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

"Obey!"Wang Chen and Xuanhuai knelt down and kowtowed. They stood up, and Liu Can said to them again:"Tonight, we must catch all the princes and ministers who are planning to rebel. Jin Zhun is responsible for guarding the palace, Jin Ming is responsible for guarding the city gate, and Jin Kang is responsible for patrolling the whole city. You are responsible for arresting criminals. The more people you arrest, the better, and the more you kill, the better!"

In Pingyang around midnight, the moon and stars were sparse, and it was extremely quiet. Suddenly, the sound of rapid horse hooves sounded on the street. Wang Chen led a thousand sword-wielding guards and torches, and first surrounded the Jinan Palace. Several soldiers beat him After a while, the gate of the palace opened, and many wolves and tigers of the Imperial Guard broke into the Jinan Palace.

Half an hour later, from the Jinan Palace, the King of Jinan, the Grand Sima Liu Ji, the King of Shangluo, and the Dazai Liu Jing, Da Situ, King Liu Mai of Qi, Duke Liu Kai of Chang Kingdom, and hundreds of their families, cronies, and subordinates were tied up and escorted out by the soldiers. When

Liu Ji left the door of the mansion, he saw Wang Shen shouting:" Mr. Wang, why did you arrest us in the middle of the night? It’s so baffling!"

"Good question, King of Jinan! I would like to ask, in the middle of the night, you princes stayed up and gathered in your palace. Is there any conspiracy?"Wang Chen asked with a treacherous smile. Seeing Wang Chen say this, the others had no words and were just angry.

Xuan Huai led five hundred imperial guards and surrounded the Prince Wu's Mansion. Not long after, Liu Ji's half-brother, General Chariot and King of Wu Liu Zhao and his wives, concubines, servants, maids and dozens of other people were tied up and escorted out. Liu Zhao looked at Xuan Huai on the horse and glared angrily.

Wang Chen and Xuan Huai met on the street. Xuanhuai said:"Soldiers reported just now that Taibao Huyanyan, Taifu Zhu Ji and other ministers may have run away after hearing the news!"

"He probably went to Chang'an to join Liu Yao!"Wang Chen ordered:"Your Majesty has decreed that King Liu Ji of Jinan, King Liu Jing of Shangluo, King Liu Li of Qi, Duke Liu Kai of Chang State, King Liu Cheng of Wu and others have conspired to rebel. They are heinous and heinous. He will be escorted out of the city immediately and killed without mercy!"

When the people of Pingyang woke up the next day, they found that except for the patrolling soldiers, there were not many people on the street. The grocery stores that were usually open every day had also been closed. At the

Guangji Palace, Liu Can said to the ministers below:" Several restless ministers are planning to plot a rebellion, but I have already known about it in advance and eliminated them, so I feel at ease."

Liu Can waved to Wang Yu, and Wang Yu hurried over. Liu Can picked up the edict on several cases and handed it to Wang Yu. Wang Yu came to the steps and began to read the edict loudly: Xiangguo Shile is ready to move, and from now on all the generals will be here He went to Lin to train his troops and soon prepared to attack the traitor Shi Le. He appointed Prime Minister Liu Yao as the prime minister, and all military forces inside and outside the governor-general still guarded Chang'an.

In Da Sikong Mansion, Jin Zhun said to his minister Wang Yan:"My lord, you have been with me for many years.. Now the government is in turmoil and the Lord is incompetent. I am ready to dethrone this fornicating king, and I hope Lord Wang can help me start the rebellion. After everything is done, you will be the doctor Guanglu. When Wang

Yan heard that Emperor Liu Can was to be deposed and killed, he was frightened. He quickly waved his hands and refused:"Da Sikong, I can't do this." Please ask Gao Ming, I'm going to say goodbye and go home!"

Walking out of Da Sikong Mansion, Wang Yanfei got on his horse and ran towards the palace at high speed. When he was approaching the palace, he met Jin Kang who was leading soldiers on patrol. Jin Kang asked:"Master Wang, you are so fast and furious, aren't you? Are you going to go to the palace to inform?"

"ah? No no no, no!"Wang Yan quickly defended. Jin Kang didn't believe Wang Yan and ordered the soldiers:"Brothers, send Mr. Wang back to Da Sikong Mansion!"

Jin Zhun understood when he saw Wang Yan came back, followed by several soldiers, and Jin Kang came back later. Jin Zhun said:"Master Wang, now is the time for me to employ people. I admire Master Wang's talent. As long as you nod your head, Dr. Guanglu will be yours. Wang

Yan made a poof on the ground and cursed:"The Huns slaughtered the traitor Jin Zhun of all ethnic groups!" If you want to cause trouble, you have to drag me along! Why don't you kill me quickly and fulfill my reputation as a loyal minister of the Han Kingdom? I am ashamed to associate with such a despicable person like you! After I die, please hang my left eye on the Xiyang Gate. I will watch the Prime Minister Liu Yao attack you. Please hang my right eye on the Jianchun Gate, and I will watch the Prime Minister and General Shi Le attack you from both sides!"

Jin Zhun smiled and said:"Master Wang, everyone has his own ambitions, and you can't force it. I didn't want to kill you. If you abuse and humiliate me like this, then I won't be polite, as you wish!"

Jin Zhun waved his hand, and two soldiers dragged Wang Yan down.

In Da Sikong Mansion, Wang Chen, Xuan Huai, Jin Ming, Jin Kang, Qiao Tai, Wang Teng and other generals who had surrendered to Jin Zhun were waiting. Planning the next move. Jin Zhun said:"Although our entire city is under martial law, some ministers still defected to Liu Yao. The night is long and there are many dreams, so I can’t put it off any longer. During the day today, let the soldiers eat and drink enough to recharge their batteries. At night, surround the palace!"

"Da Sikong is right, if the Liu royal family and Liu Yao in Chang'an attack from inside and outside, we will be in danger. So we must kill Liu Can and other members of the royal family in the capital tonight so that we can be safe."Wang Chen said.

After nightfall, Wang Chen and Xuanhuai led troops to surround the palace. Jin Zhun led his soldiers and broke into the harem. The soldiers searched several palaces, and finally captured Jin Yuehua in the palace of the Empress Dowager. Liu Can was about to go to bed. Liu Can was caught off guard and shouted loudly:"I am the emperor, the emperor, and the Supreme Being. What do you want to do? Inverted?"

Jin Zhun then came to Liu Can and said:"Liu Can, you committed adultery in the harem, ignored the government, killed the emperor's brother Liu Yi, and killed more than 10,000 of his soldiers. You are guilty! Someone come! Pull this foolish, tyrant, and adulterous king who brings disaster to the country and the people into the yard and behead him!"

Following Jin Zhun's order, several soldiers came up and dragged Liu Can outside. Liu Can regretted it endlessly and said,"Father, Grandfather, I was not able to save the Liu family's land and country. I only know how to eat and drink. Having fun ruined the Liu family, I am a sinner!"

"Liu Can, it’s too late to regret it now!"Jin Zhun said:"Get ready to kill!"

At this time, Jin Yuehua rushed out of the palace, knelt in front of Jin Zhun and begged:"Father, no matter what, your Majesty treats our sisters very well. Spare his life!"

Jin Zhun looked at his lovely daughter and said cruelly:"My child, if we keep this tyrant, he will definitely gather the remnants of the Liu family to come back. When the time comes, I’m afraid our Jin family, including my father and me, as well as your sisters, will all die without a burial place!"