Huan Shiqian first commanded an army during Huan Wen's quelling of the Yuan clan in
Shouchun in 370. Just a year before, Huan Wen was badly defeated by
Former Yan at the
Battle of Fangtou. He blamed the general
Yuan Zhen to the court as he had failed to secure the army's supply line, so Yuan Zhen in response rebelled in Shouchun and submitted to Former Qin and Former Yan. Yuan Zhen died shortly after and was succeeded by his son Yuan Qin (袁瑾). During the campaign, Shiqian took the southern part of Shouchun from Yuan Qin. Yuan Qin lasted for another year but was on the verge of falling by early 371. Former Qin sent their generals Wang Jian (王堅) and
Zhang Ci to reinforce the city, but Shiqian and
Huan Yi intercepted them at Shiqiao (石橋, around present-day
Lu'an,
Anhui). They repelled Wang Jian and Zhang Ci, allowing Huan Wen to take Shouchun with little interference. Yuan Qin and his followers were captured executed as a result. Afterwards, Shiqian served as Prefect of
Jingling. Former Qin forces conquered the
Shu region from Jin in 373. The next year, a native uprising led Zhang Yu (張育) and Yang Jian (楊光) occurred, with Qin and Jin being quick to respond. Qin sent in
Deng Qiang to quell the rebellion while Jin sent Shiqian and Zhu Yao to support the rebels. Shiqian and Zhu Yao attacked
Diejiang, where they drove out the Qin general
Yao Chang. Zhang Yu declared himself King of Shu but soon started fighting with his subordinates. Deng Qiang and
Yang An took advantage of this and routed them. Deng Qiang then headed east and defeated Shiqian and Zhu Yao. Zhang Yu was killed later that year, so Former Qin regained the region. War between Qin and Jin intensified as Fu Jian intended to conquer the south once and for all. His general Dou Gui (都貴) ordered his officers Yan Zhen (閻振) and Wu Zhong (吳仲) to invade Jingling in 381. Shiqian and his brother, Huan Shimin marched to faced them in battle. The brothers defeated the Qin forces and chased them back to
Guancheng, later conquering the city. They captured the Qin commanders and took more than ten thousand captives while executing a few thousand soldiers. Shiqian later followed his uncle Huan Chong to attack Xiangyang in 383. Shiqian and Guo Quan (郭銓) defeated Zhang Chong (張崇) at
Wudang. However, Huan Chong was enticed into retreating after
Murong Chui tricked him by setting torches to make his army appear bigger. His defeat would be avenged later that year when
Xie Xuan won a decisive victory over
Fu Jian at the
Battle of Fei River. The battle drove out Qin forces from the south, and for Shiqian's merits, he was made Inspector of
Yuzhou in 384. == Final years ==