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

"Master Tao is right."Murong Xuan said:"In recent years, all the forces in the north have been fighting and pursuing their own affairs. The Huns, Xianbei, Jie, Qiang, and Di people constantly competed for territory and population for their own living space, resulting in the massacre of many innocent people. More Hu and Han families have been displaced and the land is desolate. I am deeply saddened by this. My ancestors and fathers all had good relations with Da Jin, and I am very pleased about this. However, judging from the current situation, our Murong tribe occupies a part of Northeast China, and the Jin court is thousands of miles away in Jiangnan. Even if I, the Murong Division, want to help the imperial court, I am afraid that I am powerless, helpless, and beyond our reach! So it’s better to ask the court to take back the order."

"Although our power is currently declining, we are temporarily content with Jiangnan. However, many people with lofty ideals in the Central Plains region, including the north, including some leaders of the Xianbei Duan tribe, such as Duan Pixi and others, either went to Jiankang to serve in Jiankang, or were respected by the emperor of our dynasty. Wang Dao, Wang Dun, Zudi, Duan Pixi and other civil servants and military generals were all able to helpThe emperor unified the talents of the world. Therefore, it is only a matter of time to expel the Huru and unify the world."Tao Liao patiently explained:"Looking at the Great Chanyu side, to the west are the Tuoba and Duan tribes of Xianbei, to the north are the Yuwen tribes of Xianbei, to the east are the remnants of Goguryeo and Fuyu, and only the sea is left in the south. Let the Great Chanyu interact with me and exchange information. If by then all these separatist forces are enemies of the Great Chanyu, or even attack him in groups, then where is the way out for the Xianbei Murong Tribe?!"

"What Mr. Tao said is certainly true. One more friend is a road, and one more enemy is a wall. However, I also have strategies to deal with the powerful enemies around me."Murong Xian said:"I, Murong, attach great importance to the friendly relations with the Central Plains Dynasty and hope to develop trade with the Jin Dynasty. However, the fact of awarding a reward is difficult to accept. Please go back and resume your life, Mr. Tao!"

Another soft nail! Tao Liao saw that Murong Xin was just like the appointment given to him by the previous dynasty, and he firmly rejected it almost without thinking. He didn't want to accept the appointment at all, so he had to politely hand it over and leave. Murong Xin was not polite either. The two sons below said:"Yuan Yong and Yuan Zhen, on behalf of my father, send gifts to the distinguished guests of the Jin Dynasty!"

After sending Tao Liao away, Murong Xian asked the guards guarding outside the palace gate to notify others to come. Murong Xian sat down again, and Murong Han, Murong Huang and others also took their seats one after another. Murong Xin laughed and said:"Everyone, the establishment has not been long ago. Sima Rui, the emperor of the Jin Dynasty in Jiangzuo, sent envoy Tao Liao here again, hoping that I would accept Sima Rui's previous reward. What do you think?"

"Not accepted! Not accepted!"The following people all said in unison. Murong Xin nodded and said with a smile:"It is a common trick of the Central Plains dynasty to reward the leaders of non-Han tribes in the north. The strength of our Murong Division is now far beyond that of my ancestors and fathers. Today's Murong tribe is strong enough to compete with the surrounding tribes. Of course, we cannot act rashly yet. But we did not prepare delicious food, wine, and beautiful women for those neighbors who stared at us and dared to invade us. For the enemies who surround and attack my Murong tribe, I can only speak with bows, arrows and swords!"

"Big Dan Yu Yingming! Da Shan Yu Mighty!"There was another burst of almost hoarse praise. Seeing his sons and many generals praising him so much, Murong Xuan felt a little carried away. He said very happily:"Come here, serve food and wine!"

Not long after, a team of ten maids dressed as Xianbei people neatly brought all kinds of delicacies that Xianbei people loved. A slim and tall leading maid first placed the delicacies for Murong Xin and then stepped back. After a few steps, she left. The other maids also placed the delicacies in front of the others below. After the ten maids went back, they came to the main hall with wine and jade liquid in their hands. It was still the maid at the front who went up to pour it for Murong Xian first. Full of wine. Other maids poured wine for Murong Xuan's sons and other generals below.

Ten maids poured wine and stood aside to serve them.

"Come on, everyone, let’s get drunk today!"Murong Xuan was the first to lift up the golden wine bottle in front of him. Murong Han, Murong Huang, etc., and everyone else present raised the wine bottles happily. Murong Xuan was the first to drink up the wine in one gulp, and everyone else also drank up the wine in the glass..

Murong Xuan put down the wine bottle and said,"The envoy from the Jin Dynasty left just now and did not share this delicious wine and food with us. What a pity! When the Han people drink, they pay attention to the following:"The wine is over three rounds, and the food is over five flavors." This is the drinking culture of the Han people. 'We have to learn how to order, drink three glasses of wine in a row, and then eat all the delicacies in front of us!"

With Murong Xi's words, everyone present let go of their stomachs, shouted and shook their cheeks, and started eating and drinking. The sound of shouting and clinking glasses was endless. Murong Xi's handsome and white face was filled with glasses of wine. There was also a slight flush in his lower abdomen. Seeing his sons and generals below drinking very happily, Murong Xuan stood up and asked:"Everyone, does anyone know why I didn't accept the reward from the Emperor of Jin Dynasty?! Pei

Yi left his seat, came to Murong Xin and saluted, saying:"The great Dan is a man of great talent and broad strategy. He has the talent to know the world. He has the wisdom to strategize and win a victory thousands of miles away." For two generations, Dashan was nominally a minister of the Jin Dynasty. Now the reason why the Great Chanyu did not accept Sima Rui's reward was because he did not want to put a tight spell around Murong Bu's neck. We are not willing to let the emperor of the Central Plains Dynasty and his officials and generals influence the development and growth of our Murong tribe!"

"Well said! Well said! Pei Aiqing, please sit down quickly!"Murong Xuan said very happily and stood up. After listening to Pei Yi's words, including Murong Xuan's sons, as well as other ministers and generals, everyone nodded in agreement. Murong Xin was still standing. Xian shouted loudly:"Come here! Let’s sing and dance! Give us some fun!"

Following Murong Xuan's order, ten young girls appeared in front of people, singing and dancing to the accompaniment of the beautiful music of the piano. I don't know when, five musicians had already arrived in the big tent. These ten women, five The woman was wearing the clothes of a Xiongnu woman; the other five women were wearing the clothes of the Xianbei people. Murong Han put down the wine bottle and asked the people around him:"Everyone, are these ten dancing women the maids who served the food and poured the wine just now?""

"These ten women are not the ten maids just now."Murong Xuan listened to the following discussion and said:"In the conflict with the Huns and the Xianbei Yuwen tribe, we captured many men, women, and children from the Huns and Yuwen tribe. In many conflicts, many of us died, and many of them died too. Many members of the Murong tribe were plundered by the Huns, the Yuwen tribe, and the Duan tribe. Of course, we also have many of their tribesmen in our hands. Among these people, the majority are young women. We can put them in Hufu or Hanfu. These women are also victims of the war. If they are willing to dance for us, we will give them food to eat. From now on, if any minister or general does not have a wife, he will be given as a wife or concubine. Whoever wants to enjoy Xiongnu dance, Xianbei dance, or Central Plains dance, we will let them put on the costumes of any ethnic group or tribe to dance for us!"