5. The Princes of Hejian and Changsha (Simas Yong and Ai) Versus The Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong, 302
In 302, Sima Yong, claiming that the Emperor had secretly ordered him to fight Sima Jiong (his second cousin once removed), rose in rebellion and marched towards Luoyang. Sima Yong, intending to take Luoyang with as little casualties as possible, hatched a ruse against Sima Jiong.
Sima Yong claimed that the Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai, was actually his contact in Luoyang. Upon hearing the news, Sima Jiong sent troops to kill Sima Ai; however, Sima Ai escaped and fled to the imperial palace for protection. There, using both imperial guards and his own personal forces, Sima Ai fought Sima Jiong (his second cousin) within Luoyang itself for three days. Sima Jiong lost and was killed, and his supporters exterminated.
Sima Yong was not happy about this state of affairs. He had expected Sima Ai to lose, thus allowing Sima Yong to enter Luoyang, kill Sima Jiong, replace Emperor Hui with the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying (Emperor Hui's and Ai's brother and Sima Yong's second cousin once removed), and appoint himself as Prime Minister. The stage was set for another conflict.
Read more about this topic: War Of The Eight Princes
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