First, in the Central Plains, Liu Yuan established the Han Dynasty to oppose the Western Jin Dynasty. After Liu Yuan's death, Liu Yao changed the name of the country to "Zhao", which was called Qian Zhao in history. Former Zhao destroyed the Western Jin Dynasty. However, due to the internal struggle of former Zhao, the powerful minister Schleswig became independent and established Guo Xiang. Later, the former Zhao was destroyed, which was called "the post-Zhao" in history. Those who are not among the sixteen countries will destroy the post-Zhao.
Secondly, in the northeast, Murong Department, Yuwen Department and Xianbei Department of Xianbei began to move south. Among them, Murong Department of Xianbei is the most powerful, and Murong Yong established Yan Qian.
Thirdly, in the northwest, Zhang Gui, the minister of the Western Jin Dynasty, saw that the Central Plains was changing and Liangzhou was a place to avoid chaos, so he got the position of Liangzhou secretariat. When Zhang Zhonghua, his grandson, set up his own business, he was called "Former Cool" in history.
In Sichuan, Te Li and Li Xiong established the Han Cheng regime, which was the earliest country in the Sixteen Countries Period. Later, it was destroyed by Huan Wen's Western Expedition in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
Then came the rise of the former Qin Dynasty, which wiped out all northern regimes, including Wei Ran, Yan Qian and Zhao Qian, and unified the north. After the Battle of Feishui, the former Qin regime collapsed rapidly, one of the reasons was that Murong's Zionist movement got in the way. Later, Xiyan, which was not among the sixteen countries, defeated the former Qin Dynasty, and Mu Rongchui established Houyan.
The former Qin Dynasty was finally replaced by the later Qin Dynasty Yao Chang. Later, the post-Qin Dynasty was destroyed by the Northern Expedition of Emperor Wudi of the Southern Song Dynasty.
In the northeast, Hou Yan was defeated in the Northern Wei Dynasty. The most famous battle is called "Participating in the Battle of Slope". Later, Feng Ba usurped the throne and established Beiyan. Unwilling to cling to Feng Ba, Murong Xianbei went south and established Southern Yan with Murong Bao as the leader. Beiyan was later destroyed by the Northern Wei Dynasty, and Southern Yan was destroyed by Emperor Wu of Song's Northern Expedition.
In the northwest, Lv Guang established Hou Liang, begged Guo Fu people and Western Qin, and Helian Bobo, a descendant of Xiongnu, established Daxia. Later, Hou Liang split, Bald Gu and others established Nanliang, Duan Ye was replaced by Ju Qumengxun after independence, and established Beiliang. The rest of Duan Ye's subordinates established Xiliang headed by Li Jue. These countries, including Tuguhun, Northern Wei and Rouran, fought against each other. In the end, Hou Liang surrendered to the late Qin Dynasty, which was destroyed by the Great Summer. The Great Summer was defeated by the Northern Wei Dynasty and later destroyed by Tuguhun. Nanliang was destroyed by the Western Qin Dynasty. Beiliang was destroyed by the Northern Wei Dynasty, and Xiliang was destroyed by Beiliang. The Northern Wei Dynasty became a big winner in the northwest.
In Sichuan, Huan Wen and the Eastern Jin Dynasty occupied Sichuan for a short time. Qiao Zong established Houshu here. Houshu is not among the sixteen countries.
Therefore, the sixteen countries have five coolness: front coolness, back coolness, south coolness, north coolness and west coolness.
Four Swallows: Yan Qian, Houyan, Beiyan and Southern Yan.
Sanqin: Pre-Qin, Post-Qin and Western Qin.
Two Zhao: the former Zhao and the latter Zhao.
And Xia and Han Cheng.
Other countries or tribes vying for hegemony in the North include Wei Ran, Saixixi, Qiu Chi, Zhai Wei, Houshu, Yuwen Department of Xianbei, Xianbei Section, Daiguo (predecessor of Northern Wei Dynasty), Tuguhun, Rouran and so on.