The Sixteen Kingdoms of the Eastern Jin Dynasty: The Competition in the Central Plains

Murong Han and Murong Huang led their soldiers to deal with and reorganize the captured Yuwen Department soldiers. Murong Xin, along with other ministers and generals, led the army back to Thorn City.

When we came to the main hall, the lights were brightly lit. Murong Xin sat on his throne, and the others also sat down on their seats. Murong Xuan said:"Thanks to the hard work of the soldiers today, and also to the advisers for their suggestions, our Murong Division was able to achieve a complete victory! Serve the food! Prepare the wine, prepare the singing and dancing, and we will drink to our heart's content in a while! We will not be drunk until we stop!"

This is the first time! Murong Xin was particularly happy about the unexpected victory. Ten maids began to bring delicious food and wine, and then stood aside. Then ten Xianbei women with heavy makeup and five musicians from the Central Plains came in. There was silence in the main hall, and as the musicians played, a magnificent Xianbei dance"The Great Victory of Thorn City" unfolded before our eyes.

The dance ended and the musicians and dancers retired. Murong Xuan picked up the wine bottle in front of him, stood up and said with a smile:"My dear friends, today is a happy day. It is really not easy for us to be able to face the Three Kingdoms Allied Forces calmly and defeat them one by one and win a complete victory!"

"Da Shan Yu strategized and achieved this hard-won victory!"Feng Yi said.

After drinking a few glasses of wine, Murong Xuan said:"Not only did we eliminate tens of thousands of troops from the Yuwen Department, but we also seized three jade seals from the Yuwen Department. How should we deal with this?

Changshi Pei Yi stood up and said:"Da Chanyu, as I said before, the time for Da Chanyu to become emperor is not yet mature. In my opinion, these things that may cause trouble should be given to Jiangnan." Emperor Sima Rui is doing well, and the ministers of the Jin Dynasty will definitely be happy"

"Lord Pei is right. Sending three jade seals to Jiangnan can also play a role. That was to paralyze the monarchs and ministers in Jiangnan, so that they would appear to have no ambition to become emperor, so they would relax their vigilance towards Murong's tribe."Zhu Zuoche said

"Okay, then as Master Pei said, could you please go to Jiankang, Jiangnan in person, and give these jade seals to Sima Rui!"Murong Xuan said. Pei Yi said:"I am willing to go."

Two days later, Pei Yi took two followers and took a boat from the sea to Jiankang to deliver the jade seal.

Jiankang Tai City, Tai Chi Hall. Sima Rui was conferring awards to several ministers. The court was very quiet, except for Wang Dao, Zhou Wei, Diao Xie, Liu Wei and other important ministers of Sima Rui, and even Wang Dun, who was difficult to meet, were also among them. Sima Rui said to Fei Ren beside him:"Read the edict!"

Fei Ren stood on the edge of the steps and began to read out the edict:

General Wang Dun has guarded Jingzhou for several years. The country has been stable and his hard work has made great achievements. He was granted the title of shepherd of Jingzhou. For his contribution to the conquest of Huayi, Wang Dao served as the governor of Yangzhou, the general of hussars, and On top of the three divisions of Kaifu Yitong, he was granted the title of Marquis of Wugang, and was promoted to the rank of Shizhong, Sikong, and Jiejie.、Shangshu, leading the book supervisor. Granted the governorship of Guangzhou, Marquis Chaisang, and General Tao Kan of Pingnan to supervise the military affairs of Jiaozhou. Zhou Fang surprised him, attacked Wudang Du Zeng, captured Du Zeng and beheaded him, captured the rebel Wu Yi and others, and promoted him to General Annan and Chijie. His positions as governor of Liangzhou and other positions remained the same.

Wang Duan thanked him:"Thank you, Your Majesty, long live my emperor! Long live! Long live!""

"Tao Kan and Zhou Fang were in Guangzhou and Liangzhou respectively. Afterwards, the imperial court would appoint envoys to deliver the appointments. Fei Ren added. Wang Dun came out and said:"Your Majesty, your Majesty is gracious. It is the first time that our ancestors have received favor from the emperor, and I also hold great power." Your Majesty places more emphasis on gifts to ministers than to the public family. In such a situation, not only will there be criticism in the court, but also among the people. In view of this, how can I feel at ease? If I delay Your Majesty, leading to the overthrow of the country and the instability of the country, I will be a sinner through the ages. By then it will be a matter of burning your body and heart, and it will be too late for Your Majesty to regret it. In the previous annihilation of Du Zeng, several generals died, and I still blame myself. I hope that your Majesty will appreciate my loyalty and take this opportunity to reduce my rank and grant it to wise people. Wouldn't it be better in this way for knowledgeable people to be comforted and each do their best? I really didn't dare to accept the title of Prefectural Shepherd in Jingzhou, so I gave it back together with Shi Zhong and Diao Chan. The minister also suggested that the imperial court merge some official positions and reduce some official positions, which can reduce the burden on the people of Li."

Looking at Wang Dun who insisted on saying goodbye to Jingzhou Mu, Sima Rui could only say:"Okay!"

In Xiangyang, the seat of Liangzhou, Zhou Fang was discussing state affairs with several subordinates, and his two sons Zhou Fu and Zhou Guang were also there. At this time, a man from outside the government office came in and reported:"Master Governor, the envoy from Jiankang Arrived, Lord Wang Dun's envoy also arrived. Zhou

Fang felt strange, so he ordered:"Your Majesty's envoy is invited!""

While talking, Zhou Fang and others came to greet the envoy outside the government office. When Zhou Fang saw that it was Fei Ren, he quickly raised his hands and saluted:"It turns out to be Mr. Fei, please come to the government office to talk to him! Fei

Ren came to the government office and said loudly:"The governor of Liangzhou visited Zhou, and your Majesty's edict has arrived!""

When he heard that it was Sima Rui's edict, Zhou Fang immediately ordered someone to set up an incense table. Then Zhou Fang and his men quickly knelt down. Fei Ren looked at Zhou Fang who was kneeling on the ground and read out:"The emperor's edict says: Zhou visited and annihilated Wudang Du Zeng, captured and beheaded him, and captured the rebel Wu Yi and others. Due to their merits, he was promoted to General Annan and Chijie. His positions as governor of Liangzhou and other positions remained the same."

"Minister Zhou paid a visit to thank you! Long live! Long live! Long live!" Zhou Fang said. After Fei Ren read out the edict, he pulled Zhou Fang up. Fei Ren said:"Master Zhou, please get up quickly!"

"Mr. Fei, please take a seat. How about we have a banquet together later?"Zhou Fang said. Fei Ren declined:"There have been a lot of affairs in the court recently, and I have to rush back to serve His Majesty!"

After Fei Ren finished speaking, he handed over his hands and went back to Jiankang with his two entourages. As soon as Fei Ren left, Wang Dun's envoy and two entourages arrived. Zhou Fang didn't recognize the envoy, so he asked:"Your Excellency An envoy from Wuchang, where the general is guarding? May I ask your surname?"

"Lord Zhou, I am General Wang’s military officer.melt."The envoy said. Zhou Fang said politely:"Le Canjun has worked hard all the way to get here. Please come to the government office to talk about it."

Le Daorong followed Zhou Fang to the government office. Zhou Fang said:"Please sit down, Le Shenjun!"

"I am here this time on the orders of the general. One is to deliver a letter from the General to Your Excellency, and the other is to deliver a gift from the General to Your Excellency. Le Daorong said and waved, and two followers carried in a box. The two followers opened the box and took out two sets of jade bowls, two sets of jade rings, and some gold and silver jewelry. Le Daorong smiled. Said:"This is a gift personally selected by the general. I hope Mr. Zhou likes it! Zhou

Fang took out the jade bowl and jade ring and threw them to the ground, and said to Le Daorong:"Le Shenjun, you may not understand the reason." Du once rebelled in the Mianshui area and was defeated by me a few years ago. After the failure, Du Zeng ran to Wudang and continued to do evil. In order to completely eradicate Du Zeng, I accumulated strength for nearly two years before killing Du Zeng. The general promised that after I captured Du Zeng, he would appoint me as the governor of Jingzhou. However, I captured and killed Du Zeng, and the general himself is still the governor of Jingzhou!"