Romance, Chapter 119

Chapter 119. A Feigned Surrender and a Clever Scheme Come to Nothing; A Second Abdication Copies the Gourd from the Pattern

Now Zhong Hui invited Jiang Wei to discuss a plan for arresting Deng Ai. Jiang Wei said, “First order the Army Supervisor Wei Guan to arrest Deng Ai. If Deng Ai kills Wei Guan, his intention to rebel will be proven. Then you, General, can raise troops and punish him.” Zhong Hui was delighted, and at once ordered Wei Guan to take several dozen men into Chengdu and arrest Deng Ai and his son. Wei Guan’s followers tried to stop him. “This is the Minister over the Masses Zhong trying to have the General Who Conquers the West Deng kill you, so as to prove that he is a rebel.

卻說鍾會請姜維計議收鄧艾之策。維曰：“可先令監軍衛瓘收艾。艾若殺瓘，反情實矣。將軍卻起兵討之，可也。”會大喜，遂令衛瓘引數十人入成都，收鄧艾父子。瓘手下人止之曰：“此是鍾司徒令鄧徵西殺將軍，以正反情也。

You must not go on any account.” Wei Guan said, “I have a plan of my own.” He first sent out twenty or thirty proclamations. They read: “By imperial command Deng Ai is to be arrested. No one else will be called to account. Those who come early to submit will keep their ranks and rewards as before. Anyone who dares to hold back will have three generations of his family exterminated.” Then he had two cage carts made ready and travelled through the night towards Chengdu.

切不可行。”瓘曰：“吾自有計。”遂先發檄文二三十道。其檄曰：“奉詔收艾，其餘各無所問。若早來歸，爵賞如先，敢有不出者，滅三族。”隨備檻車兩乘，星夜望成都而來。

By cockcrow, those of Deng Ai’s officers who had seen the proclamations had all come and bowed down before Wei Guan’s horse. At that moment Deng Ai was still in bed in his residence. Wei Guan burst in with several dozen men, shouting, “By imperial command, Deng Ai and his son are under arrest!” Deng Ai, greatly startled, tumbled out of bed. Wei Guan barked at his guards to bind him and put him in a cart. His son Deng Zhong came out to ask what was happening, and he too was seized and bound in a cart. The officers and officials of the residence were greatly alarmed and were about to try to rescue them by force, when they saw a great cloud of dust rising in the distance, and scouts reported that Minister Zhong’s main army had arrived.

比及雞鳴，艾部將見檄文者，皆來投拜於衛瓘馬前。時鄧艾在府中未起。瓘引數十人突入大呼曰：“奉詔收鄧艾父子！”艾大驚，滾下牀來。瓘叱武士縛於車上。其子鄧忠出問，亦被捉下，縛於車上。府中將吏大驚，欲待動手搶奪，早望見塵頭大起，哨馬報說鍾司徒大兵到了。

The others all scattered and fled in every direction. Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei dismounted and entered the residence. Seeing Deng Ai and his son already bound, Zhong Hui struck Deng Ai on the head with his whip and cursed him: “You little calf-herder, how dared you behave like this?” Jiang Wei cursed him too: “You wretch, you took reckless risks and trusted to luck, and now your day has come as well!” Deng Ai cursed them loudly in return. Zhong Hui had Deng Ai and his son sent off to Luoyang. He entered Chengdu and took over all of Deng Ai’s army, and his power and fame rose to great heights.

衆各四散奔走。鍾會與姜維下馬入府，見鄧艾父子已被縛，會以鞭撻鄧艾之首而罵曰：“養犢小兒，何敢如此！”姜維亦罵曰：“匹夫行險徼倖，亦有今日耶！”艾亦大罵。會將艾父子送赴洛陽。會入成都，盡得鄧艾軍馬，威聲大震。

Then Zhong Hui said to Jiang Wei, “Today at last I have fulfilled the wish of my life!” Jiang Wei said, “Long ago Han Xin would not listen to the advice of Kuai Tong, and so met disaster in the Weiyang Palace; Grand Master Zhong would not follow Fan Li to the Five Lakes, and in the end fell on his sword and died. Was not the merit and fame of these two men brilliant? It was only that they did not see clearly where gain and harm lay, and did not read the signs early enough. Now, sir, your great deeds are done, and your might is such that it makes your own master tremble. Why not set off in a boat and vanish without a trace, climb the peaks of Mount Emei, and wander with Master Red Pine?”

乃謂姜維曰：“吾今日方趁平生之願矣！”維曰：“昔韓信不聽蒯通之說，而有未央宮之禍；大夫種不從范蠡於五湖，卒伏劍而死：斯二子者，其功名豈不赫然哉，徒以利害未明，而見機之不早也。今公大勳已就，威震其主，何不泛舟絕跡，登峨嵋之嶺，而從赤松子遊乎？”

Zhong Hui laughed. “You are wrong. I am not yet forty, and I am thinking of advancing further. How could I follow such an example of retiring into idleness now?” Jiang Wei said, “If you will not retire into idleness, you should make good plans early. That is well within the powers of your wisdom and strength, illustrious lord; there is no need for an old man like me to say more.” Zhong Hui clapped his hands and laughed aloud. “Boyue, you know my heart.” From then on the two of them discussed their great enterprise every day. Jiang Wei secretly sent a letter to the Latter Ruler: “I beg Your Majesty to bear the humiliation of a few more days. I, Wei, will restore the imperiled altars of the state to safety and make the darkened sun and moon shine again. I will never let the House of Han perish in the end.”

會笑曰：“君言差矣。吾年未四旬，方思進取，豈能便效此退閒之事？”維曰：“若不退閒，當早圖良策。此則明公智力所能，無煩老夫之言矣。”會撫掌大笑曰：“伯約知吾心也。”二人自此每日商議大事。維密與後主書曰：“望陛下忍數日之辱，維將使社稷危而復安，日月幽而復明。必不使漢室終滅也。”

Now while Zhong Hui was plotting rebellion with Jiang Wei, it was suddenly reported that a letter had come from Sima Zhao. Zhong Hui took the letter, which said, “Fearing that you, Minister, might not succeed in arresting Deng Ai, I have come in person to station troops at Changan. We shall meet soon, so I am letting you know in advance.” Zhong Hui was greatly alarmed. “My army is several times larger than Deng Ai’s. If all he wanted was for me to capture Deng Ai, the Duke of Jin knows I could do it alone. Now he is coming in person with an army—that means he suspects me!”

卻說鍾會正與姜維謀反，忽報司馬昭有書到。會接書。書中言：“吾恐司徒收艾不下，自屯兵於長安；相見在近，以此先報。”會大驚曰：“吾兵多艾數倍，若但要我擒艾，晉公知吾獨能辦之。今日自引兵來，是疑我也！”

So he consulted Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei said, “When a lord suspects his servant, that servant is sure to die. Did you not see what happened to Deng Ai?” Zhong Hui said, “My mind is made up! If I succeed, I shall have the empire; if I fail, I can fall back and hold Western Shu, and at least become another Liu Bei.” Jiang Wei said, “I have heard that the Empress Dowager Guo has recently died. You could claim falsely that she left a testamentary edict ordering Sima Zhao to be punished for the crime of murdering his sovereign. With your talents, illustrious lord, the Central Plains could be rolled up like a mat and brought to order.”

遂與姜維計議。維曰：“君疑臣則臣必死，豈不見鄧艾乎？”會曰：“吾意決矣！事成則得天下，不成則退西蜀，亦不失作劉備也。”維曰：“近聞郭太后新亡，可詐稱太后有遺詔，教討司馬昭，以正弒君之罪。據明公之才，中原可席捲而定。”

Zhong Hui said, “Boyue, you shall lead the vanguard. When the thing is done, we shall share wealth and honour together.” Jiang Wei said, “I am willing to give my humble service like a dog or a horse. My only fear is that the generals will not go along with it.” Zhong Hui said, “Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. We will hang lanterns everywhere in the old palace and invite the generals to a feast. Any who will not go along with us will all be killed.” Jiang Wei was secretly delighted. The next day Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei invited the generals to a feast. After the wine had gone round several times, Zhong Hui took up his cup and burst into tears.

會曰：“伯約當作先鋒。成事之後，同享富貴。”維曰：“願效犬馬微勞，但恐諸將不服耳。”會曰：“來日元宵佳節，於故宮大張燈火，請諸將飲宴。如不從者盡殺之。”維暗喜。次日，會、維二人請諸將飲宴。數巡後，會執杯大哭。

The generals asked in alarm what was the matter, and Zhong Hui said, “Here is the testamentary edict that the Empress Dowager Guo left when she was dying. Because Sima Zhao murdered his sovereign at the Southern Gate Tower, a vile traitor without principle who will soon usurp the throne of Wei, she commanded me to punish him. Each of you sign your names, and let us accomplish this together.” The whole company was aghast, and they could only stare at one another. Zhong Hui drew his sword from its sheath. “Whoever disobeys will be beheaded!” They were all afraid and had no choice but to go along. When the signing was done, Zhong Hui confined the generals in the palace and had them strictly guarded by soldiers.

諸將驚問其故，會曰：“郭太后臨崩有遺詔在此，爲司馬昭南闕弒君，大逆無道，早晚將篡魏，命吾討之。汝等各自僉名，共成此事。”衆皆大驚，面面相覷。會拔劍出鞘曰：“違令者斬！”衆皆恐懼，只得相從。畫字已畢，會乃困諸將於宮中，嚴兵禁守。

Jiang Wei said, “I can see the generals have not submitted. I beg you to bury them in a pit.” Zhong Hui said, “I have already had a pit dug in the palace and several thousand heavy clubs made ready. Any who will not go along will be beaten to death and thrown into the pit.”

維曰：“我見諸將不服，請坑之。”會曰：“吾已令宮中掘一坑，置大棒數千；如不從者，打死坑之。”

Now a trusted officer of Zhong Hui’s, Qiu Jian, was standing by. Qiu Jian had once served under the Army Protector Hu Lie, who was now also confined in the palace. Qiu Jian secretly told Hu Lie what Zhong Hui had said. Hu Lie was horrified and said in tears, “My son Hu Yuan is outside in command of troops. How could he know that Zhong Hui harbours such designs? If for the sake of our old friendship you would get a message through to him, I would die without regret.” Qiu Jian said, “Do not worry, my benefactor. Let me see what I can do.”

時有心腹將丘建在側。建乃護軍胡烈部下舊人也，時胡烈亦被監在宮。建乃密將鍾會所言，報知胡烈。烈大驚，泣告曰：“吾兒胡淵領兵在外，安知會懷此心耶？汝可念何日之情，透一消息，雖死無恨。”建曰：“恩主勿憂，容某圖之。”

So he went out and said to Zhong Hui, “My lord, you have the generals under house arrest inside, and it is hard for them to get food and water. You might have one man go back and forth to take things in to them.” Zhong Hui had always listened to Qiu Jian, so he put Qiu Jian in charge of watching over them. Zhong Hui instructed him, “I am entrusting you with a matter of great importance. Do not let anything leak out.” Qiu Jian said, “Set your mind at rest, my lord. I have my own strict methods.” Qiu Jian secretly let a trusted man of Hu Lie’s go inside, and Hu Lie gave him a secret letter.

遂出告會曰：“主公軟監諸將在內，水食不便，可令一人往來傳遞。”會素聽丘建之言，遂令丘建監臨。會分付曰：“吾以重事託汝，休得泄漏。”建曰：“主公放心，某自有緊嚴之法。”建暗令胡烈親信人入內，烈以密書付其人。

The man took the letter with all speed to Hu Yuan’s camp, told him the whole story and handed over the secret letter. Hu Yuan was greatly alarmed and at once showed it round all the camps. The officers were furious and came hurrying to Hu Yuan’s camp to confer. “Even if we die for it, how could we follow a rebel?” Hu Yuan said, “At midday on the eighteenth of the first month we will suddenly burst into the palace and do thus and thus.” The Army Supervisor Wei Guan was very pleased with Hu Yuan’s plan. He at once put his troops in order and had Qiu Jian pass word to Hu Lie, and Hu Lie told the other generals.

其人持書火速至胡淵營內，細言其事，呈上密書。淵大驚，遂遍示諸營知之。衆將大怒，急來淵營商議曰：“我等雖死，豈肯從反臣耶？”淵曰：“正月十八日中，可驟入內，如此行之。”監軍衛瓘深喜胡淵之謀，即整頓了人馬，令丘建傳與胡烈。烈報知諸將。

Now Zhong Hui sent for Jiang Wei and asked him, “Last night I dreamed that several thousand great snakes were biting me. Is that a good omen or a bad one?” Jiang Wei said, “To dream of dragons or snakes is always a sign of good fortune.” Zhong Hui was pleased and believed him. He said to Jiang Wei, “The weapons are now ready. What if we let the generals out and question them?” Jiang Wei said, “All these men are unwilling to submit. If they are left for long they will surely cause trouble. Better to kill them while there is still time.” Zhong Hui agreed, and at once ordered Jiang Wei to take armed guards and go and kill the Wei generals.

卻說鍾會請姜維問曰：“吾夜夢大蛇數千條咬吾，主何吉凶？”維曰：“夢龍蛇者，皆吉慶之兆也。”會喜，信其言，乃謂維曰：“器仗已備，放諸將出問之，若何？”維曰：“此輩皆有不服之心，久必爲害，不如乘早戮之。”會從之，即命姜維領武士往殺衆魏將。

Jiang Wei received the order, but just as he was about to act, he was seized by a sudden pain in his chest and fell to the ground in a faint. His attendants helped him up, and it was a long while before he came to. Suddenly it was reported that there was a great clamour of voices outside the palace. Zhong Hui was just sending someone to find out when a great roar of shouting went up, and troops without number came pouring in from every side. Jiang Wei said, “This must be the generals making trouble. We must behead them first.” Then it was reported that troops were already inside. Zhong Hui had the doors of the hall shut and sent soldiers up onto the roof to pelt the attackers with tiles. Several dozen men were killed on both sides.

維領命，方欲行動，忽然一陣心疼，昏倒在地；左右扶起，半晌方蘇。忽報宮外人聲沸騰。會方令人探時，喊聲大震，四面八方，無限兵到。維曰：“此必是諸將作惡，可先斬之。”忽報兵已入內。會令閉上殿門，使軍士上殿屋以瓦擊之，互相殺死數十人。

Fires sprang up on every side of the palace, and the troops outside hacked open the doors of the hall and burst in. Zhong Hui drew his own sword and cut down several men on the spot, but he was brought down by a flight of arrows. The generals cut off his head and hung it up. Jiang Wei drew his sword and rushed up into the hall, charging this way and that, but unluckily the pain in his chest grew worse. Looking up to heaven, he cried aloud, “My plan has failed. It is the will of Heaven!” And he cut his own throat and died. He was fifty-nine years old. Several hundred people died in the palace.

宮外四面火起，外兵砍開殿門殺入。會自掣劍立殺數人，卻被亂箭射倒。衆將梟其首。維拔劍上殿，往來衝突，不幸心疼轉加。維仰天大叫曰：“吾計不成，乃天命也！”遂自刎而死。時年五十九歲。宮中死者數百人。

Wei Guan said, “Let all the troops go back to their camps and await the King’s orders.” The Wei soldiers, each eager for revenge, cut open Jiang Wei’s belly between them, and found his gall bladder as big as a hen’s egg. The generals also seized all of Jiang Wei’s family and put them to death. When Deng Ai’s men saw that Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei were dead, they set off that very night in pursuit to rescue Deng Ai. Someone had already told Wei Guan. Wei Guan said, “It was I who arrested Deng Ai. If he is allowed to live now, there will be no place left for me even to be buried.”

衛瓘曰：“衆軍各歸營所，以待王命。”魏兵爭欲報仇，共剖維腹，其膽大如雞卵。衆將又盡取姜維家屬殺之。鄧艾部下之人，見鍾會、姜維已死，遂連夜去追劫鄧艾。早有人報知衛瓘。瓘曰：“是我捉艾；今若留他，我無葬身之地矣。”

The Army Protector Tian Xu said, “When Deng Ai took Jiangyou, he wanted to kill me, and I was spared only because the other officers pleaded for me. Today I shall avenge that wrong!” Wei Guan was delighted and at once sent Tian Xu with five hundred men in pursuit to Mianzhu. There he came upon Deng Ai and his son, who had just been let out of their cage carts and were about to return to Chengdu. Deng Ai thought it was only his own troops arriving and made no preparations. Just as he was about to ask what was going on, Tian Xu cut him down with one stroke of his sword. Deng Zhong also died in the confusion of the fighting.

護軍田續曰：“昔鄧艾取江油之時，欲殺續，得衆官告免。今日當報此恨！”瓘大喜，遂遣田續引五百兵趕至綿竹，正遇鄧艾父子放出檻車，欲還成都。艾只道是本部兵到，不作準備；欲待問時，被田續一刀斬之。鄧忠亦死於亂軍之中。

A later poet lamented Deng Ai:
From his youth he was skilled at laying plans,
Full of stratagems and able in war.
He fixed his gaze and knew the lie of the land;
He raised his face and read the signs of heaven.
Where his horses came, the mountains’ roots were cut;
Where his soldiers went, the stony paths split apart.
His work achieved, he himself was slain;
His soul now circles the clouds above the Han River.

後人有詩嘆鄧艾曰：“自幼能籌畫，多謀善用兵。
凝眸知地理，仰面識天文。
馬到山根斷，兵來石徑分。
功成身被害，魂繞漢江雲。
”

Another poem lamented Zhong Hui:
As a boy he was famed for his early wisdom,
And served in time as a Gentleman of the Imperial Library.
His brilliant schemes won the Simas’ full trust,
And men of that day called him Zifang.
At Shouchun he gave much counsel to the plans;
At Jiange he showed the soaring might of a hawk.
But he would not learn from Lord Taozhu and retire,
So his wandering soul now mourns its homeland.
Another poem lamented Jiang Wei:
Tianshui boasts of its heroes;
Liang Province brought forth a rare talent.
His line came down from the Grand Duke Shangfu;
His art he received from the Martial Marquis.
His great courage knew no fear;
His bold heart swore never to turn back.
On the day he died in Chengdu,
The generals of Han were left with lasting grief.

又有詩嘆鍾會曰：“髫年稱早慧，曾作祕書郎。
妙計傾司馬，當時號子房。
壽春多贊畫，劍閣顯鷹揚。
不學陶朱隱，遊魂悲故鄉。
”又有詩嘆姜維曰：“天水誇英俊，涼州產異才。
系從尚父出，術奉武侯來。
大膽應無懼，雄心誓不回。
成都身死日，漢將有餘哀。
”

Now Jiang Wei, Zhong Hui and Deng Ai were dead, and Zhang Yi and others had also died in the confusion of the fighting. The Heir Apparent Liu Xuan and Guan Yi, Marquis of Hanshouting, were both killed by the Wei troops. Soldiers and common people were in wild disorder, trampling one another, and the dead were beyond counting. About ten days later Jia Chong arrived first and put up notices to reassure the people, and only then was order restored. Wei Guan was left to hold Chengdu, and the Latter Ruler was moved to Luoyang. Only a few men went with him: the Director of the Secretariat Fan Jian, the Palace Attendant Zhang Shao, the Imperial Household Grandee Qiao Zhou, the Gentleman of the Imperial Library Xi Zheng and a few others. Liao Hua and Dong Jue both pleaded illness and stayed in their beds, and later both died of grief.

卻說姜維、鍾會、鄧艾已死，張翼等亦死於亂軍之中。太子劉璿、漢壽亭侯關彝，皆被魏兵所殺。軍民大亂，互相踐踏，死者不計其數。旬日後，賈充先至，出榜安民。方始寧靖。留衛瓘守成都，乃遷後主赴洛陽。止有尚書令樊建、侍中張紹、光祿大夫譙周、祕書郎郤正等數人跟隨。廖化、董厥皆託病不起，後皆憂死。

At that time the fifth year of Jingyuan of Wei was changed to the first year of Xianxi. In the third month, in spring, the Wu general Ding Feng, seeing that Shu had already fallen, withdrew his troops and returned to Wu. The Assistant of the Secretariat Hua He memorialized Sun Xiu, the Ruler of Wu: “Wu and Shu are like lips and teeth. When the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold. I reckon that Sima Zhao will attack Wu very soon. I beg Your Majesty to strengthen our defences with the greatest care.” Sun Xiu followed his advice. He made Lu Kang, son of Lu Xun, Senior General Who Guards the East and Imperial Protector of Jing Province, to guard Jiangkou. The General of the Left Sun Yi was to guard the narrow passes around Nanxu. Along the whole length of the river several hundred camps of troops were stationed, with the veteran general Ding Feng in overall command, to guard against the Wei troops.

時魏景元五年改爲鹹熙元年，春三月，吳將丁奉見蜀已亡，遂收兵還吳。中書丞華覈奏吳主孫休曰：“吳、蜀乃脣齒也，脣亡則齒寒；臣料司馬昭伐吳在即，乞陛下深加防禦。”休從其言，遂命陸遜子陸抗爲鎮東大將軍，領荊州牧，守江口；左將軍孫異守南徐諸處隘口；又沿江一帶，屯兵數百營，老將丁奉總督之，以防魏兵。

When Huo Yi, Prefect of Jianning, heard that Chengdu had fallen, he put on plain white mourning, faced west and wept bitterly for three days. His officers all said, “Since the Ruler of Han has lost his throne, why not surrender at once?” Huo Yi wept and said, “The roads are cut, and we do not know whether our lord is safe or in danger. If the Ruler of Wei treats him with courtesy, it will not be too late to surrender the city then. But if by any chance our lord is endangered or humiliated—when the lord is humiliated, his servant must die. How could we surrender?” They all agreed with him, and he sent men to Luoyang to find out what had become of the Latter Ruler.

建寧太守霍弋聞成都不守，素服望西大哭三日。諸將皆曰：“既漢主失位，何不速降？”弋泣謂曰：“道路隔絕，未知吾主安危若何。若魏主以禮待之，則舉城而降，未爲晚也；萬一危辱吾主，則主辱臣死，何可降乎？”衆然其言，乃使人到洛陽，探聽後主消息去了。

Meanwhile, when the Latter Ruler reached Luoyang, Sima Zhao had already returned to the capital. Sima Zhao rebuked him: “You were dissolute and without principle; you cast aside worthy men and misgoverned your state. By rights you should be put to death.” The Latter Ruler’s face turned the colour of earth, and he did not know what to do. The officials, civil and military, all said, “Though the Ruler of Shu lost control of his state, happily he surrendered early. It would be right to pardon him.” So Sima Zhao made Liu Shan Duke of Anle, granted him a residence and a monthly allowance, and gave him ten thousand bolts of silk and a hundred servants and maids.

且說後主至洛陽時，司馬昭已自回朝。昭責後主曰：“公荒淫無道，廢賢失政，理宜誅戮。”後主面如土色，不知所爲。文武皆奏曰：“蜀主既失國紀，幸早歸降，宜赦之。”昭乃封禪爲安樂公，賜住宅，月給用度，賜絹萬匹，僮婢百人。

His son Liu Yao and his ministers Fan Jian, Qiao Zhou, Xi Zheng and others were all made marquises. The Latter Ruler gave thanks for this kindness and left the palace. Because Huang Hao had eaten away at the state like a worm and done harm to the people, Sima Zhao had guards drag him out to the marketplace and put him to death by slow slicing. When Huo Yi learned that the Latter Ruler had been given a title, he brought his troops and surrendered. The next day the Latter Ruler went in person to Sima Zhao’s residence to bow and give thanks. Sima Zhao gave a banquet in his honour and first had Wei music and dances performed before them. The officials of Shu were moved to grief, but the Latter Ruler alone looked pleased.

子劉瑤及羣臣樊建、譙周、郤正等，皆封侯爵。後主謝恩出內。昭因黃皓蠹國害民，令武士押出市曹，凌遲處死。時霍弋探聽得後主受封，遂率部下軍士來降。次日，後主親詣司馬昭府下拜謝。昭設宴款待，先以魏樂舞戲於前，蜀官感傷，獨後主有喜色。

When Sima Zhao had men of Shu perform the music of Shu before them, the officials of Shu all shed tears, but the Latter Ruler laughed and enjoyed himself as though nothing were amiss. When the wine had gone round and they were half drunk, Sima Zhao said to Jia Chong, “That a man could be so lacking in feeling! Even if Zhuge Kongming were still alive, he could not have kept such a man safe for long, let alone Jiang Wei.” Then he asked the Latter Ruler, “Do you not miss Shu a good deal?” The Latter Ruler said, “I am happy here. I do not miss Shu.” A little later the Latter Ruler rose to go to the privy, and Xi Zheng followed him out to the side chamber and said, “Why did Your Majesty answer that you did not miss Shu?

昭令蜀人扮蜀樂於前，蜀官盡皆墮淚，後主嬉笑自若。酒至半酣，昭謂賈充曰：“人之無情，乃至於此！雖使諸葛孔明在，亦不能輔之久全，何況姜維乎？”乃問後主曰：“頗思蜀否？”後主曰：“此間樂，不思蜀也。”須臾，後主起身更衣，郤正跟至廂下曰：“陛下如何答應不思蜀也？

If he asks you again, weep and answer: ‘The tombs of my forebears are far away in the land of Shu. My heart turns sadly westward, and not a day goes by that I do not think of it.’ Then the Duke of Jin is sure to let Your Majesty go back to Shu.” The Latter Ruler fixed this firmly in his memory and returned to his seat. When the wine had begun to take effect, Sima Zhao asked him again, “Do you not miss Shu a good deal?” The Latter Ruler answered in Xi Zheng’s words. He tried to weep, but no tears would come, so he simply closed his eyes. Sima Zhao said, “Why, that sounds just like Xi Zheng!” The Latter Ruler opened his eyes and stared in surprise. “It is exactly as you say.”

倘彼再問，可泣而答曰：先人墳墓，遠在蜀地，乃心西悲，無日不思。晉公必放陛下歸蜀矣。”後主牢記入席。酒將微醉，昭又問曰：“頗思蜀否？”後主如郤正之言以對，欲哭無淚，遂閉其目。昭曰：“何乃似郤正語耶？”後主開目驚視曰：“誠如尊命。”

Sima Zhao and all those around him laughed at him. Because of this Sima Zhao was well pleased with the Latter Ruler’s simple honesty and harboured no suspicion of him at all.

昭及左右皆笑之。昭因此深喜後主誠實，並不疑慮。

A later poet lamented:
He sought his pleasures, made merry, all smiles,
With not the least grief for the ruin of his state.
Content in a strange land, he forgot his own country—
Now we know the Latter Ruler was a man of no account.

後人有詩嘆曰：“追歡作樂笑顏開，不念危亡半點哀。
快樂異鄉忘故國，方知後主是庸才。
”

Now because Sima Zhao had won merit by taking the lands of Shu, the high ministers at court resolved to honour him with the title of king, and sent up a memorial to Cao Huan, the Ruler of Wei. Cao Huan was Son of Heaven in name only and could in fact decide nothing for himself; all government was in the hands of the Sima family, and he dared not refuse. So he raised Sima Zhao, Duke of Jin, to be King of Jin, and conferred on his father Sima Yi the posthumous title of King Xuan, and on his elder brother Sima Shi that of King Jing. Sima Zhao’s wife, a daughter of Wang Su, had borne him two sons. The elder, Sima Yan, was a man of imposing stature: when he stood, his hair reached the ground, and his hands hung down below his knees. He was intelligent, heroic and martial, and bolder than other men. The younger, Sima You, was gentle and mild by nature, respectful, frugal, filial and loving to his brother, and Sima Zhao was very fond of him. Because Sima Shi had no son, Sima You had been made his heir to continue his line.

卻說朝中大臣因昭收川有功，遂尊之爲王，表奏魏主曹奐。時奐名爲天子，實不能主張，政皆由司馬氏，不敢不從，遂封晉公司馬昭爲晉王，諡父司馬懿爲宣王，兄司馬師爲景王。昭妻乃王肅之女，生二子：長曰司馬炎，人物魁偉，立發垂地，兩手過膝，聰明英武，膽量過人；次曰司馬攸，情性溫和，恭儉孝悌，昭甚愛之，因司馬師無子，嗣攸以繼其後。

Sima Zhao had often said, “The empire belongs to my elder brother.” So when he was made King of Jin, he wanted to make Sima You his heir. Shan Tao remonstrated: “To set aside the elder son and set up the younger goes against the rites and bodes ill.” Jia Chong, He Zeng and Pei Xiu also remonstrated: “Your eldest son is intelligent and divinely martial, with talents that surpass his age. He already enjoys great popular esteem, and his heaven-sent bearing is such that he does not have the look of a subject.” Sima Zhao hesitated and could not decide. The Grand Commandant Wang Xiang and the Minister of Works Xun Yi remonstrated: “In past ages, setting up a younger son has usually brought the state into disorder.

昭常曰：“天下者，乃吾兄之天下也。”於是司馬昭受封晉王，欲立攸爲世子。山濤諫曰：“廢長立幼，違禮不祥。”賈充、何曾、裴秀亦諫曰：“長子聰明神武，有超世之才；人望既茂，天表如此：非人臣之相也。”昭猶豫未決。太尉王祥、司空荀顗諫曰：“前代立少，多致亂國。

We beg Your Highness to consider this.” In the end Sima Zhao made his eldest son Sima Yan his heir. The high ministers reported: “This year in Xiangwu County a man came down from heaven. He was over twenty feet tall, and his footprints were three feet two inches long. He had white hair and a grizzled beard, wore an unlined yellow robe and a yellow turban, and leaned on a staff of goosefoot wood. He called himself ‘the King of the People’ and said, ‘I have come to tell you: when the empire changes its master, you shall see great peace at once.’ He walked about the marketplace like this for three days and then suddenly vanished.

願殿下思之。”昭遂立長子司馬炎爲世子。大臣奏稱：“當年襄武縣，天降一人，身長二丈餘，腳跡長三尺二寸，白髮蒼髯，着黃單衣；裹黃巾，拄藜頭杖，自稱曰：吾乃民王也。今來報汝：天下換主，立見太平。如此在市遊行三日，忽然不見。

This is an auspicious sign for Your Highness. Your Highness should wear the crown with twelve strings of pearls, raise the banners of the Son of Heaven, have the roads cleared and guarded when you go out and come in, ride in the golden-wheeled carriage drawn by six horses, raise your consort to be Queen, and make your heir the Heir Apparent.” Sima Zhao was secretly delighted. He went back to his palace, and just as he was about to eat, he was suddenly struck by a stroke and lost the power of speech. The next day his illness became critical. The Grand Commandant Wang Xiang, the Minister over the Masses He Zeng, the Minister of Works Xun Yi and other high ministers came into the palace to ask after him. Sima Zhao could not speak. He pointed at his heir Sima Yan with his hand and died.

此乃殿下之瑞也。殿下可戴十二旒冠冕，建天子旌旗，出警入蹕，乘金根車，備六馬，進王妃爲王后，立世子爲太子。”昭心中暗喜；回到宮中，正欲飲食，忽中風不語。次日，病危，太尉王祥、司徒何曾、司馬荀顗及諸大臣入宮問安，昭不能言，以手指太子司馬炎而死。

It was the day xinmao of the eighth month. He Zeng said, “All the great affairs of the empire now rest with the King of Jin. The Heir Apparent should be made King of Jin first, and then the sacrifices and burial can be held.” That day Sima Yan took the throne as King of Jin. He made He Zeng Chancellor of Jin, Sima Wang Minister over the Masses, Shi Bao General of Swift Cavalry and Chen Qian General of Chariots and Cavalry, and gave his father the posthumous title King Wen. When the burial was over, Sima Yan summoned Jia Chong and Pei Xiu to the palace and asked, “Cao Cao once said, ‘If the mandate of Heaven lies with me, I shall be a King Wen of Zhou!’

時八月辛卯日也。何曾曰：“天下大事，皆在晉王；可立太子爲晉王，然後祭葬。”是日，司馬炎即晉王位，封何曾爲晉丞相，司馬望爲司徒，石苞爲驃騎將軍，陳騫爲車騎將軍，諡父爲文王。安葬已畢，炎召賈充、裴秀入宮問曰：“曹操曾雲：若天命在吾，吾其爲周文王乎！

Is that really true?” Jia Chong said, “Cao Cao’s family had received the salary of Han for generations. He was afraid people would call him a usurper and a traitor, so he said that. It was plainly a lesson to Cao Pi to make himself Son of Heaven.” Sima Yan said, “How does my father the King compare with Cao Cao?” Jia Chong said, “Though Cao Cao’s achievements covered the whole of China, the common people feared his might but did not love his virtue. When his son Cao Pi succeeded him, the burdens of labour were very heavy, and they were driven east and west without a single year of peace. After them, our King Xuan and King Jing won great victories one after another and spread kindness and virtue, and the hearts of the empire have long since turned to them.

果有此事否？”充曰：“操世受漢祿，恐人議論篡逆之名，故出此言。乃明教曹丕爲天子也。”炎曰：“孤父王比曹操何如？”充曰：“操雖功蓋華夏，下民畏其威而不懷其德。子丕繼業，差役甚重，東西驅馳，未有寧歲。後我宣王、景王，累建大功，布恩施德，天下歸心久矣。

King Wen swallowed up Western Shu, and his achievements cover the whole world. How could Cao Cao compare with him?” Sima Yan said, “If even Cao Pi could succeed to the line of Han, why should I not succeed to the line of Wei?” Jia Chong and Pei Xiu bowed twice and said, “Your Highness should follow the precedent of Cao Pi succeeding the Han: build another Altar of Accepting the Abdication, proclaim it to the empire, and take the supreme throne.” Sima Yan was delighted, and the next day he entered the palace wearing his sword. At that time Cao Huan, the Ruler of Wei, had not held court for several days; his mind was in a daze, and he hardly knew what he was doing.

文王併吞西蜀，功蓋寰宇。又豈操之可比乎？”炎曰：“曹丕尚紹漢統，孤豈不可紹魏統耶？”賈充、裴秀二人再拜而奏曰：“殿下正當法曹丕紹漢故事，復築受禪壇，佈告天下，以即大位。”炎大喜，次日帶劍入內。此時，魏主曹奐連日不曾設朝，心神恍惚，舉止失措。

Sima Yan went straight into the inner palace, and Cao Huan hurriedly came down from the imperial couch to greet him. When Sima Yan had taken his seat, he asked, “Through whose efforts was the empire of Wei won?” Cao Huan said, “It was all the gift of your father and grandfather, King of Jin.” Sima Yan laughed. “As I see Your Majesty, you cannot discuss the Way as a man of letters, nor govern the state as a man of arms. Why not yield the throne to someone of talent and virtue to rule?” Cao Huan was aghast, and his tongue was tied so that he could not speak. Beside him was the Gentleman of the Yellow Gate Zhang Jie, who shouted, “The King of Jin is wrong!

炎直入後宮，奐慌下御榻而迎。炎坐畢，問曰：“魏之天下，誰之力也？”奐曰：“皆晉王父祖之賜耳。”炎笑曰：“吾觀陛下，文不能論道，武不能經邦。何不讓有才德者主之？”奐大驚，口噤不能言。傍有黃門侍郎張節大喝曰：“晉王之言差矣！

In days gone by the Martial Founder Emperor of Wei swept away enemies in the east and west and campaigned to the south and north; it was no easy thing for him to win this empire. The present Son of Heaven is virtuous and has done no wrong. Why should he give it up to another?” Sima Yan flew into a rage. “These altars of the state were the altars of the great Han. Cao Cao held the Son of Heaven hostage to command the nobles, made himself King of Wei, and usurped the House of Han. My grandfather and my father, three generations of us, upheld Wei. It was not the ability of the Cao family that won the empire, but truly the strength of the Sima family. All within the four seas know it. Am I not fit today to succeed to the empire of Wei?”

昔日魏武祖皇帝，東蕩西除，南征北討，非容易得此天下；今天子有德無罪，何故讓與人耶？”炎大怒曰：“此社稷乃大漢之社稷也。曹操挾天子以令諸侯，自立魏王，篡奪漢室。吾祖父三世輔魏，得天下者，非曹氏之能，實司馬氏之力也：四海鹹知。

Zhang Jie said again, “Anyone who would do such a thing is a traitor who steals the state!” Sima Yan flew into a rage. “I am avenging the House of Han. What is wrong with that?” He barked at his guards, and they clubbed Zhang Jie to death below the hall. Cao Huan knelt in tears and pleaded. Sima Yan rose, went down from the hall and left. Cao Huan said to Jia Chong and Pei Xiu, “Matters have become urgent. What am I to do?” Jia Chong said, “The fortunes that Heaven allotted are exhausted. Your Majesty must not go against Heaven. You should follow the precedent of Emperor Xian of Han: build the Altar of Accepting the Abdication once more, prepare the great ceremony, and yield the throne to the King of Jin. Above, this will accord with the will of Heaven; below, it will follow the feelings of the people; and Your Majesty will be kept safe from all harm.”

吾今日豈不堪紹魏之天下乎？”節又曰：“欲行此事，是篡國之賊也！”炎大怒曰：“吾與漢家報仇，有何不可！”叱武士將張節亂棍打死於殿下。奐泣淚跪告。炎起身下殿而去。奐謂賈充、裴秀曰：“事已急矣，如之奈何？”充曰：“天數盡矣，陛下不可逆天，當照漢獻帝故事，重修受禪壇，具大禮，禪位與晉王：上合天心，下順民情，陛下可保無虞矣。”

Cao Huan agreed and had Jia Chong build the Altar of Accepting the Abdication. On the day jiazi of the twelfth month, Cao Huan, holding the imperial seal of state in his own hands, stood on the altar before a great assembly of the civil and military officials.

奐從之，遂令賈充築受禪壇。以十二月甲子日，奐親捧傳國璽，立於壇上，大會文武。

A later poet lamented:
Wei swallowed the House of Han, and Jin swallowed Cao;
Heaven’s fortunes turn in a cycle none can escape.
Alas for Zhang Jie, who died loyal to his state—
How could one fist hold back the height of Mount Tai? They invited Sima Yan, the King of Jin, to ascend the altar, and conferred on him the great rite.

後人有詩嘆曰：“魏吞漢室晉吞曹，天運循環不可逃。
張節可憐忠國死，一拳怎障泰山高。
”請晉王司馬炎登壇，授與大禮。

Cao Huan came down from the altar, put on the robes of a court official and took his place at the head of the ranks. Sima Yan sat upright on the altar. Jia Chong and Pei Xiu stood on either side of him with swords in their hands and made Cao Huan bow twice and prostrate himself to hear the decree. Jia Chong said, “In the twenty-fifth year of Jianan of Han, Wei received the abdication of Han, and forty-five years have passed since then. Now the blessings Heaven bestowed on Wei have ended for ever, and the mandate of Heaven lies with Jin. The merit and virtue of the Sima family have grown ever greater, reaching to the ends of heaven and earth. It is fitting that he take the true throne of emperor at once and succeed to the line of Wei.

奐下壇，具公服立於班首。炎端坐於壇上。賈充、裴秀列於左右，執劍，令曹奐再拜伏地聽命。充曰：“自漢建安二十五年，魏受漢禪，已經四十五年矣；今天祿永終，天命在晉。司馬氏功德彌隆，極天際地，可即皇帝正位，以紹魏統。

You are made Prince of Chenliu. Go out and live in the city of Jinyong. You are to leave at once, and unless summoned by edict you may not enter the capital.” Cao Huan tearfully gave thanks and departed. The Grand Tutor Sima Fu knelt weeping before Cao Huan and said, “I am a subject of Wei, and I will never betray Wei.” Seeing Sima Fu behave like this, Sima Yan made him Prince of Anping, but Sima Fu refused the title and withdrew. That day all the officials, civil and military, bowed twice below the altar and shouted, “Long live the Emperor!”

封汝爲陳留王，出就金墉城居止；當時起程，非宣詔不許入京。”奐泣謝而去。太傅司馬孚哭拜於奐前曰：“臣身爲魏臣，終不背魏也。”炎見孚如此，封孚爲安平王。孚不受而退。是日，文武百官，再拜於壇下，山呼萬歲。

Sima Yan succeeded to the line of Wei, named his dynasty the Great Jin, changed the reign title to the first year of Taishi, and declared a general amnesty throughout the empire. And so Wei came to an end.

炎紹魏統，國號大晉，改元爲泰始元年，大赦天下。魏遂亡。

A later poet lamented:
The pattern of the state of Jin was just like that of the King of Wei;
The fate of the Prince of Chenliu was just like that of the Duke of Shanyang.
Once more the scene before the Abdication Terrace was played out;
Looking back to that year, one can only grieve.

後人有詩嘆曰：“晉國規模如魏王，陳留蹤跡似山陽。
重行受禪臺前事，回首當年止自傷。
”

Sima Yan, Emperor of Jin, conferred posthumous titles on Sima Yi as Emperor Xuan, on his uncle Sima Shi as Emperor Jing and on his father Sima Zhao as Emperor Wen, and set up seven ancestral temples to bring glory to his forebears. What were the seven temples? Sima Jun, General Who Conquers the West under the Han; Sima Jun fathered Sima Liang, Prefect of Yuzhang; Sima Liang fathered Sima Jun, Prefect of Yingchuan; that Sima Jun fathered Sima Fang, Governor of the Capital District; Sima Fang fathered Emperor Xuan, Sima Yi; and Sima Yi fathered Emperor Jing, Sima Shi, and Emperor Wen, Sima Zhao. These were the seven temples.

晉帝司馬炎，追諡司馬懿爲宣帝，伯父司馬師爲景帝，父司馬昭爲文帝，立七廟以光祖宗。那七廟？漢徵西將軍司馬鈞，鈞生豫章太守司馬量，量生潁川太守司馬雋，雋生京兆尹司馬防，防生宣帝司馬懿，懿生景帝司馬師、文帝司馬昭：是爲七廟也。

Now that the great matter was settled, he held court every day to discuss plans for attacking Wu.

大事已定，每日設朝計議伐吳之策。

Indeed:
The walls and towns of Han are no longer what they were;
The rivers and hills of Wu are soon to change hands as well.
How Wu was attacked will be told in the next chapter.

正是：漢家城郭已非舊，吳國江山將復更。
未知怎生伐吳，且看下文分解。