Records of Jin, Volume 5
【Annals of Jin, Volume 5】 From the year of Tuwei Xieqia to the year of Muzhang Tunan, two years in total.
Spring, first month, Meng Guan greatly defeated the Di tribes at Zhongting, capturing Qi Wannian.
The Crown Prince’s Attendant, Jiang Tong of Chenliu, believed that the Rong and Di were disrupting China and that their roots should be severed early. Thus, he wrote “The Treatise on Relocating the Rong” to warn the court, stating: “The Yi, Man, Rong, and Di peoples dwell in remote frontier regions. When Yu pacified the Nine Provinces, the Western Rong had already submitted. Their nature is greedy, fierce, and unkind. Among the Four Barbarians, the Rong and Di are the most formidable: when weak, they are fearful and obedient; when strong, they invade and rebel. In their strength, Emperor Gaozu of Han was besieged at Baideng, and Emperor Wen of Han stationed troops at Bashang; in their weakness, even the feeble Emperors Yuan and Cheng of Han saw the Xiongnu chanyu come to court. These are verified events. Thus, a wise ruler governs the Yi and Di only by maintaining defenses and controlling them with regular measures. Even if they kowtow and present tribute, the border cities do not relax their strong fortifications; when violent bandits come, the army does not launch distant expeditions. The aim is merely to secure the interior and keep the frontiers unviolated.
“When the Zhou royal house lost its authority, the feudal lords acted independently in warfare. Borders were unstable, and interests diverged. The Rong and Di took the opportunity to enter the Central Plains, some being lured or pacified to serve the lords. From then on, the Four Barbarians intermingled, invading and living mixed among the Chinese. By the time Qin Shi Huang unified the world, his military might reached far, driving out the Hu and expelling the Yue. In that era, the Central Plains had no Four Barbarians.
“During the Jianwu era of Eastern Han, Ma Yuan served as Grand Administrator of Longxi, campaigning against rebellious Qiang and relocating their remnants to Guanzhong, settling them in the vacant lands of Fengyi and Hedong. Within a few years, these tribes multiplied and prospered. Relying on their wealth and strength, they also suffered from Han encroachment. In the first year of Yongchu, the various Qiang tribes rebelled, killing generals and officials, sacking cities. Deng Zhi fled in defeat, and the chaos reached Henei. Over ten years, both Yi and Chinese were exhausted, and Ren Shang and Ma Xian barely quelled the rebellion. Thereafter, remnant forces were never fully eliminated; at the slightest opportunity, they invaded again. The calamities since the middle period were greatest in this. At the rise of Cao Wei, separated from Shu Han, the frontier Rong shifted allegiance between the two. Emperor Wu moved the Di of Wudu to Qinzhou, aiming to weaken the enemy, strengthen the state, and defend against Shu. This was a temporary expedient, not a lasting plan for ten thousand generations. Now, we have already suffered its harm.
“The Guanzhong region, with fertile land and abundant resources, is fit for an imperial capital. It has never been heard that Rong or Di should dwell here. Those not of our kind are sure to have different minds. When they were in decline, they were moved near the capital. The common people, in their carelessness, bullied and oppressed them, driving their resentment deep into their bones. When they multiplied and grew strong, they naturally developed rebellious intentions. With their greedy and fierce nature, nursing angry feelings, they await opportunities and exploit advantages, rising in revolt at will. Living within our borders, they face no barriers, can ambush the unprepared, and plunder scattered stores. Thus, they can cause spreading calamities and unpredictable violence. This is an inevitable situation, verified by past events. The proper course now is to take advantage of our military might, while affairs are not yet concluded, to relocate the various Qiang within the borders of Fengyi, Beidi, Xinping, and Anding, settling them in the lands of Xianling, Hanyan, and Xizhi; and to move the Di of Fufeng, Shiping, and Jingzhao, sending them back to Longyou, settling them in the borders of Yinping and Wudi. Provide them with provisions for the journey, enough to reach their destinations. Let them join their own clans and return to their old lands, with the state-appointed Protectorates and Pacification Commandants to gather and settle them. When Rong and Jin do not mix, each gets its place. Even if they harbor intentions to invade China or cause border alarms, being far from the Central Plains and separated by mountains and rivers, their banditry and violence would not spread widely.
“Objectors say: The Di bandits have just been pacified, Guanzhong is afflicted with famine and plague, the people are suffering and desire rest. Yet you want to move the weary populace and relocate suspicious bandits? I fear that strength will be exhausted and circumstances strained, and the task cannot be completed. The previous harm may not be removed, and new troubles will arise. I reply: Do you think the present Di tribes still have surplus resources, repent of their sins, turn to good, and come to submit gently out of gratitude for our kindness? Or are they in dire straits, with no way out, their wits exhausted, fearing our army’s punishment and thus reduced to this? The answer is: They are without strength and in dire straits. Thus, we control their fate of life and death, and their advance or retreat is ours to decide. Those who delight in their work do not easily change tasks; those content with their dwelling have no desire to move. While they are in a state of fear, anxiety, and urgency, we can use military force to subdue them, making them dare not disobey. When they have died or scattered, dispersed far and not yet gathered, and become enemies with every household in Guanzhong, we can move them far away, so their hearts no longer yearn for their old soil. The sage plans things before they happen, governs before disorder arises. The Way is not manifest yet peace is achieved; virtue is not displayed yet success is accomplished. Those of lesser ability turn disaster into fortune, rely on failure to achieve success, overcome difficulties, and navigate setbacks. Now you encounter the end of a corrupt policy but do not plan a change at its beginning; you begrudge the labor of changing course but follow the tracks of an overturned cart—why is that? Moreover, the population of Guanzhong exceeds one million. By rough estimate, Rong and Di make up half. Whether they stay or move, they must be fed. If some are destitute and lack even a grain of rice, we must take all the grain of Guanzhong to sustain their livelihood, not abandon them to die in ditches without causing plunder. Now, if we move them, they receive food along the way and arrive, joining their kin, who naturally support each other. The people of Qin obtain half their grain—this is like feeding travelers with food and leaving reserves for residents, easing Guanzhong’s distress, removing the source of bandits, eliminating short-term losses, and establishing long-term benefits. If we fear the small labor of temporary action and forget the grand strategy of lasting peace, begrudge the toil of a few months and leave behind generations of enemies, this is not what is meant by founding a legacy, transmitting a tradition, and planning for descendants.
“The Hu people of Bingzhou were originally fierce bandits among the Xiongnu. In the Jian’an era, the Right Worthy King Qu Bei was sent to lure and hold Hubuquan as hostage, allowing their tribes to scatter across six commanderies. In the Xianxi era, because one tribe grew too strong, it was divided into three chieftaincies. In the early Taishi era, it was increased to four chieftaincies. Then Liu Meng rebelled internally, colluding with external foes. Recently, the revolt of Hao San occurred at Guyuan. Now the five tribes number tens of thousands of households, with a population exceeding that of the Western Rong. Their nature is fierce and skilled in archery and horsemanship, twice as formidable as the Di and Qiang. Should unexpected troubles arise, the region of Bingzhou could chill one’s heart.
During the Zhengshi era, Guanqiu Jian campaigned against Goguryeo and relocated the remnants of their tribes to Xingyang. At the time of relocation, there were only a hundred or so households; through the reproduction of descendants, they now number in the thousands; after several generations, they will surely reach a state of great prosperity and multitude. Now that the common people have lost their regular livelihoods, there are still those who flee and rebel; when dogs and horses are fattened, they will bite people—how much more so with the Yi and Di peoples? Can they avoid causing upheaval? It is only a concern that their power is weak and their strength insufficient to act.
"Those who govern a state do not worry about a small population, but about instability. Relying on the vastness of the four seas and the abundance of the scholar-officials and common people, why is it necessary to have barbarian captives within the borders before it is considered sufficient? All such people can be clearly instructed, sent back, and returned to their native lands, consoling their feelings of sojourning in a foreign place and longing for home, eliminating our minor worries within Hua-Xia, bestowing grace upon the Central Plains, thereby pacifying the four directions. Let virtue be practiced for eternal generations—from a strategic perspective, this is far-reaching!" The court did not adopt this advice.
The Sanqi Changshi Jia Mi served the crown prince in the Eastern Palace, teaching him, and behaved arrogantly and disrespectfully toward the prince. Chengdu Wang Sima Ying saw this and loudly rebuked him. Jia Mi became angry and spoke to Empress Jia, resulting in Sima Ying being sent out as General Who Pacifies the North, garrisoning Yecheng. Liang Wang Sima Rong was summoned to be Grand General and Director of the Imperial Secretariat; Hejian Wang Sima Yong was appointed General Who Pacifies the West, garrisoning Guanzhong. Initially, Emperor Wu established a regulation in a stone casket that no one who was not a close relative could garrison Guanzhong; Sima Yong was generous with wealth and cherished scholars, and the court considered him virtuous, so he was appointed.
Summer, sixth month, on the Wuxu day, Gaomi Wenxian Wang Sima Tai died.
Empress Jia's licentiousness and cruelty grew increasingly severe. She had illicit relations with the Imperial Physician Director Cheng Ju and others. She also used bamboo chests to carry young men from the roads into the palace, and fearing they would leak secrets, she often killed them. Jia Mo worried that disaster would implicate him and was deeply anxious. Pei Wei, together with Jia Mo and Zhang Hua, discussed deposing the empress and installing Consort Xie Shu instead. Jia Mo and Zhang Hua both said: "The sovereign himself has no intention of deposing her, and if we act on our own, what if the sovereign does not approve? Moreover, the various princes are growing powerful, and their factions differ; I fear that once trouble arises, we will die, the state will be endangered, and there will be no benefit to the state." Pei Wei said: "What you say is indeed true. But the empress indulges in her folly and cruelty, and disaster can be expected at any moment." Zhang Hua said: "You two are both relatives of the empress; perhaps what you say might be heeded. You should repeatedly explain to her the warnings of fortune and misfortune, hoping that there will be no great perversity. Then the world will not fall into turmoil, and we can spend our days in peace." Pei Wei repeatedly advised his aunt, Guangcheng Jun, to caution and instruct Empress Jia to be close and kind to the crown prince. Jia Mo also repeatedly explained fortune and misfortune to the empress. The empress could not accept this and instead thought Jia Mo was slandering her and distanced herself from him. Jia Mo, frustrated, died of grief and anger.
Autumn, eighth month, Pei Wei was appointed Shangshu Puye. Although Pei Wei was a relative of Empress Jia, he had long enjoyed high prestige, and the people of the world were concerned that he might not be in a position of power. Soon, an edict ordered Pei Wei to take exclusive charge of affairs in the Menxia Sheng. Pei Wei submitted a memorial firmly declining, stating: "Jia Mo has just died, and now I am used to replace him, which elevates the prestige of the imperial relatives, highlights a partial act, and brings burden to the sage court." The emperor did not listen. Someone said to Pei Wei: "If you can speak out, you should speak fully to the empress. If you speak and are not heeded, you should distance yourself far away. If you do neither of these, even if you submit ten memorials, it will be difficult to avoid disaster." Pei Wei sighed deeply for a long time but ultimately could not follow this advice.
Emperor Hui of Jin was dull and simple-minded. Once, in the Hualin Garden, he heard the croaking of frogs and asked his attendants: "Does this creature that cries cry for the public or for private reasons?" At that time, there was a famine across the land, and the common people were starving to death. When the emperor heard of this, he said: "Why don't they eat meat porridge?" Thus, great power fell into the hands of ministers, and edicts came from many offices. Powerful families recommended and entrusted one another as if in a marketplace. Jia Mi and Guo Zhang acted with reckless abandon, and bribery was conducted openly. Lu Bao of Nanyang wrote the "Discourse on the Money God" to satirize this, saying: "The form of money has the image of heaven and earth. Those close to it are like elder brothers; its name is Kongfang. Without virtue, it is honored; without power, it is warm. It can push open the golden gate and enter the purple inner door. Danger can be made safe; death can be made alive; honor can be made lowly; life can be made to kill. Thus, disputes cannot be won without money; obstacles cannot be cleared without money; enmities cannot be resolved without money; good reputations cannot be spread without money. The crimson-robed nobles of Luoyang and those in power love our elder brother without end, holding my hand and embracing me always. The people of today care only for money!" Furthermore, court officials vied to be harsh and meticulous. Whenever there were difficult disputes, the officials each clung to their private opinions. Penal laws were not uniform, and lawsuits were numerous. Pei Wei submitted a memorial saying: "The former kings made punishments and rewards commensurate, with no disparity between light and heavy, so that subordinates followed constant laws and officials rested secure in their posts. In the fourth year of the Yuankang era, a great wind blew off several roof tiles from the ancestral temple and palace gates, and the Grand Master of Ceremonies Xun Yu was dismissed. The matter was light but the punishment heavy, violating the constant law. In the second month of the fifth year, another great wind blew. The chief clerk of the Lantai, fearing the previous precedent, searched among the rafters and found fifteen places where the tiles were slightly askew. For this, they punished the Grand Master of Ceremonies again and initiated another lawsuit. In the eighth month of this year, on the imperial mausoleum grounds, a thorn branch measuring seven-tenths of an inch in girth was cut. The Grand Commandant and the Grand Master of Ceremonies rushed about the roads. Although they knew the matter was trivial, the impeachments and investigations were unpredictable. They were harassed and driven, each striving to avoid blame, and to this day the Grand Master of Ceremonies remains under house arrest. The provisions of the penal code are limited, but the causes of error are infinite. Therefore, there is a system of temporary deliberation, and indeed, not everything can follow the constant rules. As for matters of this kind, they are all excessive. I fear that wicked clerks will take advantage of this opportunity to arbitrarily make things light or heavy." Not long after, the practice of bending the law did not cease. The Sanshu Shangshu Liu Song also submitted a memorial saying: "Since recent times, laws have gradually emerged from many sources, and edicts are not at all uniform. Officials do not know what to follow; the common people do not know what to avoid. Cunning people take advantage of this to exercise their schemes; those in high positions find it difficult to inspect their subordinates. Matters are the same, but discussions differ, and cases are not fair. The duties of lord and minister each have their own jurisdiction. If the law is to be surely followed, then let the responsible officials adhere to the statutes. If principles are obstructed, let the high ministers resolve the impasses. If circumstances have their proper times, let the sovereign weigh and decide. The responsible officials adhering to the statutes is like Zhang Shizhi insisting on the justice of punishing those who violate the imperial procession. The high ministers resolving impasses is like Gongsun Hong adjudicating the case of Guo Xie. The sovereign weighing and deciding is like Emperor Gaozu of Han executing Ding Gong. Among the myriad affairs under heaven, unless they fall into such categories, they should not be arbitrarily discussed. They should all be handled according to the laws and ordinances. Then the law will have trust among the ministers and people; the common people will hear and not be confused; officials will not tolerate wickedness; and only then can government be discussed." An edict was then issued: "If any Lang or Lingshi again submits a memorial to debate a case beyond the law, report it along with the matter." Yet this could not change the prevailing trend.
Liu Song was promoted to Minister of Personnel and established a system of nine ranks, intending to slow down the promotions of officials hoping for rapid advancement, assess their abilities, and clarify rewards and punishments. Jia Mi and Guo Zhang were in power, and those seeking office desired rapid promotion, so the matter was ultimately not implemented.
Pei Wei recommended Wei Zhong of Pingshan to Zhang Hua. Zhang Hua summoned Wei Zhong, but Wei Zhong declined on the grounds of illness. When someone asked him why, Wei Zhong said: "Zhang Maoxian is flashy but insubstantial; Pei Yimin is insatiably greedy. They have abandoned ritual and law and attached themselves to the treacherous empress. How can this be the conduct of a true man! Yimin often intends to entrust things to me, and I constantly fear that he will sink into the deep abyss and his ripples will reach me—how much less would I roll up my clothes and approach him!"
Suo Jing, a Guan Nei Hou from Dunhuang, knew that the world was about to fall into chaos. Pointing to the bronze camels at the gates of the Luoyang palace, he sighed and said: "I shall see you lying among the thorns and brambles!"
Winter, eleventh month, on the Jiazi day, which was the first day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred.
Initially, Guangchengjun Guo Huai, because Empress Jia had no sons, often advised the empress to treat the Crown Prince with kindness. Jia Mi, arrogant and unrestrained, repeatedly acted rudely toward the Crown Prince, and Guangchengjun frequently sternly rebuked him. Guangchengjun wanted to make Han Shou’s daughter the Crown Princess, and the Crown Prince also wished to marry into the Han family to strengthen his own position; however, Han Shou’s wife Jia Wu and Empress Jia both refused, and instead arranged for the Crown Prince to marry Wang Yan’s youngest daughter. The Crown Prince heard that Wang Yan’s eldest daughter was beautiful, but Empress Jia had betrothed her to Jia Mi, which made him resentful, and he voiced many complaints. When Guangchengjun fell gravely ill, on her deathbed she grasped Empress Jia’s hand, urging her to treat the Crown Prince with all her heart, speaking with utmost earnestness. She also said: “Zhao Can and Jia Wu will surely disrupt your household; after I die, do not let them enter the palace again. Remember my words firmly.” Empress Jia did not heed this; instead, she plotted with Zhao Can and Jia Wu to harm the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince had a good reputation in his youth, but as he grew older, he disliked studying and only amused himself with his attendants. Empress Jia sent eunuchs and others to entice him into extravagance and arrogance, causing his reputation to gradually decline as his pride and insolence became more pronounced. Sometimes he would skip court audiences and official duties to indulge in pleasure, setting up a marketplace within the palace where he had people slaughter animals and sell wine, personally weighing the amounts with great accuracy. His mother had been the daughter of a butcher, so the Crown Prince enjoyed such activities. The Eastern Palace’s monthly allowance was 500,000 cash, but the Crown Prince often borrowed two months in advance and still found it insufficient. He also had the Western Garden sell vegetables, indigo plants, chickens, flour, and other goods to generate profit. He was fond of yin-yang divination and had many taboos. Xima Jiang Tong submitted a memorial listing five matters: “First, even if you have minor ailments, you should force yourself to attend court audiences. Second, you should diligently meet with the Grand Tutor and Grand Guardian to seek good counsel. Third, work in the painting studio could be temporarily reduced, and miscellaneous tasks like carving in the rear gardens should all be stopped. Fourth, selling vegetables and indigo at the Western Garden damages the state’s dignity and lowers your reputation. Fifth, repairing walls and fixing roof tiles need not be bound by petty taboos.” The Crown Prince did not follow any of this. Zhongshe Ren Du Xi, worried that the Crown Prince could not secure his position, often offered loyal advice, urging him to cultivate virtue and learning to preserve his good name, speaking with sincere earnestness. The Crown Prince disliked him and placed a needle in the felt mat where Du Xi often sat, causing him to bleed when he sat down. Du Xi was the son of Du Yu.
The Crown Prince had a fiery temper; knowing that Jia Mi relied on the empress’s favor to act arrogantly, he could not tolerate him. Jia Mi, then serving as Shizhong, once visited the Eastern Palace, and the Crown Prince avoided him, playing in the rear courtyard. Zhanshi Pei Quan admonished, saying: “Jia Mi is close to the empress and favored by her; if you two fall into mutual slander, matters will become dangerous.” The Crown Prince did not listen. Jia Mi slandered him to Empress Jia, saying: “The Crown Prince has amassed private wealth to cultivate ties with petty men, all because of the Jia clan. If the Emperor dies and he ascends the throne, following the precedent of the Yang clan, he will execute us and depose you to Jinyong City as easily as turning his hand. It would be better to deal with him early and install someone benevolent and obedient, thus securing our own safety.” Empress Jia adopted his advice, so she spread tales of the Crown Prince’s faults far and wide. She also feigned pregnancy, secretly preparing padding and birthing implements, and took in her sister’s husband Han Shou’s son, Han Weizu, to raise, intending to replace the Crown Prince with him.
At this time, both court and commoners knew Empress Jia intended to harm the Crown Prince. Zhonghujun Zhao Jun asked the Crown Prince to depose the empress, but the Crown Prince refused. Zuowei Shuai of Dongping, Liu Bian, inquired about Empress Jia’s plot with Zhang Hua. Zhang Hua said, “I have not heard of it.” Liu Bian said, “I was originally a petty clerk in Xuchang, raised to my present position by your patronage. A scholar feels gratitude toward a confidant, so I speak frankly—yet you doubt me!” Zhang Hua said, “If such a thing exists, what do you intend to do?” Liu Bian said, “The Eastern Palace is filled with talents, and the four commands have ten thousand elite soldiers. You hold the weighty position of Aheng. If you issue an order, when the Crown Prince enters court to handle the affairs of the Shangshu, deposing Empress Jia to Jinyong City would take only the effort of two eunuchs.” Zhang Hua said, “Now the Emperor governs, the Crown Prince is his son, and I have not received the command of Aheng. To suddenly do this together would be to show a lack of ruler and father to the world and to display unfilial conduct. Even if we succeeded, we would still not escape punishment. Moreover, powerful relatives fill the court, and authority is divided—can we be sure of success?” Empress Jia often sent close associates in disguise to listen outside, and they heard something of Liu Bian’s words. She then transferred Liu Bian to be the Governor of Yongzhou. Liu Bian, knowing the matter had leaked, took poison and died.
In the twelfth month, the Crown Prince’s eldest son, Sima Bin, fell ill. The Crown Prince requested a royal title for him, but it was not granted. When Sima Bin’s condition worsened, the Crown Prince prayed for him. Empress Jia, hearing this, falsely claimed the Emperor was unwell and summoned the Crown Prince to court. When he arrived, she did not see him but placed him in a separate chamber. She sent a maid, Chen Wu, with an imperial order to give the Crown Prince three sheng of wine, commanding him to drink it all. The Crown Prince declined, saying he could not drink three sheng, but Chen Wu pressed him, saying, “Unfilial! Heaven grants you wine, yet you do not drink—is there poison in it?” The Crown Prince had no choice but to drink it all, becoming greatly intoxicated. Empress Jia then had the Huangmen Shilang Pan Yue draft a script, sent a young maid, Chengfu, with paper and brush, and under the guise of an imperial edict, had the Crown Prince copy it while drunk. The text read: “His Majesty should end himself; if he does not, I will enter the palace and end him. The Empress should also quickly end herself; if she does not, I will personally end her. I have agreed with Consort Xie to act together at a set time; do not hesitate, lest you leave future trouble. I have sworn by drinking blood under the sun, moon, and stars; Heaven permits the eradication of calamity. I will establish Daowen as king and Jiang as the inner master. When the wish is fulfilled, I will sacrifice three animals to the Northern Lord.” The Crown Prince was so drunk he was unaware, and he copied it as given. Half the characters were illegible, so Empress Jia filled them in and presented it to Emperor Hui.
On the day Renzu, Emperor Hui went to the Shigan Hall, summoned the dukes and ministers, and had Huangmen Ling Dong Meng show them the Crown Prince’s letter and a green-paper edict, saying: “Sima Yu wrote this letter; now he is to be put to death.” He showed it to all the lords and princes, but no one dared to speak. Zhang Hua said: “This is a great calamity for the state; since ancient times, deposing the rightful heir has often led to ruin and chaos. Moreover, our state has held the realm for only a short time—I beg Your Majesty to consider carefully!” Pei Wei argued that the person who transmitted the letter should first be examined, and also requested a comparison of the Crown Prince’s handwriting; otherwise, there might be fraud. Empress Jia then produced over ten sheets of the Crown Prince’s own memorials, and the officials compared them, but still no one dared to say they were not authentic.
Empress Jia sent Dong Meng under the pretext of the Princess of Changguang’s authority to tell Emperor Hui: “This matter should be resolved quickly, but the officials’ opinions differ; those who do not obey the edict should be dealt with by martial law.” The debate continued until the sun was in the west, but still no decision was reached. Empress Jia, seeing that Zhang Hua and others were firm in their stance and fearing a change, submitted a memorial requesting that the Crown Prince be demoted to commoner status. Emperor Hui issued an edict agreeing. He then sent Shangshu He Yu and others with credentials to the Eastern Palace to depose the Crown Prince as a commoner. The Crown Prince changed into commoner’s clothes, came out, bowed twice to receive the edict, and walked out of Chenghua Gate. He rode in a rough ox-cart, and the Prince of Dongwu, Sima Dan, led troops to escort the Crown Prince, his consort Wang, and his three sons, Sima Bin, Sima Zang, and Sima Shang, to be confined in Jinyong City. Wang Yan himself submitted a memorial requesting divorce, which was granted; the consort wept bitterly and returned to her family. The Crown Prince’s mother, Lady Xie Shuyuan, and Sima Bin’s mother, Baolin Jiang Jun, were executed.
In spring, the first month, on the day Guihai Shuo (the first day), a general amnesty was granted, and the reign name was changed.
The Colonel of the Western Rong’s Military Advisor, Yan Zuan, carried a coffin to the palace gate and submitted a memorial, arguing: “In the Han dynasty, Crown Prince Li, the Heir Apparent of Li, raised troops against orders, yet some still said his crime deserved no more than a beating. Now, when Sima Yu was charged, he did not violate the way of a son, and his crime was lighter than that of the Heir Apparent of Li. A new teacher should be selected, and he should first be sternly instructed; if he does not reform, it will not be too late to abandon him.” The memorial was submitted but ignored. Yan Zuan was the grandson of Yan Pu.
Lady Jia sent a eunuch to confess, claiming that he had conspired with the Crown Prince to rebel. Emperor Hui issued an edict, making the eunuch's confession public to the nobles and officials. He sent the Duke of Dongwu, Sima Dan, with a thousand soldiers to guard the Crown Prince, imprisoning him in Xuchang Palace. He ordered the Imperial Secretary Liu Zhen to hold the tally and watch over him, and decreed that the Crown Prince's officials were not allowed to bid him farewell. The Crown Prince's attendants, including Jiang Tong, Pan Tao, Wang Dun, Du Rui, and Lu Yao, defied the prohibition and went to the Yi River, where they knelt and bowed in farewell, weeping tears. The Colonel of the Capital, Man Fen, arrested Jiang Tong and others and sent them to prison. Those imprisoned in Henan were all released by Yue Guang; those imprisoned in Luoyang County were not yet freed. The Metropolitan Official Sun Yan advised Jia Mi, saying: "The reason for deposing and exiling the Crown Prince is because of his evil deeds. Now that his officials have risked punishment to bid him farewell, if they are severely punished, news will spread to all directions, and it will only highlight the Crown Prince's virtue even more. It would be better to release them." Jia Mi then told the Magistrate of Luoyang, Cao Shu, to release them; Yue Guang was also not punished. Wang Dun was the grandson of Wang Lan; Cao Shu was the grandson of Cao Zhao. When the Crown Prince arrived at Xuchang, he wrote a letter to his wife, Lady Wang, stating his grievances over the false accusations, but her father, Wang Yan, dared not submit the letter to the court.
On the day of Bingzi (the 14th), the Imperial Grandson Sima Shen died.
In the third month, blood rain fell in Weishi County. An ominous star appeared in the south; Venus appeared in the daytime; the Central Platform star split apart. Zhang Hua’s youngest son, Zhang Yi, urged Zhang Hua to resign, but Zhang Hua did not listen, saying: "The Way of Heaven is deep and distant; it is better to wait quietly."
After the Crown Prince was deposed, the people were furious. The Guard Commander Sima Ya and the Constant Attendant Xu Chao, both of whom had served in the Eastern Palace, conspired with the Palace Attendant Shi Yi and others to depose Lady Jia and restore the Crown Prince. Because Zhang Hua and Pei Wei were content with the status quo and clung to their positions, making it difficult to act with them in such a change, the General of the Right Army, the Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun, held military power and was greedy and ambitious, so they could use him to accomplish the task. They then persuaded Sun Xiu, saying: "The Empress is vicious, jealous, and devoid of principles. Together with Jia Mi and others, she falsely accused and deposed the Crown Prince. Now the state has no legitimate heir, and the altars of the state are in danger. The high officials are about to initiate a great undertaking, yet you nominally serve the Empress and are close and friendly with Jia Mi and Guo Zhang. Everyone says you knew in advance about the Crown Prince’s deposition. Once the affair begins, disaster will surely reach you. Why not take action first?" Sun Xiu agreed and told Sima Lun, who accepted it. They then informed the Palace Secretary Zhang Lin and the Palace Attendant Zhang Heng, among others, to serve as internal allies.
Just as the affair was about to begin, Sun Xiu said to Sima Lun: "The Crown Prince is intelligent, strong, and fierce. If he returns to the Eastern Palace, he will certainly not submit to others. You have long been allied with Lady Jia, and everyone on the road knows it. Even if you now perform a great service for the Crown Prince, he will think you are merely yielding to popular expectation and acting capriciously to avoid punishment. Even if he suppresses his old grievances, he will not be deeply grateful to you. If there is any misstep, you will still be executed. It would be better to delay. Lady Jia will surely kill the Crown Prince; then you can depose her and avenge the Crown Prince. This will not only avoid disaster but also fulfill your ambitions!" Sima Lun thought this was correct.
Sun Xiu then sent people to spread rumors, saying that someone in the palace wanted to depose the Empress and welcome back the Crown Prince. Lady Jia repeatedly sent palace women in plain clothes to spy among the people and, upon hearing this, became very frightened. Sima Lun and Sun Xiu then urged Jia Mi and others to eliminate the Crown Prince early, to cut off the people’s hopes. On the day of Guiwei (the 22nd), Lady Jia ordered the Imperial Physician Cheng Ju to prepare poison. She forged an edict and sent the eunuch Sun Lü to Xuchang to poison the Crown Prince. Since his deposition, the Crown Prince had feared being poisoned and often cooked his own food in front of himself. Sun Lü reported this to Liu Zhen, who then moved the Crown Prince to a small room and cut off his food supply. Palace attendants still secretly passed food to him over the wall. Sun Lü forced the Crown Prince to take the poison, but he refused. Sun Lü then beat him to death with a medicine pestle. The relevant officials requested that he be buried according to the rites of a commoner, but Lady Jia submitted a petition requesting burial according to the rites of the Prince of Guangling.
In the summer, the fourth month, on the day of Xinmao (the first day of the month), there was a solar eclipse.
The Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun, and Sun Xiu were about to attack Lady Jia. They informed the Right Guard Commander Lü He, who agreed. They arranged to act at the third watch on the day of Guisi (the third day), using drumbeats as the signal. On Guisi, Sun Xiu sent Sima Ya to tell Zhang Hua: "The Prince of Zhao wishes to join you in restoring the altars of the state and removing the scourge for the world. He sent me to inform you." Zhang Hua refused. Sima Ya angrily said: "The blade is about to be on your neck, and you still speak such words!" He left without looking back. At the appointed time, Sima Lun forged an edict ordering the Three Commanders of the Guards: "The Empress and Jia Mi have killed my Crown Prince. Now I send the General of Chariots and Cavalry to enter the palace and depose the Empress. You must all obey the order. When the task is accomplished, you will be granted the title of Marquis of Guannei. Those who disobey will have their three clans exterminated." Everyone obeyed. They then forged an edict to open the palace gates, entered at night, and arrayed their troops south of the road. They sent the Colonel of the Guard, the Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong, with a hundred men to push open the palace gates and enter. The Director of the Hualin Garden, Luo Xiu, served as an internal ally. They welcomed Emperor Hui to the Eastern Hall and used an edict to summon Jia Mi before the hall, intending to kill him. Jia Mi fled to the west bell and shouted: "Empress, save me!" He was immediately beheaded. When Lady Jia saw the Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong, she said in surprise: "Why have you come?" Sima Jiong said: "There is an edict to arrest the Empress." Lady Jia said: "Edicts should come from me. What edict is this?" Lady Jia went to the upper pavilion and shouted from afar to Emperor Hui: "Your Majesty has a wife, yet you let others depose her. This is equivalent to deposing yourself!" At this time, the Prince of Liang, Sima Rong, was also involved in the plot. Lady Jia asked Sima Jiong: "Who started this?" Sima Jiong said: "The Prince of Liang and the Prince of Zhao." Lady Jia said: "When tying a dog, one should tie it by the neck; but you tied it by the tail. How could it be otherwise?" She was then deposed as a commoner and imprisoned in the Jiansheng Hall. Zhao Can, Jia Wu, and others were arrested and handed over to the prison for interrogation. Emperor Hui issued an edict ordering the Secretariat to arrest Jia’s relatives and faction. He summoned the Director of the Palace Library, the Palace Attendants, the Assistant Imperial Secretaries, and the Eight Heads of Departments to enter the palace that night. The Secretariat initially suspected the edict was forged. The Lang Zhong Shi Jing publicly presented a memorial requesting the emperor’s handwritten edict, and Sima Lun and his men executed him and displayed his head.
Sima Lun secretly plotted with Sun Xiu to usurp the throne. He first wanted to eliminate those with prestige in the court and also settle personal grudges. He then arrested Zhang Hua, Pei Wei, Xie Xi, and Xie Jie in front of the hall. Zhang Hua said to Zhang Lin: "Do you intend to harm a loyal minister?" Zhang Lin forged an edict and rebuked him, saying: "You were the Chancellor. When the Crown Prince was deposed, you did not die to uphold your integrity. Why?" Zhang Hua said: "At the discussions in the Shigan Hall, my remonstrances were all recorded in the archives. They can be verified." Zhang Lin said: "You remonstrated but were not heeded. Why did you not resign?" Zhang Hua had no reply. They were all beheaded, and their three clans were exterminated. Xie Jie’s daughter was married into the Pei family. She was to be married the next day when the disaster struck. The Pei family wanted to claim her to save her life, but the daughter said: "Our family is already like this. What meaning is there in my living?" She was also implicated and executed. The court then discussed reforming the old law, so that women were no longer executed with their father’s family. On the day of Jiawu (the 4th), Sima Lun sat at the Duan Gate and sent the Secretariat He Yu with the tally to escort the deposed Lady Jia to Jinyong City. He executed Liu Zhen, Dong Meng, Sun Lü, Cheng Ju, and others. The Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Wang Rong, and many court officials, both inside and outside, were dismissed due to their connections with Zhang Hua and Pei Wei. Yan Zuan stroked Zhang Hua’s corpse and wept, saying: "I long urged you to resign, but you refused. Now you have indeed met your end. This is fate!"
Then Zhao Wang Sima Lun, under the guise of an imperial edict, proclaimed a general amnesty for all under Heaven. He appointed himself as Chijie, Commander-in-Chief of All Military Affairs, Chancellor, and Attendant, entirely following the precedents of Sima Yi and Sima Zhao when they assisted the Wei dynasty. He established a bodyguard of ten thousand men, made his heir-apparent, the Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary Sima Fu, concurrently a Palace Attendant-in-Ordinary, his son Sima Fu the Front General, enfeoffed as Prince of Jiyang; Sima Qian, a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, enfeoffed as Prince of Runan; and Sima Xu, a Cavalier Attendant, enfeoffed as Marquis of Bacheng. Sun Xiu and others were all enfeoffed as grand commanders and given military authority; civil and military officials enfeoffed as marquises numbered in the thousands, with all officials subordinate to and obeying Sima Lun. Sima Lun had always been mediocre and foolish, and he was controlled by Sun Xiu. Sun Xiu, serving as Director of the Secretariat, wielded authority that shook the court; all under Heaven served Sun Xiu and did not need to seek Sima Lun.
Emperor Hui issued an edict restoring the title of the former Crown Prince Sima Yu, sending Minister of Works He Yu to lead the Eastern Palace officials to Xuchang to receive the crown prince's coffin. He posthumously enfeoffed Sima Yu's son Sima Bin as Prince of Nanyang, and enfeoffed Sima Bin's younger brother Sima Zang as Prince of Linhuai, and Sima Shang as Prince of Xiangyang.
The relevant officials submitted a memorial: "Wang Yan, the Master of Documents, held a high ministerial position; when the crown prince was falsely accused, he only sought to escape disaster. We request that he be permanently barred from office." Emperor Hui agreed.
Chancellor Sima Lun wanted to win over people's hearts, so he selected men of reputation and virtue from throughout the realm, appointing the former Prefect of Pingshang, Li Zhong, and the Prefect of Xingyang, Xun Zu, as Left and Right Chief Clerks; the Prince of Dongping, Sima Kan, and Liu Mo of Pei State as Left and Right Marshals; the Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, Shu Xi of Yangping, as Recorder; the Academician of the Prince of Huainan, Xun Song, and the Gentleman of the Palace Hall, Lu Ji, as Adjutants. Xun Zu was the son of Xun Xu; Xun Song was the great-great-grandson of Xun Yu. Li Zhong knew that Sima Lun had treacherous intentions; he declined the appointment on grounds of illness. Sima Lun pressed him incessantly. Li Zhong fell ill from worry and anger, was carried to receive the appointment, and died a few days later.
On the seventh day of the month (Dingyou), Liang Wang Sima Rong was appointed Grand Guardian, the Left Grand Master of Splendid Happiness He Shao as Minister of Works, and the Right Grand Master of Splendid Happiness Liu Shi as Minister of Works.
When Crown Prince Sima Yu was deposed, there was a plan to establish the Prince of Huainan, Sima Yun, as heir-apparent younger brother, but opinions among the discussants were divided. It happened that Zhao Wang Sima Lun deposed Empress Jia, and then appointed Sima Yun as General of the Chariot and Cavalry, with the privileges of opening a mansion and the Three Excellencies, concurrently as Protector of the Army.
On the ninth day (Jihai), Chancellor Sima Lun, under the guise of an imperial edict, sent the Master of Writing Liu Hong to carry gold-leaf wine to Jinyong City, bestowing death upon Empress Jia.
On the day Jisi of the fifth month, an edict established the Prince of Linhuai, Sima Zang, as Imperial Great-Grandson, summoning the crown prince's consort, Lady Wang, back to be his mother. The officials of the Eastern Palace were transferred to be officials of the Great-Grandson, and Chancellor Sima Lun concurrently served as Grand Tutor of the Great-Grandson.
On the day Jimao, the posthumous title "Minhuai" was conferred upon the former crown prince. On the day Renyin of the sixth month, he was buried at Xianping Mausoleum.
Qinghe Kang Wang Sima Xia passed away.
The Protector of the Army, the Prince of Huainan, Sima Yun, had a firm and resolute character, and the palace guards respected and obeyed him. Sima Yun knew that Chancellor Sima Lun and Sun Xiu harbored treacherous intentions, so he secretly nurtured daredevil warriors, planning to punish them. Sima Lun and Sun Xiu were very wary of him. In autumn, the eighth month, Sima Yun was transferred to the post of Grand Commandant, ostensibly to honor him but actually to strip him of military power. Sima Yun claimed illness and did not accept the appointment. Sun Xiu sent the Censor Yu Liu Ji to pressure Sima Yun, arresting his subordinates and officials, and impeaching him for resisting the imperial command, an act of great disrespect. When Sima Yun saw the edict, he recognized Sun Xiu's handwriting and was enraged. He arrested the censor, intending to kill him; the censor escaped death by fleeing, but Sima Yun killed his two clerks. Sima Yun sternly said to his men, "The Prince of Zhao wants to destroy my house!" He then led his fief's troops and seven hundred of his retainers rushing out, shouting, "The Prince of Zhao has rebelled; I will punish him! Those who follow me, bare your left arms!" Many then rallied to him. Sima Yun intended to go to the palace, but the Left Assistant of the Masters of Writing, Wang Yu, closed the palace gates, and Sima Yun could not enter. He then surrounded the Chancellor's residence. Sima Yun's troops were all elite; Sima Lun fought them and was repeatedly defeated, with over a thousand dead. The Left Commander of the Heir Apparent, Chen Hui, led the Eastern Palace troops, beating drums and shouting inside the palace in response to Sima Yun. Sima Yun formed ranks before Chenghua Gate, and crossbows and bows fired together, raining arrows on Sima Lun. The Chief Clerk of the Secretariat, Sui Mi, shielded Sima Lun with his body; arrows struck his back, and he died. Sima Lun's officials all hid behind trees; each tree was hit by hundreds of arrows. From the hour of Chen to the hour of Wei, the Director of the Secretariat, Chen Zhun, who was Chen Hui's elder brother, wanted to respond to Sima Yun. He said to the emperor, "The white tiger pennant should be sent to stop the fighting." Thus, Sima Du Protector Fu Yin was sent with four hundred cavalry holding the pennant from the palace. The Attendant, Prince of Runan, Sima Qian, was in the Chancellery; he secretly swore an oath with Fu Yin, saying, "If we gain wealth and honor, we will share it." Fu Yin then carried a blank edict out, falsely claiming he had an edict to help the Prince of Huainan. Sima Yun, not suspecting, opened his ranks and let him in, dismounting from his carriage to receive the edict; Fu Yin took the opportunity to kill him. He also killed Sima Yun's sons, the Prince of Qin, Sima Yu, and the Prince of Han, Sima Di. Several thousand were executed for their involvement in Sima Yun's crime. A partial amnesty was granted in the Luoyang region. Initially, Sun Xiu had served as a petty clerk, serving the Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, Pan Yue, who had beaten him many times. The nephew of the Commandant of the Palace Guard, Shi Chong, Ouyang Jian, had long been at odds with Chancellor Sima Lun. Shi Chong had a beloved concubine named Green Pearl; Sun Xiu sent someone to demand her, but Shi Chong refused. When the Prince of Huainan, Sima Yun, was defeated, Sun Xiu took the opportunity to claim that Shi Chong, Pan Yue, and Ouyang Jian had supported Sima Yun in rebellion, and arrested them. Shi Chong sighed and said, "These slaves covet my wealth!" The arresting officer said, "If you knew wealth was the root of disaster, why did you not disperse it earlier?" Shi Chong could not answer. Initially, Pan Yue's mother often scolded him, saying, "You should know when to be content; why must you still be insatiable?" When he was defeated, Pan Yue apologized to his mother, saying, "I have failed my mother." He, along with Shi Chong and Ouyang Jian, were all executed and their clans destroyed. Shi Chong's property was confiscated. Chancellor Sima Lun arrested the Prince of Huainan's full younger brother, the Prince of Wu, Sima Yan, intending to kill him. The Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Fu Zhi, argued for him in the court; many remonstrated and stopped Sima Lun, so Sima Lun demoted Sima Yan to the status of the Prince of Bintu County.
The Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong, was promoted to General of the Agile Cavalry for his merit, but he was dissatisfied and showed resentment. Sun Xiu noticed this and, wary of him within the court, transferred him to the post of General Pacifying the East, garrisoning Xuchang.
The Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Chen Zhun, was appointed Grand Commandant and Recorder of the Masters of Writing; soon after, he died.
Sun Xiu proposed adding the Nine Bestowments to Chancellor Sima Lun, and none of the hundred officials dared to oppose it. The Master of Documents for Personnel, Liu Song, said, "In former times, the Han gave them to Wei, and Wei gave them to the Jin; these were all temporary measures and could not be taken as constant precedents. Zhou Bo and Huo Guang had the greatest merits, yet nothing is heard of an order bestowing the Nine Bestowments." Zhang Lin, full of accumulated anger, considered Liu Song a partisan of Zhang Hua and wanted to kill him. Sun Xiu said, "Killing Zhang Hua and Pei Wei has already damaged our reputation at the time; we cannot kill Liu Song again." Zhang Lin then desisted. Liu Song was appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. Thereupon, an edict was issued bestowing the Nine Bestowments upon Sima Lun. In addition, his sons were enfeoffed: Sima Fu as General of the Pacification Army, Sima Qian as General of the Central Army, and Sima Xu as Attendant. Sun Xiu was further enfeoffed as Attendant and General of the Supporting State, retaining his posts as Chancellor's Marshal and Right Commander. Zhang Lin and others all attained high positions. The Chancellor's troops were increased to twenty thousand, equal to the palace guard, and with the hidden troops, the total exceeded thirty thousand.
In the ninth month, the post of Minister of Works was changed to Chancellor, and Liang Wang Sima Rong was appointed to it; Sima Rong firmly declined and did not accept.
Sima Lun and his sons were all foolish, vulgar, and without knowledge. Sun Xiu was cunning, greedy, and lecherous. Those who worked with him were all wicked and flattering men, only concerned with pursuing glory and profit, without deep plans or long-range strategies. Their aims differed, and they hated and envied each other. Sun Xiu's son, Sun Hui, served as Colonel of the Archers; he was short, ugly in appearance, and like the lowest of slaves. Sun Xiu made him marry the emperor's daughter, the Princess of Hedong.
In winter, on the day Jiazi of the eleventh month, Empress Yang was established, and a general amnesty was proclaimed for all under Heaven. The empress was the daughter of the Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, Yang Xuanzhi of Taishan. Her maternal grandfather, the General Pacifying the South, Sun Qi of Lean, had good relations with Sun Xiu, so Sun Xiu established her as empress. Yang Xuanzhi was appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Excellency with Special Advancement, and Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Xingjin.
An imperial edict was issued summoning the Inspector of Yi Province, Zhao Xin, to serve as Grand Palace Attendant, and appointing the Inner History of Chengdu, Zhongshan native Geng Teng, as Inspector of Yi Province. Zhao Xin was a relative by marriage of Empress Jia. Hearing that he had been summoned, he was greatly fearful, and moreover, because the Jin court was in decline and turmoil, he secretly harbored the intention of occupying the Shu region. He therefore emptied the granaries and storehouses to distribute relief to the refugee settlers, in order to win over the people’s hearts. Because the Li brothers, Li Te and others, had talent and martial prowess, and their followers were all from Baxi, the same commandery as Zhao Xin, he treated them generously, making them his trusted claws and teeth. Relying on Zhao Xin’s power, Li Te and his followers specialized in gathering together to act as bandits, and the people of Shu suffered from them as a calamity. Geng Teng repeatedly submitted secret memorials saying: “The refugee settlers are tough and fierce, while the Shu people are weak. The host cannot control the guest, and this will certainly become the root of disaster. They should be sent back to their native places. If they are left in this strategically dangerous terrain, I fear the calamity of Qin and Yong will shift to Liang and Yi.” When Zhao Xin heard of this, he detested him.
The province received the edict and dispatched over a thousand civil and military officers to welcome Geng Teng. At this time, the commandery seat of Chengdu was in the Lesser City, while the Yi Province seat was in the Greater City. Zhao Xin was still in the Greater City and had not yet departed. Geng Teng was about to enter the provincial city when his Registrar, Chen Xun, admonished him, saying: “Now the enmity between the province and the commandery is deepening day by day. If you enter the city, you will certainly encounter great disaster. It would be better to remain in the Lesser City and observe the changes, send proclamations to the various counties to unite the fortified villages in defense against the Di people from Qin, and announce that the Western Frontier Colonel is about to arrive, so that we should wait for the time being. Otherwise, fall back to Qianwei, or cross westward over the Jiangyuan River, to guard against unforeseen events.” Geng Teng did not listen. That day, he led his troops into the provincial city. Zhao Xin sent soldiers to intercept him, and they fought at the West Gate. Geng Teng was defeated and died. The commandery officials all fled and scattered; only Chen Xun bound himself and went to Zhao Xin to request permission to collect and bury Geng Teng’s body. Zhao Xin, considering him righteous, granted this.
Zhao Xin also sent troops to intercept the Western Frontier Colonel, Chen Zong. Chen Zong arrived at Jiangyang and heard that Zhao Xin had rebellious intentions. His Registrar, Zhao Mo of Shu Commandery, said: “Now the province and the commandery are at odds, and a great upheaval is bound to occur. We should hurry there posthaste. The government office is a strategic military point. If we assist the righteous and punish the rebel, who would dare to act recklessly!” But Chen Zong took a detour and lingered. By the time he reached Nan’an Yufu Ford, he had already encountered Zhao Xin’s army. Zhao Mo said to Chen Zong: “Scatter your wealth to recruit soldiers to resist and fight. If we defeat the provincial troops, then the province can be won. If we do not prevail, we can retreat downstream and certainly suffer no harm.” Chen Zong said: “Inspector Zhao Xin hates Geng Hou, so he killed him. He has no grievance with me. Why would he do this?” Zhao Mo said: “If he does not rise up now, he will certainly kill you as well to establish his authority. Even if we do not fight, there is no benefit!” He wept as he spoke, but Chen Zong did not listen. His troops then scattered on their own. Chen Zong fled and hid in the thickets. Zhao Mo put on Chen Zong’s clothes and fought. Zhao Xin’s soldiers killed Zhao Mo, and when they saw it was not Chen Zong, they searched further, found Chen Zong, and killed him.
Zhao Xin proclaimed himself Grand Commander, Grand General, and Governor of Yi Province. He established a staff of subordinates and replaced commandery governors and county magistrates. Among the court officials who had been summoned, none dared not go. Li Xiang led his brother-in-law Li Han, and others—Tian Renhui, Shangguan Chang of Tianshui, Li Pan of Fufeng, Fei Ta of Shiping, and the Di men Fu Cheng and Wei Bo—with a cavalry of four thousand to submit to Zhao Xin. Zhao Xin appointed Li Xiang as Majestic Bandit General, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Yangquan Ting, entrusted him with the crucial responsibility of being his confidant, and ordered him to recruit over ten thousand brave and strong men from the six commanderies to block the northern route.