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

"After General Ji Long captured Shao Xu, he sent soldier Shi Tai to escort Shao Xu from Fuping to Xiangguo, where he is now imprisoned in Tianlao. Shi Le said. Xu Guang asked,"What does King Zhao mean?""

Shi Le told Xu Guang like this and asked Xu Guang to persuade Shao Xu to surrender. Xu Guang nodded and went to the Tianlao. When he arrived at the Tianlao, several prisoners were watching at the door of the Tianlao. There was a cell leader. Sitting there. Seeing Xu Guang coming, the cell leader quickly raised his hands and saluted:"Master Xu is here?"

"On the order of King Zhao, I came to deliver a message to Shao Xu."Xu Guang said. The cell leader quickly ordered the cellman to open the cell door and let Xu Guang in. Shao Xu had already heard it in the cell, so he turned back to look at the person. Seeing Xu Guang come in, Shao Xu raised his hands and saluted,"Yes. Master Xu Guang, right?"

Xu Guang also returned the gift with his hand, and then said:"It's me. King Zhao sent me here to talk to Lord Shao Xu. If you are willing to surrender to King Zhao, that would be the best!"

"What did King Zhao tell you? What do you want me to say? Shao Xu asked. Xu Guang said:"The King of Zhao asked me to send you a message. The Zhao Kingdom was first established to bring order to the chaos and bring peace to all directions." Gu's fame spreads far and wide, but you, Shao Xu, are ignorant of current affairs and rely on Sima Rui in the south of the Yangtze River. How is Cao Yi better than you? But Cao Yi did not disobey Gu's orders. He not only paid tribute to Gu and gave him gifts, but also accepted Gu's gifts. But you, Shao Xu, are arrogant and domineering, and have no regard for the king's destiny. You may think that Gu is not qualified to be emperor because he is not a Han Chinese. Why are you so ignorant? The world is populated by virtuous people, why do you have to make the distinction so clearly? Liu Yuan, Liu Cong, and Liu Yao of the Xiongnu could be emperors, but I, the Jieren, could not?"

Shao Xu listened to Xu Guang's narration, smiled and said:"Master Xu, please tell King Zhao that the world is in chaos now, and heroes from all sides show their true colors. You can sing and I will come on stage. Protecting the family and the country is the duty of loyalty. It is my loyalty to submit to the Jin Dynasty in the south of the Yangtze River, and I have no other intentions. The people with lofty ideals and benevolence who follow me are all like-minded people. These people have backbone and integrity, and I'm afraid they won't surrender to you. As for whether they are Han or not, it doesn't matter. King Wen of Zhou was born in the west and founded the Zhou Dynasty, while Dayu was of the Qiang ethnic group but founded the Xia Dynasty. The birth and replacement of emperors are God's arrangements and the spread of kindness. There is no common sense! I am currently just a prisoner in a sky prison, and being beheaded will be my final outcome. This may also be God's arrangement. I will face it calmly and have no choice."

Xu Guang shook his head after hearing this and returned to Jiande Hall to repeat it to Shi Le. After listening to Shao Xu's eloquent speech, Shi Le said with emotion:"A loyal and brave man like Shao Xu is really valuable. Shao Xu's bold loyalty is exactly what Gu pursues and needs. Shi

Le said to Xu Guang:"Master Xu, please arrange manpower immediately to let Master Shao Xu live in the post house." For food, clothing, housing and transportation, two servants and two maids must take care of them every day."

"I obey your order and I will do it right now!"Xu Guang finished speaking and went on.

As soon as Xu Guang left, Zhang Bin came in. Zhang Bin first saluted Shi Le, and Shi Le said:"Your Majesty, please sit down. General Ji Long captured Shao Xu and sent him to Xiangguo. Gu arranged for Shao Xu to live in the post house, hoping that he would change his mind and attract some loyal and brave people like him to our country."

"King Zhao is wise! It is much better to subdue some local princes than to kill them at every turn. If people like Shao Xu can be used by our country, Zhao, then the day will not be far when King Zhao will expand his territory and rule the world!"Zhang Bin said. Shi Le asked Zhang Bin:"These days, the Duan Pixi brothers left Shaoxu to attack Duan Mobo. What was the result?"

"This time Duan Pixi attacked Duan Mobo with not only their Xianbei cavalry, but also some of Shao Xu's troops. The final result was that Duan Mobo was severely defeated. If Murong Xin of Liaodong takes the opportunity to send troops, the Duanbu section of the final wave will be in great danger!"Zhang Bin said.

By the time Pei Yi came back from Jiankang, it was already the twelfth lunar month of winter. Also coming to Liaodong with Pei Yi were Sima Rui's envoy Tao Liao and his entourage Cheng Hui. Someone had already reported in advance that Pei Yi would come back with Tao Liao. , Murong Xin was discussing the matter with his sons and ministers in the main hall. At this time, the guard at the entrance of the main hall shouted loudly:"Chang Shi Pei Yi, the Jin envoy Tao Liao has arrived!"

Pei Yi came to the main hall, bowed his hands and saluted and said:"I am here to see the Great Chanyu!"

"Thank you for your hard work, Chang Shi!"Murong Xin said with concern. Pei Yi had seen Murong Xin and sat in his seat. Tao Liao then saluted Murong Xin:"See the Great Chanyu!"

"Mr. Tao, it’s been a long journey, please take a seat!"Murong Xi said with a smile.

Two servants moved two seats over, and Tao Liao and Cheng Hui also sat down. With a smile on his face, Murong Xi stood up and asked:"Master Tao, I haven't seen you for several months, don't come. It's okay! I wonder what business you have in mind when you come to my Murong Department this time?!"

Tao Liao and Cheng Hui stood up, and Cheng Hui handed the imperial edict to Tao Liao. When the people below saw that it was an imperial edict, they all stood up from their seats and knelt down. Tao Liao unfolded the imperial edict and said:"Murong Xin, the chief of the Murong Department of Xianbei After receiving the order, he guarded Liaodong, opened warehouses to release grain, took in the people, and stabilized the area, and his hard work was highly meritorious. Now Murong Xin is appointed to supervise the military affairs of Pingzhou, General Anbei, governor of Pingzhou, and add 2,000 food households. Chang Shi, Da Shanyu, etc. are as good as ever! Admire this!"

"Your Majesty Murong Xin accepted the order and thanked you! Long live our emperor! Long live! Long live!"Murong Xuan said. Cheng Hui handed Tao Liao the second imperial edict, and Tao Liao read out:"Murong Huang, the prince of the Murong tribe of Xianbei, is extremely brave, resolute and resolute. He knows astronomy and geography, and he has read Confucianism thoroughly. Yu Muronghui, the champion general, Zuoxianwang, and Wangpinghou.

Murong Xin, Murong Huang and others knelt down again:"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the gift!" Long live long live!"

Tao Liao helped Murong Xi up and handed the imperial edict to Murong Xi and Murong Huang. Murong Xi's face was radiant and he happily ordered:"Serve wine and food to entertain His Majesty's envoys!"

After Tao Liao read out the imperial edict, he said goodbye to his entourage Cheng Hui. Murong Xian said:"Master Tao came to Liaodong this time, why was he in such a hurry? It’s not too late to return to Jiangnan after visiting for a few days!"

"Great Chanyu, this time is different from the previous two times. This time when we came to Liaodong from the sea, we happened to encounter the northwest wind in winter, so we were delayed for a few days on the road. I was afraid that His Majesty would blame me if I returned late, so I completed my mission and stopped delaying."After Tao Liao finished speaking, he was about to leave. Murong Xin said:"Since Mr. Tao is so eager to go back, I won't stay. I prepared some small gifts for His Majesty and the civil and military officials, hoping that Lord Tao would take them back."

As soon as Murong Xuan finished speaking, Murong Huang handed Tao Liao a bamboo slip. Murong Huang said:"Master Tao, this is the gift list prepared by my father for His Majesty and the civil and military ministers."

Tao Liao took the bamboo slip gift list and unfolded it. He saw on the gift list: one hundred cow skins, five hundred sheep skins, one hundred deer skins, one hundred fox skins, five hundred hare skins, mink skins." One hundred pieces of skin, ten roots of century-old ginseng, and twenty kilograms of deer antlers.