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

Liu Yi didn't know what to say and was speechless. Liu Cong said:"Bring these chiefs back to Tingwei for strict interrogation. Generals Jin Ming and Jin Kang, you two are leading troops to guard the East Palace these days. Everyone in the East Palace, etc., are not allowed to enter or leave without my oral instructions!""

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, we and I guarantee that nothing will go wrong!"Jin Ming and Jin Kang said.

Jin Zhun and Wang Chen led more than a hundred soldiers and escorted more than a dozen leaders and nobles of the Di and Qiang tribes to Tingwei's cell. These people were all tied up and pushed in. A large underground cell. When they arrived at the cell, these people were untied and tied to cross-shaped pillars. Each person's body, legs, and arms were wrapped many times with ropes and then tied..These leaders and nobles of the Di and Qiang tribes were not convinced at all. Therefore, they all had angry faces, and even glared at Jin Zhun, Wang Shen and others.

"Ho! If you want to make trouble with the emperor's brother, you should be so damn right!"Jin Zhun ordered:"How did you collude with the emperor's brother and prepare for rebellion?"

"We are not prepared to rebel! What evidence do you have?"A chief said. Another chief was even more furious:"You are framing, slandering, and framing!"

All the chiefs and nobles said in unison. Wang Chen sneered:"Hey, you bastards, His Majesty gave you a fiefdom to let you recuperate. What a shame for you, instead of repaying His Majesty well, you are alienated from His Majesty. Not recruiting, right? Give me torture!"

As soon as Wang Chen finished speaking, two thick ropes slowly fell from the roof of the prison. Jin Zhun winked, and two soldiers came over, untied the rope from the chief who was closest to the rope, and then pushed He walked to the two ropes that fell.

One rope tied the chief's hands, and the other rope tied his thighs and feet. Jin Zhun smiled sinisterly and said,"Pull hard."!"

The chief was hung up by the rope, and the whole person was horizontal. In this way, he was pulled to a high place for a while, and then fell a little lower. He rose quickly for a while, and fell quickly for a while. The chief was frightened and began to vomit. But still said nothing

"Say it or not? If you still don't explain, then go to the knife bed!"Wang Chen said, two soldiers set up a wooden board. Dozens of sharp daggers were stuck on the wooden board. The first chief was still hanging in the air, and the other chief was untied and the knife was raised. On the bed. The chief's face was so frightened that he did not dare to move on the knife bed. With a wave of

Jin Zhun's hand, the third chief was untied, and two soldiers brought over a pot of hot coals. In the brazier, two irons for ironing clothes were burning. A soldier picked up the iron, and sparks were falling from the iron. The soldier took the iron and pressed it hard on the chief's chest. The chief screamed and fell unconscious.

The other chiefs and nobles who were not tortured had already turned pale with fear.

"To recruit or not to recruit? Jin Zhun asked with a gloomy face. The chiefs and nobles who were still tied to the rack could only say tremblingly:"We confess!""

Jin Zhun and Wang Chen laughed loudly, and Jin Zhun said:"If you confess earlier, you will avoid these physical pains. Someone, bring me the written confession!"

A soldier brought over a rolled cloth and unfolded it. It read:

We, the leaders of the Di and Qiang people, have been in close contact with the emperor's brother Liu Yi for several years. Recently, all the soldiers in the East Palace are wearing soft armor. Wear armor, practice every day, and prepare for the uprising in three days. The first is to surround the palace, and the second is to control the capital. After the royal family such as Liu Cong and Liu Can are eliminated, the Di and Qiang tribes unanimously support the emperor's brother Liu Yi as he ascends the throne. The throne.

The soldier took this confession and came to everyone to show it. When they saw this confession, the chiefs and nobles were trembling with fear. No one dared to sign or stamp it.

"What are you waiting for? If you don't sign and post, everyone will be tortured again! Wang Shen said loudly. The three chiefs who were being tortured exchanged glances. One chief said:"The three of us have a close relationship with the emperor's brother. Please let the other chiefs go.""

Jin Zhun and Wang Chen looked at each other, and Jin Zhun said:"As long as you three confess, it will prove that Liu Yi conspired to rebel. Others who are younger can be put back first."

The three chiefs were forced to sign and stamp their names in the lower left corner of the confession.

"Okay, these three are serious criminals, put the others back first! Wang Chen said. About a dozen other chiefs and nobles who had been untied came to the three chiefs and fell to their knees with tears in their eyes. They all said together:"Thank you three chiefs and elders!""

The dozen or so chiefs and nobles who were released finally came out of the prison. When they came to the street and saw that there was no one around, a chief said:"This revenge must be avenged!"

"If you don't take this revenge, I swear you won't be a human being!"Others clenched their fists and swore

"right! But now we will hide for a few days, and wait for the opportunity to escape from Pingyang, the capital, and go to our settlement to organize us Di people, Qiang people, and others!"

Jin Zhun and Wang Chen happily came to the Guangji Hall with their confessions. Liu Cong was sitting upright, and Liu Can and dozens of other royal family members and ministers were waiting for the news. Some of these ministers were smiling, and some were smiling. His eyes were dull, as if something big was about to happen.

"Your Majesty, those Di and Qiang chiefs have confessed!"Wang Chenle came to Liu Cong cheerfully and handed over the confession. Liu Cong opened it, looked at it, put it down, then patted the Long Shu table hard and said:"Liu Yi rebelled, it is absolutely true! Liu

Cong was a little excited. He stood up and said,"Any ministers who are closely related to Liu Yi, anyone who affects the stability of our dynasty, and all generals and soldiers in the East Palace will be killed without mercy!" The title of the crown prince Liu Yi, the crown prince's brother, was abolished and replaced with the title of King of Beihai. He was placed under custody in the East Palace!"

"Got the order! Your majesty is wise!"Liu Can, Jin Zhun and others cheered.

Liu Can, Jin Zhun and Wang Chen led dozens of guards and attendants to the gate of the East Palace. At the gate of the East Palace, three generals, Hu Yanyan, Jin Ming and Jin Kang, were waiting. Discussing matters at the door. Seeing Liu Can and others coming quickly, he quickly came over and saluted:"See you, Prime Minister!" See Mr. Jin! See Lord Wang! Has His Majesty issued an edict?"

"good! Let’s read His Majesty’s oral decree!"Jin Zhun said triumphantly. The three generals quickly knelt down and Jin Zhun said:"All the soldiers in the East Palace will be escorted to the outside of Pingyang City to be killed. No one will be left alive! Liu Yi and his family were imprisoned in the East Palace and were not allowed to go out at will!"