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

Liu Qun said, mounted his horse and was about to leave. Duan Mobo said:"Mr. Liu, I have admired the name of your father Liu Kun for a long time. He almost single-handedly resisted Jieren Shi Le in Jinyang for nine years, which is really commendable. However, because he did not receive support from the Central Plains court, , Jinyang City was finally captured by Shi Le, and Governor Liu had to come to Jizhou."

"The Great Chanyu was right. Now the King of Jin in the south of the Yangtze River had proclaimed himself emperor, but it was impossible for the troops in the south of the Yangtze River to come thousands of miles to the north, and his father was powerless."Liu Qun said. Duan Mobo saw Liu Qun's helpless look and said respectfully:"Your father is one of the world-famous 'Twenty-Four Friends of the Golden Valley'. Everything is perfect. I have always wanted to ask the Governor for some advice, but because of the war in the north these years, I couldn't make the trip. If the Governor is willing, I would like to make him the governor of Youzhou."

"It would be great if this could be done!"Liu Qun said and bowed his hands to Duan Mobo. Duan Mobo continued:"But I have a condition. I don't know if you and your son can agree to it. That is, we must unite our forces to attack Duan Pixian."

"You are all members of the Xianbei Duan tribe, and you are all clansmen. Why do you have to fight against each other? Isn't there a way to have the best of both worlds?"Liu Qun said. Duan Mobo said:"Brothers Duan Ji, Lu Juan and Duan Pixi are my ancestral brothers. They have never met each other in war before. My cousin Duan She Fuchen usurped the throne, and I had to kill him"

"What Shanyu said is right. In this era of war and chaos, if you don't kill him, he will kill you. Anyway, the situation is irreconcilable."Liu Qun said. Duan Mobo said:"Then please Mr. Liu write a letter to the Governor and tell him what we have just discussed."

"OK! Liu Qun said, taking out a silk handkerchief from his bag, an inkstone and a writing brush, pouring some water from the bag, and grinding some ink. Liu Qun wrote the letter and gave it to Duan Mobo. Two Everyone bowed to each other, and Liu Qun continued to Lingzhi.

Seeing Liu Qun walking further and further, Duan Mobo said to the two attendants around him:"Take this letter from Mr. Liu to the small town of Zhengbei and give it to Liu Kun Grand Governor"

"OK!"The two followers packed up the letter and rode towards the small town of Zhengbei. The two of them had walked for about ten miles, and dozens of cavalry came towards them. The two of them saw that something was not going well and wanted to turn back, but it was already too late. Dozens of cavalrymen caught up with the two men and knocked them down and searched them on the roadside. After a while, the letter written by Liu Qun was found on one of them. The little leader of the soldiers laughed:"Okay You, Governor Liu Kun! You and my leader have already formed a blood-based alliance, and you want to join forces with Duan Mobo Li Yingwai to eliminate our leader. How can you be the governor of Youzhou! Bring back!"

It turned out to be Duan Pixi's soldiers who were being chased just now. Now they came back to investigate the situation, and happened to catch the two followers of Duan Mobo who delivered the letter to Liu Kun. The little leader put the letter in his arms, and then said to the two The messenger said:"Okay, you two go back. If we don't kill you, you are all from the Xianbei Duan tribe. We will see the result on the battlefield!""

Dozens of soldiers rushed back to Jicheng. Duan Pixi was discussing military affairs with his brother Duan Shujun and others in the government office. A soldier came in at the door and reported:"Sir, there is a situation report! Duan

Pixi nodded, and the little leader came in and knelt down:"Sir, our people were patrolling and encountered two Duan Mobo messengers delivering letters to Liu Kun. These are intercepted letters.""

Duan Pixi opened it and saw that it read:"Father, on the way to Lingzhi, I met Duan Mobo, the great dan of the Xianbei Duan tribe. Shanyu Yan said that he had admired his father's reputation for a long time, and promised to let his father replace him as the governor of Youzhou after defeating Duan Pixi together. Son, Liu Qun"

"With a"pop" sound, Duan Pixi photographed Liu Qun's letter on the desk. Duan Pixi was furious:"You Liu Kun!" In order to protect your Bingzhou in the Jin Dynasty in the past few years, the Duan tribe and I jointly elected you as the governor to attack Shi Le. As a result, Duan Mobo and others retreated one after another. Only you and I, Liu Kun, are of the same mind, but you conspired to harm me!"

A few days later, Liu Kun, who didn't know what was going on, came to see Duan Pixi. When he arrived at Jicheng Mansion Office, Liu Kun bowed his hands and saluted Duan Pixi:"Liu Kun has met Mr. Duan!"

"Grand Governor, go and pay homage to Duan Mobo! Duan Pixi said angrily. Liu Kun couldn't figure out what was going on, so he asked:"Master Duan, where do we start talking about this?""

Duan Pizhen picked up the letter from Liu Qun and handed it to Liu Kun. Liu Kun was shocked after reading the letter. But he still pretended to be calm and said:"You and I are a blood-blooded alliance, and we will be worthy of the imperial court with all our hearts. Let’s work together to fight against Shi Le. I hope you and I can work together to wash away the country’s shame. Even if my son’s letter was secretly sent to me, it was because of Duan Mobo’s force. I will never let us down because of a letter from my son. The righteousness!"

Duan Pixi thought for a while, and considering Liu Kun's reputation and character, he was ready to let Liu Kun return to the small town of Zhengbei. The younger brother Duan Shujun who was standing aside gave Duan Pixi a wink, and the two of them came outside the government office. Duan Shujun reminded Duan Pixi:"We Xianbei people have been under the control of others for hundreds of years. The reason why we can be appointed by the Central Plains court is because we Xianbei people are getting stronger and stronger. Our population is increasing, and many people in the Central Plains and the war-torn areas in the north are People came to seek refuge. But now the situation has changed. Our Duan tribe is fighting among ourselves, and Liu Kun himself has a very high reputation, even more than Wang Dun in Jiangnan. If it is really Liu Kun who supports Duan Mobo and jointly deals with us, Then we will die without a burial place in the future!"

Duan Pixi nodded and returned to the government office with Duan Shujun. Duan Pixi said to Liu Kun:"Captain Governor, I'm sorry. After all, this letter was written by your son Liu Qun. I need to clarify the situation first, and before that, I have to feel wronged by the Governor!"

"Someone come!"Following Duan Pizhen's words, ten soldiers came in from outside the government office. Duan Pizhen continued:"Take the governor to another courtyard and take good care of him and entertain him!"

"yes!"Ten soldiers agreed and took Liu Kun away.

About ten days later, the news that Liu Kun was detained by Duan Pixi was learned by Wang Dun, the governor of Jingzhou. At the governor's office in Wuchang, the capital of Jingzhou, Wang Dun Brothers Dun and Wang were discussing the matter. Wang said:"Liu Kun was detained by Duan Pizhen, and it is very likely that he will be released.""

"Why did Duan Pixi let Liu Kun go? Is it impossible to kill Liu Kun? Wang Dun asked. Wang Xian said:"Liu Kun has a very high prestige in the north, whether he is a Han or a barbarian." Moreover, Duan Pixi and Liu Kun were in a blood alliance. Even if it was out of morality or the influence on Duan Pizhen himself, Duan Pizhen could not kill Liu Kun."