#js001

[bookofjin]

Annals of Emperor Xuan, Part 3

[From JS001. Zhongda vs. Kongming...]

4th Year [230 AD], he moved to Great General, concurrently Great Commander-in-Chief, Acting with Yellow Battle-axe, to participate with Cao Zhen in attacking Shu. The Emperor from Xicheng hew through the mountains to open the road, advancing both by water and land. He went upriver the Mian and then up, arriving at Quren, uprooting their Xinfeng county. The army lodged at Dankou. He ran into rain and returned the host.

Next year [231 AD], Zhuge Liang robbed Tianshui, and besieged Generals Jia Si and Wei Ping at Mount Qi. The Son of Heaven said:

The western region has incidents. There is none but the Lord to which they can be entrusted to.”

[He] therefore sent the Emperor west to garrison Chang'an, as Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs of Yong and Liang Provinces, commanding the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Zhang He, the General of the Rear, Fei Yao, the Army-Protector who Conquers Shu, Dai Ling, the Inspector of Yong province, Guo Huai, and others to punish Liang.

Zhang He urged the Emperor to divide off armies to go to Yong and Mei as a rear guard. The Emperor said:

If we consider that the van armies alone are singly able to do it, the General's words are correct. Suppose they are not able to do it, and we divide into a van and rear, it will be like when Chu's Three Armies were captured by Qing Bu.

Thereupon the army advanced to Yumi. Liang heard the Great Army had moreover arrived, and therefore himself led the multitudes wanting to cut the wheat of Shanggui. The various generals were all afraid. The Emperor said:

Liang worries much, but decides little. He will surely settle down his encampments and strengthen himself, and then afterwards cut the wheat. We getting two days to double move is sufficient.

And so they rolled up their armour and morning and night hurried to him. Liang looked at the dust and escaped. The Emperor said:

We are exhausted from our labours along many roads. This dawn is being lusted after by the troops. [?] Liang does not dare to occupy the Wei river. This is to be approved of [?], that is all.

They advanced to lodge at Hanyang, and he and Liang encountered each other. The Emperor lined up the files to thereby wait for him, and sent the general Niu Jin with light cavalry to bait him. The troops had barely connected when Liang retreated. They pursued to Mount Qi. Liang garrisoned Lucheng, occupied the south and north side of the mountain, and severed the river as a tight encirclement. The Emperor attacked to uproot his encirclement. Liang escaped at night. They pursued and struck, routing him. The captives and beheaded tallied ten thousand. The Son of Heaven sent envoys to thank the army and added to [the Emperor’s?] fief estate.

At the time the Army Teacher Du Xi and the Army Controller Xue Ti, both spoke of, that next year when the wheat is ripe, Liang would surely be robbing. Longyuo was without food, so they ought to, come winter, to prepare transport. The Emperor said:

Liang has twice set out for Mount Qi, once attacked Chencang, been ground down to defeat and turned back. Even if he later sets out, he will not again attack the city, but seek battle in the countryside, it will surely be east of Long and not to the west. Liang always considers provisions being few a regret, and to return he will surely store up grain. According to my guess, without three harvest he will not be able to move.

And so he petitioned to move farmers from Ji province to farm at Shanggui, for together with Jingzhao, Tianshui and Nan'an oversee the foundries [?].

1st Year of Qinglong [“Green Dragon”, 233 AD], [he] dug out the Chengguo canal and built the Linjin dam. The irrigated fields were several thousand qing. The state was thereby fully supplied

2nd Year [234 AD], Liang again led a multitude of 100 000 to set out for Xie Valley, he built ramparts at Mei on the plains south of the Wei river. The Son of Heaven worried about it, and dispatched the Army-Protector who Conquers Shu, Qin Lang to control 20 000 foot and horse, to receive Emperor's rules and measures. The various generals wanted to stay north of the Wei to accordingly wait for him [Liang?]. The Emperor said:

The hundred families' accumulatesd stores all are south of the Wei. Thus we must surely fight for its territory.

He thereupon pulled out the army and crossed over, with back of the river as ramparts. Because of this he spoke to the various generals, saying:

Liang, if he is brave, must set out for Wugong, relying on the mountains, and go east. If [he goes] west up to the Wuzhang plain, then the various armies will be without incidents.

Liang in the end did go up to the plains, wanting to cross north of the Wei. The Emperor dispatched General Zhou Dang to garrison Yangsui as bait for him. Several days [passed], and Liang did not move. The Emperor said:

Liang desires to contend on the plains, and will not turn towards Yangsui. This intention can be perceived.

He dispatched General Hu Zun and the Inspector of Yong province, Guo Huai, to together to prepare at Yangsui. [The Emperor?] met with Liang at Jishi, approached the plains and fought. Liang could not advance, but turned back to the Wuzhang plains.

It happened that a long star fell within Liang's ramparts. The Emperor knew he would surely be defeated, and dispatched ambush troops to drag out Liang's rearguard. They beheaded more than 500 ranks, captured more than 1000 living mouths, those who surrendered were more than 600 people.

At the time, the imperial court, due to Liang lodging the army for distant plundering [?], and would profit from a quick battle, always instructed the Emperor for prudence, to thereby wait for him changing [?].  Liang several times challenged to battle, but the Emperor did not set out. Because of this he presented the Emperor with a woman's headscarf and the ornaments of a wife.

The Emperor was angry, and petitioned a request for decision in battle. The Son of Heaven did not allow it, and therefore dispatched an unyielding [lit. “fish-boned”] official, the Commandant of the Guards, Xin Pin, with a Tally stick, to advise the army and thereby oversee it. Afterwards Liang again came out and challenged to battle. The Emperor wanted to send out the troops soldiers to accordingly respond to it. Pi stood with his Tally stick at the army gates. The Emperor therefore desisted.

Earlier, Shu's general Jiang Wei heard of Pi's arrival, he spoke to Liang, saying:

After Qin Pi came with the Tally stick, the traitors have not again set out.

Liang said:

He had originally no heart for battle. By using strong requests, he displays his martial [vigour] to his multitudes, that is all. When a general is with his army, the ruler's instructions is not being accepted. [An old military maxim] If he was able to master us, why request from a thousand li to do battle?

The Emperor's younger brother, Fu sent a letter asking about military affairs. The Emperor returned a letter which said:

Liang's aspirations are great, but he does not see opportunities. He has many plans, but makes few decisions. He has excellent troops, but no authority. Although he controls a hundred thousand soldiers, he is already falling into my plans. Routing him is a certainty!

He and him faced their ramparts for more than a hundred days. It happened that Liang passed on from illness. The various generals burnt the encampment, escaped and left, the hundred families ran to report, and the Emperor sent out the troops to chase them. Liang's Senior Clerk, Yang Yi, turned around the banners and beat the drums, as if wanting to resist the Emperor. The Emperor, thought destitute robbers should not be pressured [as advised by Sunzi]. And so Yang Yi formed columns and left.

Through the day, they therefore moved to their encampment and ramparts, observed what they had left behind, and captured a considerable multitude of their plans and documents, food and provisions. The Emperor judged that he [Liang] must be dead, and said: “Under Heaven's singular talent!” Xin Pi thought it could still not yet be known. The Emperor said:

What is given weight by army households, army documents and secret plans, military horses, food and grain, now everything is abandoned by them. How can there be person who gives up his five viscera and yet can still be alive? We ought to quickly chase them.

In Guanzhong there were much caltrop nuts [Tribulus terrestris] The Emperor sent 2 000 army soldiers to put on soft wooden clogs with flat undersides [!?] to walk in front. The caltrop nuts were thoroughly attached to the clogs, and afterwards the horse and foot could all advance. [Seriously...]

[He] chased [them] until Chi'an, and learnt Liang was dead. [This became] thoroughly known, and at the time there was a proverb among the hundred families which said:

From a dead Zhuge flees a living Zhongda.

The Empeor heard it, but laughed, saying:

I can easily predict the living, but not easily predict the intentions of the dead!

Before this, an envoy from Liang arrived. The Emperor questioned him, saying:

Excellency Zhuge, when does he rise up and sit down? For his food, how much rice?

[The envoy] replied, saying:

Three or four sheng

Next he asked about government work. [The envoy] said:

Punishments of twenty [strikes] and above, all of them he scrutinized and inspect himself.

The Emperor then told the person, saying:

Zhuge Kongming, how long can he last?

In the end it was like he had said.

Liang's section generals Yang Yi and Wei Yan contended for authority. Yi beheaded Yan and combined their multitudes. The Emperor desired to exploit their grudge and advance, but there was a decree which did not allow it.

3rd Year [235 AD], he moved to Grand Commandant, and amassed to add to his fief estate. Shu's general Ma Dai entered to rob. The Emperor dispatched General Niu Jin to strike and run him off, the beheaded tallied more than 1000 men.

The kings of the Wudu Di, Fu Shuang and Qiang Duan, led their followers, more than 6 000 people, to come and surrender. East of the Passes there was famine, so the Emperor transported 5 000 000 hu unhusked millet from Chang'an to the imperial capital.

4th Year [236 AD], [he] captured a white deer and presented it. The Son of Heaven said:

Formerly when the Duke of Zhou, Dan, assisted King Cheng, he made a tribute of an uncoloured pheasant. Now the Lord accepts the duties of West of Shan, and makes a present of white deer. How is this not loyal and truly in accord with the token [of Heaven's favour], with a thousand loads of similar deeds [?], so as to govern the house of the nation, thereby perpetuating its rest?

[bookofjin]

Annals of Emperor Xuan, part 1

[From JS001]

The Propagating August Emperor [xuan huangdi] taboo Yi, courtesy name Zhongda, was a native of Xiaojing village in Wen county, Henei. His family was of the Sima clan. His ancestors originated from Emperor Gaoyang's son Zhongli, who was the Summer Official Invoking Brightness. Successively for Tang [Emperor Yao], Yu [Emperor Shun], Xia and Shang, they for generations were Invokers.

Reaching the Zhou, they used the Summer Official as Marshal [sima]. His descendant, the Earl of Cheng, Xiufu, in the time of King Xuang of Zhou [r. 827 – 782 BC], as he as a hereditary official had successfully pacified the Xu region, was bestowed to use the office as family. Because of that it became the clan name.

Between Chu and Han, Sima Ang was a Zhao general who with the various lords attacked Qin. When Qin was destroyed, he was established as King of Yin with his seat in Henei [in 206 BC]. Han used his territory as a commandery. His sons and grandson thereupon had their families there.

Eight generations from Ang was born the General who Conquers the West, Jun, courtesy name Shuping. [d. 115 AD] Jun begot the Grand Warden of Yuzhang, Liang, courtesy name Gongdu. Liang begot the Grand Warden of Yingchuan, Jun, courtesy name Yuanyi. Jun begot the Intendant of Jingzhao, Fang, courtesy name Jiangong.

The Emperor was Fang's second son. As a young he had unusual authority, was clever, bright with many great schemes. He was broadly studied with wide knowledge, and devoted to Ru teachings. At great chaos at the end of Han, he often with sighs had in his heart worries for under Heaven [?]. The Grand Warden of Nanyang, Yang Jun, from the same commandery, was famous for understanding people. He saw the Emperor, not yet a youth, and found [?] him to be of uncommon capacity.

The Master of Writing Cui Yan of Qinghe and the Emperor's elder brother Lang were friends. He likewise said to Lang: “Sir's younger brother is intelligent, brilliant, clear and just, unbending in judgement [?] and a peerless talent, not reached by the master [?].”

In Han's 6th Year Jian'an [“Establishing Calm”, 201 AD], the commandery recommended him to the office of Reporting [Officer]. Emperor Wu of Wei was Minister of Works. He heard and nominated him. The Emperor knew Han's fortunes were about to fade, and did not desire to bend to the Cao clan. He explained that due to joint pains he was not able to stand up or sit. Wu of Wei sent a person at night to go and secretly probe him. The Emperor firmly lay down and did not move.

When Wu of Wei become Imperial Chancellor [in 208 AD], he again nominated him to be a Literary Scholar. He counselled the one to go [to deliver the appointment], saying: “If he again circle around, then right away collect him.” The Emperor was afraid and assumed the post.

And so he came to travel and live with the Heir-Apparent [Cao Pi], moved to Gentleman Attendant of the Yellow Gates, transferred to Gentleman Consultant and Associate of the Bureau of the East to the Imperial Chancellor and amassed to transfer to Master of Accounts.

Following the punishing of Zhang Lu [in 215 AD], he spoke to Wu of Wei, saying: “Liu Bei used deception to capture Liu Zhang. The people of Shu are not yet adhering, and yet he is away contending for Jiangling. This opportunity cannot be missed. Now with a show of force Hanzhong and Yi province will be shaken into stirring. Advance troops to approach them and their might must surely crumble. Because of this power, we can easily have merit and influence. A sagely person is unable to disregard the hour and so does not lose the hour!”

Wu of Wei said: “A man is not suffering enough. Now that he has obtained Longyou, he also desires to obtain Shu!” Having spoken so, he did not follow [the advice].

Then following that, they punished Sun Quan and routed him. When the army returned and Quan dispatched envoys to request to surrender, sending up a petition calling himself a subject, he pleaded to explain Heaven's Instructions. [That is, he is urging Cao Cao to become emperor.]

Emperor Wu of Wei said: “Does this boy wish to place me above the burning furnace coals?”

He replied: “Han's fortunes are nearly finished. Your Highness, out of ten parts under Heaven [you] have nine, thereby managing affairs in it [?]. Quan's calling himself a subject, the opinion of Heaven and Man. Yu [Shun], Xia, Yin, Zhou were not therefore humble yielders, but feared Heaven and understood the Instruction.”

The state of Wei had been established [in 217 AD], when he moved to Palace Cadet to the Heir-Apparent. He every time gave great plans and always had unusual strategies, he was heavily relied on by the Heir-Apparent. He, Chen Qun [SGZ22], Wu Zhi [SGZ21] and Zhu Yue [or Zhu Le?] were known as the Four Friends.

He was moved to be Marshal of the Army. He spoke to Wu of Wei: “Formerly when Jizi laid out plans, he put food at the head. Now those who till under Heaven are no more than two hundred thousand, not passing through the state's distant counting rods [?]. Although arms and armour are not yet rolled up, we ought start ploughing and start guarding. [?]” Wu of Wei accepted this, and so applied himself to agriculture and amassed grain, the state had plentiful supplies.

The Emperor also spoke of the Inspector of Jing province, Hu Xiu's rough violence and the Grand Warden of Nanxiang, Fu Fang's haughty extravagance. Neither should stay at the border. Wu of Wei did not investigate it. When Shu's general Yu besieged Cao Ren at Fan, Yu Jin and others with the Nine Armies were all lost. Xiu and Fang as a result surrendered to Yu, and the siege of Ren became considerably pressing.

At this time the Han emperor's capital was Xuchang. Wu of Wei, due to him being close to the traitors,  desired to move north of the He. The Emperor admonished, saying: “Jin and others were defeated by water, not by fighting and defending it. If the nation's great plans have not yet been diminished and [we] easily move the capital, then that is to show the enemy weakness, also the people of the Huai and the Mian will be greatly agitated. Sun Quan and Liu Bei, on the outside relatives but on the inside estranged, Yu has gained the idea, that Quan is without desires. [We] can explain to Quan, and cause him to grab his [Yu's?] rear, then the siege of Fan will loosen itself.” Wu followed this. Quan as a result dispatched the general Lü Meng [SGZ54] westward to raid Gong'an and uproot it. Yu thereupon was seized by Meng.

Wu of Wei due to Jing province's neglected populace [?] and the agricultural garrisons in Yingchuan being closely pressured by the southern bandits, in all cases desired to move them [?]. The Emperor said: “Jing and Chu are simple to strip off, easy to bestir but difficult to calm. Guan Yu is just broken, the various evil-doers in hiding or run off look on with expectations. Now if we move those who are good, then we harm their opinion [of us], it will cause those who have left not daring to return again.” [Wu of Wei] followed this. Afterwards those who had absconded heard and again returned to their professoins.

When Wu of Wei passed away at Luoyang [on 15 March 220], the court in the countryside was imperilled and afraid. The Emperor brought order to the funeral affairs, inside and outside were respectful. Therefore received the imperial coffin [lit. “catalpa palace” from the wood used] to return to Ye.

[bookofjin]

Annals of Emperor Xuan, Part 4

[From JS001]

When the Grand Warden of Liaodong, Gongsun Wenyi rebelled, summoned the Emperor to come to the Imperial City. The Son of Heaven said:

This is not enough to thereby trouble the Lord, the affair [I] desire it must be overcome, and for that reason to use [you] to assess the trouble, that is all [?]. Lord, when considering his actions, what is his plan?

He replied, saying:

To abandon the city and prepare for flight is the best plan. To occupy the Liao river to thereby resist the Great Army is the next [best] plan. To stay and defend Xiangping, this will ensure we capture him, that is all.

The Son of Heaven said:

Of his plans, on which will he set forth on?

He replied, saying:

Only someone enlightened is able to deeply consider himself. To be at ease with abandoning what he has, this is not within his reach. Now with [our] army isolated on a long-distance campaign, he will say it is not able to sustain for a long time. He will surely first resist on the Liao river and then afterwards defend [the city]. This is a below average plan.

The Son of Heaven said:

Coming and going, how long will it take?

He replied, saying:

Going for a hundred days, coming back for a hundred days, attacking for a hundred days, using sixty days to rest and recover. One year will be sufficient.

At this time there were great repairs on the palace building, and in addition to it where the army battalions. The hundred families were hungry and battered. The Emperor was just about to go to war, and therefore admonished saying:

Formerly, the Duke of Zhou encamped at Luoyi, Xiao He built Weiyang. Now the palace rooms are not yet ready, the duties of a subject! From the He and north, the hundred families are distressed and destitute. When outside and inside have labours, conditions do not equally flourish. [We] ought to temporarily break off inside activities, to thereby aid the urgent of the season.

2nd Year of Jingchu [“Luminous Beginning”, 238 AD], he set out from the capital, commanding Niu Jiu, Hu Zun and other with40 000 infantry and cavalry. The Chariot Drove [i.e. the Wei emperor came] to send them off through the Ximing gate [One of Luoyang's three western gates]. [The Wei emperor] decreed his younger brother Fu and his son Shi to send him off beyond Wen, bestowing accordingly grain, silks, ox and alcohol, and directed the commandery Warden, the Director of Agriculture and below all to go and meet with him. He saw elders and old friends, feasting and drinking for days. The Emperor sighed, was dissatisfied and emotional [?], and made a song which said:

Heaven and Earth unfold and open up,

Sun and Moon are very bright.

Coming to a border meeting [?],

A final effort in distant lands.

[I am] about to seep away the dirty pack,

Returning to pass by the old home town.

Respectful and pure for ten thousand li,

All equally in every direction.

Announcing success and returning in old age,

Awaits not in Wuyang. [Wuyang was his fief]

Thereupon he advanced the host. They passed through Guzhu, went beyond Jieshi, and stayed at the Liao river. Wenyi as a result dispatched several tens of thousands infantry and cavalry, to hinder passage of the Liao. They strengthened the embankments and defended, from north to south 60 or 70 li, to thereby resist the Emperor. The Emperor furnished troops with many stretching banners and pennants, and sent them south. The traitors spent their best troops to attend to them. He therefore sailed boats to secretly cross, and thereby set out to their north, his and the traitors' encampments pressured each other. He sank the boats and burn the bridges, and beside the Liao river made a long encirclement. He then abandoned the traitors and headed towards Xiangping. The various generals spoke, saying:

To not attack the traitors, but make encirclement, this is not the means by wchic to show the multitudes.

The Emperor said:

The traitors have strong encampments and tall ramparts, desiring accordingly to wear out my troops. To attack them, that is to follow their plan. This is like Wang Yi going beyond Kunyang due to shame. The ancients said: the enemy though he has lofty walls, will not manage to not fight with us. Attack his places [and he will] surely [come] to help [From Sunzi].

The ancients said: The enemy though he has tall ramparts, will not manage to not fight with us. Attack his places [and he will] surely [come] to help [From Sunzi]. If the traitors' great multitude is here, then the den is empty. If we head straight for Xiangping, then people will fear in their breasts. Fearful yet seeking battle, breaking them is certain.

He thereupon ordered the columns and went beyond. The traitors saw the troops setting out to their rear, and as a result intercepted them. The Emperor spoke to the various generals, saying:

By not attacking their encampments, my principal desire was to cause this. We cannot lose.

He then let loose the soldiers to confront and strike, greatly routing them, there were three battles and all were won. The traitors guarded Xiangping. He advanced the army to besiege them.

Earlier, when Wenyi heard of the setting out of Wei's host, he requested help from Sun Quan. Quan likewise sent out troops, to from a distance make sounds of helping [?], and conveyed to Wenyi a letter which said:

Excellency Sima is good at employing troops, altering and changing like a god, turning toward without a front [?]. [I] am deeply worried for my younger brother.

There happened to be heavy rain and inundation. There was great flooding, covering the land several chi [deep]. The Three Armies were fearful, and desired to move camp. The Emperor ordered that those within the army who dared to speak about moving would be beheaded. The Foreman Clerk to the Chief Controller, Zhang Jing, disobeyed the order. They beheaded him, and within the army there then was calm.

The traitors relied on the flooding, gathered firewood, tended to livestock and were at ease. The various generals wanted to capture them, but in all cases they were not heeded. The Marshal Chen Gui said:

Formerly during the attack on Shangyong, eight divisions advanced together, day and night without cease. Because of that we were able in half of a month to uproot a strong city and behead Meng Da. Now we have come from  far away, and yet we are much more calm and leisurely. Stupidly I take the liberty to be puzzled by it.

The Emperor said:

Meng Da's multitudes were small, but he had food and supplies for a year. My generals and soldiers were four times Da's, but provisions not for a full month. Using one month to plot against one year, how could I not be quick? To use four to strike against one, if it merely makes half be eliminated, I would still do it. In this case, I consider not calculations on death and injuries, I compete against provisions.

Now the traitors are a multitude and we are few, the traitors are starving and we eat our fill. With floods and rains then like this, merit and effort is not possible. Even if we did press them, just what is the use?

From we issued from the Imperial City, [I] did not worry about the traitors attacking, only feared the traitors would flee. Now the traitors' provisions are almost at end, but the encirclement is not yet joined up. To plunder his cattle and horses, to seize his firewood collectors, this would cause [us] to chase away him in flight.

As for warfare, it is the Way of Deceit [From Sunzi]. It is good to cause affairs to change. The traitors depend on the multitudes and trust the rain. Because of that, even if they are starved and besieged, they are not yet willing to bind their hands. [We] must show no ability by which to calm them. To take a small advantage and in that way startle them is a bad plan.

The imperial court heard the host had come across rain, everyone requested they be summoned back. The Son of Heaven said:

When Excellency Sima approached dangers, he adapts to changes. [We can] count the day until he captures him.

When the rain had stopped, he thereupon completed the encirclement. He built earth mountains and underground roads, pavise shields and hooked poles. They shot arrows and stones rained down, day and night he attacked them.

At the time there was a long star, of white colour, and a vast mane. From south-west of Xiangping city it flew to the north-east, and fell down in the Liang river. [On 3 September 238, according to SGZ008.] Inside the city they shook in fear.

Wenyi was greatly afraid, and therefore sent his appointmened Chancellor of State, Wang Jian, and Imperial Clerk Grandee, Liu Fu, to beg to surrender, requesting the siege to be lifted, then [he would present himself] bound up. [The Emperor] did not accept. He arrested Jian and the others, all were beheaded. He denounced publicly Wenyi, saying:

Formerly Chu and Zheng were classed as states, but the Earl of Zheng stripped naked and pulled a goat when he welcomed him [Referring to Zheng's surrender to the King of Chu]. This Orphan is a Kingly person, ranking above the Excellencies. And yet Jian and others desired This Orphan to lift the siege and withdraw [my] dwellings. Are we spoken of as Chu and Zheng? The two people were old and senile, and surely in transmitting [your] words mistook the intention. [I] have already judged and had them beheaded. If your opinions have not yet been completed, you can still dispatch someone younger who is enlightened in judgements to come.

Wenyi again dispatched Palace Attendant Wei Yan to beg on an agreed to day to send hostages. The Emperor spoke to Yan, saying:

In military affairs the great plays are five. If able to fight, you must fight. If not able to fight, you must defend. If not able to defend, you must flee. The remaining two affairs only are to surrender or to die, that is all. You are not willing to face [me] bound [in surrender], this is to have decided to approach death. No need to send hostages.

Wenyi attacked the besiegers to the south, suddenly bursting out. The Emperor let loose the troops to strike and defeat him. They beheaded him at the Liang river where the star had fallen.

When he had entered the city, he erected a pair of guideposts, to thereby separate new and old [rebels] at them. Males fifteen years old and up, more than 7 000 people, all were killed, and used as a victory mound [京觀]. The bogus, excellencies, ministers and below, were all sentenced to execution, massacring their General Bi Sheng and others, more than 2 000 people. He gathered 40 000 households, more than 300 000 people.

Earlier, Wenyi usurped the rank of his uncle Gong and confined him. When he was about to rebel, Lun Zhi, Jia Fan and others bitterly remonstrated. Wenyi killed them all. The Emperor therefore released Gong from prison, raised mounds on the graves of Zhi and others, and brought forth their lost heirs. An order said:

During the ancients' attacks on states, they executed their arc-enemies [lit. “whales” 鯨鯢], and that was all. Those who were deceived and misled by Wenyi, all are forgiven. People of the Central States who desire to return to their old home-towns are free to do so.

At the time there were soldiers who were freezing in the cold, they begged for short coats, but the Emperor did not give them. Someone said:

Fortunately there are many old short coats, [you] can bestow them.

The Emperor said:

The short coats are official property, a subject [makes] no private bestowals.

He therefore memorialised that people in the army who were above 60 years old, be dismissed and sent off, more than 1 000 men. For those generals and magistrates who had died and perished accompanying the army, he was sending the remains back to their families. He thereupon returned with the host. The Son of Heaven dispatched envoys to congratulate the army at Ji. He added [to the Emperor's] fief the revenue of Kunyang, together with the preceding [the fief was] two counties.

[bookofjin]

Annals of Emperor Xuan, Part 2

[From JS001. First blood.]

When Emperor Wen of Wei was enthroned, he was enfeoffed Marquis of Hejin village and transferred to Senior Clerk to the Imperial Chancellor. It happened that Sun Quan led troops to Xiguo. The court debated whether due to Fan and Xiangyang having no grain, they could not be defended from pillage. At the time Cao Ren was headquartered at Xiangyang and they requested to summon Ren to return to Wan.

The Emperor said: “Sun Quan has just routed Guan Yu. This is his desire for a time to conclude for himself.[?] He will surely not dare to be a worry. Xiangyang is the guard of water and land. To hold it against bandits is crucial. It can not be abandoned.” His words in the end were not followed. Ren thereupon burnt and abandoned the two cities. Quan in the end did not make plunder [?] and Wen of Wei regretted it.

When Wei accepted the abdication of Han, he used the Emperor as Master of Writing. Not long after he transferred to Army Controller and Imperial Clerk Palace Assistant, enfeoffed as Marquis of Anguo district.

2nd Year of Huangchu [“Yellow Beginning”, 221 AD], rationalized the office of Army Controller, and he transferred to Palace Attendant and Supervisor of the Right of the Masters of Writing.

5th Year [224 AD], the Son of Heaven toured in the south to inspect the soldiers on the Wu border. The Emperor stayed to headquarter at Xuchang. His fief was moved to Marquis of Xiang district, and he transferred to be Army Consoler, Acting with the Tally, commanding 5000 troops, concurrently Servant within the Palace and Recording the Affairs the Masters of Writing. The Emperor firmly declined. The Son of Heaven said: “I in the numerous affairs use the night to continue the day without even a moment of peace and rest. This is not to give you glory [?], but to divide the grief, and that is all.”

6th Year [225 AD], the Son of Heaven again greatly fostered a host of ships to conquer Wu. And again he instructed the Emperor to stay and defend, inside to protect the hundred families, outside to supply support for the army.

Approaching the journey, a decree said: “I deeply, due to being mindful of later affairs, because of that thereby appointed Sir [?]. Cao Cao, though he had achievements in battle, yet Xiao He was given weight. Making me not worrying at looking after the west is not otherwise possible.”

The Son of Heaven returned from Guangling to Luoyang. A decree to the Emperor said: “[When] I [am in] the east, the Army-Consoler must manage western affairs. [When] I [am in] the west, the Army-Consoler must manage eastern affairs.” [?] Hence the Emperor stayed headquartered at Xuchang.

When the Son of Heaven was seriously ill [in 226 AD], the Emperor, Cao Zhen [SGZ09], Chen Qun [SGZ22] and others had an audience in the Southern Hall of the Honoured Illustrious Palace for together to receive the testamentary instructions to assist the government. A decree to the Heir-Apparent said: “There is among these the There Excellencies. Be careful never to doubt them.”

Emperor Ming was enthroned, he moved his fief to Marquis of Wuyang. When Sun Quan besieged Jiangxia, he dispatched his generals Zhuge Jin [SGZ51] and Zhang Ba together to attack Xiangyang. The Emperor supervised the various armies to punish Quan and ran him off. He advanced to strike, defeated Jin and beheaded Ba. Put together the tallied heads were more than a thousand. He moved to General of Agile Cavalry.

1st Year of Taihe [“Grand Harmony”. 227 AD], 6th Month [2 July – 30 July], the Son of Heaven decreed the Emperor to garrsion at Wan with promotion to Controller of All Army Affairs of Jing and Yu Provinces.

Earlier, at the surrender of Shu's general Meng Da, the Wei court met him with considerably generosity. The Emperor, due to Da's words and acts being subversive and clever, and could not be relied on, frequently remonstrated, but was not seen or heard. Therefore accordingly Da acted as Grand Warden of Xincheng, was enfeoffed Marquis, and Acted with the Tally. And so Da joined with Wu to strengthen Shu, with secret designs on the Central States.

Shu's chancellor Zhuge Liang detested his [Da's] rebellious turning around, and was also concerned for him becoming a worry. Da had a grudge with the Grand Warden of Weixing, Shen Yi. Liang desired to hasten his affairs, and therefore dispatched Guo Mo to pretend to surrender. He crossed over to Yi, and in that way leaked and revealed his scheme.

Da heard his scheme was leaked and revealed, and wanted to raise troops. The Emperor feared Da  quickly sending out [troops], and sent a letter to explain to him, saying: “The General formerly abandoned Liu Bei and relied on my state’s house. The state’s house appointed the General accordingly to duty on the border, relying on the General to thereby design the affairs of Shu. It can be said the heart links up the white sun. [?] The people of Shu, stupid and wise, can not but grind their teeth at the General. Zhuge Liang desires us to destroy each other, but suffers without a road, and that is all [?]. The words from Mo are not of a minor matter, how can Liang make light of them and cause them to spread and be exposed? This endangering is easy to understand, and that is all.”

Da received the letter and was greatly delighted, and similarly to taking in [?] he did not decide. The Emperor therefore secretly advanced with the army to punish [Da]. The various generals spoke of Da exchanging plans with the two traitors [i.e. Shu and Wu], and that they ought to observe and look ahead, and then later move. The Emperor said: “Da is not trustworthy and righteous, this is their time of suspecting each other. We must reach him [while he] is not decided and hurry to determine it. [?]”

He therefore combined movements over many roads, and in eight days arrived beneath his [Da's] walls. Wu and Shu each dispatched their generals towards Xicheng's An Bridge and Mulan Pass to thereby aid Da. The Emperor divided off various generals to resist them.

Earlier, Da sent a letter to Liang, saying:”From Wan to Luo is 800 li, from me it is 1 200 li. [When he] hears of me raising the affair, he must sent up a petition to the Son of Heaven. This back and forth with each other takes one month. Then my walls [or “city”] will already be strong and the various armies sufficiently prepared. Then being very imperilled by me, Excellency Sima will surely not come himself. Of the various generals coming I am without worry.”

When the troops arrived, Da again informed Liang, saying: “I raised the affair, but after eight days soldiers arrived beneath the walls. How is their godly speed?”

Shangyong's walls on three sides were blocked with water, and Ma at the outside of the walls had wooden palisades to thereby strengthen himself. The Emperor crossed the water, broke his palisades, and head on made preparations beneath the walls. In eight ways he attacked them for sixteen days. Da's sister-son Deng Xian, general Li Fu, and others opened the gates to come out and surrender. He beheaded Da and sent the head to the Imperial Capital.

The prisoners and captives were more than 10 000 people. He reorganized and put [the troops] in order, and returned to Wan. He then recommended to farm mulberry trees and forbade superfluous expenses. The southern lands happily adhered to him.

Earlier, Shen Yi had for a long time been in Weixing, monopolizing power at the frontier. He on his own initiative took the authority to carve seals, with many temporary [or “false”?] conferrals. When Da had been executed, he had himself suspicions in his heart. At the time the various commandery Wardens, due to the Emperor's fresh triumphant vanquishing, offered the rites to request to send presents [?], all heeded him. The Emperor sent people to allude to Yi [to also go]. When Yi arrived, [the Emperor] inquired into the circumstances of taking authority, arrested him, and returned [him] to the Imperial Capital.

He also moved Meng Da's remaining multitudes, more than 7 000 families, to You province. The Shu generals Yao Jing, Zheng Ta, and other led their followers, more than 7 000 people, to come and surrender.

At the time the border commanderies were newly adhering, many without household names, and the Wei court wanted to add the hidden possessions [?] Just then the Emperor was at court in the Imperial Capital, and the Son of Heaven asked about it to the Emperor.

The Emperor replied: “The traitors use private network to restrain their subordinates, because of that the subordinates abandon them [?]. We ought to vastly use the great head-ropes, then from that will make calm and happiness [?].”

[The Son of Heaven] also asked of the two caitiffs' proper punishments, what should be done first? He replied: “Wu, due to the Central States not being familiar with naval battles, because of that dares to scatter and reside at Dongguan [?]. In any attack on the enemy, [we] must surely grasp their  throat and strike their hearts. Xiakou and Dongguan are the heart throat of the traitors. If we make the land army [go] accordingly towards Wancheng, pulling Quan eastward [?], and make the naval army [move] toward Xiakou, exploiting it being unattended to strike it. This is spirit troops following Heaven and falling down, routing them is certain.”

The Son of Heaven in both cases made it so, and again instructed [the Emperor] to garrison at Wan.

[bookofjin]

Sima Yi enters the service of Cao Cao

Chapter 1: Annals of Emperor Xuan cont.

In the 6th Year of Han's Jian'an era{1} [“Peacefulness Established”, 201 AD], the commandery made him Reporting Officer [shangji yuan]{2}. Emperor Wu of Wei{3} was the Excellency of Works [sikong]{4}. He heard of [the Emperor], but [the Emperor] avoided [Wu of Wei]. The Emperor knew Han's fortune was shrinking and did not want to submit to the power of the Cao clan, so he declined on the grounds he had joint pains [lit. wind paralysis] and could not rise from his rest. Wu of Wei sent an agent at night to spy on him. The Emperor was laying solidly down without moving.

Wu of Wei attained the position of Imperial Chancellor [cheng xiang]{5} and made [the Emperor] Literary Scholar [wenxue]. [Wu of Wei] admonished the person going to him, saying: “If once again he lingers, then catch him.” The Emperor was afraid, and accepted the post. And so he came to follow the Prince{7} on tours, was moved to be Gentleman Attendant of the Yellow Gates [huangmen shilang]{8}, was transferred to Gentleman Consultant [yilang]{9} and Associate of the Bureau of the East to the Imperial Chancellor [cheng xiang dong cao shu]{10} and sought transfer to Master of Records [zhubu].

{1}The Chinese originally counted years by regnal year, that is by counting the number of years since a ruler's ascension. This is a practice that has been common all over the world. While before it had been the practice to count continuously from a ruler's ascension to his death, during the Han there developed a practice of multiple regnal eras per ruler. Declaring a new reign era was a prerogative of the throne. The length of each era therefore depended on the emperor's preferences. Each reign era had a reign name, often a virtuous slogan declaring good times ahead.

{2}At the end of the year, each commandery had to sent an annual report to the court. The Reporting Officer accompaniede the report to answer any question the central government might have of local affairs.

{3}Posthumous name of Cao Cao, the most successful warlord during the Three Kingdoms era and founder of the state of Wei. He reunited northern China and controlled the last Han emperor as a puppet ruler to give legitimacy to his government. Like Sima Yi, he was never emperor in life. By using his posthumous rather than personal name, the authors are implicitly acknowledging the legitimacy of Wei. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cao_Cao

{4}For most of Later Han, the imperial bureaucracy were headed by the Three Excellencies, all ranked at 10 000 shi. Among the three, the Excellency of Works informally ranked third.

{5}In 208 Cao Cao abolished the Three Excellencies of Later Han and revived the two Excellencies of Former Han, Imperial Chancellor and Grandee Secretary.

{6}A Literary Scholar ranked at 200 shi.

{7}Cao Cao oldest son, Cao Pi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cao_Pi

{8}During Later Han the Gentleman Attendants ranked at 600 shi and acted as liaisons between the emperor and the outside world.

{9}Also ranked at 600 shi, this was a general advisory position at court.

{10}During Later Han, the Bureau of the East of an Excellency was in charge of expenditure within the ministry. It was headed by a Division Head [yuanshi] who was aided by an Associate ranked at Equivalent to 200 shi. Presumably Sima Yi's concurrent position as Gentleman Consultant meant he retained his old rank and salary.

[tobaliox-blog]

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