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

"Master Zu, you don’t have to blame yourself. It was your unremitting efforts in the Northern Expedition in recent years that stopped the Jie people from marching southward. You and your Northern Expeditionary Army are the Great Wall that protects and restores your homeland in the Central Plains. The imperial court cannot live without you, and your Majesty cannot live without you. Guo Pu said politely. Zu Ti shook his head and said,"Mr. Guo, how can I have such a big contribution?" Zu

Huan brought a bowl of water and handed it to Guo Pu. Zu Gai brought a bowl of water and handed it to Zu Ti. Zu Ti took a few sips and then asked,"Mr. Guo, am I not going to die soon?""

Guo Pu saw that Zu Ti was so straightforward and said nothing. Zu Ti continued:"Mr. Guo is a master of divination, and he will definitely be able to tell something. There was an astrologer in Yongqiu who said that there was a demon star appearing in Yuzhou. Another sorcerer, Dai Yang, also predicted that the ancestor of Yuzhou would die in the ninth month. After the demon star appeared, Chen Xun also said that the northwest general should die this year. The demon star should be on me. In the past two years, the land in Henan has been largely recovered. I wanted to accumulate strength to march and regain the land in Hebei, but now I am terminally ill. If God doesn't leave me alone, this is a bad sign for the country!"

"Sir, please rest in peace and recuperate, don't believe this. Your Majesty asked me to bring some precious medicinal materials and ask the medical officers around you to use them carefully."Guo Pu said. Zu Ti said:"Since I was young, I have spared no effort in the Northern Expedition and the Northern Expedition. So far, the Northern Expedition has only been half successful, and God wants me to leave this world. After my death, the happiest people were two people. One is Shile, the Jie people will definitely attack southward, and the homeland I regained will fall short. The other one is Wang Dun, who is the same age as me. But Wang Dun's heart is known to everyone on the road. In the past few years, His Majesty's biggest worry has been Wang Dun and the Langya Wang family. Guo

Pu nodded and said to Zu Ti and others:"I used to join the army under Wang Dao. His Majesty now asked me to serve as the Zuo Lang and co-write the"History of Jin" with Wang Yin. Your Majesty may have sent me here to let me know something about the situation in Yuzhou."

"It's almost noon. Let's invite Mr. Guo to have a meal before returning to Jiankang!" Zu Huan said. Guo Pu waved his hand and said:"No need, I want to return to Jiankang as soon as possible. Lord Zuti, please be open-minded and take good care of yourself. The great cause of the Northern Expedition of the imperial court cannot be separated from you!"

Guo Pu bowed his hands in salute, and Zu Ti bowed his hands in return on the bed. Zu Ti moved his body and planned to come down to see Guo Pu off. Guo Pu quickly held Zu Ti down and said,"Master Zu, you must not move. Take your medicine on time and try to eat well, so that you can be healthy!"

Zu Ti nodded, and Guo Pu, accompanied by Zu Yue, Zu Huan and others, came out of the small courtyard. A carriage had stopped at the door. Zu Yue said:"I know that after Mr. got off the boat, he hired a carriage and came to Yong. mound. Now my husband is going back to Jiankang. I have prepared a carriage for him and will take him to the ferry south of Yongqiu. Then he will board the boat and return to Jiankang."

"Thank you General Zu for such thoughtful arrangements! Then we'll get in the car. Guo Pu said and got into the carriage with his two followers. As he prepared to drive the carriage, Guo Pu got out of the carriage again and said to Zu Yue, Zu Huan and others:"General Zu, Mr. Zu, with all due respect, Zu The Lord has passed away! You go home quickly and make arrangements for Mr. Zu’s funeral. After I go back, I will explain to your majesty how great your hard work has been, and your majesty will definitely give him a title as a gift!"

When Zu Huan heard that his father had passed away, he couldn't believe it, and Zu Yue couldn't believe it either. The two of them ran home quickly, just when two servants came out in a panic. One servant stammered:"Master Zu, Master Zu, he has passed away!"

"ah!"Zu Huan hurriedly ran into the house and saw his father lying straight on the bed, no longer breathing. Zu Huan tried Zu Ti's breath and touched Zu Ti's forehead and body. It was already a little cold. Zu Huan Weeping loudly, Zu Yue and Zu Gai also came back, and they couldn't stop crying. Zu Huan wiped his tears and asked the two servants:"What did my father say before he died? Are there any instructions?"

The two servants, who had been with Zu Ti for many years, were also crying. One said:"You just went out, Master Zu, who had been lying down, suddenly sat up again."

The servant stopped talking and just cried. Another servant cried and said:"Master Zu's eyes widened with anger and he shouted for the Northern Expedition! Northern Expedition! Northern Expedition! It didn’t work anymore!"

"Uncle, please watch and make arrangements for your father’s funeral!"Zu Huan said to Zu Yue. Zu Yue nodded and went out with his brother Zu Yue. Not long after, some officials and servants from the government came. The door of the small courtyard, the trees in the yard, and the doors of each room White cloth strips were hung on the top of the house. The servants made several white flowers with white cloth and hung them on them. The officials and people of all counties and counties in Yuzhou soon learned the news of Zu Ti’s death. The county officials and Yongqiu also People from various counties and counties in Yuzhou came to express their condolences. Zu Huan, wearing heavy mourning, received the people who came to express condolences. An old man cried and said:"After Master Zu regained the land of Henan, the lives of the people of Yuzhou became stable. Lord Ancestor worked tirelessly to recuperate, benefit the people, and treat them well. One time, Master Zu hosted a banquet in honor of the local elders. The elders were very moved. Master Ancestor composed a song and said:"Fortunately, I have escaped being captured. I have met my loving father in the morning. I have drunken wine and amused myself with dried gourds. How can I sing and dance about my kindness?""

"The folks have not forgotten my father, and I am very satisfied. Zu Huan cried and said.

Guo Pu did not dare to delay when he returned to Jiankang and rushed to the court immediately. When he arrived at the Taiji Hall, Guo Pu first knelt down and saluted Sima Rui:"Your Majesty, I see you, Guo Pu. Long live our emperor!" Long live!"

"Mr. Guo died without courtesy. How is Zuti Aiqing's condition? Has it improved? Sima Rui asked with concern. Guo Pu shook his head and said,"Your Majesty, Master Zu Ti has passed away!""

"ah? Zu Ti has passed away so soon? Did you go to Yongqiu and passed away, or was it after you met Zu Ti?"Sima Rui said. Guo Pu said:"Back to Your Majesty, I met Master Zu Ti and conveyed His Majesty's concern. I saw Master Zu lying on the hospital bed, already extremely ill. But when I came back, Mr. Zu was still alive."

The civil and military ministers below did not dare to express their anger, listening to Guo Pu's narration. Sima Rui asked again:"Since Zu Ti Aiqing did not die when you came back, how can you say that he has passed away?"

"Well, I naturally know this."Guo Pu said with certainty. The civil and military ministers all knew that Guo Pu was good at divination and was proficient in many strange magic arts, so they all nodded in agreement. Sima Rui pondered for a while and said:"When Zu Aiqing was still the Prime Minister of Zuo, He was determined to make the Northern Expedition and regain the Central Plains. It's been eight years now. Thinking back to Zu Aiqing's lofty ideals, how could I refuse his proposal for the Northern Expedition. So Zu Aiqing was appointed General Fenwei and governor of Yuzhou. But it was too difficult at that time. I could only give him food and wages for a thousand people and three thousand pieces of cloth. In addition, he was given the right to recruit his own soldiers and make his own weapons."