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

"I was born in the first year of Xianxi of Cao Wei, and I am fifty-six this year. I was fifteen years old when Emperor Wu launched the"War of Jin to Destroy Wu" in the fifth year of Xianning. Because of his young age, he was unable to participate in the war to destroy Wu. In the first year of Guangxi's reign, he was awarded the title of guerrilla general for his service in welcoming Emperor Hui of Jin Dynasty. After Yongjia crossed south, he served as military advisor and offered wine, and was granted the title of King Qiao. After His Majesty ascended the throne, he was first appointed as the Tunqi Colonel, and then as the General of the Auxiliary State, until this time he was transferred by His Majesty to be the Governor of Xiangzhou."Sima Cheng said

"His Royal Highness Prince Qiao is two years older than me and has more colorful life experiences than me. I have long heard that His Highness was very ambitious and ambitious when he was young, and I feel ashamed to myself. Almost in the blink of an eye, we are already over fifty, half dead!"Wang Dun joked

"It is true that you are over fifty, but as long as you are in good health and have a heart to share your worries for His Majesty, you cannot just think about being pampered and enjoying happiness in the palace."Sima Cheng said

"His Royal Highness is well-known for his elegant and distinguished style, but in my opinion, elegant and distinguished people are only suitable for chatting in temples. He talks eloquently and uses the past to describe the present with ease. If you want to become a high-ranking official in the garrison, supervising the military, commanding generals, training soldiers, and conquering cities and territories, you may not be able to do what you want."Wang Dun said tentatively. After

Wang Dun finished speaking, he smiled, poured himself a glass of wine, and then smiled at Sima Cheng, waiting for Sima Cheng's answer. Sima Cheng picked up his wine bottle and drank half the glass of wine. Put it down again. Sima Cheng smiled slightly and said:"Without diamonds, I wouldn't dare to take on the porcelain work. When I was a child, my father left me two things that I still remember vividly."

Having said this, Sima Cheng drank the remaining half of the glass of wine, and the maid next to him quickly filled it up. Sima Cheng's method of whetting his appetite was more effective. Wang Dun asked impatiently:"When your highness was a child, Qiao Gang What two things did Wang (Sima Xun, Sima Cheng’s biological father) leave to you? It has been more than forty years now, and His Highness still remembers it so clearly.

Sima Cheng sighed and said,"My father passed away when I was just two years old." When it was my fifth birthday, my mother brought me two things wrapped in yellow silk. A wooden knife, a wooden sword. These two wooden knives and wooden swords, although smaller than real swords, look just like real swords. Later, my brother Sima Sui coated the wooden knives and wooden swords with tung oil, and they looked like copper knives and swords."

"It is a good idea to let teenagers practice swordsmanship and swordsmanship with wooden knives and wooden swords. This is safer, and you can switch to real knives and guns when you grow up. King Qiaogang was very far-sighted and left such a good birthday gift for His Highness! Wang Dun sighed.

"Come, let me toast the General with a glass of wine!"Sima Cheng said and drank a glass of wine. Wang Dun also drank a glass of wine. The two put down the wine bottles, and Sima Cheng said:"In fact, whether it is a wooden knife, a wooden sword, a lead knife, or a lead sword, as long as there is a heart that cares about the country. Worrying about the people. Even a lead knife, although not as sharp as an iron knife or a steel knife, can still cut with a lead knife!"

After Sima Cheng finished speaking, he glanced at Wu Yan. The two stood up, and Sima Cheng bowed his hands and said,"Thank you very much, General, for your hospitality. Farewell!""

"I wish His Royal Highness King Qiao a safe journey!"Wang Dun said with a smile. Sima Cheng and Wu Yan bowed their hands and said goodbye. Wang Dun led his generals and soldiers to the river to see them off. When they arrived at the river, Zhou Zha and ten soldiers who had arrived in advance had already prepared Preparing to sail the ship.

Sima Cheng got on the ship and said to Wang Dun:"General, please go back!"

Wang Dunhe saw off the generals and soldiers, and said goodbye to Sima Cheng. On the way back, Wang Dun said to the following generals, soldiers and other generals:"This Sima Cheng, who doesn't know how high the sky is, thinks he can enjoy the cool of the royal family. As everyone knows, even the emperor of the Jiangnan court depends on his own eyes for many things. Sima Cheng, just wait and see!"

The big ship continued to sail southwest along the Yangtze River. From time to time, fishing and cargo ships passed by on the river. Sima Cheng, Wu Yan, and Zhou Zha stood on the bow. Five soldiers were rowing, and the other five soldiers were in the cabin. He rested there. Looking at the increasingly darkening sky, Sima Cheng said:"After your Majesty appointed me as the governor of Xiangzhou, your Majesty summoned me one night at night. His Majesty said worriedly that Wang Dun's ambition was clearly revealed. Jingzhou has actually become Wang Dun's independent kingdom. If Xiangzhou is controlled by Wang Dun's people again, he will not only ignore me, but also may rebel against the court in advance. Sima

Cheng continued:"I tell Your Majesty that as a member of the royal family, I have no hesitation and duty to safeguard the royal family and the court." It's just that Xiangzhou has been plundered by the Cheng Han in recent years. It is devastated, all industries are in ruins, and everything is in ruins. If your Majesty gives me three years to manage Xiangzhou, I am sure that I can restore Xiangzhou to its former prosperity and allow the people of Xiangzhou to live and work in peace and contentment. In this way, there is a bargaining chip to restrict and clamp down on Wang Dun."

Wu Yan said:"His Highness's plan is very good, but don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of the unexpected. Master Zhou Fang has passed away, and Master Zu Ti is still working hard on his Northern Expedition. Once something happens to Mr. Zu Ti, Wang Dun may not be able to hold himself back."

Sima Cheng nodded and said nothing. The ship continued to move forward. At almost noon the next day, Wu Yan pointed to a place on the south bank and said,"Look, sir, the old site of Chibi!"

Sima Cheng looked at the ruins on the south bank and was very emotional. Sima Cheng said:"One hundred and twelve years ago, Cao Cao, who held the emperor in power to command the princes, had already unified the north, but was defeated by Liu Bei on the Yangtze River near Red Cliff. , Sun Quan's coalition forces were severely defeated. From then on, the three pillars of Wei, Shu, and Wu divided the world into three parts, until Emperor Wu established the Jin Dynasty"

"Sir, would you like to stop the boat at the south bank and take a rest? Wu Yan asked. Sima Cheng said:"Forget it, let's eat something on the boat so that we can get to Changsha earlier.""

The rowing soldiers took turns to rest and eat. Sima Cheng and others ate some dry food they had brought with them. The big boat continued to sail southwest. As evening approached, the river surface suddenly became wider. The rowing soldiers shouted:"Such a wide area of ​​water!"

"We have entered Dongting Lake! Dongting Mountain is about twenty miles southwest and consists of 72 peaks of varying heights. On Dongting Mountain there are the mountain seal of Emperor Qin Shihuang and the shooting platform of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty. Thinking about it makes me sigh, Qian'er eight hundred years have just passed by."Sima Cheng said. Wu Yan also echoed:"In addition to the two emperors of the ages like Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han, there is also a famous historical figure here, Qu Yuan."