He served as a military general for Later Zhao during Shi Hu's reign and fought with distinction in campaigns against the Eastern Jin in the south and Former Yan in the northeast.

He initially offered the throne to Li Nong, but at the behest of his officials, he claimed the title of Emperor of Wei (魏).

[1] Most of the officials who joined Ran Min were from the Chinese Confucian gentries, and he assured their positions by promoting the Nine Schools of Thought and appointing them based on their talents.

Despite all this, Ran Min also wanted to win back the support of the tribes, and so he claimed the title of Grand Chanyu for his son.

Shi Zhi sent a general, Liu Xian to attack Ran Min at Ye, but he was defeated and surrendered himself to Wei.

At Ran Min's coercion, Liu Xian returned to Xiangguo and slaughtered Shi Zhi and his clan, thus ending the Later Zhao.

He was met with an army led by the general, Murong Ke, the two fought a great battle at Liantai (廉台; in present-day Donghoufang Township, Hebei).

He mounted a defence when Yan forces laid siege on Ye, but a famine soon broke out, leading to widespread cannibalism within the city.