In the final years of the Jin Dynasty, natural disasters struck frequently, leading to total crop failures and widespread famine. Desperate to survive, people abandoned their homes and traveled with their families to seek food elsewhere, resulting in massive waves of refugees across the country. A plague then broke out, and countless poor people died without access to medical care, their corpses scattered along the roads. Meanwhile, the imperial court indulged in pleasure and completely ignored the suffering of the people.
In 304 AD, the Xiongnu noble Liu Yuan proclaimed himself King of Han and raised an army to rebel against the Jin Dynasty. At this time, Emperor Huai of Jin, Sima Chi, also ascended the throne and changed the reign title to Yongjia. Ambitious and intent on swallowing up the Jin state, Liu Yuan sent his capable generals southward with troops to attack. The Jin army fought back fiercely but was still defeated by the Xiongnu, and Liu Yuan's power grew increasingly strong, with the Jin Dynasty losing multiple cities in succession.
Emperor Huai, Sima Chi, originally had no intention of getting involved in power struggles, but was pushed onto the throne by Sima Yue, though real power always remained in Sima Yue's hands, making Emperor Huai, like Emperor Hui, nothing more than a puppet. Emperor Huai of Jin constantly plotted to eliminate Sima Yue, and in 311 AD, he secretly summoned several ministers to discuss plans to attack Sima Yue; everyone agreed that Sima Yue should be removed as soon as possible, so the emperor began issuing decrees. However, at that moment, Sima Yue suddenly fell gravely ill and died shortly after. Sima Yue died in Luoyang, but his fief was in Donghai, so someone had to escort his body back. Emperor Huai of Jin appointed Wang Yan as Grand Marshal and ordered him to escort Sima Yue's coffin to Donghai. Wang Yan set out with his army, but when they reached Ningping City in Ku County (present-day Luyi, Henan, near Dongningping Township, Dancheng, Henan), they encountered Liu Yuan's forces. The two sides immediately engaged in fierce battle; the Jin army could not withstand the assault and was ultimately annihilated. The Xiongnu general burned Sima Yue's coffin and killed Wang Yan. With that, the Jin dynasty's military forces were completely wiped out, and Jin no longer had the strength to resist external enemies.
In 310 AD, Liu Yuan passed away, and his son Liu Cong succeeded him. The following year, Liu Cong dispatched generals Wang Mi and Liu Yao to lead an army against Luoyang. The city's defenders were no match for the Xiongnu forces, who captured Luoyang with little effort and then massacred its inhabitants, killing at least thirty thousand soldiers and civilians. Emperor Huai of Jin attempted to flee to Chang'an under the protection of his ministers, but was intercepted by the Xiongnu en route and taken back north along with his officials.
After Emperor Huai of Jin was taken to Pingyang, Liu Cong granted him the title of Duke of Huiji Commandery but treated him terribly, not only frequently humiliating him in front of others but also placing him under house arrest. Liu Cong often held banquets, and whenever he did, he made Emperor Huai carry a wine jug and pour drinks for everyone, treating him like a servant. The Jin ministers who had been captured and brought to Pingyang along with the emperor were heartbroken to see their sovereign so abused and could not help crying aloud. Over time, Liu Cong grew increasingly annoyed with these ministers, and after much deliberation, he decided to kill Emperor Huai as a warning to them.
In 313 AD, Liu Cong pretended to gift fine wine to Emperor Huai of Jin, but the wine was laced with deadly poison, and the pitiful emperor was thus poisoned to death.
When news of Emperor Huai's murder reached the Central Plains, the former officials of the Jin Kingdom were deeply shocked. To restore the Jin Kingdom and avenge Emperor Huai, Jia Ya, the former Grand Administrator of Anding, supported Sima Ye, the Prince of Qin, in ascending the throne and establishing the capital at Chang'an. This ruler became known as Emperor Min of Jin.