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

"Royal relatives, officials, generals, and common people of the previous dynasty, today we are back! Back to our former capital Luoyang, back to Nangong! No matter how many days we can stay here, whether we can defend Luoyang or not, we will definitely do our best!" Guo Mo said.

"We share the same hatred and recapture the Central Plains!" Two thousand soldiers made a loud voice. Li Ju and Guo Mo stood up from the ground, and other generals and soldiers also stood up. Including Li Ju, Guo Mo and others, more than two thousand people were blurred with tears. Li Ju mounted his horse, and then waved his hand. Two thousand cavalrymen, led by Li Ju, Guo Mo and others, entered Nangong.

"Generals, first arrange for the brothers to clean up the rooms in Nangong, and arrange places for cooking and sleeping. Send some brothers to find the wells in Luoyang City. If you can't find a well, go outside the city to find a water source or river." Li Ju said. Several generals went to make arrangements, and Li Ju and Guo Mo strolled around the palaces in Nangong. The two men came to the Taiji Hall. The main hall, the east hall, and the west hall were all in a state of disrepair. Guo Mo walked in front, and Li Ju followed behind. The two men drew their swords and kept fiddling with the spider webs that could be seen everywhere. The two men looked solemn and did not speak.

The two men came out of the Taiji Hall and stood on the steps of the Taiji Front Hall. Several generals arranged the soldiers and also came to the bottom of the steps. Li Ju said: "Come up to the Taiji Hall! See what the Golden Palace, which was magnificent ten years ago, has become now!"

Several generals walked up dozens of steps, passed the front hall, and went around the Taiji Main Hall, the East Hall, and the West Hall. They were silent, and some even shook their heads and sighed. Li Ju invited the generals to sit down on the steps, and then said: "This time I hurriedly marched from Xingyang to Luoyang. My nephew Guo Song, the governor Yang Zhang, and Yingchuan governor Guo Mo and his brother Guo Zhi came with me. Some of the remaining generals and soldiers are guarding Xingyang, and some are guarding Yingchuan. Just now, everyone went to Taiji Hall to see it. They all know the tragic scene of Taiji Hall being looted and destroyed when Emperor Huai was captured. Not only Emperor Huai, Queen Yang, and civil and military ministers were captured, but also six jade seals were stolen. The entire Nan Palace, especially all the rare treasures displayed in Taiji Hall, were also stolen. Treasures, everything that can be taken, moved, and transported away has disappeared. The dragon throne, dragon desk, court documents, vases, candlesticks, royal collections, etc., were all looted to Pingyang and Chang'an. At present, Liu Yao stationed four generals in Luoyang, some to the north of Luoyang, and some to the east and west of Luoyang. The forces of these four generals are several times ours. "

"Uncle, Luoyang is hundreds of miles away from Chang'an, and Liu Yao is preparing to attack Yang Nandi in Qiuchi, as well as Liangzhou in the northwest. So at present, Liu Yao can't take care of Luoyang." Guo Song said. Yang Zhang said: "Although it seems so, there is a saying that 'a desperate dog will jump over the wall'. If Liu Yao's four generals surrender to Shi Le, then we will be passive!" Xiangguo, Jiande Hall, the morning court has just ended. The civil and military ministers left the court one after another, and Shi Le was also preparing to return to the harem. At this time, three people came in from outside Jiande Hall, one of themOne was a guard with a sword in the palace, and the other two were dressed as Huns. The guard quickly knelt down to greet Shi Le, and then said: "Your Highness, King Zhao, these two people from Luoyang said that they were sent by Yin An, Song Shi, Song Shu, and Zhao Shen, the four generals who guarded Luoyang for Han Zhao, and they have important news."

Several important ministers, such as Zhang Bin, who were walking at the end, came back after hearing this. Shi Le asked: "What important information is there? Bring it up quickly!"

The two Huns quickly knelt down to greet Shi Le: "I pay my respects to your Highness, King Zhao!"

A Hun handed a secret letter to the guard, who took it and handed it to Shi Le. Shi Le opened the secret letter, but he didn't recognize many of the words on it. Shi Le handed the secret letter to Zhang Bin who came over, and Zhang Bin read the secret letter again: Your Highness, King Zhao, knows that the four of us, Yin An, Song Shi, Song Shu, and Zhao Shen, have been guarding Luoyang for Han Zhao for several years. Because Luoyang is far from Chang'an, food, baggage and supplies are often not available. In the past few days, Jin Sizhou Governor Li Ju, Yingchuan Prefect Guo Mo and others have led 2,000 cavalry and stationed in Luoyang Nangong. If Sima Rui sends another army to Luoyang, our garrison will be expelled. So the four of us discussed and surrendered to King Zhao and presented Luoyang to King Zhao. Please ask King Zhao to send troops to guard Luoyang with us.

Zhang Bin looked at Shi Le, and Shi Le nodded. Zhang Bin said: "Your Highness, are these four Han Zhao generals trying to play some tricks? Are they pretending to surrender?"

"It is not necessarily impossible. Liu Yao concentrated his army in Chang'an and west of Chang'an, and it seems that he is preparing to attack Qiuchi. The garrison in Luoyang is only two or three thousand people in total. I sent Shi Sheng to lead 5,000 cavalry to Luoyang to accept the surrender of the four generals. If there is a trick, we will adapt to the situation." Shi Le said. Zhang Bin said: "If the four generals surrender sincerely, then Luoyang will be in the hands of our Zhao State. If there is a trick, it is best not to let the four generals surrender to Li Ju."

Shi Le nodded, and then ordered a guard beside him: "You ride a fast horse to Chaoge to convey my oral order, and let Shi Sheng lead 5,000 cavalry to Luoyang to accept the surrender of the four generals!"

"Yes, long live the King of Zhao!" The guard agreed and went out.

In the dilapidated East Hall of Taiji Hall in Nangong, Luoyang, Li Ju was discussing with Guo Mo and others how to defend Luoyang. Li Ju said: "Although we have been stationed in Luoyang these days, it is not the same as before. More than ten years ago, many troops defended Luoyang, and tens of thousands of soldiers could not stop the iron hoofs of the Huns. Now we only have 2,000 troops, and there is no reinforcement."

Just as Guo Mo was about to say something, two scouts hurried to the East Hall. Two people saluted Li Ju and others, and a scout said: "Sir, we have received news from the north bank of the Yellow River that Shi Le has sent General Shi Sheng to lead 5,000 cavalry to rush to Luoyang for assistance. Please make a decision!"

"Sir, our 2,000 cavalry are not very strong. If Shi Sheng comes to fight us, we will not have the strength to go back to defend Xingyang and Yingchuan!" Guo Mo said. After listening to Guo Mo's analysis, several other generals nodded. Li Ju thought for a while and said: "Shi Sheng's 5,000 troops, plus Liu Yao's four generals' 2,000 to 3,000 troops, are ours.Several times ours. Indeed, we are not sure of victory, so let's retreat!"

Shi Sheng led 5,000 cavalrymen to Jinyong City, northwest of Luoyang, to station. Yin An, Song Shi, Song Shu, and Zhao Shen received the news and hurried to Jinyong City with several officers and dozens of personal soldiers. On the wall of Jinyong City, Shi Sheng was checking with several generals. Shi Sheng said: "The wall of Jinyong City is thick, tall and strong. It is the first line of defense for the northwest of Luoyang. It is said that Cao Yi's Guanggu City is strong, and I think Jinyong City is even stronger. It's a pity that such a strong Jinyong City was destroyed by the Huns!"

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