Records of Jin, Volume 3
Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government, Volume 081
[Annals of Jin, Book 3] From the year Gengzi (the 7th year of the Shangzhang cycle) to the year Wuxu (the 1st year of the Zhuyong cycle), a total of nine years.
Emperor Wu, the Filial and Martial, Middle Period, First Year of Taikang (Gengzi, 280 AD)
Spring, first month. The state of Wu proclaimed a general amnesty.
Du Yu advanced toward Jiangling. Wang Hun crossed from Hengjiang and attacked Wu's garrison posts and defensive positions, achieving victory wherever he went. On the day Wuwu of the second month, Wang Jun and Tang Bin defeated the Danyang Army Supervisor Sheng Ji. The Wu forces had deployed iron chains to block the river at strategic sandbars and other key points, and also made iron spikes, over ten feet long, secretly placed in the river to impede ships. Wang Jun constructed dozens of large rafts, each over one hundred paces in length and width, on which he placed straw figures clad in armor and bearing weapons. He had skilled swimmers guide the rafts ahead; when they encountered the iron spikes, the spikes lodged in the rafts and were carried away. He also made giant torches, over ten feet long and several spans in circumference, soaked in linseed oil, which were placed in front of the ships. When they encountered the iron chains, the torches were ignited and burned them; in an instant, the chains melted and broke, allowing the ships to pass unimpeded. On the day Gengshen, Wang Jun captured Xiling, killing Wu's Commander-in-Chief Liu Xian and others. On the day Renxu, he captured the two cities of Jingmen and Yidao, killing Yidao Army Supervisor Lu Yan. Du Yu dispatched Colonel Zhou Zhi and others with 800 elite troops to cross the river by night and attack Lexiang, planting banners everywhere and lighting torches on Mount Ba. Wu's Commander-in-Chief Sun Xin, terrified, wrote to Jiangling Governor Wu Yan, saying, "The northern forces are crossing the river as if flying." Zhou Zhi and his men set up an ambush outside Lexiang; Sun Xin sent troops out to engage Wang Jun, who was thoroughly defeated and retreated. Zhou Zhi and his men, following Sun Xin's retreating troops, entered the city undetected, advanced directly to his camp, captured him, and returned. On the day Yichou, Wang Jun attacked and killed Wu's Naval Commander Lu Jing. Du Yu attacked Jiangling, and on the day Jiaxu, captured it, executing Wu Yan. Subsequently, all commanderies and provinces south of the Yuan and Xiang Rivers, as far as Jiao and Guang provinces, submitted by sending their seals and ribbons upon hearing the news. Du Yu, holding the imperial credentials, claimed to act on imperial orders and pacified them. In total, fourteen Wu Commanders-in-Chief and Army Supervisors, and over one hundred and twenty Colonels and Commandery Governors were captured or killed. Hu Fen captured Jiang'an.
On the day Yihai, an imperial edict was issued: "Wang Jun and Tang Bin have already pacified Baqiu. They should join forces with Hu Fen and Wang Rong to pacify Xiakou and Wuchang, then proceed downstream in a direct thrust to Moling. Du Yu is to garrison and pacify Lingling and Guiyang, and to win over and pacify Hengyang. After the main army passes, the southern regions of Jingzhou can be pacified by proclamation alone. Du Yu and the others are to dispatch troops to reinforce Wang Jun and Tang Bin. Grand Commandant Jia Chong is to move his forces and camp at Xiangcheng."
Wang Rong dispatched his staff officer, Luo Shang of Xiangyang, and Liu Qiao of Nanyang, to lead troops and join Wang Jun in attacking Wuchang. Wu's Jiangxia Governor Liu Lang and the Inspector of Wuchang's Armies, Yu Bing, both surrendered. Yu Bing was the son of Yu Fan.
Du Yu convened a council with the various army commanders. Someone said, "The century-old rebels cannot be completely destroyed in one blow. Now, with the spring waters rising, it is difficult to remain encamped for long. We should wait until next winter to launch a major offensive." Du Yu replied, "In the past, Yue Yi relied on a single victory at the Ji West River to swallow the mighty state of Qi. Now our army's might is already greatly displayed. It is like splitting bamboo; once the first few joints are broken, the rest splits apart at the touch of the blade, requiring no further effort." Thereupon, he gave instructions and transmitted strategies to the various generals, directing them to strike directly at Jianye.
The Wu ruler, upon hearing that Wang Hun had advanced south, sent Prime Minister Zhang Ti to lead Danyang Grand Administrator Shen Ying, Protector Sun Zhen, and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhu Gejing, with 30,000 troops across the river to meet the enemy. Upon reaching Niuzhu, Shen Ying said, "Jin has been training its navy in Shu for a long time. The upstream troops have never been on guard. The famed commanders are all dead, and young men now hold important posts; they are unlikely to withstand an attack. The Jin navy will surely arrive here. We should gather our forces and wait for them, then fight a decisive battle. If we are fortunate enough to win, the area west of the river will naturally be secure. Now, if we cross the river to engage the Jin main army and are defeated, then the great enterprise is lost!" Zhang Ti said, "That Wu is about to perish is known to both wise and foolish; it did not begin today. I fear that when the Shu forces arrive here, everyone's hearts will be filled with terror and they will be unable to regroup. To cross the river now is to still have a chance for a decisive battle. If we are defeated and lose our army, we shall die together for our state, and there will be no regret. If we can win, the northern enemy will flee, our army's momentum will be increased ten-thousand-fold, and we should then ride the victory southward, intercepting the enemy halfway, and need not worry about not defeating them. If we follow your plan, I fear the soldiers will all scatter, and we will sit and wait for the enemy to arrive, with ruler and subjects surrendering together, and not a single person dying for the state—would that not be a disgrace!"
In the third month, Zhang Ti and his men crossed the river and surrounded Wang Hun's subordinate, Chengdu Commandant Zhang Qiao, at Yanghe. Zhang Qiao's troops numbered only 7,000, and he closed his camp and requested to surrender. Zhu Gejing wanted to kill them, but Zhang Ti said, "With a strong enemy before us, it is not appropriate to engage in such minor matters first. Moreover, killing those who surrender is inauspicious." Zhu Gejing replied, "These men are feigning surrender to delay us because their reinforcements have not arrived and their forces are insufficient to resist. If we let them go and advance, they will surely become a future threat." Zhang Ti did not listen, pacified them, and continued forward. Zhang Ti and Yangzhou Inspector Ruanan Zhou Jun arrayed their forces opposite each other. Shen Ying led 5,000 elite Danyang soldiers, armed with swords and shields, and charged the Jin lines three times, but the Jin troops did not move. Shen Ying then ordered his troops to retreat, and his formation fell into disorder. Generals Xue Sheng and Jiang Ban took advantage of the chaos and attacked. The Wu troops fled in panic, their commanders unable to stop them. Zhang Qiao attacked from the rear, and the Wu forces were heavily defeated at Ban Bridge. Zhu Gejing led several hundred men in flight and sent someone to fetch Zhang Ti, but Zhang Ti refused to leave. Zhu Gejing personally pulled at him, saying, "Life and death are determined by fate; it is not something you alone can sustain. Why must you seek death yourself!" Zhang Ti, weeping, said, "Zhongsi, today is the day I must die! Moreover, since my youth, I have been recognized and promoted by your family's chancellor. I have always feared dying in an unworthy manner and failing to repay the favor of that worthy man. Now, to die for my state, what more is there to say!" Zhu Gejing pulled at him repeatedly, but he would not move. Finally, weeping, Zhu Gejing let go and departed. After going a hundred paces, he looked back and saw that Zhang Ti had already been killed by Jin soldiers. Together with him, Sun Zhen, Shen Ying, and 7,800 others were beheaded. The people of Wu were greatly shocked.
At first, an imperial edict had ordered that when Wang Jun captured Jianping, he was to accept Du Yu’s command and direction, and upon reaching Jianye, he was to accept Wang Hun’s command and direction. When Du Yu reached Jiangling, he said to his generals, “If Wang Jun can take Jianping, he will sail downstream on a long, unimpeded advance, and his formidable reputation will already be established; he should not be placed under my control. If he cannot capture it, there will be no opportunity to exercise command over him.” When Wang Jun reached Xiling, Du Yu wrote to him, saying, “You have already destroyed their western barrier. You should now directly attack Jianye, punish the fugitive rebels of several generations, rescue the people of Wu from their depths of suffering, and, after reorganizing the army, return to the capital. This is a rare achievement for the ages!” Wang Jun was greatly pleased and submitted a memorial presenting Du Yu’s letter. When Zhang Ti was defeated and killed, the Yangzhou He Yun said to Zhou Jun, “Zhang Ti mobilized the entire elite forces of Wu and had them annihilated here; there is no one in Wu, from the court to the common people, who is not shocked and terrified. Now Wang Longxiang (Wang Jun) has already broken through Wuchang and is advancing eastward with his victory, sweeping all before him. The signs of a complete collapse are evident. I believe we should swiftly lead troops across the river and head straight for Jianye. With a sudden arrival of a great army, we will seize their courage, and we can capture them without a battle!” Zhou Jun considered this plan excellent and told him to report it to Wang Hun. He Yun said, “Wang Hun is blind to the opportune moment and wants to be cautious to avoid blame; he will certainly not listen to me.” Zhou Jun insisted that he go and report it, and Wang Hun indeed said, “The edict I received only ordered me to station troops north of the river to resist the Wu army, and not to advance rashly. Although your province is brave, can it pacify Jiangdong on its own? Now, if we disobey orders, even victory would not be praiseworthy, and if we fail, the blame would be severe. Moreover, the edict orders Wang Longxiang to accept my command; you should only prepare your boats and cross together at the same time.” He Yun said, “Wang Longxiang has conquered enemies over ten thousand li, and to accept your command with his already accomplished achievement is something never heard of. Besides, Your Excellency is a supreme general; when you see an opportunity to advance, you advance—how can you wait for an edict in every matter! Now, if we take this opportunity to cross the river, success is ten-tenths certain; what is there to doubt or hesitate about, delaying our advance? This is precisely why our entire province, from top to bottom, feels regret.” Wang Hun did not heed this advice.
Wang Jun sailed directly from Wuchang downstream toward Jianye. The Wu ruler sent the General Zhang Xiang to lead ten thousand naval troops to resist, but Zhang Xiang’s troops, upon seeing Wang Jun’s banners, surrendered. Wang Jun’s armored soldiers covered the river, their flags and banners obscured the sky, and his power and prestige were extremely great. The people of Wu were greatly terrified. The Wu ruler’s favored minister, Cen Hun, because of his crafty wickedness and flattery, had risen to the position of one of the Nine Ministers. He delighted in initiating forced labor projects and was hated by the multitude. When the Jin troops were about to arrive, several hundred of the palace guards kowtowed to the Wu ruler and requested, “The northern armies are drawing nearer day by day, and our soldiers do not take up their weapons. What does Your Majesty intend to do?” The Wu ruler said, “Why is this?” They replied, “It is precisely because of Cen Hun.” The Wu ruler said alone, “If this is so, then this slave should be used to appease the people!” The crowd then said, “Yes!” They all rose together and seized Cen Hun. The Wu ruler sent men to pursue and stop them repeatedly, but Cen Hun had already been killed.
Tao Jun was about to attack Guo Ma and had reached Wuchang when he heard that the Jin army had entered in force. He then led his troops back eastward. When he reached Jianye, the Wu ruler summoned him and asked about the naval situation. He replied, “The boats from Shu are all very small. Now, if we obtain twenty thousand soldiers and engage in battle with large ships, we can naturally defeat them.” Troops were then assembled, and the tally and axe of command were granted to Tao Jun. They were to depart the next day, but that very night, all the soldiers scattered and fled in defeat.
At that time, Wang Hun, Wang Jun, and the Prince of Langya, Sima Zhou, were all pressing close to the border. The Wu He Zhi and the General Sun Yan both sent their seals and tallies to Wang Hun in surrender. The Wu ruler, adopting the plans of the Xue Ying, the Hu Chong, and others, sent envoys separately with letters to Wang Hun, Wang Jun, and Sima Zhou, requesting surrender. He also wrote a letter to his officials, deeply reproaching himself, and said, “Now great Jin has pacified the empire. This is precisely the moment for heroes and men of talent to display their integrity. Do not damage your aspirations because of the change of dynasty.” The envoys first sent the imperial seal and ribbon to the Prince of Langya, Sima Zhou. On the day Renyin, Wang Jun’s naval forces passed by Sanshan. Wang Hun sent an envoy to invite Wang Jun to come over temporarily to discuss matters. Wang Jun hoisted his sails and headed straight for Jianye, replying, “The wind is favorable; I cannot anchor.” On that same day, Wang Jun’s eighty thousand troops, with warships linked for a hundred li, beat drums and raised war cries as they entered the Stone City. The Wu ruler, Sun Hao, bound his hands behind his back and carried a coffin as he came to the military camp to surrender. Wang Jun untied his bonds, burned the coffin, and invited him for an audience. He took possession of Wu’s maps and census registers, conquering four provinces, forty-three commanderies, 523,000 households, and 230,000 soldiers.
When the court heard that Wu had been pacified, all the officials came to offer congratulations and toasted the emperor. The emperor, holding his wine cup and weeping, said, “This is the achievement of the Grand Guardian Yang.” The Sun Xiu did not come to offer congratulations; he faced south and wept, saying, “In the past, the General Who Suppresses Rebellion, Sun Ce, at the age of twenty, founded an enterprise with a single commandant’s rank. Now the last ruler, Sun Hao, has abandoned the entire region south of the River, and the ancestral temples and mausoleums will from now on become ruins. O vast blue heavens, whose doing is this!”
Before Wu had been conquered, the high officials all considered that it was not advisable to advance lightly, only Zhang Hua insisted that it could certainly be accomplished. Jia Chong submitted a memorial, saying, “Wu cannot be completely pacified. It is now summer, and the lower reaches of the Yangzi and Huai Rivers are damp; an epidemic will surely break out. The various armies should be recalled, and plans made later. Even if Zhang Hua were cut in two at the waist, it would not be enough to apologize to the empire.” The emperor said, “This is my idea; Zhang Hua merely agrees with me.” Xun Xu also submitted a memorial, arguing that they should follow Jia Chong’s memorial, but the emperor did not heed him. Du Yu heard that Jia Chong had requested a withdrawal of troops and swiftly submitted a memorial arguing vehemently against it. When the messenger reached Huanyuan Pass, Wu had already surrendered. Jia Chong, both ashamed and afraid, went to court to apologize, but the emperor comforted him and did not pursue the matter.
In the summer, on the day Jiashen of the fourth month, an edict was issued granting Sun Hao the title of Marquis Who Submits to Fate.
On the day Yiyou, a general amnesty was declared throughout the empire, and the reign name was changed. A great feast and drinking were held for five days. Envoys were sent separately to Jingzhou and Yangzhou to comfort and pacify the people. Officials at and below the level of provincial governor and commandery administrator in Wu were not replaced. Wu’s harsh government decrees were abolished, and all were changed to simple and convenient measures. The people of Wu were greatly pleased.
Teng Xiu attacked Guo Ma but could not defeat him. When he heard that Jin was attacking Wu, he led his troops to rush to the national crisis. When he reached Baqiu, he heard that Wu had been destroyed. He wore mourning garments and wept. Returning, together with the Inspector of Guangzhou, Lü Feng, and the Administrator of Cangwu, Wang Yi, each sent their seals and ribbons to request surrender. Sun Hao sent Tao Huang’s son, Tao Rong, with a personal letter to instruct Tao Huang. Tao Huang wept for several days and also sent his seals and ribbons in surrender. The emperor restored all of them to their former positions.
When Wang Jun sailed eastward down the river, the garrison troops of Wu all submitted upon seeing his banners. Only the Administrator of Jianping, Wu Yan, held his city firmly and did not surrender. When he heard that Wu had been destroyed, he finally surrendered. The emperor appointed Wu Yan as the Administrator of Jincheng.
At first, the court had honored and trusted Sun Xiu and Sun Kai, hoping to attract the people of Wu. After Wu was destroyed, Sun Xiu was demoted to the rank of General Who Pacifies Waves, and Sun Kai was demoted to the rank of General Who Crosses the Liao.
The Prince of Langya, Sima Zhou, sent envoys to escort Sun Hao and his clan to Luoyang. On the first day of the fifth month, the day Dinghai, Sun Hao arrived. Together with his heir apparent, Sun Jin, and others, he came with mud on his head and his hands tied behind his back to the Dongyang Gate. The emperor issued an edict ordering the Court Receptionist to untie their bonds and bestowed upon them clothing, a carriage, and thirty qing of fields. The annual supply of grain, money, and silk was extremely generous. Sun Jin was appointed as a Gentleman of the Palace. Sun Hao’s other sons who had been enfeoffed as kings were all appointed as Gentlemen of the Palace. Former prominent families of Wu were promoted and appointed according to their abilities. Military and civilian officials of the Sun clan who crossed the River were exempted from taxes and corvée for ten years, and the common people were exempted for twenty years.
On the day Gengyin, the emperor personally appeared in the hall, convened a grand assembly of civil and military officials and envoys from all directions, and the students of the National University also participated. He received the Marquis of Guiming, Sun Hao, and the surrendered people of Wu. Sun Hao ascended the hall and kowtowed. The emperor said to Sun Hao, "I set this seat and waited for you for a long time." Sun Hao replied, "In the south, I also set this seat and waited for Your Majesty." Jia Chong said to Sun Hao, "I heard that in the south you gouged out people's eyes and flayed their faces—what kind of punishment is this?" Sun Hao answered, "When a subject assassinates his ruler, or is treacherous and disloyal, this punishment is applied." Jia Chong fell silent, deeply ashamed, while Sun Hao showed no sign of shame on his face.
The emperor casually asked the Sanqi Changshi Xue Ying about the reasons for Sun Hao's downfall. He replied, "Sun Hao favored petty men, imposed excessive punishments, and the high ministers and generals all felt insecure—this is why he perished." Another day, the emperor asked Wu Yan the same question, and he answered, "The Lord of Wu was outstanding in talent and wisdom, and his auxiliary ministers were virtuous." The emperor laughed and said, "If so, why did he perish?" Wu Yan said, "The blessings granted by Heaven came to an eternal end, and the mandate was destined elsewhere, so he was captured by Your Majesty." The emperor considered his words good.
When Wang Jun entered Jianye, it was the next day that Wang Hun crossed the Yangzi River. Because Wang Jun had not waited for him to arrive before accepting Sun Hao's surrender, Wang Hun felt both ashamed and angry, and wanted to attack Wang Jun. He Pan advised Wang Jun to hand over Sun Hao to Wang Hun, and thus the matter was resolved. He Yun, because of the dispute over merit between Wang Hun and Wang Jun, wrote to Zhou Jun, saying, "The Book of Documents values the ability to yield, and the Book of Changes exalts modesty and magnanimity. Previously, when we defeated Zhang Ti, the people of Wu lost heart, and the Dragon Xiang General took advantage of the momentum to seize their territory. Comparing the sequence of events, our army was indeed slow in action; having already missed the opportunity and failed to catch up with the major affair, now we seek to contend for merit. If he refuses to swallow his pride, it will harm the grand harmony and foster a base spirit of rivalry—this I do not approve of." Upon receiving the letter, Zhou Jun immediately advised Wang Hun to stop. Wang Hun did not accept it and submitted a memorial accusing Wang Jun of defying imperial orders and refusing to accept command, fabricating charges. Wang Hun's son, Wang Ji, had married the Princess of Changshan, and his clan was powerful. The relevant authorities requested that Wang Jun be summoned in a prison cart, but the emperor did not permit it; he only issued an edict reprimanding Wang Jun for not obeying Wang Hun's orders and for violating regulations out of greed for personal gain. Wang Jun submitted a memorial defending himself, saying, "Previously, I received an edict ordering me to directly attack Moling, and also ordering me to accept the command of the Grand Commandant Jia Chong. On the fifteenth day, I arrived at Sanshan and saw Wang Hun's army on the north bank; he sent a messenger with a letter inviting me to join him. My naval forces, riding the wind and current, went straight to the enemy city, and I had no opportunity to turn the fleet around to rendezvous with Wang Hun. I arrived at Moling at noon, and only in the evening did I receive the tally from Wang Hun ordering me to accept command, wanting me to lead all my troops back on the sixteenth day to surround Shitou City, and also demanding the rosters of the Shu soldiers and the various armies of the Zhennan command. I believed that Sun Hao had already come to surrender, and there was no reason to encircle Shitou City in vain. Moreover, the soldiers' rosters could not be hastily prepared; these were not urgent matters at hand, and I could not accept or execute them. This was not a deliberate disregard for the court's regulations. Sun Hao's followers had deserted him; he was alone, and even sparrows and rats cling to life, merely begging for a way to survive. Yet the armies north of the river, unaware of the true situation, did not seize him early and thus caused a minor blunder. As soon as I arrived, I captured him, and instead incurred resentment, with everyone saying, 'We guarded the rebels for a hundred days, but let another take them.' I humbly believe that in serving one's ruler, if it benefits the state, one should risk life and death for it. To avoid suspicion and evade blame is the selfish interest of a disloyal subject, and truly not a blessing for an enlightened ruler or the state."
Wang Hun also forwarded Zhou Jun's letter, saying, "Wang Jun's army obtained treasures from Wu." He also said, "Wang Jun's yamen general Li Gao set fire to Sun Hao's former palace." Wang Jun further submitted a memorial, saying, "I am alone without any foundation, and have incurred enmity from powerful clans. Offending the emperor can still be forgiven, but defying powerful nobles brings unpredictable calamity. The former General of the Palace, Kong Shu, said: Last February, when Wuchang fell and the naval forces arrived, Sun Hao inspected Shitou City and returned. His attendants drew their swords and shouted, 'We should fight to the death for Your Majesty.' Sun Hao was very pleased, believing it would be so, and gave them all his gold and treasures. These base scoundrels, upon receiving them, took them and fled. Sun Hao, in fear, then planned to surrender. As soon as the surrender envoy left, his attendants looted goods, seized wives and concubines, and set the palace on fire. Sun Hao fled and hid, fearing only that he could not escape death. When I arrived, I sent staff officers to manage the firefighting. Zhou Jun had already entered Sun Hao's palace, and Wang Hun had boarded Sun Hao's ship; I entered to inspect after both of them. In Sun Hao's palace, there were no mats to sit on; if any treasures remained, Zhou Jun and Wang Hun would have taken them first. They also say that I gathered the Shu people and did not hand over Sun Hao in time, intending to rebel. They also intimidate the Wu people, saying I will kill them all and take their wives and children, hoping to incite unrest to vent their private grudges. The charge of high treason has already been laid on me; as for other slanderous words, there is no need to mention them. This year's pacification of Wu is indeed a great celebration, but for me personally, it has brought only blame and entanglement."
When Wang Jun arrived at the capital, the relevant authorities submitted a memorial saying that Wang Jun had defied imperial orders, a grave disrespect, and requested that he be handed over to the Tingwei for punishment; the emperor issued an edict not to permit this. They also submitted a memorial saying that Wang Jun had burned 135 enemy ships after the general amnesty, and immediately ordered him to be handed over to the Tingwei for detention and interrogation; the emperor ordered that no action be taken.
The dispute over merit between Wang Hun and Wang Jun did not cease. The emperor ordered the acting Tingwei, Liu Song of Guangling, to adjudicate the matter. He ruled that Wang Hun had achieved the highest merit and Wang Jun had achieved middle merit. The emperor considered Liu Song to have violated the law and perverted justice, and demoted him to the post of Jingzhao Prefect.
On the day Gengchen, Jia Chong's fief was increased by 8,000 households. Wang Jun was appointed General Who Assists the State, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Xiangyang County. Du Yu was enfeoffed as Marquis of Dangyang County. Wang Rong was enfeoffed as Marquis of Anfeng County. Two sons of the Prince of Langya, Sima Zhou, were enfeoffed as Ting Marquises. The fief of Wang Hun, Marquis of Jingling, was increased by 8,000 households, and his title was advanced to Duke. Zhang Hua, the Shangshu and Neiguan Marquis, was advanced to Marquis of Guangwu County, with an increase of 10,000 households in his fief. Xun Xu, for his merit in exclusively overseeing imperial edicts, had one of his sons enfeoffed as a Ting Marquis. The remaining generals and officials from the Duke level down received rewards according to their rank. Because of the pacification of Wu, the emperor went to the temple of Yang Hu to offer sacrifices, and then enfeoffed his wife, Lady Xiahou, as the Lady of Wansui Village, with a fief of 5,000 households.
Wang Jun considered his merit great, but was suppressed by Wang Hun, his son, and their faction. Every time he had an audience, he recounted his achievements in battle and the injustices he suffered, sometimes unable to suppress his anger, leaving straight out without taking his leave; the emperor always tolerated him. The Yizhou Protector Fan Tong said to Wang Jun, "Your merit is indeed great, but it is regrettable that your manner of bearing it was not perfect. On the day of your triumphant return, you should have donned a plain kerchief and returned to your private residence, not mentioning the pacification of Wu. If someone asked, you could have said, 'This was due to the sage virtue of His Majesty and the strength of the generals; what merit does this old man have?' This is how Lin Xiangru was able to humble Lian Po. Would Wang Hun not have felt ashamed?" Wang Jun said, "At first, I took heed of the lesson from Deng Ai, fearing that disaster would befall me, so I could not refrain from speaking. In the end, I could not rid my mind of it—this is due to my narrow-mindedness." At the time, everyone believed that Wang Jun's merit was weighty and his reward light, and they felt indignant on his behalf. The Erudite Qin Xiu and others jointly submitted a memorial pleading Wang Jun's grievances, and the emperor then promoted Wang Jun to General Who Pacifies the Army. Wang Hun once visited Wang Jun, and Wang Jun prepared strict defenses before meeting him.
Du Yu returned to Xiangyang. Believing that although the realm was at peace, forgetting warfare would surely bring danger, he diligently studied military affairs and strengthened defenses. He also diverted the waters of the Zhi River and the Yu River to irrigate over 10,000 qing of land, and dug the Yangkou Canal to connect the water transport routes of Lingling and Guiyang, benefiting both public and private interests. Du Yu himself could not ride a horse, and his archery could not pierce a target, yet when it came to commanding troops and achieving victory, no general could match him. While stationed in the region, Du Yu frequently sent gifts to the powerful figures in Luoyang. When someone asked him why, Du Yu said, "I only fear they might harm me; I seek no benefit."
Wang Hun was promoted to General Who Conquers the East and again stationed at Shouyang.
Zhuge Jing fled and went into hiding. The emperor had an old acquaintance with Zhuge Jing, and Zhuge Jing's sister was the wife of the Prince of Langya. The emperor, knowing that Zhuge Jing was hiding with his sister, went to see him. Zhuge Jing fled to the latrine, but the emperor pressed further to meet him and said, "I never expected to see you again today!" Zhuge Jing wept and said, "I could not follow the example of Yu Rang by lacquering my body and coating my face, and now I see the sage emperor again—I am truly ashamed and regretful!" The emperor issued an edict appoint him as a Palace Attendant; he firmly declined and did not accept, returning to his hometown, and for the rest of his life he never sat facing the direction of the court.
In the sixth month, Sima Mu, the Duke of Danshui, was again enfeoffed as the Prince of Gaoyang.
In autumn, the eighth month, on the day Jiyou, the emperor's younger brother Sima Yanzuo was enfeoffed as the Prince of Leping, but he died shortly thereafter.
In the ninth month, on the day Gengyin, Jia Chong and others, because the empire was unified, repeatedly requested that the Fengshan sacrifices be performed; the emperor did not permit it.
In winter, the tenth month, Hu Wei, the Former General, Inspector of Qingzhou, and a man from Huainan, died. When Hu Wei served as a Master of Writing, he once remonstrated that the current governance was too lenient. The emperor said, "For officials below the rank of Director and Gentleman, I show no leniency at all." Hu Wei said, "What I am stating is hardly about the minor officials like Vice-Directors, Gentlemen, or Scribes. It is precisely about people like our kind that we can make the teachings strict and the laws clear!"
In this year, the commanderies under the jurisdiction of the Colonel of the Capital were established as the Si Province, making a total of nineteen provinces, one hundred and seventy-three commanderies and principalities, and two million, four hundred fifty-nine thousand, eight hundred and forty households.
The emperor issued an edict saying: "Since the end of the Han Dynasty, the empire has been divided, and provincial inspectors managed civil affairs internally while commanding troops externally. Now that the empire is unified, weapons should be stored away. The duties of provincial inspectors shall be divided according to the old Han regulations; all provincial and commandery military forces shall be disbanded, with large commanderies setting up one hundred military officials and small commanderies fifty." Tao Huang, the Regional Chief of Jiaozhou, submitted a memorial saying: "Jiaozhou and Guangzhou stretch westward for several thousand li, with over sixty thousand households that refuse to submit and obey. As for those who serve in government corvée, there are only slightly more than five thousand households. These two provinces are interdependent like lips and teeth, and only relying on troops can they be defended. Additionally, the various Yi tribes in Ningzhou occupy and connect the upper reaches of the terrain, with both water and land routes open. The provincial troops should not be reduced, lest it display weakness and emptiness." The Servant of the Palace, Shan Tao, also said, "The military preparedness of the provinces and commanderies should not be abolished." The emperor did not heed this advice. In the Yongning era and after, bandits arose in swarms, and the provinces and commanderies had no defenses to capture or control them, so the empire fell into great chaos, just as Shan Tao had said. However, after this, the provincial inspectors again took charge of both military and civil affairs, and the power of the provincial garrisons became even greater.
Since the Han and Wei dynasties, surrendered Qiang, Hu, and Xianbei people were mostly settled in commanderies within the border passes. Later, they frequently harbored resentment, murdered local officials, and gradually became a calamity for the common people. The Attendant Censor, a man from Xihe named Guo Qin, submitted a memorial saying: "The Rong and Di are fierce and unruly, and have been a source of trouble since ancient times. In the early Wei period, the population was sparse, and the northwestern commanderies were all inhabited by the Rong people, extending inward to Jingzhao, Wei Commandery, and Hongnong, where they were also often present. Although they are submissive now, if a war alarm arises in a hundred years, Hu cavalry from Pingyang and Shangdang could reach Mengjin in no more than three days. Then the lands of Beidi, Xihe, Taiyuan, Fengyi, Anding, and Shang Commandery would all become Rong and Di territory. It would be advisable to take advantage of the might of pacifying Eastern Wu and the strategies of our resourceful ministers and fierce generals, to gradually move the various Hu peoples from the interior commanderies to the border regions, strictly enforce the restrictions on the entry and exit of the Four Barbarians, and clarify the ancient sage kings' system of wild domains—this is a long-term strategy for ten thousand generations." The emperor did not heed this advice.
Annals of Emperor Wu of Jin, Part Two, Taikang Second Year (Xinchou, 281 AD)
In spring, the third month, the emperor issued an edict selecting five thousand of Sun Hao's palace women to enter the palace. After pacifying Eastern Wu, the emperor became quite fond of pleasure and feasting, slacking off in government affairs, and the harem nearly reached ten thousand women. He often rode in a goat-drawn cart, letting the goat go wherever it pleased, and wherever it stopped, he would feast and sleep; the palace women vied to hang bamboo leaves on their doors and sprinkle salt water on the ground to lure the emperor's goat cart. Meanwhile, the empress's father, Yang Jun, along with his younger brothers Yang Yao and Yang Ji, began to wield power, forming cliques and seeking favors, their influence overwhelming both court and country. People at the time called them the "Three Yangs," and many old officials were alienated and dismissed. Shan Tao repeatedly admonished and remonstrated, but although the emperor understood, he could not reform.
At first, the Xianbei man Mohuba began to move from beyond the frontier and settle north of Liaoxi's Jicheng, forming the Murong tribe. Mohuba fathered Muyan, and Muyan fathered Shegui, who moved north of Liaodong. For generations, they relied on the Central Plains regime, repeatedly followed campaigns with merit, and were granted the office of Great Chanyu. In winter, the tenth month, Shegui began to invade Changli.
In the eleventh month, on the day Renyin, Chen Qian, the Duke of Gaoping Wu, died.
In this year, Zhou Jun, the Inspector of Yang Province, moved his seat of government to Moling. Among the Eastern Wu people who refused to submit, there were frequent revolts, and Zhou Jun suppressed and pacified them all. He treated the local elders with courtesy, sought out the talented and virtuous, and balanced benevolence with authority, so the people of Wu were sincerely won over.
Annals of Emperor Wu of Jin, Part Two, Taikang Third Year (Renyin, 282 AD)
In spring, the first month, on the day Dingchou, the first day of the month, the emperor personally performed the suburban sacrifice to Heaven. After the ceremony, he sighed and asked Liu Yi, the Colonel of the Capital, "How do I compare to the Han emperors?" Liu Yi replied, "Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling." The emperor said, "How can it come to this?" Liu Yi replied, "Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling sold offices, and the money went into the imperial treasury. Your Majesty sells offices, and the money goes into your private coffers. In this respect, I am afraid you are not even as good as them!" The emperor laughed and said, "In the times of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling, such words were not heard. Now I have a loyal minister, which is indeed better than them."
Liu Yi served as Colonel of the Capital, and in his investigations and impeachments of powerful and noble families, he had no scruples. The Heir Apparent entered the East Side Gate with his drum and wind ensemble, and Liu Yi submitted a memorial impeaching him. Yang Xiu, the Central Protector of the Army and Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, had old favors with the emperor. He commanded the imperial guard and participated in confidential affairs for over ten years, relying on imperial favor to be arrogant and extravagant, and repeatedly breaking the law. Liu Yi submitted a memorial impeaching Yang Xiu, whose crimes warranted the death penalty; the emperor sent the Prince of Qi, Sima You, to privately plead for Yang Xiu with Liu Yi, and Liu Yi agreed. Cheng Wei, a Clerk of the Capital from Guangping, directly galloped into the Protector's camp, arrested Yang Xiu, and handed him over to subordinate officials, interrogating him about his private misconduct. He first reported Yang Xiu's crimes, which were scandalous, and then informed Liu Yi. The emperor had no choice but to dismiss Yang Xiu from his post. Shortly thereafter, he allowed him to serve in a position as a commoner. Yang Xiu was the maternal cousin of Empress Jingxian; the General of the Rear, Wang Kai, was the younger brother of Empress Wenming; the Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Palace Attendant, Shi Chong, was the son of Shi Bao. These three men were all wealthy and rivaled each other in extravagance. Wang Kai used sugar syrup to wash his pots, while Shi Chong used wax as fuel; Wang Kai made a purple silk barrier screen forty li long, and Shi Chong made a brocade barrier screen fifty li long; Shi Chong painted his walls with Sichuan pepper, and Wang Kai used red clay plaster. The emperor often helped Wang Kai, once giving him a coral tree about two feet tall. Wang Kai showed it to Shi Chong, who smashed it with an iron ruyi; Wang Kai was very angry, thinking Shi Chong was jealous of his treasure. Shi Chong said, "It's not worth being too upset; I'll give it back to you now!" He then ordered his attendants to bring out all the coral trees from his own house; there were six or seven trees three or four feet tall, and many of the same size as Wang Kai's; Wang Kai was at a loss.
Fu Xian, the Chariot and Horse Commandant, submitted a memorial saying: "In the governance of the former kings, eating meat and wearing silk had their regulations. I privately believe that extravagant spending is worse than natural disasters. In ancient times, the population was dense and the land narrow, yet there were savings, because of frugality. Now the land is vast and the population sparse, yet we worry about insufficient resources, because of extravagance. If we wish the people to value frugality, we must blame those who are extravagant. If the extravagant are not blamed, but instead are mutually praised and esteemed, there will be no end to it!"
The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Zhang Hua, was renowned for his literary talent and knowledge, and discussions held that he should be appointed to the Three Dukes. The Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Xun Xu, and the Attendant-in-Waiting, Feng Dan, deeply resented him because of the plans for the campaign against Wu. It happened that the Emperor asked Zhang Hua, "To whom can the affairs of state after my death be entrusted?" Zhang Hua replied, "None is more worthy and virtuous and closely related than the Prince of Qi." This went against the Emperor's wishes. Xun Xu took the opportunity to slander him. On the day jiawu, Zhang Hua was appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Youzhou. After Zhang Hua arrived at his post, he pacified the Yi and Han peoples, and his reputation and prestige grew even stronger. The Emperor again considered recalling him to court. Feng Dan was attending the Emperor, and during a leisurely conversation, they spoke of Zhong Hui. Feng Dan said, "Zhong Hui's rebellion was largely due to Emperor Wu of Wei." The Emperor's expression changed, and he said, "What are you saying!" Feng Dan removed his cap and apologized, saying, "I have heard that one skilled in driving must know the proper slackness and tightness of the six reins. Thus Confucius restrained Zilu because he was competitive and encouraged Ran Qiu because he was timid. Emperor Gaozu of Han honored and favored the five kings, leading to their destruction, while Emperor Guangwu suppressed and demoted his generals, allowing them to finish well. This is not because the rulers differed in benevolence or cruelty, nor the ministers in foolishness or wisdom, but because suppression and promotion, giving and taking, caused it. Zhong Hui's ability was limited, but Emperor Wu of Wei praised and rewarded him without restraint, gave him important authority, and entrusted him with powerful armies, causing Zhong Hui to believe that his plans were never wrong and his merit too great to be rewarded, thus leading to rebellion. If Emperor Wu of Wei had recorded his minor talents, restrained him with great rites, suppressed him with authority, and bound him with laws, then his rebellious heart would never have arisen." The Emperor said, "Yes." Feng Dan kowtowed and said, "Since Your Majesty agrees with my words, you should consider the gradual formation of solid ice, and not let someone like Zhong Hui cause another downfall." The Emperor said, "Is there anyone like Zhong Hui in the present day?" Feng Dan then dismissed the attendants and said, "Those ministers of Your Majesty who plan and strategize, who have established great merit in the empire, who hold commanderies and lead troops, are all within Your Majesty's sage consideration." The Emperor remained silent and from then on desisted, not recalling Zhang Hua.
In the third month, the General of Pacifying the North, Yan Xun, defeated Murong Shegui at Changli, beheading and capturing over ten thousand people.
The Duke of Lu, Jia Chong, was old and ill. The Emperor sent the Crown Prince to inquire after him. Jia Chong worried about his posthumous title and biography after death. His nephew, Jia Mo, said, "Right and wrong will become clear over time; they cannot be concealed!" In summer, the fourth month, on the day gengwu, Jia Chong died. His legitimate son, Jia Limin, had died young without issue. Jia Chong's wife, Guo Huai, wanted to make Jia Chong's grandson, Han Mi, the legitimate grandson. The Chief of the Palace Attendants, Han Xian, and the Commandant of the Interior, Cao Zhen, remonstrated, saying, "The rites have no provision for a person of a different surname to be an heir. Doing so now would cause the late duke to be ridiculed in later ages and feel ashamed in the underworld." Guo Huai did not listen. Han Xian and others submitted a memorial, requesting a change in heir, but the matter was shelved without a response. Guo Huai then presented a statement to the throne, saying it was Jia Chong's dying wish. The Emperor agreed and issued an edict: "Unless the merit is equal to that of the Grand Tutor, and the person was initially enfeoffed without issue, this cannot be used as a precedent." When the Grandmaster of Ceremonies discussed the posthumous title, the Erudite Qin Xiu said, "Jia Chong violated the rites and indulged his private feelings, disrupting the great principles of human relations. In ancient times, the state of Zeng adopted the son of the ruler of Ju as an heir, and the Spring and Autumn Annals recorded, 'The people of Ju extinguished Zeng.' He cut off the sacrifices to his father and ancestors and opened the root of chaos in the court. According to the Rules of Posthumous Titles: 'Confusing the laws is called Huang.' I request the posthumous title of 'Duke Huang'." The Emperor did not listen and changed it to "Wu".
In the intercalary month, on the day bingzi, Li Yin, the Marquis of Guanglu Cheng, died.
The virtue and prestige of the Prince of Qi, Sima You, increased daily. Xun Xu, Feng Dan, and Yang Yao all detested him. Feng Dan said to Emperor Wu of Jin, "Your Majesty has issued an edict for the princes to return to their fiefs, which should begin with the closest relative. The closest is none other than the Prince of Qi. Now he alone is kept in the capital—is this permissible?" Xun Xu said, "All the officials within and outside the court are devoted to the Prince of Qi. After Your Majesty's death, the Crown Prince may not be able to succeed. Your Majesty should try issuing an edict for the Prince of Qi to return to his fief. Then the entire court will consider it unacceptable, and my words will be proven correct." Emperor Wu thought they were right. In winter, the twelfth month, on the day jiashen, an edict was issued: "In ancient times, there was the rite of the nine appointments to establish regional lords. Some entered the court to assist in governance, others left to command regions—the principle is the same. The Attendant-in-Waiting and Minister of Works, the Prince of Qi, Sima You, assisted in the founding of the imperial enterprise and established merit, laboring diligently for the royal house. Now appoint him as Grand Marshal and Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Qingzhou, retaining his post as Attendant-in-Waiting, and add the highest rites. The responsible officials are to examine the old regulations in detail and implement them." Also appointed the Prince of Runan, Sima Liang, as Grand Guardian, Recorder of the Secretariat, and concurrently Tutor to the Crown Prince; the Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Shan Tao, as Minister of Works; and the Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat, Wei Guan, as Minister of Works.
The General Who Conquers the East, Wang Hun, submitted a memorial, stating: "The Prince of Qi is a close relative with great virtue, comparable to the Duke of Zhou. He should assist the imperial court and participate in governance. Now sending him out to his fief, giving him the empty title of Commander-in-Chief but no actual authority over troops or commanderies, harms the deep and sincere fraternal bond. I fear this is not Your Majesty's intention in remembering the late Emperor and Empress Dowager Wenming's treatment of the Prince of Qi. If because he is of the same surname, the favor is excessive, there will be plots of rebellion like those of Wu and Chu. Then what of the Lü, Huo, and Wang clans of the Han? Examining history from ancient to modern times, wherever power is concentrated, disaster follows. One should only follow the correct path and seek loyal and good men. If one suspects others based on clever schemes, even close relatives will be suspected; as for those more distant, can they be guaranteed? I believe the post of Grand Guardian to the Crown Prince is vacant. The Prince of Qi should be retained for this post, to govern together with the Prince of Runan, Sima Liang, and Yang Yao. The three are equal in status, sufficient to support and correct each other. This avoids the situation of imbalance and mutual conflict, while not losing the grace of loving relatives and protecting them—this is the most perfect plan." Then the Prince of Fufeng, Sima Jun; the Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Li Xi; the Protector of the Army, Yang Xiu; the Attendants-in-Waiting, Wang Ji and Zhen De, all earnestly remonstrated. The Emperor did not listen to any of them. Wang Ji had his wife, Princess Changshan, and Zhen De's wife, Princess Changguang, enter the palace together. They kowtowed and wept, requesting the Emperor to keep the Prince of Qi. The Emperor became angry and said to the Attendant-in-Waiting, Wang Rong, "Between brothers, it is the closest relationship. Now letting the Prince of Qi leave is originally my own family affair. How dare Zhen De and Wang Ji repeatedly send women to come and cry over a living person!" He then sent Wang Ji out as the Libationer of the National University and Zhen De as the Grand Herald. Yang Xiu and the Commandant of the Northern Army, Cheng Can, plotted to visit Yang Yao and kill him with their own hands. Yang Yao learned of this, feigned illness and did not go out, and hinted for the responsible officials to impeach Yang Xiu, demoting him to Grand Equerry. Yang Xiu died of illness from anger and resentment. Li Xi also retired from office due to old age and died at home. When Li Xi was in court, he shared clothes and food with his relatives and old friends, but never privately granted them official positions. People praised him for this.
In this year, the Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, Xue Ying, died. Someone said to Wu Commandery native Lu Xi, "Should Xue Ying be considered the first among the scholars of Wu?" Lu Xi replied, "Xue Ying ranks somewhere between fourth and fifth—how can he be considered first! Considering Sun Hao's lack of the Way, the scholars of Wu were: those who remained silent, hid themselves, and lay low without being employed, were the first rank; those who avoided high positions and stayed low, using their salary to replace farming, were the second rank; those who were upright and unyielding, cared for state affairs, and held to the correct path without fear, were the third rank; those who assessed the times and occasionally offered small benefits, were the fourth rank; those who were gentle and respectful, cultivated caution, and did not act as sycophants, were the fifth rank. Those beyond this range are not worth counting. Therefore, the superior scholars were mostly buried in obscurity and far from regret, while the middling scholars had reputation and position but were close to disaster. Looking at Xue Ying's conduct from beginning to end, how can he be considered first!"
The fourth year of the Taikang reign of Emperor Wu (Gui Mao, 283 AD)
In the spring, the first month, on the jiashen day, the Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, Wei Shu, was appointed Left Vice Director, and the Prince of Xiapi, Sima Huang, was appointed Right Vice Director. Sima Huang was the son of Sima Fu.
On the wuwu day, Shantao, the Viscount of Xinda and Kang, passed away.
The Emperor Wu ordered the Chamberlain for Ceremonials to deliberate on the ritual objects to be bestowed upon the Prince of Qi. The Erudites Yu Fu, Taishu Guang, Liu Tun, Miao Wei, Guo Yi, Qin Xiu, and Fu Zhen submitted a memorial, saying: "In former times, the Zhou dynasty selected men of virtue to assist the royal house. The Duke of Zhou, the Duke of Kang, and Dan Ji all entered the court to serve as the Three Dukes. This shows that the responsibility of assisting ministers was heavy, while the office of guarding a region was light. Under the Han dynasty, the various princes and marquises held rank above the Chancellor and the Three Dukes. Those who entered the court to assist in governance were given concurrent offices; those who went out to return to their fiefs were not further lent the empty title of the Three Dukes as an enhanced favor. Now, if the Prince of Qi is worthy, then he ought not, by the closeness and honor of being a maternal brother, be assigned to a common post like that of Lu or Wei. If he is unworthy, then he ought not to be granted a vast territory to establish the state of Donghai. According to ancient ritual, the Three Dukes had no specific duties; they merely sat and discussed the Way. It has never been heard that they were fettered by local affairs. Only in an emergency did King Xuan of Zhou command the Duke of Shao to campaign against the Huaiyi, and therefore the poem of that time says: 'Xu Fang no longer resisted; the king said, let us return.' The Chancellor cannot remain long abroad. Now that the realm is already settled and all under Heaven is one family, we are about to repeatedly invite the Three Dukes to discuss the foundations of peace with them, yet instead we send them away, two thousand li from the capital, violating the established statutes and regulations." Yu Fu was the son of Yu Chun. Liu Tun was the son of Liu Yi. After Yu Fu drafted the memorial, he first showed it to Yu Chun, who did not forbid it.
The matter passed through the Chamberlain for Ceremonials, Zheng Mo, and the Libationer of the Erudites, Cao Zhi. Cao Zhi sighed sorrowfully and said: "How can there be such talent and such closeness, yet he cannot be made the foundation to assist in transformation, but is instead banished far to the seaside! The prosperity of the Jin house—I fear it is in danger!" He then submitted a discussion, saying: "In ancient times, those who assisted the royal house—of the same surname, there was the Duke of Zhou; of a different surname, there was Taigong. Both remained at court, and only after five generations of death were they returned for burial to their own states. When the Zhou dynasty declined, although the Five Hegemons arose in succession, how could they be mentioned in the same breath as the governance of the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao! Since the time of Fu Xi, has there ever been a single surname that could monopolize all under Heaven? One ought to extend the most impartial heart and share benefits and harms with all under Heaven, only then can one long enjoy the state. Therefore, Qin and Cao-Wei sought to monopolize power and could only maintain themselves for a single generation; Zhou and Han were able to share power and made both close and distant serve each according to their ability. This is a clear verification from past events. I believe that the proposal of the Erudites should be followed." After the Emperor Wu read this, he was greatly angered, saying: "Cao Zhi still does not understand my intent—how much less the people of the realm!" He further said: "The Erudites did not answer the questions asked, but answered questions not asked, recklessly creating heterodox opinions." He issued an edict ordering the relevant officials to plan the dismissal of Zheng Mo. Thereupon, the Secretaries Zhu Zheng and Chu Qiang and others submitted a memorial, saying: "Cao Zhi and others have encroached upon their offices, departed from their duties, confused the court, esteemed the adornment of false words, and falsely claimed to have no taboos. We request that Cao Zhi and others be arrested and delivered to the Commandant of Justice for punishment." An edict was issued dismissing Cao Zhi from office, allowing him to return to his mansion with the title of duke; the rest were delivered to the Commandant of Justice.
Yu Chun went to the Commandant of Justice to confess, saying: "Yu Fu showed me the draft of his memorial, and I, being foolish and shallow, followed him." An edict was issued pardoning Yu Chun's crime. The Commandant of Justice, Liu Song, memorialized that Yu Fu and others had committed the crime of great disrespect and should be beheaded and their heads displayed. The Secretariat memorialized requesting approval to follow the Commandant of Justice's execution of the punishment. The Secretariat Steward, Xiahou Jun, said: "The court established the Eight Seats precisely to handle such times." He then alone raised a dissenting opinion. The Left Vice Director, the Prince of Xiapi, Sima Huang, also followed Xiahou Jun's opinion. The memorial was kept in the palace for seven days before an edict was issued, saying: "Yu Fu was the leader in the memorial and should be the principal offender for beheading. But because Yu Fu's family members confessed, Yu Fu, along with Taishu Guang and the other seven, should all be spared the death penalty and have their names removed from the official register."
In the second month, an edict was issued adding the commandery of Jinan to the state of Qi. On the jichou day, the Prince of Qi's son, the Marquis of Changleting, Sima Shi, was established as the Prince of Beihai. Orders were given to prepare gifts and a patent for the Prince of Qi, to set up the music of the Xianyuan and the dance of the liuyi, the yellow battle-axe and the court carriage, as well as the imperial carriage's accompanying secondary vehicle.
In the third month, on the xinchou day, the first day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred.
The Prince of Qi, Sima You, the Xian, fell ill from indignation and resentment, and requested to guard the tombs of the late emperor and Empress Dowager Wenming. The Emperor Wu did not permit it and sent imperial physicians to examine him. All the physicians, flattering the emperor's intent, said there was no illness. The Grand Administrator of Henan, Xiang Xiong, remonstrated, saying: "Your Majesty's sons and younger brothers are many, but those with virtue and prestige are few. The Prince of Qi residing in the capital brings truly deep benefits. This cannot but be considered." The Emperor Wu did not adopt his advice, and Xiang Xiong, in indignation and resentment, died. Sima You's illness grew increasingly severe, yet the Emperor Wu still urged him to depart. Sima You forced himself to enter the palace to take his leave. He had always maintained his appearance, and although his illness was very serious, he still composed and roused himself, his demeanor as usual. The Emperor Wu suspected even more that he was not ill. After he left the palace and took his leave, several days later, he vomited blood and died. The Emperor Wu went to offer condolences. Sima You's son, Sima Jiong, wailed and leaped, weeping that his father's illness had been slandered by the imperial physicians. An edict was immediately issued to execute the imperial physicians, and Sima Jiong was established as the heir.
Initially, the Emperor Wu greatly loved Sima You, but was estranged from him by the slanderous words of Xun Xu, Feng Dan, and others. Wishing to make arrangements for after his own death, he therefore sent him away. After Sima You died, the Emperor Wu grieved and sorrowed without ceasing. Feng Dan was attending at his side and said: "The Prince of Qi's reputation exceeded his actual merit; all under Heaven turned their hearts to him. Now that he has died of himself, this is the realm's good fortune. Why must Your Majesty grieve excessively?" The Emperor Wu stopped his tears and ceased his mourning. An edict was issued that Sima You's funeral rites should follow the precedent of the Anping Xian Prince.
In all his actions, Sima You conformed to ritual propriety and rarely had faults. Even the Emperor Wu stood in awe of him. Whenever he guided him to sit together, he would always choose his words carefully before speaking.
In the summer, the fifth month, on the jihai day, the Prince of Langxie, Sima Zhou, the Wu, passed away.
In the winter, the eleventh month, the Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, Wei Shu, was appointed Minister over the Masses.
Henan, as well as the six provinces of Jingzhou and Yangzhou, suffered great floods.
The Marquis of Guiming, Sun Hao, died.
In this year, the Xianbei chieftain Murong Shegui died. His younger brother Murong Shan usurped the position and established himself, and was about to kill Shegui's son, Murong Hui. Murong Hui fled and hid in the house of Xu Yu in Liaodong.
In the fifth year of the Taikang reign period of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty (jia chen year, 284 AD)
In the spring, the first month, on the jihai day, two green dragons appeared in the well of the weapons storehouse. The Emperor Wu went to view them and his face showed delight. The hundred officials were about to offer congratulations. The Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, Liu Yi, submitted a memorial, saying: "In former times, a dragon descended into the court of Xia, and ultimately brought about the calamity of Zhou. The Book of Changes says: 'The hidden dragon should not be used, because the yang force is in the lower position.' Examining the old statutes and regulations, there is no ritual for congratulating the appearance of a dragon." The Emperor Wu followed his advice.
Initially, Chen Qun, because the Ministry of Personnel could not thoroughly evaluate the talents across the empire, ordered each commandery and principality to establish its own Zhongzheng, and each province to establish a Grand Zhongzheng, all selecting individuals from among the local people who held court offices and had outstanding moral character and ability to fill these posts. They were to assess and rank candidates into nine grades: those with notable conduct were promoted, those with moral failings were demoted, and the Ministry of Personnel would use these evaluations to appoint officials. After this system had been in place for a long time, the Zhongzheng were sometimes unsuitable people, and corruption and abuses increasingly arose. Liu Yi submitted a memorial saying: “Now the establishment of Zhongzheng and the fixing of nine grades allows high and low to be decided arbitrarily, and honor and disgrace to be controlled at will. They manipulate the sovereign’s authority and seize the power of the imperial court. The government has no responsibility for oversight, and private individuals have no prohibition against slander. With myriad schemes and endless pursuits, the spirit of integrity and modesty disappears, and the habit of contention and litigation takes root. I privately feel ashamed for the sage dynasty! The establishment of Zhongzheng brings eight harms to governance: high and low follow power and weakness, right and wrong follow rise and fall. The same person, within ten days, can have different statuses. The upper grades have no families of humble origin, and the lower grades have no powerful clans—this is the first harm. The establishment of provincial governors was originally meant to select people whom the pure criticism of the province all accepted, to settle dissenting views and unify opinions. Now, while the responsibility is emphasized, the selection of people is slighted, allowing contentious and contrary arguments to run rampant within the province, and creating grudges and enmity among high officials—this is the second harm. Originally, standards were set and nine grades were determined, implying that talent and virtue had gradations of excellence and inferiority, and that peers had order of precedence. Now, excellence and inferiority are reversed, and order is confused—this is the third harm. Your Majesty rewards good and punishes evil, always deciding according to the law. Yet alone in establishing Zhongzheng, they are entrusted with the heavy responsibility of an entire state, without any safeguards of reward or punishment, and people are forbidden to appeal. They act arbitrarily without scruples, and those who are wronged harbor grievances and accumulated righteousness but cannot bring them to the court—this is the fourth harm. The talents of a single state, numbering in the thousands, some have migrated to other regions, some are drawn from elsewhere. Even their faces are not known, let alone their complete abilities! Yet the Zhongzheng, whether they know them or not, must assess their status, listening to reputations from the departments and officials, accepting slander from rumors. Relying on their own judgment leads to the fault of not knowing people; listening and accepting leads to the fault of mutual partiality—this is the fifth harm. All those who seek talent are meant to govern the people. Now, those who have achieved results in office are sometimes assigned to lower grades, while those without merit in office gain high positions. This suppresses actual achievements and exalts empty reputation, encourages ostentation and neglects performance evaluation—this is the sixth harm. All offices differ in their people, and tasks differ in their abilities. Now, without examining what abilities are suitable for what, they simply evaluate into nine grades and select people by grade. Sometimes this does not match the person’s strengths; sometimes selecting by description is restricted by the grade itself, vainly creating empty discussions while grade and description obstruct each other—this is the seventh harm. Those demoted by the nine grades are not shown their crimes; those promoted are not listed for their merits. Each acts according to personal likes and dislikes to cultivate private advantage. How can the people of the empire not slacken in virtue and instead keenly scheme for personal connections?—this is the eighth harm. From this it can be said: the post is called Zhongzheng, but in reality it is a storehouse of corruption; the system is called nine grades, yet it brings eight harms. There has been no greater fault in ancient or modern times than this! I, your foolish minister, believe that the Zhongzheng should be abolished, the nine grades discarded, the flawed law of Wei rejected, and a fine new system for one generation established.” The Grand Marshal, Prince of Runan, Sima Liang, and the Minister of Works, Wei Guan, also submitted a memorial saying: “Wei inherited the period of chaos and loss, when people were scattered and wandering, and evaluations had no place to be conducted, so they established the nine-grade system, roughly as a temporary basis for selection. Now the nine provinces are unified, and moral transformation has just begun. Your ministers believe that all these superficial methods should be completely swept away, and the system of local registration (tuduan) should be adopted. From the dukes and ministers downward, let place of residence be the criterion, with no more sojourning or long-distance attachment to foreign lands. Completely abolish the Zhongzheng and nine-grade system, so that recommendations of good people and advancement of talent each come from local public opinion. Then ostentation and contention will naturally subside, and each person will seek improvement within themselves.” The tutor to the Prince of Shiping, Jiangxia Li Zhong, submitted a memorial saying: “If the nine grades are abolished, we should first open up migration, allowing people to merge and attach to one another freely, then the local registration system can be implemented.” The Emperor thought these words were good, but in the end he could not change the system.
Winter, twelfth month, Gengwu day, a general amnesty was granted throughout the empire.
An intercalary month, the Marquis of Dangyang Cheng, Du Yu, died.
This year, the Xiongnu barbarian Hutai’ahe led his tribe of 29,300 people to surrender, and the Emperor settled them within the passes in Xihe.
The Ning Province was abolished and merged into Yi Province, and a Southern Yi Colonel was established to protect it.
Emperor Wu of Jin, Taikang 6 (Yi Si, 285 AD)
Spring, first month, the Left General of the Palace Secretariat, Liu Yi, retired and soon died.
Wuchen day, Wang Hun was appointed Left General of the Palace Secretariat, and Wang Hun’s son, Wang Ji, as Attendant-in-Ordinary. When Wang Hun’s handling of affairs was improper, Wang Ji punished him according to the law. Wang Ji’s cousin, Wang You, had long been at odds with Wang Ji, and so slandered Wang Ji for not being able to tolerate his father. The Emperor therefore distanced himself from Wang Ji, and later, due to some offense, Wang Ji was dismissed from office. Wang Ji’s nature was bold and extravagant. The Emperor said to the Attendant-in-Ordinary, He Qiao, “I am going to rebuke Wang Ji and then give him an office. What do you think?” He Qiao said, “Wang Ji is outstanding and forthright; I fear he cannot be humbled.” The Emperor then summoned Wang Ji, sternly reprimanded him, and then said, “Do you feel a little shame?” Wang Ji said, “The song of ‘a foot of cloth’ and ‘a peck of grain’—I often feel shame for Your Majesty. Others can make close people distant; I cannot make close people close. Therefore, I feel shame for Your Majesty.” The Emperor remained silent. He Qiao was the grandson of He Zhi.
Qing, Liang, You, and Ji provinces suffered drought.
Autumn, eighth month, Bingxu day (the first day of the month), a solar eclipse occurred.
Winter, twelfth month, Gengzi day, the Marquis of Xiangyang Wu, Wang Jun, died.
This year, Murong Shan was killed by his subordinates, and his followers again welcomed Murong Hui, the son of Murong Shegui, to be their leader. Murong Shegui had long been at enmity with the Yuwen tribe. Murong Hui requested permission to attack them, but the court did not allow it. Murong Hui became angry and invaded Liaoxi, killing and capturing many people. The Emperor sent the forces of You Province to attack Murong Hui, and they fought at Feiru. Murong Hui’s army was greatly defeated. From then on, he raided the border every year. He also attacked Fuyu to the east, and the King of Fuyu, Yilü, committed suicide. His sons and followers fled to protect themselves at Wolu. Murong Hui leveled the capital of Fuyu and drove off ten thousand people.
Emperor Wu of Jin, Taikang 7 (Bing Wu, 286 AD)
Spring, first month, Jiayin day (the first day of the month), a solar eclipse occurred. Wei Shu claimed illness and earnestly requested retirement, and was dismissed from office with the title of Marquis of Juyangzi. In his actions, Wei Shu always acted first and spoke later; when he retired, no one knew about it. Wei Guan wrote a letter to Wei Shu, saying: “Whenever I discussed this matter with you, day after day we reached no conclusion. It can be said, ‘Look at it in front, and suddenly it is behind.’”
Summer, Murong Hui invaded Liaodong. Yiluo, the son of the late King Yilü of Fuyu, requested to lead his remaining followers back to their old state and asked for assistance from the Eastern Yi Colonel, He Kan. He Kan sent his supervisor, Jia Shen, to lead troops to escort them. Murong Hui sent his general, Sun Ding, to lead cavalry to intercept them on the road. Jia Shen fought fiercely, killed Sun Ding, and thus restored Fuyu.
Autumn, the Xiongnu Dudaboju and the Weisha Hu each led their tribes of over one hundred thousand people to surrender at Yongzhou.
Ninth month, Wuyin day, the Prince of Fufeng Wu, Sima Jun, died.
Winter, eleventh month, Renzi day, the Prince of Longxi, Sima Tai, was appointed to command the military affairs of Guanzhong. Sima Tai was the son of Sima Kui, the younger brother of Emperor Xuan.
This year, the Xianbei Tuoba Xilu died, and his younger brother, Tuoba Chuo, succeeded him.
Emperor Wu of Jin, Taikang 8 (Ding Wei, 287 AD)
Spring, first month, Wushen day (the first day of the month), a solar eclipse occurred.
The hall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple collapsed. Autumn, ninth month, the temple was rebuilt, with 60,000 laborers employed.
This year, the Xiongnu Dudu Dadaiyiyuju and others again led their tribe of 11,500 people to surrender.
Emperor Wu of Jin, Taikang 9 (Wu Shen, 288 AD)
Spring, first month, Renshen day (the first day of the month), a solar eclipse occurred.
Summer, sixth month, Gengzi day (the first day of the month), a solar eclipse occurred. Thirty-three commanderies and principalities suffered severe drought.
Autumn, eighth month, Renzi day, meteors fell like rain.
An earthquake occurred.