Chapter 51 Chapter 50 Mudi Sima Dan

In September of the second year of Jianyuan (AD 344), when Emperor Kangdi was seriously ill, Yu Bing and Yuyi brothers planned to succeed Sima Yu, the youngest son of Yuan Emperor Sima Rui, to the throne.But Zhongshu Supervisor He Chong suggested that Sima Dan, the son of Emperor Kang, should be established.Emperor Kang was naturally willing, so he made Sima Dan the crown prince.Two days later, Emperor Kang died.He Chongsui enthroned Sima Dan, who was only two years old, as Emperor Mu according to the imperial edict, and the Empress Dowager came to the court as regent. In the first month of the first year of Yonghe (345 A.D.), the empress dowager embraced the two-year-old little emperor behind the curtain of the Taiji Hall, held a grand enthronement ceremony, and announced the change of Yuan Dynasty.In April, the imperial court appointed Sima Yu, king of Kuaiji, as the general of Fujun to participate in the great politics.

In July of the same year, Yu Yi fell ill and died before the Northern Expedition.After discussion, the courtiers believed that Zhu Yu had been guarding the Xifan for several generations, and his heart was stable. According to Yu Yi's wish, he should replace his father with his son Yu Yuanzhi.But He Chong objected: "The land of Jingchu is the western gateway of the country. It has millions of households, dangerous terrain, and the safety of the country. It is worrying for a white-faced boy like Yu Yuanzhi to guard it." He suggested: "Only the governor of Xuzhou Huan Wen has civil and military talents, and his English skills are outstanding, so he can take on important tasks."

Danyang Yin Liu Tun knew that Huan Wen was both talented and ambitious, so he said to Sima Yu, "Not only should Huan Wen not be allowed to occupy dangerous places, but he should also be restrained from time to time so as to keep the country safe and not in danger." Advised Sima Yu personally guards the upper class, but Sima Yu refuses.He also asked himself to guard Wuchang, but Sima Yu still refused.In August, the imperial court finally appointed Huan Wen as the general of Anxi, Chijie, the governor of Jingsi Yongyi, the military governor of the six states of Liang and Ning, and the governor of Jingzhou. He lived in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and had great weight.

Huan Wen married Princess Nankang, the daughter of Emperor Ming, as his wife by marriage in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.This man is both talented and ambitious.He intends to regain the lost land, and wants to use the Northern Expedition to make contributions, improve his prestige, and then proclaim himself emperor on behalf of the Jin Dynasty.At this time, the Chenghan regime of the Li family who occupied Shu was declining and chaotic.Huan Wen seized the opportunity to destroy Shu in one fell swoop.The ministers of the imperial court believed that the road to Shu was dangerous and far away, and Huan Wen's troops were few and deep, making it difficult to win.But Liu Tun said: "Huan Wen is good at gambling. If he is not sure, he will not make a big bet. It seems that Shu will be destroyed. But after Shu is destroyed, he will control the imperial court!"

In November of the second year of Yonghe (AD 346), Huan Wen led Zhou Fu, governor of Yizhou, and Sima Wuji, prefect of Nanjun, to attack Cheng Han.He went straight up the Yangtze River, personally led the infantry, and only brought three days of rations, and pointed directly at Chengdu.Li Shi, the ruler of Cheng Han, was defeated and surrendered.The imperial court conferred the titles of General Huanwen Zhengxi and Kaifu Yitong.When Huan Wen destroyed Shu, his reputation was greatly improved, and the court was afraid of it. Sima Yu, the king of Kuaiji, then used Yin Hao, the famous governor of Yangzhou, to participate in the government to fight against Huan Wen.At this time, drastic changes occurred within the Shi Zhao regime, which occupied most of the Central Plains.At the end of the fifth year of Yonghe (349 A.D.), Ran Min, the adopted grandson of Shi Hu, killed Zhao Lord Shi Jian, wiped out the Shi family, and killed more than 200,000 Hu Jie.In May of the following year, Ran Min proclaimed himself emperor, and the founding country was named Wei, and sent an envoy to inform the Eastern Jin government: "Hu Ni disturbed the Central Plains, and I have tried my best to punish him. Please send troops to wipe out Hu Ni." ignore it.The Murong family of Xianbei came from the west of Liaoning fiercely and concentrated their forces to attack Ran Min.The Eastern Jin Dynasty sat idly by.In the eighth year of Yonghe (352 A.D.), Ran Wei was destroyed by the Murong family.

When Ran Wei asked for support, Huan Wen wanted to take this opportunity to make the Northern Expedition and made several appearances, but the court feared that it would succeed, expand its authority, and be unable to control it, so it deliberately delayed and put it aside.It was not until February of the tenth year of Yonghe (AD 354), after his relative Chu Yan and Yangzhou governor Yin Hao failed in the Northern Expedition, that the Eastern Jin regime had to agree to Huan Wen leading the Northern Expedition.Huan Wen commanded 40,000 cavalry and set out from Jiangling to attack Guanzhong.Before the defeat of Lantian, Qin soldiers entered Bashang near Chang'an.Sanfu counties and counties came to surrender one after another, and the people came to comfort with food and drink, and lined the road to welcome the officers and soldiers of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.Some old people wept excitedly and said: "I never expected to see the officers and soldiers again today." However, Huanwen's Northern Expedition was only to improve his prestige, and he had no determination to break the boat. Unexpectedly, Fu Jian, the former lord of the Qin Dynasty, cleared the walls and cleared the fields, and the Jin army was short of food.In June, Huan Wen moved more than 3,000 households in Guanzhong and returned with his army.

In March of the twelfth year of Yonghe (AD 356), Yao Xiang, the chief of the Qiang nationality, entered Xuchang and then attacked Luoyang.Huan Wen made another northern expedition from Jiangling.In August, defeated Yao Xiang and recovered Luoyang.Huan Wen suggested many times to move the capital to Luoyang.However, the Eastern Jin court in the southern corner of An'an had no ambition to return to the north, so it had to give up. In the first month of the second year (357 A.D.), the 15-year-old Emperor Mu began to rule in person in name, and changed his Yuan to Shengping.But at this time, Emperor Mu was still a young man who had never experienced anything in the world, and could not preside over the state affairs.The real power is still controlled by Huan Wen.

As he grew older, Emperor Mu became sensible.However, the extravagant court life made the young emperor weak and often fell ill, so he never made any achievements in governing the country.In May of the fifth year of Shengping (361 A.D.), the 19-year-old Emperor Mu fell ill again and died soon after. He was buried in Yongping Mausoleum with the temple name "Xiaozong".