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

It had been about three or four hours since I left the Murong brothers and arrived at the stone house in the mountains. Everyone was hungry and tired, so they all looked like they were gobbling up food. After everyone finished eating the meat, they drank a bowl of mare's milk. If you are in a hurry, you will not choose a road; if you are hungry, you will not choose food; if you are tired, you will not choose a bed; if you are poor, you will not choose a wife. Besides, these Xianbei people’s delicacies are still very tempting.

The eight soldiers are the youngest and eat the fastest. Then came the two cooks, who also put down their pottery bowls and began to collect the pottery bowls and pottery plates on the big stone table, and then took these pottery bowls and pottery plates outside the stone house. It didn't take long for Tao Liao and his two followers to finish their meal. The two chefs are specifically responsible for the food and daily life of these people, so things like washing and washing dishes are their responsibilities. Just as the mare's milk in the wooden bucket was finished, Chef Bai scooped a bucket of water from the water tank, and Chef He started washing the dishes outside. After washing, the two chefs put the dishes back on the big stone table. Chef He brought another bucket of water and asked the four horses to drink some water in turn. The four horses were also tired and fell on the grass under the pine trees. Nothing happened. Chef Bai picked up a hammer and said,"Look at this formation, the hammers and axes here are slightly larger. They don't look like those used at home. They should be used for cutting mountains and cutting rocks.""

"It is possible that this may be a place where masons and masons rest and eat."Chef He said. After enjoying the Xianbei-style dinner, Tao Liao and his two followers walked around the stone house. Eight sailors went further and said to look at the night in the mountains. The two cooks took the two After cleaning the stone table, they sat on the stone bench and talked. Tao Liao, two followers, and eight sailors all came back one after another. Tao Liao and the other three returned to the east side and sat down in front of the stone table to continue discussing tomorrow's plans. Nothing happened. The eight soldiers had nothing to do. Some looked at the bows, arrows and swords on the wall, some took off the bows, arrows and swords, touched them, and put them back. Some picked up axes and hammers to knock each other. Tao Liao said to the west room:"Chef He, Chef Bai, if you two are tired, just sleep on the wooden bed first!"

"I'm not too tired, so it won't be too late to go to bed later." said the two cooks. After watching Tao Liao and the other three people finish talking about tomorrow's affairs, the two cooks also came to the east room, wanting to hear what Tao Liao and the others had to say. At this time, the follower Cheng Hui asked:"Master Tao, what are you doing? Can you tell me something about the Murong Xin family who calls himself Murong Dashanyu? Tao Liao said:"

Last time I was on a mission to the Xianbei Murong tribe and learned some things about them. Murong Xuan's ancestors and fathers were leaders of the Xianbei Murong tribe. His father Murong Shegui, uncle Murong Nai, grandfather Murong Muyan, and great-grandfather Mo Huba. Many years ago, Murong Shegui asked Emperor Wu of the previous dynasty to attack the Yuwen Department of Xianbei, but because his teacher was unknown, Emperor Wu did not agree. After so many years, Murong Xie is still very worried about this. Perhaps for this reason, Murong Xian often sent troops from Murong's tribe to invade the western Liaoning area. In order to plunder the population and wealth, Murong Xin attacked Fuyu State eastward, and many people were killed and plundered. Murong Xin trafficked many plundered people to the Central Plains. Later, Emperor Wu of the former dynasty came to help, and Fuyu returned to the country."

As Tao Liao was talking, eight sailors also came over. After Tao Liao finished introducing the situation of the Murong family, his follower Wu Fu asked again:"Master Tao, what do you think this stone house is used for? Isn't it specially prepared for us?"

"In my opinion, it may have been built by the masons and masons who cut the rocks here, and it may have been a temporary resting place for the hunters. They all have their own homes, but this is far away from home, so they eat and rest here at noon and usually don't stay here at night." Tao Liao analyzed. The sailors were embarrassed to ask questions, so they gathered around the stone table to listen. One soldier started to yawn, which caused several soldiers to start yawning as well. Tao Liao said with a smile:"Okay, everyone is sleepy. , we have to go on the road tomorrow. Although there are wooden beds in both rooms, it is obviously impossible for all of us to lie down and sleep. The way I see it, Cheng Hui, Wu Fu and I will sleep on the small wooden bed on the east side, while the rest of the brothers will spend the night on the big wooden bed on the west side. After dinner tomorrow morning, everyone will leave here and hit the road to Great Thorn City."

There was nothing to say all night. The next day, as soon as the white fish belly appeared in the east, Chef Bai and Chef He got up. Breakfast was relatively simple, just some snacks and mare's milk, as well as some apples, pears, etc. given by the Murong brothers. The two of them had just prepared Well, Tao Liao and others also got up.

Maybe it was because they ate too much meat last night, or maybe it was for other reasons. Some people ate a few snacks and drank a bowl of mare's milk. Some only ate a few snacks, After drinking a few sips of mare's milk, he stopped eating. Seeing that everyone had finished eating, Tao Liao said:"Today is a good day, so we won't delay here. We will hitch up the car immediately and prepare to set off for Daji City!""

The two chefs cleaned the bowls and plates and placed them on the stone table as before. The soldiers moved the things that were moved yesterday to the carriage, such as boxes and barrels. The four soldiers took off the reins of their horses and let them Yesterday's auxiliary horse hitched the carriage, and yesterday's horse pulling the carriage was tied behind the carriage. The soldiers hitched the carriage, and Tao Liao looked at the simple stone house, then at the people around him, and then said:"Let's go! Hit the road!"

Tao Liao and his party set foot on the mountain road heading north along the mountain range. The mountain road is difficult to travel. Sometimes it is winding, winding, uphill and downhill. Sometimes it is a winding mountain road, with a thrilling valley below. Although it is bumpy all the way, but Thinking of the mission they were assigned, everyone had no complaints. After passing a mountain pass to the west, as it approached noon, the bright sunshine made people feel particularly warm. Suddenly, they stood on the cliffs surrounded by mountains and rugged rocks. , a beautifully carved and painted building, like a jade palace, appeared. Cheng Hui said:"Sir, look, is there a temple on this cliff?!"

Tao Liao got off the carriage, and everyone else also got off the carriage and stopped to watch. Tao Liao said with emotion:"I can't believe that on this road, there are not only stone houses where we can spend the night, but also this extremely revered stone house. temple. If I'm not wrong, this building built in a cave on the mountain is the ancient Yanhan Temple!"

"Master Tao, shall we go up and take a look?!"Cheng Hui said

"No, it has been more than half a month since we crossed from the south of the Yangtze River to the north of the sea. We are not here to enjoy the mountains and rivers. The emperor's orders are on our side and we cannot delay any longer. Tao Liao said:"When we have completed the mission given by the emperor, it will not be too late to come back here to pay homage and worship.""