Romance, Chapter 120

Chapter 120. Recommending Du Yu, an Old General Offers a New Plan; Sun Hao Surrenders and the Three Kingdoms Return to Unity

Now Sun Xiu, the Ruler of Wu, heard that Sima Yan had usurped the throne of Wei and knew that he would surely attack Wu. His anxiety made him ill; he took to his bed and could not rise. He summoned the Chancellor Puyang Xing into the palace and had the Heir Apparent, Sun Wan, come out and bow to him. The Ruler of Wu grasped Puyang Xing’s arm, pointed at Sun Wan, and died. Puyang Xing went out and consulted with the officials, intending to set up the Heir Apparent Sun Wan as sovereign. Wan Yu, Commander of the Left Guards, said, “Sun Wan is too young to take charge of the government. It would be better to bring in Sun Hao, the Marquis of Wucheng, and set him up.”

卻說吳主孫休，聞司馬炎已篡魏，知其必將伐吳，憂慮成疾，臥牀不起，乃召丞相濮陽興入宮中，令太子孫𩅦出拜。吳主把興臂、手指𩅦而卒。興出，與羣臣商議，欲立太子孫𩅦爲君。左典軍萬彧曰：“𩅦幼不能專政，不若取烏程侯孫皓立之。”

Zhang Bu, General of the Left, also said, “Sun Hao is talented, clear-sighted and decisive, fit to be an emperor.” The Chancellor Puyang Xing could not make up his mind, and went into the palace to put the matter to Empress Dowager Zhu. The Empress Dowager said, “I am only a widow. What do I know of the affairs of the state? You ministers weigh the matter and set up whomever you think fit.” So Puyang Xing welcomed Sun Hao and made him sovereign.

左將軍張布亦曰：“皓才識明斷，堪爲帝王。”丞相濮陽興不能決，入奏朱太后。太后曰：“吾寡婦人耳，安知社稷之事？卿等斟酌立之可也。”興遂迎皓爲君。

Sun Hao, styled Yuanzong, was the son of Sun He, the Heir Apparent of the Great Emperor Sun Quan. In the seventh month of that year he ascended the imperial throne and changed the reign title to the first year of Yuanxing. He made the Heir Apparent Sun Wan King of Yuzhang, posthumously honoured his father Sun He as Emperor Wen, honoured his mother, Lady He, as Empress Dowager, and gave Ding Feng the additional office of Grand Marshal of the Right. The following year the reign title was changed to the first year of Ganlu. Sun Hao grew more savage day by day, sank deep into wine and women, and lavished favour on the Regular Palace Attendant Cen Hun.

皓字元宗，大帝孫權太子孫和之子也。當年七月，即皇帝位，改元爲元興元年，封太子孫𩅦爲豫章王，追諡父和爲文皇帝，尊母何氏爲太后，加丁奉爲右大司馬。次年改爲甘露元年。皓兇暴日甚，酷溺酒色，寵幸中常侍岑昏。

When Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu remonstrated with him, Sun Hao flew into a rage, had both of them beheaded and wiped out their families to the third degree. From then on the officials at court sealed their lips and dared not remonstrate again. He also changed the reign title to the first year of Baoding, and made Lu Kai and Wan Yu Chancellors of the Left and Right. At that time Sun Hao was living at Wuchang, and the people of Yangzhou had to send supplies to him upstream against the current, which caused them great hardship. What was more, his extravagance knew no bounds, so that both the state and the people were impoverished. Lu Kai sent up a memorial of remonstrance, saying, “Now, though there is no calamity, the people’s lives are being used up; though nothing is being undertaken, the state’s treasury is empty. In my heart I grieve over this.

濮陽興、張布諫之，皓怒，斬二人，滅其三族。由是廷臣緘口，不敢再諫。又改寶鼎元年，以陸凱、萬彧爲左右丞相。時皓居武昌，揚州百姓溯流供給，甚苦之；又奢侈無度，公私匱乏。陸凱上疏諫曰：“今無災而民命盡，無爲而國財空，臣竊痛之。

In former times, when the House of Han had declined, three houses stood like the legs of a tripod. Now the Cao and the Liu have lost the Way and both have fallen to Jin: this is clear proof before our very eyes. Foolish as I am, I only grieve for the state for Your Majesty’s sake. Wuchang is rugged and barren, no place for a true king’s capital. Moreover, a children’s song goes: ‘Better to drink the water of Jianye than eat the fish of Wuchang; better to go back to Jianye and die than stay and live in Wuchang!’ That is enough to show the hearts of the people and the will of Heaven. Now the state has not a single year’s reserves, and its roots are gradually being laid bare; the officials harass the people cruelly, and no one takes pity on them.

昔漢室既衰，三家鼎立；今曹、劉失道，皆爲晉有：此目前之明驗也。臣愚但爲陛下惜國家耳。武昌土地險瘠，非王者之都。且童謠雲：寧飲建業水，不食武昌魚；寧還建業死，不止武昌居！此足明民心與天意也。今國無一年之蓄，有露根之漸；官吏爲苛擾，莫之或恤。

In the Great Emperor’s time there were fewer than a hundred women in the palace; since Emperor Jing’s time there have been thousands: this is the worst drain on the treasury. Furthermore, those about you are none of them the right men. They band together and shield one another, harming the loyal and keeping the worthy in obscurity. All of them are vermin who eat away at the government and bring sickness to the people. I beg Your Majesty to cut down the countless labour levies, put an end to cruel harassment, choose palace women to send away, and make a clean selection of all your officials. Then Heaven will be pleased, the people will cleave to you, and the state will be at peace.”

大帝時，後宮女不滿百；景帝以來，乃有千數：此耗財之甚者也。又左右皆非其人，羣黨相挾，害忠隱賢，此皆蠹政病民者也。願陛下省百役，罷苛擾，簡出宮女，清選百官，則天悅民附而國安矣。”

When the memorial was presented, Sun Hao was displeased. What is more, he launched great building works, constructing the Zhaoming Palace, and ordered all his civil and military officials to go into the mountains to cut timber. He also summoned the diviner Shang Guang and had him consult the milfoil stalks about winning the empire. Shang Guang replied, “The divination Your Majesty has obtained is auspicious: in the year gengzi, the blue canopy will enter Luoyang.” Sun Hao, delighted, said to Hua He, Assistant of the Palace Secretariat, “The late emperor accepted your advice and sent out his generals separately to station several hundred camps all along the river, with the veteran general Ding Feng in overall command of them.

疏奏，皓不悅。又大興土木，作昭明宮，令文武各官入山採木；又召術士尚廣，令筮蓍問取天下之事。尚對曰：“陛下筮得吉兆：庚子歲，青蓋當入洛陽。”皓大喜，謂中書丞華覈曰：“先帝納卿之言，分頭命將，沿江一帶，屯數百營，命老將丁奉總之。

I intend to annex the land of Han and avenge the Ruler of Shu. Which place should we take first?” Hua He remonstrated, “Now that Chengdu has fallen and the dynasty there has collapsed, Sima Yan will surely have designs of swallowing Wu. Your Majesty’s best course is to cultivate virtue and give peace to the people of Wu. If you force the army into motion, it will be just like putting on hemp clothes to fight a fire: you will certainly end up burning yourself. I beg Your Majesty to consider this.” Sun Hao said in a fury, “I mean to seize the moment and restore the old heritage, and you come out with these ill-omened words!

朕欲兼併漢土，以爲蜀主復仇，當取何地爲先？”覈諫曰：“今成都不守，社稷傾崩，司馬炎必有吞吳之心。陛下宜修德以安吳民，乃爲上計。若強動兵甲，正猶披麻救火，必致自焚也。願陛下察之。”皓大怒曰：“朕欲乘時恢復舊業，汝出此不利之言！

Were it not for your standing as an old minister, I would have your head cut off and displayed as a warning!” He shouted to the guards to push Hua He out of the palace gate. As Hua He left the court he sighed, “What a pity! This splendid land of rivers and mountains will soon belong to others!” And he went into retirement and never came out again. Sun Hao then ordered Lu Kang, General Who Guards the East, to take his troops and camp at Jiangkou, with a view to taking Xiangyang. The news soon reached Luoyang, and close ministers reported it to Sima Yan, the Ruler of Jin. When the Ruler of Jin heard that Lu Kang was threatening Xiangyang, he conferred with his officials.

若不看汝舊臣之面，斬首號令！”叱武士推出殿門。華覈出朝嘆曰：“可惜錦繡江山，不久屬於他人矣！”遂隱居不出。於是皓令鎮東將軍陸抗部兵屯江口，以圖襄陽。早有消息報入洛陽，近臣奏知晉主司馬炎。晉主聞陸抗寇襄陽，與衆官商議。

Jia Chong stepped forward from the ranks and said, “I hear that Sun Hao of Wu does not practise virtuous government but gives himself wholly to wickedness. Let Your Majesty order the Commander Yang Hu by edict to lead troops to hold him off. Then, when some upheaval occurs within his state, we can take advantage of it to attack, and Eastern Wu will be ours as easily as turning over one’s hand.” Sima Yan was delighted. He at once issued an edict and sent an envoy to Xiangyang to convey his instructions to Yang Hu. Yang Hu received the edict, put his troops and horses in order and prepared to meet the enemy. From that time Yang Hu held Xiangyang and won the hearts of soldiers and people alike.

賈充出班奏曰：“臣聞吳國孫皓，不修德政，專行無道。陛下可詔都督羊祜率兵拒之，俟其國中有變，乘勢攻取，東吳反掌可得也。”炎大喜，即降詔遣使到襄陽，宣諭羊祜。祜奉詔，整點軍馬，預備迎敵。自是羊祜鎮守襄陽，甚得軍民之心。

If any men of Wu came over to surrender and then wished to leave, he let them all go. He reduced the number of garrison and patrol troops and used them to open up more than eight hundred qing of farmland. When he first arrived the army did not have grain for a hundred days; by his last years there were ten years’ reserves in the camp. In camp Yang Hu always wore a light fur coat and a loose sash and never put on armour, and the guards before his tent numbered no more than a dozen or so. One day one of his officers came into the tent and reported, “Our mounted scouts report that the Wu troops are all slack and careless.

吳人有降而欲去者，皆聽之。減戍邏之卒，用以墾田八百餘頃。其初到時，軍無百日之糧；及至末年，軍中有十年之積。祜在軍，嘗着輕裘，系寬帶，不披鎧甲，帳前侍衛者不過十餘人。一日，部將入帳稟祜曰：“哨馬來報：吳兵皆懈怠。

If we take advantage of their lack of preparation and fall on them, we are sure to win a great victory.” Yang Hu smiled and said, “Do you all think so little of Lu Kang? He is a man of great wisdom and resource. Not long ago the Ruler of Wu ordered him to attack and take Xiling, and he beheaded Bu Chan along with several dozen of his officers and men, and I could not get there in time to save them. With such a man in command, all we can do is guard ourselves. Only when there is some upheaval within their state can we think of taking it. To advance lightly without weighing the times and the situation is the road to defeat.” The officers were convinced by his argument, and simply guarded their own borders.

可乘其無備而襲之，必獲大勝。”祜笑曰：“汝衆人小覷陸抗耶？此人足智多謀，日前吳主命之攻拔西陵，斬了步闡及其將士數十人，吾救之無及。此人爲將，我等只可自守；候其內有變，方可圖取。若不審時勢而輕進，此取敗之道也。”衆將服其論，只自守疆界而已。

One day Yang Hu took his officers out hunting, and it so happened that Lu Kang was out hunting too. Yang Hu gave orders: “Our men are not to cross the border.” The officers obeyed, drove the game only within the territory of Jin, and did not trespass on Wu. Lu Kang watched and sighed, “General Yang’s army is well disciplined. It cannot be attacked.” When evening came each side withdrew. On returning to camp, Yang Hu inquired into the game they had taken, and every beast that had first been wounded by the men of Wu he sent back.

一日，羊祜引諸將打獵，正值陸抗亦出獵。羊祜下令：“我軍不許過界。”衆將得令，止於晉地打圍，不犯吳境。陸抗望見，嘆曰：“羊將軍有紀律，不可犯也。”日晚各退。祜歸至軍中，察問所得禽獸，被吳人先射傷者皆送還。

The men of Wu were all delighted and came to report it to Lu Kang. Lu Kang had the man who had come brought in and asked him, “Does your commander drink wine?” The man replied, “If he has good wine, he drinks it.” Lu Kang smiled and said, “I have a dou of wine that I have kept stored a long time. I now give it to you to take back. Pay my respects to the Commander and tell him that this wine was brewed by me, Lu, for my own drinking, and that I send him a ladleful as a special token of thanks for the goodwill he showed at yesterday’s hunt.” The man promised to do so and went off with the wine.

吳人皆悅，來報陸抗。抗召來人入，問曰：“汝主帥能飲酒否？”來人答曰：“必得佳釀，則飲之。”抗笑曰：“吾有斗酒，藏之久矣。今付與汝持去，拜上都督：此酒陸某親釀自飲者，特奉一勺，以表昨日出獵之情。”來人領諾，攜酒而去。

Those about him asked Lu Kang, “General, what is your purpose in giving him wine?” Lu Kang said, “He has already shown me kindness. How could I fail to repay it?” They were all astonished.

左右問抗曰：“將軍以酒與彼，有何主意？”抗曰：“彼既施德於我，我豈得無以酬之？”衆皆愕然。

Meanwhile, the man went back to Yang Hu and told him one by one what Lu Kang had asked and about the gift of wine. Yang Hu laughed and said, “So he too knows that I can drink!” And he ordered the jar to be opened and the wine poured. His officer Chen Yuan said, “There may be some treachery in it. Commander, you had better go slowly.” Yang Hu smiled and said, “Lu Kang is not a man to poison anyone. There is no need for suspicion.” And he tipped up the jar and drank it off. From then on they sent men to inquire after each other, and there was constant coming and going between them.

卻說來人回見羊祜，以抗所問並奉酒事，一一陳告。祜笑曰：“彼亦知吾能飲乎！”遂命開壺取飲。部將陳元曰：“其中恐有奸詐，都督且宜慢飲。”祜笑曰：“抗非毒人者也，不必疑慮。”竟傾壺飲之。自是使人通問，常相往來。

One day Lu Kang sent a man to pay his respects to Yang Hu. Yang Hu asked, “Is General Lu well?” The man said, “My commander has been ill in bed for several days and has not come out.” Yang Hu said, “I expect his illness is the same as mine. I have some medicine already made up here; take it to him to take.” The man took the medicine back to Lu Kang. The officers said, “Yang Hu is our enemy. This medicine is surely no good medicine.” Lu Kang said, “How could there be a Yang Shuzi who would poison anyone?

一日，抗遣人候祜。祜問曰：“陸將軍安否？”來人曰：“主帥臥病數日未出。”祜曰：“料彼之病，與我相同。吾已合成熟藥在此，可送與服之。”來人持藥回見抗。衆將曰：“羊祜乃是吾敵也，此藥必非良藥。”抗曰：“豈有鴆人羊叔子哉！

Do not be suspicious, all of you.” And he took the medicine. The next day he was well again, and the officers all came to offer their congratulations. Lu Kang said, “If he relies wholly on virtue while we rely wholly on violence, he will subdue us without a battle. For now we should each simply keep to our own borders and not seek petty gains.” The officers accepted his orders. Suddenly it was reported that an envoy from the Ruler of Wu had arrived. Lu Kang received him and asked his business. The envoy said, “The Son of Heaven instructs you, General, to advance your troops at once and not let the men of Jin strike first.”

汝衆人勿疑。”遂服之。次日病癒，衆將皆拜賀。抗曰：“彼專以德，我專以暴，是彼將不戰而服我也。今宜各保疆界而已，無求細利。”衆將領命。忽報吳主遣使來到，抗接入問之。使曰：“天子傳諭將軍：作急進兵，勿使晉人先入。”

Lu Kang said, “You go back first. I shall follow with a memorial to the throne.” When the envoy had taken his leave, Lu Kang at once drafted a memorial and sent a man to deliver it to Jianye. A close minister presented it, and Sun Hao opened it and read it. The memorial set out in full why Jin could not yet be attacked, and further urged the Ruler of Wu to cultivate virtue, be sparing with punishments and make it his concern to bring peace at home, rather than making a business of warmongering. When he had finished reading, the Ruler of Wu said in a fury, “I heard that Lu Kang was in communication with the enemy on the border, and now I see it is true!”

抗曰：“汝先回，吾隨有疏章上奏。”使人辭去，抗即草疏遣人齎到建業。近臣呈上，皓拆觀其疏，疏中備言晉未可伐之狀，且勸吳主修德慎罰，以安內爲念，不當以黷武爲事。吳主覽畢，大怒曰：“朕聞抗在邊境與敵人相通，今果然矣！”

He then sent an envoy to strip Lu Kang of his military command and demote him to Marshal, and had Sun Ji, General of the Left, take command of his army in his place. None of the officials dared to remonstrate. From the time he changed the reign title to Jianheng until the first year of Fenghuang, Sun Hao, the Ruler of Wu, did exactly as he pleased, exhausting his troops in garrison duty, so that high and low alike all sighed and complained. The Chancellor Wan Yu, the General Liu Ping and the Minister of Agriculture Lou Xuan, seeing Sun Hao’s wickedness, remonstrated with him earnestly and outspokenly, and all three were put to death.

遂遣使罷其兵權，降爲司馬，卻令左將軍孫冀代領其軍。羣臣皆不敢諫。吳主皓自改元建衡，至鳳凰元年，恣意妄爲，窮兵屯戍，上下無不嗟怨。丞相萬彧、將軍留平、大司農樓玄三人見皓無道，直言苦諫，皆被所殺。

Over some ten years and more he put to death more than forty loyal ministers. Whenever Sun Hao went in or out he was always accompanied by fifty thousand armoured horsemen. The officials were terrified, but none could do anything about it. Meanwhile, Yang Hu heard that Lu Kang had been relieved of his command and that Sun Hao had lost all virtue. Seeing that Wu offered an opportunity to be seized, he wrote a memorial and sent a man to Luoyang to request an attack on Wu. Its gist was as follows: “Although the turns of fortune are bestowed by Heaven, great deeds must be accomplished by men. Now the natural defences of the Jiang and the Huai are not as formidable as Jiange; Sun Hao’s tyranny exceeds Liu Shan’s; the distress of the people of Wu is worse than that of Ba and Shu; and the strength of the great Jin army is greater than ever before. If we do not seize this moment to bring all within the four seas under one rule, but instead hold back our troops and merely stand on guard against each other, keeping the empire weary with campaigns and garrison duty through rise and decline, this cannot go on for long.”

前後十餘年，殺忠臣四十餘人。皓出入常帶鐵騎五萬。羣臣恐怖，莫敢奈何。卻說羊祜聞陸抗罷兵，孫皓失德，見吳有可乘之機，乃作表遣人往洛陽請伐吳。其略曰：“夫期運雖天所授，而功業必因人而成。今江淮之險，不如劍閣；孫皓之暴，過於劉禪；吳人之困，甚於巴蜀，而大晉兵力，盛於往時：不於此際平一四海，而更阻兵相守，使天下困於征戍，經歷盛衰，不可長久也。”

Sima Yan read the memorial with great delight and ordered an army to be raised. But three men, Jia Chong, Xun Yi and Feng Dan, argued strongly against it, and for that reason Sima Yan did not go ahead. When Yang Hu heard that the emperor had not granted his request, he sighed, “Of all the things in the world, eight or nine out of ten never go as one wishes. Now Heaven offers it and we will not take it. Is that not a great pity?” In the fourth year of Xianning, Yang Hu came to court and asked leave to retire to his home district to nurse his illness. Sima Yan asked him, “What plan have you for securing the state, to instruct me with?”

司馬炎觀表，大喜，便令興師。賈充、荀顗、馮紞三人，力言不可，炎因此不行。祜聞上不允其請，嘆曰：“天下不如意事，十常八九。今天與不取，豈不大可惜哉！”至咸寧四年，羊祜入朝，奏辭歸鄉養病。炎問曰：“卿有何安邦之策，以教寡人？”

Yang Hu said, “Sun Hao’s cruelty has gone to extremes. At this moment he could be conquered without a battle. But if Sun Hao should chance to die and a worthy ruler be set up in his place, Wu will be beyond Your Majesty’s grasp.” Sima Yan saw the point at once and said, “What if you were to lead the troops and attack him now?” Yang Hu said, “I am old and often ill, and not equal to such a task. Let Your Majesty choose some other man of wisdom and courage.” And he took his leave of Sima Yan and went home.

祜曰：“孫皓暴虐已甚，於今可不戰而克。若皓不幸而歿，更立賢君，則吳非陛下所能得也。”炎大悟曰：“卿今便提兵往伐，若何？”祜曰：“臣年老多病，不堪當此任。陛下另選智勇之士可也。”遂辭炎而歸。

In the eleventh month of that year, when Yang Hu lay critically ill, Sima Yan went in his carriage to visit him at his house. When Sima Yan came to his bedside, Yang Hu wept and said, “Though I died ten thousand deaths I could never repay Your Majesty!” Sima Yan also wept and said, “I deeply regret that I could not make use of your plan to attack Wu. Who is there now who can carry on your purpose?” Yang Hu, his eyes full of tears, said, “I am dying, and I must not fail to give you my honest counsel to the last: Du Yu, General of the Right, is fit for the task. If you attack Wu, you must use him.”

是年十一月，羊祜病危，司馬炎車駕親臨其家問安。炎至臥榻前，祜下淚曰：“臣萬死不能報陛下也！”炎亦泣曰：“朕深恨不能用卿伐吳之策。今日誰可繼卿之志？”祜含淚而言曰：“臣死矣，不敢不盡愚誠：右將軍杜預可任；若伐吳，須當用之。”

Sima Yan said, “To recommend the good and put forward the worthy is a fine thing. Why is it that whenever you recommend someone to the court, you burn the draft of your memorial yourself and let no one know?” Yang Hu said, “To have a man receive his office at the public court and then come to my private gate to give thanks is something I will not accept.” With these words he died. Sima Yan wept bitterly and returned to the palace, and by decree conferred on him the posthumous titles of Grand Tutor and Marquis of Juping. When the people of the southern region heard of Yang Hu’s death, they closed the markets and wept. Even the officers and men guarding the frontier south of the river all wept. The people of Xiangyang, remembering how in his lifetime Yang Hu had often roamed on Mount Xian, built a temple and set up a stone tablet there, and offered sacrifices at all four seasons.

炎曰：“舉善薦賢，乃美事也；卿何薦人於朝，即自焚奏稿，不令人知耶？”祜曰：“拜官公朝，謝恩私門，臣所不取也。”言訖而亡。炎大哭回宮，敕贈太傅、巨平侯。南州百姓聞羊祜死，罷市而哭。江南守邊將士，亦皆哭泣。襄陽人思祜存日，常遊於峴山，遂建廟立碑，四時祭之。

Of all who came and went and read the inscription, there was none who did not shed tears, and so it was named the Tablet of Falling Tears.

往來人見其碑文者，無不流涕，故名爲墮淚碑。

A later poet lamented:
Climbing up at dawn, I am moved by the minister of Jin;
The ancient tablet stands forlorn in the spring on Mount Xian.
Among the pines the lingering dew drips down again and again,
As if it were those who shed their tears here long ago.

後人有詩嘆曰：“曉日登臨感晉臣，古碑零落峴山春。
松間殘露頻頻滴，疑是當年墮淚人。
”

On Yang Hu’s advice, the Ruler of Jin appointed Du Yu Grand General Who Guards the South, in command of the affairs of Jingzhou. Du Yu was a mature and seasoned man, tireless in his love of learning. Above all he loved reading Zuo Qiuming’s Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals. Sitting or lying down, he always kept it by him, and whenever he went out he had someone carry the Zuo Commentary in front of his horse, so that people of the day spoke of his “Zuo Commentary mania”. Having received the command of the Ruler of Jin, he comforted the people and trained his troops at Xiangyang in preparation for the attack on Wu.

晉主以羊祜之言，拜杜預爲鎮南大將軍都督荊州事。杜預爲人，老成練達，好學不倦，最喜讀左丘明《春秋傳》，坐臥常自攜，每出入必使人持《左傳》於馬前，時人謂之“《左傳》癖”。及奉晉主之命，在襄陽撫民養兵，準備伐吳。

By this time both Ding Feng and Lu Kang of Wu were dead. Whenever Sun Hao, the Ruler of Wu, feasted his officials, he made them all drink themselves senseless. He also appointed ten Gentlemen of the Yellow Gate as censors. After each banquet they reported everyone’s faults, and those found guilty had either the skin of their faces flayed or their eyes gouged out. As a result the whole country lived in great fear. Wang Jun, Imperial Protector of Yizhou for Jin, sent up a memorial asking to attack Wu. The memorial said, “Sun Hao is dissolute, cruel and rebellious. He should be attacked without delay.

此時吳國丁奉、陸抗皆死，吳主皓每宴羣臣，皆令沉醉；又置黃門郎十人爲糾彈官。宴罷之後，各奏過失，有犯者或剝其面，或鑿其眼。由是國人大懼。晉益州刺史王濬上疏請伐吳。其疏曰：“孫皓荒淫凶逆，宜速征伐。

If Sun Hao were suddenly to die and a worthy ruler be set up in his place, Wu would become a strong enemy. I have been building ships for seven years, and every day some of them rot and fall apart. I am seventy years old and may die any day. If any one of these three things goes wrong, it will be hard to accomplish our aim. I beg Your Majesty not to let the opportunity slip.” When the Ruler of Jin had read the memorial, he conferred with his officials, saying, “Lord Wang’s view tallies exactly with that of Commander Yang. My mind is made up.” The Palace Attendant Wang Hun said, “I hear that Sun Hao intends to march north. His army is already fully prepared and his strength is at its height; it will be hard to contend with him.

若一旦皓死，更立賢主，則強敵也；臣造船七年，日有朽敗；臣年七十，死亡無日：三者一乖，則難圖矣。願陛下無失事機。”晉主覽疏，遂與羣臣議曰：“王公之論，與羊都督暗合。朕意決矣。”侍中王渾奏曰：“臣聞孫皓欲北上，軍伍已皆整備，聲勢正盛，難與爭鋒。

We should wait another year for him to tire; only then shall we succeed.” The Ruler of Jin followed his advice and issued an edict halting the troops and forbidding any move. Then he withdrew to the inner palace and whiled away the time playing weiqi with Zhang Hua, Assistant Director of the Imperial Library. A close minister reported that a memorial had arrived from the frontier. The Ruler of Jin opened it and found it was from Du Yu. Its gist was: “Formerly Yang Hu did not consult widely with the ministers at court, but laid his plans in secret with Your Majesty, and so the ministers came to hold many differing views.

更遲一年以待其疲，方可成功。”晉主依其奏，乃降詔止兵莫動，退入後宮，與祕書丞張華圍棋消遣。近臣奏邊庭有表到。晉主開視之，乃杜預表也。表略雲：“往者，羊祜不博謀於朝臣，而密與陛下計，故令朝臣多異同之議。

In all matters one should weigh the advantages against the disadvantages. I reckon that the advantages of this undertaking are eight or nine in ten, while its disadvantages amount to no more than a lack of success. Since the autumn, our intention to punish the rebels has become quite plain. If we now stop, Sun Hao will take fright, move his capital to Wuchang, fully repair the cities south of the river and move their inhabitants away. Then the cities cannot be attacked and there will be nothing in the countryside to plunder, and next year’s plan will come too late.” The Ruler of Jin had only just finished reading the memorial when Zhang Hua suddenly rose, pushed aside the board, folded his hands and said, “Your Majesty is sage and martial, the state is rich and the people are strong. The Ruler of Wu is lewd and cruel, his people are anxious and his state is exhausted.

凡事當以利害相校，度此舉之利，十有八九，而其害止於無功耳。自秋以來，討賊之形頗露；今若中止，孫皓恐怖，徙都武昌，完修江南諸城，遷其居民，城不可攻，野無所掠，則明年之計亦無及矣。”晉主覽表才罷，張華突然而起，推卻棋枰，斂手奏曰：“陛下聖武，國富民強；吳主淫虐，民憂國敝。

Attack them now and they can be subdued without effort. I beg you to have no doubts.” The Ruler of Jin said, “Your words see clearly into the advantages and disadvantages. What doubt could I still have?” At once he went out and ascended the throne hall. He appointed Du Yu, Grand General Who Guards the South, Commander-in-Chief, to lead a hundred thousand troops out from Jiangling; Sima Zhou, King of Langya and Grand General Who Guards the East, to march out from Tuzhong; Wang Hun, Grand General Who Pacifies the East, from Hengjiang; Wang Rong, General Who Establishes Might, towards Wuchang; and Hu Fen, General Who Subdues the South, towards Xiakou. Each was to lead fifty thousand troops, and all were to take their orders from Du Yu.

今若討之，可不勞而定。願勿以爲疑。”晉主曰：“卿言洞見利害，朕復何疑。”即出升殿，命鎮南大將軍杜預爲大都督，引兵十萬出江陵；鎮東大將軍琅琊王司馬伷出涂中；安東大將軍王渾出橫江；建威將軍王戎出武昌；平南將軍胡奮出夏口：各引兵五萬，皆聽預調用。

He also sent Wang Jun, General of the Soaring Dragon, and Tang Bin, General Who Spreads Martial Might, to sail east down the river: in all, more than two hundred thousand troops by land and water, and several tens of thousands of warships. He further ordered Yang Ji, General Who Excels the Armies, to go out and camp at Xiangyang to coordinate the forces on every front.

又遣龍驤將軍王濬、廣武將軍唐彬，浮江東下：水陸兵二十餘萬，戰船數萬艘。又令冠軍將軍楊濟出屯襄陽，節制諸路人馬。

The news soon reached Eastern Wu. Sun Hao, the Ruler of Wu, in great alarm, hastily summoned the Chancellor Zhang Ti, the Minister over the Masses He Zhi and the Minister of Works Teng Xun to discuss how to drive back the enemy. Zhang Ti said, “Let Wu Yan, General of Chariots and Cavalry, be made Commander and advance on Jiangling to meet Du Yu, and let Sun Xin, General of Swift Cavalry, advance to hold off the forces making for Xiakou and elsewhere. I will venture to act as Director of Strategy, and with Shen Ying, General of the Left, and Zhuge Jing, General of the Right, I will lead a hundred thousand troops out to Niuzhu to support the forces on every front.”

早有消息報入東吳。吳主皓大慌，急召丞相張悌、司徒何植、司空滕循，計議退兵之策。悌奏曰：“可令車騎將軍伍延爲都督，進兵江陵，迎敵杜預；驃騎將軍孫歆進兵拒夏口等處軍馬。臣敢爲軍師，領左將軍沈瑩、右將軍諸葛靚，引兵十萬，出兵牛渚，接應諸路軍馬。”

Sun Hao approved this and ordered Zhang Ti to set off with his troops. Sun Hao withdrew into the inner palace, unable to shake off his anxious look. His favourite, the Regular Palace Attendant Cen Hun, asked him the reason. Sun Hao said, “The Jin army is coming in great force. We have already sent troops on every front to meet them. But Wang Jun, with tens of thousands of men and a full fleet of warships, is coming down with the current, and his spearhead is very sharp. That is why I am worried.” Cen Hun said, “I have a plan that will smash all of Wang Jun’s boats to splinters.”

皓從之，遂令張悌引兵去了。皓退入後宮，不安憂色。倖臣中常侍岑昏問其故。皓曰：“晉兵大至，諸路已有兵迎之；爭奈王濬率兵數萬，戰船齊備，順流而下，其鋒甚銳：朕因此憂也。”昏曰：“臣有一計，令王濬之舟，皆爲齏粉矣。”

Sun Hao, delighted, asked what his plan was. Cen Hun said, “There is plenty of iron south of the river. Have more than a hundred chains of linked rings forged, each several hundred zhang long, with every ring weighing twenty or thirty jin, and stretch them across the river at all the key points along its course. Also have tens of thousands of iron spikes made, more than a zhang long, and set them in the water. If the Jin ships come sailing before the wind, they will be holed when they strike the spikes. How could they cross the river?” Sun Hao was delighted and gave orders for craftsmen to be sent to the riverside to work day and night making iron chains and iron spikes, and to set them all in place.

皓大喜，遂問其計。岑昏奏曰：“江南多鐵，可打連環索百餘條，長數百丈，每環重二三十斤，於沿江緊要去處橫截之。再造鐵錐數萬，長丈餘，置於水中。若晉船乘風而來，逢錐則破，豈能渡江也？”皓大喜，傳令撥匠工於江邊連夜造成鐵索、鐵錐，設立停當。

Meanwhile Du Yu, the Jin Commander, marched out from Jiangling and ordered his aide Zhou Zhi to take eight hundred boatmen, cross the Yangtze secretly in small boats and make a night raid on Lexiang. They were to set up great numbers of flags and banners in the hills and woods, fire bombards and beat drums by day, and light fires everywhere by night. Zhou Zhi accepted the order, led his men across the river and lay in ambush on Mount Ba. The next day Du Yu advanced with the main army by land and water together. The forward scouts reported, “The Ruler of Wu has sent Wu Yan by land and Lu Jing by water, with Sun Xin in the van: they are coming to meet us by three routes.”

卻說晉都督杜預，兵出江陵，令牙將周旨：引水手八百人，乘小舟暗渡長江，夜襲樂鄉，多立旌旗于山林之處，日則放炮擂鼓，夜則各處舉火。旨領命，引衆渡江，伏於巴山。次日，杜預領大軍水陸並進。前哨報道：“吳主遣伍延出陸路，陸景出水路，孫歆爲先鋒：三路來迎。”

Du Yu led his troops forward, and Sun Xin’s ships arrived first. As soon as the two sides clashed, Du Yu fell back. Sun Xin landed his troops and pursued in a long straggling line, but before he had gone twenty li a bombard sounded and Jin troops came pouring in from all sides. The Wu troops turned back in haste, and Du Yu fell on them with the advantage, killing more of them than could be counted. When Sun Xin fled to the city walls, Zhou Zhi’s eight hundred men mingled with his troops, got in with them, and raised fires on the walls.

杜預引兵前進，孫歆船早到。兩兵初交，杜預便退。歆引兵上岸，迤邐追時，不到二十里，一聲炮響，四面晉兵大至。吳兵急回，杜預乘勢掩殺，吳兵死者不計其數。孫歆奔到城邊，周旨八百軍混雜於中，就城上舉火。

Sun Xin cried in alarm, “Have the troops from the north flown across the river?” He was trying to retreat in haste when Zhou Zhi gave a great shout and cut him down from his horse. From his ship Lu Jing saw fire spreading all along the south bank of the river, and on Mount Ba a great banner streamed out in the wind, inscribed: “Du Yu, Grand General Who Guards the South, of Jin”. Lu Jing, terrified, tried to land and flee for his life, but the Jin officer Zhang Shang rode up and cut him down.

歆大驚曰：“北來諸軍乃飛渡江也？”急欲退時，被周旨大喝一聲，斬於馬下。陸景在船上，望見江南岸上一片火起，巴山上風飄出一面大旗，上書：“晉鎮南大將軍杜預”。陸景大驚，欲上岸逃命，被晉將張尚馬到斬之。

When Wu Yan saw that all the other forces had been defeated, he abandoned his city and fled, but he was captured by troops lying in ambush and brought bound before Du Yu. Du Yu said, “There is no use in keeping him alive!” and ordered the guards to behead him. Thus Jiangling was taken.

伍延見各軍皆敗，乃棄城走，被伏兵捉住，縛見杜預。預曰：“留之無用！”叱令武士斬之。遂得江陵。

Thereupon, from the region of the Yuan and Xiang rivers all the way to the commanderies of Guangzhou, the governors and magistrates all surrendered at the first rumour of his approach, bringing their seals of office. Du Yu sent men bearing his staff of authority to pacify the people, and not a hair of theirs was harmed. He then advanced to attack Wuchang, and Wuchang too surrendered. With his military prestige at its height, Du Yu called a great assembly of his officers to discuss together a plan for taking Jianye. Hu Fen said, “A foe that has stood for a hundred years cannot be entirely subdued. Now the spring floods are rising, and it will be hard to stay here long.

於是沅、湘一帶，直抵廣州諸郡，守令皆望風齎印而降。預令人持節安撫，秋毫無犯。遂進兵攻武昌，武昌亦降，杜預軍威大振，遂大會諸將，共議取建業之策。胡奮曰：“百年之寇，未可盡服。方今春水泛漲，難以久住。

Let us wait until next spring and then make a greater effort.” Du Yu said, “Long ago Yue Yi annexed the mighty state of Qi after a single battle west of the Ji. Now our army’s might is at its height, like the force that splits a bamboo: after the first few joints, all the rest part at the touch of the blade, and there will be nothing left to put a hand to.” So he sent dispatches in haste to all the generals, arranging for all to advance together to attack and take Jianye.

可俟來春，更爲大舉。”預曰：“昔樂毅濟西一戰而並強齊；今兵威大振，如破竹之勢，數節之後，皆迎刃而解，無復有着手處也。”遂馳檄約會諸將，一齊進兵，攻取建業。

At this time Wang Jun, General of the Soaring Dragon, was coming down with the current at the head of his naval forces. His forward scouts reported, “The men of Wu have made iron chains and stretched them across the river along its course, and they have also set iron spikes in the water as a defence.” Wang Jun roared with laughter. He had several dozen great rafts built, and on them he set figures of men made of bundled straw, clad in armour and holding weapons, standing all round the edges; then he let them float downstream. When the Wu troops saw them, they took them for living men and fled at the first sight. The hidden spikes stuck fast in the rafts and were all pulled out and carried away.

時龍驤將軍王濬率水兵順流而下。前哨報說：“吳人造鐵索，沿江橫截；又以鐵錐置於水中爲準備。”濬大笑，遂造大筏數十方，上縛草爲人，披甲執仗，立於周圍，順水放下。吳兵見之，以爲活人，望風先走。暗錐着筏，盡提而去。

He also had great torches made on the rafts, more than ten zhang long and more than ten spans round, soaked with hemp oil. Whenever they met an iron chain they lit the torches and burned it, and in a moment every chain was severed. The two forces came down the great river, and wherever they went they were victorious. Meanwhile, Zhang Ti, the Chancellor of Eastern Wu, sent Shen Ying, General of the Left, and Zhuge Jing, General of the Right, to meet the Jin army. Shen Ying said to Zhuge Jing, “The forces upstream have taken no precautions. I expect the Jin army will certainly come here. We must do our utmost to resist them.

又於筏上作大炬，長十餘丈，大十餘圍，以麻油灌之，但遇鐵索，燃炬燒之，須臾皆斷。兩路從大江而來。所到之處，無不克勝。卻說東吳丞相張悌，令左將軍沈瑩、右將軍諸葛靚，來迎晉兵。瑩謂靚曰：“上流諸軍不作提防，吾料晉軍必至此，宜盡力以敵之。

If we are lucky enough to win, all south of the river will be safe. But if we cross the river to fight and are unlucky enough to lose, all is lost.” Zhuge Jing said, “You are right, sir.” Before he had finished speaking, word came that the Jin troops were coming down with the current and nothing could stand against them. The two men, greatly alarmed, hurried to see Zhang Ti and consult him. Zhuge Jing said to Zhang Ti, “Eastern Wu is in peril. Why do you not escape?” Zhang Ti wept and said, “That Wu is about to fall is known to the wise and the foolish alike. But if now sovereign and ministers all surrender and not a single man dies for his country in its hour of need, would that not be a disgrace?”

若幸得勝，江南自安。今渡江與戰，不幸而敗，則大事去矣。”靚曰：“公言是也。”言未畢，人報晉兵順流而下，勢不可當。二人大驚，慌來見張悌商議。靚謂悌曰：“東吳危矣，何不遁去？”悌垂泣曰：“吳之將亡，賢愚共知；今若君臣皆降，無一人死於國難，不亦辱乎！”

Zhuge Jing too wept and went away. Zhang Ti and Shen Ying led their troops out to resist, and the Jin army closed in around them on all sides. Zhou Zhi was the first to break into the Wu camp. Zhang Ti fought on alone with all his might and died amid the confusion of battle. Shen Ying was killed by Zhou Zhi. The Wu troops scattered in all directions and fled.

諸葛靚亦垂泣而去。張悌與沈瑩揮兵抵敵，晉兵一齊圍之。周旨首先殺入吳營。張悌獨奮力搏戰，死於亂軍之中。沈瑩被周旨所殺。吳兵四散敗走。

A later poet wrote in praise of Zhang Ti:
When the great banner of Du Yu was seen on Mount Ba,
Then Zhang Ti of Jiangdong died for loyalty.
Resigned that the kingly aura had run out in the south,
He could not bear to steal a life and fail the lord who knew him.

後人有詩讚張悌曰：“杜預巴山見大旗，江東張悌死忠時。
已拚王氣南中盡，不忍偷生負所知。
”

Meanwhile the Jin army had taken Niuzhu and pushed deep into the territory of Wu. Wang Jun sent a messenger galloping with news of the victory, and when Sima Yan, the Ruler of Jin, heard it he was delighted. Jia Chong said, “Our troops have long been toiling far afield. The climate does not suit them and they are sure to fall sick. We should recall the army and make other plans later.” Zhang Hua said, “Our great army has already entered their lair, and the men of Wu have lost their nerve. Within a month Sun Hao is sure to be captured. If we lightly recall the army now, all our past achievements will be thrown away. That would be a great pity.”

卻說晉兵克了牛渚，深入吳境。王濬遣人馳報捷音，晉主炎聞知大喜。賈充奏曰：“吾兵久勞於外，不服水土，必生疾病。宜召軍還，再作後圖。”張華曰：“今大兵已入其巢，吳人膽落，不出一月，孫皓必擒矣。若輕召還，前功盡廢，誠可惜也。”

Before the Ruler of Jin could reply, Jia Chong shouted at Zhang Hua, “You pay no heed to the seasons of Heaven or the advantages of the land. You recklessly seek glory for yourself and wear out the soldiers. Even your execution would not be enough to atone to the empire!” Sima Yan said, “This is my own wish. Zhang Hua simply agrees with me. Why must you quarrel?” Suddenly it was reported that a memorial from Du Yu had arrived in haste. The Ruler of Jin read it, and it too urged a swift advance. The Ruler of Jin hesitated no longer and issued orders for the campaign to go forward.

晉主未及應，賈充叱華曰：“汝不省天時地利，欲妄邀功績，困弊士卒，雖斬汝不足以謝天下！”炎曰：“此是朕意，華但與朕同耳，何必爭辯！”忽報杜預馳表到。晉主視表，亦言宜急進兵之意。晉主遂不復疑，竟下徵進之命。

Wang Jun and the others, having received the Ruler of Jin’s command, advanced by land and water together, their drums rolling like wind and thunder, and the men of Wu surrendered at the mere sight of their banners. When Sun Hao, the Ruler of Wu, heard this he turned pale with fear. His ministers said to him, “The northern troops draw nearer every day, and the soldiers and people south of the river are surrendering without a fight. What are we to do?” Sun Hao said, “Why will they not fight?” They all answered, “Today’s disaster is entirely the fault of Cen Hun. We beg Your Majesty to put him to death. Then we will go out of the city and fight to the death.”

王濬等奉了晉主之命，水陸並進，風雷鼓動，吳人望旗而降。吳主皓聞之，大驚失色。諸臣告曰：“北兵日近，江南軍民不戰而降，將如之何？”皓曰：“何故不戰？”衆對曰：“今日之禍，皆岑昏之罪，請陛下誅之。臣等出城決一死戰。”

Sun Hao said, “How could a mere eunuch bring ruin on the state?” They all cried out, “Has Your Majesty not seen what Huang Hao did in Shu?” Without waiting for the Ruler of Wu’s command, they surged into the palace together, hacked Cen Hun to pieces and ate his flesh raw. Tao Jun said, “The warships under my command are all small. If I could have twenty thousand men and fight from large ships, I could defeat them without trouble.” Sun Hao agreed, and assigned the forces of the Imperial Guard to Tao Jun to go upstream and meet the enemy.

皓曰：“量一中貴，何能誤國？”衆大叫曰：“陛下豈不見蜀之黃皓乎！”遂不待吳主之命，一齊擁入宮中，碎割岑昏，生啖其肉。陶濬奏曰：“臣領戰船皆小，願得二萬兵乘大船以戰，自足破之。”皓從其言，遂撥御林諸軍與陶濬上流迎敵。

Zhang Xiang, General of the Front, led his naval forces down the river to meet the enemy. The two men were just setting out with their troops when, unexpectedly, a great north-west wind sprang up. Not one of the Wu banners would stay upright; they all toppled over in the boats. The soldiers refused to board the ships and fled in all directions, and only Zhang Xiang with a few dozen men remained to face the enemy.

前將軍張象，率水兵下江迎敵。二人部兵正行，不想西北風大起，吳兵旗幟，皆不能立，盡倒豎於舟中；兵卒不肯下船，四散奔走，只有張象數十軍待敵。

Meanwhile the Jin general Wang Jun sailed on with his sails spread and passed the Three Hills. His boatmaster said, “The wind and waves are too violent; the ships cannot go on. Let us wait until the wind drops a little.” Wang Jun, furious, drew his sword and shouted at him, “I mean to take Shitoucheng this very moment. What is this talk of stopping?” And with drums beating he pressed on in force. The Wu general Zhang Xiang brought his men to ask to surrender. Wang Jun said, “If you truly surrender, then go in the van and win merit.” Zhang Xiang returned to his own ship, went straight to the foot of Shitoucheng, called for the gates to be opened and let the Jin troops in.

卻說晉將王濬，揚帆而行，過三山，舟師曰：“風波甚急，船不能行；且待風勢少息行之。”濬大怒，拔劍叱之曰：“吾目下欲取石頭城，何言住耶！”遂擂鼓大進。吳將張象引從軍請降。濬曰：“若是真降，便爲前部立功。”象回本船，直至石頭城下，叫開城門，接入晉兵。

When Sun Hao heard that the Jin troops had entered the city, he was about to cut his own throat. But Hu Chong, Director of the Palace Secretariat, and Xue Ying, Minister of the Household, said, “Why does Your Majesty not follow the example of Liu Shan, the Duke of Anle?” Sun Hao took their advice. He too had a coffin carried on a cart and bound himself, and at the head of all his civil and military officials went to Wang Jun’s camp and surrendered. Wang Jun untied his bonds, burned the coffin and treated him with the courtesy due to a king. A poet of the Tang dynasty

孫皓聞晉兵已入城，欲自刎。中書令胡衝、光祿勳薛瑩奏曰：“陛下何不效安樂公劉禪乎？”皓從之，亦輿櫬自縛，率諸文武，詣王濬軍前歸降。濬釋其縛，焚其櫬，以王禮待之。唐人

wrote a poem lamenting it:
The towered ships of Western Jin came down from Yizhou,
And the kingly aura of Jinling faded and was gone.
Iron chains a thousand fathoms long sank to the river bed,
And a single flag of surrender came out of Shitou.
How many times has the world of men grieved over things gone by?
The hills still pillow their heads on the cold current as of old.
Now we have met the day when all within the four seas are one household,
And the old ramparts stand desolate among the autumn reeds. Thus the four provinces of Eastern Wu, with forty-three commanderies and three hundred and thirteen counties, five hundred and twenty-three thousand households, thirty-two thousand officials, two hundred and thirty thousand soldiers, two million three hundred thousand men, women, old and young, two million eight hundred thousand hu of rice and grain, more than five thousand boats and ships and more than five thousand palace women, all passed to the great Jin. With the great matter settled, proclamations were posted to reassure the people, and all the treasuries, storehouses and granaries were sealed.

有詩嘆曰：“西晉樓船下益州，金陵王氣黯然收。
千尋鐵鎖沉江底，一片降旗出石頭。
人世幾回傷往事，山形依舊枕寒流。
今逢四海爲家日，故壘蕭蕭蘆荻秋。
”於是東吳四州，四十三郡，三百一十三縣，戶口五十二萬三千，官吏三萬二千，兵二十三萬，男女老幼二百三十萬，米穀二百八十萬斛，舟船五千餘艘，後宮五千餘人，皆歸大晉。
大事已定，出榜安民，盡封府庫倉廩。

The next day Tao Jun’s troops fell apart without a fight. Sima Zhou, King of Langya, and Wang Rong arrived with their great armies, and when they saw that Wang Jun had achieved a great feat, they rejoiced in their hearts. The day after, Du Yu arrived as well. He feasted the whole army lavishly and opened the granaries to relieve the people of Wu, so that the people of Wu lived in peace. Only Wu Yan, Prefect of Jianping, held his city and would not submit; when he heard that Wu had fallen, he surrendered. Wang Jun sent up a memorial announcing the victory. When the court heard that Wu had been pacified, sovereign and ministers all offered congratulations and drank to the emperor’s long life.

次日，陶濬兵不戰自潰。琅琊王司馬伷並王戎大兵皆至，見王濬成了大功，心中忻喜。次日，杜預亦至，大犒三軍，開倉賑濟吳民。於是吳民安堵。惟有建平太守吾彥，拒城不下；聞吳亡，乃降。王濬上表報捷。朝廷聞吳已平，君臣皆賀，上壽。

The Ruler of Jin, cup in hand, wept and said, “This is the achievement of Grand Tutor Yang. What a pity he could not see it himself!” Sun Xiu, General of Swift Cavalry, left the court, faced south and wept, saying, “Long ago the General Who Smites Rebels, in the prime of his youth, founded our house’s fortunes as a mere colonel. Now Sun Hao has thrown away the whole of the land south of the river! O distant blue Heaven, what manner of man is this!”

晉主執杯流涕曰：“此羊太傅之功也，惜其不親見之耳！”驃騎將軍孫秀退朝，向南而哭曰：“昔討逆壯年，以一校尉創立基業；今孫皓舉江南而棄之！悠悠蒼天，此何人哉！”

Meanwhile Wang Jun led his army home and brought Sun Hao, the Ruler of Wu, to Luoyang to appear before the emperor. Sun Hao ascended the hall and knocked his head on the ground before the Emperor of Jin. The emperor granted him a seat and said, “I have had this seat set out and waited for you a long time.” Sun Hao replied, “In the south I too had a seat set out, waiting for Your Majesty.” The emperor laughed heartily. Jia Chong asked Sun Hao, “I hear that when you were in the south, you often gouged out men’s eyes and flayed the skin from their faces. What kind of punishment was that?” Sun Hao said, “That was the punishment I inflicted on subjects who murdered their sovereign, and on the treacherous and disloyal.”

卻說王濬班師，遷吳主皓赴洛陽面君。皓登殿稽首以見晉帝。帝賜坐曰：“朕設此座以待卿久矣。”皓對曰：“臣於南方，亦設此座以待陛下。”帝大笑。賈充問皓曰：“聞君在南方，每鑿人眼目，剝人面皮，此何等刑耶？”皓曰：“人臣弒君及奸回不忠者，則加此刑耳。”

Jia Chong fell silent, deeply ashamed. The emperor made Sun Hao Marquis Who Heeds the Mandate, his sons and grandsons Gentlemen of the Palace, and the chief ministers who had surrendered with him all marquises. Since the Chancellor Zhang Ti had died in battle, his descendants were given fiefs. Wang Jun was made Grand General Who Supports the State. All the rest received rewards and additional honours.

充默然甚愧。帝封皓爲歸命侯，子孫封中郎，隨降宰輔皆封列侯。丞相張悌陣亡，封其子孫。封王濬爲輔國大將軍。其餘各加封賞。

From then on the Three Kingdoms belonged to Sima Yan, Emperor of Jin, and the foundation of a unified realm was laid. This is what is meant by the saying, “The great trend of the empire is this: what has long been united must divide, and what has long been divided must unite.” Later, Liu Shan, Emperor of the Later Han, died in the seventh year of Taishi of Jin; Cao Huan, the Ruler of Wei, in the first year of Tai’an; and Sun Hao, the Ruler of Wu, in the fourth year of Taikang. All of them died a natural death. A later poet wrote a poem in the ancient style to tell the whole story. It runs:

自此三國歸於晉帝司馬炎，爲一統之基矣。此所謂“天下大勢，合久必分，分久必合”者也。後來後漢皇帝劉禪亡於晉泰始七年，魏主曹奐亡於太安元年，吳主孫皓亡於太康四年，皆善終。後人有古風一篇，以敘其事曰：

Gaozu took up his sword and entered Xianyang,
And a blazing red sun rose up out of Fusang;
Guangwu rose like a dragon and restored the great line,
And the golden crow flew up to the middle of the sky.
Alas, when Emperor Xian inherited the realm within the seas,
The red wheel sank in the west beside the Pool of Xian!
He Jin had no wisdom and the eunuchs rose in revolt;
Dong Zhuo of Liangzhou took his seat in the court.
Wang Yun laid his plan and slew the traitors’ band,
But Li Jue and Guo Si took up sword and spear.
Robbers swarmed like ants on every side,
And the ambitious men of all the world soared like hawks.
Sun Jian and Sun Ce rose in Jiangzuo,
Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu rose in He and Liang;
Liu Yan and his son held Ba and Shu,
Liu Biao’s armies were stationed in Jing and Xiang;
Zhang Yan and Zhang Lu lorded it over Nanzheng,
Ma Teng and Han Sui held Xiliang;
Tao Qian, Zhang Xiu and Gongsun Zan
Each flaunted his talents and seized a region of his own.

高祖提劍入咸陽，炎炎紅日升扶桑；光武龍興成大統，金烏飛上天中央；哀哉獻帝紹海宇，紅輪西墜咸池傍！
何進無謀中貴亂，涼州董卓居朝堂；王允定計誅逆黨，李傕郭汜興刀槍；四方盜賊如蟻聚，六合奸雄皆鷹揚；孫堅孫策起江左，袁紹袁術興河梁；劉焉父子據巴蜀，劉表軍旅屯荊襄；張燕張魯霸南鄭，馬騰韓遂守西涼；陶謙張繡公孫瓚，各逞雄才佔一方。

Cao Cao seized power and sat in the Chancellor’s palace,
Drawing in heroes and talents, employing men of letters and of arms;
By force he held the Son of Heaven and gave orders to the lords,
Commanding his fierce warriors, he held down the central lands.
Xuande of Lousang was by birth a descendant of emperors;
Sworn in righteousness to Guan and Zhang, he longed to uphold the sovereign.
Rushing east and west, he grieved that he had no home;
With few generals and a feeble army, he lived as a wanderer.
How deep his feeling when three times he called at Nanyang!
At their first meeting the Sleeping Dragon divided the world.
First he took Jingzhou, then he took the Riverlands,
And in the Land of Abundance he built his power and sought a throne.
Alas, after three years he passed away and ascended on high;
Entrusting his orphan at Baidi is a grief too hard to bear!

曹操專權居相府，牢籠英俊用文武；威挾天子令諸侯，總領貔貅鎮中土。
樓桑玄德本皇孫，義結關張願扶主；東西奔走恨無家，將寡兵微作羈旅；南陽三顧情何深，臥龍一見分寰宇；先取荊州後取川，霸業圖王在天府；嗚呼三載逝升遐，白帝託孤堪痛楚！

Kongming marched out six times before Mount Qi,
Longing to mend the sky with a single hand;
Who could have known the count of Heaven would end right there,
And a great star fall at midnight into the mountain hollow!
Jiang Wei alone relied on his lofty spirit and strength;
Nine times he attacked the Central Plain, but toiled in vain.
Zhong Hui and Deng Ai advanced with divided armies,
And all the land of the House of Han passed to Cao.
Pi, Rui, Fang and Mao, and scarcely had it come to Huan
When the Sima in their turn were handed the empire.
Clouds and mists rose before the Terrace of Abdication,
And no waves stirred beneath the walls of Shitoucheng.
The King of Chenliu, the Marquis Who Heeds the Mandate and the Duke of Anle:
Kings, marquises and dukes, each according to his root.

孔明六出祁山前，願以隻手將天補；何期歷數到此終，長星半夜落山塢！
姜維獨憑氣力高，九伐中原空劬勞；鍾會鄧艾分兵進，漢室江山盡屬曹。
丕睿芳髦才及奐，司馬又將天下交；受禪臺前雲霧起，石頭城下無波濤；陳留歸命與安樂，王侯公爵從根苗。

The tangled affairs of the world are without end,
And the vast decrees of Heaven cannot be escaped.
The tripod of the three-way division has become a dream;
Those who come after mourn at its ruins and sigh in vain.

紛紛世事無窮盡，天數茫茫不可逃。
鼎足三分已成夢，後人憑弔空牢騷。