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

Shi Le, Liu Yao and Jin Zhun faced off in Pingyang for two or three months. Facing the two powerful enemies outside the city, Jin Zhun was on pins and needles and was helpless. When Jin Zhun was at his wits' end, the soldiers outside the door came in and reported:"To the King of Han and Zhao, Master Butai is back!"

"Please invite Master Butai to come in!"Jin Zhun said. Butai came in, knelt down and saluted Jin Zhun first, and then said:"The King of Zhao is a thousand years old. I just came back now. Please forgive me!"

"In the past few months, Liu Yao in the west of Pingyang City and Shi Le in the east of the city have been constantly besieging Pingyang, trying to eat Gu. Just come back and we can discuss how to defeat the enemy."Jin Zhun said. Butai said:"It is not easy for King Zhao to be able to hold on to Pingyang for several months. Shi Le led 50,000 elite soldiers and generals. Some Qiang, Jie, Di and other tribes who took advantage of the situation saw that Shi Le was powerful, and more than 100,000 households surrendered to Shi Le. Shi Le's power became even stronger."

"What does Aiqing mean?"Jin Zhun asked tentatively. Butai said with some worry:"I know what to do, but I am timid and afraid to say it."

"Bu Aiqing, Gu knew in his heart that there was no other way out except surrendering to save his life. The food in Pingyang City has basically been exhausted, and most of the soldiers were killed or injured. Therefore, I plan to send you to Shile's army to discuss peace matters. Jin Zhun said. Butai hesitated and said,"Why didn't King Zhao make peace with Liu Yao, but wanted to make peace with Shi Le?" Shi Le was already very powerful. If he surrendered to Shi Le, Liu Yao would definitely attack Pingyang. When two tigers fight, one of them will be injured. Pingyang City will once again be devastated and bloody."

"Bu Aiqing, I know your relationship with Liu Yao. But a few months ago during the chaos in Pingyang, Liu Yao's mother and younger brother were killed. Even if he surrenders to Liu Yao, he will not let Gu go."Jin Zhun said with some worry. After hearing what Jin Zhun had explained, Butai shook his head and said nothing. Jin Zhun said again:"I sincerely hope to submit to the Jin Dynasty in the south of the Yangtze River, but the sky is high and the road is far away. I have done what I can do for Jiangnan, but Jiangnan can't give me any help. Now, besides resigning myself to fate, I just hope that Aiqing will make peace with Shi Le. In order to show my sincerity, I will send someone to go with you and send Shi Le a chariot and uniform."

"Since King Zhao said so, I will make preparations and go out of the city to see Shi Le tomorrow."Bu Tai said. Jin Zhun also asked:"You can agree to whatever conditions Shi Le has."

Butai nodded, smiled bitterly, and went home.

The next day, on the deserted Pingyang Street, Butai was riding a horse in front. Behind Butai was a well-decorated carriage. In this luxurious car Behind the carriage, there was also a horse. A driver drove the carriage, and together with Butai, it drove towards the east gate of Pingyang. The tall horse driving the carriage looked different from other horses. It arrived at the east gate of Pingyang. It was just in time. Jin Kang was guarding the city gate. Butai dismounted his horse and saluted:"Thank you for your hard work, General Jin!"

"Master Bu is leaving the city and heading to Shile Camp?"Jin Kang asked. Butai replied:"Yes, on the order of King Zhao, I went to the Shile camp in the east of the city to negotiate peace."

Jin Kang nodded, and then ordered the soldiers guarding the city gate:"Open the city gate!"

Butai bowed his hands and saluted, then mounted his horse and drove with the carriage towards Shile's camp outside the city. To the east of Pingyang, Shile's company camped for dozens of miles, and it was endless as far as the eye could see. Butai came to a camp gate and guarded it. Several soldiers at the camp gate gathered around with swords raised. One soldier asked:"What are you doing? This is a military camp. Don't get close to this important military location!"

Butai dismounted, cupped his hands and said,"Brothers, please invite me. I am an envoy from Pingyang City and want to meet your lord Shi Le. Please do your best and let me in"

"There are several camp gates here, but this camp gate does not lead to the lord's camp. If you continue walking east, you will find the third camp gate." Another soldier said. Butai said:"Thank you!"

Butai mounted his horse again and came to the camp gate that the soldier said. The soldiers guarding the camp gate followed him with their spears raised. This time, before the soldiers could speak, Butai said:"Fellow military lords, please Yes, I am Butai, the envoy from Pingyang City. I want to see your lord."

"Wait a moment!"A soldier said, and ran into Shi Le's tent. After a while, the soldier came out and said to Butai:"The Lord has invited Lord Butai!"

A soldier took the reins of Butai's horse, and the driver came down and waited outside the tent. Butai tidied his clothes and hair, and walked into Shile's tent with his head held high. Butai came to the tent, I saw Shi Le sitting on top, and several counselors and generals sitting below.

"See General Hussar!"Butai bowed his hands and saluted. Shi Le glanced at Butai from the corner of his eye, and then asked:"Master Butai, are you okay? Why come?"

"Are you okay? All is well and well."Bu Tai said with some surprise. Shi Le said sarcastically:"Master Bu, you are Jin Zhun's envoy for one moment, and Liu Yao's envoy for the next. After a while, he turned back into Jin Zhun's envoy. He really had both sides!"

"this? well! It’s just a matter of making ends meet, there’s nothing we can do about it."Bu Tai said. Seeing that Shi Le was almost sarcastic, he said seriously:"Master Bu, please explain your purpose!"

Shi Le said, motioning for Butai to sit down. Butai sat down with some anxiety, thought about his words, and then said:"The King of Han and Zhao sent me here for no other reason than to turn the war with General Hussar into friendship. To show his sincerity, King Zhao specially sent skilled craftsmen to build you a luxurious car, selected a BMW, and also gave you a gift from the imperial minister."

"Jin Zhun, King of Han and Zhao, killed many people in Pingyang City, and even beheaded the corpses of Liu Yuan and Liu Cong's father and son, so that"the ghosts cried loudly and could be heard for hundreds of miles." It's only been a few months, and such a vicious person has already given in?" Shi Le said. When Butai heard this, he didn't know what to say for a while. After a while, Butai said:"The two emperors of the Jin Dynasty in the Central Plains both died at the hands of Liu Cong. Perhaps the King of Han and Zhao fell in love with Sima Rui from Jiangnan to help the Jin Dynasty. Besides, Liu Cong and Liu Can are indeed both vicious and cruel."

"Jin Zhun was also a Huns, so why did he plan to surrender to Sima Rui in Jiangnan? Shi Le asked. Butai said:"Perhaps King Zhao thought that the Jin Dynasty was the orthodox one in the world.""

"Youhou, what do you think? Shi Le asked Zhang Bin, who had been silent below. Zhang Bin said:"Please, my lord, imprison Master Butai and send him to Liu Yao's camp in the west of Pingyang City."

Shi Le always obeyed Zhang Bin's opinions. So Shi Le shouted:"Come here!" Prepare the prison car and wooden cage to send Lord Butai to where he should go!"

Not long after, four soldiers with knives came in from outside. One soldier said:"My lord, the wooden cage and the prison car are ready. Do you want to leave now?"