Huangfu Zhen replaced him as Grand Commandant and was once again appointed Palace Attendant.