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

"Then you go back to Pingyang and tell Jin Zhun that Liu Can was a debauched, immoral, unconscionable, and unruly king, and killing him was a great merit but no fault. As long as Jin Zhun is willing to surrender, I will count him as a meritorious supporter."Liu Yao said somewhat eagerly, and Bu Tai nodded.

Liu Yao and Bu Tai were talking, and the two of them rode horses and quickly came to Liu Yao. The two dismounted and knelt on the ground:"Your Majesty, Mrs. Bu. , she, she, passed away!"

"ah! When I led the troops and set off, my wife was still fine. How come it only took a few days to do this?……"Liu Yao said, tears streaming down his face. The visitor said:"Maybe it's the chaos in Pingyang, and the second prince can't find anything to do with it. Madam couldn't think about it for a moment, so she……"

"ah! It's all my fault! Didn't attack Jin Zhun in time!"Liu Yao suppressed his sadness and immediately issued a canonization edict:"My wife has passed away, and I will posthumously honor my wife Bu as the Queen of Yuan Dynasty. Liu

Yao then said to Liu Jian:"Jian'er, you and your uncle go back to Chang'an and take care of your mother's funeral first." My father is already on the way to attack Pingyang, so he can't go back!"

Liu Jian and Butai knelt down to salute Liu Yao, and the group hurried back to Chang'an. Liu Yao looked at Pingyang not far away and ordered his generals:"The generals will set up camp first!"

In the camp, Liu Yao was discussing with ministers and generals about attacking Pingyang. A Tanma who had returned from Pingyang ran into the tent, knelt on the ground and said:"Your Majesty, General Shi Le is leading five troops from Xiangguo. Ten thousand elite troops came to attack Jin Zhun and had already occupied the area north of Xiangling. Although Jin Zhun sent troops out of the city many times to challenge, Shi Le could not get out."

In the big tent twenty miles east of Pingyang, Shi Le was planning a way to attack Pingyang with several generals including Zhang Bin, Zhi Xiong, and Diao Ying. At this time, Zhang Jing, the general who attacked the east gate of Pingyang, came back. Zhang Jing first He paid tribute to Shi Le and said:"I will meet the general at the end of my life!""

"General Zhang Jing, I asked you to lead five thousand troops as the vanguard to attack Pingyang. How is it going now? Shi Le asked. Zhang Jing drank a glass of water first, and then said:"Jin Zhun sent Jin Ming and other generals out of the city in turn, and each side had its own victory or defeat." In my opinion, it is not difficult to capture Pingyang. The key is that Liu Yao has already proclaimed himself emperor. If Jin Zhun surrenders to us, our strength will grow. If Jin Zhun surrenders to Liu Yao, it will be very detrimental to us"

"General Zhang Jing is right. If we forcefully attack Pingyang, Jin Zhun will fight to the death. We and Jin Zhun both lose, and Liu Yao must be the one who gains."Zhang Bin said.

Several people were talking in the big tent, and two disgraced soldiers came in to report:"General, something bad has happened! Our general Shi Yue was shot to death by Duan Pixi's soldiers!"

"ah! There is such a thing!"When Shi Le heard that Shi Yue, who was rescuing Duan Mobo, died in battle, he stood up immediately. Shi Le shed a few tears and said very sadly:"Shi Yue, as a brother of my clan, has followed me for many years. Over the years, he has been through life and death, leading the way, and has been injured many times. Starting today, the entire army will be suspended for three months, and Shi Yue will be posthumously awarded the title of General Pingnan!"

Han Yin, Yu Tan, Zhou Zha and all the soldiers who welcomed the spirit are about to return to Jiankang. Sima Rui and Sima Shao, dressed in white, and dozens of civil and military ministers are already waiting on the north bank of the Qinhuai River. In the east and west of the civil and military ministers On both sides, there are two rows of soldiers also wearing white clothes.

"The spirit-welcoming fleet is here!"The soldiers on the north bank said, pointing to the boats that were getting closer and closer. Five boats docked one after another. From the second boat, Han Yin, Yu Tan, and Zhou Zha got off the boat. The ten soldiers waiting on both sides got on to the second boat. Two boats, together with the soldiers on the boat, lifted a coffin and placed it on the shore. Ten other soldiers got on the boat, lifted the second coffin and placed it to the west of the first coffin. Follow Han Yin to welcome the spirit All the soldiers got off the ship. These soldiers in white also stood in two rows on both sides of the coffin. Looking at the coffins of the two emperors who died young, Sima Rui and Sima Shao burst into tears. Civil and military The ministers and all the soldiers present also burst into tears.

Many Jiankang people gathered on both sides of the Qinhuai River. Seeing this scene, they couldn't help crying together. On the north bank of the Qinhuai River, two hearses were parked. Each hearse is pulled by four horses. The entire hearse carriage is wrapped in white silk, and a large black flower on the carriage is particularly eye-catching. Each horse also wears a black flower on its head. Under the watchful eyes of Sima Rui, members of the royal family, and civil and military ministers, the soldiers carried the two coffins onto the hearse. Director Wang, who was kneeling on the ground, said:"Welcome the Second Emperor back to the Ancestral Temple!"

One hundred soldiers in front, two hearses behind, slowly moved north along the imperial road south of the palace city. Sima Rui led members of the royal family and civil and military ministers, following closely behind the hearse. Others greeted and received the spirit. The soldiers followed closely behind. There were crowds of people on both sides of the royal road. People were crying and wanted to see the coffins of the two emperors. Some Jiankang people were wailing loudly.

When they came to the entrance of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, soldiers stood on both sides of the door. Two hearses entered the Imperial Ancestral Temple, followed by twenty soldiers. On the table at the entrance of the main hall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, there were the memorial tablets of the two emperors. On the memorial tablets were written: The spiritual tablet of Emperor Huai of the Jin Dynasty, and the spiritual tablet of Emperor Min of the Jin Dynasty.

Sima Rui Sima Shao and other royal family members, as well as civil and military ministers, then came to the Ancestral Temple. Twenty soldiers carried down the coffins of the two emperors, and then stood on both sides of the coffins. Sima Rui led the civil and military ministers to kneel on the south side of the coffin, looking at the coffins and spiritual tablets. He cried loudly again.

After crying, Sima Rui stood up first, and others stood up one after another. Director Wang said:"The capital of Luoyang is still fighting with you, and the coffins of the two emperors cannot be buried in the imperial mausoleum for the time being. In the past few days, the coffin of the Second Emperor will be parked in the Ancestral Temple. In a few days, it will be temporarily buried in a place with good Feng Shui in the west of Jiankang. After the Central Plains are recovered in the future, the burial ceremony in the imperial mausoleum will be held."

Just as Director Wang finished speaking, a maid from the Langya Palace came to the Ancestral Temple in a panic. The maid knelt down in front of Sima Rui and cried,"Your Majesty, little Prince Langya is seriously ill!"

"ah? My Anguo! Let’s drive to Prince Langya’s Mansion immediately!"Sima Rui said and walked quickly out of the Ancestral Temple. Sima Rui and the civil and military ministers came to the imperial road. The chariot was already waiting. There were several carriages parked to the south of the chariot. Sima Rui got on the chariot, and the members of the royal family and the civil and military ministers all They got on the carriage and hurried towards the Langya Palace to the east of the palace.

Sima Rui and others arrived at the Langya Palace and went straight to the east room of the Langya Palace where Sima Anguo lived. Sima Shao and other ministers were waiting outside, and Sima Rui arrived East room. Seeing Sima Rui come in, two palace maids and two imperial doctors quickly knelt down and saluted:"See your majesty!"

Sima Pei's widow, Mrs. Shan, was crying in a low voice while holding Sima Anguo's little hand. Mrs. Shan turned around and saw Sima Rui coming, and quickly knelt down and saluted:"See you, father!"

"Get up, kid, what's going on in Anguo? Sima Rui asked, looking at his grandson with his eyes closed on the bed. Shan shook his head and said nothing. Dr. Li and Dr. Zhang came over and knelt down on the ground together:"Your Majesty, I have no way to save you, little one." His Royal Highness King Langya passed away!"