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

Shao Bo had already sent someone to bring Wang Ying over from the post house, and Duan Pixi, Shao Ji and others hurried to greet him. Duan Pixi said to Wang Ying:"My Xianbei Duan tribe has been greatly favored by the imperial court for generations, and I have never forgotten loyalty and filial piety in my heart. I am in trouble today, and I can't help myself. I want to return to the imperial court to apologize, but I am forced to do so. Loyalty is difficult to achieve in Chicheng, but I Worthy of the imperial court and worthy of our ancestors!"

Wang Ying said:"Master Duan is unswervingly loyal to the imperial court, as everyone knows. I have completed the mission of the imperial court and delivered your majesty's edict to you, so I have no regrets. Duan Although your Excellency is not a Han Chinese, your loyalty to the imperial court is no less than that of the Han people. Your Majesty Duan's broad-mindedness and high integrity are hard to come by even some Han people!"

Duan Pixi nodded and said to the others:"It is up to you whether to surrender or not. No one can force the decision. Generals, are you willing to surrender or break out and go to Jiangnan?"

Shao Ji said:"Master Duan, as a Xianbei, can be so proud. My brother Shao Yi has been killed by Shi Le, and my father has also been killed. Imprisoned in Xiangguo. How could I willingly surrender to Shi Le and Shi Hu? As the son of a loyal minister, I must not be a coward!"

Shao Zhu and Shao Cun also nodded, and Shao Cun said:"Let's break out to the south together!"

"Let's do this. Mr. Shao Bo, the Neishi of Le'an, and I will go out of the west gate and go to Shihu Camp to surrender. You take this opportunity to break out from the south gate and head to Jiangnan. Most of Shihu's soldiers are now in the west, and there may be fewer soldiers in other city gates."Duan Pizhen said. Shao Ji said:"Master Duan's plan is good, let's do it like this!"

Duan Pizhen sent two followers back to the government office to get what they needed. Shao Ji, Shao Zhu, Shao Cun, Liu Yan and others paid tribute to Duan Pizhen, and then together with the envoy Wang Ying, they led more than a hundred old and weak soldiers. , heading to the south gate of Fuping. There are very few horses in the city. Some of the soldiers who want to go to Jiangnan need two people to ride a horse. When the city gate is opened, there are really not many outside the south gate. Soldiers. Just when Shao Ji and others rushed out of the south gate of Fuping, ambushes appeared on both sides of the road. Shao Ji shouted:"Brothers, prepare to fight!"

These more than a hundred old and weak soldiers have not had enough to eat for several days. They are all sallow and thin, and they have no fighting ability. The opponent rushed to kill them, and most of them died in the battle. Dozens of people followed Shao Cun and Wang Ying and rushed out of the encirclement. , fled in despair. Liu Yan and several soldiers followed Shao Cun, and several of them were shot to death by arrows fired from behind. Shao Ji and Shao Zhu were wounded and fell off their horses and became prisoners. The two were tied up with five flowers and held captive. Go to the west gate of Fuping.

After Shao Ji and others said goodbye to Duan Pixi, two attendants brought Duan Pixi the Jin Dynasty court clothes and a staff. Duan Pixi put on the court clothes, held a staff, and rode a horse, two The entourage followed, led the remaining soldiers, and majestically came out of the west gate of Fuping to see Shi Hu.

In the big tent, Shi Hu was discussing the military situation with Kong Chang, Wang Yang and others. Duan Wenyang was also present. Someone came in and reported:" General Qi, Duan Pixi and others are here!"

"ah? Lord Duan Pixi? Okay, okay, hurry up and greet us!"Shi Hu said, and he and several generals came outside the tent, and Duan Wenyang followed. Duan Pixi had already dismounted and came to the entrance of the tent. When Shi Hu saw Duan Pixi, he knelt down and worshiped. Duan Wenyang followed. Shao Bo, who was behind Pi Wei, quickly knelt down and saluted Shi Hu:"Shao Bo, the internal history of Le'an, salutes Duke Zhongshan!

Shi Hu glanced at Shao Bo contemptuously and said,"Get up!"

Duan Pixi said:"General Ji Long, although we were once sworn brothers. But over the years, we have each had our own masters, and we have different paths and do not work together. I, Duan, have enjoyed the favor of the imperial court for generations. Since the Yongjia Rebellion, our brothers have been determined to eliminate the alien races that have harmed the Central Plains. Unfortunately, internal strife, internal strife, and internal fighting in our department have depleted our strength. The reason why I come to you today is not for my own life, but for the people of Fuping, and for the city that Master Shao Xu has devoted countless efforts to. It is definitely not for the sake of greed for life and fear of death."

"No matter what my brother said, heroes emerge from troubled times, and heroes are created from time to time. Although you brothers and I are not yet heroes, we are still worthy of being heroes in this troubled world. Cherish Xingxing, and cherish heroes. Brother Wenyang has agreed to surrender to the King of Zhao. I hope that my brother will assess the situation and work with us to contribute to the prosperity of the Zhao Kingdom."Shi Hu said humbly. Duan Wenyang also came over. He took Duan Pixi's hand and just nodded without saying anything, but tears still flowed down. After a moment of silence, Duan Pixi said:"I don't say goodbye. The extravagant hope is that General Ji Long will treat the people of Fuping well. Now there are only a few hundred households in the city. In order to defend Fuping, many people not only contributed their family's food, livestock and poultry, but some also sacrificed their lives. I hope that General Ji Long will send people to bring the soldiers and civilians who died in the city and outside the city to have a good burial outside the city. I have no other wish. In addition, Mr. Liu Yan also died in the battle. Please give him a proper burial in the south of Fuping City.

Duan Wenyang said:"General Ji Long, I have the same idea as my second brother, that is, I hope you will send someone to bury the eighty-one brothers who followed me in the war." Besides, my horse is also exhausted. This war horse has followed me for more than twenty years, through life and death, and has saved me from danger many times. I hope you will bury my horse on a higher ground. No matter where I fight in the future, I hope my beloved horse can see me."

Duan Wenyang said, pointing to the southeast of the tent, where Shi Hu and Kong Chang were watching the battle. Shi Hu did not hesitate and nodded. Just as Shi Hu was about to speak, the soldiers outside came in and reported:"Big General, General Wang Yang captured Shao Ji and Shao Zhu!"

"Where are the people? Shi Hu asked. The soldier said:"Just outside the camp.""

"Bring people here! Shi Hu said. The soldiers left, and Shi Hu and others also walked towards the gate of the camp. When they arrived at the gate of the camp, Wang Yang also brought dozens of soldiers and escorted Shao Ji and Shao Zhu over. Shi Hu When he saw two people being tied up, he said:"Hurry up and untie them!"

The two soldiers untied Shao Ji and Shao Zhu, and the two men came over and knelt down to Duan Pixi and saluted:"I will see you at last, Master Duan! Our incompetence caused Fuping to fall into the hands of the enemy. Duan

Pixi pulled the two people up and said,"General Ji Long has just promised that he can treat Fuping City and the people of Fuping City well." That being the case, what can I ask for!

Shi Hu smiled and asked:"My two brothers and generals, what else do you want?""

Duan Pixi, Duan Wenyang, Shao Ji, Shao Zhu, and Shao Bo looked at each other without speaking. Shi Hu said:"A person only has one life. If you die, you will die. Once you die, you will live forever." Therefore, people all know that it is better to live than to die. I'm going to entertain you all tonight. Tomorrow morning, I will personally go to Xiangguo with you all to meet King Zhao Qiansui."