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

Zu Lian went to the post house, and Sima Rui asked Fei Ren to take Zu Na's watch and show it to Director Wang, Diao Xie, Zhou Wei and other people in front. Fei Ren came down and handed the above watch to Director Wang. Director Wang read it and handed it to Diao Xie. Diao Xie read it and handed it to Zhou Wei, and then passed it to others. After Director Wang and others saw it, they all smiled and shook their heads in silence. Sima Rui smiled and asked:"My dear friends, after reading the above list of Zuna's dear friends, do you have anything to say?"

"Your Majesty, Zuna, Zuti, and Zuyue are half-brothers. Zu Yue inherited Zu Ti's official position, which definitely made Zu Na feel unhappy." Director Wang said. Zhou Wei said:"This Zuna was once the Guanglu doctor of the previous dynasty. In recent years, he followed Zu Ti in the Northern Expedition and made many suggestions and suggestions for Zu Ti. Not reused, understandable"

"My views are slightly different from those of the two adults. Although Zu Yue succeeded Zu Ti's official position, his ability to lead the army and the people was unsatisfactory. Once Shi Le invades Yuzhou from the south, Zu Ti's Northern Expedition will be in vain. A handsome refugee like Su Jun is used to going his own way and is difficult to tame. If Zu Yue flirts with Su Jun again, there might be big problems. Diao Xie said. Sima Rui said:"Zuna's younger brother Zuyue is favored by a prominent person. As an elder brother, Zuna cannot accept it. It is not impossible that he may even be jealous.""

"Your Majesty, Lord Diao Xie’s concerns are justified. Zuna and Zuyue will fight for power and gain, and no major problems will arise. What needs to be guarded against now is that Shi Le will invade Yuzhou from the south anytime and anywhere. In addition, Su Jun, who is getting bigger and bigger, has to be on guard."Zhou Wei said. Sima Rui said,"In the past two years, Su Jun's power has become stronger and stronger. Su Jun started his career after the Yongjia Rebellion and was especially good at winning people's hearts. At that time, in the farmland and on both sides of the road, many dead bones of the dead were discarded casually. Su Jun sent his chief historian Xu Wei to pass a message to each village. On the one hand, he promoted the king's transformation, and on the other hand, he sent people to collect the ownerless bones and bury them. The local people are grateful for Su Jun's kindness, and thousands of refugees support him as the leader. Su Jun led his troops to train men and horses in the mountains by the sea and store grass and grain. In order to win over his heart, I appointed Su Jun as General Anji. Sima

Rui continued:"Later, in order to win over Su Jun, Qingzhou Cao Yi requested the court to appoint Su Jun as the magistrate of Ye County. Su Jun looked down upon Cao Yi and refused the appointment on the grounds of illness. Cao Yi failed to win over Su Jun, fearing that he might become a disaster to Qingzhou, so he wanted to attack and destroy Su Jun. Su Jun was afraid and led hundreds of people across the sea to Guangling in the south. I also appointed Su Jun as General Yingyang and asked him to help the army attack Zhou Jian who rebelled in Pengcheng. After annihilating Zhou Jian, Su Jun first became the internal historian of Huailing due to his meritorious service, and was later promoted to the prime minister of Lanling."

"Two famous generals, Zhou Fang and Zu Ti, passed away one after another. If Su Jun, who has become famous, can serve the court wholeheartedly, the north will have more stability. But people are separated from each other, and no one knows what others really think, and whether it will change in the future."Zhou Wei said.

In the Jiande Hall of Xiangguo, Shi Le was discussing with the ministers the attack on Yuzhou. Zhang Bin analyzed:"Zhou Fang and Zu Ti passed away one after another, and Sima Rui's left and right arms have been broken. Brother Zuyue who is in charge of Yongqiu is at odds again. This is the best time for our Zhao army to go south."

"What Youhou said is very correct. Resting in Xiangguo these days is not as fulfilling as fighting on the battlefield."When Shi Hu heard that he was going south to Yuzhou, he said excitedly

"What about after taking Yuzhou?"Wang Yang, who followed Shi Hu back to Xiang Kingdom, asked. Zhang Bin looked at Wang Yang and said,"Crossing the Yellow River south to capture Yuzhou is the key and our first step. After completing the first step, the second step is to eliminate Xu Gong who is entrenched in Mount Tai. Xu Gong was unwilling to be lonely and surrendered to Sima Rui again. After Xu Gong was eliminated, the third step was to attack Cao Yi in Qingzhou. After a few more years of recuperating, he can compete with Liu Yao."

Shi Le listened to Zhang Bin's analysis and agreed very much. Shi Le said:"Gu's Youhou is just like Zhuge Liang back then, strategizing and winning a victory thousands of miles away!"

Zhang Bin waved his hands modestly and said:"What I can consider is what happens within the past seven or eight years. The meal must be eaten one bite at a time, and the battles must be fought one by one. There is no need to rush. After the decisive battle with Liu Yao and victory, King Zhao Qiansui basically unified the north. Such achievements are comparable to those of Cao Cheng back then. When the time comes, it will be a matter of course for King Zhao to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor again. But if you want to cross the Huai River, eliminate the Jin Dynasty forces in the south of the Yangtze River, and unify the entire China, it will be very difficult, even harder than climbing to the sky."

"Thank you, Youhou, for your pointers!"Shi Le said, stood up and gave Zhang Bin a salute. Zhang Bin looked at it and said quickly:"King Zhao is a thousand years old and he can't do it! useless!"

"How many cavalry and infantry troops are needed to attack Yuzhou? Shi Le asked. Zhang Bin counted on his fingers, and then said:"After Zu Yue took over Yuzhou, some refugee leaders and dock owners who had taken refuge with Zu Ti quietly returned to their hometowns because they were unwilling to accept Zu Yue's leadership.. The brothers Zu Yue and Zu Na were fighting openly and secretly, and there was already a rift between them. As long as we let General Ji Long lead 20,000 troops and 300 large and small warships, and take advantage of his unpreparedness to cross south to attack Yongqiu, we can break through the defenses of the counties and counties in Yuzhou south of the Yellow River. After establishing a foothold, let Zhi Xiong and other generals who had returned from Pingyang lead 10,000 troops and cross the Yellow River south to attack other counties in Yuzhou."

"How to arrange it specifically? On what day will the troops be dispatched? Shi Le asked. Zhang Bin said:"Starting from tomorrow, General Ji Long, General Zhi Xiong, and other accompanying generals will prepare the necessary ships and train the men and horses for three days." On the fourth day, the soldiers ate well and slept well during the day to recharge their batteries. After dinner, when it got dark, 10,000 cavalrymen headed south to the north bank of the Yellow River. The warships had docked on the north bank, and 10,000 navy and infantry troops were also waiting on the ships."

"Youhou’s arrangements are meticulous and thoughtful, I can’t wait!"Shi Hu said.

Five days later, before it was very bright, three hundred large and small warships were lined up on the north bank of the Yellow River. Ten thousand cavalry lined up east and west on the north bank, waiting to get on board. The sky slowly dawned, and in a few steps The appearance of the people could be clearly seen outside. Each cavalryman was holding a horse. Shi Hu got off the horse and handed the horse's reins to the soldiers. Shi Hu whispered:"Get aboard!""

It was already daybreak, and everyone had boarded the ship. Shi Hu stood on the handsome ship in the middle, looked at the warships and soldiers on the left and right sides, and shouted:"Brothers, let's go!"

In just one stick of incense, three hundred warships have arrived at the south bank of the Yellow River. Most of the soldiers guarding the shore in twos and threes went to have breakfast. The remaining people, seeing so many warships and people, were surprised. They were already frightened. Some of them got on their horses while running and shouted:"It's not good!" The Jie people are coming! Hurry and report to the Governor!"