Sun Liang, whose courtesy name was Ziming, is the son of Sun Quan. As Sun Quan grew older and since Sun Liang was his youngest son, Sun Quan was particularly fond of him. Sun Quan's sister, Princess Quan, once falsely accused the Crown Prince and his mother; feeling uneasy, she took advantage of Sun Quan's affection for her, wanting to plan ahead for herself. She praised the women of the Quan family multiple times, persuading Sun Quan to marry his daughter to Sun Liang. In the thirteenth year of Chihu, Sun He was deposed, and Sun Quan then appointed Sun Liang as the Crown Prince and made a woman from the Quan family the Crown Princess.
In the summer of the first year of Taiyuan, Sun Liang's mother, Lady Pan, was appointed Empress. In winter, Sun Quan fell seriously ill; he summoned the Grand General Zhuge Ke to serve as the Crown Prince's Tutor, and Teng Yin as the Grand Preceptor. Both were ordered to assist the Crown Prince. In the second year, during the fourth month, Sun Quan passed away, and the Crown Prince ascended to the throne, granting amnesty across the realm and changing the era name. This year was the fourth year of Jiaping of the Wei Kingdom.
In the first year of Jianxing, during the intercalary month, Zhuge Ke was appointed as the Emperor's Grand Tutor, Teng Yin as the Guard General in charge of the Secretariat, and Lv Dai was appointed as the Grand Marshal. The civil and military officials of the court were all promoted and generously rewarded. In winter, in the tenth month, the Grand Tutor Zhuge Ke led the army to camp at Chaohu, built a city in Dongxing, stationed General Quan Duan to guard the west city, and Commandant Liu Lue to guard the east city. On the day of Bingshen in the twelfth month, a strong wind arose, thunder and lightning; the Wei generals Zhuge Dan, Hu Zun, and others led seventy thousand troops to surround Dongxing, General Wang Chang attacked Nanjun, and Guanqiu Jian attacked Wuchang. On the day of Jiayin, Zhuge Ke led the army to meet the enemy. On the day of Wuwu, the army arrived at Dongxing, and the two sides engaged in battle, resulting in the deaths of Wei generals Han Zong, Huan Jia, and others. In that month, thunderstorms raged; the Duanmen in Wuchang was struck by lightning; after its reconstruction, the inner hall was struck again.
In the second year of Jianxing, in the first month of Bingyin, Sun Liang appointed Quan Shi as Empress and declared a general amnesty. On the day of Gengwu, Wang Chang and others retreated. In the second month, the army returned victorious from Dongxing, and the court rewarded on a large scale. In the third month, Zhuge Ke led the army to attack the Wei Kingdom. In the summer of the fourth month, the city was besieged, leading to a large-scale epidemic, and more than half of the soldiers were killed or wounded. In the autumn of the eighth month, Zhuge Ke withdrew his forces and returned home. In the winter of the tenth month, a grand sacrificial ceremony took place. General Wu Weijun Sun Jun ambushed soldiers and killed Zhuge Ke in the palace. The court declared another general amnesty, appointed Sun Jun as prime minister, and titled him as Marquis of Fuchun. In the eleventh month, five great birds appeared in Chunshen, so the reign title was changed the following year.
In the first year of Wufeng, a major flood occurred in the summer. In the autumn, Wu Houying conspired to murder Sun Jun. After the plot was exposed, Wu Houying committed suicide. In the winter of the eleventh month, stars passed through the Dipper and the Ox constellations.
In the first month of the second year AD, Wei's Grand General of Zhendong, Guanqiu Jian, and the former General Wen Qin led the army from Huainan pretending to march west, but ended up clashing with enemies at Lejia.
On the day of Renchen in the intercalary month, Emperor Sima Zhao personally led the troops, along with General of Chariots and Cavalry Lv Ju and Left General Liu Zan, to attack Shouchun. The army arrived at Dongxing, and news arrived that Guanqiu Jian and his men had been defeated. On the day of Rinyin, the army advanced to Tuogao, and Wen Qin surrendered to Sima Zhao. The remaining tens of thousands of civilians in Huainan also surrendered. Zhuge Dan from Wei entered Shouchun, and Sima Zhao withdrew his troops.
In February, Sima Zhao came across the Wei general Cao Zhen and fought a battle at Gaoting, in which Cao Zhen was defeated. Liu Zan and generals Sun Leng and Jiang Xiu all died after being defeated by the general Jiang Ban under Zhuge Dan at Gubi. In March, Sima Zhao sent General Zhuyi to attack Anfeng, but he was unsuccessful. In July, generals Sun Yi, Zhang Yi, Lin Xun, and others hatched a plot to assassinate Sima Zhao, but the conspiracy was uncovered. Sun Yi committed suicide, and Lin Xun and the others were all executed. In Yangxian, a large stone reportedly rose on its own on Lishan (this suggests some superstitious beliefs, possibly indicating a natural disaster or omen in the area). Sima Zhao sent Feng Chao to defend Guangling, appointed Wu Rang as the Prefect of Guangling, and appointed Liu Lue as the Prefect of Donghai. The region faced a severe drought that year. In December, the ancestral hall was completed. Sima Zhao appointed Feng Chao as the Military Inspector, tasked with overseeing military actions in Xuzhou. The common people were starving, and soldiers were expressing their discontent.
In the spring of the year 256 AD, on the first day of the second lunar month, a fire broke out in Jianye City. Sun Zhen adopted the suggestion of General Wen Qin, the General of the Northern Expedition, to launch an attack against the Wei Kingdom. In August, Sun Zhen first sent Wen Qin, General Lv Ju, General Liu Zuan, General Zhu Yi, and former General Tang Zi to lead the army departing from Jiangdu, advancing towards the Huai River and Sishui River basins. On the ninth day of September, Sun Jun passed away, and Sun Zhen, Sun Jun's brother, was appointed as the Palace Attendant and General of Martial Guards, gaining control of the military across the nation, quickly recalling Lv Ju and his troops to Jianye. Lv Ju was furious upon hearing that Sun Zhen had replaced Sun Jun. On the eleventh day of September, Grand Marshal Lv Dai passed away. On the fourteenth day of September, the planet Jupiter entered the constellation Southern Dipper. Lv Ju, Wen Qin, Tang Zi, and others recommended General Wei Yin to serve as Prime Minister, but Sun Zhen disagreed. On the fifteenth day of September, Sun Zhen appointed Wei Yin as the Grand Marshal, replacing Lv Dai to defend Wuchang. Lv Ju led his troops back, intending to confront Sun Zhen. Sun Zhen sent a messenger with an imperial decree to inform Wen Qin and Tang Zi to capture Lv Ju.
On the sixth day of October in winter, Sun Zhen sent Sun Xian, Ding Feng, Shi Kuan, and others to lead the navy to intercept Lv Ju in Jiangdu, and also sent General Liu Cheng to lead infantry and cavalry to attack Wei Yin. Wei Yin was defeated and killed, resulting in the complete destruction of his army. On the eighth day of October, a general amnesty was issued across the land, and the era name was changed. On the tenth day of October, Lv Ju was captured in Xinzhou. In November, Sun Zhen was appointed as Grand General, bestowed with the seal of authority, and was granted the title of Marquis of Yongning. Sun Xian and General Wang Dun conspired to kill Sun Zhen, but their plot was uncovered. Sun Zhen killed Wang Dun and forced Sun Xian to commit suicide. In December, Sun Zhen sent General Diao Xuan to the Shu area to sow discord.
In the spring of 257 AD, on the first day of February, it rained heavily with thunder and lightning. On the second day of February, it snowed, and the weather was very cold. The court established Xiangdong Commandery in the eastern part of Changsha Commandery and Hengyang Commandery in the western part; the eastern part of Kuaiji Commandery as Linhai Commandery; and the eastern part of Yuzhang Commandery as Linchuan Commandery. In April, Sun Liang arrived at the main hall, declared a general amnesty, and took charge of court affairs. Many of the memorials submitted by Sun Chen were deemed difficult to address. He also recruited over three thousand sons of soldiers, aged between fifteen and eighteen, selecting young and strong sons of generals to serve as commanders. Sun Liang said, "I am organizing this army to defend the country with them for a long time." The army trained in the garden every day.
In May, Zhuge Dan, this old chap, led the troops from Huainan to defend Shou Chun city, sending a letter of surrender through General Zhu Cheng, and sent his son Zhuge Jing, Chief Clerk Wu Gang, and other young men as hostages. In June, he sent Wen Qin, Tang Zi, Quan Duan, and others with thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to rescue Zhuge Dan. Zhu Yi launched a surprise attack on Xiakou from Hulin, and the military governor of Xiakou, Sun Yi, fled to defect to the Wei Kingdom.
In July, Sun Chen led a large army to rescue Shou Chun. Upon reaching Huoli, Zhu Yi came from Xiakou. Sun Chen let him be the vanguard, and alongside Ding Feng, they led fifty thousand troops to lift the siege of Shou Chun. In August, rebellion erupted in southern Kuaiji, which resulted in the death of a Commandant. Uprisings also occurred in Poyang and Xindu, and the Imperial Prosecutor Ding Mi, Infantry Colonel Zheng Zhou, and General Zhong Limu led troops to suppress the rebellion. Consequently, Zhu Yi withdrew his troops due to a lack of supplies. Sun Chen was furious and ordered Zhu Yi's execution on September first. On the third day of September, Sun Chen returned to Jianye after leaving Huoli. On the sixth day of September, a general amnesty was issued. In November, Quan Xu's sons, Quan Yi and Quan Er, fled to the Wei Kingdom with their mother. In December, Quan Duan and Quan Yi went from Shou Chun to join Sima Yan.
In the spring of the second year, during the first month, Zhuge Dan assassinated Wen Qin. In the third month, Sima Yan captured Shou Chun, and Zhuge Dan and his men were all killed in battle, while the other generals and soldiers surrendered. In July, the late King Fen of Qi was posthumously honored as Marquis of Zhang'an. The court ordered all states and counties to harvest timber for the palaces. Since August, there have been over forty days of overcast skies without any rain. Sun Liang felt that Sun Chen was being too domineering and arrogant, so he plotted with Tai Chang Quan Shang and General Liu Cheng to eliminate Sun Chen. One day in September, Sun Chen's forces captured Quan Shang, and he sent his brother Sun En to kill Liu Cheng outside Canglong Gate. Sun Chen then summoned the ministers to the palace gates and demoted Sun Liang to the title of King of Kuaiji, when Sun Liang was only sixteen years old.
Sun Xiu, whose courtesy name was Zili, was the sixth son of Sun Quan. At the age of thirteen, he studied under Zhongshu Lang She Ci and Langzhong Sheng Chong. In January of 252 AD, Sun Xiu was appointed as King of Langye and lived in Hulin. In April, Sun Quan passed away, and Sun Xiu's younger brother Sun Liang succeeded to the throne, with Zhuge Ke in control. Zhuge Ke did not want the royal princes to remain in military strongholds near the river, so he relocated Sun Xiu to Danyang Commandery. The Commandant of Danyang, Li Heng, constantly troubled Sun Xiu, so Sun Xiu requested a transfer to another commandery, and the court ordered his transfer to Kuaiji Commandery.
Sun Xiu spent several years in Kuaiji. One night, he dreamed of riding a dragon flying into the sky, but when he looked back, he couldn't see the dragon's tail. He woke up feeling strange. Later, Sun Liang was deposed. On Jiwei day in 258 AD, Sun Chen sent Grand Minister Sun Kai and Zhongshu Lang Dong Chao to welcome Sun Xiu. At first, Sun Xiu was skeptical when he heard the news, but Sun Kai and Dong Chao provided a detailed explanation of the reasons why Sun Chen and others supported him. After contemplating for a full day and night, Sun Xiu finally decided to set out. On Wuyin day in October, when Sun Xiu arrived at Qu'e, a commoner knelt down and said to him, "Things are changing too quickly; everyone is looking forward to your early arrival, hoping that Your Majesty will hurry on the road!" Sun Xiu felt delighted and arrived at Buse Ting on the same day. General Wuwei Sun En served as the acting prime minister, leading all officials to welcome Sun Xiu at Yongchang Pavilion, and even built a palace for him using military tents to create a temporary palace, and set up an imperial throne. On Jimao day, Sun Xiu arrived at Yongchang Pavilion, stopped outside the temporary palace, and let Sun Kai go in to see Sun En first. After Sun Kai returned, Sun Xiu rode in the carriage and entered, and all the courtiers knelt down. Sun Xiu ascended the temporary palace, was quite humble, and refrained from immediately sitting on the royal throne, but sat in the east wing room. The Minister of Household Affairs stepped forward to read the memorial at the steps, and the prime minister presented the jade seal and the seal of office. Sun Xiu declined three times while the courtiers urged him three times. Sun Xiu said, "All the generals and princes have chosen me. How could I possibly refuse the jade seal and the seal of office?" The courtiers guided Sun Xiu one by one, and Sun Xiu sat on the imperial palanquin with the officials accompanying him. Sun Chen brought a thousand soldiers to meet him halfway, knelt on the side of the road, and Sun Xiu got off the carriage to return the bow. That day, Sun Xiu ascended to the main hall, issued a general amnesty, and changed the era title. That year marked the third year of Ganlu in the Wei Kingdom.
In the first year of Yong'an, on the day of Renwu in the tenth month, the emperor announced: "To commend meritorious deeds and reward those who have contributed, this is a common practice throughout history!" He then declared the appointment of Grand General Sun Zhen as Prime Minister and Governor of Jingzhou, with an increase in tax revenue from five additional counties; the appointment of General of the Imperial Guard Sun En as Grand Master of Ceremonies, Guard General, and Commander of the Central Army, granted the title of marquis of a county; the appointment of General Wei Yuan Sun Ju as Right General, also granted the title of marquis of a county; the appointment of General Sun Gan as General of Various Duties, granted the title of Pavilion Marquis; Changshui Colonel Zhang Bu, for his diligent service to the emperor, was appointed as Assistant Righteous General and granted the title of Yongkang Marquis; Dong Chao, for personally welcoming the emperor, was granted the title of Township Marquis.
Next, the emperor issued another edict: "Li Heng, the Prefect of Danyang, was previously suspected of some matters, and he voluntarily surrendered to the authorities. However, this is a matter between the ruler and his subject. I will allow him to return to Danyang and not let him dwell on it." On the day of Jichou, the emperor issued another edict, granting the title of Wucheng Marquis to Sun Hao, the title of Qiantang Marquis to Sun Hao's brother Sun De, and the title of Yong'an Marquis to Sun Qian.
On the fifteenth of November, the wind was howling, accompanied by fog, and for several days it was gloomy like this. The Sima family, with five marquis in charge of the imperial guards, held more power than the emperor. Even if the emperor had some objections, he dared not voice them openly and could only remain courteous. Consequently, Sima Yan grew even more arrogant and overbearing. The emperor feared that he would rebel, so he kept rewarding him. On the seventeenth, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Grand General Sima Yan is loyal and proposed the strategy for stabilizing the state. The ministers unanimously supported his proposals and all share in the credit! Just like Huo Guang back then, with the ministers united, great things can be achieved. Quickly compile the matters discussed earlier and the list of personnel to report their merits to the heavens and earth, and confer titles according to custom!" On the nineteenth, the emperor issued another decree saying, "The Grand General is in charge of the national military affairs, with too many matters to handle, so let him also concurrently hold the positions of Guard General, Grand Historian, and Minister of Favor to share some of the workload." On the twenty-third, the emperor issued another decree saying, "Many officials have had several male relatives conscripted, with fathers and brothers in the capital, and sons and grandsons serving in the counties. Not only do they have to pay taxes, but they also have to join the army, leaving no one to manage their households. I genuinely sympathize with them! For families with multiple male relatives conscripted, allow their fathers and brothers to select one to remain, exempt from taxes and military service." The emperor also said, "Those who welcomed the emperor at Yongchang Pavilion and accompanied him, all those officers are to be promoted by one rank!"
Not long after, the emperor heard that Sima Zhen was plotting a rebellion with Zhang Bu. On the 27th day of the twelfth month, all the officials gathered to pay their respects, and the ministers all went to see the emperor. The emperor suddenly ordered Sima Zhen to be arrested and executed that very day. On the 28th day, the emperor issued a decree for General Zhang Bu to attack this traitor, appointing Zhang Bu as the commander of the central forces, appointing Zhang Bu's brother, Zhang Dun, as the Duke of Dutian with a contingent of three hundred soldiers, and appointing Zhang Bu's other brother Zhang Xun as a captain. The emperor further decreed, "In ancient times, education was the most important, used to educate the populace, govern their hearts, and cultivate talent. Since the establishment of the country, the situation has been turbulent, and officials and the people only care about immediate interests, forsaking the essential for the trivial, not following the right path. If we do not value education, society will decay. We should follow the ancient model, establish schools, appoint scholars of the Five Classics, rigorously select talents, improve their treatment, select ambitious individuals from the children of officials and generals, and let them study. Assess annually, grade based on performance, and give corresponding rewards, allowing everyone to witness the glory of learning and hear its praises, thus promoting the royal path and encouraging good customs." In the years leading up to the Common Era, in the first month, suddenly, there was thunder and lightning that terrified everyone! In March, the emperor summoned the nine ministers for a council and then delivered a lengthy address, which essentially conveyed:
"I have not been a good emperor, and I feel ashamed before all of you ministers, living in constant fear every day, unable to eat or sleep properly. Now I want to change my strategy, fight fewer wars and focus more on cultural development, to bring peace to the realm. To achieve this, we must first ensure that the common people live well and prioritize agricultural production. As Guanzi said: 'When the granaries are full, we understand etiquette; when we have no worries about food and clothing, we understand honor and disgrace.' If someone does not farm, others will go hungry; if a woman does not weave, others will freeze. If the people are both hungry and cold, and still do not rebel, that would be impossible! In recent years, officials, commoners, and soldiers have abandoned their fields to trade along the Yangtze River. Good farmland is becoming scarce, and food production is decreasing. How can we ever hope for peace in the realm? This is mainly due to the heavy taxes; farmers cannot earn a living, and that’s why we find ourselves in this situation! I want to expand the cultivated land, reduce taxes, and base tax rates on the fertility of the land, ensuring fairness and reasonableness, allowing both the government and the people to benefit, so that every household can have enough to eat and wear, so that everyone will value their lives, follow the law, and we won't need punishment, and the social atmosphere will naturally improve. If all of you ministers can be diligent and responsible, even if we may not reach the heights of ancient prosperity, we can strive for the era of peace and prosperity like the reign of Emperor Wen of Han. If we achieve it, everyone will benefit; if we fail, we will be punished; this is serious business! Ministers, let’s all discuss and come up with a solid plan. The spring planting season is almost here; we must not delay! Once we make a decision, let’s implement it immediately, and it must align with my wishes!"
Two years later, in the third month, it was said on the other side of Xiling that Chiwu (a mythical bird) had been seen. In the autumn, the Emperor adopted the strict suggestions of General Yanmi and built Puli Pond. At that time, rumors spread in Kuaiji Commandery that Wang Liang was going to return to become Emperor. Wang Liang's palace maids claimed that Wang Liang had consulted a sorcerer who spoke ominous words. This matter was reported to the court, and Wang Liang was demoted to the Marquis of Houguan and sent to a fief. He ultimately committed suicide during the journey, and the guards escorting him were punished as well. Later, the court established Jian'an Commandery in the southern region of Kuaiji, and also established Jianping Commandery in Yidu.
Another year passed, and in the fifth month, heavy rains caused the river to overflow. In the eighth month, the Emperor dispatched Grand Guardian Zhou Yi and Shi Wei to inspect local customs, evaluate the officials' performance, understand the suffering of the people, and prepare to adjust the appointments of officials based on the inspection results. In the ninth month, reports from Bushan claimed that a White Dragon had been sighted. That year, a man named Chen Jiao from Anwu died, and after he was buried, he unexpectedly returned to life after six days, emerging from the grave!
In the spring of the year 265 AD, a fire erupted in the North Tower of Baihumen. By autumn, in the seventh month, someone suddenly reported seeing a Yellow Dragon. On the day of Yiyu that same year, Zhu Shi was enthroned as the Empress. On the day of Wuzi, the Emperor named his son Crown Prince and issued a general amnesty. In the winter of the tenth month, Guard General Puyang Xing was appointed Prime Minister, while Minister of Justice Ding Mi and Grand Guardian Meng Zong respectively served as the Chief Censors.
Emperor Sima Yan had always trusted Prime Minister Puyang Xing and General Zhang Bu, entrusting them with numerous affairs. Zhang Bu managed palace affairs, while Puyang Xing handled the affairs of the state and military. Emperor Sima Yan had a particular passion for reading and aimed to explore various books, especially enjoyed hunting and shooting pheasants. In the spring and summer, he often left early in the morning and only returned at night, only setting aside his books during those outings.
Sima Yan wanted to engage in academic discussions with the Imperial Preceptor Wei Yao and the Imperial Secretary Sheng Chong. Wei Yao and Sheng Chong have always been straightforward individuals. Zhang Bu feared that once they entered the palace to serve the emperor, they would expose the emperor's shortcomings, which would undermine his grip on power, so he fabricated excuses to prevent their entry. Zhang Bu said, "Your Majesty is well-read and possesses a vast understanding of the rise and fall of emperors, corrupt officials, virtuous figures, and foolish individuals throughout history. Wei Yao and the others entering the palace just want to discuss the contents of books with you, not to instruct you. Even if they do teach you something, what harm could it possibly cause? You might be concerned that they would reveal the misdeeds of your subordinates, so you do not want them to enter the palace. Your Majesty is already aware of these matters, and there is no need for them to remind you. In short, there's truly no harm in this; you simply have some reservations."
Zhang Bu expressed his apologies in a memorial, explaining in detail, and also mentioned that he was concerned about affecting state affairs. Sima Yan said, "Reading, well, the concern is that people might not enjoy it. If you like to read, it's perfectly fine; it's just your perception of inappropriateness that prompted you to bring it up. Political affairs and academics are distinct paths that won't hinder one another. I didn't expect you to hold an important position now and still say these things to me, which honestly disappoints me." Zhang Bu bowed deeply in apology, and Sima Yan said, "I merely wanted to offer you some advice; there's no need to kowtow like this! You are known for your loyalty and integrity, far and wide. In the past, we supported each other, which is why we have the achievements we have today. As the Book of Songs says, 'Few begin, but even fewer persist to the end.' It's hard to persist until the end, so you must keep going!" When Sima Yan became king, Zhang Bu was his left and right commander, always trusted. After Sima Yan ascended the throne, he trusted Zhang Bu even more, allowing him to have control over state affairs. Zhang Bu's behavior became more and more unrestrained, feeling insecure and concerned that Wei Yao and Sheng Chong might speak ill of him, so he became more wary of them. Although Sima Yan grasped Zhang Bu's intentions, he felt discontented and worried even more about Zhang Bu's doubts. In the end, he still followed Zhang Bu's advice, stopped their discussions with Wei Yao and Sheng Chong, and no longer allowed them into the palace. That year, Sima Yan sent envoys to Jiaozhi to assess the war situation and transferred Kong Jue and Da Zhu to new positions.
In the summer of the year 262 AD (the sixth year of the reign), in April, there were reports of a sighting of a yellow dragon in the Quanling area. In May, officials in Jiaozhi Prefecture, including Lv Xing, rebelled and assassinated Governor Sun Yu. Sun Yu had previously mobilized over a thousand craftsmen from the prefecture to Jianye. Seeing that war was about to break out and fearing that these craftsmen would be conscripted again, Lv Xing and his followers seized the opportunity to incite both soldiers and civilians, as well as colluding with minority groups from various regions. In October of that winter, a report came from the Shu Kingdom that the Wei Kingdom was launching an attack. On November 21st of that year, a fire broke out in the small city of Jianye Stone City, destroying 180 zhang of the city wall to the southwest. On November 22nd, the court dispatched General Ding Feng to lead multiple armies against Shou Chun in the Wei Kingdom, while General Liu Ping traveled to Nanchun to strategize with Shi Ji, and Generals Ding Feng and Sun Yi went to rescue the Shu Kingdom in Mianzhong. The rescue efforts were halted when news came of the surrender of the Shu Han Emperor Liu Chan to the Wei Kingdom. After assassinating Sun Yu, Lv Xing sent envoys to the Wei Kingdom requesting a new governor and troops. The Prime Minister ordered the recruitment of 10,000 soldiers for garrison service. Simultaneously, Wuling was separated and Tianmen Prefecture was established.
In the spring of 263 AD (the seventh year), the court announced a nationwide amnesty. In February, General Lü Kang, General Bu Xie, General Liu Ping, and Sheng Man, the Prefect of Jianping, led their troops to besiege Luo Xian, the defender of Badong in the Shu Kingdom. In April during the summer, General Wang Zhi of Wei led troops to cross the sea to Ju Zhang, looting the wealth of local officials and capturing more than two hundred men and women. General Sun Yue intercepted a ship at sea and captured thirty individuals. In July, during the autumn, pirates attacked Haiyan and killed Luo Xiu, the official responsible for salt affairs. The court dispatched Imperial Clerk Liu Chuan to Lu Ling to suppress the rebellion. The people of Yuzhang, led by Zhang Jie, rebelled, numbering over ten thousand. General Hu Lie of Wei led twenty thousand infantry and cavalry to Xiling to rescue Luo Xian, forcing Lü Kang and his forces to retreat. The court subsequently carved out Jiaozhou and established Guangzhou. On November 20th, the court issued another general amnesty. On November 21st, Sun Xiu passed away at the age of thirty, posthumously honored as Emperor Jing.
Sun Hao, courtesy name Yuanzong, was the grandson of Sun Quan and the son of Sun He. He was also known as Pengzu, with the courtesy name Haozong. When Sun Xiu ascended to the throne, he appointed Sun Hao as the Marquis of Wucheng, granting him permission to return to his fief. There was a commoner in West Lake named Jing Yang, who had long predicted that Sun Hao would rise to a high-ranking position. Sun Hao felt secretly pleased by this but did not dare to show it. When Sun Xiu died, at that time, Shu had just fallen, Jiaozhi had rebelled again, and the people were anxious throughout the land, hoping for a capable emperor. At that time, there was a man named Wan Yu, a former magistrate of Wucheng County, who had a good relationship with Sun Hao. He praised Sun Hao for his talent, insight, and strong judgment, comparing him to figures like King Huan of Changsha. Wan Yu also said that Sun Hao was studious and followed the law. He repeatedly recommended Sun Hao to Prime Minister Puyang Xing and General Zhang Bu. Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu went to see Queen Mother Zhu, the mother of Sun Xiu, hoping she would appoint Sun Hao as her successor. Queen Mother Zhu said, "As a widow, what do I know of state affairs? As long as the Wu state remains unharmed and someone continues the ancestral sacrifices, that is enough." Thus, Sun Hao was enthroned as emperor. He was twenty-three years old at the time. The era name was changed, and a general amnesty was proclaimed. That year marked the first year of the Xianxi era in the Wei Kingdom.
In the eighth month of the first year of Yuanxing, Sun Hao appointed Shi Ji and Ding Feng as Left and Right Grand Marshals respectively, and appointed Zhang Bu as General of Cavalry, also granting him the title of Palace Attendant. Other officials' promotions and rewards remained the same as before. In the ninth month, Sun Hao demoted the Empress Dowager to Empress Jing, posthumously honored his grandfather, Sun He, as Emperor Wen, and posthumously honored his grandmother, Lady He, as Empress Dowager. In the tenth month, Sun Hao appointed Sun Xiu's sons as Princes of Yuzhang, Runan, Liang, and Chen, and also made Teng Shi the Empress. After becoming emperor, Sun Hao became rough, arrogant, and suspicious, indulging in wine and women, which disappointed many people. Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu secretly regretted recommending him. Someone spoke ill of Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu in front of Sun Hao, so in the eleventh month, he had them executed. In the twelfth month, Sun Xiu was laid to rest at Dingling. Sun Hao made the Empress's father, Teng Mu, the Marquis of Gaomi, and the Empress's uncle, He Hong, and others were also made marquises. That year, Wei established prefectures and counties in Jiaozhi. Emperor Wen of the Jin Dynasty was then serving as Prime Minister of Wei, and he sent former Wu generals who surrendered at Shouchun, Xu Shao and Sun Yu, with letters explaining the situation to Sun Hao.
In the third month of the first year of the Ganlu era, Sun Hao sent envoys with Zhang Shao and Zhuge Jing to deliver a letter, which stated: "I know you, Zhang Shao, are a talented individual in an important government position. You have been guiding my work diligently. I, Sun Hao, lack virtue, inherited the throne, and have been thinking of governing the world together with talents like you. However, due to some obstacles, I have not found a suitable way. I greatly admire your abilities and rely on you. Now I am sending the Minister of Ceremonies, Ji Zhi, and the General of the Household Gentlemen, Hong Qiu, to express my sincerity." Sun Hao summoned Zhang Shao back and had him executed at Ruxu Ferry, and his family was relocated to Jian'an. This is why later accounts claim that Zhang Shao praised Sun Hao's rule.
In April, Jiang Ling said that the heavenly dew had fallen, so Sun Hao changed the era name and issued yet another general amnesty. In the seventh month of autumn, Sun Hao forced Empress Jing, Lady Zhu, to her death. She did not die in the main hall, but in a small room in the garden where her funeral was held. Everyone knew she did not die of illness and was deeply mourned. Sun Hao also sent the four sons of Lady Xiu to a small city in Wu, and later pursued and killed two of the older sons. In September, Sun Hao heeded the advice of Supervisor Bu Chan from Xiling and moved the capital to Wuchang, appointing Grand Justice Ding Gu and Right General Zhuge Jing to defend Jianye. Previously, Sun Hao had sent Ji Zhi and Hong Qiu to Luoyang, just as Emperor Jin Wen, Sima Yan, passed away, only returning to Wu in November. When Sun Hao arrived in Wuchang, he issued yet another general amnesty. He also established Shi'an County in southern Lingling and Shixing County in southern Guiyang. In December, the Jin Dynasty officially surrendered power. In the first month of the Baoding era, the emperor dispatched Grand Herald Zhang Yan and General Ding Zhong of the Five Offices to pay respects to Emperor Jin Wen. Zhang Yan fell ill and died on the way back. Ding Zhong reported to the emperor, "The supplies for war in the north are still not prepared. Yiyang (modern-day Yiyang, Jiangxi) could be easily attacked and captured." The emperor asked the opinions of his ministers. General of the West, Lu Kai, said, "Resorting to military action should be a last resort! Since the establishment of the Three Kingdoms, there have been constant attacks and battles. Which year has seen peace? Now, the formidable enemy has just annexed Bashu and is quite powerful, but they sent envoys suggesting they wish to halt hostilities. We cannot say they are seeking our help. With the enemy currently strong, if we believe we can win by chance, I do not see any benefits."
General Liu Zuan said, "Heaven has given birth to all kinds of talents; who can escape war? Deception and ruthless competition have always been the norm. If they have any weaknesses, can we really afford to ignore them? We should send spies to observe their situation." The emperor secretly accepted Liu Zuan's advice, but because Shu was just pacified, no troops were sent out, which essentially meant cutting off any chance of retreat. Rumors spread everywhere that the Great Ding had been found, so a new era was declared, and a general amnesty was proclaimed. Lu Kai was appointed as Left Prime Minister, and the Chamberlain Wan Yu was appointed as Right Prime Minister. In October, during the winter, mountain bandits, led by Shi Dan and his crew, gathered a few thousand people, kidnapped the emperor's brother, Marquis Yong'an, and escaped from Wucheng (now Huzhou, Zhejiang), also looting musical instruments and ceremonial umbrellas from the tomb of Sun He. By the time they arrived in Jianye, their numbers had grown to over ten thousand. Ding Gu and Zhuge Liang confronted them at Niutun (near present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), and after a fierce battle, Shi Dan and his men were routed and fled. Marquis Yong'an was captured and committed suicide. The court carved out a portion of Kuaiji Commandery to establish Dongyang Commandery, split off portions of Wu and Danyang Commanderies to establish Wuxing Commandery, and established Shaoling Commandery in northern Lingling Commandery. In December, the emperor returned to Jianye, leaving General Wei Teng Mu in charge at Wuchang.
In the second spring of Baoding, a general amnesty was declared. Right Prime Minister Wan Yu was stationed at Baqiu (now Yueyang, Hunan). In June, construction of Xianming Palace began, and in December, the emperor moved into Xianming Palace. That year, portions of Yuzhang, Luling, and Changsha Commanderies were merged to form Ancheng Commandery.
In the third year of Baoding, in February, Left and Right Imperial Censors Ding Gu and Meng Ren were appointed as Minister Over the Masses and Minister of Works, respectively. In September, the emperor went on an inspection tour to Dongguan, while Ding Feng made his way to Hefei. That year, the court dispatched the Inspector of Jiaozhou, Liu Jun, and former Prefect Xiu Ze, to attack Jiaozhi (northern Vietnam), but they were defeated by Jin generals, including Mao Jiong, resulting in the deaths of Liu Jun, Xiu Ze, and the scattering of their troops as they fled back to Hepu (now Hepu, Guangxi).
In the spring of 265 AD, during the first month of the Jianheng era, the emperor named his son Sima Jin as the crown prince and also conferred upon him the titles of Prince of Huaiyang and Prince of Dongping. In the winter, in the tenth month, a new era was proclaimed and a general amnesty was issued. In the eleventh month, Left Chancellor Lu Kai passed away. The emperor dispatched General Yu Si, General Xue Xi, and Prefect Tao Huang from Jingzhou, as well as General Li Xu and Commander Xu Cun from Jian'an by waterway, all heading to Hepu to prepare for an attack on Jiaozhi.
In the following spring, Wan Yu returned to Jianye. Li Xu thought the waterway from Jian'an was difficult to navigate, so he killed the guide Feng Fei and led his troops back. In the third month, a large fire broke out, destroying over ten thousand households and causing the death of over seven hundred people. In the summer of the fourth month, the Grand Marshal of the Left, Shi Ji, passed away. The palace general He Ding said, "The Minister of Works Li Xu wrongly killed Feng Fei and withdrew his troops without authorization." Consequently, the families of Li Xu and Xu Cun were executed. In the autumn of the ninth month, He Ding took five thousand troops to hunt at Xiakou. Commander Sun Xiu defected to the Jin dynasty. That year also saw a general amnesty.
On the last day of the first month of 267 AD, Emperor Sima Yan took a large group of people out of the city to play at Huali. His mother and concubines went as well, but the East Gate Prefect Hua Ji and others strongly advised against it, so they returned. That year, Yu Si and Tao Huang defeated the forces of Jiaozhi, capturing the appointed generals sent by the Jin dynasty, and both Juzhen and Rinan submitted again. A general amnesty was declared, and Jiaozhi was separated to establish the Xinchang commandery. Various generals defeated Fuyan and established the Wuping commandery. Wu Chang Prefect Fan Shen was appointed as Grand Commandant. The Grand Marshal on the Right, Ding Feng, and the Minister of Works, Meng Ren, passed away. There were reports of people seeing a phoenix at the Western Park, so the following year was designated as the Yuanfeng year.
In the first year of the Fenghuang era, in the autumn of August, the court summoned Bu Chan, the Inspector of Xiling. Bu Chan refused to comply and occupied the city, surrendering to the Jin Dynasty. The Emperor sent Lu Kang, the Commander of Yueliang, to besiege Bu Chan, and Bu Chan's army all surrendered. Bu Chan and dozens of others who conspired with him were all exterminated. A general amnesty was proclaimed. That year, Right Prime Minister Wan Yu died from depression following a reprimand, and his family was relocated to Luling. He Ding's wrongdoings were uncovered, and he was executed. The Emperor thought his misdeeds were similar to Zhang Bu's, so he changed his name to Zhang Bu.
In the spring of the year 272 AD, in March, Lu Kang was appointed as Grand Marshal. The Minister of Works, Ding Gu, passed away. In the autumn, in September, the Wu Kingdom re-designated Huaiyang as the Lu Kingdom and Dongping as the Qi Kingdom, and also enfeoffed nine additional princes, bringing the total to eleven princes, each with three thousand soldiers. The court issued a general amnesty. At that time, Sun Hao favored several concubines, who even sent their people to the market to steal from the citizens! Chen Sheng, the Market Supervisor, originally a trusted aide of Sun Hao, impartially enforced the law and punished the concubines accordingly. The concubines then went to complain to Sun Hao, who, in a fit of rage, found an excuse to behead Chen Sheng and displayed his body on the street as a warning. That same year, Grand Commandant Fan Shen also passed away.
In the year 273 AD, there was a sudden emergence of rumors in the Kuaiji region that Marquis Zhang An was going to become emperor. Guo Dan, the Administrator of Kuaiji, received a letter from Xi Xi, the Administrator of Linhai, criticizing the state affairs and referring to these rumors. Guo Dan only reported Xi Xi's letter and did not refer to the rumors, instead sending the letter to Jian'an related to shipbuilding. Sun Hao sent the Inspector of the Three Commanderies, He Zhi, to capture Xi Xi, but Xi Xi fought back with his troops and even severed the maritime route. Eventually, Xi Xi's subordinates killed him and sent his head to Jianye, resulting in the extermination of Xi Xi's entire family. In July of that year, Sun Hao sent twenty-five envoys to various places to investigate fugitives and rebels. The Grand Marshal Lu Kang also died. From the change of era until this year, a severe epidemic swept through the state of Wu. Wu also separated Yulin Commandery to establish Guilin Commandery.
In the year 274 AD (first year of Tiance), someone in Wu Commandery reported finding a silver ingot in the ground, measuring one foot long and three fen wide, with the date engraved on it. Consequently, Sun Hao declared a general amnesty and changed the era.
In the year 275 AD (the first year of Tianxi), people in Wu County claimed that Linping Lake had been silted up since the late Han Dynasty, and now it has been dredged again. Local elders said that when this lake is silted up, the world falls into chaos; but when it’s dredged, peace returns. A stone box was found by the lake, inside of which was a blue and white stone, four inches long and over two inches wide, with "Emperor" engraved on it. Sun Hao then changed his reign title and issued a general amnesty. The Tai Shou of Kuaiji, Che Jun, and the Tai Shou of Xiangdong, Zhang Yong, refused to implement the tax and rationing policies, and as a result, both were executed, and their heads were displayed in various places. In August of that year, Sun Kai, the Inspector of the Capital, surrendered to the Jin State. Locals in Poyang County claimed that the patterns on the stones of Liyang Mountain formed characters, a total of twenty characters reading: "Chu's nine states are the lakes, Wu's nine states are the capitals, the scholars of Yangzhou act as the emperor, governing for four generations, and peace begins." On the Yangxian Mountain in Wuxing, there is also a huge hollow stone over ten zhang long, called the Stone Chamber, which was also seen as an omen of good fortune. Sun Hao then sent Dong Chao, who also served as the Minister of Works, and Zhou Chu, who also served as the Minister of Ceremonies, to Yangxian County to conduct the Fengshan ceremony at Guoshan Mountain, changed the reign title again, and issued a general amnesty, claiming to fulfill the words on the stone. In the summer of 265 AD, Inspector General Sun Shen in the Xiakou area committed arson, murder, and looting in Jiangxia and Runan areas, bringing great suffering to the people. It is said that previously, there was a fellow named Zhang Chu who stirred up trouble everywhere, and as a result, he was promoted all the way to become the General of the Household, and was even granted a title as a marquis, the emperor trusted him very much. However, his good fortune didn’t last, as his misdeeds were exposed that year. In July of the autumn of 266 AD, the emperor granted titles to eleven princes, including Prince Chengji and Prince Xuanwei, each prince was given three thousand troops, and ordered a general amnesty for the world.
In the summer of the year 267 AD, Guo Ma staged a rebellion. Guo Ma was originally a military officer under the command of He Yun, the Prefect of Hepu. After He Yun was transferred to the position of Prefect of Guilin, he became ill and remained in Guangzhou. Before that, he had sent Guo Ma with five hundred soldiers to pacify the local minority groups in Hepu. After He Yun's death, these soldiers had to be reassigned, but Guo Ma and his men, being seasoned veterans, were reluctant to be separated. At this time, the emperor dispatched officials to Guangzhou to conduct a household census. Guo Ma and his subordinates He Dian, Wang Zu, Wu Shu, Yin Xing, and others feared they might be implicated, so they gathered their forces and assassinated Yu Shou, the inspector general of Guangzhou. Guo Ma declared himself the governor of Jiaozhou and Guangzhou, the Annan General, and also appointed Wu Shu as the Prefect of Guangzhou and Yin Xing as the Prefect of Nanhai. He Dian attacked Cangwu Commandery, while Wang Zu attacked Shixing Commandery. In August, the court appointed Zhang Ti as the Prime Minister, He Zhi as the Minister of Works, and Teng Xun as the Minister of Ceremonies. Before Teng Xun had a chance to take office, he was reassigned as the General Who Guards the South, given command authority, appointed as the Governor of Guangzhou, and led ten thousand soldiers to march from the east to suppress Guo Ma. Teng Xun encountered Wang Zu in Shixing Commandery, but was unable to secure a victory. Guo Ma seized the opportunity to kill Liu Lue, the Prefect of Nanhai, and drive away Xu Qi, the Prefect of Guangzhou. The emperor subsequently sent Xu Ling to instruct Tao Jun to lead seven thousand troops from the west, and ordered Tao Huang, the Governor of Jiaozhou, to lead his troops as well as the soldiers from Hepu, Yulin, and other commanderies to join forces with the eastern and western armies to encircle Guo Ma.
In recent times, a strange event occurred. In a family called Huang, a plant known as "Ghost Eye Vegetable" grew in the yard. It was attached to a jujube tree, over ten feet tall, with a stem four inches thick and three-tenths of an inch thick. Another family called Wu Ping also grew a similar plant, four feet high and three-tenths of an inch thick, resembling a loquat, with a top width of one foot eight inches, a stem width of five inches at the bottom, and green leaves on both sides. Scholars from the Eastern Observatory consulted their records and identified Huang's family plant as "Zhi Grass" and Wu Ping's family plant as "Ping Lu Grass." Therefore, the emperor conferred the title "Shi Zhi Lang" upon Huang and "Ping Lu Lang" upon Wu Ping, and both were given silver seals and green ribbons.
Winter came, and the Jin Dynasty emperor commanded General Sima Zhang to march his troops to Tu Zhong, General Wang Hun and Governor Zhou Jun to march their troops to Niu Zhu, General Wang Rong to march his troops to Wu Chang, General Hu Fen to march his troops to Xia Kou, General Du Yu to march his troops to Jiang Ling, and Generals Wang Jun and Tang Bin to advance their troops along the eastern bank of the Yangtze River. Grand Commandant Jia Chong acted as the overall commander, tasked with coordinating operations and maximizing the army's strength. Upon arriving in Wu Chang, Tao Jun learned of a significant offensive by the northern army; therefore, he hesitated to advance.
At the beginning, Sun Hao always made sure to get his ministers drunk whenever he invited them to banquets. He even specifically arranged for ten palace attendants to stand by sober all day, to oversee the ministers' behavior for any mistakes. After the banquet, these palace attendants would report each minister's faults, whether it was saying or doing something wrong; none were let off the hook. Serious offenses were met with harsh punishments, while lesser ones were dealt with too. The harem was filled with thousands of women, but he kept selecting concubines endlessly. He had water piped into the palace, and any palace maid who fell out of his favor was either killed or exiled. Some were even skinned alive or had their eyes gouged out. Cen Hun, a flatterer, won Sun Hao's favor and climbed the ranks to become one of the Nine Ministers. He was obsessed with grand construction projects, squandering resources and infuriating the populace. This led to widespread discontent throughout the ranks, and no one truly served Sun Hao because his accumulated misdeeds had reached an irredeemable point.
In the spring of the fourth year, Sun Hao appointed eleven princes, including the Prince of Zhongshan and the Prince of Dai, and issued a general amnesty. Wherever Wang Jun and Tang Bin went, the enemy forces crumbled without putting up a fight. Du Yu killed the Inspector of Jiangling, Wu Yan, while Wang Hun killed the Prime Minister Zhang Ti and the Prefect of Danyang, Shen Ying, securing victories across the board.
On the day of Bingyin in the third month, hundreds of people close to Sun Hao knelt and begged him to kill Cen Hun, and he quickly agreed.
In the year of Wuchen, Tao Jun returned from Wuchang and was promptly summoned by the Emperor to discuss the navy. Tao Jun replied, "The ships of Shu are quite small, and with our twenty thousand soldiers, we can take them down with our larger ships." The Emperor was thrilled and swiftly gathered the troops. They were all set to leave the next day, but that night, everyone bolted!
It's truly a mix of laughter and frustration! Tao Jun may talk tough, but all his men have fled. What should we do? Just then, Wang Jun was coming downstream and was almost there, with Sima Rong and Wang Hun also nearby. At this time, Emperor Hui of Jin quickly used the suggestions from Xue Ying, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, and Prime Minister Hu Chong, sending people to deliver letters to Wang Jun, Sima Rong, and Wang Hun, stating in the letters: "In the past, the Han Dynasty lost the world, and the whole country was falling apart. Our ancestors seized the opportunity and occupied Jiangnan, so we were separated from the Wei Kingdom by mountains and rivers, not interfering with each other. Now the Great Jin Dynasty is flourishing, and grace is spreading throughout the world. Sun Hao, you are incompetent, cowardly, and do not understand the will of heaven. Now you have mobilized so many troops and come here in a grand manner, causing panic throughout our nation, leaving us unable to relax for even a moment. Seeing your surrender, we specifically sent Zhang Kui, the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, with the seal to submit our surrender to the court, hoping that the court can accept our surrender and save our people." On the day of Ren Shen, Wang Jun arrived first. Sun Hao immediately surrendered, untied the rope, burned the coffin, and then invited Wang Jun to meet. Sima Rong handed over the seal sent by Sun Hao to Wang Jun, and then sent Sun Hao to Luoyang. Sun Hao moved west with his family, and on Ding Hai day in May of the first year of Taikang, he finally reached Luoyang. In April Jia Shen, the emperor issued a decree stating: "Sun Hao surrendered under duress. Previously, I had ordered not to kill him. Now that he is about to arrive, I still sympathize with him, so let us grant him the title of Marquis of Guiming! Reward him with clothes, carriages, horses, thirty hectares of land, five thousand shi of grain per year, fifty thousand coins, five hundred bolts of silk, and five hundred catties of cotton." Sun Hao's crown prince, Sun Jin, was appointed as a Zhonglang, and his other sons were all made Langzhong. Five years later, Sun Hao passed away in Luoyang.
Ah, this young man Sun Liang became an emperor at a young age, but there are few trustworthy and capable ministers to support him. He's bound to lose his grip on the throne! Look at him, still clinging to old ties, relying on those like Xing and Bu, who are unworthy; he can't promote outstanding talents and refuses to change his ways. Even if he himself is willing to learn and do good deeds, what good does that do? In the end, poor Sun Liang was deposed without a good ending, such shallow loyalty and friendship!
Sun Hao, that tyrant, misused the law, and the officials who were killed or demoted were countless! So everyone beneath him is living in fear, just hoping to make it through each day, not daring to think about tomorrow! The superstitious are always thinking about presenting auspicious signs, as if that’s all that matters! Just think, even wise rulers like Shun and Yu, who were diligent in governance and loved the people, often made solemn oaths with their ministers, humbly accepted advice, and always felt they could do better. And Sun Hao? He was cruel and brutal, executing those who dared to speak the truth, while flattering individuals rose in ranks. He ruthlessly exploited the people, indulged in luxury, and should have been executed long ago and apologized to the people! But what happened? He not only didn't die, but was granted titles; this favoritism is utterly outrageous! It's nothing short of excessive favoritism!
