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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Records of the Three Kingdoms （三國志）

Published: 01 January 2025

Created: 01 January 2025

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Wang Fan, styled Yongyuan, was a native of Lujiang. He was well-read, knowledgeable, and skilled in many arts. He initially served as a Secretary but later resigned. After Sun Xiu became emperor, he, along with He Shao, Xue Ying, and Yu Si, were appointed as Attendants of the Cavalry and were all given the title of Commandant of the Imperial Guard. At that time, he was widely regarded as an upright man. He was once sent as an envoy to Shu, where he was highly praised by the people there. Upon his return, he was appointed as the Inspector of Xiakou.

When Sun Hao first became emperor, Wang Fan returned to the court as an attendant, working alongside Wan Yu. Wan Yu had known Sun Hao before, and those who sought to gain favor with the emperor claimed that Wang Fan was arrogant. There was also a Minister of the Palace Secretariat named Chen Sheng, who was a favorite of Sun Hao and often badmouthed Wang Fan to the emperor. Wang Fan was known for his honesty and integrity; he was uncompromising and occasionally stood up to Sun Hao, leading to frequent reprimands from the emperor.

In the second year of the Ganlu era, Ding Zhong returned from his mission to the Jin Kingdom. Sun Hao hosted a banquet in the palace for his officials, where Wang Fan got drunk and passed out on the floor. Sun Hao suspected him of intentionally disrespecting him, was very displeased, and ordered him to leave the palace. After a while, Wang Fan requested to return to the palace, still not sober. Wang Fan naturally maintained his dignity, even while drunk, and this only fueled Sun Hao's anger. Sun Hao shouted for the guards outside the hall to execute him. The General of the Guards, Teng Mu, and the General of the West, Liu Ping, pleaded for his life, but their efforts were in vain.

Prime Minister Lu Kai wrote in a memorial, "Wang Fan, the Grand Preceptor, is exceptionally talented, knowledgeable in affairs, understands the will of Heaven and the people's sentiments. He is loyal and steadfast in court, a pillar of the nation, and a virtuous minister of the state of Wu! When he served Emperor Jing, he offered wise counsel and was highly esteemed by the emperor, who commended him as exceptional. However, Your Majesty disliked his frankness and his unwillingness to flatter, and ultimately had him killed in the palace, his body abandoned. The people in the provinces mourned his death, and all men of wisdom were filled with sorrow." Lu Kai's grief over Wang Fan's death is evident. Wang Fan was only thirty-nine when he died, and Sun Hao relocated his family to Guangzhou. Wang Fan's two brothers, Wang Zhu and Wang Yan, were also men of talent, but when Guo Ma launched a rebellion, they did not join Ma Su and were subsequently killed.

Lou Xuan, styled Chengxian, was a native of Qi County in Pei Commandery. During Sun Xiu's reign, he served as an imperial censor. After Sun Hao ascended the throne, he, along with Wang Fan, Guo Chuo, and Wan Yu, were appointed as Palace Attendants. Later, he was appointed the Governor of Kuaiji, then returned to the court as the Minister of Agriculture. Previously, palace affairs were managed by close associates, but Lou Xuan suggested that they should select capable individuals rather than personal favorites. Sun Hao ordered relevant departments to find loyal and honest talents. Lou Xuan was then appointed as the commander of the palace guards, tasked with overseeing palace affairs.

As one of the Nine Ministers, Lou Xuan served as a guard commander with integrity, ensuring compliance with the law, handling matters diligently, and speaking directly. He often contradicted Sun Hao, which eventually led to reprimands and the emperor's anger. Later, someone maliciously accused Lou Xuan of secretly meeting with He Shao, engaging in secret conversations and laughter, and slandering the court. Sun Hao ordered an investigation and ultimately exiled Lou Xuan to Guangzhou.

Dong Guanling Hua Ji submitted a memorial: "I believe that governing a country is similar to managing a family. Those who manage the land should be honest and dependable. Moreover, a person should be chosen to oversee the management as the primary directive in order to handle things well. The Analects says: 'Perhaps only Shun can govern a country well without deliberate governance. He was respectful and cautious, sitting upright facing south.' This suggests that if the right person is chosen, governing the country can be done with ease. Currently, the country is not yet unified and there are many significant matters, both big and small, that must be reported to the emperor and require the emperor's instructions, which can be quite exhausting for the emperor. Your Majesty, since you are devoted to studying ancient classics and have a broad knowledge of various texts, you should maintain tranquility to broaden your mind, maintain your mental and physical purity, and to live in harmony with the universe. I have contemplated day and night, and among all the officials, there is no one more qualified to take on significant responsibilities and earn your trust than Lou Xuan. Lou Xuan is honest, loyal, upright in his official duties, and admired by all for his conduct; there is no one better than him. An honest heart is open, and an upright person follows the right path, with qualities like Lou Xuan's being consistent and trustworthy. I sincerely urge Your Majesty to forgive Lou Xuan's past transgressions, allow him to reform himself, promote him to important positions, evaluate his future performance, let him be responsible for selecting officials, and assign important tasks based on merit, so that he can govern the country with the same respect and diligence as Emperor Shun." Sun Hao was extremely envious of Lou Xuan's reputation and sent Lou Xuan and his son Lou Ju into exile in Jiaozhi, under the authority of Jiaozhi Prefect Zhang Yi, allowing them to demonstrate their abilities in combat, while secretly ordering Zhang Yi to kill Lou Xuan. Lou Ju died of illness after arriving in Jiaozhi. Lou Xuan followed Zhang Yi to suppress rebels; he waded through water with a sword, and upon seeing Zhang Yi, he bowed deeply. Zhang Yi couldn't bear to kill him. Later, after Zhang Yi's sudden death, Lou Xuan took charge of his funeral arrangements, finding Sun Hao's secret order among Zhang Yi's belongings, which ultimately led him to take his own life.

He Shao, styled Xingbo, was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang. During the reign of Emperor Sun Xiu, he first rose from Zhonglang to Cavalier Attendant, and was later sent to serve as the Prefect of Wu County. During the rule of Emperor Sun Hao, He Shao was recalled to the court to serve as Left Protector of the Army, then promoted to Chief of the Palace Secretariat, and also served as the Tutor to the Crown Prince.

Emperor Sun Hao was both cruel and violent, as well as extremely arrogant, causing the government to deteriorate day by day. He Shao wrote a memorial to advise Emperor Sun Hao, saying: "The ancient sage kings, by dwelling in their inner chambers and grasping the affairs of the realm, accomplished the deeds of the virtuous." Your Majesty, with your noble character and the legacy of your ancestors, you should lead by example, fulfill your duties seriously, respect the throne, promote the capable and commend the virtuous to govern the country effectively. However, in recent years, court officials are in disarray, with important positions left vacant and no suitable candidates among civil and military ranks. There are no senior ministers outside who can stabilize the situation with their strength, and no loyal officials inside who dare to speak frankly and advise. Those who flatter and curry favor have risen to power, boasting about their wealth and status in court, while the loyal and upright are marginalized, even killed. Therefore, the upright have been marginalized, the inept flatter and cater to the Emperor's wishes, everyone pursues immediate benefits, speaking against reason and distorting facts in their writings, resulting in government corruption and silencing loyal officials. Your Majesty, living in the depths of the palace, your word can make the entire realm submit; your orders are executed nationwide, surrounded by flatterers who only sing your praises, you may think they are all talented and the world is at peace. However, I am truly uneasy in my heart, that's why I dare to submit this memorial to advise.

It is said that the emperors of Xingguo prefer to have their mistakes pointed out, while the emperors of chaotic countries enjoy flattery. Emperors who welcome criticism can correct their faults daily, and blessings will naturally follow; while those who seek flattery gradually tarnish their reputation, and disasters arrive one after another. Therefore, the emperors of ancient times humbly promoted talents and humbly accepted criticism, like riding a galloping horse, always alert to the tiger's tail. But what of Your Majesty? You use harsh laws to prohibit frank advice, exclude upright and virtuous officials, only believe in flattery, and indulge the slander of sycophants around you. Emperor Gaozong in the past wanted to find talented officials to assist him, and even dreamed of them, but Your Majesty seems to have forgotten this and does not value talents at all. Therefore, ministers like Wang Fan, who are loyal, upright, talented, and can assist in government affairs, were ordered to be executed simply for speaking a few ill-chosen words while intoxicated. And the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Ge Xi, an old minister of the late emperor, occasionally said a few words that did not please you, which were just drunken talk. It is normal to speak freely after three cups of wine. However, you were furious, accused him of disrespecting you, and made him drink strong liquor, leading to Ge Xi's poisoning death. Since then, the entire nation has mourned, court officials have lost the courage to speak up, officials just want to resign quickly, and those at home want to leave the capital as soon as possible. This is no way to safeguard the nation and foster education!

It is said that the ruler of Xingguo enjoys hearing about his mistakes, while the ruler of chaos enjoys hearing praises; those who hear about their mistakes will see their blessings increase with each passing day, while those who hear praises will see their reputation diminish and disasters arrive. Therefore, the rulers of ancient times humbly promoted talents, humbled themselves to seek faults, like riding a galloping horse, using the tiger's tail as a warning.

I heard that emperors who govern their countries well like to listen to others' opinions, while emperors who make a mess of their countries prefer flattery. Emperors who like to listen to others' opinions can continuously address their shortcomings, and good fortune naturally comes to them; while emperors who prefer flattery undermine their own reputation, and disasters follow one after another. Therefore, good emperors in ancient times promoted talents with humility, accepted criticism with humility, just like skillfully riding a galloping horse, always wary of a lurking tiger.

Ah, this Zhao Ding, clearly a sycophant, even lower than a servant, lacking any real ability, yet he is favored by the emperor, all because he knows how to flatter! The emperor even gave him power, letting him become arrogant, reckless, and overbearing, meddling in government affairs and blinding the emperor to the truth, completely blocking the way for upright officials to rise.

This sycophant is eager to rise, so he resorts to cunning schemes and tricks. Zhao Ding foolishly ordered soldiers by the river to catch deer, set traps on the mountains, cut down forests, and capture all the wild animals in Jiuye, bringing no benefit to the country and wasting resources instead! The soldiers are exhausted, resources are depleted, the people are hungry and cold, and grievances abound. I've been observing the celestial phenomena in secret; in recent years, the balance of yin and yang has been disrupted, abnormal seasons, solar eclipses, earthquakes, frost in summer—perusing history books, all resulting from the dominance of sycophants!

I have read many books and seen many things, and I am genuinely fearful of these ominous signs! The previous emperors focused on self-cultivation and virtue, eliminating the ominous signs of the Ding and Zhi; Duke Jing of Song upheld virtue, thereby averting the disasters brought by the comet. I hope Your Majesty can take this as a warning, mindful of divine retribution, reflect on the successful experiences of employing talented individuals in the past, and swiftly cleanse the court, reinstate capable individuals, reject malevolence, and suppress villains; such as Zhao Ding; let no one like him serve again! We must broadly recruit talented individuals and welcome honest opinions, seriously heed your directives, inherit the legacy of our ancestors; only then can we achieve peace and earn the people's affection!

The book says: "When a nation thrives, it treats its citizens as its own children; when it falls, it regards them as mere weeds." The "Analects" states: "When a nation thrives, it treats its citizens as its own children; when it falls, it regards them as mere weeds." Your Majesty, you have previously concealed your talents while diligently governing Eastern Xia, ascending to the throne with a wise and virtuous demeanor in accordance with the mandate of heaven. The people are eagerly anticipating your reign, believing you can swiftly bring prosperity to the nation, just like King Cheng and King Kang of Zhou.

However, since you ascended the throne, the laws have become more severe, and the taxes and forced labor have become heavier; the eunuchs in the palace have been sent to various provinces and counties, haphazardly starting projects, embezzling and taking bribes. The people are heavily burdened, constantly complaining; the elderly and children are hungry and cold, every household is impoverished. Officials everywhere, in order to avoid punishment for violating the law, use harsh laws and torture to force the people to comply. Therefore, the people are overwhelmed, families are scattered, and there are cries of sorrow everywhere. It is heartbreaking.

And those soldiers stationed by the river, whether they are sent far to expand the territory or near to guard the borders against external enemies, should be treated well to meet their immediate needs, but they are constantly taxed and obligated, like a gathering storm. They are tattered, unable to eat or keep warm, facing the dangers of battle and enduring endless suffering after retirement. Hence, families are torn apart, and rebellions are rampant.

I hope Your Majesty can reduce taxes and forced labor, relieve the poor, cut unnecessary expenses, and abolish harsh laws and regulations so that the people can live and work in peace and security, and society can be harmonious and stable. The people are the foundation of the country, food is their life, but now the country has no reserves for a year, and the people barely have enough food to last a month, while tens of thousands of people in the palace are drawing salaries without working. There are complaints in the palace, wastefulness outside, resulting in an empty treasury, while the people cannot eat their fill.

Oh, the enemies from the north are eyeing us warily, focusing on the rise and fall of our country! Your Majesty cannot just rely on your own power and prestige, believing that the enemy won't dare to strike, while neglecting the fact that the entire country is in dire straits. Underestimating the enemy's resolve to attack us is not a sustainable strategy, nor is it a wise way to rule the nation! In the past, the founding emperor worked diligently, persevered through hardships, and established the southern foundation, expanding the territory and ruling the vast land. Though often seen as fated by heaven, it was actually achieved through human efforts! Now that this foundation has been handed down to you, Your Majesty should strive to improve your own cultivation, honor your ancestors, care for the people, nurture talent, and uphold their aspirations. How can you forget the merits of your ancestors, underestimate the hard-won great country, overlook the suffering of the populace, and ignore the great changes in the rise and fall of the country?

I have heard that the fate of a country is volatile, and fortune and misfortune are in our own hands. Even the treacherous Yangtze River is not always reliable. If we do not work hard to guard it, even a single reed could easily cross it! Emperor Qin Shi Huang proclaimed himself emperor and occupied the strategic location of Hangu Pass, but his rule was harsh and unyielding, the people were miserable, and loyal officials dared not speak up. As a result, a rebellion could overthrow the country. Similarly, Liu Bang occupied the three strategic passes, with a solid foundation, but due to poor appointments, the country perished overnight, and both the ruler and his officials were captured and became prisoners. These are all stark lessons for us today! I urge Your Majesty to heed the lessons of history, understand the current situation, consolidate the foundation, strengthen national power, discard personal emotions, follow the right path, and then realize a time of peace and prosperity, illuminating the legacy of our ancestors.

After the emperor finished reading the memorials, he was extremely angry and harbored a deep hatred for Shao Tan. Shao Tan was a person of integrity and righteousness, so those in the emperor's inner circle viewed him with great suspicion. They colluded to frame Shao Tan and Lou Xuan for slandering state affairs, and both were reprimanded by the emperor. Lou Xuan was sent into exile in the south, and although Shao Tan was reinstated, he later fell seriously ill and was rendered mute. After taking a few months off, the emperor suspected him of feigning illness, locked him in a wine cellar, and subjected him to torture and interrogation more than a thousand times. Shao Tan remained resolutely silent and was ultimately executed. His family was likewise exiled to Linhai. The emperor also decreed the annihilation of Lou Xuan's family line. That year marked the first year of Tian Ce, and Shao Tan passed away at the age of forty-nine.

Wei Yao, style name Hongsi, was from Yunyang, Wu County. He had a passion for learning from a young age and was capable of writing essays. He held a position in the prime minister's office, served as the magistrate of Xi'an County, later served as a secretary in the Imperial Academy, and was subsequently promoted to the position of Prince's Attendant.

At that time, Cai Ying was also present in the Eastern Palace; he had a particular fondness for playing chess. The prince considered this to be of little value, so he requested Wei Yao to compose an essay on the subject. Wei Yao's essay was composed as follows:

In ancient times, it was said that people were afraid of not having any merit, dying without leaving a name, so they studied hard, fearing falling behind. Ambitious scholars worried about not achieving anything by old age, so they worked especially hard, studying tirelessly day in and day out, year after year, diligently accumulating virtue and knowledge, like Ning Yue and Dong Zhongshu. Even the wise King Wen of Zhou and the talented Ji Gong had to toil day and night to secure the dominance of the Zhou dynasty, leaving a legacy that endures through the ages. What about us ordinary folks? Look at those famous figures in history; who hasn’t worked exceptionally hard, wearing themselves out both physically and mentally, never relaxing or changing their aspirations, even in times of hardship, like Bu Shi, who dedicated himself to farming and herding, or Huang Ba, who studied in prison, ultimately achieving success and making their mark in history? So you see, Shan Fu toils day and night, while Wu Han remains at court; who would dare to slack off?

People nowadays, for the most part, do not study serious studies; they just like to play those board games, neglecting their responsibilities, forgetting to eat and sleep, playing from morning till night, even if it means playing by candlelight. When they play, they are very serious, and when it's hard to distinguish between winning and losing, they are even more focused, completely worn out. As a result, they neglect their responsibilities, don't see their friends, and even when there are gourmet dishes and beautiful music, they lack the heart to enjoy them. Some even end up losing their clothes, and they will play even when moving, without a shred of shame, and they have a very short temper. They put all their thoughts on the chessboard, their goal is to win, but even if they win, they don't have any official position or territory; this skill isn't one of the traditional Six Arts, and it doesn't help the country in any way. Trying to make a living or achieve recognition through this is futile; if it's about fighting, they lack the military prowess of Sun Tzu or Wu Qi; if it's about knowledge, they are not students of Confucius. They rely on deceit rather than loyalty and righteousness; they use killing, not benevolence and morality. Playing these games all day long offers no benefits; what's the difference between hitting each other with sticks or throwing stones? A true gentleman works hard at home to support his family, serves his country diligently in the court, often working late into the night; how can one find time to be addicted to these games? Therefore, filial piety and friendship are what help one stand tall, while loyalty and integrity can earn one respect.

Now Dong Wu has just received the mandate of heaven; the whole country has yet to be fully pacified, and the court is diligently working to govern. What is most needed is talent. Those who are brave and strategic can be entrusted with important responsibilities, akin to the roles of fierce generals, while those who are knowledgeable and cultured can take on significant roles within the court. A wide range of talents are being actively sought, with civil and military achievements advancing together. The court extensively selects talents, recognizes outstanding individuals, establishes an examination system, and offers generous rewards. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a chance that comes around only once in several hundred years! Scholars today should strive to learn the teachings of the sages, cherish their own talents and energies, assist the present enlightened world, have their names etched in history, with their achievements shining brightly. This is the primary goal that a gentleman should pursue, and it is also the most urgent task.

How can a small game of Go compare to governing a country? How can a mere three hundred pieces of Go compare to leading thousands of troops? The splendid dragon robe and the melodious sounds of music can easily overshadow the joy of playing Go. If scholars devoted their energy to studying rather than playing Go, they will cultivate aspirations like those of Yan Hui and Min Sun; if they focus on strategy and tactics, they will gain wisdom akin to that of Zi Liang and Zi Ping; if they put it into business and wealth, they will amass riches like Yi Dun; if they focus on equestrian skills and martial arts, they will develop talents akin to those of great generals. This way, they will establish their fame and distance themselves from poverty.

After Wei Yao became the Minister of the Yellow Gate, Sun Liang succeeded to the throne, with Zhuge Ke assisting in governance. Wei Yao was promoted to the position of Taishi Ling, tasked with compiling the history of the Wu kingdom, with the participation of Hua Ji, Xue Ying, and others. After Sun Xiu succeeded to the throne, Wei Yao was appointed as Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat and Doctor of Classical Studies. Sun Xiu ordered Wei Yao to follow the example of Liu Xiang in editing various books. Sun Xiu also wanted Wei Yao to serve as a court lecturer, but General Zhang Bu, who was favored at the time but had many flaws in his actions, strongly opposed this, fearing that the Confucian scholar Wei Yao would use historical examples to caution Sun Xiu. Sun Xiu harbored a dislike for Zhang Bu, as noted in the "Biography of Sun Xiu." However, in the end, Wei Yao did not become a court lecturer. After Sun Hao succeeded to the throne, he appointed Wei Yao as the Marquis of Gaoling and further promoted him to Zhongshu Pushe, responsible for official documents, and later as a Shizhong, and often held the concurrent title of Left Historian. At that time, many people in the court were reporting good omens. Sun Hao asked Wei Yao, who responded, "These are just ordinary things you find in people's chests and cabinets." Sun Hao also wanted Wei Yao to write a biography for his father, Sun He, but Wei Yao insisted that since Sun He did not become emperor, it should be a biography instead. This happened on more than one occasion, gradually leading to Sun Hao harboring resentment towards Wei Yao. Wei Yao, feeling increasingly worried and fearful, confided in Sun Hao about his age and declining health, requesting to step down from his roles as Shizhong and national historian in order to focus on completing the book he was writing and seek another path. Sun Hao ultimately did not agree. At this time, Wei Yao fell ill again, and the court sent people to care for him, which only added to his stress.

It is said that Emperor Hao would drink from morning till night without end, where everyone sat together drinking. Each person was limited to seven liters; although not everyone necessarily drank it all, they were required to finish their drink. As for Yao, he usually only drank up to two liters. Initially, when he was in the emperor's favor, the emperor would always reduce his alcohol intake for him, sometimes even secretly giving him tea instead of alcohol. However, as the emperor's favor towards Yao began to wane, he forced him to drink, and if Yao couldn't finish it, he would be punished. Even more outrageous, after drinking, the emperor would have his attendants deliberately make things difficult for the ministers purely for his own amusement, even pointing out their shortcomings for his amusement. If the ministers made a mistake carelessly or said something offensive to the emperor, they would be either arrested or executed. Yao felt this situation couldn't continue, as it disrupted harmony both inside and out, and that was not good. So, he only spoke of the classics and shared some insights in front of the emperor, trying to avoid conflicts. However, Emperor Hao believed that Yao was disobedient and harbored disloyalty. Therefore, he unleashed all his accumulated resentment and threw Yao into prison, and that year was the second year of the Fenghuang reign.

Yao, in prison, wrote to the emperor through the jailer: "I have received your unparalleled grace. I have been unable to repay it and have instead betrayed your favor, committing a grave sin. I see that I am about to vanish and be consigned to the grave. I am filled with anxiety and wish to report some matters to Your Majesty. I have come across ancient records, many of which are false, and they are riddled with errors. I have researched various biographies, cross-checked differing accounts, and compiled the information I have gathered, and I have written a book titled 'Dong Ji', covering the period from Fuxi to the Qin and Han dynasties, consisting of three volumes. I intend to begin from the Huangwu period and write an additional volume, but it is not yet finished. I have also come across Liu Xi's 'Shi Ming', which contains much valuable content, but it involves a wide variety of items, making it challenging to cover every aspect, leading to inevitable omissions, especially in the records of titles. I believe that the system of official titles is of utmost importance today and must be free of errors. Though my abilities are limited, I have also composed a volume titled 'Official Position Training' and another titled 'Interpretation of Names' to present to Your Majesty. These books were just completed, but I have been imprisoned for my errors, and I am about to die. I cannot present these books to Your Majesty, so I can only compile a list of them before my death and request Your Majesty to keep them in the secret treasury, make them public, and present them to you. I fear that my thoughts are superficial and may not align with your intentions. I am filled with anxiety and earnestly beseech Your Majesty for mercy." Yao hoped to avoid punishment with this plea, but King Hao was more taken aback by the stains on his manuscript, so he questioned Yao again. Yao replied, "I wrote this book with the intention of presenting it to you. I was concerned about mistakes, so I read and revised it repeatedly, which led to it getting dirty. When you questioned me, I was so frightened that my entire body trembled and my face turned pale. I am willing to kowtow five hundred times and strike myself with both hands to express my apologies."

Hua He submitted multiple memorials for Yao, saying, "Yao's talent is rare in a thousand years. Your Majesty, you have recognized his talent and appointed him as a historiographer to serve in the palace and participate in discussions on national affairs, and that is truly an honor. The wise court is kind and benevolent, valuing the worship of ancestors. During the ancestral worship ceremony, you were moved to tears and ordered Yao to participate. Yao is foolish and lacks understanding, unable to fully express your virtues akin to those of Emperor Shun. As a result, he was imprisoned, which hindered the recording of Your Majesty's achievements and the recognition of good deeds. This is indeed Yao's ignorance and incompetence, a grave offense. However, I have observed that Yao has been diligent in his studies since childhood; even in old age, he continues to study extensively, studying the classics and applying their lessons to current events. His understanding of past and present events is unmatched among all officials. In the past, Li Ling, a general of the Han Dynasty, surrendered to the Xiongnu after being defeated in battle, yet Sima Qian did not hate him. Instead, he pleaded for Li Ling, and Emperor Wu of Han spared him because of Sima Qian's exceptional skills as a historian, wanting him to complete the writing of historical records. Therefore, he was not executed, and the book was eventually completed and has been passed down to this day. Now Yao is like Sima Qian of the Han Dynasty in the State of Wu. The 'Book of Wu' has taken form, but the commendatory passages have yet to be penned. In the past, Ban Gu wrote the 'Book of Han' with elegant prose, while later works such as the 'Records of the Han' by Liu Zhen and Liu Yi were far inferior, particularly in the biographical portions. The 'Book of Wu' will be passed down for generations and become an important historical book. Future scholars will judge its merits and faults. Without exceptional talents like Yao to see it through, it will leave an irreparable gap. If I am indeed stubborn and ignorant, then I am not a suitable candidate. Yao is already seventy years old, with little time left. I humbly ask Your Majesty to commute his death sentence to lifelong imprisonment, allowing him to complete his writing and let his works endure through the ages, leaving a lasting legacy. I kowtow one hundred times, requesting Your Majesty's approval."

King Hao refused to comply and ultimately exiled his family to Lingling. Yao's son, Long, also had some literary talent.

Hua Ji, with the style name Yongxian, was from Wuxi, Jiangsu. He initially served as the magistrate of Shangyu County and the agricultural officer, and was transferred to the capital as a secretariat official due to his educational background. He later rose to the position of Minister of the Central Secretariat.

When the state of Shu was destroyed by the state of Wei, Hua Ji ran to the palace gate and wrote a memorial: "I heard that the Wei army is as numerous as ants and is advancing to the west. The terrain to the west is dangerous, and I thought there was no danger. But later I heard that Lu Kang's report had arrived, Chengdu had fallen, the people of Shu were displaced, and the state was on the brink of collapse! In the past, the state of Wei was destroyed by the state of Di, Duke Huan was able to save his life, but now the distance is too far, there is no time to rescue, we have lost our land of refuge and abandoned the country that paid tribute. I feel like a blade of grass swaying in the wind, extremely uneasy. Your Majesty is wise and benevolent, with your grace extending across the realm, but now hearing such news, you must also be very sad! I am deeply concerned, which is why I have taken the liberty to submit this memorial to you."

After Sun Hao became emperor, he appointed Hua Ji as the Marquis of Xuling. In the second year of Baoding, Sun Hao began to build a new palace, grand in scale and opulent in decoration, using a large amount of pearls and jade. During the height of summer's heat, the construction of the palace overshadowed agricultural activities. Hua Ji wrote a memorial advising against it.

When I heard about Emperor Wen of Han, the realm was peaceful, and the common people happily escaped the cruel tyranny, embracing Liu Bang's benevolent rule. Emperor Wen of Han reduced corvée labor, simplified laws, and rekindled ties with the people, granting fiefs to princes in various regions to strengthen the Han dynasty. At that time, everyone thought the country was stable, as steadfast as Mount Tai, with a solid foundation. However, Jia Yi believed that one should weep and sigh in despair, comparing the current situation to sleeping beside a fire—feeling safe until the fire reaches you, when danger is right at hand. Later, turmoil did occur, fulfilling Jia Yi's prophecy. Although I am foolish and do not understand profound truths, I privately compare past events to the current situation... Several years have passed, the princes are brash and ambitious, while the Han Dynasty's prime ministers are falling ill and retiring to their homes, trying to govern the realm this way; even if Yao and Shun were to return, they wouldn't be able to handle it! Formidable enemies now control most of the realm, strong in military might, boasting extensive military experience, relying on past advantages to compete for supremacy with us, just like the fierce competition between Chu and Han in the past, not just a matter of the Han princes like the King of Huainan and the King of Jibei. When I felt the urge to weep bitterly in the past, the situation wasn't urgent, but now this urgent matter is more pressing than fighting fire with fire!

Your Majesty, look at the lessons of the past dynasties and the current situation. That's why we vigorously develop agriculture, accumulate a large amount of resources, show compassion for the people, and focus on military construction. Therefore, everyone is very grateful to Your Majesty and wants to contribute to the country. If we give up before good fortune comes, all nations will perish. Since then, powerful officials have ruled, defying both divine will and the people's wishes, forsaking the foundations of peace and stability, only seeking temporary benefits, initiating wars multiple times, depleting the treasury, exhausting the army and the people, leading to unrest. Those who are still alive are the remnants of the conquered and the suffering common folk of the past. This has led to a shortage of military resources, empty granaries, insufficient supplies of cloth year-round, combined with unemployment, making it hard for families to survive. Meanwhile, the north hoards food to feed the people, focusing solely on advancing eastward without any other concerns. Shu, as a western stronghold, with its strategic location and inheriting the governance skills of Liu Bei, believed it could hold out for a long time, but it unexpectedly fell overnight. As the saying goes, when the lips are gone, the teeth are left exposed. The various counties of Jiaozhou in the south of the country, Jiaozhi and Jiuzhen have already been lost, and Rinnan County is also in imminent danger, fighting for survival. The people north of Hepu are in panic, fleeing one after another; many have defected, the garrison has dwindled, and deterrence has weakened, with the risk of upheaval at any moment. Previously, pirates lurked in the eastern coastal counties, gathering many of the fleeing. They are familiar with seafaring, relying on past experiences, raiding, burning, and pillaging daily. Now we are surrounded on all sides by enemies, facing great difficulties from all directions. This is truly a critical moment for our nation's survival!

Therefore, those projects that harm the people and squander resources should be stopped immediately. We should prioritize preparing for defense and focus on boosting agricultural production to tackle potential future famines. I am worried that the farming season is nearly over, and spring planting is becoming overdue. If something were to happen, the army wouldn't be prepared. If we neglect these urgent measures in favor of construction, in case of a sudden war, we will have to set aside construction to deal with emergencies, forcing the discontented populace to confront the battle, which is precisely what the enemy desires! If we merely focus on defense, military supplies will dwindle over time, and without engaging in battle, the soldiers will soon be worn out.

Legend has it that during Tai Wu’s reign, mulberry trees in the palace spontaneously produced millet, which frightened him. He promptly focused on cultivating his moral character, and the strange occurrences vanished, leading to the prosperity of the Yin and Shang dynasties. In the era of Duke Jing of Song, he was concerned about Mars, which the people regarded as an omen of disaster. After consulting a diviner, Mars shifted its position, and Duke Jing enjoyed several more years of life. You see, nurturing moral character can resonate with all beings, and sincere speech can connect with the divine. I feel quite foolish for having stumbled into the palace as an official, lacking the ability to let your grace reach the divine. I feel both ashamed and uneasy, unsure of how to proceed.

I carefully pondered that the strange occurrences of Sanggu Shengting and Yinghuo Shouxin during the Taiwu era were signs of divine intervention for the two monarchs. As for the other minor demons and monsters, most of them are caused by the local deities at the gates. Upon closer inspection of the world, there haven't been any other significant changes. However, the recent auspicious signs have been coming in one after another; first, the appearance of the Mingzhu, followed by the arrival of the white sparrow. Our great Yin dynasty's enduring legacy is indeed blessed by the heavens! We have the vast land of Jiuzhou, the world is our home; how can we move around like ordinary people? Moreover, this palace was painstakingly built by the late emperor, and there were no bad omens during its construction. Furthermore, the land in Yangshi is adjacent to the palace. If the major project is completed and Your Majesty moves in, the local deities will also need to move. I worry that staying there long-term may not be an improvement. Constantly moving is not feasible, but not moving also makes people uneasy. This is why I am always concerned. I checked the Lunar Calendar and found that in this month of Jixia, one should not break ground, summon vassals, or raise troops, as it will surely bring disaster. Although vassals have not been summoned, their armies gathering together is no different. The Wujiri of the sixth month is a day when earth is dominant, so breaking ground is even more forbidden. Moreover, it is currently the busy farming season, so we can't afford to miss this timing! In the past, Duke Yin of Lu began construction in the summer, which was recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals as a warning to future generations. Now, building this palace for the long-lasting grand foundation violates a significant heavenly taboo, similar to the events recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals, overlooking the vital rituals to honor the heavens and our ancestors. As a simple-minded person, I truly cannot agree with this.

Alas, I am worried that some of the conscripted civilians may not be able to make it. If we chase after them, it will delay the project and require mobilizing a lot of manpower; if we don't pursue them, the delays will just keep piling up. If everyone comes, with so many people gathered together, what happens if someone gets sick? Furthermore, the common folks will only want to do good when they feel secure. If times are hard, they will harbor resentment towards rebellion. The elite soldiers from Jiangnan are tough for the North to handle; it is said that ten Northern soldiers can only resist one soldier from Jiangnan. The world isn’t settled yet, it is truly worrying! If the palace is completed and five thousand rebels are killed, the Northern army will increase by fifty thousand; if ten thousand die, it will increase by a hundred thousand! Those who are sick will die, and those who rebel will spread rumors; this is exactly what the enemy wants to see. We are about to battle the North to determine victory or defeat; this is a crucial time. They are growing stronger while we are losing, and on top of that, we’re exhausted. This is really concerning for those who know better!

I have heard that wise ancient kings governing a country would not merely prepare three years of food reserves, for if that were the case, the nation would not be a true nation. Even in times of peace and prosperity, we must be vigilant, much less now, when the enemy is formidable. We have been neglecting agriculture and animal husbandry. Although some crops have been planted recently, a while ago there was a flood, and many were submerged. The remaining crops need to be cultivated and harvested, but local officials fear they won't complete their tasks. They are urged by superiors to fell trees for palace construction, neglecting farming. The populace, including the elderly, women, and children, have less land available for farming. Should another drought or flood occur, we would be unable to harvest anything! The grain in the states and counties is saved for emergencies, and those who are idle depend on government provisions. If both the upper and lower levels face a food shortage, transportation cannot keep up, and northern enemies invade again, even if the Duke of Zhou, the Duke of Shao, Yi Yin, and Shang Yang were to return, they would not be able to help Your Majesty! I have heard that when a monarch is wise, the subjects remain loyal; when a monarch is sage, the subjects are upright. Therefore, I am risking severe repercussions to implore Your Majesty to consider my words carefully.

The memorial was submitted, but the emperor did not heed it. Later, I was appointed as the magistrate of Dongguan and concurrently in charge of the national history. I submitted a letter of gratitude, and the emperor replied, "I have received your memorial. Dongguan serves as the residence of Confucian scholars and is tasked with teaching the classics, collating texts, and solving difficult problems. During the Han Dynasty, this position was held by renowned scholars. I trust you will recommend some talented individuals. I have heard that you are well-versed in classics, have a broad knowledge of books, and are a lover of rituals and music, a proficient reader of poetry and literature. You should fully utilize your talents to extol the virtues of our current prosperous era, surpassing Yang Xiong, Ban Gu, Zhang Heng, and Cai Yong. Your humility is commendable, yet you should endeavor to excel in your duties, surpassing the sages, and no longer decline."

Ah, now the national treasury is empty, but the common people are becoming increasingly extravagant and wasteful. I wrote to the emperor saying: now the enemy is everywhere, the war is not over yet, and the country doesn't even have several years' worth of reserves, let alone the resources to deal with the war. This is something that the ruler of the country should deeply worry about!

Food and money are produced by the common people. The common people work hard in agriculture, which is the most important thing for the country. But the officials in the capital each manage different things, only caring about their own departments, not considering the hard work of the common people, casually demanding goods from the common people with very tight deadlines. Lower-level officials, fearing accountability, pressure the common people day and night. The common people are so busy that they can't farm, rushing to deliver goods to the capital. Some of the delivered goods remain unused, wasting the strength and time of the common people. When it's time to harvest in autumn, they rush to collect the grain, robbing the common people of the time they need to plant, and they also have to pay this year's taxes. If they fail to pay, their homes will be seized, so every household is poor and can't eat or dress warmly. All forms of corvée labor should be temporarily suspended to allow the common people to concentrate on agriculture. As the ancients wisely said, "If a man does not farm, he may go hungry; if a woman does not weave, she may feel the cold." Thus, wise rulers in ancient times prioritized agriculture above all else in their governance.

Since the war, it has been more than a hundred years. Farmers have abandoned their fields, and women have stopped using the looms. By this calculation, there must be many people who cannot eat their fill and are dressed in thin clothes and shivering. I heard that the emperor has two requirements of the people: to work for the country and to make sacrifices for it. The people have three expectations of the emperor: to eat when hungry, to rest when tired, and to be rewarded for their contributions. The people have fulfilled the emperor's two demands, but the emperor has not met the people's three expectations, which breeds resentment and hampers national affairs. Now the treasury is bare, the people are weighed down by heavy labor, the emperor has fulfilled his two demands, but the people's three expectations have not been met. Furthermore, hungry people can be satisfied without delicacies, and cold people can stay warm without fur coats. Delicacies are just a treat for the taste buds, and luxurious clothes are merely superficial adornments.

There are many pressing issues now, heavy burdens of labor, and the common people are poor, yet the prevailing culture is one of extravagance. The common people are preoccupied with making frivolous items; women focus on embroidering silk brocade instead of spinning hemp or weaving fabric, competing with each other and feeling ashamed if they don't measure up. Even soldiers and their families are adopting this extravagance, wearing silk and satin despite having no food at home. And as for the wealthy merchants, they have piles of gold and silver, living in extreme extravagance and waste. The world is still not at peace, and the lives of the common people are tough. We should fundamentally solve the people's livelihood issues, develop agriculture and the textile industry, abandon these impractical crafts, and cut down on wasteful extravagance. There should be no class distinctions in this matter; there should be no loss of money and resources. Now officials and soldiers have few children, some have one or two, while others have three or four. If each family is required to have one woman, there will be one woman for every ten thousand households, each producing one piece of cloth a year; that would mean ten thousand pieces. If the entire nation unites, we could accumulate a surplus of fabric within a few years. Let the common people wear colorful clothes and choose whatever they like, as long as impractical decorations are prohibited. Beautiful people do not need luxurious clothing to adorn themselves; attractive women do not need embroidery to attract others; colorful clothes are already beautiful enough. Even with heavy makeup and elaborate clothing, not everyone is beautiful; even without makeup and plain clothes, not everyone is ugly. Those things that are irrelevant, what's there to admire about them? Why not temporarily ban them to address the urgent needs of the national treasury? This is the most pressing issue to tackle poverty, the essential task of building a prosperous nation. Even if figures like Guan Zhong and Yan Ying were brought back, they wouldn't change this perspective. Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty, after a long period of peace, with no threat of war from all directions, still thought that decorative carvings would harm agriculture, and embroidery would affect women's weaving, so they took measures to develop the economy and eliminate hunger and cold. "Now the enemy is rampant, the conquest is not over," "If one man doesn't farm, he'll go hungry; if one woman doesn't weave, she'll feel the cold."

Now the world is in disarray, filled with wicked people like wolves; wars are raging on, and soldiers are all armored and helmeted. How can we find the time to develop the economy and fill the treasury? This ancient text conveys that the nation is fragmented, rife with malevolent individuals, and wars are continuous. It conveys a sense of despair and concern, believing that during times of war, developing the economy and enriching the treasury are simply impossible to achieve. Put simply, when the nation is in such turmoil, what’s the use of discussing economic development? Let’s win the war first!

Lao Hua Ji has grown old; the emperor commanded him to draft a memorial, and Hua Ji did not dare to refuse. The emperor urged him to write quickly, even standing there waiting for him. Hua Ji wrote: "I am merely a humble servant, an ordinary person akin to grass and weeds. I am deeply honored to receive the emperor's grace. Crawling out of the mud, now serving in the court. Bathed in the sunlight of the palace, moving in and out of the court. I am like sucking nectar, bathing in the warm spring breeze, trying my best, but falling short, feeling unworthy of the emperor's grace. Your favor nourishes me like rain and dew, forgiving my shortcomings; your kindness is profound. I, a humble person, have actually received your appreciation and been able to display my talents. I truly cannot repay your kindness; I can only pray for your continued blessings. Your grace falls like rain and dew, forgiving my faults. You even let me draft couplets, allowing my talents to benefit the people. I dare not disobey your orders, fearing to commit a crime. I accept your orders with trembling, scared to death."

Hua Ji had previously submitted numerous memorials outlining his suggestions, recommending talented individuals, explaining his mistakes, and writing hundreds of memorials, all of which benefited the country, but far too many to enumerate. In the first year of the Tian Ce era, he was dismissed from his post for a minor infraction, and he passed away a few years later. The memorials submitted by Wei Yao and Hua Ji have been preserved through the ages.

People say that Xue Ying noted Wang Fan is known for his outstanding character and extensive knowledge and talent; Lou Xuan is honest and upright, with a quick wit; He Shao is known for his noble aspirations and clear thinking; Wei Yao is diligent and studious, well-read, and talented in writing. Hu Chong believes that Lou Xuan, He Shao, and Wang Fan were all outstanding officials known for their integrity during that time, and it’s hard to tell them apart. If they had to be ranked, Lou Xuan would come in first, with He Shao in second. Hua Ji's talent for poetry surpasses that of Wei Yao, but he falls short in writing imperial edicts. I think Hua Ji has consistently offered valuable suggestions and served the country wholeheartedly, earning the title of a loyal minister. However, these individuals lived in turbulent times, yet they managed to secure prominent positions and barely survive, which is quite fortunate.

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Records of the Three Kingdoms （三國志）

Published: 01 January 2025

Created: 01 January 2025

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Zhuge Ke, courtesy name Yuanxun, was the eldest son of Zhuge Jin. He gained fame at an early age. When he was young, he was appointed as a cavalry commander, serving the Crown Prince alongside Gu Tan and Zhang Xiu, engaging in discussions about knowledge and skills, and having good relationships with them. Later, he was promoted to Left Adjutant from an attendant.

Zhuge Ke's father, Zhuge Jin, had a long face that looked like a donkey. Once, Sun Quan invited his ministers to a banquet and had a donkey led in, pointing to Zhuge Jin's long face and writing "Zhuge Ziyu" beside it. Zhuge Ke knelt down and said, "May I add two more characters?" Sun Quan gave him the brush and ink. Zhuge Ke added the characters "the donkey" at the end. Everyone present burst into laughter, and Sun Quan rewarded the donkey to Zhuge Ke.

Days later, Sun Quan saw Zhuge Ke again and asked him, "Who do you think is better, your father or your uncle?" Zhuge Ke replied, "My father is more outstanding." When Sun Quan pressed for a reason, Zhuge Ke said, "My father knows what needs to be done, while my uncle does not, so my father is more outstanding." Sun Quan laughed heartily again. He then asked Zhuge Ke to toast, and when it came time for Zhang Zhao to toast, Zhang Zhao's face was already flushed from drinking and he refused to drink, saying, "That's not how you show respect to your elders!" Sun Quan said, "If you can convince Zhang Gong, he will drink." Zhuge Ke then argued with Zhang Zhao, "In the past, Jiang Taigong, at ninety years old, still led soldiers into battle with weapons, never once suggesting retirement. Now, the general directs the battle from the rear, but when it comes to drinking and eating, the general is at the forefront. How is that disrespectful to the elders?" Zhang Zhao was left speechless and had no choice but to finish his drink.

Later, envoys from the Shu Kingdom arrived, and all the ministers attended the banquet together. Sun Quan said to the envoys, "Zhuge Ke loves riding horses. Tell the Prime Minister to send over some good horses." Zhuge Ke promptly thanked him, and Sun Quan said, "The horses haven't arrived yet, why are you thanking me?" Zhuge Ke replied, "The Shu Kingdom is like Your Majesty's outer stable. Now that you have given the order, the horses will definitely arrive. How can I not thank you?" Zhuge Ke's intelligence and quick response were of this type. Sun Quan greatly admired him and wanted to test his abilities, so he put him in charge of managing provisions. Managing provisions involved overseeing military supplies and handling various administrative tasks, which was not to Zhuge Ke's liking.

Danyang was characterized by its high mountains and treacherous roads, and the people there were all particularly tough. When troops were sent to conquer the area before, they only caught some ordinary people from the surrounding counties, but none from the deeper mountains. Sun Ke had been requesting the court to let him take office and solve this problem. He claimed he could muster forty thousand elite soldiers within three years.

Everyone thought that Danyang's terrain was treacherous. It bordered the counties of Wu, Kuaiji, Xindu, and Poyang, spanning thousands of miles with its overlapping mountains and valleys. The mountain dwellers had never set foot in a city or encountered an official. They all carried weapons and roamed freely in the wild, even some with white hair still roamed the mountains. The fugitives and villains hid there. The people there were brave and fierce, all strong and robust, climbing mountains and crossing ridges as nimble as fish in water and monkeys in trees. They usually hid, but once they had the opportunity, they would come out as bandits. Every time troops were sent to suppress them, it took considerable effort to find their lairs. In battle, they swarmed like bees, but upon defeat, they scattered like birds. No one had been able to subdue them from ancient times to the present. As a result, everyone believed this task would be exceedingly challenging.

Sun Jin, the father of Sun Ke, heard about this matter and also thought that this matter was unlikely to succeed. He let out a sigh and said, "Ke, if you cannot develop our family well, then our Sun family will be completely ruined!" Sun Ke swore that he would succeed. Sun Quan then appointed Sun Ke as the General of Pacifying the Yue, concurrently serving as the Administrator of Danyang, and also assigned him three hundred honor guard and cavalry. After being appointed, Sun Quan specifically had Sun Ke don his finest attire, with drums and trumpets, to make a grand return home. That year, Sun Ke was thirty-two years old.

Upon arriving in the county, he wrote letters to the officials of the four counties and affiliated towns, ordering them to defend their territories and organize their military forces. He gathered the surrendered villagers to live in close quarters. Then, he divided his subordinates into several teams, deployed the military in strategic locations, repaired only the city walls and fences, steered clear of direct confrontations with the enemy, and waited until the crops were nearly ripe before sending troops to harvest, leaving no seeds to sow.

The old year's food was consumed, but there was no harvest of new food. The people living in close quarters had little to no source of income. As a result, the hungry and impoverished mountain folk gradually surrendered. Ke then ordered, "The people in the mountains who have turned from evil should be treated kindly. They should be relocated to other counties, without suspicion or fear of arrest." The county magistrate of Jiuyang, Hu Kang, captured a surrendered commoner named Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi had a history of wrongdoing, but surrendered temporarily due to life's pressures, yet still harbored rebellious thoughts. Hu Kang bound him and sent him to the county office. Ke believed that Hu Kang had violated his orders, so he had Hu Kang killed as a warning to others, and reported this matter to the court.

When they heard that Hu Kang was killed for arresting someone, the common people understood that the officials merely wanted them to come out, with no ulterior motives. Therefore, people of all ages emerged with their families. By the end of the year, the number of people was nearly what they had anticipated. Ke led ten thousand people himself, and the remaining troops were assigned to other generals.

The powerful official felt that they had made great achievements, so he sent the Grand Commandant Xue Zong to congratulate the army. Xue Zong first said to Sun Quan's generals, "The Shanyue people rely on the dangerous terrain and have refused to submit to the court for generations. If you treat them kindly, they will hesitate, but if you are tough, they will resist you. The emperor is very angry and has ordered the army to march west. With the heavens' blessing, our army is unstoppable. The battle was easily won; the soldiers didn't even touch their weapons, and their armor didn't get sweaty. The main offenders have been captured, their accomplices have surrendered, the mountainous regions have been thoroughly subdued, and we have captured a hundred thousand soldiers. There are no bandits in the wilderness, and no villains in the city. Not only have the villains been eliminated, but military supplies have also been replenished. Previously barren land is now filled with crops; the once fierce Shanyue people have now become loyal soldiers. This is undoubtedly due to the authority of the court, and also because of your excellent command as generals! Even famous ancient generals like Fang Shu and Shao Gong of the Zhou Dynasty, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing of the Han Dynasty, their achievements cannot compare to yours! Your achievements surpass those of the ancients, and your military exploits exceed those of the past. The emperor is extremely pleased and even expressed his admiration! Thinking of rewarding you according to ancient customs, he sent me, a senior court official, to greet you, reward you, commend your achievements, and comfort your hard work." Then, Sun Quan appointed Sun Ke as the General of Weibei and Duke of Douxiang. Sun Ke requested to lead the army to cultivate the land near Lujiang and Wankou, and also to send light troops to attack Shu County, capture some civilians and return. He also sent scouts to scout the road to Shouchun, planning to attack it, but Sun Quan considered this plan unwise.

During the Chiwu era, Sima Xuanwang was planning to attack me. Sun Quan was sending troops to support me. The fortune teller said the omen was unfavorable, so I relocated to Chaisang to set up camp. I wrote to Prime Minister Lu Xun, saying, "Yang Jingshu mentioned in 'Qing Lun' that in this world today, there are very few people of high moral character, and even fewer who can uphold their principles. We should help each other, supporting one another like the spokes of a wheel do, serving our country above, and cherishing each other below. He also criticized people nowadays for liking to slander and undermine one another, casting doubts in the minds of talented people; those who want to achieve something are also not happy. I wholeheartedly agree with this! I think a gentleman should not expect perfection from others. Confucius had three thousand disciples, and among them, seventy-two had differing opinions, like Zizhang, Zilu, and Zigong. Although all were at the level of a near-sage, they still had their own shortcomings. Ziyu was expelled from the school, and Zilu did not obey Confucius's orders; let alone those who were less capable? Is it really possible for anyone to be without shortcomings? Confucius did not stop being friends with his disciples because they were not perfect, nor did he disregard their virtues due to their flaws. Moreover, when selecting talent today, we should be more tolerant than before. Why? Because the situation is complex now, and there are far too few outstanding individuals, and the country always lacks manpower. As long as a person has good character and the ambition to serve the country, they can be promoted and used, allowing them to display their talents. As for some minor faults and personal shortcomings, they should be overlooked; there’s no need to be overly critical. Furthermore, we shouldn't hold talent to overly strict standards. If the standards are too strict, even the wisest among us would struggle to meet them, let alone ordinary people. Therefore, it's challenging to hold people to moral standards, but it is much easier to demand people with human standards, so it is easy to distinguish between the wise and the foolish. Since the end of the Han Dynasty, the literati in China, like Xu Zijiang, slander and undermine one another, even causing disasters, not out of any profound hatred, but because they themselves struggle to fully adhere to etiquette, yet they impose strict moral standards on others. If their own behavior fails to earn others' recognition, and they use strict moral standards to criticize others, naturally, this will lead to mutual resentment. If resentment continues to build, villains will seize the opportunity to take advantage. With villains taking advantage, gossip will spread like wildfire; even for those with strong relationships and good judgment, it becomes difficult to navigate, especially for those who already have barriers and lack clarity. Therefore, Zhang and Chen ended up in a military confrontation, and Xiao and Zhu's friendship broke, all because of this reason. If one cannot overlook the minor faults of others, constantly nitpicking, over time, this will lead to resentment among families, and soon, no one in the country will be able to come out unscathed.

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I knew that Lu Xun was concerned about me for this reason, so I explained my views in detail and also agreed with his intentions. Later, after Lu Xun passed away, I was appointed as the Grand General, holding the command staff, stationed in Wuchang, taking over the administration of Jingzhou from Lu Xun. After a while, Sun Quan became seriously ill, and the Crown Prince was still quite young, so Zhuge Ke was summoned to serve as Grand General, also serving as the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince; Sun Hong was appointed as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince. Sun Quan's health deteriorated, and he summoned Zhuge Ke, Sun Hong, as well as Teng Yin, General Lu Ju, and Sun Jun, entrusting them with affairs concerning the state after his death.

The next day, Sun Quan died. Sun Hong had a bad relationship with Zhuge Ke, fearing retribution from him, so he secretly concealed Sun Quan's death, planning to forge an edict to eliminate Zhuge Ke. Sun Jun told Zhuge Ke about this, and Zhuge Ke summoned Sun Hong to discuss the matter, and killed him on the spot, before announcing Sun Quan's death to the public and holding a funeral. Zhuge Ke wrote a letter to his brother Zhuge Rong, saying: "On the sixteenth day of this month, the emperor has died, and people all over the world are deeply saddened. Our father and brothers have received the emperor's special grace, not like ordinary subjects, so we are extremely sad, heartbroken. The Crown Prince will ascend the throne on the appointed day, caught between sorrow and joy, not knowing what to do. I have been tasked to assist the young ruler, but I doubt my abilities to bear such a heavy responsibility, worried about letting down the late emperor's trust, thus I am filled with anxiety and find it hard to eat or sleep. Furthermore, the people are unhappy with the ruling class; any slight change will draw attention. When will things settle down? Now, I, with my limited wisdom, am serving as the Prime Minister, lacking in talent, with great responsibility—who will share my burden? In the late years of the Han Dynasty, there was rebellion in the Yan and Gai regions, with the uprising of officials like Shangguan Jie. Now, in such a time, how can I indulge in comfort and pleasure? Moreover, the area you are stationed in borders the enemy; now we must organize our military, inspire our soldiers, strengthen our defenses, even if it means putting our lives on the line, we must serve the court, not disappoint our ancestors' expectations. Each general has their own defense zone, but we still worry about the enemy taking advantage and plundering everywhere. I've already given orders to officials in the border regions, commanding all commanders not to leave their defense zones without permission. Although my heart is filled with immense sadness, justice prevails over personal feelings; like Bo Qin, I must don armor and go to battle. If those orders are disobeyed, the consequences could be dire. There is a difference between family and non-family; this is the advice of the ancients." Zhuge Ke was further promoted to Grand Tutor.

Therefore, Zhuge Ke stopped various grand undertakings, reduced the evaluations of officials, pardoned tax debts, abolished tariffs, and implemented numerous benevolent policies, which made everyone very happy. Whenever Zhuge Ke appeared, the people craned their necks to catch a glimpse of him.

In the first year of Huanglong, Sun Quan relocated the capital to Jianye, and in the second year, he built the Dongxing dike to prevent flooding. Later, when he campaigned against Huainan and the internal river fleet was defeated, he abandoned the repairs of the Dongxing dike. In October of the first year of Jianxing, Sun Xiu gathered everyone at Dongxing, rebuilt the dike, and constructed two cities on either side of it, each with a garrison of a thousand men, and sent Quan Duan and Liu Lue to oversee its defense while he led the army back.

The Wei Kingdom felt affronted when the Wu army entered their territory, so they commanded Generals Hu Zun, Zhuge Dan, and others to lead seventy thousand troops to besiege the two cities and destroy the dike. Sun Xiu mobilized forty thousand troops and marched tirelessly to the rescue. Hu Zun and the others ordered the army to set up floating bridges to cross the river, positioned their forces along the dike, and divided their troops to attack the two cities. The cities were situated on steep terrain, making them difficult to capture. Sun Xiu dispatched Generals Liu Zan, Lu Ju, Tang Zi, and Ding Feng as the vanguard.

During that time, the weather was cold and snowy. The Wei army generals were drinking and enjoying themselves. They saw that the troops of Liu Zan and others were few, and they had removed their armor and were not holding spears or halberds, only wearing helmets, holding shields, and climbing on the embankment in their bare skin, laughing loudly, which threw everything into chaos. The Wu soldiers charged forward, shouting loudly. The Wei army panicked, fled in all directions, and scrambled to cross the pontoon bridge. As a result, the pontoon bridge gave way, and many people jumped into the water, trampling on each other. Huan Jia, the Prefect of Le'an, and several others also drowned, and tens of thousands of Wei soldiers died. The rebel general Han Zong, commander of the Wei vanguard, was killed by Sun Xiu as well. The Wu army captured thousands of vehicles, tens of thousands of cattle, horses, donkeys, mules, as well as mountains of military supplies, and returned in triumph. Sun Xiu was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Yangdu, appointed as the Governor of Jing and Yangzhou, and overseeing military affairs both internally and externally, rewarded with one hundred pounds of gold, two hundred horses, and ten thousand pieces of silk and cloth.

As a result, Sun Xiu developed an underestimation of the enemy because he won a battle in December. In the spring of the following year, he wanted to go to war again. The ministers believed that repeated military campaigns would waste resources and advised Sun Xiu against it, but Sun Xiu ignored them. The Central Chamberlain Jiang Yan even argued vehemently but was forcibly removed. Sun Xiu seemed to have forgotten the ancient saying, "A strong army can lead to ruin, while a weak army leads to defeat."

Hello everyone, I wanted to share my thoughts with you all in this article. Our country cannot be as it once was, only focusing on immediate benefits without considering long-term development. In history, many countries have been destroyed because of underestimating the enemy and advancing recklessly. Take the Warring States period for example; those vassal states each believed they were strong and had vast territories, thinking they could pass on for generations, but what happened? Weren't they all gradually swallowed up by the Qin state? The principle is simple, just as there can't be two suns in the sky, a country can't have two emperors at once.

If a country only wants to live a peaceful life and doesn't think about unifying the entire country, that's not feasible. Liu Jingsheng from Jingzhou, with a hundred thousand troops and abundant resources, still got defeated and became a prisoner. Why? Because he was short-sighted and only focused on the present, not seeing the strength of Cao Cao. After Cao Cao unified the north and led three hundred thousand troops south, Liu Jingsheng was powerless to resist and had to surrender. Therefore, countries must swallow each other up, just like enemies must destroy each other. If you allow the enemy to grow stronger, the disaster won't just fall on you, but on your descendants too. This principle must be understood.

Wu Zixu famously said, "Give the Yue state ten years to recuperate, ten years to educate the people, and twenty years later, Wu will become a swamp!" King Fuchai of Wu thought he was powerful and didn't take Wu Zixu's words to heart. And what happened next? The Yue state ended up taking down Wu. The Yue state was smaller than Wu, yet it could destroy Wu. What about now, when the enemies are way stronger than before? In the past, the Qin state only occupied the Guanzhong area and could swallow six countries. Now, the enemies have occupied the territories of Qin, Zhao, Han, Wei, Yan, and Qi, all key strategic areas with abundant talents. Now, Wei's territory is several times bigger than what Qin used to have, and the combined forces of Wu and Shu can't even compare to the previous six countries. But we still have a shot at beating them because Cao Cao's army is really weakened, the new soldiers haven't fully grown, and it's when the enemy is at its weakest. Sima Yi just killed Wang Ling and died himself; his son is still young and unable to bear heavy responsibilities. Even if they've got smart folks, they can't really put their skills to good use. Now's the perfect time to strike, a once-in-a-lifetime chance!

The sage always seizes the opportunity, and I believe now is the best time. If we only focus on the stability of the moment, thinking that the peril posed by the Yangtze River can safeguard our territory, without considering the long-term development of the Wei Kingdom, then we are risking the fate of future generations, which concerns me greatly. Since ancient times, countries have always emphasized population growth. Now, the enemy's population is increasing, but they are still young and cannot be used immediately. However, in another ten years, their military strength will surely double, while our elite soldiers are aging. By then, only these old soldiers will be able to fight. If we do not use our soldiers now and wait until these old soldiers are even older, in another ten years, at least half of them will be gone, and the number of young soldiers will dwindle even further. If the enemy's military strength doubles while ours is halved, even bringing in wise ministers like Yi Yin and Guan Zhong will be of no use. Many people fail to grasp my perspective now, thinking that I am overly worried. Worrying before disaster strikes, many people think it is unnecessary. But when disaster really strikes, it will be too late to regret. This is a common problem for all countries throughout history, not just a one-time occurrence. In the past, the Wu Kingdom thought Wu Zixu was too worried, and when danger came, they were unable to turn the tide. Liu Jing Sheng did not consider the future ten years ahead, so he could not leave a foundation for his descendants. I carry the heavy burden of saving our nation, and like others, my vision is not as far-sighted as it should be. If we do not seize the opportunity now, and wait until I am old and the enemy is stronger, even if I commit suicide to apologize, what good would that do? I heard that some people think the people are still very poor now and want to recuperate first. These people do not understand the imminent threat but only focus on trivial matters. Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, had already occupied the land of Sanqin; why not just close the borders and enjoy peace? He insisted on attacking the Chu Kingdom, resulting in serious injuries, his armor covered in lice, and his soldiers tired of war. Who would willingly risk their lives for war when peace is an option? This is because, in the long run, you can't have both!

I often see people from Jingzhou and Handan persuading Gongsun Shu to be proactive, and I also see my uncle writing to the court, suggesting to contend with the enemy over territory. Every time I see these, I can't help but sigh. I am constantly worried, day and night, about these issues, so I jotted down these humble thoughts, hoping to draw everyone's attention. If I die one day and my thoughts cannot be realized, I hope future generations will know my concerns and think about the country’s welfare. Everyone thinks my ideas are correct, but no one dares to refute them.

Nie You, the Governor of Danyang, shared a close relationship with Zhuge Ke. He wrote a letter advising Zhuge Ke: "The late Emperor originally had a plan to stop the attack from Eastern Wu, but it has not been implemented yet. Now you are assisting the Emperor, fulfilling the late Emperor's wishes. The enemy is approaching, and the soldiers look up to your prestige as they bravely face the enemy. If a significant victory is won, it will be a great blessing for the country and ancestors! You should first organize the army, accumulate strength, and wait for the right moment. Now is not the right time for a large-scale attack. If you only focus on your own hot blood, I believe that would be unwise." After reading the letter, Zhuge Ke annotated it and replied to Nie You: "Although your words are reasonable, your perspective lacks breadth. If you carefully think about my plan, you will see the logic behind it."

Therefore, Zhuge Ke did not listen to advice and led his troops into battle, mobilizing two hundred thousand soldiers and horses from various provinces. The people were in turmoil and began to lose faith and loyalty. Zhuge Ke aimed to showcase his military strength in Huainan and plunder the civilians, but some of his subordinates advised him, "Now that we are deep in enemy territory, the border people will definitely flee one after another. This could lead to a waste of effort and resources, with little gain. It would be better to first besiege the new city. When the new city is besieged, the enemy will definitely come to rescue, and we can achieve a great victory when they come to rescue." Zhuge Ke followed their advice and returned to surround the new city. The siege of the city continued for several months, but the new city still remained unconquered. The soldiers were tired and hungry, drinking a lot of water due to the hot weather, leading to diarrhea and bloating, and they suffered numerous casualties. The officers of each camp reported every day that many soldiers were ill, but Zhuge Ke believed they were deceiving him and plotting against him, so no one dared to speak again. Zhuge Ke knew he had made a mistake and felt ashamed for not being able to capture the new city; his frustration was evident on his face. General Zhu Yi objected to his decision, and Zhuge Ke became furious, immediately taking away his military power. Captain Cai Lin proposed several strategies for battle, but Zhuge Ke dismissed them, and finally fled back to the state of Wei. Wei knew that the Shu soldiers were exhausted and many were sick, so they sent troops to rescue them. Zhuge Ke led his troops to retreat. The injured and sick soldiers dragged their weary bodies along the road; some fell into pits, and some were captured by the enemy, with their lives hanging by a thread, overwhelmed by sorrow and anger, as cries echoed one after another. Yet, Zhuge Ke remained unfazed. He stayed by the river for a month, even planning to start farming in Xunyang, until he received an imperial decree, and only then did he slowly lead his troops back. After this incident, the people were utterly disillusioned with Zhuge Ke, and complaints were heard everywhere.

In August, during autumn, the army triumphantly returned to the residence. Sun Ju immediately summoned the Minister of the Central Secretariat, Sun Hei, and questioned him loudly: "How dare you write edicts at will?" Sun Hei went pale with fear and stammered a few explanations before using illness as an excuse to leave. Upon returning from the punitive expedition, he conducted a major reshuffle of all officials appointed by Cao Shuang, replacing them with new appointees. He governed the country more strictly and imposed harsh punishments on many. Those who wanted to see him in the palace were so scared they hardly dared to breathe. He replaced the original guards with his own trusted men and ordered increased vigilance, preparing to attack Qingzhou and Xuzhou. Sun Ju, knowing that many people were dissatisfied with Ke and there were complaints, secretly sowed discord, claiming that Ke was planning to rebel. He then conspired with Liang, organized a banquet, and invited him. On the night when Ke was supposed to attend the banquet, he felt a sense of unease and tossed and turned all night. The next morning, when he prepared to wash up, he found that the water smelled fishy, and when the guards handed him clothes, they also smelled bad. Ke found it very strange; he changed clothes and water, but the smell remained the same, making him increasingly uneasy. After dressing neatly and preparing to leave, a dog suddenly grabbed hold of his clothes and wouldn’t let go. Ke said, "Is this dog trying to stop me?" So he sat back down, but after a while, he stood up again, and the dog bit his clothes again. Ke had to get his servant to shoo the dog away before he could get on the carriage.

Earlier, when Zhuge Ke was about to set out to Huainan, a devoted son wearing mourning clothes somehow walked into his office. His subordinates reported to him and asked him to find out what was going on. The devoted son said, "I don't know how I got in either." At that time, the mansion was under tight security, and no one noticed how he got in, which puzzled everyone. After Zhuge Ke left, the roof beams of the hall he had occupied collapsed. When he departed from Xincheng to Dongxing, a white rainbow appeared over his boat; when he paid respects to Jiangling, the white rainbow entwined around his carriage.

When Zhuge Ke was about to enter the palace to see the emperor, as soon as he arrived at the palace gate, Sun Jun had already laid ambush troops inside the palace. Sun Jun feared Zhuge Ke might not enter, risking exposure of the plan, so he came out to meet Zhuge Ke and said, "Sir, if you are not feeling well, you can come back later; I will report to the emperor." In fact, he wanted to gauge Zhuge Ke's intentions. Zhuge Ke replied, "I must go in." At this time, the eunuch Zhang Yue and others secretly wrote a letter to Zhuge Ke, saying, "The palace is heavily guarded today; something feels off; it might be a trap." After reading the letter, Zhuge Ke continued to walk inside.

Before he ran into Tai Chang Teng Yin, Zhuge Ke told Teng Yin, "I have a stomachache and cannot go in." Teng Yin, unaware of Sun Jun's conspiracy, urged Zhuge Ke, "You have not seen the emperor yet. The emperor has invited you to a banquet. You are already at the palace gate; you should hurry in!" Zhuge Ke hesitated for a moment but eventually turned back. He donned his court attire, went up to the hall to pay his respects, and then returned to his seat. The banquet was served, but Zhuge Ke did not pick up his chopsticks. Sun Jun said, "Sir, you are not completely well yet; you should have some of the medicinal wine you usually drink. Go get it yourself." Only then did Zhuge Ke feel at ease and drink the wine he had brought with him.

After drinking a few cups of wine, Emperor Sun Liang made his way back to the inner palace. Sun Ju stood up and said he needed to go to the restroom. He took off his long robe, changed into a short tunic, and came out shouting, "By imperial decree, arrest Zhuge Ke!" Zhuge Ke was taken aback and attempted to draw his sword but couldn't, as Sun Ju's blade was already descending. Zhang Yao struck at Sun Ju from the side, only injuring his left hand. Sun Ju retaliated with a strike, cutting off Zhang Yao's right arm. The palace guards rushed into the hall, and Sun Ju said, "The person I've captured is Zhuge Ke, and he is already dead." Sun Ju ordered everyone to sheath their weapons and went back to drinking.

There had long been a folk rhyme predicting: "Zhuge Ke, dressed in a single garment of reeds, the hook falls, seeking to find a place in the pavilion." "A place in the pavilion" is a euphemism for "Stone Hill." South of Jianye was a long tomb called Stone Hill, where people buried their dead. "The hook falls" refers to a decorative belt ornament known as a "hook belt." Zhuge Ke was indeed wrapped in a reed mat, tied around the waist with bamboo strips, and thrown onto Stone Hill.

Zhuge Ke's eldest son, Zhuge Chuo, was a cavalry captain. Due to an incident with the King of Lu, Sun Quan handed him over to Zhuge Ke for discipline, but Zhuge Ke ended up poisoning him. His second son, Zhuge Song, was a Captain of the Waters, while his youngest son, Zhuge Jian, was a chief infantry officer. It is said that after Zhuge Ke was killed, they fled with their mother. Sun Ju sent cavalry commander Liu Cheng to pursue Zhuge Song, and he was killed in Baidu. Zhuge Jian fled to the riverbank, planning to escape north to the Kingdom of Wei, but was caught by his pursuers after running over ten miles. Zhuge Ke's nephew, Duke Zhang Zhen of Duxiang, along with his attendant Zhu En and others, were all wiped out along with their families.

At the beginning, Zhuge Ke repeatedly advised Sun Jun, but Sun Jun never listened. Zhuge Ke always worried that this would bring disaster upon himself. After Zhuge Ke's death, the Governor of Linhuai, Zang Jun, requested in a memorial to collect and bury Zhuge Ke. He said, "I have heard that although thunder and lightning are fierce, they do not last all day; although the strong wind blows, it will not continue forever, but afterwards there will still be rain to nourish all things. This shows that the majesty of heaven and earth will not last long; the anger of the emperor should not continue indefinitely. I am foolish and unaware of the taboos, risking extermination to request Your Majesty's mercy. I think that the late Grand Tutor Zhuge Ke continued the glorious legacy of his ancestors; his uncles and fathers all faithfully served during the downfall of the Han dynasty, during the Three Kingdoms period, and they made contributions to the establishment and development of the Sun dynasty. Zhuge Ke grew up in the kingdom, bathed in the teachings of saints and sages; he was well-respected and loyal for decades, with no intentions of rebellion. The late emperor entrusted him with great responsibilities, like Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou, to handle state affairs. However, Zhuge Ke was stubborn, arrogant, and disdainful of others; he was not cautious in safeguarding the state power, causing instability in the country. He raised troops, went to war repeatedly, consuming a lot of manpower and resources, depleting the treasury, overstepping his authority, appointing and dismissing officials based on his own preferences, and intimidating the people with the law; all officials were silent in fear. The Attendant Wuwei General, the Marquis of Duxiang, accepted the late emperor's trust, seeing Sun Jun's increasingly cunning and cruel behavior, fearing he would shake the foundation of the country, so they rose up in rebellion. Their strategy surpassed the gods, their wisdom and bravery exceeded Jing Ke and Nie Zheng; they personally killed Zhuge Ke in the hall, their merits surpassing the Marquis Zhu Xuhou and the Marquis Dong Mouhou. The country's disaster was cleared in one day; Sun Jun displayed Zhuge Ke's head to the public, and the entire army celebrated; from then on, the country was peaceful and the people were safe. This is truly the favor of the ancestral spirits, the result of the joint verification of heaven, earth, and man! Now the heads of Zhuge Ke and his two sons have been hanging for many days, viewed by tens of thousands, and the curses were deafening. The harsh punishment enacted by the state instilled fear in everyone; old and young, men and women all witnessed these events. People's emotions often swing from extreme joy to profound sorrow. Zhuge Ke was once prominent, a high-ranking official, but now he has fallen to such a fate, like a beast; it is heartbreaking to think about! Moreover, he is already dead, like the earth; digging and digging has no effect on him. I hope Your Majesty will follow the laws of nature, do not remain angry forever, and allow his hometown relatives and former subordinates to bury him in military attire, giving him a simple coffin. In the past, Xiang Yu was given a burial place, and Han Xin received the favor of collecting the body; these are the manifestations of Emperor Gaozu's benevolence. I hope Your Majesty will follow the kindness of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, show compassion, and extend imperial grace to the deceased Zhuge Ke, giving him the final grace, to spread the imperial grace far and wide, to warn the people of the world; would this not be a very good thing? In the past, Luan Bu arbitrarily pardoned Peng Yue; I personally disapprove of such actions, as he did not consult the emperor beforehand, acted on his own, and was not executed—truly fortunate! Now I dare not directly submit my humble opinions in a memorial, seeking the grand imperial grace; I am just presumptuously writing these words, requesting Your Majesty's mercy and attention." So Sun Liang and Sun Jun agreed to let Zhuge Ke's old subordinates collect and bury him, and finally buried him at Shizigang.

Nie You knew that Zhuge Ke was about to be defeated, so he wrote a letter to Teng Yin saying, "When a person's power is strong, they can even conquer lands, but once they become weak, people's hearts turn complex and fickle; it's truly a lamentable situation!" After Zhuge Ke was killed, Sun Jun harbored resentment towards Nie You, wanting to demote him to be the Prefect of Yulin. Nie You fell ill from worry and sorrow, ultimately passing away. Nie You, styled Wenti, was from Yuzhang.

Teng Yin, styled Chengsi, was from Juxian in Beihai. His uncle Nie Dan, father Nie Zhou, and Liu Yao were all fellow villagers and had a close bond. Amidst the chaos of the times, they crossed the river to seek refuge with Liu Yao. After Sun Quan was appointed as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, he appointed Nie Dan as Right Commander, known for his kindness and compassion, but sadly passed away young, leaving no son behind. Nie Zhou was skilled in writing, and Sun Quan treated him as an honored guest. He often had him revise important state documents, but unfortunately also passed away early. After Sun Quan became King of Wu, he remembered past favors and granted the title of Marquis of Duting to Teng Yin. From a young age, Teng Yin was known for his virtue and good looks, and he married a princess early on. By the age of thirty, he had become the Prefect of Danyang and was later reassigned as the Prefect of Wu County and Kuaiji, earning accolades wherever he served.

In the first year of the Taiyuan era, Sun Quan fell seriously ill. Teng Yin traveled to the capital to serve, and continued to serve as the Minister of Ceremonies, assisting the new monarch in accordance with Sun Quan's wishes alongside Zhuge Ke and others. After Sun Liang took the throne, Teng Yin was elevated to the rank of General of the Guards. Zhuge Ke intended to lead the entire army against the Wei Kingdom. Teng Yin advised him, saying: "At a time of national turmoil, you carry the heavy responsibility akin to that of Yi Yin and Huo Guang, pacifying internal unrest and launching an attack on a powerful enemy, gaining fame across the land and shaking the very foundations of the world. The people are looking to you for peace. Now, after wearing the people thin, launching another military campaign will only exhaust them more, and the enemy is already on guard. If the siege fails and we achieve no victories, the previous achievements will be lost, inviting criticism later on. It's wiser to pull back the troops, regroup, and wait for a better opportunity. Furthermore, war is a serious matter; success relies on having a strong force. If the soldiers' morale is low, how can you feel at ease?" Zhuge Ke said: "Those who say it can't be done are short-sighted, only seeking comfort and ease. If you think so as well, what more can I expect from you? Cao Fang is incompetent, and the court's power is held by private interests, and his subjects are already harboring thoughts of disloyalty. Now, drawing on the nation's resources and the prestige of our victories, what place is beyond our reach?" Therefore, Zhuge Ke appointed Teng Yin as the Deputy Governor, in charge of overseeing the affairs of the garrison. During the day, Teng Yin hosted guests, reviewed documents at night, and sometimes worked through the night.

Sun Jun, styled Ziyuan, is the great-grandson of Sun Jing, who was Sun Jian's younger brother. Sun Jing was the father of Sun Gao, who was the father of Sun Gong, who served as Cavalry Commandant, and Sun Gong had Sun Jun. Sun Jun excelled in horseback archery from a young age and was known for his decisiveness and bravery. When Sun Quan was on his deathbed, he designated Sun Jun as his regent and also designated him as the General of the Guards, in charge of palace security, and granted him the title of Duke of Duxiang. After executing him, Zhuge Ke was promoted to Prime Minister and Grand General, commanding the national army, was awarded the imperial seal, and further enfeoffed as Marquis of Fuchun.

Teng Yin wanted to resign due to his son-in-law, Zhuge Shuang, being the son of Zhuge Ke, but Sun Jun challenged him, "The sins of Gun and Yu are not related, Lord Teng, what are you doing?" Despite their strained relationship, they maintained a facade of mutual tolerance, with Sun Jun even promoting Teng Yin to Marquis of Gaomi, and they continued to cooperate. Sun Jun had a bad reputation for being arrogant, self-centered, treacherous, and cruel, which caused widespread grievances among the people. He had inappropriate relationships with palace maids and even had an affair with Princess Luban. In the first year of Wufeng, Marquis Ying of Wu attempted to kill Sun Jun, but the plot was exposed, and Wu Ying was killed.

The following year, the Wei generals Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin rebelled and fought against the Wei army at Lejia. Sun Jun led the General of the Flying Cavalry, Lv Ju, and the Left General, Liu Zan, to attack Shou Chun. They caught Wen Qin after his defeat, and the army returned. During this time, envoys from Shu came to pay respects in Wu, and generals Sun Yi, Zhang Yi, Lin Xun, and others plotted to kill Sun Jun. The plot was uncovered, resulting in the deaths of several dozen people, including Princess Luyu.

Sun Jun wanted to rebuild the city of Guangling, but the courtiers knew it was an impossible task and were too afraid to voice their concerns, except for Teng Yin, who advised against it. Sun Jun ignored the advice and ultimately failed to accomplish the repairs.

In the second year, Wen Qin urged Sun Jun to attack the Wei Kingdom. Sun Jun sent Wen Qin, Lv Ju, Liu Zuan, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Zhu Yi, and former general Tang Zi to enter the Huai River and Si River basins from Jiangdu, planning to attack Qingzhou and Xuzhou. Sun Jun and Teng Yin arrived at Shitoucheng, held a farewell banquet, and entered Lv Ju's camp with more than a hundred people. Lv Ju's army was disciplined, which Sun Jun found intolerable, so he left, claiming he had a headache. Later, he dreamt that Zhuge Ke was attacking him, which frightened him to death. He was only thirty-eight years old at that time and entrusted his affairs to Sun Chen before he died.

Sun Chen, styled Zitong, was a cousin of Sun Jun. His father, Sun Chuo, had served as a commander of the peacekeeping forces. Initially, Sun Chen was just a minor general. After Sun Jun's death, he was promoted to the position of Attendant Wuwei General, taking full control of court affairs and effectively acting as a regent. When Lv Ju heard about this, he was alarmed and quickly joined other generals in petitioning, recommending Teng Yin as Prime Minister. Sun Chen went further and directly promoted Teng Yin to Grand Marshal, sending him to Wuchang to take over Lu Dai's position. Lv Ju led his troops back and sent word to Teng Yin, hoping to ally with him to eliminate Sun Chen.

After Sun Zhen received the news, he immediately sent his cousin Sun Lu to intercept Lu Ju at Jiangdu with his troops, and also ordered Wen Qin, Liu Zuan, Tang Zi, and others to attack Lu Ju together. He also sent the General of the Left, Hua Rong, and the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, Ding Yan, to communicate with Teng Yin, urging him to abandon his plans as soon as possible. Teng Yin realized he was in grave danger, so he decided to detain Hua Rong and Ding Yan, led his troops to ensure his own safety, and summoned the military officer Yang Chong and General Sun Zi, claiming that Sun Zhen had rebelled and forcing Hua Rong and the others to write a letter accusing Sun Zhen. Sun Zhen certainly did not heed their warnings and directly reported that Teng Yin had rebelled, promising a general's title to Liu Cheng, and ordered him to quickly surround Teng Yin with troops. Teng Yin then coerced Hua Rong and the others into forging an imperial edict and sending out troops. Hua Rong and the others refused, which led to their execution by Teng Yin. Teng Yin's expression remained unchanged, and he remained calm and composed as usual. Some suggested he lead his troops to Canglong Gate, saying that as long as the soldiers saw him come out, they would definitely turn their backs and support him. It was already midnight at the time, and Teng Yin, recalling that he had set a time with Lu Ju, was reluctant to lead his troops into the palace at such a late hour. Instead, he had his men inform Lu Ju of the situation, claiming he was taking a shortcut. As a result, Teng Yin's subordinates fought fiercely for him, and not one of them fled.

On that windy day, by morning, Lv Ju had not arrived yet. Sun Chen's army had already assembled, resulting in the deaths of Teng Yin and dozens of his soldiers, and exterminating Teng Yin's entire clan. Sun Chen was promoted to Grand General, given the seal of authority, and titled Marquis of Yongning. He wielded immense power, becoming proud and arrogant, acting arrogant and tyrannical, and engaging in numerous outrageous deeds. Earlier, Sun Jun's cousin Sun Lü participated in the plan to kill Zhuge Ke, and Sun Jun appreciated him and promoted him, eventually becoming the Right General and Commander of No Difficulty, also giving him the seal of authority to oversee the affairs of the Nine Officials. However, Sun Chen was far less favorably disposed towards Sun Lü than Sun Jun had been, which made Sun Lü very angry, and he conspired with General Wang Dun to kill Sun Chen. As a result, Sun Chen killed Wang Dun, and Sun Lü took poison and died.

Zhuge Dan, this old chap, rebelled in Shou Chun, but was unable to hold the city and sought to surrender. On the Sun Wu side, they dispatched Wen Qin, Tang Zi, Quan Duan, and Quan Yi, leading thirty thousand troops to provide support. Wei's General Wang Ji was besieging Zhuge Dan, but Wen Qin and his troops managed to carve a bloody path into the city. Wei invested heavily this time, mobilizing over two hundred thousand troops from inside and outside to besiege Shou Chun.

Zhu Yi brought thirty thousand troops to garrison in Anfeng City, wanting to boost the morale of Wen Qin and his men. As a result, Zhou Tai, the governor of Yanzhou in Wei, defeated Zhu Yi at Yangyuan, forcing Zhu Yi to retreat in defeat while being pursued, resulting in two thousand casualties. Sun Chen of Sun Wu grew anxious upon hearing this news and sent a large army to station in Huoli, and sent Zhu Yi, along with generals like Ding Feng and Li Fei, to lead fifty thousand troops against Wei, with the logistics based in Dulu. Zhu Yi set up camp at Lijiang and sent Ren Du and Zhang Zhen to recruit six thousand elite soldiers, who stealthily built a pontoon bridge six miles west of the camp, preparing for a night attack and constructing a crescent-shaped fort. Unfortunately, they were discovered by Shi Bao and Zhou Tai, the surveillance officers from Wei, and were caught off guard, prompting the army to quickly retreat to higher ground. Zhu Yi then devised another plan, using wagons to surround and attack Wumu City. However, they were once again defeated by Shi Bao and Zhou Tai, retreating back to camp. To make matters worse, Hu Lie, the Prefect of Taishan in Wei, led five thousand elite soldiers, took a hidden path, and launched a surprise attack on Dulu, burning all of Zhu Yi's provisions and supplies. Seeing this situation, Sun Chen sent another thirty thousand troops to Zhu Yi, ordering him to fight to the death. However, Zhu Yi refused, infuriating Sun Chen, who then had Zhu Yi executed in Huoli. He then sent Zhu Yi's brother Zhu En to rescue him, but unfortunately, Zhuge Dan had already been defeated and had retreated. This time, Sun Chen faced a complete failure; he not only failed to rescue Zhuge Dan but also lost a significant number of troops and executed a renowned general like Zhu Yi, resulting in widespread resentment against him.

Sun Zhen, since Sun Liang took over the government, had been constantly harassing him with questions, making Sun Liang terrified. After returning to Jianye, Sun Liang pretended to be ill and did not attend court, constructed a house south of Zhuque Bridge, and stationed troops at Canglong under the command of his younger brother, General Weiyuan Sun Ju. His other brothers, General Wujun Sun En, Adjutant General Sun Gan, and Chief Water Officer Sun Kai, were stationed in various military camps, in an attempt to control the court and solidify their power.

Sun Liang had long harbored dissatisfaction with Sun Zhen, so he seized the opportunity to explain to Lu Yu the circumstances and motives behind Sun Jun's assassination, and then shifted the blame onto Hu Lin Inspector Zhu Xiong and his brother, External Inspector Zhu Sun, for their failure to intervene in time. Therefore, Sun Liang commanded Ding Feng to execute Zhu Xiong in Hulin and Zhu Sun in Jianye. Sun Zhen attempted to persuade him, but Sun Liang refused to listen, and finally Sun Liang, along with Princess Luban, Minister of Ceremonies Quan Shang, and General Liu Cheng, removed Sun Zhen from power. Sun Liang's consort was Sun Zhen's cousin, and she told Sun Zhen about Sun Liang's plan.

Sun Zhen launched a nighttime assault on Quan Shang, sent his brother Sun En to kill Liu Cheng outside Canglong Gate, and then surrounded the palace. He sent the Imperial Secretary Meng Zong to offer sacrifices at the ancestral temple, proclaiming his intent to depose Sun Liang, then summoned the officials for a meeting, stating, "The Young Emperor (Sun Liang) is gravely ill and unfit to continue as emperor, so we need to depose him as before to inherit our ancestors' legacy. If anyone disagrees, speak up." Everyone was intimidated and quickly said, "We will follow the general's orders!" Sun Zhen sent the Palace Attendant Li Chong to take away Sun Liang's seal and jade belt, and then publicly displayed Sun Liang's crimes everywhere. The Minister of Works Huan Yi refused to sign, prompting Sun Zhen to execute him in a fit of rage.

General Dianjun Shizheng persuaded Sima Zhao to name Sima Xiu as the Emperor of Langya. Sima Zhao listened to him and sent Zongzheng Sima Kai to deliver the message to Sima Xiu. The letter said: "I, Sima Zhao, have limited abilities, but have taken on such a great responsibility; I truly cannot assist the emperor properly. In the past few months, I have committed many foolish acts, especially getting close to Liu Cheng, indulging in pleasures, and seizing the wives of commoners and officials, retaining the more attractive ones in the palace. I also conscripted over three thousand young soldiers under eighteen to train in the palace gardens, shouting day and night, which resulted in damaging over five thousand spears and halberds stored in the warehouse, treating them like toys! Zhu Ju was a loyal minister to the late emperor; his sons Zhu Xiong and Zhu Sun have continued their father's achievements, upholding loyalty and righteousness. They killed the young emperor back then, which led to the current emperor, but the emperor failed to investigate the truth and killed Zhu Xiong and Zhu Sun. My counsel went unheeded; everyone was too scared to speak. The emperor has also commissioned over three hundred small boats in the palace, decorated with gold and silver, with craftsmen working day and night. Taichang Quan Shang, who has received imperial favor for generations, cannot control the royal relatives, resulting in Quan Shang and others surrendering to the Wei Kingdom. Despite Quan Shang's high rank, he never advised the emperor, instead communicating with the enemy and passing on messages, which could lead to the downfall of the nation! According to past laws and regulations, you should be proclaimed as the great king, so I plan to capture Quan Shang and Liu Cheng on the 27th of this month, then depose the emperor, making him the King of Kuaiji, and ask you to take over the world. All the ministers are eagerly discussing this and waiting for your response!"

Sima Zhao's remarks not only accused Sima Yan but also tried to win over Sima Xiu, revealing a sense of "the state is in danger, that only I can save it." He portrayed Sima Yan as a licentious and inept tyrant, while presenting himself as the hero who had to step forward to save the Wei dynasty. The veracity of his claims remains uncertain, but they undoubtedly marked a crucial step in Sima Zhao's usurpation of power.

General Sun Dan sent Zhuge Liang back to his country, then moved Princess Shang to Lingling and another princess to Yuzhang. Sun Dan became increasingly arrogant and disrespectful towards the people and the gods. He even burned the Wu Zixu temple at Daqiaotou, demolished a Buddhist temple, and even killed monks.

After Sun Xiu became emperor, he claimed to be a commoner and wrote to the emperor, saying, "Upon careful reflection, I have come to realize that I am wholly unfit to govern the country. Due to various coincidences, I have risen to a high position, but I have now met with dismal failure, and my wrongdoings are evident. I am filled with worry and fear day and night. I have heard that heaven will bless those with virtue, so the immoral actions of the kings You and Li led to the decline of the country, while King Xuan of Zhou's virtue and talent brought prosperity. Your Majesty, as a wise and martial sovereign who has inherited the throne, should be assisted by capable advisors to establish a peaceful and prosperous era. Even during the prosperous reign of Emperor Yao, wise ministers like Ji and Ke were needed to exemplify virtuous conduct. As the ancients said, 'Do your best, and if it doesn't work, stop.' Despite my best efforts, I have not contributed meaningfully to state affairs; therefore, I have willingly relinquished my seal of authority and military command, returning to the countryside to make way for the virtuous." Sun Xiu received him warmly, offering comfort and counsel.

Then he issued a decree saying, "Due to my insufficient virtue, I have been confined to my fief. Now, in this critical moment, the ministers of the court, including myself, have all been dedicated to the country. I am always on edge, as if walking on thin ice. General Sun Jun has shown unwavering loyalty and has played a key role in stabilizing the country, quelling unrest and preserving the nation. His contributions are truly outstanding. When Emperor Xuan of Han took the throne, Huo Guang held a prominent position and was richly rewarded for his contributions. This principle has held true throughout history. Now General Sun Jun has been appointed Prime Minister and Governor of Jingzhou, with five counties as his fief." Sun En was appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies, Guard General, and concurrently Right General, and was also made Marquis of Counties. Sun Gan was appointed General with a miscellaneous title, Marquis of Ting. Sun Kai was also appointed as Marquis of Ting. All five members of the Sun family were made Marquises, commanding the imperial army and wielding power that surpassed that of the emperor—an unprecedented occurrence in the history of Wu.

Sun Zhen brought wine to visit Zhuge Dan, but Dan did not accept it. Zhen then gave the wine to General Zhang Bu. After drinking, Zhen began to complain, saying, "When I deposed the young master, many people advised me to declare myself king. But I believed in the Emperor's wisdom, so I supported him. If it weren't for me, the Emperor would never have taken the throne. Now he is treating me so coldly, what's the difference between me and a common minister? It seems I need to reconsider." Zhang Bu told Zhuge Dan about these words, and Dan felt uneasy, afraid that Zhen would rebel. He rewarded Zhen multiple times, appointed him as an attendant minister, and had him assist with official documents. Someone reported that Zhen was holding a grudge, insulting the emperor, and planning to rebel. Zhuge Dan caught the informant and handed him over to Zhen, who killed him, which only increased his fear. Therefore, Zhen requested Meng Zong to lead troops to garrison Wuchang. Zhuge Dan agreed, providing him with over ten thousand elite soldiers and weapons from the armory. General Wei Miao advised Zhuge Dan, saying, "Zhen is definitely up to something out there." The guard Shi Shuo also reported, "There are clear signs that Zhen is plotting a rebellion." Zhuge Dan privately consulted Zhang Bu, who was planning with Ding Feng to take action against Zhen at the banquet.

In the twelfth month of the first year of the Yong'an era, rumors circulated in Jianye City that a change was coming. Chen was quite disturbed when he heard about it. In the evening, a strong wind whipped up, sending sand and stones flying, which made Chen even more afraid. On the day of Wuchen, which marked the Laba Festival, Chen pretended to be ill and skipped it. Zhuge Dan dispatched over ten envoys to compel him to attend, and Chen had no choice but to comply. Just as he was about to enter the palace, his subordinates blocked his way. Chen said, "The court has ordered me several times; I cannot not go. However, you should prepare the troops first, and when I set fire in the palace, seize the opportunity to escape back." So Chen entered the palace, and not long after, the palace caught on fire. Chen attempted to leave, but Zhuge Dan replied, "There are many soldiers outside; there's no need for you to worry." Chen tried to leave, but Ding Feng and Zhang Bu immediately signaled to the people around to tie him up. Chen pleaded for mercy, saying, "I wish to be exiled to Jiaozhou." Zhuge Dan retorted, "Why not exile Teng Yin and Lv Ju to Jiaozhou too?" Chen said, "I wish to become a slave official." Zhuge Dan said, "Why not turn Teng Yin and Lv Ju into slaves too?" So, Zhuge Dan ordered Chen's execution. Zhuge Dan then took Chen's head and addressed his subordinates, saying, "All those who conspired with Chen are pardoned." He pardoned five thousand soldiers. Sun Kai attempted to escape north by boat to surrender, but was pursued and annihilated along with his family. Zhuge Dan also dug up Sun Jun's coffin, took his seal, shattered the coffin, and buried it again, as a consequence of Sun Jun's killing of Lu Yu and others.

Zhuge Ke, that young lad, died when he was just twenty-eight. The emperor was embarrassed by his connection to Zhuge Dan and Zhuge Liang, so he removed him from the family genealogy and renamed him "Gu Jun" and "Gu Chen," implying that, like Zhuge Dan and Zhuge Liang, he was now a figure of the past. The emperor even issued a decree saying, "Zhuge Ke, Teng Yin, and Lv Ju clearly did not commit any crimes, yet they were killed by the brothers Zhuge Dan. It's really heartbreaking! Hurry to give them a proper burial and hold a decent memorial service. Bring back those who were exiled due to their ties with Zhuge Ke and the others!"

Puyang Xing, known by his courtesy name Ziyuan, was from Chenliu. His father was Puyang Yi, who fled to Jiangdong during the turmoil of the late Han Dynasty and eventually became the Governor of Changsha. Puyang Xing was famous from a young age, and during Sun Xiu's rule, he was appointed the magistrate of Shangyu County. He worked his way up the ranks, eventually becoming the Left Minister of Personnel, and even served as a General to Shu on a diplomatic mission, then returned to become the Governor of Kuaiji. At that time, Prince Sun Xiu of Langye was living in Kuaiji, and Puyang Xing had a close relationship with him. When Sun Xiu became emperor, he called Puyang Xing to his side, putting him in charge of state affairs, and made him the Marquis of Waihuang.

In the third year of Yong'an, the Commandant Yan Mi constructed a field in Danyang and initiated the Pulitang Project. After he reported this to the court, the officials discussed it, with most thinking the investment was too high and the returns too low; only Puyang Xing believed it could succeed. So, he rallied soldiers and civilians to kick off the project, which drained massive resources and resulted in countless soldier casualties, and even led to cases of infighting, causing widespread resentment among the people. Eventually, Puyang Xing was promoted to Prime Minister. He conspired with Sun Xiu's favorite, General Zuo Zhang Bu, which left the officials and the people disappointed.

In July of the seventh year of Yong'an, Sun Xiu died. The Left General Wan Yu had a good relationship with the Marquis of Wucheng, Sun Hao, so he encouraged Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu to depose Sun Xiu's legitimate son and enthrone Sun Hao as emperor. After Sun Hao ascended the throne, he promoted Puyang Xing to the position of minister and also appointed him as the governor of Qingzhou. Not long after, Wan Yu accused Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu of regretting their past actions. On the first day of the eleventh month, Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu went to the palace to attend court, and Sun Hao took the opportunity to arrest them, sending them to Guangzhou and executing them en route, exterminating their entire families.

Everyone lauded Zhuge Ke for his talent and capability, and the populace praised him highly. However, he was excessively arrogant and stingy, greatly inferior to Duke Zhou, not to mention Zhuge Ke. He always thought he was superior and looked down on others; how could he possibly succeed? If he had heeded the advice of Lu Xun and his brother Lu Rong, he would not have ended up in such regret, nor would there have been subsequent disasters.

Teng Yin was known for his upright character, honesty, and adherence to the rules. Even when Sun Jun was in power, he could still maintain his position, demonstrating that he was not in any danger. Sun Jun and Sun Chen, these two villains, were so nefarious that they hardly deserved mention. Puyang Xing became the prime minister, but he lacked the vision and insight necessary for effective governance. He colluded with scoundrels like Zhang Bu, followed Wan Yu's misguided counsel, which ultimately led to his downfall.

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Records of the Three Kingdoms （三國志）

Published: 01 January 2025

Created: 01 January 2025

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Wu Fan, courtesy name Wenzhe, was from Shangyu, Zhejiang. He was skilled in astronomy and calendars, able to predict the weather, and was fairly famous locally. Later, he participated in the civil service examination, wanting to go to the capital to develop himself, but chaos in the country prevented him from going. When Sun Quan rose in Jiangnan, Wu Fan joined him. Whenever natural disasters or signs occurred, Wu Fan used his knowledge of astronomy and calendars to interpret them. His predictions were mostly accurate, and his reputation grew.

Initially, Sun Quan wanted to attack Huang Zu. Wu Fan advised, "It's not a good time to go to war right now. It's better to wait until next year. Next year is the Year of the Earth Rat, and Liu Biao of Jingzhou will also die, leading to the downfall of Jingzhou." Sun Quan ignored this advice and went ahead with the attack on Huang Zu, but failed to capture him. The following year, Sun Quan launched another attack, and when the army reached Xunyang, Wu Fan observed the weather and immediately went to the ship to congratulate Sun Quan, urging him to attack quickly. As a result, they quickly defeated Huang Zu, who fled at night. Sun Quan was worried that Huang Zu had fled far away, but Wu Fan reassured him, "He won't get far. We'll catch him for sure." Indeed, in the early morning, Huang Zu was captured. Liu Biao also died, and Jingzhou was divided.

In the Year of Renchen, Wu Fan predicted, "By the Year of Jiawu, Liu Bei will be able to obtain Yizhou." Later, when Lu Dai returned from Shu, he met Sun Quan in Baidi City and reported that Liu Bei's army had suffered heavy losses, with nearly half of his troops dead, and they would definitely not be able to conquer Yizhou. Sun Quan doubted Wu Fan's prediction, but Wu Fan explained, "What I said was the will of heaven; what Lu Dai saw was human affairs." As a result, Liu Bei did indeed obtain Yizhou.

Sun Quan and Lu Meng planned to launch a surprise attack on Guan Yu. They consulted with their close advisors, and many people said it wouldn't work. Sun Quan then asked Wu Fan, and Wu Fan said, "It can succeed." Later, Guan Yu found himself besieged in Maicheng and sent a messenger to surrender. Sun Quan asked Wu Fan again, "Will Guan Yu surrender in the end?" Wu Fan said, "This is a feigned surrender; he’s trying to escape." Sun Quan sent Pan Zhang to intercept Guan Yu's escape route. The scout returned with the news that Guan Yu had already escaped. Wu Fan said, "Even if he has escaped, he won't get far." Sun Quan asked when they could capture him, and Wu Fan said, "By noon tomorrow." Sun Quan had someone set a marker under the leaking pot. By noon, Guan Yu still hadn't shown up. Sun Quan asked what was going on, and Wu Fan said, "It's not yet noon." After a while, the wind picked up in the tent, and Wu Fan clapped his hands and said, "Guan Yu is here!" Soon after, cheers erupted from outside, announcing that Guan Yu had been captured.

Later, Sun Quan struck a deal with the Wei Kingdom. Wu Fan said, "From the signs in the heavens, the Wei Kingdom is appearing friendly on the surface, but actually harboring ulterior motives. We should be cautious." When Liu Bei launched an attack on Xiling, Wu Fan said, "They will reconcile in the future." All these prophecies came true, proving his divination skills were remarkably accurate.

Sun Quan appointed Wu Fan as both the Cavalry Commandant and the Chief Astrologer, frequently sought his advice to learn about his prediction methods. However, Wu Fan was very conservative and refused to share his most important secrets with Sun Quan. This made Sun Quan very angry with him.

At the beginning, when Sun Quan was still a general, Fan Fang once told him that there was imperial fortune in Jiangnan, and there would be great blessings during the Year of the Boar. Sun Quan said, "If it is really as you say, I will make you a marquis." Later, when Sun Quan became the King of Wu, Fan Fang was dining with him and said, "Back when we were in Wu, I told you about this matter. Do you still remember, Your Majesty?" Sun Quan said, "I remember." So he called the guards to present him with the marquis' seal. Fan Fang realized Sun Quan was trying to take back his earlier promise, so he gently pushed it aside and did not accept it. Only later, during the merit awards, was Fan Fang appointed as the Marquis of Duting. When the edict was about to be sent out, Sun Quan was furious that Fan Fang had boasted in front of him, so he crossed out his name.

Fan Fang was a straightforward person who liked to boast, but he remained consistent in his interactions with relatives and friends. He was from the same hometown as Wei Teng, and they had a good relationship. When Wei Teng committed a crime, Sun Quan was furious and imposed harsh punishment, and anyone who dared to intercede was executed. Fan Fang said to Wei Teng, "Let's die together!" Wei Teng said, "Dying won't change anything, so why should we?" Fan Fang said, "How can you consider these things? Watching you suffer?" So he shaved his head, tied himself up, and ran to the gate of Sun Quan's residence, asking the guard to report to him. The guard hesitated and replied, "You will definitely die; I dare not report." Fan Fang said, "Do you have a son?" The guard said, "Yes." Fan Fang said, "If you die for me, I’ll look after your son." The guard said, "Okay." So he rushed in. Before he could even finish, Sun Quan was furious and wanted to kill him with a halberd. Fan Fang quickly ran out, then rushed back in, banging his head and bleeding, with tears and snot flowing together. After a long time, Sun Quan calmed down and granted Wei Teng a pardon. When Wei Teng saw Fan Fang, he thanked him and said, "My parents raised me, but they could not save me from death. Like you, mutual support between friends is all we need; what more could you want!"

In the fifth year of the Huangwu period, Fan Fang died of illness. His eldest son died young, and his younger son was still a child, so his family line came to an end. Sun Quan missed him greatly and recruited across three provinces for someone skilled in the arts and numerology like Wu Fan and Zhao Da, promising to appoint them as thousand-household marquis if found, but in the end, no one was found.

Liu Dun, whose courtesy name was Ziren, was from Pingyuan. He would hide during times of war and fled to Luling, where he served Sun Fu. He was well-versed in astronomy and calendar calculations, and his divination was very accurate, which made him well-known in the south. Whenever there were floods, droughts, or banditry, he could predict them in advance, never failing. Sun Fu was so amazed that he appointed him as a military advisor, earning the respect of the troops, who called him a divine being.

During the Jian'an period, while Sun Quan was in Yuzhang, celestial phenomena changed. He asked Liu Dun, who said, "Disaster is in Danyang." Sun Quan asked, "What's going on?" Liu Dun replied, "The guest will defeat the host, and the answer will come on a certain day." At that time, Bian Hong rebelled, just as Liu Dun had foreseen.

As for Old Zhang, he excelled in all things, especially in Taiyi numerology. He could deduce various matters and delve deeply into the arcane, even writing more than a hundred articles! Even the renowned scholar Diao Xuan thought he was too formidable! However, Old Zhang valued his skills highly and never shared them, so hardly anyone knew just how talented he truly was.

Zhao Da was from Henan. When he was young, he studied with the attendant Shan Fu of the Han Dynasty. His mind was particularly agile, and he felt that there was an imperial aura in the southeast direction, which he believed could help him avoid disasters, so he hurriedly made his way to Jiangnan. He was particularly skilled in Nine Palace arithmetic and studied this subject very thoroughly, so he could adapt to any situation, and his answers to questions were as accurate as a divine being's. He could predict the number of locusts or hit hidden targets with pinpoint accuracy. Some skeptics questioned him: "Flying things are inherently difficult to predict, how do you know where it is? This is probably just guesswork!" Zhao Da asked the person to bring a few dou of mung beans, scatter them on the mat, and then he calculated the total based on the number of beans, and he got the total spot on! One time, he visited an old friend, and the old friend invited him for a meal. After the meal, the old friend said, "I truly apologize, things were a bit rushed at home, no wine, no good dishes, I didn't have much to offer, I'm really sorry." Zhao Da picked up the chopsticks from the plate, made a few gestures on the plate, and then said, "There is a pot of good wine hidden under the east wall, and three catties of venison, yet you say you have nothing to offer me?" There were other guests present at the time, and everyone understood the host's true intentions. The host said embarrassedly, "I see you're quite the calculator, I wanted to test your skills, I never thought you'd actually get it right!" So he took out the wine, and everyone drank happily together. Another time, someone put a letter in an empty warehouse, with millions written inside, and asked Zhao Da to calculate. Zhao Da took a glance and immediately provided the correct figure, and also said, "Although there are numbers written on this letter, there aren't actually that many items." His abilities were truly remarkable and hard to fathom!

Dabao holds his algorithm in high regard. Kan Ze and Yin Li are both famous Confucian scholars, and he humbly lowered himself to visit them to learn. However, he regards this algorithm as a closely guarded secret and never shares it with anyone. When Gongsun Teng was young, he apprenticed himself to Dabao and studied diligently for years. Dabao had promised to teach him, but always paused just before he was about to impart it. One day, Gongsun Teng brought some wine and snacks, watched Dabao's face, and then knelt down to request to learn the skill. Dabao said, "My ancestors obtained this algorithm with the intention of becoming the teachers of emperors. However, for three generations, they only reached the rank of Taishi Lang, so I truly hesitate to pass it on. Moreover, this algorithm is very subtle, involves 'head multiplication and tail division,' and the calculations are quite intricate, and even fathers and sons do not share them. However, seeing your eagerness and persistence in learning, I will share this algorithm with you now." They drank a few cups of wine, and Dabao took out two very small scrolls, about the thickness of a finger. He advised, "You should study these on your own, and you'll grasp it. I haven't used this algorithm in ages, and my memory is a bit hazy. I want to work through it again carefully and will give it to you in a few days." Gongsun Teng went as agreed, but when Gongsun Teng arrived, Dabao feigned searching for the scrolls, then panicked and claimed he had lost them, saying, "My son-in-law was here a few days ago; he must have taken them." And so, Gongsun Teng never managed to learn this algorithm.

When Sun Quan led his troops into battle, he often had Da Bao calculate good and bad omens, and the results always matched what Da Bao predicted. Sun Quan asked him how he did it, but Da Bao never revealed his method. This made Sun Quan grow more distant from him, and he didn’t get a promotion. Da Bao often joked with those studying astrology, feng shui, and weather, "One should calculate in private, without going out to observe the sky all day. Isn't that just wasting time?" He mostly stayed home, working out his calculations, and finally sighed, "I've figured out that I'll die on a specific date. My time is up." Da Bao's wife saw his accurate predictions many times and cried when she heard this. To cheer her up, Da Bao did the calculations again and said, "I made a mistake just now; it's not time yet." But he really did die on the day he predicted. Sun Quan heard that Da Bao had a book and wanted to get his hands on it, but he couldn't locate it. He asked his daughter and even opened the coffin to look for it, but the method was lost and never passed on. It’s said that these three were all experts in their fields, and their ideas were clever. However, a wise person should focus on what really matters. Therefore, people with insight should ditch these little tricks and go after what’s truly valuable.

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: Records of the Three Kingdoms （三國志）

Published: 01 January 2025

Created: 01 January 2025

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It is said that this person is named Yi, with the courtesy name Ziyu, and his hometown is Yingling in Beihai. Originally, his surname was Shi; he began his career as a minor official in the county and later rose to become an official in the commandery. The governor of the commandery, Kong Rong, who was quite fond of making jokes, teased Yi about his surname, saying that the character "氏" has the character "民" below it but not above it, implying that the surname was a bit odd, and suggested he change it to "Shi." Yi thought it made sense and changed his surname to Shi. Later, he followed Liu Yao to escape the chaos of war and fled to Jiangdong. After Liu Yao was defeated, he moved to Kuaiji.

After Sun Quan took power, he recognized Yi's talent and thought highly of him, bringing him to work by his side. Sun Quan valued him greatly, put him in charge of confidential matters, and even appointed him as a Cavalry Commandant.

One time, when Lu Meng planned to attack Guan Yu, Sun Quan, feeling indecisive, sought Yi's advice. Yi believed Lu Meng's plan was sound and advised Sun Quan to adopt it. Later, Sun Quan led the troops to attack Guan Yu, and Yi joined him as well, being appointed as a Colonel of Loyalty and Righteousness. Yi humbly expressed his gratitude to Sun Quan, but Sun Quan said, "Although I am not Zhao Jianzi, why do you need to humble yourself like Zhou She?" This demonstrates how much Sun Quan valued and trusted Yi.

After they captured Jingzhou, Sun Quan relocated the capital to Wuchang, and Yi was promoted to Deputy General, later being appointed as Marquis of Duting and was allowed to serve by Sun Quan's side. Sun Quan wanted to offer him even higher positions, even military authority, but Yi believed his abilities were insufficient and firmly declined. Later, during the Huangwu era, Sun Quan sent Yi to Wancheng to meet with General Liu Shao to set up an ambush to lure Cao Xiu. Cao Xiu fell into the trap and was soundly defeated. As a result, Yi received a promotion to Adjunct General and was tasked with handling the Imperial Secretariat's affairs in the palace, overseeing officials at all levels, handling lawsuits, and teaching the young princes how to read and study.

When Sun Quan's main army moved east, the crown prince stayed behind to guard Wuchang, and Sun Quan appointed Shi Yi as the prince's assistant. The crown prince respected Shi Yi very much and always consulted him before making decisions. As a result, Shi Yi was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Duxiang by Sun Quan. Later, when the crown prince returned to Jianye, Shi Yi also returned with him and was once again appointed as the Chamberlain and Chief Legal Officer, responsible for handling official affairs and litigation cases, just as before.

During this time, the Ceremonial Officer, Lv Yi, falsely accused the former Jiangxia Prefect Diao Jia of slandering the government. Sun Quan was furious and had Diao Jia arrested for interrogation. At that time, officials who had served with Diao Jia were afraid of Lv Yi and all claimed to have heard Diao Jia speak ill of the government. Only Shi Yi said he had not heard anything. Therefore, Sun Quan relentlessly interrogated Shi Yi for several days, with his orders growing more severe, leaving the courtiers too scared to speak. However, Shi Yi said, "Now the knife is at my throat; how could I dare to hide the truth for Diao Jia, risking my life to become a traitor? I just feel that the details of the matter should be clarified." He answered truthfully, with a resolute attitude, and never changed his statement. Sun Quan eventually believed him, and Diao Jia was acquitted as a result.

After the death of the Prime Minister of Shu, Zhuge Liang, Sun Quan was always concerned about the Western Shu. He sent Shi Yi to Shu Han to consolidate the alliance between the two countries. Shi Yi successfully completed his mission in Shu Han and was later appointed as the Minister of Documents.

When Duke Lu and Nangong Gang were first established, Yitong served as Duke Lu's teacher. Yitong felt that the two palaces were too close together, which was rather inappropriate, so he wrote to Duke Lu saying, "I believe that Duke Lu is naturally endowed with noble character, both civil and martial, and the most important thing now is to assign him to various posts across the country and become the backbone of the nation. Only in this way can his virtues be better promoted and his authority showcased, which serves the nation's greater good and is what the people hope for. However, my ability to express myself is limited, and I cannot fully convey my thoughts. I believe that the two palaces should have different levels to reflect the hierarchy of respect and to underscore the essence of education." He wrote several times. He diligently taught Duke Lu and regularly offered him advice, showed respect and diligence to his superiors, and was humble and polite to his subordinates.

He never acquired property or accepted gifts from others, only built a house enough for himself to live in, and his family was quite well-off. When his neighbor constructed an impressively large house, Yitong saw it from afar and asked whose house it was. People around him answered, "It seems to be Yitong's house." Yitong said, "Yitong is very frugal; it couldn't be his house." It was only after asking that he found out it belonged to someone else. This demonstrates that Duke Lu had a deep understanding and trust in him.

He wore plain clothes and ate modest meals, often helped the poor, and had hardly any savings. When Duke Lu heard about this, he personally visited Yitong's house, checked his meals, tasted them himself, and was taken aback. He then increased his salary and rewards and also gave him more land and property. Yitong repeatedly declined, viewing the Duke's kindness as a heavy burden.

He often made suggestions to Duke Lu, yet he never spoke ill of anyone. Duke Lu often chided Yitong for his silence and lack of commentary on matters of right and wrong. Yitong replied, "With a wise and enlightened monarch above, I, as a subject, must focus on fulfilling my duties; I would not dare to trouble His Majesty's ears with my ignorant and shallow remarks."

He served the country for decades without a single mistake. Lv Yi had reported the crimes of many ministers to the King of Lu several times; sometimes a person would be reported three or four times, yet he never reported Yitong. The King of Lu sighed and said, "If everyone were like Yitong, what need would there be for laws and regulations?"

When he passed away, his will requested a simple burial in a plain coffin, wearing everyday clothes, keeping everything simple, and he lived to the age of eighty-one.

Hu Zong, courtesy name Weize, was from Gushi County in Runan Commandery. He lost his father at a young age, and his mother took him to escape to Jiangdong. When Sun Ce was appointed the Administrator of Kuaiji, Hu Zong was fourteen years old and served as a minor official under Sun Ce, in charge of inspections. He later stayed in Wu and studied alongside Sun Quan. After Sun Ce's death, Sun Quan became the General Who Conquers the Caitiffs and promoted Hu Zong to be an official in the Jincao office, fighting alongside Sun Quan against Huang Zu, and later appointed as the County Magistrate of E County. When Sun Quan was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry and moved his base to the capital, he summoned Hu Zong back to oversee the documents and archives, together with Zhang Zhao and Xu Xiang, tasked with military and state affairs, which was a highly important and confidential task.

After Liu Bei withdrew his troops from Baidi City, Sun Quan felt that his forces were insufficient and sent Hu Zong to recruit soldiers from various places, resulting in the recruitment of six thousand people. He immediately formed two armies, with Zhang Zhao leading the left and Hu Zong leading the right, tasked with overseeing the battles. The general of Wu, Jin Zong, defected to Wei and was appointed as the Administrator of Qichun by Wei, several hundred miles away from Jiangdong, often troubling the border. Sun Quan then sent Hu Zong and He Qi on a light and quick mission and successfully captured Jin Zong alive! Afterward, Hu Zong was promoted to General of Jianwu. Wei appointed Sun Quan as King of Wu and also appointed Hu Zong, Zhang Zhao, and Xu Xiang as marquises, thus elevating them to the ranks of nobles and ministers.

In the summer of the eighth year of the Huang Wu reign, the Yellow Dragon appeared in Xiakou. Sun Quan took this opportunity to proclaim himself emperor and changed the era name to a new one. He specifically created a large Yellow Dragon flag, which was prominently displayed at the center of the army. The army would advance and retreat according to the direction of this flag. Sun Quan also had Hu Zong write a poem to praise this event; the poem states:

When heaven and earth were first formed, all things began to grow. The image of a wolf appeared in the starry sky, symbolizing an elite army. The sage observed the celestial phenomena, imitated and utilized them, began to manufacture weapons, and sought their perfection. The Yellow Emperor and Yan Emperor founded an era, laid the foundation of the country, followed the will of heaven above, and brought comfort to the people in times of disaster. Gao Xin executed Gong Gong, Shun campaigned against the Miao clan, Qi fought against Gan, and Tang fought against Mingtiao. The Battle of Muye in the Zhou Dynasty and the Battle of Gaixia in the Han Dynasty—none of these victories would have established the dynasty's rule without the strength of the army.

The powerful state of Wu is indeed bestowed with virtue by heaven; its martial prowess is fundamental, and it is the ultimate of emperors. Starting from the ancient Yellow Emperor and Yu Shun, it has gone through five dynasties and has been handed down to this day. The state of Wu rose in accordance with heavenly will, emerging from the south, and is poised to restore its former glory and revitalize our nation. Therefore, based on celestial phenomena, an elite army was established, modeled after Taiyi, with five generals and three gates; moving quickly like lightning, slowly like clouds, with a proper balance of advance and retreat, simple yet not cumbersome.

The four spiritual flags have been set up, with the Yellow Dragon flag in the center. According to the system of the Zhou Dynasty and the laws of the movement of the sun, moon, and stars, in fact, it is the duty of the Taichang. The Yellow Dragon flag stands alone, the focal point of the entire army. The immortals observe the four directions in the sky, and the spirits are indeed aiding the state of Wu, granting the nation peace. When the army needs to change direction, the Yellow Dragon flag moves first, the golden drums do not sound, silently changing formation, mysterious and unpredictable in its movements, which can be described as truly magical.

In ancient times, during the Zhou Dynasty, there was a Red Crow that carried a message; now in Wu State, the Yellow Dragon spits out a token. All of this aligns with the hexagrams of the He Luo, actions in line with the will of heaven, with heavenly assistance and harmony among the people; everyone agrees that this is an auspicious omen.

Shu heard that Sun Quan had taken the throne, so they sent envoys to reaffirm their previous friendly relations. Both sides jointly drafted an alliance, and the alliance text was beautifully written, with the details recorded in the "Biography of Sun Quan." After Sun Quan moved the capital to Jianye, Zhang Zhao and Zhuge Jin both served as attendants-in-chief and were appointed as marquis of their respective counties, also serving as commanders of the left and right armies. At that time, some surrendered individuals from the state of Wei expressed doubts about the surrender of General Wu Zhi of Hebei Zhenwei. Zhuge Jin then forged three surrender letters from Wu Zhi:

First paragraph:

Ah, the current state of affairs is in chaos! The principles of heaven are in disarray, the world is divided, the common people are suffering, scholars are fleeing everywhere, and there is war everywhere. There is no one left in the cities, and everywhere there are the smoke and flames of war. Since the three dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou, there has never been such chaos! I, with limited abilities and no special talents, am like a plant bound by the land, unable to fly. I can only fight for the Cao family, sent to the distant Hexi region, completely cut off from the court. Although I wish to follow a wise lord and serve the country, I am frustrated by not having the chance to fulfill my ambitions. Whenever I travel, I secretly inquire about the news. I know Your Majesty's virtue is as boundless as the sky, as radiant as the sun and moon, and your heroic aura is innate. You implement benevolent governance, and your kindness reaches far and wide, providing protection to the common people south of the Yangtze River. Those with talent and ambition, those aspiring scholars, admire you in secret and hope to serve you!

At the end of June this year, I heard that you ascended to the throne on a lucky day, initiated large-scale reforms, set things right in the world, and gave hope to the displaced common people! Back in the day, when King Wu overthrew King Zhou, the people of the Yin Dynasty turned on their rulers; when Liu Bang defeated Xiang Yu, the Chu army was surrounded. Compared to now, that was nothing! I really hope for peace everywhere! That's why I sent my fellow villager, Mr. Huang Dinggong, to bring you my seal, taking a big risk to share my thoughts with you. I've included all my specific thoughts in the memorial.

In the past, Yi Yin moved from the Xia Dynasty to the Shang Dynasty, and Chen Ping moved from the Chu State to the Han Dynasty. They both recorded their achievements in history books, becoming famous throughout history. Later rulers didn't see them as traitors, but believed they were following the will of heaven. I used to have a close relationship with the Cao family. Although we appeared to be lord and subject on the surface, in reality, we were like brothers, deeply bonded and inseparable. That's why I accepted the responsibility of leading the army in Hebei, a remote region. At that time, I had great ambitions, planning to live and die with the Cao family, only worrying that I would not be able to make great achievements.

After the fall of the Cao family, the successor took over at a young age, and rumors and gossip spread. Colleagues were at odds with each other, and those who disagreed with me took the opportunity to slander me. I am straightforward and never flatter others. Seeing those descendants of the Cao family, I did look down on them, which was my mistake. As a result, I was framed and suspected of treason. Even though some who knew the truth tried to defend me, in times of chaos, rumors outweighed facts, and my suspicion still existed. I always feared that one day I would be unjustly killed, constantly anxious.

Yue Yi, back in the day, achieved great feats for King Zhao of Yan in the state of Qi. But when King Hui took the throne, he grew suspicious of him and stripped him of his military command. Yue Yi then left Yan and sought refuge in Zhao, where he still had a stellar reputation. He did this not to please both sides, but out of fear that his successes might threaten the ruler and bring disaster upon him. I had previously sent Zhou Guang from Wei County under the guise of conducting business to secretly make his way south and deliver my plans. The situation was urgent at the time, and there was no time to report in writing, so I had Zhou Guang deliver the message verbally. I believe that the fate of the world is already set, and it is destined for Wu to rule. The folks there are eager to join us and are hoping the army arrives soon.

If Your Majesty could trust me just a bit, I can lead the army from Hebei to meet the royal forces. My loyalty is as clear as day. However, Zhou Guang has been gone for so many years without any news. I have no idea if my plan got through. I look up at the sky and sigh longingly. As the days drag on, how can I even express my anxiety like Gaozi from Lu? Right now, Your Majesty seems a bit distant towards me, and rumors are rampant. I'm bound to face trouble; it’s just a matter of time. I speculate privately that the reason Your Majesty hasn’t comforted me might be because he thinks I’m too principled to do such things, or he thinks the messages Zhou Guang brought back are mostly false, or he suspects there’s something else going on, not knowing I’m being set up and am in real danger.

If I am truly guilty, I would certainly face the consequences and accept my punishment, as this is the duty of a loyal subject. But now I am innocent, yet I am falsely accused and will meet the same fate as Shang Yang and Bai Qi. Considering the pros and cons, it is only natural for me to leave. Dying without honor is not an option, but what else can I do if I do not leave? Le Yi left, Wu Qi fled, gentlemen sympathized with their plight, but no one blamed them. I hope Your Majesty can refer to history and not doubt me. I also know that if a subject is guilty, they should offer their services like Wu Zixu did, instead of seeking opportunism. But the current situation is different from that of ancient times, with vast distances separating the north and south, rivers blocking the way. If I do not take action, how can I hope to avoid disaster? Therefore, I have abandoned the integrity of a great man and wish to make contributions to the country.

Furthermore, the descendants of the Cao family lack both virtue and ability, and their rule is not heaven-ordained. The political situation is weak, the laws are in disarray, power is in my hands, various generals act independently outside, without unity. The soldiers are exhausted, the treasury is nearly empty, discipline is deteriorating, the rulers are inept. I trust Your Majesty is aware of the recent rebellions. When the weak rise against the incompetent ruler, this presents Your Majesty with a significant opportunity to take action. Therefore, I boldly present my strategy. If we deploy troops between the Huai River and the Si River, occupy Xia Pi, the provinces of Jingzhou and Yangzhou will rally to our cause, and as I move south from the north, the situation will be unified and stable. The western armies are bogged down at Hangu Pass; Qingzhou and Xuzhou dare not defend with full force, and the remnants of Xuchang and Luoyang are less than ten thousand men. Who can come east to challenge Your Majesty for control of the realm? This is indeed a rare opportunity; shouldn't Your Majesty give it serious consideration?

I have many war horses here. When the grass is lush in March and April, the Qiang and Xiongnu people will drive out their horses. I estimate that there are currently over 3,000 horses. Your Majesty, when sending troops, you should choose this time and bring more cavalry to capture the horses. These are all situations I have previously investigated. In battles, it is often difficult to understand the enemy's true intentions. The enemy is weak now and easy to conquer. When Your Majesty takes action, there will definitely be many people responding. If you can achieve great accomplishments and unify the world, I can also accomplish great deeds. This is fate. If my strategies are not taken up, that too is fate. I hope Your Majesty will give this serious thought. I will not say more.

Someone wrote to advise Sun Quan: "In the past, Xu Ziyuan left Yuan Shao and joined Cao Cao. Cao Cao accepted his strategies, defeated Yuan Shao, and established the foundation of Cao Wei. If Cao Cao had not believed in Xu Ziyuan at that time and had hesitated, the world might still be under Yuan Shao's rule! Your Majesty should think about this. I heard that the generals on the frontiers, Yan Fu and Zhao Ji, wanted to surrender, but since you have not responded promptly, they may have defected to the enemy. I sincerely urge you to consider them now. If you continue to hesitate and delay taking action, leaving me isolated and helpless, facing disaster, then those talented and ambitious people in the world may not dare to entrust their lives to you anymore. Your Majesty should also think about this. The heavens and the spirits will hear my words!" Once this memorial was made public, the author was promoted to the position of attendant.

Two years later, a man from Qingzhou named Yin Fan sought refuge with Sun Quan and wrote a letter saying: "I heard that King Zhou of Shang was cruel and unjust, so Duke of Zhou left early; while Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, was kind and wise, so Chen Ping joined him early. I am twenty-two years old this year, I have given up my family's fiefdom, and sought refuge with a wise ruler like you. Thanks to heaven's grace, I was able to survive and make it here. I have been here for some time, but the local officials treat me as an ordinary citizen, without seriously considering my abilities, making it impossible for me to present my thoughts and suggestions to you. I’ve been sighing in the county, unsure of what to do. So I came to the palace gate to write this letter, asking for an audience with you." Sun Quan immediately called for him. Yin Fan expressed his thanks, answered questions, and discussed current affairs with great eloquence. Sun Quan asked his ministers for their opinions on Yin Fan, and they replied: "Yin Fan's memorial is impressive, somewhat like Dongfang Shuo; his words are clever and skilled in debate, somewhat like Mi Heng; but his abilities do not surpass theirs." Sun Quan then asked what position would suit Yin Fan, and they suggested he start as a minor official in the capital. Sun Quan appointed Yin Fan as the head of the judicial system. General Zhu Ju and the judicial officer Hao Pu both believed that Yin Fan had the ability to assist the emperor, especially Hao Pu, who had a close relationship with Yin Fan and regretted his talents being wasted. Later, Yin Fan plotted a rebellion, which was discovered and he was killed. Hao Pu took his own life because he was implicated in the matter. Zhu Ju tried to intervene, but it took a long time to settle down. Sun Quan appointed the minister as a deputy general and also assigned him law enforcement duties, responsible for handling legal cases. After the incident in Liaodong, Assistant General Zhang Zhao earnestly advised Sun Quan, which made him very angry. However, the minister skillfully managed their relationship, preventing any rift.

Hu Zong was known for his fondness for alcohol. After drinking, he often celebrated and frolicked, sometimes toasting and joking with those close to him. Sun Quan admired his talents, so he turned a blind eye to his behavior.

After Sun Quan rose to power, Hu Zong was largely responsible for handling various documents, decrees, and official communications with neighboring countries. At first, due to the numerous internal and external affairs, the court established a rule that officials could not resign even if there was a funeral in their family, and many officials indeed violated this rule. This troubled Sun Quan greatly, so he called a meeting with the ministers to discuss solutions. Hu Zong proposed establishing clear regulations mandating that violators would face the death penalty as a deterrent, so that there would be no more violators in the future. Sun Quan adopted Hu Zong's suggestion, and from then on, the practice of officials resigning for bereavement was completely eradicated.

In the sixth year of the Chiwu era, Hu Zong passed away, and his son Hu Chong succeeded him. Hu Chong was known for his gentle demeanor and eloquence, eventually becoming the Minister of the Central Secretariat during the Tianji era.

Another notable figure, Xu Xiang, whose courtesy name was Ziming, hailed from Wucheng in Wu County. He died before Hu Zong.

The text evaluates: Zhang Zhao, Xu Xiang, and Hu Zong, these three were all prominent figures who made significant contributions during Sun Quan's reign. Zhang Zhao was known for his integrity and high moral character; Xu Xiang completed missions in other countries multiple times; Hu Zong was exceptionally talented and skilled, earning Sun Quan's trust and favor. They were all pillars of Sun Quan's court!