#sima lun

[fuyonggu]

ZZTJ Book 83 (299-300)

The fall of Jia Nanfeng and the rise of Sima Lun; rebellion in Shu; prelude to the War of the Eight Princes and the Sixteen Kingdoms.

[bookofjin]

Biography of Sima Lun, Part 3

[From JS059. Some very intolerant attitudes shown by the authors to Sun Xiu’s religious beliefs.]

When the Three King's call to arms to raise troops and punish Lun arrived, Lun and Xiu at first very greatly afraid. They dispatched their Overseer of the Centre [?], Sun Fu#, as General of the Upper Army, the [Generall who] Amasses Crossbows, Li Yan, as General who Brings down Assaults [?], to lead 7 000 troops and set out form Yanshou pass. The [General who] Conquers the Caitiffs, Zhang Hong, the [General] of the Left Army, Cai Huang and the [General of the] Van Army, Lü He, and others to lead 7 000 people setting out from Eban pass. The [General of] the Garrison Army, Sima Ya, the [General who] Spreads Power, Mo Yuan, and others to lead 8 000 people setting out from Chenggao pass. They summoned the King of Dongping, Mao, as Envoy Holding the Tally and General of Guards, to be Commander-in-Chief of the Various Armies and thereby resist the righteous host.

They sent Yang Zhen [?] to day and night go to Emperor Xuan's separate temple to pray and ask, [he] always said Emperor Xuan apologized to His Majesty, and on the appointed day he would rout the traitors. They designated the scholar of the Way Hu Wo as General of Great Peace, to thereby summon happiness and protection. At Xiu's house there daily were irregular sacrifices, making patterns for forcing victory [?], making shamans pray for blessings and pick and chose the days for fighting. He also made close friends display feathered clothes at Mount Song [?], pretending to speak to the transcendent Wang Qiao, making books of spirits and transcendents, explaining that Lun was blessed for a long time [?] to thereby deceive the multitudes.

Xiu desired to dispatch Fu and Qian to lead troops and assist in the battles various armies. Fu and Qian did not consent. Qian habitually was intimate and fond of Liu Yu [JS062]. Xiu therefore sent Yu to advice Qian. Qian afterwards led a multitude of 8 000 to maintain aid for the Three Armies. But though Hong and Ya and others were victorious in continuous battle, the righteous army scattered and immediately combined again. Ya and others did not manage to proceed.

Xu Chao and others fought with the King of Chengdu, Ying's army at the Yellow bridge, and killed and wounded were more than 10 000 people. Hong straight-away made for Yangdi, and again routed the King of Qi, Jiong's baggage south of the city, killing several thousand people, and thereupon occupied the city's defensive residence chambers [?]. But Jiong's army already was at Yingyin, 40 li from Yangdi. Jiong divided the army to cross the Ying, and attacked Hong and others without profit. Hong exploited the victory to arrive at above the Ying, and at night approached the Ying and lined up.

Jiong gave free reign to light troops to strike him, the various did not move. But the armies of Sun Fu# and Xu Jian at night were in chaos, and directly returned to Luo with themselves at the head [?]. At the flight of Fu# and Jian, they did not know the directors of the various armies armies still lived, and therefore said:

The troops of the King of Qi are abundant, and can not be confronted. Hong and others have fallen.

Lun was greatly shaken and secreted them [?], but summoned Qian and Chao to return. It happened that a public announcement of Hong defeating Jiong arrived. Lun was greatly pleased and again dispatched Chao, but Qian on his return had already arrived at Yuchang [?]. Chao turned back to cross the He. Generals and men suspected obstructions, their sharpness and spirit on the inside were pushed down.

Hong and others understood [?] their various armies crossed the Ying, and advanced to attack Jiong's encampments. Jiong sent out troops to strike his separate leaders Sun Mao, Sima Tan and Sun Fu#, and routed all of them. The soldiers scattered and returned to Luoyang. Hong and others gathered the multitudes to turn back to the encampments.

Xiu and others knew the three regions were pressing daily, and falsified transmittals of the routing of Jiong's encampment, and the apprehension and capture of Jiong. They used lies to mislead their multitudes and ordered the hundred officials all to send presents. And Shi Yi, Fu Yin and Sun Hui all had individual tallies, and did not follow each other.

Lun again conferred on the Supervisor of Affairs for the Heir-Apparent, Liu Kun [JS062] the tally, supervising the Generals north of the He, to lead 1 000 infantry and cavalry to urge on the various fighting armies. Hui and others fought with the righteous armies at the Ji river, were greatly defeated, and withdrew to defend Heshang. Liu Kun burnt and cut off the bridge of the He.

From the rising of the righteous troops, the hundred officials, generals and gentlemen all desired to execute Lun and Xiu to thereby apologize to Under Heaven. Xiu knew the multitude's anger was difficult to go against, and did not dare to set out and scrutinize. When he heard the armies north of the He had been thoroughly defeated, he was troubled and distressed, and did not know what to do. The King of Yiyang, Wei, recommended Xiu to go to the Masters of Writing to scrutinize with the eight seats, and discuss preparations for conquests and battles. Xiu followed it.

They made the capital city's 4th grade and below's [?] sons and younger brothers aged 15 and above all to go to the Minister of Retainers, and follow Lun and set out in battle. Inside and outside the various armies thoroughly desired to seize and kill Xiu. Wei was afraid, and fled from the Esteemed Rites Door to return his private house [?].

Xu Chao, Shi Yi, Sun Hui and others' armies had also returned, and therefore planned with Xiu. Some desired to gathered the remaining solders and set out and fight, execute and killed those not adhering themselves, keeping Lun close [and?] go south [with?] Sun Qi [JS060], Meng Guan [JS060] and others. Some desired to sail a ship east, fleeing into the ocean.

Wang Yu turned against them and led troops from the barracks, more than 700 people, to enter from the Southern Annex Gate. [Lun] commanded the troops within the palace all to defend and guard the various gates, the Marshals of the Three Sections to be immediately at the inside. Yu went himself to attack Xiu, Xiu shut the southern gates of the Palace Writers. Yu set loose the troops to climb the walls and burn the buildings. Xiu, Chao and Yi hurriedly fled out. The General of the Guards of the Left, Zhao Quan, beheaded Xiu and others to thereby comply.

They detained Sun Qi in the barracks of the Guards of the Right, and delivered him over to Commandant of Justice to execute him. The arrested the General of the Van, Xie Tan, the Prefect of the Yellow Gates, Luo Xiu and the Controller of the Marshals [?], Wang Qian. All where beheaded in the middle of the hall.

The troops of the Marshals of the Three Sections within the Circulating Reform Door beheaded Sun Bi to thereby comply. At the time Sima Fu was seated by Xiu [?]. Yu sent generals and soldiers to confine him in the Bureau of the Cavaliers, using great halberds to defend the bureau chambers. The Eight Seats all entered within the hall, seated east removing beneath the tree [?]. Wang Yu garrisoned the Cloud Dragon Gate, and made Lun make a decree saying:

I was misled by Sun Xiu and others, thereby angering the three kings. Now [we] have already executed Xiu, thus [we] welcome the Grand Sovereign [Emperor Hui], to return to the throne. I [will] revert in my old age to farming the fields.

[He] transmitted the decree to using grooms and custodians with banners to command the generals and soldiers to loosen the troops. The civil and military officials all fled and ran, and did not dare to be at [their] posts. The Yellow Gates wanted Lun to set out from the Flowery Forest's eastern gate, and him and Kua both to return to the Wenyang village residence [?].

And so accordingly several thousand armoured soldiers welcomed the Son of Heaven at Jinyong, the hundred families all said Ten Thousand Years. The Emperor entered from the main gate, ascended the hall, drove to the broad chamber, and sent off Lun, Kua and others to be delivered to Jinyong fort.

Earlier, Xiu feared the arrival of the western army, and repeatedly summoned Qian to return. That day he stayed  at Jiuqu. A decree dispatched envoys to dismiss Qian from office. Qian was afraid. He abandoning the army and was about to [?] with several tens of people to return to Wenyang village.

The King of Liang, Rong, petitioned that Lun, father and son were murderous traitors, and out to be sentenced to execution. The hundred officials assembled to discuss in the Morning Hall, all followed Rong's petition. They dispatched the Master of Writing Yuan Chang Holding the Tally to bestow Lun death. [He] drank accordingly vinegar [?] with gold bits. Lun was ashamed, and using a towel to cover his face, said:

Sun Xiu misled me! Sun Xiu misled me!

And so they gathered Kua, Fu, Qian and Xu and deliverd them to the prison of the Commandant of Justice, to be examined thoroughly. Fu on approaching death spoke to Qian, saying:

Sitting [?] beside you ruined the family!

Of the hundred officials, those who had been employed by Lun, all were censured and dismissed, those of the guards of the palace bureaus and offices were the only to remain. From the start of the war it had been more than sixty days, the killed and murdered in battle were no more than 100 000 people.

Altogether those who together with Lun had rebelled and taken part in planning the great affair were: Zhang Lin was killed by Xiu. Xu Chao, Shi Yi, Sun Bi and Xie Tan were executed with Xiu by Wang Yu. Zhang Heng, Lü He, Sun Mao and Gao Yue returned from Yangdi. Fu Yin was defeated in battled and returned to Luoyang. All were beheaded in the Eastern Market. Cai Huang from Yangdi surrendered to the King of Qi, Jiong, returned to Luo and killed himself. Wang Yu due to his merits avoided execution. Later he and the King of Donglai, Rui, planned to kill Jiong, and he was also sentenced by the law.

[bookofjin]

Biography of Sima Lun, Part 2

[From JS059. I had not expected it to be so ... well, you can read for yourself.]

Lun was plain and less than ordinary, without knowledge and plans, and repeatedly granted authority to Xiu. Xiu's power and domination bestirred the imperial court. Under Heaven all served Xiu and made no requests to Lun. Xiu rose from a minor scribe in Langye, amassed to office in Zhao state, and used toadying and flattery to reach his goals. When he had carried out the balancing of the opportunity [?], he thereupon indulged his treacherous plans, killing many loyal and good, to thereby show off his private desires.

The Assistant Officer to the Minister of Retainers, You Hao had a grudge with Yin Hun. Hun lured Hao's slave Jin Xing, to falsely reported Hao had disloyal aspirations. Xiu did not thoroughly investigate, but arrested Hao and the Central Corrector of Xiangyang, Li Mai, and killed them. He greatly entertained Jin Xing, and used him as controller of his private troops. The Forward Commandant of Guards, Shi Chong [JS033], and the Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, Pan Yue [JS055] both were dissatisfied with Xiu. Both were executed. And so the lordly men of the capital district were unhappy in their lives.

The King of Huainan, Yun, and the King of Qi, Jiong, since Jiong and Xiu were haughty and presumptuous, within their breasts were not at peace. Xiu and others likewise were very envious of them. They therefore sent out Jiong to headquarter at Xu, and took away Yun's protective army [?]. Yun set out [?] in anger and raised troops to punish Lun. When Yun had been defeated and wiped out, Lun was promoted to the Nine Bestowments, and added to his fief 50 000 households. Lun falsely was pretending to yield, a decree dispatched the hundred officials to go to his office and earnestly. The Palace Attendants circulated the decree, and afterwards transmitted it.

He promoted Kua to General who Consoles the Army, General who Leads the Army; Fu to General of the Garrison Army and Acting as General who Protects the Army; Qian as General of the Army of the Centre, Acting as General of the Guards of the Left; Xu to be Palace Attendant. He also used Sun Xiu as Palace Attendant, General who Assists the State and Marshal to the Chancellor of State, Leader of the Right as before. Zhang Lin and others all were put in strategic posts.

He increased the troops of the Chancellor's Office to be 20 000, similar to the imperial guard. He also secretly hid soldiers and troops, the multitude exceeding 30 000. He erected at the eastern palace's three gates and four corners flowery oars [?], cutting off the road east and west of the palace to have an outside patrol Someone spoke to Xiu, saying:

The Cavalier in Regular Attendance Yang Zhun and the Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gates Liu Kui desire to serve the King of Liang, Rong to thereby execute Lun.

There happened to be a change in the stars. He therefore moved Rong to be Imperial Chancellor, residing in the office of the Minister over the Masses. He shifted Zhun and Kui to be outer officials.

Lun was without learning and did not know books. Xiu likewise, due to his mean talents for cunning and deceit, was covetous, excessive, and eager for profit. They were together in setting up affairs, both were followers of perverse flattery [?]. They only contended for honour and profit, without deep plans or profound schemes. Kua was shallow, shabby, coarse and crude. Fu and Qian were ignorant, fractious, stubborn and unmanageable. Xu was foolish, talkative, light-weight and tumultuous. Yet they all were exceptionally shrewd, and mutually detested and slandered each other.

Xiu's son Hui, 20 years old, became Colonel who Shoots at Sound. He wed the Emperor's daughter, the Princess of Hedong. Mourning for the Princess's mother had not yet been set, [he?] expediently accepted the engagement rites. Hui in body appeared lacking and crude, beneath that of a slave [?]. Earlier he had sold horses to sons of rich families west of the city [?]. The hundred families soon heard of him wedding the Princess, and could not but be shocked and alarmed. [The Princess of Hedong's mother was a certain Jia Nanfeng.]

Lun and Xiu were both mislead by shamans and ghosts, and listened to advise from the bewitching and evil. Xiu made the Serrated Gates [guard?] Zhao Feng pretend to be Emperor Xuan's spiritual voice, and instructed to soon enter the Western Palace [become emperor]. He also said Emperor Xuan at Beimang was assisting and aiding the King of Zhao, and hence separately set up a temple for Emperor Xuan at Mount Mang. [He?] talked of the rebellious plan being possible to complete [?].

Used the Supervisor of Affairs for the Heir-Apparent, Pei Shao, the General of the Army of the Left,  Bian Cui, and others, 20 people, as Assistant Officer Palace Gentlemen; with subordinate staff also of 20 people. Xiu and others parcelled off [?] the various armies, dispersing belly and heart.

They made the  Cavalier in Regular Attendance, the King of Yiyang, Wei double as [?] Palace Attendant, setting out to receive decrees and instructions, falsely making a decree of abdication. They sent the Envoy Holding the Tally, the Prefect of the Masters of Writing Man Fen, and the Supervisor, Cui Sui, as assistants, to  receive the imperial signet and ribbon of the August Emperor thereby abdicating the throne to Lun. Lun feigned yielding and did not accept. Hence the various kings of the imperial clan and the crowd of excellencies and ministers spoke of auspicious signs and astronomy to accordingly recommend him to advance. Lun therefore accepted it. The [General of?] the Guards of the Left, Wang Yu, with the [General of the] Army of the Front, Sima Ya, led armoured soldiers to enter the hall, explained [?] to the Marshals of the Three Sections, displaying accordingly power and rewards. None dared to disobey.

That night, they sent Zhang Lin others to garrison and defend the various gates. The King of Yiyang, Wei, Luo Xiu and others pressured and took by force the Son of Heaven's imperial signet and ribbon. The drip of the night [clock] was not yet exhausted, when inside and outside the hundred officials used the imperial carriage and regulated cart to welcome Lun.

Emperor Hui drove the Cloud Mother Chariot [?], with an honour escort of several hundred people, and from the Western Gate of the Flowery Forest set out to reside in Jingyong fort. The Master of Writing, He Yu the Combined Palace attendant and Cavalier in Regular Attendance, the King of Langye, Rui, and the Attendant Gentleman of the Palace Writers, Lu Ji [JS054], followed, arriving at the fort and then turned around. They made Zhang Heng guard the Emperor, utterly secluding him.

Lun, accompanied by 5 000 troops, entered the main gate himself, and climbed the Grand Utmost Hall. Man Fen, Cui Sui and Yue Guang advanced with the imperial signet and ribbon to Lun. He then usurped the rank of Emperor. There was a great amnesty, and changed the inaugural to Jianshi [“Establishing Beginnings”].

That year, for Virtuous and Good, Square and Proper, Straight Speaking, Flowery Talent, Filial and Upright, and Good Commander, none were examined. They planned for magistrates to reach the four regions and sent instructions for those being in the capital district [?]. [Those] in the Grand School 16 and above, or in school for 20 years, all were appointed magistrates. The commanderies and counties' 2 000 shi, Prefects, Chiefs and those who had resigned [?], all were enfeoffed as marquises. The commanderies' mainstays and guidelines became Filial and Upright. The counties' mainstays and guidelines became Upright and Loyal.

Used the Heir Kua, as Heir-Apparent; Fu as Palace Attendant, Great Minister of Agriculture, Acting Army-Protector and King of Jingzhao; Qian as Palace Attendant, Great General Leading the Army and King of GuangPing; Xu as Palace Attendant, General who Assists the Army and King of Bacheng; Sun Xiu as Palace Attendant, Overseer of the Palace Writers, General of Agile Cavalry, Same Ceremonies as the Three Ministers. Zhang Lin and others of the various factions all climbed to be ministers and generals, and were also ranked among the great fiefs. The remainder of the co-conspirators all leaped up in ranks out of sequence, not possible to describe them all. Arriving at the slave soldiers, they for their service likewise were promoted accordingly in rank and position.

At every morning assembly, sable-tails and cicada wings overflowed the seats. At the time people were saying of their appearance [?]: “[If there] are not enough sables, continue with dog tails.” [?]

Yet since caution moreover their favour defeated the happiness among the people's feelings [?], storages of the offices and armouries were not filled for bestowals, gold and silver melted and cast were not given for stamping. For that reason there was marquises of white tablets [?], lordly men in shame yielded to their compositions [?], the hundred families likewise knew it would not last.

Lun personally sacrificed at the Grand Temple. Returning, there happened to be a great wind. A whirlwind broke off the flag and cover. Sun Xiu had already set up affairs of the irregular. Lun respected and esteemed him. Xiu lived within the office where Emperor Wen had resided in his time as Chancellor of State. In affairs there was no great and small, he had to be consulted and then they were carried out. [As for] Lun's decrees and orders, Xiu always changed and altered them, had them taken by force, and from books with green paper made decrees. Those sometimes acted on in the morning and changed in the night numbered four [?]. The hundred officials shifted easily and moved with the flow.

At the time there was a pheasant which entered within the halls, and from the eastern stairs of the Grand Utmost went up the hall. They drove it away, it further flew to beneath the western bell. After a moment it flew away. Again when Lun was above the hall he obtained a strange bird, nobody asked knew its name. When the day turned towards evening, west of the palace there was a small boy in white clothes who said this was precisely the Liu bird [?]. Lun sent to record the small boy and together with the bird shut them in and put them the prison room. At daylight when they opened for inspection, the door was like before, but both boy and bird were missing from the place. Above Lun's eye there was a tumour [liu], at the time it was considered to be the strange bird.

At the time the King of Qi, Jiong, the King of Hejian, Yong, and the King of Chengdu, Ying, each embraced stubborn troops, each occupying a single region. Xiu knew Jiong and the others surely had different plans, and therefore selected from his person fraction members and Lun's old magistrates to be aides and assistants to the three kings and as commandery wardens.

Xiu originally had a grudge with Zhang Lin. Although on the outside they pushed each other forward in honour, on the inside he truly hated him. When Lin became General of Guards, he deeply resented not obtaining [the honour of] Opening Office. He secretly sent a note to Kua, drawing up advice that Xiu was monopolizing authority, his actions were going against the hearts of the multitudes, the meritorious subjects were all small men, he disturbed and made chaos in the imperial court, and insisted on a single time [?] to execute him. Kua used the letter to report to Lun, and Lun accordingly showed it to Xiu. Xiu recommended Lun to execute Lin, and Lun followed it. And so he requested the imperial clan to assemble in the  Flowery Forest Park, and summoned Lin, Xiu and Wang Yu to enter. In that way he seized Lin and killed him, and executed his three kindred.

[Presumably, since Zhang Lin was General of Guards it was too risky just to order him executed.]