Romance, Chapter 105

Chapter 105. The Martial Marquis Leaves a Plan Hidden in a Silk Bag; The Ruler of Wei Pulls Down the Dew-Catching Plate

Now when Yang Yi heard that troops were blocking the road ahead, he hastily sent men to scout. They came back and reported that Wei Yan had burned down the plank roads and was barring the way with his troops. Yang Yi was greatly alarmed. “When the Chancellor was alive, he foresaw that this man would rebel in the end. Who would have thought it would really come true today! Now he has cut off our road home. What are we to do?” Fei Yi said, “This man is sure to have first sent a false memorial to the Son of Heaven accusing us of rebellion. That is why he has burned the plank roads and blocked our way back.

卻說楊儀聞報前路有兵攔截，忙令人哨探。回報說魏延燒絕棧道，引兵攔路。儀大驚曰：“丞相在日，料此人久後必反，誰想今日果然如此！今斷吾歸路，當復如何？”費禕曰：“此人必先捏奏天子，誣吾等造反，故燒絕棧道，阻遏歸路。

We too should send a memorial to the Son of Heaven setting out the facts of Wei Yan’s rebellion, and after that deal with him.” Jiang Wei said, “Near here there is a small path called Chashan. Although it is rough and steep, it will bring us out behind the plank roads.” So on the one hand they wrote a memorial to report to the Son of Heaven, and on the other they led their men and horses off along the small path by Chashan.

吾等亦當表奏天子，陳魏延反情，然後圖之。”姜維曰：“此間有一小徑，名槎山，雖崎嶇險峻，可以抄出棧道之後。”一面寫表奏聞天子，一面將人馬望槎山小道進發。

Meanwhile the Latter Ruler, in Chengdu, could neither sleep nor eat in peace, and was restless whether moving or still. One night he had a dream: he dreamed that Mount Jinping at Chengdu collapsed. He woke with a start and sat up waiting for dawn. Then he assembled the civil and military officials at court to interpret the dream. Qiao Zhou said, “Last night I looked up at the heavens and saw a star, red in colour, its rays pointed like horns, fall from the northeast to the southwest. It signifies that some great calamity has befallen the Chancellor. Now Your Majesty has dreamed that a mountain collapsed, which answers exactly to this omen.”

且說後主在成都，寢食不安，動止不寧；夜作一夢，夢見成都錦屏山崩倒；遂驚覺，坐而待旦，聚集文武，入朝圓夢。譙周曰：“臣昨夜仰觀天文，見一星，赤色，光芒有角，自東北落於西南，主丞相有大凶之事。今陛下夢山崩，正應此兆。”

The Latter Ruler grew more alarmed and fearful than ever. Suddenly it was announced that Li Fu had arrived, and the Latter Ruler at once summoned him in and questioned him. Li Fu knocked his head on the ground and, weeping, reported that the Chancellor was dead; then he related in detail all that the Chancellor had said at the end. When the Latter Ruler heard this he wept aloud and cried, “Heaven is destroying me!” Weeping, he collapsed on the dragon couch, and his attendants helped him into the inner palace. When the Empress Dowager Wu heard the news, she too wept aloud without end. There was not one among the officials who did not grieve, and every one of the common people shed tears.

後主愈加驚怖。忽報李福到，後主急召入問之。福頓首泣奏丞相已亡；將丞相臨終言語，細述一遍。後主聞言大哭曰：“天喪我也！”哭倒於龍牀之上。侍臣扶入後宮。吳太后聞之，亦放聲大哭不已。多官無不哀慟，百姓人人涕泣。

For days on end the Latter Ruler was overcome with grief and could not hold court. Suddenly it was reported that Wei Yan had sent up a memorial accusing Yang Yi of rebellion. The officials were greatly alarmed and went into the palace to inform the Latter Ruler; the Empress Dowager Wu was in the palace at the time as well. When the Latter Ruler heard it he was greatly alarmed, and ordered a courtier to read out Wei Yan’s memorial. In substance it said: “Your servant Wei Yan, Grand General Who Conquers the West and Marquis of Nanzheng, in fear and trembling, knocks his head on the ground and submits: Yang Yi has taken the military command into his own hands and led the troops in rebellion. He has seized the Chancellor’s coffin and means to bring the enemy into our territory.

後主連日傷感，不能設朝。忽報魏延表奏楊儀造反，羣臣大駭，入宮啓奏後主，時吳太后亦在宮中。後主聞奏大驚，命近臣讀魏延表。其略曰：“徵西大將軍、南鄭侯臣魏延，誠惶誠恐，頓首上言：楊儀自總兵權，率衆造反，劫丞相靈柩，欲引敵人入境。

I have first burned down the plank roads and am guarding them with troops. I respectfully report this.” When the reading was finished, the Latter Ruler said, “Wei Yan is a brave general, quite able to hold off Yang Yi and his men. Why should he burn down the plank roads?” The Empress Dowager Wu said, “I once heard the late Emperor say that Kongming saw Wei Yan had a rebel’s bone at the back of his head and always wanted to behead him, but spared him for his courage and kept him in service for the time being. Now that he reports that Yang Yi and the others have rebelled, we must not believe it lightly.

臣先燒絕棧道，以兵守禦。謹此奏聞。”讀畢，後主曰：“魏延乃勇將，足可拒楊儀等衆，何故燒絕棧道？”吳太后曰：“嘗聞先帝有言：孔明識魏延腦後有反骨，每欲斬之；因憐其勇，故姑留用。今彼奏楊儀等造反，未可輕信。

Yang Yi is a man of letters, but the Chancellor entrusted him with the post of Chief Clerk, so he must be a man who can be relied on. If today we listen to only one side of the story, Yang Yi and the others will surely go over to Wei. This matter needs deep thought and long deliberation; we must not act rashly.” While the officials were still discussing it, it was suddenly announced that an urgent memorial had arrived from the Chief Clerk Yang Yi. A courtier opened it and read: “Your servant Yang Yi, Chief Clerk and General Who Pacifies the Army, in fear and trembling, knocks his head on the ground and respectfully submits: At the end, the Chancellor entrusted the great undertaking to me. Following the established arrangements and not daring to change them, I had Wei Yan cover the rear, with Jiang Wei next to him.

楊儀乃文人，丞相委以長史之任，必其人可用。今日若聽此一面之詞，楊儀等必投魏矣。此事當深慮遠議，不可造次。”衆官正商議間，忽報：長史楊儀有緊急表到。近臣拆表讀曰：“長史、綏軍將軍臣楊儀，誠惶誠恐，頓首謹表：丞相臨終，將大事委於臣，照依舊制，不敢變更，使魏延斷後，姜維次之。

Now Wei Yan has disobeyed the Chancellor’s last instructions. He has taken the men and horses under his own command into Hanzhong ahead of us, set fire to the plank roads and burned them down, and tried to seize the Chancellor’s funeral carriage, plotting treason. As this upheaval has arisen so suddenly, I respectfully send this urgent report.” When the Empress Dowager had heard it through, she asked, “What is your view, ministers?” Jiang Wan submitted, “In my humble opinion, although Yang Yi is too hasty by nature and cannot tolerate others, when it comes to planning supplies of grain and fodder and assisting in military affairs, he worked with the Chancellor for a long time. Now the Chancellor at his end entrusted him with the great undertaking; he is certainly not a man to rebel.

今魏延不遵丞相遺語，自提本部人馬，先入漢中，放火燒斷棧道，劫丞相靈車，謀爲不軌。變起倉卒，謹飛章奏聞。”太后聽畢，問：“卿等所見若何？”蔣琬奏曰：“以臣愚見：楊儀爲人雖稟性過急，不能容物，至於籌度糧草，參贊軍機，與丞相辦事多時，今丞相臨終，委以大事，決非背反之人。

Wei Yan has always relied on his merits and set himself above others, and everyone deferred to him. Only Yang Yi would not humour him, and so Wei Yan nursed a grudge. Now, seeing Yang Yi in command of the army, he will not accept it in his heart; that is why he has burned the plank roads to cut off their way home, and has also sent a false memorial in an attempt to destroy him. I am willing to pledge my whole household, free and servant alike, as surety that Yang Yi is not a rebel. For Wei Yan, I truly dare not vouch.” Dong Yun also submitted, “Wei Yan, relying on his great merits, has always harboured resentment and uttered complaints.

魏延平日恃功務高，人皆下之；儀獨不假借，延心懷恨；今見儀總兵，心中不服，故燒棧道，斷其歸路，又誣奏而圖陷害。臣願將全家良賤，保楊儀不反。實不敢保魏延。”董允亦奏曰：“魏延自恃功高，常有不平之心，口出怨言。

The only reason he did not rebel before was that he feared the Chancellor. Now that the Chancellor has just died, it is only to be expected that he should seize the chance to make trouble. As for Yang Yi, he is able, quick and capable, and was employed by the Chancellor; he will certainly not rebel.” The Latter Ruler said, “If Wei Yan has really rebelled, what plan should we use to deal with him?” Jiang Wan said, “The Chancellor always suspected this man. He is sure to have left a plan with Yang Yi. If Yang Yi had nothing to rely on, how could he have withdrawn into the mouth of the valley?

向所以不即反者，懼丞相耳。今丞相新亡，乘機爲亂，勢所必然。若楊儀，才幹敏達，爲丞相所任用，必不背反。”後主曰：“若魏延果反，當用何策御之？”蔣琬曰：“丞相素疑此人，必有遺計授與楊儀。若儀無恃，安能退入谷口乎？

Wei Yan is sure to fall into the trap. Let Your Majesty set your mind at rest.” Before long another memorial from Wei Yan arrived, declaring that Yang Yi had rebelled. While they were still reading it, another memorial from Yang Yi arrived, reporting that Wei Yan had rebelled. The two sent memorial after memorial, each setting out the rights and wrongs of the matter. Suddenly it was announced that Fei Yi had arrived. The Latter Ruler summoned him in, and Fei Yi reported in detail on Wei Yan’s rebellion. The Latter Ruler said, “If that is so, let Dong Yun go for now, bearing the staff of authority, to urge them to settle their differences and pacify them with kind words.” Dong Yun received the edict and departed.

延必中計矣。陛下寬心。”不多時，魏延又表至，告稱楊儀背反。正覽表之間，楊儀又表到，奏稱魏延背反。二人接連具表，各陳是非。忽報費禕到。後主召入，禕細奏魏延反情。後主曰：“若如此，且令董允假節釋勸，用好言撫慰。”允奉詔而去。

Now Wei Yan, having burned down the plank roads, stationed his troops in the Nan Valley and held the narrow pass, thinking his plan had succeeded. He never imagined that Yang Yi and Jiang Wei would lead their troops by forced night marches round behind the Nan Valley. Fearing that Hanzhong might be lost, Yang Yi ordered his vanguard He Ping to go ahead with three thousand troops, while he himself, with Jiang Wei and the others, led the army escorting the coffin towards Hanzhong.

卻說魏延燒斷棧道，屯兵南谷，把住隘口，自以爲得計；不想楊儀、姜維星夜引兵抄到南谷之後。儀恐漢中有失，令先鋒何平引三千兵先行。儀同姜維等引兵扶柩望漢中而來。

Meanwhile He Ping led his troops straight round behind the Nan Valley, beating the drums and raising a great shout. Scouts rode swiftly to tell Wei Yan that Yang Yi had sent his vanguard He Ping with troops along the small path by Chashan to challenge him to battle. Wei Yan was furious. He hastily put on his armour, mounted, took up his sword and led his troops out to meet them. When the two lines had formed up facing each other, He Ping rode out and cursed him loudly: “Where is the rebel Wei Yan?” Wei Yan cursed back, “You are helping Yang Yi rebel. How dare you curse me!”

且說何平引兵徑到南谷之後，擂鼓吶喊。哨馬飛報魏延，說楊儀令先鋒何平引兵自槎山小路抄來搦戰。延大怒，急披掛上馬，提刀引兵來迎。兩陣對圓，何平出馬大罵曰：“反賊魏延安在？”延亦罵曰：“汝助楊儀造反，何敢罵我！”

He Ping shouted at him, “The Chancellor has only just died; his flesh and bones are not yet cold. How dare you rebel!” Then, raising his whip, he pointed at the soldiers from Chuan and said, “You soldiers are all men of Xichuan. In Chuan you have fathers and mothers, wives and children, brothers, relatives and friends. When the Chancellor was alive he never treated you meanly. Do not help a rebel now. You should each go back home and wait to be rewarded.” When the troops heard this they gave a great shout, and more than half of them scattered.

平叱曰：“丞相新亡，骨肉未寒，汝焉敢造反！”乃揚鞭指川兵曰：“汝等軍士，皆是西川之人，川中多有父母妻子，兄弟親朋；丞相在日，不曾薄待汝等，今不可助反賊，宜各回家鄉，聽候賞賜。”衆軍聞言，大喊一聲，散去大半。

Wei Yan, in a rage, whirled his sword and spurred his horse straight at He Ping, who levelled his spear and came to meet him. They had fought only a few bouts when He Ping pretended to be beaten and fled, and Wei Yan chased after him. But the troops let fly with bows and crossbows all together, and Wei Yan turned his horse and came back. Seeing his troops breaking up and scattering in confusion, he grew angrier still. He galloped after them and killed several men, but could not stop them. Only the three hundred men under Ma Dai stood firm. Wei Yan said to Ma Dai, “You are truly helping me with all your heart. When our cause succeeds, I will never let you down.”

延大怒，揮刀縱馬，直取何平。平挺槍來迎。戰不數合，平詐敗而走，延隨後趕來。衆軍弓弩齊發，延撥馬而回。見衆軍紛紛潰散，延轉怒，拍馬趕上，殺了數人，卻只止遏不住；只有馬岱所領三百人不動，延謂岱曰：“公真心助我，事成之後，決不相負。”

Then, together with Ma Dai, he pursued He Ping and attacked him, and He Ping fled at full speed with his troops. Wei Yan gathered the remnants of his army and consulted Ma Dai. “What if we go over to Wei?” Ma Dai said, “That would be most unwise, General. Why should a true man not strive for supremacy himself, instead of lightly bending the knee to another? As I see it, General, you have wisdom and courage in full. Who among the men of the Two Chuan would dare to stand against you? I swear to join you in taking Hanzhong first, and then to go on to attack Xichuan.”

遂與馬岱追殺何平。平引兵飛奔而去。魏延收聚殘軍，與馬岱商議曰：“我等投魏，若何？”岱曰：“將軍之言，不智甚也。大丈夫何不自圖霸業，乃輕屈膝於人耶？吾觀將軍智勇足備，兩川之士，誰敢抵敵？吾誓同將軍先取漢中，隨後進攻西川。”

Wei Yan was delighted, and together with Ma Dai he led his troops straight to attack Nanzheng. Jiang Wei was on the walls of Nanzheng and saw Wei Yan and Ma Dai sweeping towards them like the wind, making a great show of their might. He hastily ordered the drawbridge raised. Wei Yan and Ma Dai both shouted, “Surrender now!” Jiang Wei sent for Yang Yi to consult with him. “Wei Yan is brave and fierce, and Ma Dai is helping him as well. Although they have few troops, what plan can we use to drive them off?” Yang Yi said, “At the end, the Chancellor left me a silk bag, with the instruction that if Wei Yan rebelled, I was to open it only when we faced him in battle, and it would contain a plan for beheading Wei Yan.

延大喜，遂同馬岱引兵直取南鄭。姜維在南鄭城上，見魏延、馬岱耀武揚威，風擁而來。維急令拽起吊橋。延、岱二人大叫：“早降！”姜維令人請楊儀商議曰：“魏延勇猛，更兼馬岱相助，雖然軍少，何計退之？”儀曰：“丞相臨終，遺一錦囊，囑曰：若魏延造反，臨陣對敵之時，方可開拆，便有斬魏延之計。

Now I had better take it out and have a look.” So he brought out the silk bag, but when he went to break the seal he found written on it: “Only when you face Wei Yan in battle, on horseback, may you open this.” Jiang Wei was delighted and said, “Since the Chancellor has given this instruction, you had better keep it, Chief Clerk. I will lead the troops out of the city first and draw them up in formation; you can come straight after.” Jiang Wei put on his armour, mounted his horse, took his spear in hand, and led three thousand troops out through the opened city gates. They charged out all together to a great roll of drums and formed up in battle array.

今當取出一看。”遂出錦囊拆封看時，題曰：“待與魏延對敵，馬上方許拆開。”維大喜曰：“既丞相有戒約，長史可收執。吾先引兵出城，列爲陣勢，公可便來。”姜維披掛上馬，綽槍在手，引三千軍，開了城門，一齊衝出，鼓聲大震，排成陣勢。

Jiang Wei, levelling his spear, reined in his horse beneath the banners at the gate of the formation and cursed in a loud voice, “Rebel Wei Yan! The Chancellor never treated you unfairly. Why do you turn traitor today?” Wei Yan, holding his sword crosswise and reining in his horse, said, “Boyue, this is no concern of yours. Just tell Yang Yi to come out!” Yang Yi, in the shadow of the banners, opened the silk bag and read it: such and such were its contents. Yang Yi was delighted. He rode out lightly armed, reined in before the line, and pointing at Wei Yan he laughed and said, “When the Chancellor was alive he knew that you would rebel in the end, and told me to be prepared. Now his words have come true.

維挺槍立馬於門旗之下，高聲大罵曰：“反賊魏延！丞相不曾虧你，今日如何背反？”延橫刀勒馬而言曰：“伯約，不干你事。只教楊儀來！”儀在門旗影裏，拆開錦囊視之，如此如此。儀大喜，輕騎而出，立馬陣前，手指魏延而笑曰：“丞相在日，知汝久後必反，教我提備，今果應其言。

If you dare to shout three times in a row from your horse, ‘Who dares to kill me?’ then you are a real man, and I will hand over the city and moats of Hanzhong to you.” Wei Yan roared with laughter. “Listen, you wretch Yang Yi! If Kongming were alive I might still fear him three parts in ten, but now he is dead, who in the world dares to stand against me? Never mind three times in a row—I could shout it thirty thousand times! What is hard about that?” Then, sword in hand and gripping his reins, he shouted from his horse, “Who dares to kill me?”

汝敢在馬上連叫三聲誰敢殺我，便是真大丈夫，吾就獻漢中城池與汝。”延大笑曰：“楊儀匹夫聽着！若孔明在日，吾尚懼他三分；他今已亡，天下誰敢敵我？休道連叫三聲，便叫三萬聲，亦有何難！”遂提刀按轡，於馬上大叫曰：“誰敢殺我？”

Before the first shout had died away, a man behind him answered in a fierce voice, “I dare to kill you!” His hand rose, his sword fell, and Wei Yan was cut down from his horse. Everyone was aghast. The man who had killed Wei Yan was Ma Dai. For at the end Kongming had given Ma Dai a secret plan: to wait until Wei Yan shouted, and then cut him down when he least expected it. That day, when Yang Yi had read the plan in the silk bag, he already knew that Ma Dai had been placed there in readiness, so he acted according to the plan, and Wei Yan was indeed killed.

一聲未畢，腦後一人厲聲而應曰：“吾敢殺汝！”手起刀落，斬魏延於馬下。衆皆駭然。斬魏延者，乃馬岱也。原來孔明臨終之時，授馬岱以密計，只待魏延喊叫時，便出其不意斬之；當日，楊儀讀罷錦囊計策，已知伏下馬岱在彼，故依計而行，果然殺了魏延。

A later poet wrote:
Zhuge, foreseeing events, saw through Wei Yan,
And knew already that one day he would turn against Xichuan.
The plan he left in the silk bag no one could fathom;
Yet there before the horse it was seen to succeed.

後人有詩曰：“諸葛先機識魏延，已知日後反西川。
錦囊遺計人難料，卻見成功在馬前。
”

Now before Dong Yun could reach Nanzheng, Ma Dai had already beheaded Wei Yan and joined forces with Jiang Wei. Yang Yi drew up a memorial and sent it by night to report to the Latter Ruler. The Latter Ruler issued an edict: “His crime has been rightly named, but still, in memory of his former services, let him be granted an inner and outer coffin and buried.” When Yang Yi and the others escorted Kongming’s coffin to Chengdu, the Latter Ruler led all the civil and military officials, every one in mourning, twenty li out of the city to meet it.

卻說董允未及到南鄭，馬岱已斬了魏延，與姜維合兵一處。楊儀具表星夜奏聞後主。後主降旨曰：“既已名正其罪，仍念前功，賜棺槨葬之。”楊儀等扶孔明靈柩到成都，後主引文武官僚，盡皆掛孝，出城二十里迎接。

The Latter Ruler wept aloud. From the highest ministers and grandees down to the common folk of the mountains and forests, men and women, old and young, there was no one who did not weep bitterly, and the sound of lamentation shook the earth. The Latter Ruler ordered the coffin to be escorted into the city and placed in the Chancellor’s residence, where his son Zhuge Zhan kept the mourning.

後主放聲大哭。上至公卿大夫，下及山林百姓，男女老幼，無不痛哭，哀聲震地。後主命扶柩入城，停於丞相府中。其子諸葛瞻守孝居喪。

When the Latter Ruler returned to court, Yang Yi bound himself and asked to be punished. The Latter Ruler had a courtier remove his bonds and said, “Had you not been able to follow the Chancellor’s last instructions, when would his coffin ever have come home, and how could Wei Yan have been destroyed? That the great cause has been preserved is all due to your efforts.” So he raised Yang Yi to be Director of Strategy of the Central Army. As Ma Dai had the merit of punishing the rebel, he was at once given Wei Yan’s rank. Yang Yi presented the memorial that Kongming had left behind. When the Latter Ruler had read it he wept bitterly, and issued an edict to choose a burial site by divination.

後主還朝，楊儀自縛請罪。後主令近臣去其縛曰：“若非卿能依丞相遺教，靈柩何日得歸，魏延如何得滅。大事保全，皆卿之力也。”遂加楊儀爲中軍師。馬岱有討逆之功，即以魏延之爵爵之。儀呈上孔明遺表。後主覽畢，大哭，降旨卜地安葬。

Fei Yi submitted, “At the end, the Chancellor ordered that he be buried on Mount Dingjun, with no walls, no bricks or stone, and no sacrificial offerings of any kind.” The Latter Ruler complied. An auspicious day in the tenth month of that year was chosen, and the Latter Ruler himself escorted the coffin to Mount Dingjun for burial. He issued an edict for sacrifices to be offered, conferred on him the posthumous title of Loyal and Martial Marquis, and ordered a temple built at Mianyang where sacrifices were to be made in all four seasons. Later Du Fu of the Board of Works wrote a poem:
Where shall I seek the Chancellor’s shrine?
Outside the City of Brocade, where the cypresses grow dense.

費禕奏曰：“丞相臨終，命葬於定軍山，不用牆垣磚石，亦不用一切祭物。”後主從之。擇本年十月吉日，後主自送靈柩至定軍山安葬。後主降詔致祭，諡號忠武侯；令建廟於沔陽，四時享祭。後杜工部有詩曰：“丞相祠堂何處尋，錦官城外柏森森。

The green grass lighting the steps has its spring colour all to itself;
Beyond the leaves the orioles sing their sweet notes in vain.
Thrice visited, pressed again and again for a plan to rule the realm,
He served two reigns, founding and sustaining—an old minister’s devotion.
He marched out, but died before victory was won,
And ever since, heroes have wept until their robes are soaked! Du Fu of the Board of Works also wrote:
The great name of Zhuge hangs over all the universe;
The likeness of that foremost minister is solemn, pure and lofty.
Amid the three-way division he laboured over his plans—
A single feather in the high clouds of all the ages.
He stands with Yi Yin and Lü Shang, as brothers in rank;
So calm was his command that Xiao He and Cao Can pale beside him.
But fortune moved on, and Han’s mandate could never be restored;
Resolute to the end, he perished, worn out by the toils of war.

映階碧草自春色，隔葉黃鸝空好音。三顧頻煩天下計，兩朝開濟老臣心。出師未捷身先死，長使英雄淚滿襟！”又杜工部詩曰：“諸葛大名垂宇宙，宗臣遺像肅清高。三分割據紆籌策，萬古雲霄一羽毛。伯仲之間見伊呂，指揮若定失蕭曹。運移漢祚終難復，志決身殲軍務勞。”

Now when the Latter Ruler had returned to Chengdu, a courtier suddenly reported, “Word has come from the frontier that Eastern Wu has sent Quan Cong with several tens of thousands of troops to camp at the border crossing of Baqiu. What they intend we do not know.” The Latter Ruler said in alarm, “The Chancellor has only just died, and Eastern Wu is breaking our alliance and violating our border. What are we to do?” Jiang Wan submitted, “I venture to vouch for Wang Ping and Zhang Ni: let them lead several tens of thousands of troops to camp at Yongan, to guard against the unexpected. Let Your Majesty also send someone to Eastern Wu to announce the death, and so find out what they are about.”

卻說後主回到成都，忽近臣奏曰：“邊庭報來，東吳令全琮引兵數萬，屯於巴丘界口，未知何意。”後主驚曰：“丞相新亡，東吳負盟侵界，如之奈何？”蔣琬奏曰：“臣敢保王平、張嶷引兵數萬屯於永安，以防不測。陛下再命一人去東吳報喪，以探其動靜。”

The Latter Ruler said, “We need a man with a ready tongue to act as envoy.” A man answered at once and came forward, saying, “Your humble servant wishes to go.” Everyone looked and saw that it was a man of Anzhong in Nanyang, surnamed Zong, named Yu, styled Deyan, who held the posts of Army Adviser and General of the Household of the Right. The Latter Ruler was delighted and at once ordered Zong Yu to go to Eastern Wu to announce the death and at the same time find out the true state of affairs. Zong Yu received the order and went straight to Jinling, where he was received by the Ruler of Wu, Sun Quan. When the ceremonies were over, he saw that everyone around was dressed in white.

後主曰：“須得一舌辯之士爲使。”一人應聲而出曰：“微臣願往。”衆視之，乃南陽安眾人，姓宗，名預，字德艷，官任參軍、右中郎將。後主大喜，即命宗預往東吳報喪，兼探虛實。宗預領命，徑到金陵，入見吳主孫權。禮畢，只見左右人皆着素衣。

Sun Quan’s face darkened and he said, “Wu and Shu have become one family. Why has your lord strengthened the garrison at Baidi?” Zong Yu said, “In my view, the reinforcement of the garrison at Baqiu in the east and the strengthening of the garrison at Baidi in the west are both simply what circumstances require. Neither is worth asking the other about.” Sun Quan laughed and said, “You are no less a man than Deng Zhi.” Then he said to Zong Yu, “When I heard that Chancellor Zhuge had returned to heaven, I shed tears every day and ordered all my officials to wear mourning.

權作色而言曰：“吳、蜀已爲一家，卿主何故而增白帝之守也？”預曰：“臣以爲東益巴丘之戍，西增白帝之守，皆事勢宜然，俱不足以相問也。”權笑曰：“卿不亞於鄧芝。”乃謂宗預曰：“朕聞諸葛丞相歸天，每日流涕，令官僚盡皆掛孝。

I was afraid the men of Wei would take advantage of your mourning to seize Shu, so I increased the garrison at Baqiu by ten thousand men to come to your aid. I have no other intention.” Zong Yu knocked his head on the ground and bowed his thanks. Sun Quan said, “Having pledged myself to our alliance, how could I betray my duty?” Zong Yu said, “Because the Chancellor has just died, the Son of Heaven specially ordered me to come and announce his death.” Then Sun Quan took a gold-tipped arrow and broke it, swearing an oath: “If I betray our former alliance, may my sons and grandsons be wiped out!” He also ordered an envoy to take incense and silk as funeral offerings into Chuan to make sacrifice.

朕恐魏人乘喪取蜀，故增巴丘守兵萬人，以爲救援，別無他意也。”預頓首拜謝。權曰：“朕既許以同盟，安有背義之理？”預曰：“天子因丞相新亡，特命臣來報喪。”權遂取金鈚箭一枝折之，設誓曰：“朕若負前盟，子孫絕滅！”又命使齎香帛奠儀，入川致祭。

Zong Yu bowed and took his leave of the Ruler of Wu, returned to Chengdu with the Wu envoy, and went in to see the Latter Ruler. He reported, “Because the Chancellor has just died, the Ruler of Wu himself has shed tears and has ordered all his officials to wear mourning. He has reinforced Baqiu for fear that the men of Wei might take advantage of our weakness to break in; he has no other design. He has now broken an arrow as an oath that he will never betray the alliance.” The Latter Ruler was delighted. He rewarded Zong Yu richly and treated the Wu envoy generously before sending him off. Then, following Kongming’s last wishes, he made Jiang Wan Chancellor and Grand General, in charge of the affairs of the Masters of Writing; made Fei Yi Director of the Masters of Writing, to share in the Chancellor’s duties; made Wu Yi General of Chariots and Cavalry, bearing the staff of authority, in command of Hanzhong; and made Jiang Wei General Who Supports Han and Marquis of Pingxiang, in overall command of the troops everywhere, to go with Wu Yi and garrison Hanzhong against the Wei army.

宗預拜辭吳主，同吳使還成都，入見後主，奏曰：“吳主因丞相新亡，亦自流涕，令羣臣皆掛孝。其益兵巴丘者，恐魏人乘虛而入，別無異心。今折箭爲誓，並不背盟。”後主大喜，重賞宗預，厚待吳使去訖。遂依孔明遺言，加蔣琬爲丞相、大將軍，錄尚書事；加費禕爲尚書令，同理丞相事；加吳懿爲車騎將軍，假節督漢中；姜維爲輔漢將軍、平襄侯，總督諸處人馬，同吳懿出屯漢中，以防魏兵。

The remaining officers all kept their former posts. Yang Yi considered that he was senior to Jiang Wan in both age and service, yet his rank was now below Jiang Wan’s; moreover, he relied on his great merits and had received no substantial reward. He uttered complaints, saying to Fei Yi, “When the Chancellor had just died, if I had taken the whole army over to Wei, would I be left out in the cold like this?” Fei Yi reported these words to the Latter Ruler in a secret memorial. The Latter Ruler was furious and ordered Yang Yi thrown into prison and interrogated, intending to have him beheaded.

其餘將校，各依舊職。楊儀自以爲年宦先於蔣琬，而位出琬下；且自恃功高，未有重賞，口出怨言，謂費禕曰：“昔日丞相初亡，吾若將全師投魏，寧當寂寞如此耶！”費禕乃將此言具表密奏後主。後主大怒，命將楊儀下獄勘問，欲斬之。

Jiang Wan submitted, “Although Yang Yi is guilty, in the past he won many merits following the Chancellor. He should not be beheaded, but reduced to a commoner.” The Latter Ruler agreed, and banished Yang Yi to Hanjia Commandery as a commoner. Overcome with shame, Yang Yi cut his own throat and died.

蔣琬奏曰：“儀雖有罪，但日前隨丞相多立功勞，未可斬也，當廢爲庶人。”後主從之，遂貶楊儀赴漢嘉郡爲民。儀羞慚自刎而死。

In the thirteenth year of Jianxing of Shu Han—the third year of Qinglong of Cao Rui, Ruler of Wei, and the fourth year of Jiahe of Sun Quan, Ruler of Wu—none of the three kingdoms took up arms. We tell only how the Ruler of Wei made Sima Yi Grand Commandant, in overall command of the armed forces, to keep order on all the frontiers. Sima Yi thanked him and went back to Luoyang. The Ruler of Wei began great building works at Xuchang and put up palaces. At Luoyang, too, he built the Chaoyang Hall and the Taiji Hall and raised the Zongzhang Tower, all ten zhang high. He also put up the Chonghua Hall, the Qingxiao Pavilion, the Phoenix Tower and the Nine Dragons Pool, and ordered the Erudite Ma Jun to supervise the work. They were magnificent in the extreme: carved beams and painted rafters, green tiles and golden bricks, dazzling in the sun.

蜀漢建興十三年，魏主曹睿青龍三年，吳主孫權嘉禾四年，三國各不興兵，單說魏主封司馬懿爲太尉，總督軍馬，安鎮諸邊。懿拜謝回洛陽去訖。魏主在許昌大興土木，建蓋宮殿；又於洛陽造朝陽殿、太極殿，築總章觀，俱高十丈；又立崇華殿、青霄閣、鳳凰樓、九龍池，命博士馬鈞監造，極其華麗：雕樑畫棟，碧瓦金磚，光輝耀日。

More than thirty thousand skilled craftsmen and over three hundred thousand labourers were chosen from all over the empire, and they worked day and night without stopping. The people were exhausted, and their complaints never ceased.

選天下巧匠三萬餘人，民夫三十餘萬，不分晝夜而造。民力疲睏，怨聲不絕。

Cao Rui also issued an edict to begin building works in the Fanglin Park, and made the high ministers all carry earth and plant trees there. The Minister over the Masses, Dong Xun, sent up a memorial of earnest remonstrance: “I humbly observe that since the Jianan era, so many have died fighting in the field that some families have been wiped out altogether, and those who survive are orphans, the old and the weak. Even if the palaces were now too small and needed enlarging, it should be done at the proper season so as not to interfere with farming—how much more so when what is being built is of no use? Your Majesty has honoured your ministers, distinguishing them with caps and crowns, clothing them in embroidered robes and carrying them in fine carriages, in order to set them apart from common people.

睿又降旨起土木於芳林園，使公卿皆負土樹木於其中。司徒董尋上表切諫曰：“伏自建安以來，野戰死亡，或門殫戶盡；雖有存者，遺孤老弱。若今宮室狹小，欲廣大之，猶宜隨時，不妨農務。況作無益之物乎？陛下既尊羣臣，顯以冠冕，被以文繡，載以華輿，所以異於小人也。

Now you make them carry timber and earth on their backs, soaking their bodies and muddying their feet, destroying the glory of the state to exalt what is useless. This is quite senseless. Confucius said: ‘The ruler employs his ministers according to propriety; the ministers serve their ruler with loyalty.’ Without loyalty and without propriety, how can a state stand? I know that once these words are spoken I must die. But I count myself no more than a single hair on an ox: my life has been of no use, so what loss is my death? I hold my brush with tears streaming down, and in my heart I take leave of the world. I have eight sons; after my death they will be a burden on Your Majesty.

今又使負木擔土，霑體塗足，毀國之光，以崇無益：甚無謂也。孔子云：君使臣以禮，臣事君以忠。無忠無禮，國何以立？臣知言出必死；而自比於牛之一毛，生既無益，死亦何損。秉筆流涕，心與世辭。臣有八子，臣死之後，累陛下矣。

I cannot overcome my trembling as I await your command!” When Cao Rui read the memorial he said angrily, “Is Dong Xun not afraid to die?” Those around him asked that he be beheaded. Cao Rui said, “This man has always been loyal and upright. For now let him be reduced to a commoner. Anyone else who speaks so recklessly will certainly be beheaded!” At that time Zhang Mao, styled Yancai, Retainer to the Crown Prince, also sent up a memorial of earnest remonstrance, and Cao Rui ordered him beheaded. That same day he summoned Ma Jun and questioned him: “I am building high terraces and lofty towers because I wish to consort with the immortals and seek the secret of living forever without growing old.”

不勝戰慄待命之至！”睿覽表怒曰：“董尋不怕死耶！”左右奏請斬之。睿曰：“此人素有忠義，今且廢爲庶人。再有妄言者必斬！”時有太子舍人張茂，字彥材，亦上表切諫，睿命斬之。即日召馬鈞問曰：“朕建高臺峻閣，欲與神仙往來，以求長生不老之方。”

Ma Jun replied, “Of the twenty-four emperors of the Han dynasty, only Emperor Wu enjoyed the longest reign and lived to a great age. This was because he partook of the essence of the sun and the splendour of the moon from the heavens. He once built the Boliang Terrace in the palace at Changan, and on it set up a bronze man holding up a plate in his hands, called the Dew-Catching Plate. It caught the night dew that falls from the Northern Dipper at the third watch, which was called Heavenly Nectar, or Sweet Dew. If one takes this water, mixes it with powdered fine jade and drinks it, one can turn old age back into youth.”

鈞奏曰：“漢朝二十四帝，惟武帝享國最久，壽算極高，蓋因服天上日精月華之氣也：嘗於長安宮中，建柏梁臺；臺上立一銅人，手捧一盤，名曰承露盤，接三更北斗所降沆瀣之水，其名曰天漿，又曰甘露。取此水用美玉爲屑，調和服之，可以反老還童。”

Cao Rui was delighted and said, “Take labourers now and hurry by night to Changan. Pull down the bronze man and bring it here to set up in the Fanglin Park.” Ma Jun received the order and took ten thousand men to Changan. He had wooden scaffolding put up all round and sent them up the Boliang Terrace. Before long five thousand men, linking ropes and hauling on cables, were climbing round and round to the top. The Boliang Terrace was twenty zhang high, and its bronze pillar was ten arm-spans around. Ma Jun had them take down the bronze man first.

睿大喜曰：“汝今可引人夫星夜至長安，拆取銅人，移置芳林園中。”鈞領命，引一萬人至長安，令周圍搭起木架，上柏梁臺去。不移時間，五千人連繩引索，旋環而上。那柏梁臺高二十丈，銅柱圓十圍。馬鈞教先拆銅人。

Many men together pulled the bronze man down, and then they saw tears streaming from its eyes. Everyone was aghast. Suddenly a violent wind sprang up beside the terrace, sending sand flying and stones rolling, as fierce as a cloudburst. There was a tremendous crash, as though heaven were falling and the earth splitting apart: the terrace tilted, the pillar fell, and more than a thousand men were crushed to death. Ma Jun took the bronze man and the golden plate back to Luoyang, went in to see the Ruler of Wei, and presented the bronze man and the Dew-Catching Plate.

多人併力拆下銅人來，只見銅人眼中潸然淚下。衆皆大驚。忽然臺邊一陣狂風起處，飛砂走石，急若驟雨；一聲響亮，就如天崩地裂：臺傾柱倒，壓死千餘人。鈞取銅人及金盤迴洛陽，入見魏主，獻上銅人、承露盤。

The Ruler of Wei asked, “Where is the bronze pillar?” Ma Jun replied, “The pillar weighs a million catties; it could not be transported.” Cao Rui ordered the bronze pillar broken up and carried to Luoyang, where it was cast into two bronze men, called Wengzhong, which were set up in a row outside the Sima Gate. He also had a bronze dragon and a bronze phoenix cast, the dragon four zhang high and the phoenix more than three zhang high, and set them up in front of the hall. And in the Shanglin Park he planted rare flowers and exotic trees, and kept precious birds and strange beasts.

魏主問曰：“銅柱安在？”鈞奏曰：“柱重百萬斤，不能運至。”睿令將銅柱打碎，運來洛陽，鑄成兩個銅人，號爲翁仲，列於司馬門外；又鑄銅龍鳳兩個：龍高四丈，鳳高三丈餘，立在殿前。又於上林苑中，種奇花異木，蓄養珍禽怪獸。

The Junior Tutor Yang Fu sent up a memorial of remonstrance: “I have heard that Yao preferred thatched roofs, and all the states lived in peace; Yu kept his palaces low, and the whole realm was content in its work. Even in the Yin and Zhou dynasties, a hall might be three feet high, or measured at nine mats. Among the sage emperors and enlightened kings of old, none ever made his palaces as high and splendid as possible, draining the wealth and strength of the people. Jie built the Jade Chamber and the Ivory Gallery, and Zhou built the Leaning Palace and the Deer Terrace, and so they lost their altars of state. King Ling of Chu built the Zhanghua Terrace and brought disaster on himself. The First Emperor of Qin built the Epang Palace, and disaster fell on his son: the empire rose against him, and the dynasty perished in the second generation.

少傅楊阜上表諫曰：“臣聞堯尚茅茨，而萬國安居；禹卑宮室，而天下樂業；及至殷、周，或堂崇三尺，度以九筵耳。古之聖帝明王，未有極宮室之高麗，以凋敝百姓之財力者也。桀作璇室、象廊，紂爲傾宮、鹿臺，以喪其社稷；楚靈以築章華而身受其禍；秦始皇作阿房而殃及其子，天下叛之，二世而滅。

Never has anyone failed to perish who disregarded the strength of the people to indulge the desires of his eyes and ears. Your Majesty should take Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, King Wen and King Wu as your models, and let Jie, Zhou, Chu and Qin be a solemn warning. If instead you give yourself up to leisure and ease and think only of adorning palaces and terraces, disaster and ruin will surely follow. The ruler is the head and his ministers are the limbs; they survive or perish as one body and share in gain and loss alike. Dull and timid as I am, how could I dare forget the duty of a minister to remonstrate?

夫不度萬民之力，以從耳目之欲，未有不亡者也。陛下當以堯、舜、禹、湯、文、武爲法則，以桀、紂、楚、秦爲深誡。而乃自暇自逸，惟宮臺是飾，必有危亡之禍矣。君作元首，臣爲股肱，存亡一體，得失同之。臣雖駑怯，敢忘諍臣之義？

Unless my words are earnest to the utmost, they will not be enough to move and awaken Your Majesty. I have respectfully knocked on my coffin and bathed, and I lie prostrate awaiting the severest punishment.” The memorial was presented, but Cao Rui paid it no heed. He only pressed Ma Jun to hurry the building of the high terrace and the installation of the bronze man and the Dew-Catching Plate. He also issued an edict for beautiful women to be chosen from all over the empire and brought into the Fanglin Park. Official after official sent up memorials of remonstrance, but Cao Rui listened to none of them.

言不切至，不足以感寤陛下。謹叩棺沐浴，伏俟重誅。”表上，睿不省，只催督馬鈞建造高臺，安置銅人、承露盤。又降旨廣選天下美女，入芳林園中。衆官紛紛上表諫諍，睿俱不聽。

Now Cao Rui’s empress, Lady Mao, was a native of Henei. Years before, when Cao Rui was Prince of Pingyuan, the two had loved each other dearly, and when he ascended the throne he made her empress. Later, however, Cao Rui came to favour Lady Guo, and Empress Mao lost his favour. Lady Guo was beautiful and clever, and Cao Rui doted on her. He took his pleasure with her every day and for more than a month did not leave the inner palace. In the third month of spring that year, when all the flowers in the Fanglin Park were in full bloom, Cao Rui went with Lady Guo to the park to enjoy the flowers and drink wine.

卻說曹睿之後毛氏，乃河內人也；先年睿爲平原王時，最相恩愛；及即帝位，立爲後；後睿因寵郭夫人，毛后失寵。郭夫人美而慧，睿甚嬖之，每日取樂，月餘不出宮闥。是歲春三月，芳林園中百花爭放，睿同郭夫人到園中賞玩飲酒。

Lady Guo said, “Why not invite the Empress to share our pleasure?” Cao Rui said, “If she were here, I could not swallow a single drop.” So he instructed the palace women that Empress Mao was not to be told. Empress Mao, seeing that Cao Rui had not come to the main palace for over a month, had gone that day with a dozen or so palace women up to the Cuihua Tower to amuse herself. Hearing the clear, ringing sound of music, she asked, “Where is that music coming from?” A palace official told her, “His Majesty is enjoying the flowers and drinking wine with Lady Guo in the imperial garden.”

郭夫人曰：“何不請皇后同樂？”睿曰：“若彼在，朕涓滴不能下嚥也。”遂傳諭宮娥，不許令毛后知道。毛后見睿月餘不入正宮，是日引十餘宮人，來翠花樓上消遣，只聽的樂聲嘹亮，乃問曰：“何處奏樂？”一宮官啓曰：“乃聖上與郭夫人於御花園中賞花飲酒。”

When Empress Mao heard this she was troubled at heart, and went back to her palace to rest. The next day Empress Mao went out of the palace in a small carriage for an outing, and happened to meet Cao Rui in a winding corridor. She said with a smile, “Your Majesty went to the North Garden yesterday. You must have enjoyed yourself greatly!” Cao Rui was furious. At once he ordered everyone who had waited on him the day before to be seized and brought to him, and he shouted at them, “When I went to the North Garden yesterday, I forbade my attendants to let Empress Mao know. How has it been let out?”

毛后聞之，心中煩惱，回宮安歇。次日，毛皇后乘小車出宮遊玩，正迎見睿於曲廊之間，乃笑曰：“陛下昨遊北園，其樂不淺也！”睿大怒，即命擒昨日侍奉諸人到，叱曰：“昨遊北園，朕禁左右不許使毛后知道，何得又宣露！”

He shouted to the palace officials to behead all those who had waited on him. Empress Mao, greatly alarmed, turned her carriage and went back to her palace. Cao Rui at once issued an edict ordering Empress Mao to die, and made Lady Guo empress. None of the ministers at court dared to remonstrate.

喝令宮官將諸侍奉人盡斬之。毛后大驚，回車至宮，睿即降詔賜毛皇后死，立郭夫人爲皇后。朝臣莫敢諫者。

Then one day Guanqiu Jian, Imperial Protector of You Province, sent up a memorial reporting that Gongsun Yuan of Liaodong had rebelled. He had proclaimed himself King of Yan, changed the reign title to the first year of Shaohan, built palaces, set up official posts, and raised troops to invade, throwing the whole north into turmoil. Cao Rui was greatly alarmed, and at once assembled his civil and military officials to discuss raising troops and a plan to drive back Gongsun Yuan.

忽一日，幽州刺史毌丘儉上表，報稱遼東公孫淵造反，自號爲燕王，改元紹漢元年，建宮殿，立官職，興兵入寇，搖動北方。睿大驚，即聚文武官僚，商議起兵退淵之策。

Indeed:
No sooner had building works worn out the Middle Kingdom
Than shields and spears were seen rising in the lands beyond.
How this was met will be told in the next chapter.

正是：纔將土木勞中國，又見干戈起外方。
未知何以御之，且看下文分解。