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

Arriving at Zhongshan Gong Shihu's mansion, the guard looked at the lintel at the gate, which read Zhongshan Gong's Mansion. Because Shi Hu has many official positions, General Hussar is also one of them. Two guards at the gate of the mansion came up and asked,"Brother, are you a guard from the palace?"

The guard nodded, handed over the token, and said,"I have been instructed by His Majesty to report important matters to Duke Zhongshan.!"

A guard looked at it, returned the token, and then said:"Go in!"

When they came outside the main hall, they heard voices coming from inside. The guard stood at the door and listened. One said:"Zhongshan Gong has been unstoppable in recent years, and has successively captured Youzhou, Jizhou and Jizhou. Even the remnants of Fuping and Shao Xu, which had held out for a year, were captured by Zhongshan Gong. Zhongshan Gong's attacks were invincible. Invincible, he is truly a hero today!"

Another voice said:"I am not as miraculous as you say. It was all the generals who fought desperately on the battlefield that allowed us to capture each city of the Jin Dynasty. General Kong Chang was guarding Yanci, Fuping, and Xu Gong, who are just like the wind, have rebelled again. Originally, King Zhao wanted to capture Cao Yi in Qingzhou first. Now, the only choice is to capture and kill Xu Gong first!"

The guard was still thinking. Listen again, and two guards come out. So he quickly handed over the token and said:"I come from the palace, I have something important to report to Duke Zhongshan!"

"come in!"A guard looked at the token and returned it. As soon as Shi Hu saw a palace guard coming, he stopped talking to his generals. When the guard saw the fat and fierce-looking Shi Hu, he thought,""Think", and then he knelt down to Shi Hu tremblingly:"See Mr. Zhongshan!" The villain is the palace guard"

"Get up and speak! If you have anything to say, tell me immediately!"Shi Hu said. The guard calmed down and then said:"Shao Xu and Duan Pizhen are doing something illegal."

When Shi Hu heard this, he was excited. Shi Hu asked:"Huh? Is there any evidence?"

"Returning to Zhongshan Gong, although King Zhao granted official positions to people like Shao Xu and Duan Pixi, they were not restless. Not only did they meet and talk secretly every three days, they also sent people to some places where Xianbei and Han people lived to agitate. If no measures are taken, it will be too late!"

"What did His Highness King Zhao say?"Shi Hu asked. The guard said:"From when Shao Xu was escorted to Xiangguo, to when Zhongshan Gong escorted Duan Pixi and the others to Xiangguo a few days ago, the General Wei Mansion will assign guards to monitor where they live. Even if they go out, whether to go to court or to the streets, the guards of General Wei's Mansion are watching closely. Now that the evidence is conclusive, Shao Xu and his son and Duan Pixi brothers are about to summon their troops for action. I have reported this to His Highness King Zhao, and His Highness King Zhao has given Duke Zhongshan full authority to handle this matter!"

"Okay, you go back!"Shi Hu waved his hand, and the guard went back to the palace.

Shi Hu laughed loudly and said to Wang Yang beside him:"General Wang, you immediately lead two hundred brothers to the place where Shao Xu, Duan Pizhen and others live. , bring them all!"

"The general will obey the order!"Wang Yang agreed and went out.

In less than an hour, five people, Shao Xu, Duan Pixi, Duan Wenyang, Shao Ji, and Shao Zhu, were tied up with five flowers and escorted to the dungeon of Zhongshan Gongfu. The five people were tied to pillars. Wang Yang commanded several of his soldiers who were interrogating him. Wang Yang asked with a sly smile:"Master Shao Xu, Master Duan Pixi, General Duan Wenyang, His Highness King Zhao treats you well! Not only is I reluctant to kill you, but I will also give you official positions and salaries, so that you can have enough food and clothing. Although His Highness also gave you the court uniforms of the State of Zhao, you have never worn them once. Wherever he went, even when he came to court, he always wore the imperial uniform of the Jin Dynasty. It turns out that you are all thinking about contacting people to rebel and escape from here one day, right?"

"King Zhao really treats us well, and we have no intention of rebelling. How can it be rebellion and conspiracy to catch up with old friends whom we haven’t seen for a long time?"Shao Xu defended. Wang Yang sneered:"Didn't you collude to rebel? So you never wear Zhao Dynasty's court uniforms, but you have a soft spot for Jin Dynasty's court uniforms. What's the matter? If some of you don't confess truthfully, then don't blame my men for being ruthless!"

While Wang Yang was talking, the dungeon door opened, and Shi Hu entered the dungeon, escorted by several soldiers. Duan Pixi asked:"Zhongshan Gong, you personally sent us to Xiangguo, and King Zhao treated us with courtesy. But why did they arrest us again and falsely accuse us of treason? Shi

Hu looked at Shao Xu, Duan Pizhen and others one by one, and said with a wicked smile:"If you had followed me, I would have killed you in Fuping." If King Zhao hadn't been sympathetic to each other and wanted you to change your ways and be used by me, how could you have survived to this day! What a pity, not only do you not know how to be grateful, but you also plotted a rebellion, so don't blame me!"

"Zhongshan Gong, you imprisoned us here, does King Zhao know? Shao Xu asked. Shi Hu laughed and said,"I am interrogating you on the orders of King Zhao!""

Duan Pixi, Shao Ji and others looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly. Shao Xu looked at Shi Hu and asked,"Mr. Zhongshan, where is my brother Shao Bo?"

"Shao Bo? The coward you mentioned, the master who sold himself for glory, has been killed by me long ago!"After Shi Hu finished speaking, he burst into laughter. When Shao Xu heard that Shao Bo was dead, he couldn't help but shed tears. Shi Hu said:"Master Shao Xu, if it weren't for your brother, he would lead his men to surrender to me."If you all work together, it won't be difficult to escape to Jiangnan with Master Duan." This kind of weakling who is greedy for life and afraid of death does not deserve sympathy!"

Shi Hu asked Duan Pixi again:"Master Duan, we brothers are about to go to hell now. What are your last wishes? What are your wishes? Anything you regret?"

"Sima Qian said that death is inevitable for everyone, and it may be heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather. Although I am from Xianbei, my sincerity in loyalty to the Jin Dynasty can be learned from the world. I believe that Your Majesty and the civil and military ministers of the Jiangnan Jin Dynasty, including the people of Jiangnan and the Central Plains, will shed tears and be sad for my death. If I have any last wish, it is to expel you Jie people from the Central Plains and the North and restore Chinese orthodoxy. If there is any regret or the thing that I regret the most, it is that I killed the famous anti-Jie general Liu Kun, Commander-in-Chief!"Duan Pixi said

"How is the adult planning to die? Shi Hu asked gloatingly. Duan Pixian said:"Now the life and death of the five of us are in your hands, whatever you want!""

"This cannot be done casually, I must give you a way to die that will be unforgettable for you. I think back then, Brother Duan and Brother Duan were all powerful figures, and they even chased us until we had nowhere to hide. Being down and out now is also bad luck. When you killed Liu Kun more than two years ago, whatever method you used, I will let you enjoy your death!"After Shi Hu finished speaking, he shouted again:"Come here! Pull Duan Pixi out first! Hang him with a noose and then behead him in public!"