In 417 AD, Liu Yu's Northern Expedition achieved initial results and entered Chang'an. After a hundred years, Chang'an, the capital of the Han Dynasty, once again returned to the hands of the Han people. At this time, Liu Yu was full of spirits and wanted to rely on Guanzhong as the basic plate to continue the Northern Expedition and unify the land of China.
However, before the plan could be implemented, a sudden bad news completely shattered Liu Yu's dream and pulled him back to reality - Liu Muzhi died.
Liu Yu, who learned the news, was shocked and saddened at first. Subsequently, despite the dissuasion of the people in Chang'an City, he resolutely decided to stop the Northern Expedition and led his army back to Jiankang, leaving only the eleven-year-old Liu Yizhen and Wang Zhenwei and other generals to stay in Guanzhong.
It can be said that Liu Muzhi's death made Liu Yu lose the excellent opportunity for the Northern Expedition. So who is Liu Muzhi, and why did his death make Liu Yu give up the Northern Expedition?
Young and intelligent, follow Liu Yu
Liu Mu's family lived in Jingkou and loved to read when he was young. After growing up, Liu Muzhi was also appreciated by Shi Jiang Yi of Langxie at that time because of his talent, and served as the chief bookkeeper. Since then, Liu Muzhi has embarked on the road of official career.
In February 404 AD, Liu Yu gathered more than 1,700 remnants of the Beifu soldiers in the name of hunting, raised troops in Jingkou to revolt, and fired the first shot of the crusade against Huan Xuan.
Soon, Liu Yu occupied Jingkou. At this time, there was no suitable candidate for the position of chief bookkeeper under Liu Yu. Under the recommendation of his confidant He Wuji, Liu Muzhi successfully won this position and became an important strategist under Liu Yu.
Soon after, Liu Yu defeated Huan Xuan and captured Jiankang. In this process, Liu Muzhi also showed his talent. A lot of the big things have been handled quite well. This made Liu Yu attach more importance to Liu Muzhi and asked for his opinion on everything. Liu Muzhi also did his best to assist Liu Yu and spared no effort.
At that time, the laws of the Eastern Jin Dynasty were lax, the discipline was not established, the gate lords were strong and domineering, and the common people could not deal with themselves. Liu Muzhidu adjusted the correction law according to the situation at that time, and made the civilians adapt to the law. Under Liu Yu's example, he quickly changed the political atmosphere at that time.
Giving advice and making meritorious contributions
After eliminating the remnants of Huan Xuan, Liu Yu's prestige reached its peak, but this also made some people feel a crisis.
In December 407 A.D., Wang Mi, the assassin of Yangzhou and the secretary of the book, died. With Liu Yu's merits and prestige at this time, these two positions should have been taken over by him, but they were opposed by Liu Yi and others. After all, Liu Yu at this time had a heavy army, and if he was asked to hold an important position in the imperial court, it was difficult to guarantee that Liu Yu would not become the next Huan Xuan.
In the face of huge resistance, Liu Yu seemed a little hesitant and didn't know how to deal with it. At this time, Liu Muzhi stood up, and he said to Liu Yu: "If you give it to him today, you should be controlled by others." If you lose your authority, you have no way to gain it." At Liu Muzhi's suggestion, Liu Yu personally entered the court to discuss the important issue, and finally successfully took over the post of Yangzhou Assassin Shi and Lu Shangshushi, and grasped the central power. officially entered the power center of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, which also laid the foundation for Liu Yu to become emperor later.
Sitting in the rear, he died of terror
In 416 AD, Liu Yu led an army to the north to conquer Later Qin. Liu Muzhi, who was the first strategist under Liu Yu, was left to guard Jiankang and take control of the imperial court instead of Liu Yu. Liu Muzhi sat in the rear, and it can be said that he did his best, not only to be in charge of the government in Jiankang, but also to dispatch logistics grain and grass to support the army in the expedition. But even so, Liu Muzhi is still in good order.
However, there was a mistake in Baimi, and Liu Muzhi neglected an important matter, and this negligence cost Liu Muzhi his life.
In September 417, Liu Yu destroyed Later Qin and occupied Guanzhong. Luoyang, the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and Chang'an, the capital of the Western Han Dynasty, returned to the hands of the Eastern Jin Dynasty after a lapse of a hundred years. However, in the face of this huge military achievement, Liu Muzhi did not ask the imperial court for the treatment of "Jiuxi" on behalf of Liu Yu.
So, Liu Yu got angry. He sent his henchman Wang Hong to Jiankang from the front to vent his dissatisfaction with the imperial court, and Liu Muzhi died of fright at the age of fifty-eight when he learned the news.
Liu Muzhi's death was a huge blow to Liu Yu. Losing Liu Muzhi, Liu Yu, who was far away in Guanzhong, lost control of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. So, he decided to set off and return to Jiankang. Only his son Liu Yizhen and some generals were left.
And Liu Yu would not have thought that this departure would be his farewell to Chang'an. Soon after, Liu Yizhen was defeated by Helian Bobo and lost Guanzhong. At this point, Liu Yu completely lost the basic plate of the Northern Expedition.
Posthumously sealed
In 420 A.D., Liu Yu usurped the Jin Dynasty as the emperor, and remembered Liu Muzhi and others, posthumously named Liu Muzhi as the Duke of Nankang County, and gave him the title Wenxuan.