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

Murong Xin put the bamboo slips on the still burning Ming paper, and the bamboo slips quickly burned. Murong Xin took the lead and bowed three more times. Afterwards, mount your horse and leave the high ground, preparing to return to Thorn City. On the way back to Jicheng, Murong Xin's sons and ministers walked together more casually. People were talking in twos and threes and looking at the scenery to the west of Thorny City. When they were about to arrive at the west gate of Thorny City, Pei Kai and his uncle Pei Yi said,"It is said that Sima Ye, the little emperor of the Jin Dynasty, and the ministers who were captured together were crying all day long. It is very pitiful."

Pei Yi sighed and said :"Emperor Huai Sima Chi was killed by Liu Cong. I think Emperor Min Sima Ye will end up like Emperor Huai. Either he will be poisoned or killed."

Liu Cong sat listlessly in the Dragon Palace in the Pingyang Palace. chair. He yawned, and then asked Emperor Min Sima Ye who was standing among the civil and military ministers:"Marquis Huaiping, do you remember how many years have you been in Pingyang? How many ministers are there with you?"

Liu Yao in the court hall , Liu Can and other civil and military ministers were all looking intently at Sima Ye, the former emperor of the Jin Dynasty. Sima Ye was trembling and did not dare not to answer, so he hesitated and said:"Your Majesty, it has been almost a year and a half since I came to Pingyang, Han Dynasty."

There is another question that has not been answered, so I don't want to answer it, because I am afraid of angering Liu Cong. He had no choice but to continue:"Of those ministers who followed me, Qu Yun was imprisoned by His Majesty and committed suicide. There are also some ministers of our dynasty, such as Liang Jun, the minister, Liang Yun, the minister, Zang Zhen, the left prime minister, and Sanqi Chang. Shi Yandun, Huangmen Shilang Ren Bo, Du Man, Zhang Wei, and many prefects and generals from various counties who were captured by Your Majesty were all killed by King Zhongshan one by one."

Liu Yao listened below, A proud smile appeared on his face. Liu Cong saw that all the civil and military ministers of the Han Dynasty were happy, but Sima Ye and several captured Jin Dynasty ministers were all sad. Liu Cong laughed wildly, and then said with a wicked smile:"Huaiping Hou, do you know why I named you, the former emperor of the Jin Dynasty, as Doctor Guanglu and 'Huaiping Hou'?"

"I am stupid and don’t know."Sima Ye said in fear. Liu Cong laughed wildly again, and then said:"The capital of the Jin Dynasty is Luoyang, and the capital of my Han Dynasty is Pingyang! After finishing speaking

, Liu Cong asked Liu Can:"Can'er, are the banquet ready?""

"When I return to my father, many delicious dishes have been prepared in the royal kitchen, just waiting for my father’s order! Liu Can said. Liu Cong laughed and ordered:"Serve the food and drink!""

In the court hall, wine and food have been placed on several tables in front of the civil and military ministers of the Han Dynasty. Only Sima Ye and the four old ministers around him have no tables and no seats. Liu Cong's sons and the ministers of the Han Dynasty Everyone was already seated and it was very lively. Liu Cong said with a smile:"I'm giving the maids a day off today, and there's no one to pour wine for everyone. What should I do?""

"Father, this is easy to handle. Sima Ye and several of his old ministers are just in time to pour wine for us!"Liu Can said with a smile. Liu Cong praised:"As expected of my prince, he is resourceful!"

There was no other way. Sima Ye had no choice but to come to Liu Cong's throne, pour wine for Liu Cong, and then stand aside. Four of Sima Ye's old ministers also poured wine for the Han ministers below. After eating and drinking for a while, Liu Cong gloated and said:"Sima Ye, four years ago your emperor Sima Chi of the Jin Dynasty poured wine for the kings and ministers of the Han Dynasty like this. Now it's your turn, the king and his ministers. What a blessing this is! You should thank me! Hahaha!"

Sima Ye didn't dare to say anything, and there was another burst of laughter below. Amidst the frantic sound of pushing cups and changing cups, Liu Cong stood up, and the court became quiet. Liu Cong said:"Marquis Huaiping, it is already the twelfth lunar month, outside Somewhat cold. I want to pay tribute but I am afraid of the cold, so please hold an umbrella for me and go to the toilet. I'm glad I'm back and I'll give you a glass of wine! Hahaha!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"The people in the court were laughing wildly again. Xin Bin and other four old ministers of the Jin Dynasty couldn't bear it anymore, and they covered their faces and cried. As a minister, Xin Bin was really angry, but he had no choice but to hug Sima Ye and cry loudly. Get up.

Liu Cong shouted:"How can the Han court allow the old ministers of the Jin Dynasty to run wild! Someone, pull out this ignorant Shang Shulang Xin Bin and behead him with a hundred sticks!"

Xin Bin was dragged out by several warriors. Liu Cong asked below:"My lords, how was the banquet today? Are you happy? Can you open your eyes? Have fun? Is it comfortable?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for this arrangement!"The court hall was filled with joy. The civil and military ministers of the Han Dynasty clapped their hands in celebration, and then left the Guangji Hall in small groups. Sima Ye and the remaining three ministers also left the court silently. Only Liu Cong was left in the hall. With Liu Can and his son, Liu Can said:"Father, this little emperor of the Jin Dynasty will be a disaster sooner or later. Let's kill him.""

"Give it a few more days and choose a good day for him."Liu Cong said sinisterly:"Tomorrow I and the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs will go hunting in the countryside, and I will ask Sima Ye to temporarily take over the post of General of Chariots and Cavalry."

In the morning of the next day, outside the gate of the Imperial Palace of the Han Dynasty, a group of Han ministers and several sons of Liu Cong were standing on the street facing west with their horses. Sima Ye and the remaining three old ministers stood At the front of the queue. Several of Liu Cong's guards brought Sima Ye a set of Han general's uniforms and armor. They also brought Han soldiers' uniforms to three old ministers. Thinking of yesterday, Shangshu Lang Xinbin After a tragic death, no one dared to resist at all. Sima Ye and his old ministers put on these Huns' Hu clothes and watched the lively Pingyang Hu people on the street laughing and pointing. Looking at Sima holding a long halberd and fully armed In Ye, a middle-aged man said:"This little emperor of the Jin Dynasty has become your majesty's hunting guide!"

The three old ministers of Sima Ye were eager to find a crack in the ground and crawl in. Some older Pingyang people couldn't help but turn away and shed tears when they thought that the emperor had lost his country and family at such a young age and endured such difficulties.. Liu Cong, Liu Can, Liu Yao and other Han monarchs and ministers mounted their horses one after another. Liu Can looked at the Sima Ye monarch and ministers in front of him and said loudly:"Let's go!"

Half a month later, at nearly noon on December 20th, there was an inconspicuous courtyard in the northeast corner of Pingyang. Several soldiers guarding Sima Ye and three old ministers saw three horses coming from far and near. When they arrived at the door The three men dismounted. One of them was holding a food box in his hand, another was holding a jug of wine, and another was holding four wine bottles. When they came close, they saluted each other. A soldier asked:"Who are these three gentlemen?" Guards from the palace?"

The three guards nodded and greeted the soldiers at the door. One of them whispered to the soldiers at the door, and then handed the things he brought to these soldiers.