Wei Jie lived during the turbulent late Western Jin Dynasty: first came the imbecile Emperor Hui of Jin, with governance scattered among underlings, laws and discipline in ruins, powerful families monopolizing court affairs, the path of loyalty and virtue cut off, villains recommending each other, and the world calling it buying and selling official posts.
Emperor Hui of Jin couldn't even figure out why the frogs in the pond were croaking
During Emperor Hui's reign, conflicts among the noble princes intensified, escalating into the "War of the Eight Princes." The princes engaged in chaotic battles, each enlisting local forces and even colluding with foreign tribes to expand their power. This turmoil among the princes further evolved into a massive conflict between regional warlords and among various Chinese and non-Chinese ethnic groups.
Prince Sima Wei of Chu, jealous of Grand Commandant Wei Guan, ordered Prince Sima Xia of Qinghe to forge an imperial edict and execute Wei Guan along with nine members of his family, sparing only his grandsons Wei Zao and Wei Jie, who were ill and receiving treatment at a physician's home, thus narrowly escaping death. Later, Prince Sima Wei's conspiracy was exposed and he was executed, after which Wei Zao and Wei Jie took up positions at court.
After Emperor Hui of Jin was poisoned by the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, the throne passed to the powerless Emperor Huai, Sima Chi. From their strongholds in Shanxi and Hebei, the warlords Liu Yuan and Shi Le watched this crumbling dynasty—rife with internal strife and on the verge of collapse—like hawks eyeing their prey.
The brilliant and perceptive Wei Jie, sensing the impending chaos across the land, urged his elder brother to move the entire family southward.
Wei Zao said, "As an imperial advisor serving the emperor, I cannot flee to save myself. You, brother, hold the idle post of crown prince's attendant—better you take mother across the river."
Wei Jie said, "In court, one should be loyal to the sovereign; at home, one should honor parents; among friends, one should earn trust. But court affairs have deteriorated to this point—no individual's meager strength can save them. Brother, do your utmost to serve the great Jin; I will care for our mother and let her live out her years. Farewell here—take good care."
Escorting his mother by carriage, Wei Jie journeyed from the Jin capital Luoyang to Jiangxia. Gazing across the surging river toward Yuzhang Commandery, where he sought refuge, he looked back north at Luoyang one last time, knowing his homeland would soon fall to barbarian invaders and he would never return. He lifted his head and sighed, "Facing this vast river, I cannot help but feel a thousand emotions surge together—unless a person has no feelings, who could possibly dispel such a heavy heart?"
After arriving in Yuzhang, the deeply patriotic and family-concerned Wei Jie soon died of exhaustion at just twenty-seven.
"Baigan Jiaoji" is now used to describe a flood of mixed emotions.
Source: *A New Account of the Tales of the World*, Chapter "Speech and Conversation"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "百感交集" came to describe a flood of mixed emotions.