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

Duan Pixi and Duan Shujun took a look at the changed appearance of the big pit, and then led a large group of people back to Jicheng. As soon as I arrived at the door of the government office, I saw three people waiting at the door. When the three people saw Duan Pixi coming back, they quickly stepped forward to salute. One of the leaders said:"I have met Mr. Duan. I am the envoy of Mr. Wang Dun, the governor of Jingzhou, and I have come to deliver a letter to you."

"Then invite him to the government office!"When Duan Pixi heard that Wang Dun had sent him, he politely invited someone to come to the government office. Duan Pixi sat down and said,"Please bring over the letter."

"Reporting back to Lord Duan, I am Guo Shu, Lord Wang Dun’s lieutenant. This time I came to Jicheng specifically for the matter of Liu Kun."Guo Shu said and handed over the letter. Duan Pixian opened the letter and saw that it read:

It is a great blessing to know that Liu Kun, the Sikong of Jin, has been detained by Mr. Duan. At present, the north is in chaos and disorder, and Liu Kun sticks to Jin. The negative yang caused Bingzhou to be captured by Shi Le, which was a heinous crime. His Majesty often praised Lord Duan in the court and praised him as a model loyal minister in the north. Since Liu Kun colluded with Duan Mobo, he could also collude with Shi Le and others. If so, It will definitely affect our government's plan to regain the northern homeland. Therefore, Liu Kun cannot let the tiger go back to the mountain.

Wang Dun pays homage.

On April 27, the first year of Taixing, Duan Pixi had just finished reading Wang Dun's letter. His two younger brothers Duan Wenyang and Duan Xiu is back. Duan Pixi said to Guo Shu:"Master Guo, please stay in the post house first and wait for the good news! Guo

Shugong handed over his hand and went out. Duan Pixian handed Wang Dun's letter to Duan Wenyang and said with a smile:"You three, take a look. Is there a reason for us to kill Liu Kun?""

Duan Wenyang, Duan Shujun, Duan Xiu and Duan Pixi are four brothers. After Duan Wenyang looked at it, he handed it to Duan Shujun. Duan Shujun looked at it and handed it to Duan Xiu. Duan Wenyang said:"Killing Liu Kun was Wang Dun's idea, or was it Wang Dun's idea? Jiangnan Sima Rui’s will?"

"Wang Dun supported his troops and respected himself, and was a powerful official in the Jiangnan court. We nominally surrender to the Jiangnan Jin Dynasty, so we can't do without dealing with people like Wang Dun, so it's better not to quarrel. Duan Shujun said. Duan Xiu then said:"Forget it, kill him, you can't keep him." Duan Mobo was happy to let Liu Kun go, but Wang Dun was not happy, and Sima Rui may not be happy either."

"It seems that it is better to kill him. Duan Pixi said:"Beheading in public to deter other rebels?" Or give him a glass of poisoned wine? Or use some other method?"

"Liu Kun cannot be killed publicly. These days, many people from Jicheng came to visit Liu Kun. Many people wrote letters demanding the release of Liu Kun and jointly fight against Jieren Shi Le. Liu Kun's famous name is responded to by hundreds of people. This is no joke." Duan Shujun said.

Liu Zun was not killed. After returning to Jicheng, he was imprisoned with his father Liu Kun. Liu Zun said to his father:"Father, I just heard that Wang Dun has sent someone to see Duan Pixi."

Being imprisoned together with Liu Kun and Liu Zun was Liu Kun's nephew Liu Yi. Liu Kun said to them:"Wang Dun's envoy came to see Duan Pixi, but did not meet me. This is to kill him. My rhythm! However, life and death have their own destiny. I just hate my family and my country and have not avenged it. The barbarians are still wreaking havoc in the land of China. How can I have the face to see my parents under Jiuquan!"

After Liu Kun finished speaking, he burst into tears with tears streaming down his face. Liu Zun cried and consoled him:"Father, this may be our fate. The child can accompany his father to death without any regrets."

Nephew Liu Yi said:"I can go to hell with my uncle, and my nephew has no regrets!"

On the eighth day of May, it was a cloudy day. Liu Kun, Liu Zun, and Liu Yi had breakfast and sat in the cell reading. At about noon, a guard shouted:"Bring the prisoner in!""

Dozens of soldiers came to the cell with ropes, tied up Liu Kun, Liu Zun and Liu Yi like wolves and tigers, and then pushed them outside. These soldiers held swords in their hands and led Liu Kun and others in front. After Liu Kun left, Duan Pixi came to the cell where Liu Kun was imprisoned and saw a poem manuscript on the table. He picked it up and looked at it. It turned out to be a poem"A Gift to Lu Chen". There was a hanging jade in his hand, which was originally from Jingshan. Qiu. But the Taigong Wang was an old man in Weibin in the past. How grateful was Deng Sheng

? In the middle of the night, I put my pillow on my pillow and sighed, thinking about traveling with my son. I have been in decline for a long time, why don't I dream of Zhou? Who is the holy master? He knows his destiny, so he doesn't worry. Xuanni was sad to get Lin, and he hunted Kongqiu in the west. His achievements were not completed yet, The setting sun suddenly flows to the west. The time is not with me, and it disappears as if the clouds are floating. Zhu Shi falls in the strong wind, and the beautiful flowers fall into the plain autumn. The narrow road overturns the canopy, and the frightened four-legged horse destroys the two carriages. What is the meaning of a hundred times of hardening, turning into softness around the fingers? Duan Pixi read the poem, looked at the roof of the cell, and shook his head. Liu Kun was escorted outside the east gate of Jicheng, with Duan Pixi and Duan Shujun following behind. Many soldiers stood around the execution ground. In order to maintain order, many people outside the execution ground wanted to see the famous Liu Kun, so they crowded into the execution ground, and the soldiers drove out. Dark clouds rolled in the sky, and thunder rumbled. Duan Pixi and Duan Shujun were sitting on the execution stage. Behind two tables, Liu Kun and others were escorted to kneel on the execution ground. One soldier held a jug of wine, another soldier carried a food box, and another soldier came to Duan Pixi with three wine bottles. Put them down. A soldier filled the wine bottle with wine. Another soldier took out the food and wine from the food box and placed it in front of Liu Kun. Duan Pixi picked up the wine bottle, got down from the altar, and came to Liu Kun. Duan Pizhen Pi Feng said hypocritically:"Grand Governor, you and I have known each other for many years. On the battlefield against Shi Le, we cooperated with each other and guarded Jinyang for nine years. Originally, our brothers could continue to cooperate and form an alliance to fight against Shi Le. Unexpectedly, we have become enemies. This is really thirty years in the east of Hedong and thirty years in Hexi!" Liu Kun ignored him and just looked at the shelf not far away and the noose on the shelf. Although Liu Zun and Liu Yi had no expression on their faces, they showed no fear. Duan Pixi said, The wine bottle was handed to Liu Kun. Liu Kun shouted:"Bring the wine bottle!" Duan Pizhen waved his hand, and a soldier ran to the altar and brought a jar of wine. Duan Pixian took it and handed it to Liu Kun. Liu Kun took it and drank the jar of wine in one go. Then , he threw the empty wine jar towards the shelf, making a crisp sound. Although the weather was obscure, someone still shouted on the altar:"It's three quarters past noon!

"

"Execution!" Duan Shujun gave an order, and the two executioners raised their ghost-headed swords and chopped off the heads of Liu Zun and Liu Yi. When Liu Kun saw that his son and nephew's heads were missing, he screamed and fainted. Duan Shujun ordered the soldiers:"Put it up! Put on the rope!"