百感交集 — “To be overwhelmed with a myriad of mixed emotions”

During the Western Jin Dynasty, internal conflicts within the ruling class were severe. The "Rebellion of the Eight Princes," lasting sixteen years, brought profound disaster to the country and its people. Liu Yu, a Huns noble from the north, seized the opportunity to launch an invasion. In the third year of Yongjia reign of Emperor Huai of Jin (309 AD), the Huns army twice advanced deep into the territory, reaching Luoyang, the capital of the Western Jin, but were repelled by the Jin forces.

Facing the turbulent situation, Wei Jie decided to move his family south. His elder brother, Wei Zao, held an official position in the imperial court, and their mother was reluctant to part with Wei Zao. Wei Jie persuaded her to prioritize the family's overall plan, finally convincing her to agree to the southward migration.

In the fourth year of Yongjia, Wei Jie bid farewell to his brother, left Luoyang, and headed south with his mother and wife. Wei Jie had always been frail and sickly. Along the way, he endured countless hardships, trekking long distances and living in the open. As he was about to cross the Yangtze River, his appearance looked haggard and worn out. He said to those around him, "Seeing this vast expanse of the river, my heart is filled with a myriad of emotions. For anyone with feelings, who could possibly dismiss these countless thoughts and sentiments?"

Due to social unrest, Wei Jie's southward migration did not bring him peace and stability. Not long after crossing the river, his wife unfortunately passed away. He eventually arrived in Jiankang (modern-day Nanjing, Jiangsu) and died of illness in the sixth year of Yongjia (312 AD), at the young age of twenty-seven.