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

"Your Majesty, you can't do it, you can't do it! The ministers and generals can follow His Majesty back to the palace!"You Ziyuan declined. Liu Yao smiled and said:"That's the case, that's fine! My dear friends, please return to the palace!"

Liu Yao sat on the chariot pulled by eight horses, with dozens of guards in front, and the ministers of civil and military affairs behind him, and they returned to the Ziguang Palace together. Behind Liu Yao's chariot was a man on horseback, that is, Da Eunuch Wang Yu. Wang Yu surrendered to Liu Yao along with Jin Ming. More than a hundred of the Jin family were killed. Wang Yu and several generals under Jin Zhun and Jin Ming were not implicated.

Returning to the Purple Light Palace, Wang Yu supported Liu Yao in After sitting down on the dragon chair, Wang Yu returned to stand by the steps. You Ziyuan, Hu Yanyan, Zhu Ji, Fan Long, Liu Ya, Liu Ce, Butai and other civil and military ministers all knelt down and saluted:"I see your Majesty! Long live our emperor! Long live! Long live!"

Liu Yao's eldest son Liu Jian and his prince Liu Xi knelt down and saluted:"My sons and ministers, see your father!"

Although Liu Xi is only eight years old, he participates in government affairs like his elder brother Liu Jian and is very impressive.

"All my dear friends, please go free of charge! Please take your place! Liu Yao said with a smile. Liu Yao turned around and said to Wang Yu:"Serve the food and wine!" Today I want to get drunk with all my dear friends!"

Wang Yu went to the imperial kitchen. The two ministers of civil and military affairs below had several tables one by one, and Liu Jian and Liu Xi had one table each. After a short time, the maids began to serve dishes and wine. On the tables in front of everyone, there were Delicious food and fine wines were laid out. The maid above filled Liu Yao's cup first, and the maid below also filled the wine for the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs, and then stepped aside. Liu Yao raised the wine bottle and said,"I have had many happy events these days, and I have received and surrendered one after another. , pacified many places where the Di, Qiang and other tribes gathered. Come, let us, the king and the ministers, drink this cup together!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"The civil and military minister below said, accompanying Liu Yao to drink it all in one gulp. Putting down the wine bottle, Liu Yao said with a sad face:"Since I became emperor for more than a year, with the concerted efforts of all my dear friends, Guanzhong and Long Many tribes on the right surrender to me. But I always think of my second son Liu Yin. Because of Jin Zhun's rebellion, I don't know where he ran away!"

"Your Majesty, under the great grace of the Emperor, the Second Prince will definitely be safe and sound, and there will be no problems. As long as we send more scouts and use various channels to find out about the second prince, he will definitely be able to return to His Majesty! Hu Yanyan said, and other ministers also nodded.

"That’s all we can do, let’s put this matter aside for now. Another more difficult matter is the secretive presence of Juquzhi and his more than 5,000 clan members in the northwest of Chang'an. I plan to send capable generals to eliminate this stubborn Juquzhi and regain the secret."After Liu Yao finished speaking, he looked at the civil and military ministers below. These civil servants and military generals looked at each other, as if they were waiting for something. No one volunteered. The wanderer left the class and said:"Your Majesty, I am not talented. I am willing to lead the victorious army to Yinmi and defeat Juquzhi!"

"The general has just returned to the court after a victory. He should rest for some time. I'd better send someone else to go!"Liu Yao said in a desperate manner. You Ziyuan said:"Your Majesty, we won't suffer any big losses in conquering the Xiququan Canal this time. I left behind two generals, Pingxian and Qiu Zhongbo, and ten thousand horses, just in case. Moreover, Yang Nandi in Qiuchi is also ready to make a move. We should gradually conquer the forces in these places and expand our territory."

"To the east of Chang'an is Shi Le's sphere of influence, and we currently have no power to compete with him. But the land west of Chang'an where the Di, Qiang and other tribes live, as far as Longyou, we can completely encroach on step by step. Of course, those who can be subdued and appeased should be comforted first to minimize unnecessary casualties. Attacking the heart is the top priority, and attacking the city is the bottom priority. I originally planned to reward the general and the generals. In this case, I asked the general to lead the victorious army to attack Yinmi. When the general returns from Yinmi, I will seal the general and all the generals together! Liu Yao said

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!"You Ziyuan saluted Liu Yao and said

"This time the general took charge of the expedition secretly, and asked General Liu Gong to conquer the west, General Hu Yanqing to assist Wei, and Shi Wu, the king of Xiu Tu, to stay in Chang'an and plan with me how to attack Qiu Chi. The generals who followed the general included Liu Qian, the general of the right army, Qiao Tai, Wang Teng and others, who led an army of 10,000. Liu Yao said. Liu Gan bowed his hand to You Ziyuan and said,"I am willing to listen to the general's orders!""

Qiao Tai and Wang Teng were two of Jin Ming's subordinate generals who had never been reused by Liu Yao. This time they were going to go on an expedition with You Ziyuan, so they quickly knelt down and said,"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty! I am willing to follow the general to Yinmi, attack Juquzhi, and make great achievements! Liu

Yao nodded and said:"In the past few days, I have arranged for the ministers to collect food and grass, and asked the general and other generals to plan the route and attack strategy for Yinmi. We will set off in five days!""

You Ziyuan, Liu Qian, Qiao Tai, Wang Teng and others said:"I obey the decree!"

Five days later, 10,000 horse infantry lined up outside the west gate of Chang'an. Liu Yao led his eldest son Liu Jian and more than a dozen important ministers to see him off. Liu Yao said:"General, generals, to the east is our biggest enemy Shi Le. , thanks to the Yellow River blocking it, there will be no major war for the time being. To the north, west, and south of us, almost all tribes and tribes such as Ba, Di, Qiang, and Jie live together, and Han people are also distributed among them. The situation is very complicated. If we can capture the Yinmi at a lower cost, just like we conquered the Xuquan Channel, I would love to see it."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, every time I go on an expedition, I follow the principle that anyone who can be conquered with words does not need a sword. Those who can be appeased by letters do not use swords. When it comes to Yinmi, I will still be polite before fighting and act according to the opportunity."You Ziyuan said.

Liu Yao nodded to Wang Yu who was behind him. Wang Yu handed a yellow cloth bag to You Ziyuan. You Ziyuan understood the idea and put it in his underwear. You Ziyuan and other generals knelt down and saluted Liu Yao."Your Majesty, please drive back to Chang'an!""

"good! I'm waiting for your good news in Chang'an! General, generals, please mount your horse and set off! Liu Yao said. You Ziyuan stood up and said goodbye to Liu Yao, and got on the horse to go west.

One afternoon three days later, the army led by You Ziyuan arrived at the southern suburbs of Yinmi. After walking a little further north, the men and horses had arrived at Yinmi. Outside the south gate. You Ziyuan said:"The army stops advancing! Several generals and I went to the south gate to see the situation."

You Ziyuan said and waved his hand, and the army stopped. You Ziyuan, Liu Qian, Qiao Tai, and Wang Teng came to a place just a stone's throw away from the south gate of Yinmi. There were several people on the south tower looking down. On the wall There were also soldiers guarding him. You Ziyuan looked carefully, but he didn't recognize Juquzhi. You Ziyuan shouted:"Is the leader of Juquzhi up there?"

A tall and burly middle-aged man dressed as a Ba man on the top of the city tower said:"This is my leader, who are you? What is the purpose of leading so many horse infantry troops to Yinmi? Juqu

Zhiye didn't know You Ziyuan, so he asked. You Ziyuan and others took a few steps forward, and You Ziyuan said,"How is the big leader always?" I am the cavalry general of the Han and Zhao Kingdoms, You Ziyuan. I came to Yinmi for no other reason than to hope that the great leader will surrender to your majesty!"