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

"On behalf of King Zhao, I would like to thank you for your kindness!"Wang Xiu knelt down and saluted again. Liu Yao said:"Guo Si, I just said that I am going to let you go to Zhao Gong's camp in good faith. What do you think?"

"I have been ordered to go immediately!" Guo Si said. Butai handed Guo Si the edict to reward Shi Le, and Guo Si set off for Shi Le's camp. After Guo Si left, Cao Pingle, who was already a minister under Liu Yao and the former Shi Le's deceased, said:"Your Majesty, The person who is most harmful to you at the moment is not Jin Ming but Da Sima and Zhao Gong Shi Le. Once His Majesty makes him King of Zhao and has a larger fief in his hands, he can definitely compete with Your Majesty. Wang Xiu came here this time, seemingly sincerely, but actually he came to observe His Majesty's strength and weakness. When Wang Xiu returns after checking everything about His Majesty, Shi Le will immediately send his generals and light cavalry to attack you!

When Liu Yao heard this, he was furious and said,"You are such a beast-like Shi Le!" I have given you half of my country, and you are almost on an equal footing with me. You are not satisfied yet, you still want to usurp my kingdom and my life! Since Shi Le had such ambitions, he could not stay west of Pingyang for long, so the large group of troops were ready to go to Suyi west of Pingyang. Also, all the rewards given to Shi Le were cancelled. Liu Ya, the general who conquered the north, immediately led his troops to pursue Guo Si!"

Liu Yao continued:"Liu Chang, the general who conquered the east, immediately led 10,000 troops to Pingyang to rescue and meet Jin Ming! Remember not to be too lazy to fight, but to bring back as many people as possible!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"Liu Chang agreed and led the troops to Pingyang.

Liu Yao looked at Wang Xiu again, sneered twice and said:"Previously, Fan Shile sent my dear relative Butai here in a prison car, which made me feel very unhappy. Someone came and put Wang Xiu into a prison car with a wooden cage and escorted him to Suyi first. Wait until the situation becomes clear before imposing punishment!"

Wang Xiu and his entourage Liu Mao were imprisoned in a prison car. The two sat face to face in the wooden cage without saying a word. Liu Yao was setting up camp, and the forward troops were already on the road to Suyi. The prison car escorting Wang Xiu followed meanderingly. Then Liu Yao and other civil and military ministers led the remaining troops to Su Yi. When it was almost dark, Liu Yao's large group of troops arrived at Su Yi. Liu Jian was in Su Yi He found a large village courtyard as his father Liu Yao's palace. Liu Yao looked at it and was satisfied, so he sat down in the main hall. The civil and military ministers knelt down and saluted. Liu Yao said to his generals:"Generals, First, seize the time to set up camp without making any mistakes. It is necessary to inspect the camp frequently and guard the camp gate. When you first arrive in Suyi, you must send out scouting horses at any time to check the military situation and be prepared for Shi Le to send troops to attack!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"The generals agreed and went to arrange for the soldiers to set up camp. After a while, Liu Ya and Guo Bang came back. They came to Liu Yao, knelt down and saluted. Liu Ya said:"Your Majesty, a few of my men and I are working hard. Finally, Master Guo was chased back. If you are one step slower, Master Guo will enter Pingyang City. At this moment, Shi Le has conquered Pingyang City, and Jin Ming is on his way to surrender with more than 10,000 defeated soldiers, men, women, and children!"

"well! Pingyang City still fell into Shi Le's hands. Fortunately, we left Pingyang in advance. Otherwise, there will definitely be a war with Shi Le. Liu Yao sighed. Guo Si asked:"Your Majesty, where is Wang Xiu, Shi Le's envoy?" Put it back?"

"No, Wang Xiu's coachman put it back. Wang Xiu and his attendant Liu Mao were also taken to Suyi in a prison car. Liu Yao said. Liu Ya said:"Your Majesty, Wang Xiu and Liu Mao have inquired about many of our military affairs. We must not let them go!""

"Then send a few soldiers to take Wang Xiu and Liu Mao outside Suyi City under cover of night and kill them. Liu Yao said. Liu Ya said:"Okay, Your Majesty, I'll do it right now!""

Liu Ya led ten of his soldiers to the place where the prison van was parked. The horse pulling the prison van had been unloaded and was tied to a tree and was grazing. Five soldiers were guarding the prison van in the dark. A bonfire was lit in the distance. By the light of the fire, the soldiers guarding the prison car saw about ten people. When they got closer, they saw that it was General Liu Ya who conquered the west, who happened to be his general. The five soldiers quickly saluted :"I’ve met General Liu!"

"Okay, you guys go back to eat and rest! You don't have to worry about things here. Liu Ya said. The five soldiers said:"Thank you, general!""

"Open the wooden cage! Let them out! Liu Ya said. The soldiers got on the prison car and opened the door of the wooden cage. Wang Xiu and Liu Mao slowly walked out of the wooden cage. Their hands and feet were not tied. After getting off the prison car, Liu Mao ran quickly. He went to the tree where the horse was tied, untied the horse's reins, turned over, and the horse ran away! Because it was night and couldn't see clearly, Liu Mao's running away made Liu Ya very angry. He said angrily:"Find a rope. Tie up Wang Xiu!"

Wang Xiu was taken to a secluded place. Liu Ya said to Wang Xiu:"Master Wang, you are loyal to Shi Le. What a pity, today next year will be your anniversary!"

"Don't be too happy too early. Duke Zhao will definitely become King Zhao, and King Zhao will definitely ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor! By that time, you will all become ghosts under the sword!"Wang Xiu said

"Then please take the first step, Mr. Wang!"After Liu Ya finished speaking, a soldier raised his knife and chopped off Wang Xiu's head. After escaping, Liu Mao took advantage of the darkness and came back. He saw the whole process of Wang Xiu being killed not far away. , but Liu Mao did not dare to express his anger. He suppressed his grief, got on his horse, and drove all the way to Pingyang City in the east. When he arrived at the palace, Liu Ya knelt down and said:"Your Majesty, due to my carelessness, the king Liu Mao, one of Xiu's followers, snatched his horse and ran away. I ordered my men to kill Wang Xiu!"

"Just run away. It's dark and the road is rugged, so it's impossible to catch up!"Liu Yao said:"Generals, after breakfast early tomorrow morning, all generals will line up to the eastern suburbs of Suyi according to the plan, ready to welcome Jin Ming and the people he brought!"

The next morning, Liu Ya, the general of Zhengbei, led 200 cavalrymen armed with bows and arrows. After that, Liu Ce, the general of Zhenbei, led 200 infantrymen armed with spears. After that, there were 100 cavalrymen. Guards with swords surrounded Liu Yao and Liu Jian and his son, accompanied by ministers such as Hu Yanyan and Zhu Ji. The last was the 5,000-horse infantry led by Taiwei Fan Long. When they came to an open space on the eastern outskirts of Suyi, all the soldiers stood north and south. , lined up neatly, waiting for Liu Yao's review. Liu Yao, riding a horse, accompanied by Liu Jian, Hu Yanyan, Zhu Ji, Fan Long, Liu Ya, Liu Ce and others, began to review from north to south. Whenever the soldiers When they saw Liu Yao approaching, they would shout:"Long live my emperor!" Long live! Long live!"