Records of Wu 13: Biography of Lu Xun

Records of Wu 13: Biography of Lu Xun

Lu Xun

陸遜

Lu Xun, courtesy name Boyan, was a man of Wu County in Wu Commandery. His original name was Yi, and his family had for generations been one of the great clans of Jiangdong. Lu Xun lost his father while young and lived at the post of his grand-uncle Lu Kang, Prefect of Lujiang. When Yuan Shu fell out with Lu Kang and was about to attack him, Lu Kang sent Lu Xun and the other relatives back to Wu. Lu Xun was several years older than Lu Kang's son Lu Ji, and he managed the affairs of the household on his behalf.

陸遜字伯言，吳郡吳人也。本名議，世江東大族。¹遜少孤，隨從祖廬江太守康在官。袁術與康有隙，將攻康，康遣遜及親戚還吳。遜年長於康子績數歲，為之綱紀門戶。

When Sun Quan became a general, Lu Xun was twenty-one. He first took office in the headquarters, serving in turn as clerk of the Eastern and Western Bureaus, and then went out as Commandant of Agricultural Colonies at Haichang, while also handling the affairs of the county. The county suffered drought year after year, so Lu Xun opened the granaries to relieve the poor and encouraged and supervised farming and sericulture, and the people relied on his care. At that time there were many people hiding out in Wu, Kuaiji, and Danyang; Lu Xun set out a proposal and asked to be allowed to recruit them. Pan Lin, the chief of the mountain bandits of Kuaiji, had long brought harm to that region, and for years no one had been able to capture him.

孫權為將軍，遜年二十一。始仕幕府，歷東西曹令史，出為海昌屯田都尉，並領縣事。¹縣連年亢旱，遜開倉穀以振貧民，勸督農桑，百姓蒙賴。時吳、會稽、丹楊多有伏匿，遜陳便宜，乞與募焉。會稽山賊大帥潘臨，舊為所在毒害，歷年不禽。

With the troops he had called together under his command, Lu Xun attacked the deep and rugged places, and wherever he went all submitted, so that his personal retinue already numbered more than two thousand men. When You Tu, a rebel chief of Poyang, rose up, Lu Xun again went and attacked him. He was appointed Colonel Who Establishes Might and stationed his army at Lipu.

遜以手下召兵，討治深險，所向皆服，部曲已有二千餘人。鄱陽賊帥尤突作亂，復往討之，拜定威校尉，軍屯利浦。

Sun Quan married the daughter of his elder brother Sun Ce to Lu Xun and often consulted him on the affairs of the time. Lu Xun proposed: “At present heroes stand everywhere like pieces on a board, and jackals and wolves watch for their chance. To defeat our enemies and quell the disorder, nothing can be accomplished without large numbers. Yet the mountain bandits are old evildoers who hold out relying on the deep country. While the belly and heart are not yet pacified, it is hard to plan for distant ends. We should form large units and take the best of them.” Sun Quan adopted his plan and made him Commander of the Right Division of the headquarters guard. It happened that Fei Zhan, a rebel chief of Danyang, received a seal and ribbon from Lord Cao and stirred up the Shanyue to act as insiders for him, so Sun Quan sent Lu Xun to attack Fei Zhan.

權以兄策女配遜，數訪世務。遜建議曰：「方今英雄棋跱，豺狼規望，克敵寧亂。非眾不濟，而山寇舊惡，依阻深地。夫腹心未平，難以圖遠，可大部伍，取其精銳。」權納其策，以為帳下右部督。會丹楊賊帥費棧受曹公印綬，扇動山越，為作內應，權遣遜討棧。

Fei Zhan's followers were many and the troops sent against him were few, so Lu Xun set up more command banners and distributed drums and horns around, and at night he stole in among the mountain valleys and advanced with drums beating and men shouting. The rebels broke and scattered on the spot. He then organized the people of the three eastern commanderies into units: the strong became soldiers and the weak were added to the household registers. He gained several tens of thousands of picked troops, the long-standing evildoers were swept away, and everywhere he passed was cleared and pacified. He returned and garrisoned Wuhu.

棧支黨多而往兵少，遜乃益施牙幢，分布鼓角，夜潛山谷間，鼓噪而前，應時破散。遂部伍東三郡，強者為兵，羸者補戶，得精卒數萬人，宿惡蕩除，所過肅清，還屯蕪湖。

Chunyu Shi, Prefect of Kuaiji, submitted a memorial saying that Lu Xun had unjustly taken people from the population and was causing distress and disturbance in the region. Later, when Lu Xun went to the capital, in the course of conversation he praised Chunyu Shi as a fine official. Sun Quan said, “Chunyu Shi denounced you, and yet you recommend him. Why?” Lu Xun replied, “Chunyu Shi meant to nurture the people, and that is why he denounced me. If I in turn slandered Chunyu Shi to confuse Your sagely hearing, that is not something that should be encouraged.” Sun Quan said, “This truly is the conduct of a worthy elder; it is just that others cannot do it.” When Lü Meng went to Jianye pleading illness, Lu Xun went to see him.

會稽太守淳于式表遜枉取民人，愁擾所在。遜後詣都，言次，稱式佳吏。權曰：「式白君而君薦之，何也？」遜對曰：「式意欲養民，是以白遜。若遜復毀式以亂聖聽，不可長也。」權曰：「此誠長者之事，顧人不能為耳。」呂蒙稱疾詣建業，遜往見之。

Lu Xun said to him, “You border on Guan Yu; how could you come so far downriver? Will there not be cause for worry afterward?” Lü Meng said, “It is truly as you say, but my illness is grave.” Lu Xun said, “Guan Yu is proud of his valor and treats others with contempt. He has just won a great success, so his mind is arrogant and his resolve slack; he is intent only on advancing north and has no suspicion of us. When he hears that you are ill, he will surely become even less prepared. If we now strike where he does not expect it, we can certainly capture and subdue him. When you go down to see our Supreme Lord, you should make a good plan.” Lü Meng said, “Guan Yu has always been brave and fierce and is hard to oppose. Moreover, he already holds Jing Province, where his kindness and good faith are widely felt, and having just won success, his courage and momentum are all the greater. He will not be easy to deal with.”

謂曰：「關羽接境，如何遠下，後不當可憂也？」蒙曰：「誠如來言，然我病篤。」遜曰：「羽矜其驍氣，陵轢於人。始有大功，意驕志逸，但務北進，未嫌於我，有相聞病，必益無備。今出其不意，自可禽制。下見至尊，宜好為計。」蒙曰：「羽素勇猛，既難為敵，且已據荊州，恩信大行，兼始有功，膽勢益盛，未易圖也。」

When Lü Meng reached the capital, Sun Quan asked him, “Who could take your place?” Lü Meng replied, “Lu Xun's thinking is deep and far-reaching, and his talent is equal to a heavy burden. Judging by his plans and calculations, he can in the end be entrusted with great responsibility. Moreover, he does not yet have a wide reputation and is not someone Guan Yu fears, so no one is better suited. If you use him, you should have him conceal his abilities outwardly while inwardly watching for the advantage of the situation; then victory can be won.” Sun Quan then summoned Lu Xun and appointed him Lieutenant General and Commander of the Right Division to replace Lü Meng. When Lu Xun reached Lukou, he wrote to Guan Yu: “Earlier you watched for an opening and moved, led your troops according to the rules of war, and with a small effort won a great victory. How lofty an achievement!

蒙至都，權問：「誰可代卿者？」蒙對曰：「陸遜意思深長，才堪負重，觀其規慮，終可大任。而未有遠名，非羽所忌，無復是過。若用之，當令外自韜隱，內察形便，然後可克。」權乃召遜，拜偏將軍右部督代蒙。遜至陸口，書與羽曰：「前承觀釁而動，以律行師，小舉大克，一何巍巍！

The defeat of the enemy state is a benefit to us as your allies. Hearing the joyful news I clapped my knee, thinking that you will go on to roll up the realm and together we will uphold the royal order. Recently, unworthy as I am, I received my charge and came west, and I look up to your brilliance and hope to receive your good counsel.” He also wrote: “With the capture of Yu Jin and the others, near and far all rejoice and marvel, and consider that your achievement is enough to last for ages; not even Duke Wen of Jin's campaign at Chengpu or the strategy by which the Marquis of Huaiyin took Zhao could surpass it. I hear that Xu Huang and others have halted their banners with infantry and cavalry and are watching your standards.

敵國敗績，利在同盟，聞慶拊節，想遂席捲，共獎王綱。近以不敏，受任來西，延慕光塵，思稟良規。」又曰：于禁等見獲，遐邇欣歎，以為將軍之勳足以長世，雖昔晉文城濮之師，淮陰拔趙之略，蔑以尚茲。聞徐晃等步騎駐旌，窺望麾葆。

Cao Cao is a cunning barbarian; when angered he does not think of the difficulties. I fear he may secretly increase his forces in order to have his way. Though it is said his army is worn out, he still has fierce and bold soldiers. Moreover, after a victory in battle one is always troubled by contempt for the enemy; the ancients, relying on the art of war, grew all the more watchful the more their army won. I hope that you, General, will lay broad plans so as to preserve the victory you won alone. I am a scholar, careless and slow, and unworthily hold a post I am unequal to. I rejoice to be neighbor to your might and virtue, and gladly pour out my whole heart. Though my ideas may not fit your plans, they may still be worth keeping in mind. I hope you will look upon them clearly and consider them.”

操猾虜也，忿不思難，恐潛增眾，以逞其心。雖云師老，猶有驍悍。且戰捷之後，常苦輕敵，古人杖術，軍勝彌警，願將軍廣為方計，以全獨克。僕書生疏遲，忝所不堪。喜鄰威德，樂自傾盡。雖未合策，猶可懷也。倘明注仰，有以察之。

When Guan Yu read Lu Xun's letter, he saw in it a humble wish to entrust himself to him; he was greatly reassured and no longer had any suspicion. Lu Xun reported the whole situation in detail and set out the key points by which Guan Yu could be captured. Sun Quan then secretly moved his army upriver, with Lu Xun and Lü Meng as the vanguard, and as soon as they arrived they took Gong'an and Nan Commandery. Lu Xun pressed straight on, took charge of Yidu as Prefect, was appointed General Who Pacifies the Frontier, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Huating. Liu Bei's Prefect of Yidu, Fan You, abandoned the commandery and fled, and the chief officials of the various cities and the chieftains of the Man and Yi all surrendered.

羽覽遜書，有謙下自托之意，意大安，無復所嫌。遜具啟形狀，陳其可禽之要。權乃潛軍而上，使遜與呂蒙為前部，至即克公安、南郡。遜徑進，領宜都太守，拜撫邊將軍，封華亭侯。備宜都太守樊友委郡走，諸城長吏及蠻夷君長皆降。

Lu Xun requested gold, silver, and bronze seals in order to confer them provisionally on those who had newly submitted. This was in the eleventh month of the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an.

遜請金銀銅印，以假授初附。是歲建安二十四年十一月也。

Lu Xun sent the generals Li Yi, Xie Jing, and others with three thousand men to attack the Shu commanders Zhan Yan and Chen Feng. Li Yi led the naval force and Xie Jing the infantry; they cut off the strategic passes, soon defeated Zhan Yan and the others, and took Chen Feng alive when he surrendered. They also attacked Deng Fu, Prefect of Fangling, and Guo Mu, Prefect of Nanxiang, and routed them. Wen Bu, Deng Kai, and others of the great clans of Zigui gathered several thousand Yi troops and coordinated with the west from front and rear. Lu Xun again sent Xie Jing, who attacked and defeated Wen Bu and Deng Kai.

遜遣將軍李異、謝旌等將三千人，攻蜀將詹晏、陳鳳。異將水軍，旌將步兵，斷絕險要，即破晏等，生降得鳳。又攻房陵太守鄧輔、南鄉太守郭睦，大破之。秭歸大姓文布、鄧凱等合夷兵數千人，首尾西方。遜復部旌討破布、凱。

When Wen Bu and Deng Kai escaped and fled, Shu made them generals. Lu Xun had someone lure them, and Wen Bu led his followers back to surrender. Altogether those beheaded, captured, won over, and received numbered in the tens of thousands. Sun Quan made Lu Xun Protector of the Army of the Right and General Who Guards the West, and advanced his fief to Marquis of Lou. At that time the gentlemen of Jing Province had newly come over, and some had not yet found a proper place in office, so Lu Xun submitted a memorial: “In the past, when Emperor Gao of Han received the Mandate, he invited in men of outstanding talent; when Emperor Guangwu restored the dynasty, all the talented men gathered to him. Anyone who could make the Way and its teachings shine and flourish was not judged by whether he came from near or far.

布凱脫走，蜀以為將。遜令人誘之，布帥眾還降。前後斬獲招納，凡數萬計。權以遜為右護軍、鎮西將軍，進封婁侯。¹時荊州士人新還，仕進或未得所，遜上疏曰：「昔漢高受命，招延英異，光武中興，羣俊畢至，苟可以熙隆道教者，未必遠近。

Now Jing Province has just been settled, and its men of worth have not yet advanced. In my foolish earnestness I beg that you extend widely the grace of selection and promotion, which covers and bears up all things as heaven and earth do. Let them all be able to come forward, and then all within the four seas will crane their necks and long to return to your great transforming influence.” Sun Quan respectfully accepted his words.

今荊州始定，人物未達，臣愚慺慺，乞普加覆載抽拔之恩。令並獲自進，然後四海延頸，思歸大化。」權敬納其言。

In the first year of Huangwu, Liu Bei led a great host toward the western border. Sun Quan made Lu Xun Grand Area Commander with a tally of authority, commanding Zhu Ran, Pan Zhang, Song Qian, Han Dang, Xu Sheng, Xianyu Dan, Sun Huan, and others, fifty thousand men in all, to resist him. From Wu Gorge and Jianping, Liu Bei set up a chain of camps reaching to the border of Yiling, establishing several dozen encampments, and used gold, brocade, ranks, and rewards to lure the various Yi tribes into action. He made the general Feng Xi Grand Commander and Zhang Nan the vanguard, and Fu Kuang, Zhao Rong, Liao Chun, Fu Tong, and others each separate commanders. First he sent Wu Ban with several thousand men to set up a camp on level ground, intending to provoke a battle.

黃武元年，劉備率大眾來向西界，權命遜為大都督、假節，督朱然、潘璋、宋謙、韓當、徐盛、鮮于丹、孫桓等五萬人拒之。備從巫峽、建平連圍至夷陵界，立數十屯，以金錦爵賞誘動諸夷，使將軍馮習為大督，張南為前部，輔匡，趙融、廖淳、傅肜等各為別督，先遣吳班將數千人於平地立營，欲以挑戰。

The generals all wanted to attack, but Lu Xun said, “There must be a trick in this; let us watch for now.” Liu Bei, knowing his scheme would not work, led eight thousand men out of ambush from a valley. Lu Xun said, “The reason I did not listen to you gentlemen when you wished to attack Wu Ban was that I judged there must be some clever ruse.” Lu Xun submitted a memorial: “Yiling is a vital point, the gateway of the state. Although it is easy to gain, it is also easy to lose. To lose it would not merely be to lose the land of one commandery; Jing Province itself would be in danger.

諸將皆欲擊之，遜曰：「此必有譎，且觀之。」¹備知其計不可，乃引伏兵八千，從谷中出。遜曰：「所以不聽諸君擊班者，揣之必有巧故也。」遜上疏曰：夷陵要害，國之關限，雖為易得，亦復易失。失之非徒損一郡之地，荊州可憂。

In contesting it today, we must make sure of success. Liu Bei has defied the constant order of Heaven; instead of guarding his own den, he has dared to deliver himself to us. Though I am without talent, relying on your majesty and the favor of the spirits, I am using the righteous to strike the rebellious, and his destruction is near. Looking over Liu Bei's campaigns from first to last, he has failed often and succeeded seldom; reasoning from this, he is not worth worrying about. At first I was concerned that he would advance by land and water together, but now he has instead left his boats for the land and pitched camps everywhere. Observing his dispositions, there will surely be no other change. I humbly hope that our Supreme Lord will rest easy on a high pillow and not give it a thought.”

今日爭之，當令必諧。備干天常，不守窟穴，而敢自送。臣雖不材，憑奉威靈，以順討逆，破壞在近。尋備前後行軍，多敗少成。推此論之，不足為戚。臣初嫌之，水陸俱進，今反捨船就步，處處結營，察其布置，必無他變。伏願至尊高枕，不以為念也。

The generals all said, “If Liu Bei was to be attacked, it should have been at the start. Now we have let him come in five or six hundred li, and we have been locked in a standoff for seven or eight months. He is holding all the strategic points firmly, so attacking him now can bring no advantage.” Lu Xun said, “Liu Bei is a cunning barbarian who has seen much. When his army first assembled, his thinking was careful and focused, and he could not be challenged. Now he has stayed a long time without finding any opening against us; his soldiers are weary, his spirits dashed, and he can come up with no more plans. The time to catch this bandit between our pincers is today.”

諸將並曰：「攻備當在初，今乃令入五六百里，相銜持經七八月，其諸要害皆以固守，擊之必無利矣。」遜曰：「備是猾虜，更嘗事多，其軍始集，思慮精專，未可干也。今住已久，不得我便，兵疲意沮，計不復生，掎角此寇，正在今日。」

So he first attacked one camp, without success. The generals all said, “We have only thrown away soldiers' lives.” Lu Xun said, “I have already understood how to break them.” He ordered each man to carry a bundle of thatch grass and took the camp by fire attack. Once the momentum was established, he led all the armies to attack together at the same time. They beheaded Zhang Nan, Feng Xi, the Hu king Shamoke, and others, and broke more than forty of Liu Bei's camps. Liu Bei's officers Du Lu, Liu Ning, and others, hard pressed, asked to surrender. Liu Bei climbed Mount Ma'an and deployed his troops around himself.

乃先攻一營，不利。諸將皆曰：「空殺兵耳。」遜曰：「吾已曉破之之術。」乃敕各持一把茅，以火攻拔之。一爾勢成，通率諸軍同時俱攻，斬張南、馮習及胡王沙摩柯等首，破其四十餘營。備將杜路、劉寧等窮逼請降。備升馬鞍山，陳兵自繞。

Lu Xun urged the armies on to close in from all four sides, and Liu Bei's force collapsed like crumbling earth and shattered tiles; the dead numbered in the tens of thousands. Liu Bei fled under cover of night, and the men of the post stations themselves carried gongs and armor and burned them to block the pursuit behind him, so that he barely managed to get into Baidicheng. His boats and equipment and the supplies of his naval and land forces were almost all lost at one stroke, and corpses floated down the river, choking it. Liu Bei, deeply ashamed and furious, said, “That I should be broken and humiliated by Lu Xun—how could this not be the will of Heaven!”

遜督促諸軍四面蹙之，土崩瓦解，死者萬數。備因夜遁，驛人自擔燒鐃鎧斷後，僅得入白帝城。其舟船器械，水步軍資，一時略盡，屍骸漂流，塞江而下。備大慚恚，曰：「吾乃為遜所折辱，豈非天邪！」

Earlier, Sun Huan had separately attacked Liu Bei's vanguard at Yidao, was surrounded by Liu Bei, and asked Lu Xun for relief. Lu Xun said, “Not yet.” The generals said, “Sun Huan, the Pacifier of the East, is a member of the ruling house, and he is already in straits under siege. Why do you not save him?” Lu Xun said, “The Pacifier of the East has won the hearts of his men, his city is strong, and his provisions are ample; there is nothing to worry about. Wait until my plan unfolds; then even if we do not rescue him, he will be freed of his own accord.” When the strategy was carried out in full, Liu Bei indeed fled in defeat. Later Sun Huan met Lu Xun and said, “Before, I truly resented not being rescued, but now I see that your direction had its own method.”

初，孫桓別討備前鋒於夷道，為備所圍，求救於遜。遜曰：「未可。」諸將曰：「孫安東公族，見圍已困，奈何不救？」遜曰：「安東得士眾心，城牢糧足，無可憂也。待吾計展，欲不救安東，安東自解。」及方略大施，備果奔潰。桓後見遜曰：「前實怨不見救，定至今日，乃知調度自有方耳。」

When they were resisting Liu Bei, some of the generals were old commanders from Sun Ce's time and others were noble relatives of the ruling house; each was proud and self-assured, and they would not obey one another. Lu Xun put his hand to his sword and said, “Liu Bei is known throughout the realm and was feared even by Cao Cao. Now he is on our border; he is a strong opponent. You gentlemen have all received the favor of the state; you ought to be in harmony with one another and together cut down this barbarian, repaying above what you have received. Not to follow one another is not what is called for. Though I am a scholar, I have received my orders from our sovereign.

當御備時，諸將軍或是孫策時舊將，或公室貴戚，各自矜恃，不相聽從。遜案劍曰：劉備天下知名，曹操所憚，今在境界，此強對也。諸君並荷國恩，當相輯睦，共剪此虜，上報所受，而不相順，非所謂也。僕雖書生，受命主上。

The reason the state has made you gentlemen bow to me and look to my command is that I have some small merit worth mentioning: I can endure humiliation and bear a heavy burden. Each of you has his own duty—how can you refuse it! Military orders have fixed rules and must not be violated.”

國家所以屈諸君使相承望者，以僕有尺寸可稱，能忍辱負重故也。各在其事，豈復得辭！軍令有常，不可犯矣。

When Liu Bei was defeated and most of the plans were seen to have come from Lu Xun, the generals at last submitted to him. When Sun Quan heard of it he said, “Why did you not report at first that the generals were disobeying your command?” Lu Xun replied, “I have received deep and weighty favor, and my charge exceeds my talent. Moreover, of these generals some can be entrusted as confidants, some are equal to serving as your claws and fangs, and some are meritorious officials; all are men with whom the state should accomplish great things and settle the realm. Though I am dull and weak, I privately admire the principle by which Lin Xiangru and Kou Xun yielded to others, so as to see the affairs of state through.”

及至破備，計多出遜，諸將乃服。權聞之，曰：「君何以初不啟諸將違節度者邪？」遜對曰：「受恩深重，任過其才。又此諸將或任腹心，或堪爪牙，或是功臣，皆國家所當與共克定大事者。臣雖駑懦，竊慕相如、寇恂相下之義，以濟國事。」

Sun Quan laughed heartily and praised him, adding to Lu Xun's titles General Who Supports the State, making him concurrently Governor of Jing Province, and at once changing his fief to Marquis of Jiangling.

權大笑稱善，加拜遜輔國將軍，領荊州牧，即改封江陵侯。

Also, when Liu Bei had stopped at Baidicheng, Xu Sheng, Pan Zhang, Song Qian, and others each vied in submitting memorials saying that Liu Bei could certainly be captured and asking to attack him again. Sun Quan asked Lu Xun about it, and Lu Xun, together with Zhu Ran and Luo Tong, judged: “Cao Pi is gathering troops on a large scale. Outwardly he claims he will help our state attack Liu Bei, but inwardly he truly harbors treacherous intent. We should settle our plan with care and withdraw at once.” Before long the Wei armies did indeed come out, and Wu faced enemies on three fronts. Liu Bei soon died of illness, his son Liu Shan succeeded to his position, and Zhuge Liang took charge of the government and made peace and alliance with Sun Quan.

又備既住白帝，徐盛、潘璋、宋謙等各競表言備必可禽，乞復攻之。權以問遜，遜與朱然、駱統以為「曹丕大合士眾。外託助國討備，內實有姦心，謹決計輒還」。無幾，魏軍果出，三方受敵也。¹備尋病亡，子禪襲位，諸葛亮秉政，與權連和。

Whenever matters of the moment required it, Sun Quan would have Lu Xun communicate with Zhuge Liang, and he also had Sun Quan's seal carved and kept at Lu Xun's headquarters. Every time Sun Quan wrote to Liu Shan and Zhuge Liang, he always had the letter shown to Lu Xun first; if anything in its weight or propriety seemed wrong, Lu Xun was to revise it, and then it was sealed with the seal and sent.

時事所宜，權輒令遜語亮，並刻權印，以置遜所。權每與禪、亮書，常過示遜，輕重可否，有所不安，便令改定，以印封行之。

In the seventh year, Sun Quan had Zhou Fang, Prefect of Poyang, deceive Wei's Grand Marshal Cao Xiu. Cao Xiu did indeed raise his host and enter Wan, and Sun Quan summoned Lu Xun, granted him the yellow battle-axe, and made him Grand Area Commander to meet Cao Xiu. Once Cao Xiu realized what had happened, he was ashamed at having been tricked, but relying on the quality and number of his troops and horses, he gave battle. Lu Xun himself took the center and had Zhu Huan and Quan Cong form the left and right wings. Advancing by three routes together, they indeed struck Cao Xiu's ambushing troops and drove them off, pursuing the fleeing enemy straight to Jiashi. They beheaded or captured more than ten thousand men, took cattle, horses, mules, donkeys, and carts to the number of ten thousand, and seized almost all the army's supplies and equipment.

七年，權使鄱陽太守周魴譎魏大司馬曹休。休果舉眾入皖，乃召遜假黃鉞，為大都督，逆休。¹休既覺知，恥見欺誘，自恃兵馬精多，遂交戰。遜自為中部，令朱桓、全琮為左右翼，三道俱進，果沖休伏兵，因驅走之，追亡逐北，逕至夾石，斬獲萬餘，牛馬騾驢車乘萬輛，軍資器械略盡。

After Cao Xiu returned, an ulcer broke out on his back and he died. When the armies returned in triumph and passed through Wuchang, Sun Quan had his attendants shelter Lu Xun with the imperial canopy as he went in and out of the palace gates. Everything granted to Lu Xun was from the imperial stores and of the finest rarity; no one at the time could compare with him. Then he was sent back to Xiling.

休還，疽發背死。諸軍振旅過武昌，權令左右以御蓋覆遜，入出殿門。凡所賜遜，皆御物上珍，於時莫與為比。遣還西陵。

In the first year of Huanglong, he was appointed Senior Grand General and Protector-General of the Right. That year Sun Quan went east on a tour to Jianye, leaving behind the Crown Prince, the imperial princes, and the Masters of Writing with the nine offices. He summoned Lu Xun to assist the Crown Prince and also to take charge of the affairs of Jing Province and three commanderies including Yuzhang, overseeing military and state affairs. At that time Sun Lü, Marquis of Jianchang, built a pen for duck fights in front of his hall, with a good deal of fancy workmanship. Lu Xun, his face stern, said, “Your Lordship ought to study the classics diligently to renew and improve yourself. What use is this?”

黃龍元年，拜上大將軍、右都護。是歲，權東巡建業，留太子，皇子及尚書九官，徵遜輔太子，並掌荊州及豫章三郡事，董督軍國。時建昌侯慮於堂前作斗鴨欄，頗施小巧。遜正色曰：「君侯宜勤覽經典以自新益，用此何為？」

Sun Lü immediately had it torn down. Sun Song, Colonel of Archers Who Shoot at a Sound, was the closest of the princes, and when his troops were playing about and ill-disciplined, Lu Xun had the officer in charge shaved as punishment in front of him. Xie Jing of Nanyang admired Liu Yi's theory of putting punishment first and ritual second. Lu Xun rebuked Xie Jing, saying, “That ritual is superior to punishment has long been settled. Liu Yi used petty argument to distort the teaching of the former sages; it is all wrong. You are now in attendance at the Eastern Palace; you should follow benevolence and righteousness so as to make virtuous words manifest. Talk like his need not be discussed.”

慮即時毀徹之。射聲校尉松於公子中最親，戲兵不整，遜對之髡其職吏。南陽謝景善劉廙先刑後禮之論，遜呵景曰：「禮之長於刑久矣，廙以細辯而詭先聖之教，皆非也。君今侍東宮，宜遵仁義以彰德音，若彼之談，不須講也。」

Though Lu Xun was away from court, his heart was with the state. He submitted a memorial setting out the affairs of the time: “In my view the laws and regulations are severe, and many below fall foul of them. In recent years generals and officials have been convicted of offenses. Though their carelessness deserves blame, the realm is not yet united and we should be planning to take what is near at hand; it would be fitting to show a little kindness and leniency so as to set the minds of those below at ease. Moreover, the affairs of the world grow daily, and good and able men should come first. Unless a man has personally taken on wickedness and corruption, an unforgivable fault, I beg that he be employed openly once more so that he can exert his strength and prove his worth.

遜雖身在外，乃心於國。上疏陳時事曰：臣以為科法嚴峻，下犯者多。頃年以來，將吏罹罪，雖不慎可責，然天下未一，當圖近取，小宜恩貸，以安下情。且世務日興，良能為先，自非奸穢入身，難忍之過，乞復顯用，展其力效。

This is how sage kings forgot faults and remembered merits, and so completed the royal enterprise. In the past Emperor Gao of Han overlooked Chen Ping's misdeeds and used his extraordinary strategies, and in the end established his achievement and dynasty, a merit handed down for a thousand years. Harsh laws and severe punishments are not the glorious work of emperors and kings; punishment without forgiveness is not the grand design for winning over those far away.”

此乃聖王忘過記功，以成王業。昔漢高捨陳平之愆，用其奇略，終建勳祚，功垂千載。夫峻法嚴刑，非帝王之隆業；有罰無恕，非懷遠弘規也。

Sun Quan wished to send a detached force to take Yizhou and Zhuya, and consulted Lu Xun on both. Lu Xun submitted a memorial: “In my foolish view, the four seas are not yet settled, and we must rely on the strength of the people to accomplish the tasks of the day. Now our troops have been in the field for years and our present numbers have dwindled. Your Majesty's sagely mind is troubled and weary, you forget sleep and food, and you plan to reach far to Yizhou to settle great affairs. I have turned it over again and again but cannot see the benefit. In a surprise attack ten thousand li away, wind and waves are unpredictable; when people change water and soil, sickness and plague are sure to follow. If we now drive our present forces across barren lands, in seeking to gain we will lose, and in seeking benefit we will reap harm.

權欲遣偏師取夷州及朱崖，皆以咨遜，遜上疏曰：臣愚以為四海未定，當須民力，以濟時務。今兵興歷年，見眾損減，陛下憂勞聖慮，忘寢與食，將遠規夷州，以定大事。臣反覆思惟，未見其利，萬里襲取，風波難測，民易水土，必致疾疫，今驅見眾，經涉不毛，欲益更損，欲利反害。

Moreover, Zhuya is extremely remote and dangerous, and its people are like birds and beasts. Gaining its people would not be enough to further our affairs, and lacking its soldiers would not diminish our numbers. The present forces of Jiangdong are quite enough to carry out our plans; we need only build up our strength and then act. In the past, when King Huan (Sun Ce) laid the foundation, he had fewer than a brigade of troops, yet he opened a great enterprise. Your Majesty inherited his fortune and opened up and settled the lands beyond the Jiang. I have heard that to quell disorder and punish rebels, troops are needed as a show of might; but farming and sericulture, clothing and food, are the people's fundamental livelihood, and because shields and spears have not yet been laid down, the people suffer hunger and cold.

又珠崖絕險，民猶禽獸，得其民不足濟事，無其兵不足虧眾。今江東見眾，自足圖事，但當畜力而後動耳。昔桓王創基，兵不一旅，而開大業。陛下承運，拓定江表。臣聞治亂討逆，須兵為威，農桑衣食，民之本業，而干戈未戢，民有饑寒。

In my foolish view, we should nurture soldiers and people and lighten their taxes. Victory for the multitude lies in harmony; if we encourage courage through righteousness, then the lands of the Yellow River and the Wei can be pacified and the nine regions united as one.”

臣愚以為宜育養士民，寬其租賦，眾克在和，義以勸勇，則河渭可平，九有一統矣。

Sun Quan in the end campaigned against Yizhou, but what he gained did not make up for what he lost. When Gongsun Yuan broke his covenant, Sun Quan wanted to go and campaign against him in person. Lu Xun submitted a memorial: “Gongsun Yuan, relying on his rugged terrain and trusting in his defenses, detained our envoys and did not present the fine horses. He truly deserves our enmity and anger. These barbarians trouble the civilized lands and have not yet been touched by royal influence; they flee like birds to the distant borderlands and defy the royal armies. This has brought Your Majesty to blaze with anger and wish to trouble your ten-thousand-chariot person to cross the sea in light boats, without considering the danger, venturing into the unknown.

權遂征夷州，得不補失。及公孫淵背盟，權欲往征。遜上疏曰：淵憑險恃固，拘留大使，名馬不獻，實可仇忿。蠻夷猾夏，未染王化，鳥竄荒裔，拒逆王師，至令陛下爰赫斯怒，欲勞萬乘泛輕越海，不慮其危而涉不測。

At present the realm is in turmoil like clouds, the heroes contend like tigers, and bold men leap up, raising their voices and glaring about. Your Majesty, with divine martial gifts, has received the great fortune of the age: you broke Cao Cao at Wulin, defeated Liu Bei at Xiling, and captured Guan Yu in Jing Province. These three barbarians were the heroes of their generation, yet you blunted all their edges. Where your sagely influence brings peace, for ten thousand li people bow like grass before the wind; now is the time to sweep and pacify the central lands and unite all under the great plan. To be unable now to bear a small grievance and to unleash a thunderous wrath—this is to ignore the warning against sitting at the edge of the hall and to make light of the weight of the ten thousand chariots. This is what perplexes me.

方今天下雲擾，群雄虎爭，英豪踴躍，張聲大視。陛下以神武之姿，誕膺期運，破操烏林，敗備西陵，禽羽荊州，斯三虜者當世雄傑。皆摧其鋒。聖化所綏，萬里草偃，方蕩平華夏，總一大猷。今不忍小忿，而發雷霆之怒，違垂堂之戒，輕萬乘之重，此臣之所惑也。

I have heard that one who is set on traveling ten thousand li does not stop halfway, and one who plans for the four seas does not let small concerns harm great ones. A powerful enemy is on our border and the distant regions have not yet come to court. If Your Majesty sets off on rafts on a far expedition, you will surely invite those who watch for an opening; once trouble arrives, regret will be too late. If the great enterprise succeeds in its time, Gongsun Yuan will submit without being attacked. Now you begrudge the men and horses of distant Liaodong—how then can you alone be willing to cast aside the foundation of Jiangdong's lasting security without regret? I beg you to rest the six armies and use their might to overawe the great enemy, settle the central lands early, and let your glory shine upon the future.”

臣聞志行萬里者，不中道而輟足；圖四海者，匪懷細以害大。強寇在境，荒服未庭，陛下乘桴遠征，必致窺闟，戚至而憂，悔之無及。若使大事時捷，則淵不討自服；今乃遠惜遼東眾之與馬，奈何獨欲捐江東萬安之本業而不惜乎？乞息六師，以威大虜，早定中夏，垂耀將來。

Sun Quan accepted his advice.

權用納焉。

In the fifth year of Jiahe, Sun Quan campaigned north and had Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin attack Xiangyang. Lu Xun sent his trusted man Han Bian to carry a memorial and report; on his way back he met the enemy in the Mian region, and an enemy patrol captured Han Bian. When Zhuge Jin heard of it he was very alarmed and wrote to Lu Xun: “The imperial carriage has already turned back, and the enemy has caught Han Bian, so they know all our strengths and weaknesses. Besides, the waters have dried up. We should leave at once.” Lu Xun did not answer. He was just then urging men to plant turnips and beans, and was playing board games and archery games with his generals as usual.

嘉禾五年，權北征。使遜與諸葛瑾攻襄陽。遜遣親人韓扁賚表奉報，還。遇敵於沔中，鈔邏得扁。瑾聞之甚懼。書與遜云：「大駕已旋，賊得韓扁，具知吾闊狹。且水乾，宜當急去。」遜未答，方催人種葑豆，與諸將弈棋射戲如常。

Zhuge Jin said, “Boyan is full of wisdom and strategy; he must have his reasons.” He came in person to see Lu Xun. Lu Xun said, “The enemy knows the imperial carriage has already turned back and has nothing more to worry about, so they can concentrate their strength on us. Also, they already hold the strategic points, and the minds of our officers and men are unsettled. We must first calm ourselves in order to reassure them, and only after setting some stratagem in motion should we withdraw. If we show that we are retreating right now, the enemy will think we are afraid and will come to press us; that is a sure way to defeat.” He then secretly made a plan with Zhuge Jin: Zhuge Jin would take charge of the boats, while Lu Xun put all his troops and horses on land and headed toward the city of Xiangyang.

瑾曰：「伯言多智略，其當有以。」自來見遜，遜曰：「賊知大駕以旋，無所復戚，得專力於吾。又已守要害之處，兵將意動，且當自定以安之，施設變術，然後出耳。今便示退，賊當謂吾怖，仍來相蹙，必敗之勢也。」乃密與瑾立計，令瑾督舟船，遜悉上兵馬，以向襄陽城。

The enemy had always feared Lu Xun and hurried back to the city. Zhuge Jin then led the boats out, and Lu Xun unhurriedly put his units in order, making a great show of strength, and marched on foot to the boats; the enemy did not dare to challenge him. When the army reached Baiwei, he announced that he was stopping to hunt, and secretly sent the generals Zhou Jun, Zhang Liang, and others to attack Xinshi, Anlu, and Shiyang in Jiangxia. The market at Shiyang was busy when Zhou Jun and the others suddenly arrived, and everyone abandoned their goods and fled into the city. The city gate was so jammed that it could not be closed, and the enemy themselves cut down their own people.

敵素憚遜，遽還赴城。瑾便引船出，遜徐整部伍，張拓聲勢，步趨船，敵不敢干。軍到白圍，託言住獵，潛遣將軍周峻、張梁等擊江夏新市、安陸、石陽，石陽市盛，峻等奄至，人皆捐物入城。城門噎不得關，敵乃自斫殺己民。

Only then could the gates be shut. Those beheaded or taken alive numbered more than a thousand in all. All the captives were placed under protection, and the soldiers were not allowed to harass or abuse them. Those who had come with their families were allowed to look after them themselves. To anyone who had lost his wife and children, he at once gave clothing and grain, comforted him generously, and sent him home; some were so moved and grateful that they led one another back to submit. The neighboring regions were won over to him, and Zhao Zhuo, Officer of Merit of Jiangxia, Pei Sheng, the garrison commander of Yiyang, and Mei Yi, king of the Yi tribes, all led their followers to come and attach themselves to Lu Xun. Lu Xun spent his wealth and silks freely to aid and care for them all.

然後得闔。斬首獲生，凡千餘人。¹其所生得，皆加營護，不令兵士干擾侵侮。將家屬來者，使就料視。若亡其妻子者，即給衣糧，厚加慰勞，發遣令還，或有感慕相攜而歸者。鄰境懷之，²江夏功曹趙濯、弋陽備將裴生及夷王梅頤等，並帥支黨來附遜。遜傾財帛，周贍經恤。

Moreover, Lu Shi, Wei's Prefect of Jiangxia, who also commanded troops and horses, was doing considerable harm along the border. But he had long been on bad terms with Wen Xiu, son of Wen Pin, the veteran general of the north. When Lu Xun heard of this, he forged a letter as though it were a reply to Lu Shi, which read: “I have received your earnest message and understand that you and Wen Xiu have long been at enmity, so that the two of you cannot both survive, and that you therefore wish to come over to us. I have at once secretly forwarded your letter to the throne, and I am gathering troops to receive you. Make your preparations in secret and in haste, and let me know the date again.” He left the letter near the border; Lu Shi's soldiers found it and showed it to Lu Shi. Lu Shi was alarmed and in the end sent his wife and children back to Luoyang himself. Because of this his officers and men no longer attached themselves to him, and he was dismissed from office.

又魏江夏太守逯式¹兼領兵馬，頗作邊害。而與北舊將文聘子休宿不協。遜聞其然。即假作答式書云：「得報懇惻，知與休久結嫌隙，勢不兩存，欲來歸附，輒以密呈來書表聞，撰眾相迎。宜潛速嚴，更示定期。」以書置界上，式兵得書以見式，式惶懼，遂自送妻子還洛。由是吏士不復親附，遂以免罷。²

In the sixth year, Zhou Zhi, General of the Household, asked to recruit troops in Poyang, and the matter was referred to Lu Xun for his opinion. Lu Xun held that the people of this commandery were easily stirred and hard to settle, so recruiting there should not be allowed, for he feared it would provoke banditry. But Zhou Zhi insisted on recruiting there, and, sure enough, Wu Ju and others among the commandery's people turned bandit, killed Zhou Zhi, and attacked and overran several counties. The long-standing troublemakers of Yuzhang and Luling all rose in response to Wu Ju and became raiders. As soon as Lu Xun heard of it himself, he attacked and routed them; Wu Ju and the others surrendered one after another, Lu Xun selected more than eight thousand picked soldiers from among them, and the three commanderies were pacified.

六年，中郎將周祗乞於鄱陽召募，事下問遜。遜以為此郡民易動難安，不可與召。恐致賊寇。而祗固陳取之，郡民吳遽等果作賊殺祗，攻沒諸縣。豫章、廬陵宿惡民並應遽為寇。遜自聞，輒討即破，遽等相率降，遜料得精兵八千餘人，三郡平。

At this time Lü Yi, Investigator of the Palace Secretariat, was secretly wielding power and arbitrarily dispensing punishments and favors. Lu Xun and the Minister of Ceremonies Pan Jun shared the same concern about this, and when they spoke of it they were moved to tears. Later Sun Quan put Lü Yi to death and deeply blamed himself; the account is in the “Biography of Sun Quan.”

時中書典校呂壹，竊弄權柄，擅作威福。遜與太常潘濬同心憂之，言至流涕。後權誅壹，深以自責，語在《權傳》。

At this time Xie Yuan, Xie Hong and others each presented proposals, wishing to develop new sources of revenue and change the existing arrangements, and the matter was referred to Lu Xun for discussion. Lu Xun gave his opinion: “The state takes the people as its foundation; its strength comes from the people's labor, and its wealth comes from the people. There has never been a case where the people were prosperous and the state weak, or the people impoverished and the state strong. Therefore, for one who governs a state, winning the people brings order and losing them brings disorder. If the people receive no benefit and yet are made to exert themselves fully to achieve results, that too is difficult. That is why the Odes sigh: ‘Good for the people, good for men, he receives his blessings from Heaven.’

時謝淵、謝厷等各陳便宜，欲興利改作，¹以事下遜。遜議曰：國以民為本，強由民力，財由民出。夫民殷國弱，民瘠國強者，未之有也。故為國者，得民則治，失之則亂，若不受利，而令盡用立效，亦為難也。是以《詩》歎‘宜民宜人，受祿於天’。

I beg you to bestow your sage grace and give peace and relief to the common people; once the state's resources have become somewhat more plentiful in a few years' time, the matter can be considered again.”

乞垂聖恩，寧濟百姓，數年之間，國用少豐，然後更圖。

In the seventh year of Chiwu he replaced Gu Yong as Chancellor. The edict said: “We, lacking in virtue, have ascended the throne in answer to the times, yet the royal road is not yet united and villains fill the ways; day and night We tremble with fear and have no leisure even to close Our eyes. We consider that you are by nature intelligent and wise, your bright virtue shines forth, and you have held command as supreme general, setting the state right and quelling its troubles. Surely one who has achieved merit surpassing his age must receive favor of great glory, and one who embodies both civil and military talent must bear the heavy charge of the altars of the state. Of old, Yi Yin raised up Tang, and Lü Shang assisted Zhou; the duties within and without, you truly combine.

赤烏七年，代顧雍丞相，詔曰：朕以不德。應期踐運，王塗未一，奸宄充路，夙夜戰懼，不遑鑒寐。惟君天資聰睿，明德顯融，統任上將，匡國弭難。夫有超世之功者，必應光大之寵；懷文武之才者，必荷社稷之重。昔伊尹隆湯，呂尚翼周，內外之任，君實兼之。

We now make you Chancellor, and send Fu Chang, acting Minister of Ceremonies, bearing the Staff of Authority, to confer the seal and ribbon upon you. Let your bright virtue shine ever more, cultivate your fine achievements, reverently uphold the royal command, and bring peace to the four quarters. Ah! You are to oversee the affairs of the Three Excellencies and guide the host of officials; can you fail to be reverent? Strive at it! Your posts as Imperial Protector, Protector-General, and head of Wuchang remain as before.”

今以君為丞相，使使持節守太常傅常授印綬。君其茂昭明德，修乃懿績，敬服王命，綏靖四方。於乎！總司三事，以訓群寮，可不敬歟，君其勖之！其州牧都護領武昌事如故。

Before this, when the two palaces had both been established, officials at court and in the provinces often sent their sons and younger brothers to serve in attendance. Quan Cong informed Lu Xun of this, and Lu Xun held: “If one's sons and younger brothers truly have talent, there is no need to worry that they will not be employed; they should not be sent out privately to seek honor and profit. If they are not good, in the end they will only bring disaster. Moreover, I hear that the two palaces are evenly matched in power, so there are bound to be factions on this side and that; this is what the ancients most dreaded.” Quan Cong's son Quan Ji did indeed fawn upon and attach himself to the King of Lu and recklessly engaged in intrigue. Lu Xun wrote to Quan Cong: “You do not follow the example of Jin Midi but keep A-Ji at your side; in the end he will bring disaster upon your house.”

先是，二宮並闕，中外職司，多遣子弟給侍。全琮報遜，遜以為“子弟苟有才，不憂不用，不宜私出以要榮利。若其不佳，終為取禍。且聞二宮勢敵，必有彼此，此古人之厚忌也。”琮子寄，果阿附魯王，輕為交構。遜書與琮曰：「卿不師日磾，而宿留阿寄，終為足下門戶致禍矣。」

Not only did Quan Cong refuse to heed him, but a rift opened between them over it. When there were signs that the Heir Apparent's position was insecure, Lu Xun sent up a memorial stating: “The Heir Apparent is the rightful successor and should be as firm as a great rock; the King of Lu is a feudal subject, and there should be gradations in the favor and rank shown him, so that each has his proper place and those above and below are at peace. Respectfully I knock my head until the blood flows as I submit this.” He sent up his letter three or four times, and even asked to come to the capital to speak in person about the distinction between the principal heir and the secondary sons, so as to correct what was right and wrong. But he was not permitted, and Lu Xun's nephews Gu Tan, Gu Cheng and Yao Xin were all wrongly banished for having attached themselves to the Heir Apparent.

琮既不納，更以致隙。及太子有不安之儀，遜上疏陳：「太子正統，宜有磐石之固，魯王藩臣，當使寵秩有差，彼此得所，上下獲安。謹叩頭流血以聞。」書三四上，及求詣都，欲口論適庶之分，以匡得失。既不聽許，而遜外生顧譚、顧承、姚信，竝以親附太子，枉見流徙。

Wu Can, Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent, was implicated for having corresponded with Lu Xun several times, and was thrown into prison and died. Sun Quan repeatedly sent palace envoys to reproach Lu Xun, and Lu Xun died of anger and resentment, at the age of sixty-three. His household had no surplus wealth.

太子太傅吾粲坐數與遜交書，下獄死。權累遣中使責讓遜，遜憤恚致卒，時年六十三。家無餘財。

Earlier, when Ji Yan raised his proposals concerning the government offices, Lu Xun remonstrated with him and warned him, believing it would surely lead to disaster. He also said to Zhuge Ke: “Those who are ahead of me, I always honor and rise together with; those who are beneath me, I support and help. Now when I look at you, your spirit overrides those above you and your mind scorns those below you; this is no foundation for a secure virtue.” Again, Yang Zhu of Guangling won a reputation while young, but Lu Xun said he would come to ruin in the end, and urged Yang Zhu's elder brother Yang Mu to separate his family line from him.

初，暨艷造營府之論，遜諫戒之，以為必禍。又謂諸葛恪曰：「在我前者，吾必奉之同升；在我下者，則扶持之。今觀君氣陵其上，意蔑乎下。非安德之基也。」又廣陵楊竺少獲聲名，而遜謂之終敗。勸竺兄穆令與別族。

Such was his foresight. His eldest son Lu Yan died young, and his second son Lu Kang succeeded to his title. In the time of Sun Xiu, Lu Xun was posthumously named Marquis Zhao.

其先睹如此。長子延早夭，次子抗襲爵。孫休時，追謚遜曰昭侯。

Lu Kang

陸抗

Lu Kang, courtesy name Youjie, was a grandson of Sun Ce through his daughter. When Lu Xun died he was twenty years old; he was appointed Colonel Who Establishes Martial Might and led Lu Xun's five thousand troops. He escorted the funeral procession back east, then went to the capital to give thanks for the imperial favor. Sun Quan questioned Lu Kang on the twenty charges against Lu Xun that Yang Zhu had reported, cut him off from all visitors, and had palace envoys interrogate him in person. Lu Kang answered every point one by one without the least hesitation, and Sun Quan's anger gradually eased. In the ninth year of Chiwu he was transferred to General of the Household Who Upholds Integrity and exchanged garrisons with Zhuge Ke, stationing himself at Chaisang.

抗字幼節，孫策外孫也。遜卒時，年二十，拜建武校尉，領遜眾五千人，送葬東還，詣都謝恩，孫權以楊竺所白遜二十事問抗，禁絕賓客，中使臨詰，抗無所顧問，事事條答，權意漸解。赤烏九年，遷立節中郎將，與諸葛恪換屯柴桑。

When Lu Kang was about to leave, he had the city walls all repaired and made whole, re-thatched the walls and houses, and did not allow the dwellings or the mulberry and fruit trees to be carelessly damaged. When Zhuge Ke moved in to take over the garrison, everything was in perfect order, as if new. But Zhuge Ke's old garrison at Chaisang had suffered considerable damage, and he was deeply ashamed of it. In the first year of Taiyuan, Lu Kang went to the capital for treatment of an illness. When he had recovered and was due to return, Sun Quan wept as he bade him farewell and said: “Earlier I listened to and acted on slander, and was not steadfast in the great bond between your father and me; for this I have wronged you. All the questions I put to you, first and last, burn and destroy them, and let no one see them.”

抗臨去，皆更繕完城圍，葺其牆屋，居廬桑果，不得妄敗。恪入屯，儼然若新。而恪柴桑故屯，頗有毀壞，深以為慚。太元元年，就都治病。病差當還。權涕泣與別，謂曰：「吾前聽用讒言，與汝父大義不篤，以此負汝。前後所問，一焚滅之，莫令人見也。」

In the first year of Jianxing he was appointed General Who Displays Might. In the second year of Taiping, when the Wei general Zhuge Dan surrendered with Shouchun, Lu Kang was made Area Commander of Chaisang. He went to Shouchun, defeated Wei's Standard Officer and Lieutenant General, and was transferred to General Who Conquers the North. In the second year of Yong'an he was appointed General Who Guards the Army and Area Commander-in-Chief of Xiling, responsible for the region from Guanyu (a place name) to Baidi. In the third year he was granted the Staff of Authority. When Sun Hao took the throne, he was raised to Grand General Who Guards the Army and took charge of Yi Province as Imperial Protector.

建興元年，拜奮威將軍。太平二年，魏將諸葛誕舉壽春降，拜抗為柴桑督，赴壽春，破魏牙門將偏將軍，遷征北將軍。永安二年，拜鎮軍將軍，都督西陵，自關羽至白帝。三年，假節。孫皓即位，加鎮軍大將軍，領益州牧。

In the second year of Jianheng, when the Grand Marshal of the Left Shi Ji died, Lu Kang was appointed Area Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs of Xinling, Xiling, Yidao, Lexiang and Gong'an, with his seat at Lexiang.

建衡二年，左大司馬施績卒，拜抗都督信陵、西陵、夷道、樂鄉、公安諸軍事，治樂鄉。

Lu Kang heard that the government and ordinances at the capital had many failings, and he was deeply worried and anxious about what lay ahead. So he sent up a memorial saying: “I have heard that when virtue is equal, the many defeat the few, and when strength is matched, the secure overcome the endangered; this is why the Six States were swallowed by mighty Qin and why Western Chu bowed northward before Emperor Gao of Han. Now the enemy straddles and controls the Nine Domains, not merely the land west of the passes; he holds most of the Nine Provinces, far more than just the land west of the Hong Canal. Our state has no allied states to aid it from without, and within it is not as strong as Western Chu; the affairs of government are in decline, and the common people are not yet well ordered.

抗聞都下政令多闕，憂深慮遠。乃上疏曰：臣聞德均則眾者勝寡，力侔則安者制危，蓋六國所以兼併於強秦，西楚所以北面於漢高也。今敵跨制九服，非徒關右之地。割據九州，豈但鴻溝以西而已。國家外無連國之援，內非西楚之強，庶政陵遲，黎民未乂。

Yet what those who debate the matter rely on is merely that long rivers and steep mountains encircle our borders; this is the least part of defending a state and not what the wise put first. I constantly reflect, looking far back, on the signs of survival and ruin in the Warring States, and, looking nearer, on the faults that brought down the house of Liu; when I examine these in the classics and test them against actual events, I stroke my pillow in the middle of the night and forget to eat when I sit down to a meal. Of old, while the Xiongnu were not yet destroyed, Huo Qubing declined a mansion; while the way of Han was not yet pure, Master Jia wept in grief. How much more so for me, sprung from the royal house and favored with glory for generations: my fortunes and my name rise and fall with the state and share its sorrows, and in life or death, apart or together, duty does not allow me to be careless. Day and night I am anxious and grieved, and when my thoughts come to this my heart is wrung.

而議者所恃，徒以長川峻山，限帶封域，此乃守國之末事，非智者之所先也。臣每遠惟戰國存亡之符，近覽劉氏傾覆之釁，考之典籍，驗之行事，中夜撫枕，臨餐忘食。昔匈奴未滅，去病辭館。漢道未純，賈生哀泣，況臣王室之出，世荷光寵，身名否泰，與國同戚，死生契闊，義無苟且，夙夜憂怛，念至情慘。

The duty of serving one's lord is to oppose him if need be but never to deceive him, and the integrity of a subject lies in giving his life without regard for himself. I respectfully set out seventeen articles suited to the times, as follows.”

夫事君之義犯而勿欺，人臣之節匪躬是殉，謹陳時宜十七條如左。

The seventeen articles have been lost from the original, so they are not recorded.

十七條失本，故不載。

At this time He Ding was abusing his power and the eunuchs were meddling in government. Lu Kang sent up a memorial saying: “I have heard that ‘in founding a state and continuing a house, petty men must not be employed,’ and that smooth talkers whose conduct is perverse are what the Documents of Tang warn against. This is why the poets of the Ya odes complained and satirized, and why Zhongni sighed. From the Spring and Autumn period down to Qin and Han, every fault that overturned a state arose from this. Petty men do not understand principle and the Way, and their vision is shallow; even if they are made to exert all their sincerity and loyalty, they are still not fit to be entrusted with office. How much less so when their treacherous hearts are deep-rooted and their likes and dislikes shift easily?

時何定弄權，閹官預政。抗上疏曰：臣聞開國承家，小人勿用，靖譖庸回，唐書攸戒，是以雅人所以怨刺，仲尼所以歎息也。春秋已來，爰及秦、漢，傾覆之釁，未有不由斯者也。小人不明理道，所見既淺，雖使竭情盡節，猶不足任，況其奸心素篤，而憎愛移易哉？

If they fear losing what they have, there is nothing they will not stoop to. Now to entrust them with the duties of the sovereign's eyes and ears and lend them the authority of arbitrary power, and then hope that the sounds of harmony will arise and that pure and upright customs will be established, is impossible. Among the officials now serving, men of outstanding talent are admittedly few, but some are descendants of official families who from their youth have been steeped in the teachings of the Way, and some have made their way by themselves through integrity and hardship; their qualities and abilities are sufficient for use. Simply grant offices according to talent and suppress and dismiss the crowd of petty men, and then customs and moral influence can be purified and the affairs of government will be free of corruption.”

苟患失之，無所不至。今委以聰明之任，假以專制之威，而冀雍熙之聲作，肅清之化立，不可得也。方今見吏，殊才雖少，然或冠冕之胄，少漸道教；或清苦自立，資能足用。自可隨才授職，抑黜群小，然後俗化可清，庶政無穢也。

In the first year of Fenghuang, Bu Chan, Area Commander of Xiling, seized the city in rebellion and sent envoys to surrender to Jin. When Lu Kang heard of it, he deployed his armies that same day and ordered the generals Zuo Yi, Wu Yan, Cai Gong and others to go straight to Xiling. He ordered the camps to build a further strong encircling wall, running from Chixi to Gushi, to hem in Bu Chan on the inside and keep out the enemy on the outside. He drove them day and night as if the enemy had already arrived, and the men suffered greatly from it. The generals all remonstrated: “If we now use the keen edge of the Three Armies to attack Bu Chan at once, he can surely be taken before the Jin relief force arrives.

鳳皇元年，西陵督步闡據城以叛，遣使降晉。抗聞之，日部分諸軍，令將軍左奕、吾彥、蔡貢等徑赴西陵。敕軍營更築嚴圍，自赤谿至故市，內以圍闡，外以禦寇，晝夜催切，如敵以至，眾甚苦之。諸將咸諫曰：「今及三軍之銳，亟以攻闡，比晉救至，闡必可拔。

Why bother with an encirclement that wears out the strength of soldiers and people?” Lu Kang said: “This city occupies a position that is already strong, and its grain stores are ample; moreover, the defensive works that were repaired there were all planned by me in the past. If we now turn around and attack it, we cannot take it quickly, and the northern relief force is sure to come; if it comes and we are unprepared, we will be caught between the inside and the outside. How could we resist that?” The generals all wanted to attack Bu Chan, but each time Lu Kang refused. Lei Tan, Prefect of Yidu, pleaded with great earnestness, and Lu Kang, wishing to convince the men, allowed a single attack.

何事於圍，而以弊士民之力乎？」抗曰：「此城處勢既固，糧穀又足，且所繕修備御之具，皆抗所宿規。今反身攻之，既非可卒克，且北救必至，至而無備，表裡受難，何以御之？」諸將咸欲攻闡，抗每不許。宜都太守雷譚言至懇切，抗欲服眾，聽令一攻。

The attack indeed gained nothing, and only then were the encirclement and defenses completed. When the Jin General of Chariots and Cavalry Yang Hu led an army toward Jiangling, the generals all thought Lu Kang should not go upriver. Lu Kang said: “Jiangling's walls are strong and its troops sufficient; there is nothing to worry about. Even if the enemy were to take Jiangling, he could never hold it, so the loss would be small. But if Xiling were to become firmly bound to the enemy, all the Yi tribes of the southern mountains would rise in unrest, and the troubles that followed could hardly be told. I would rather abandon Jiangling and go to Xiling; how much more so when Jiangling is secure?”

攻果無利，圍備始合。晉車騎將軍羊祜率師向江陵，諸將咸以抗不宜上。抗曰：「江陵城固兵足，無所憂患。假令敵沒江陵，必不能守，所損者小。如使西陵槃結，則南山群夷皆當擾動，則所憂慮，難可而言也。吾寧棄江陵而赴西陵，況江陵牢固乎？」

Earlier, because the land around Jiangling was flat and its roads open, Lu Kang had ordered Zhang Xian, Area Commander of Jiangling, to build a great dam to hold back the water and gradually flood the plain, so as to cut off invaders and rebels. Yang Hu intended to use the dammed water to float boats and carry grain, while giving out that he was going to break the dam to let his infantry through. When Lu Kang heard this, he had Zhang Xian break the dam at once. The generals were all puzzled and remonstrated repeatedly, but he did not listen. When Yang Hu reached Dangyang and heard that the dam had been broken, he had to switch from boats to carts for transport, at great cost in effort and labor.

初，江陵平衍，道路通利，抗敕江陵督張咸作大堰遏水，漸漬平中，以絕寇叛。祜欲因所遏水，浮船運糧，揚聲將破堰以通步軍。抗聞，使咸亟破之。諸將皆惑，屢諫不聽。祜至當陽。聞堰敗，乃改船以車運，大費損功力。

Xu Yin, Jin's Army Supervisor of Badong, led a naval force to Jianping, and Yang Zhao, Inspector of Jing Province, arrived at Xiling. Lu Kang ordered Zhang Xian to hold his city firmly; Sun Zun, Area Commander of Gong'an, to patrol the southern bank and hold off Yang Hu; and Liu Lu, Area Commander of the navy, and Zhu Wan, General Who Guards the West, to resist Xu Yin. He himself led the Three Armies and, relying on the encircling wall, faced Yang Zhao. The general Zhu Qiao and the Camp Commander-in-Chief Yu Zan deserted to Yang Zhao. Lu Kang said: “Yu Zan is an old officer of the army who knows our strengths and weaknesses. I have always worried that the Yi troops were never well trained, and that if the enemy attacked the encirclement, he would strike there first.”

晉巴東監軍徐胤率水軍詣建平，荊州刺史楊肇至西陵。抗令張咸固守其城；公安督孫遵巡南岸御祜；水軍督留慮、鎮西將軍朱琬拒胤。身率三軍，憑圍對肇。將軍朱喬、營都督俞贊亡詣肇。抗曰：「贊軍中舊吏，知吾虛實者，吾常慮夷兵素不簡練，若敵攻圍，必先此處。」

That very night he replaced the Yi troops and filled their positions entirely with veteran soldiers. The next day Yang Zhao did indeed attack the place where the Yi troops had been, and Lu Kang ordered his army to wheel around and strike; arrows and stones fell like rain, and Yang Zhao's men were killed and wounded in rows. After Yang Zhao had been there a month, his plans were exhausted and he fled by night. Lu Kang wanted to pursue him, but he was concerned that Bu Chan was storing up his strength and craning his neck, watching for an opening, and that he had not enough troops to divide. So he merely had the drums beaten to alert the men, as though he were about to pursue. Yang Zhao's men were terrified; they all threw off their armor and fled for their lives. Lu Kang sent light troops to follow on their heels, Yang Zhao was utterly routed, and Yang Hu and the others all withdrew their armies.

即夜易夷民，皆以舊將充之。明日，肇果攻故夷兵處，抗命旋軍擊之，矢石雨下，肇眾傷死者相屬。肇至經月。計屈夜遁。抗欲追之，而慮闡畜力項領，伺視間隙，兵不足分，於是但鳴鼓戒眾，若將追者。肇眾兇懼，悉解甲挺走，抗使輕兵躡之，肇大破敗，祜等皆引軍還。

Lu Kang then took the city of Xiling and put to death Bu Chan's clan along with his chief officers and officials; for those below them, he asked for pardon for several tens of thousands of people. He repaired the city walls and returned east to Lexiang, with no trace of pride on his face and as modest and self-effacing as ever, and so he won the hearts of his officers and men.

抗遂陷西陵城，誅夷闡族及其大將吏，自此以下，所請赦者數萬口。修治城圍，東還樂鄉，貌無矜色，謙沖如常，故得將士歡心。¹

He was further given the post of Protector-General. He heard that Xue Ying, Area Commander of the Left Division at Wuchang, had been summoned and thrown into prison. Lu Kang sent up a memorial saying: “Men of outstanding ability are the fine treasures of the state and the precious resource of the altars of the state; it is through them that the affairs of government are put in order and the four gates are harmonious and pure. Yet the former Minister of Agriculture Lou Xuan, the Cavalier Regular Palace Attendant Wang Fan and the Privy Treasurer Li Xu were all the brightest talents of their age and eminent vessels of their time. They first received favor and took their places at ease among the ranks of office, but all of them were soon punished, some with the ruin of their clan and the ending of their ancestral sacrifices, others cast out to the remote frontiers. The Rites of Zhou have a statute for pardoning the worthy, and the Spring and Autumn Annals uphold the principle of forgiving the good.

加拜都護。聞武昌左部督薛瑩征下獄。抗上疏曰：夫俊乂者，國家之良寶，社稷之貴資。庶政所以倫敘，四門所以穆清也。故大司農樓玄、散騎中常侍王蕃、少府李勖，皆當世秀穎，一時顯器，既蒙初寵，從容列位，而並旋受誅殛，或圮族替祀，或投棄荒裔。蓋《周禮》有赦賢之辟，《春秋》有宥善之義。

The Documents say: ‘Rather than kill the innocent, it is better to err by departing from the statutes.’ Yet Wang Fan and the others had the death penalty imposed on them before their crimes were even determined. Their hearts held to loyalty and righteousness, yet their bodies suffered the extreme penalty; is this not grievous? Moreover, punishment inflicted on the dead is surely not felt by them, yet it went so far as to burn the bodies and cast them adrift, abandoning them at the water's edge. I fear this is not the proper code of the former kings, and perhaps is what the Marquis of Fu warned against. Because of this the common people are grieved and fearful, and gentlemen and commoners alike share in the sorrow. Wang Fan and Li Xu are gone forever, and regret can no longer reach them. I had sincerely hoped that Your Majesty would pardon Lou Xuan and call him back, but I have recently heard that Xue Ying has suddenly been arrested.

《書》曰：‘與其殺不辜，寧失不經。’而蕃等罪名未定，大辟以加，心經忠義，身被極刑，豈不痛哉！且已死之刑，固無所識，至乃焚爍流漂，棄之水濱，懼非先王之正典，或甫侯之所戒也。是以百姓哀聳，士民同戚。蕃、勖永已，悔亦靡及，誠望陛下赦召玄出，而頃聞薛瑩卒見逮錄。

Xue Ying's father Xue Zong served the late Emperor as a transmitter of his words and assisted Emperor Wen as his tutor. Since Xue Ying succeeded to the family heritage he has cultivated his name and conduct within, and the offense for which he now stands charged is one that can be pardoned. I fear the officials concerned have not examined the matter in detail. If he too is put to death, it will lose the people's trust still further. I beg you to bestow your heavenly grace and pardon Xue Ying's offense, to show pity in all the cases at law and clear the net of punishment; that would be the great good fortune of the realm!”

瑩父綜納言先帝，傅弼文皇，及瑩承基，內厲名行，今之所坐，罪在可宥。臣懼有司未詳其事，如復誅戮，益失民望，乞垂天恩，原赦瑩罪，哀矜庶獄，清澄刑網，則天下幸甚！

At this time military campaigns were constantly under way and the common people were exhausted. Lu Kang sent up a memorial saying: “I have heard that the Changes value acting in accordance with the times, and the Commentary praises watching for an opening. Thus when Xia had accumulated many crimes, Tang of Yin employed his troops, and when Zhou committed lewdness and cruelty, King Wu of Zhou received the battle-axe. If the time is not right, then there was the anxiety and grief of the Jade Terrace, and the army that turned its banners back at Mengjin. What we must now devote ourselves to is enriching the state and strengthening the army, working hard at farming and storing grain, letting men of civil and military talent exercise their abilities to the full, and ensuring that no office among the hundred departments is left unfilled.

時師旅仍動，百姓疲弊。抗上疏曰：臣聞《易》貴隨時，《傳》美觀釁，故有夏多罪而殷湯用師，紂作淫虐而周武授鉞。苟無其時，玉台有憂傷之慮，孟津有反旆之軍。今不務富國強兵，力農畜穀，使文武之才效展其用，百揆之署無曠厥職。

We should make promotions and demotions clear to spur on the officials, examine punishments and rewards to show what is encouraged and what is deterred, instruct the various offices with virtue, and care for the common people with benevolence. Only after that should we follow Heaven, ride on the tide of fortune, and sweep up the whole realm. Instead, the generals are allowed to pursue fame, exhausting the troops and making reckless use of arms; every move costs tens of thousands, the soldiers are worn down and spent, yet the enemy has not grown weaker while we ourselves are already gravely ill! Now to contend for what is the very capital of emperors and kings while being blinded by gains of a mere ten or a hundred is a treacherous convenience for ministers, not a good policy for the state.

明黜陟以厲庶尹，審刑賞以示勸沮，訓諸司以德。而撫百姓以仁，然後順天乘運，席捲宇內，而聽諸將徇名，窮兵黷武，動費萬計，士卒彫瘁，寇不為衰，而我已大病矣！今爭帝王之資，而昧十百之利，此人臣之奸便，非國家之良策也。

Of old, when Qi and Lu fought three times, the men of Lu won twice, yet Lu perished before they could turn on their heels. Why? Because the balance of great and small was different. How much worse now, when what our armies win does not even make up for what they lose? Moreover, that relying on arms loses the people is a clear lesson from antiquity. It would truly be best to suspend these petty schemes of advance for a while, so as to build up the strength of soldiers and people, and to watch for an opening and wait for a chance; then there will be nothing to regret.”

昔齊、魯三戰，魯人再克而亡不旋踵。何則？大小之勢異也。況今師所克獲，不補所喪哉？且阻兵無眾，古之明鑒，誠宜暫息進取小規，以畜士民之力，觀釁伺隙，庶無悔吝。

In spring of the second year, he was appointed at his post Grand Marshal and Imperial Protector of Jing Province.

二年春，就拜大司馬、荊州牧。

In summer of the third year he fell ill. He sent up a memorial saying: “Xiling and Jianping are the outer screens of the state. They lie downstream of the enemy and face him on two fronts. If the enemy floats his boats down with the current, prow to stern for a thousand li, racing like shooting stars and lightning, he will arrive in an instant; we cannot rely on aid from other commands to rescue us from such a desperate plight. This is the pivot on which the safety of the altars of the state turns, not merely a minor harm of encroachment on our borders. My father Lu Xun, when he was once on the western frontier, submitted his view that Xiling is the western gate of the state; though it is said to be easy to hold, it is also easy to lose.

三年夏，疾病。上疏曰：西陵、建平，國之蕃表，既處下流，受敵二境。若敵泛舟順流，舳艫千里，星奔電邁，俄然行至，非可恃援他部以救倒縣也。此乃社稷安危之機，非徒封疆侵陵小害也。臣父遜昔在西垂陳言，以為西陵國之西門，雖云易守，亦復易失。

If it cannot be held, it will not be just the loss of one commandery: Jing Province will no longer belong to Wu. If danger arises there, the whole state must be thrown into the fight for it. When I was stationed at Xiling in the past, following in Lu Xun's footsteps, I earlier asked for thirty thousand picked troops, but what arrived was only the usual complement; they would not send more. Since Bu Chan's revolt, our strength has been depleted still further. Now the area under my command stretches a thousand li and faces the enemy at four points; without, I must resist a powerful foe, and within, I must keep the many Man tribes in hand, yet all the troops available from top to bottom number barely a few tens of thousands, and they have long been worn out and weakened, so it will be hard to meet any emergency.

若有不守，非但失一郡，則荊州非吳有也。如其有虞，當傾國爭之。臣往在西陵，得涉遜跡，前乞精兵三萬，而至者循常，未肯差赴。自步闡以後，益更損耗。今臣所統千里，受敵四處，外御強對，內懷百蠻，而上下見兵財有數萬，羸弊日久，難以待變。

In my humble opinion, since the princes are still young and do not direct affairs of state, tutors and ministers should for now be appointed to guide their worthy natures, and troops and horses should not be assigned to them to the detriment of vital affairs. Furthermore, the petty eunuchs of the Yellow Gate have opened recruiting stations, and soldiers and commoners who resent their labor duties flee there and enroll. I beg you to issue a special edict to have them inspected and every one of them sorted out, to reinforce the places on the frontier that constantly face the enemy, so that the troops under my command are brought up to a full eighty thousand. If affairs are reduced and rewards and punishments made reliable, then even if Han Xin and Bai Qi came back to life, they would find no way to display their skill.

臣愚以為諸王幼沖，未統國事，可且立傅相，輔導賢姿，無用兵馬，以妨要務。又黃門豎宦，開立占募，兵民怨役，逋逃入占。乞特詔簡閱，一切料出，以補疆場受敵常處，使臣所部足滿八萬，省息眾務，信其賞罰，雖韓、白復生，無所展巧。

If the troops are not increased and this system is not changed, and yet you hope to accomplish the great undertaking, that is what I most deeply fear. After my death, I beg that you keep the western front in your thoughts. May Your Majesty consider my words carefully; then, though I die, I shall not perish.”

若兵不增，此制不改，而欲克諧大事，此臣之所深戚也。若臣死之後，乞以西方為屬。願陛下思覽臣言，則臣死且不朽。

In the autumn he died at last, and his son Lu Yan succeeded him. Lu Yan and his younger brothers Lu Jing, Lu Xuan, Lu Ji and Lu Yun divided Lu Kang's troops among them. Lu Yan became Assistant General and Supervisor of Yidao. In the fourth year of Tianji, when the Jin armies attacked Wu, Wang Jun, General of the Soaring Dragon, came down eastward with the current and took every place he reached, just as Lu Kang had feared. Lu Jing, courtesy name Shiren, married a princess and was appointed Chief Commandant of Cavalry and enfeoffed as Marquis of Piling. When he took command of Lu Kang's troops, he was appointed Lieutenant General and Area Commander of Zhongxia. He kept himself pure, loved learning, and wrote several dozen essays.

秋遂卒，子晏嗣。晏及弟景、玄、機、雲、分領抗兵。晏為裨將軍、夷道監。天紀四年，晉軍伐吳，龍驤將軍王濬順流東下。所至輒克，終如抗慮。景字士仁，以尚公主拜騎都尉，封毗陵侯，既領抗兵，拜偏將軍、中夏督，澡身好學，著書數十篇也。¹

On the renxu day of the second month, Lu Yan was killed by a detachment of Wang Jun's army. On the guihai day Lu Jing was also killed, at the age of thirty-one. Lu Jing's wife was Sun Hao's younger sister by the same mother, and she and Lu Jing were both grandchildren of Zhang Cheng through his daughters.

二月壬戌，晏為王濬別軍所殺。癸亥，景亦遇害，時年三十一。景妻，孫皓適妹，與景俱張承外孫也。¹

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: Liu Bei was acclaimed a hero throughout the realm and feared by his whole generation, yet Lu Xun, though in the prime of his years and not yet renowned for his authority, crushed and defeated him, and nothing failed to go as he intended. I marvel at Lu Xun's strategy and also admire Sun Quan's discernment of talent; this is how the great undertaking was achieved. As for Lu Xun's loyalty and utmost sincerity, grieving for the state until it cost him his life, he may almost be called a minister of the altars of the state. Lu Kang, upright, clear-sighted and capable in planning, had his father's manner in every respect; he carried on the family's excellence into the next generation, complete in all its parts if on a smaller scale. He may well be called one who carried on his father's work!

評曰：「劉備天下稱雄，一世所憚，陸遜春秋方壯，威名未著，摧而克之，罔不如志。予既奇遜之謀略，又歎權之識才，所以濟大事也。及遜忠誠懇至，憂國亡身，庶幾社稷之臣矣。抗貞亮籌干，咸有父風，奕世載美，具體而微，可謂克構者哉！」