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

"Lord Kong, how is the situation in the north? Director Wang asked. Kong Tan said:"Since Liu Kun was killed, the four Duan Pizhen brothers have defected to Shao Xu." However, Shao Xu and Cao Yi were incompatible with each other and often attacked each other. Shi Hu will definitely take Fuping City, but what Shi Hu is afraid of is not Shao Xu, but the Duan Pixi brothers who have heavy cavalry in their hands."

"So, Jie people Shi Le and Shi Hu are a little afraid of the Xianbei cavalry?"Zhou Wei said:"In this case, your Majesty, please send envoys to Liaodong again. This time we want to affirm the appointment of Murong Xin last year, and use the good relationship between the previous government and Murong Xin to make Murong Xin and his Xianbei tribe a force for our government to contain Jiehu in the Northeast."

"What Mr. Zhou said is true. Director Wang said:"Now our dynasty is in the south of the Yangtze River, no better than the previous dynasty." The barbarians in the north are eyeing our northern homeland, and relying solely on the Yangtze River's natural chasm cannot bring about long-term peace and stability in the true sense. For the current plan, the first is to try to hold Jiehu back and make him fearful. The second is to establish alliances with other forces to strengthen our country's power."

"What Sir Mao Hong said makes sense, you are indeed my Guan Zhong! However, in the past, after Murong Xuan succeeded Murong Bu Shanyu, because of his feud with Yuwen Xianbei, he petitioned his great-grandfather Emperor Wu to attack Yuwen Bu. Emperor Wu did not agree because he was busy recovering Sun Wu. Sima Rui said with some hesitation:"I wonder if Murong Xin, who has become stronger, is willing to form an alliance with us and accept my edict and rewards." Dear friends, please think carefully before making a decision."

"Your Majesty, we can't worry about that much now. When the government was first established, all the wastes were waiting to be revitalized. Our strength now cannot be compared with that of Emperor Wu's time. There is no big cost in sending an envoy or issuing an edict. But if we just stay in this corner of Jiangnan, Jiangnan will probably be annexed by Jiehu and others from the north sooner or later." Director Wang said

"In fact, before this, the previous dynasty had awarded Murong Xin many awards. A few years ago, when Emperor Huai was in trouble in Pingyang, Grand Sima Wang Jun followed the imperial edict and appointed Murong Xin as a regular servant of the Sanqi, a champion general, a forward commander, and a great chanyu. Murong Xinji refused to receive the title because of his past suspicions. Later, Emperor Min sent an envoy and appointed Murong Xin as the general of the town army and the duke of Changli and Liaodong. In the year when I succeeded to the throne of the Jin Dynasty, I also offered Murong Xin the title of"Fake Festival","Sanqi Changshi","Commander of Liaozuo Zayi Liuren","General Longxiang","Da Chanyu", and"Dong Li of Changli". Murong Xin also firmly refused to accept it. Reward. Sima Rui took a sip of the tea handed over by Fei Ren, and then said,"It's okay if Murong Xin refuses to accept the reward. Later, he sent his chief historian Wang Ji to Jiankang by sea to persuade me to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor." It seems that Murong Xuan has a lot of ambition and aspirations! Now that I have become emperor not long ago, I really need to solve this problem urgently. Then I will send my visitor Tao Liao to Liaodong to reiterate all the rewards that our dynasty bestowed on Murong Xin."

"Please invite Master Mao Hong, Zhou Wei, Diao Xie, Liu Wei, and Dai Yuan to draft an edict to Murong Xin."Sima Rui said. Director Wang and others said:"I obey the decree!"

Two days later, Director Wang and others drafted the edict. Director Wang took the edict and came to Sima Rui's imperial study. Director Wang came in and knelt down and saluted:"Your Majesty, your Majesty, Maohong!"

"Sir Shigehiro, please get up quickly! Director Wang stood up and handed the edict to Sima Rui. Sima Rui asked Director Wang to sit down, then looked at the edict carefully and nodded. Sima Rui put down the edict and said:"Fei Ren, send the edict to Tao Liao to see you immediately."!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! Fei Ren agreed, turned around and sent someone to inform Tao Liao. After a while, Tao Liao came to the imperial study, knelt down and saluted after entering the door:"Long live my emperor, long live, long live my emperor." I wonder if your Majesty has asked me to come here. Is there anything I need to do?!"

"Now that my dynasty has been established, everything is waiting to be prospered and all kinds of businesses are waiting to be promoted. In recent years, the Central Plains has been in chaos and disorder, and the barbarians in the north covet our territory. I am worried that the country will be invaded by barbarians again. Therefore, it is necessary for Aiqing to go to Xianbei, Liaodong and Murong tribe again. I hope Aiqing will fulfill his mission."

"He accepted the order for the minister, but according to the emperor's order, he went to Liaodong to meet Murong Xin."Tao Liao did not dare to hesitate and expressed his willingness to go to Liaodong. Tao Liao did not dare to delay, and immediately took the edict, seal, official documents, etc. handed over by Fei Ren, said goodbye to Sima Rui, and prepared to go home.

The emperor's orders are on his side. Without further ado. Two days later, Tao Liao led two followers and all three of them rode out of the palace. Behind the three men were two carriages containing gold, silver, jewelry and necessary items. There were eight soldiers on the carriages. , and rushed towards Hou Lake in the north of Jiankang.

The group came to the south bank of Hou Lake, and two large ships were already waiting on the bank of Hou Lake. The three people dismounted and handed the horse reins to the soldiers waiting by the lake. Tao Liao pointed at Two big ships, he said to the two followers:"These two big ships, including the navy ships training in the distance, are actually quite old. After Emperor Wu Sima Yan defeated Sun Wu, he captured thousands of large and small warships. Sun Wu has long since left, but these trophies are still being used by our court."

The two followers nodded and prepared to board the boat with Tao Liao. Of the two sailing ships, the luxurious one on the west is the main ship for Tao Liao and the two followers. The gift for Murong Xin is also on this boat. On the other boat to the east are all kinds of supplies needed on the road. The eight soldiers are the sailors on the two boats. There are four people in each boat, responsible for driving and rowing the boat.

"See Master Tao!"Two pretty young women on the shore came to greet Tao Liao. Tao Liao asked:"Are you two the cooks on the ship? Then please come on board together!"

The two women nodded and got on the boat to the east.

"See Lord Tao!"Two men ran over from the east and said,"Sir, we are the cooks on the ship. We were busy in the east talking to our relatives who were seeing them off. Tao

Liao nodded and looked at the number of people. They were all here, so he ordered:"Set the boat!""

The sailors on the two boats started rowing, and the boats slowly left the south bank. After leaving Houhu, the two boats entered the Yangtze River waterway. The next day, the two boats left the Yangtze River estuary and came to the sea. They sailed several dozen miles eastward. , the two ships turned around and sailed northward on the vast sea. The southeast wind in the mid-autumn season made the two ships with sails raised quickly sail northward. The soldiers on board were very worried because they no longer needed to paddle. Happy. Tao Liao stood on the bow of the boat, building a pergola with his hands and looking east. Tao Liao and his two followers said:"This vast sea is endless as far as the eye can see. I don’t know where the descendants of Xu Fu and the thousands of boys and girls sent by Qin Shihuang are. They are all descendants of our China!"