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

"If one survives, there will be future fortunes. Liu Yao ordered:"Bring two horses over, and the two adults will ride on them. Let's go to Pingyang together to conquer the traitor Jin Zhun!""

"His Royal Highness the King of Zhongshan, in my humble opinion, Jin Zhun has now claimed to be the King of Han and Zhao. Although he knew that he was not strong enough, he did not dare to call himself emperor. But he already controls Binh Duong and some nearby places. His Majesty's descendants were basically slaughtered by Jin Zhun, so it is better to ask King Zhongshan to take the throne and take the title immediately. Wouldn't it be better to conquer Jin Zhun in this way?" Hu Yanyan persuaded. Liu Yao thought for a while and said:"This is also the truth, just follow the words of the adults!"

Hu Yanyan looked around and found a not-so-high hill not far away. He rode his horse to the hill and saw a road sign with the word"Red Cliff" written on it. Hu Yanyan came back and said:"I never thought there was a place called Red Cliff here. Zhu

Ji looked around and found a square stone, so he said to Liu Yao:"Your Highness, the conditions halfway are simple and not as good as the palace." We just walked to Red Cliff and there was nothing but exposed rocks around us. We can only make do with simplicity. Your Highness, please sit on this stone throne, accept the congratulations and worship of the ministers, and succeed to the throne as emperor!"

Liu Yao looked at the stone, smiled, and then sat on the big stone facing south and north. Hu Yanyan, Zhu Ji, Fan Long, Liu Ya, Liu Ce, Liu Jian and others knelt in front of Liu Yao. Zhu Ji took the lead. , shouting:"Long live my emperor! Long live! Long live! I wish your Majesty great blessings!

Tens of thousands of soldiers on the road also shouted:"Long live!" Long live! Long live!"

"All my dear friends, please go free of charge! Liu Yao signaled everyone to get up, and then issued an edict:"I appoint Zhu Ji as the Situ of the Han Dynasty, Hu Yanyan as the Sikong, and Taiwei Fan Long and others all resume their original official positions." Liu Ya, the general who conquered the north, and Liu Ce, the general who held the north, advanced separately to attack Fenyin. In addition, Shi Le, the hussar general guarding the Xiang Kingdom, has been besieging Pingyang for several months. I am planning to promote him to the rank of Grand Sima and Grand General, add Jiuxi, increase the title of ten counties to private towns, and raise him to the title of Duke Zhao, so as to become a horned force. , jointly attack Jin Zhun in Pingyang, what do you think, dear friends?"

"Your Majesty, please do not act too hastily. The one who covets the throne most urgently at the moment is none other than Shi Le. Your Majesty’s biggest enemy is not Jin Zhun, it must be Shi Le in the future!" Fan Long dissuaded.

Jin Zhun, who had only been the king of Han and Zhao for a few months, has now become an ant on the hot pot. Jin Zhun, who was sitting on the dragon chair in the Guangji Palace, sat down and stood up again. He watched. Jin Zhun, one of the few civil and military ministers below, said to his attendant Butai:"Master Bu, the King of Zhongshan is very powerful, and with General Shi Le, we have no chance of winning. So I have to trouble you and go to the camp of King Zhongshan to make peace. You can agree to any of Zhongshan King’s conditions first."

Butai bowed his hands and saluted, preparing to go to see Liu Yao. After Butai left, Jin Ming said:"Your Highness, this Butai is the brother of Liu Yao's wife, Mrs. Bu, and the uncle of Liu Jian and Liu Yin. Now the King of Han and Zhao sends him to see Liu Yao. He will definitely tell everything about us."

"There is no other way. Now, apart from a few of your generals and a few ministers, I don’t have many available people. Resign yourself to fate and live one day at a time!"Jin Zhun looked at the brothers Jin Ming and Jin Kang below, and then at the two generals Qiao Tai and Wang Teng. Jin Zhun ordered:"Jin Ming and the two generals Qiao Tai and Wang Teng must defend well. Various city gates and walls in Binh Duong. As long as the city gate is strong and the city wall is not broken, there is nothing Liu Yao can do"

"Got the order!"Jin Ming left with Qiao Tai and Wang Teng. Jin Zhun said to Jin Kang again:"Jin Kang, lead your soldiers to protect the palace and make sure nothing happens."

"yes! Please rest assured, King Han and Zhao!"Jin Kang also went out.

Butai and his two followers rode out of the west gate of Pingyang and headed for Liu Yao's camp. About five miles out of the city, they met Liu Yao's group. Liu Jian led several hundred soldiers. Walking in front, he saw three people coming from the opposite side. When he got closer, he saw that it was his uncle Butai. Liu Jian quickly hit the horse on his crotch a few times and got off the horse in front of Butai.

"Uncle is always kind!"Liu Jian bowed his hand and saluted Butai. When Butai saw that it was his nephew Liu Jian, he was relieved. Butai also dismounted and said to Liu Jian:"Jian'er, is your father behind you? I came here to make peace with your father on the orders of Jin Zhun."

"Everyone, please stop! Stay where you are!"Liu Jian ordered the soldiers. Liu Jian and Butai said:"Uncle, my father has ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, and also appointed hundreds of civil and military officials. He also made Shi Le a general and attacked Pingyang from two sides. Father is behind, you and I will go to see him!"

Bu Tai nodded and followed Liu Jian back with his two followers. After walking for a while, he happened to bump into Liu Yao. Liu Jian got off the horse, and Bu Tai and the two followers also got off the horse. Butai gave Liu Jian Yao knelt down and saluted:"I see you, Your Majesty!" Long live! Long live!"

"Uncle, we are a family, you don’t have to be polite! Liu Yao said and helped Butai up.

"Uncle, did Jin Zhun send you here? What did he tell you? Liu Yao asked. Butai said:"Your Majesty, it's hard to explain in one word!" At that time, Jin Zhun, Wang Chen, Xuan Huai, and the soldiers under Jin Ming, Jin Kang and others were all ready to kill. Maybe Liu Can was guilty of many evil deeds, and Jin Zhun and others were venting their anger, but they couldn't kill so many people!"

"Where did Yin'er go? Why did Jin Zhun also kill my mother and younger brother? Liu Yao asked angrily. Butai sighed and said:"The order issued by Jin Zhun that night was to kill all the princes and ministers in the Liu family's palace." All descendants of Liu Cong were to be killed, and there was no talk of sending troops to the Zhongshan Palace. It may be that there was a chaos in Pingyang City. Some generals led soldiers into the Zhongshan Palace and killed the old woman and your younger brother."

"Are you defending Jin Zhun? Liu Yao asked somewhat unhappily. Butai quickly waved his hand and explained:"No, no, I didn't mean it. I just told the truth.""

"Then Yin'er can't be found?"Liu Yao asked Butai. Butai said:"When something happened in the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion, I arrived immediately, but it was already too late. The old woman, your younger brother, and some people in the mansion had already been killed. I sent someone to take the old woman and your younger brother to the outside of Pingyang City for burial. I also sent people to search for Yin'er for several days, but still couldn't find it."

"Nothing will happen to Yiner, right? Liu Yao asked again. Butai said:"Yin'er should be fine. Maybe he escaped from Pingyang City during the chaos." It's hard to say where exactly he ran to."

"So what did Jin Zhun say when he sent you here?" Liu Yao asked. Butai said:"Jin Zhun knew that he did not have the strength to fight with His Majesty, so he sent me to make peace with His Majesty."