He breathed his last after he said these words. The sons informed the Emperor, who conferred high honors upon the deceased minister and advanced his sons to even higher military posts.
It is now necessary to return to events in the Kingdom of Wu. Sun Quan, the Emperor, had at first named his son Deng, whose mother was Lady Xu, as his heir. But Deng died, and the second son, born of Lady Wang, was chosen to be his successor. A quarrel arose between the new Heir Apparent and Princess Quan, who maligned him and intrigued against him, so he was set aside. He died of mortification. Then the third son was named heir to the throne, whose mother was Lady Pan.
At this time Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin were both dead, and the business of the government, great and small, was in the hands of Zhuge Ke, son of Zhuge Jin.
In the first year of the period of Tai Yuan, on the first day of the eighth month, a hurricane struck the land of Wu. The waves rose to a great height and the ground stood eight feet deep in water. At the tombs of the rulers of Wu, pines and cypresses were uprooted and blown to the southern gate of the capital, where they fell to the ground.
Sun Quan was frightened and fell ill. In the fourth month of the following year his illness became serious, whereupon he called in Zhuge Ke and Lu Dai to hear his last wishes. Soon after he died (A.D. 252), at the age of seventy-one. He had ruled in Wu for twenty-four years.
A hero, blue-eyed and red-bearded,
He called forth devotion from all.
For twenty and four years he reigned the east
Mighty as a dragon or a tiger.
Zhuge Ke immediately placed his late lord’s son Sun Liang on the throne, and the new reign was marked by the adoption of the title Jian Xing. A general amnesty was proclaimed. The late ruler received the posthumous style of “Great Emperor” and was buried in the Jiang Mausoleum.
When Sun Quan’s death was reported in the Wei capital, Sima Shi at once thought of attacking Wu. But his proposal was opposed by Fu Gu, who said, “Wu has the natural defense of the Yangtze River. The late Emperors launched several expeditions, but none succeeded. It is better for each kingdom to preserve its own borders.”
Sima Shi retorted, “The way of Heaven changes every thirty years. How can this three kingdom status quo remain forever? I am going to attack Wu.”
Sima Zhao supported his brother. “The occasion is most opportune. Sun Quan is newly dead and the present ruler is young and weak.”
Therefore an expedition was decided upon. Three armies were mustered, each with 100,000 soldiers. General Wang Chang was ordered to attack Nanjun; General Hu Zhen to seize Dongxing; and Marshal Guanqiu Jian to take Wuchang. Sima Zhao was put in over all command of the three armies.
In the twelfth month of that year the armies drew near the Wu frontiers and camped. Sima Zhao called together the three commanders to discuss the campaign. He said, “Of all the places in Wu, Dongxing is strategically most important. They have now built a great dam there, with two fortresses on its right and left to guard against assaults from Lake Chao behind the city. You must be cautious.”
Then he told Wang Chang and Guanqiu Jian to take 10,000 men each and place themselves to the right and left sides of Dongxing. They were to wait until the city had fallen, when they were to join the attack. Next he appointed Hu Zun leader of the van to command the rest of the forces. “Construct a floating bridge first to seize the great dam,” ordered Sima Zhao. “If you can capture the two fortresses you will have rendered a great service.”
Hu Zun took the order and led his men to construct the bridge.
News of the invasion soon reached Zhuge Ke, who called a general council to discuss how to avert the danger.
The veteran general Ding Feng said, “Dongxing is of vital importance. Its loss will endanger Nanjun and Wuchang.”
“I agree with you entirely, General,” said Zhuge Ke. “Now take 3,000 marines and go to the city by water. I will send three land forces, each 10,000 strong, to reinforce you. When you hear the signal of continuous explosions of bombs, you are to advance in full force. I will follow with the main army later.”
Ding Feng soon sailed out toward Dongxing with his 3,000 men in thirty ships.
In the meantime, the Wei van leader Hu Zun had crossed the floating bridge, and camped his men on the dam. He then sent two officers to assault the flanking forts. Seeing the strength of the Wei army, the Wu officers dared not venture beyond their ramparts, but maintained a resolute defense behind the high walls. Hu Zun made a camp at Xutang.
It was the depth of winter and the weather was intensely cold. A heavy snow fell. Hu Zun and his officers were having a grand feast in their camp when suddenly there came the report that thirty enemy ships had come up the river. The general went out to look and saw the ships coming in to shore, each with about a hundred men on board.
He returned to his tent and said to his officers, “Only 3,000 men! Nothing to be alarmed about.”
Giving an order to keep a careful watch, he and his officers went on with their drinking party.
Ding Feng’s ships were all drawn up in line. He said to his officers, “This is the moment for a brave man to win fame and wealth.” Then he ordered his men to throw off their armor and helmets, cast aside their long spears and heavy halberds, and arm themselves with only short daggers.
From the shore the men of Wei laughed heartily and took no trouble to prepare themselves against an attack. But suddenly a string of three bombs exploded, and with the roar of the third Ding Feng sprang ashore at the head of his men, who followed close behind, daggers in hand, and made straight for the Wei camp.
The men of Wei, taken completely by surprise, could not make a stand. One officer grasped the big halberd in front of the tent, but Ding Feng stabbed him in the chest, and he rolled over. Another Wei officer came round from the left to thrust Ding Feng with his spear, but Ding Feng seized its shaft and held it firmly under his arm. The Wei officer let go of the spear and turned to flee, but Ding Feng sent his sword flying after him and wounded him in the shoulder. As he fell, Ding Feng pierced him to death with the man’s own spear.
The 3,000 Wu marines assaulted the Wei camp, slaying as they would. Hu Zun fled. His men tried to escape by the floating bridge, but that gave way and many were thrown into the water and drowned. Many more lay dead on the snow-covered ground. The spoils of military gear that fell to Wu was immense. When the defeat in Dongxing was known, Sima Zhao and the others retreated.
Zhuge Ke soon arrived at Dongxing, where he recollected his troops and distributed rewards among them in celebration of the victory. Then he said to his officers, “Sima Zhao has returned to the north in defeat. This is the best time for us to destroy Wei.”
So he sent an envoy to Shu to engage the aid of Jiang Wei, promising to divide the empire between them once they had conquered Wei. At the same time, he mobilized 200,000 men for an expedition against Wei.
Just before the army set out, a mass of white vapor suddenly emerged from the earth and gradually enveloped the whole army. Men could not see each other.
“This is a white rainbow and it means destruction of the army,” said Jiang Yan. “Sir, you must return to court and curtail this expedition.”
“How dare you utter such ill-omened words and blunt the keenness of my army?” cried Zhuge Ke angrily.
He ordered the executioners to take him out and put him to death. Jiang Yan’s colleagues interceded for him and Zhuge Ke spared his life, but stripped him of all rank.
Ding Feng put forward a suggestion. “Xincheng is the gateway to Wei. It will be a sore blow to Sima Zhao if we can capture that place.”
Zhuge Ke welcomed this suggestion warmly and gave orders for the army to march toward Xincheng. The commanding officer at the city was Zhang Te. When he saw the men of Wu coming in full force, he closed the city gates and maintained a defense. The Wu army laid a siege.
A messenger was sent to Luoyang to report the invasion from Wu.
One official said to Sima Shi, “Wu is l
aying siege to Xincheng. Our best policy is not to give battle, but simply hold out as long as possible. When the besiegers have exhausted their provisions they will be compelled to withdraw. As they retreat we can smite them. However, it is necessary to also guard against invasion from Shu.”
Sima Shi took his advice and accordingly Sima Zhao was sent to reinforce Guo Huai to ward off possible attacks from Jiang Wei, while Guanqiu Jian and Hu Zun were to resist the Wu army.
For months the army of Zhuge Ke battered Xincheng without success. He urged his officers to make strenuous efforts, threatening to put to death anyone who did not exert himself. At last his efforts produced an effect, for the northeast corner of the wall was about to give way.
Then the commander of Xincheng thought of a plan. He sent an eloquent messenger out to see Zhuge Ke, taking with him the city’s census records. The man told the Wu commander that it was a rule in Wei that if a city held out for a hundred days and no rescue came, its commandant might surrender without implicating his family for punishment.
“Now the city has held out for over ninety days,” continued the messenger. “My master hopes you will allow him to withstand the few days necessary to complete the hundred. Then he will yield with his army and people. Here he asked me to present you first the records of the city’s residents.”
Zhuge Ke was taken in. He recalled his men and ceased the attack. Seeing how well he had tricked the men of Wu into suspending the assault, Zhang Te at once pulled down some houses and mended the wall. As soon as the repairs were complete, he ascended the wall and abused his opponents: “I have half a year’s provisions in the city. Do you think I will surrender to you Wu dogs? What do I care about your attacks!”
The defense became as vigorous as before the truce. Zhuge Ke was enraged at being tricked, and urged on the attack. But from the wall flew down flights of arrows and one of them struck him in the forehead, and he fell. He was borne to his tent, but the wound was inflamed, and he became very ill.
Their commander’s illness disheartened the men, who had no desire to fight. Moreover, the weather was very hot and sickness invaded the camp. So by the time Zhuge Ke recovered sufficiently to resume command and continue the attack, he was told that the men were too ill to give battle.
In an outburst of anger Zhuge Ke said, “Whoever mentions illness again will be beheaded!”
When the report of this threat got abroad, the men began to desert freely. Even an officer went over to the enemy with his whole force. Zhuge Ke began to feel really alarmed and rode through the camps to see for himself. Truly enough, the men all looked sickly, their faces sallow and swollen.
So Zhuge Ke decided to withdraw to his own country. The enemy took the opportunity to harass his army and inflicted a severe defeat. Mortified by the course of events, he pretended illness and shunned the court.
The Emperor himself visited him in his residence to inquire after him, and officials, civil and military, also went to pay their respects. In order to silence criticism, Zhuge Ke assumed an attitude of extreme severity, investigating every officer’s misconduct, punishing rigorously any fault, and meting out sentences that ranged from exile to border regions to death by exposure. Terror gripped everyone. Furthermore, he also placed two of his trusted officers in charge of the Imperial Guards, making them his teeth and claws in the palace.
Now Sun Jun, former head of the Imperial Guards, was a great grandson of Sun Jing, brother of Sun Jian. When Sun Quan was alive, he loved the young man very much and had put him in command of the Imperial Guards. He was enraged at being superseded by the two confidants of Zhuge Ke.
His discontent was noticed by an official named Teng Yin, who had an old quarrel with Zhuge Ke. He said to Sun Jun, “This Zhuge Ke abuses his power and persecutes court officials. He will one day rebel against the throne. You, sir, are a member of the ruling family. Why not stop him as early as possible?”
“I have been meaning to get rid of him for a long time,” replied Sun Jun. “Now I will obtain an edict from the Emperor to condemn him to death.”
Both went in to see the Emperor and laid the matter before him.
“I am afraid of him, too,” replied the Emperor. “I have wanted to remove him for some time, but have found no opportunity. If you are loyal to me, plan his destruction in secret.”
Teng Yin said, “Your Majesty can invite him to a banquet, and have armed guards hidden behind a screen. At the signal of the dropping of a wine cup, they will slay him. That will avoid future trouble.”
Since his return from the failed expedition, Zhuge Ke had remained moping at home, pleading an indisposition. One day he happened to go out of his front hall and suddenly saw coming into his house a person dressed in the hempen garb of mourning.
“Who are you?” asked Zhuge Ke.
The man was terrified and could not reply. Zhuge Ke had him seized for interrogation.
The man said, “My father has died and I came to the city to seek a monk to perform the memorial service. Just now I saw a temple here so I walked in, but I did not know it is the minister’s residence. I did not know how I came to be here.”
The gate wardens were questioned. “There are dozens of us guarding the gate holding our spears,” they said. “We have never left the gate for a moment and we have not seen any man enter.”
In wrath Zhuge Ke had the man and the guards all put to death. But that night he was unable to sleep. Suddenly, he heard a rending sound from the front hall, so he rose to see what it was. The main beam had split in two. Much disturbed, he returned to his chamber, where he was greeted by a cold blast of wind and there he saw the hemp-clad mourner and the gate wardens he had put to death. All of them advanced toward him holding their heads in their hands and asking him to give them back their lives. The apparition frightened him and he fell in a swoon.
The next morning, when washing his face he found the basin of water tainted with the smell of blood. He told the maid to change the water but it made no difference. The odor was still there, even after changing the water dozens of times. What could this portend? He was feeling alarmed and perplexed when there came a messenger from the Emperor inviting him to a royal banquet. So he ordered his carriage. But as he was leaving the gate a yellow dog caught his robe in its teeth and then whined like a man weeping.
“The dog is mocking me,” he said, annoyed, and he ordered his attendants to drive it away. Then he set out for the palace. Before he had gone far, he saw a white rainbow rise out of the earth and reaching up to the sky. This sight again filled his heart with surprise and fear.
Then his confidant, Zhang Yue, came up to his carriage and whispered to him in secret: “This banquet in the palace is rather suspicious. You should not go so rashly, my lord.”
Zhuge Ke took his advice and ordered the carriage to turn back, but he had gone only a dozen paces when the two conspirators rode up and asked him why he was returning.
“I have a stomach ache and cannot see the Emperor today,” replied Zhuge Ke.
They said, “Since you returned from the expedition, His Majesty has not yet talked with you in person. So he is giving this banquet especially to discuss state affairs with you. You may be feeling ill, sir, but you should still try to attend.”
Zhuge Ke was persuaded and went to the palace with the two conspirators. Zhang Yue also followed into the palace. Zhuge Ke made his obeisance to the Emperor and took his place at the banquet. The Emperor ordered the attendants to serve wine but Zhuge Ke, thinking it might be poisoned, excused himself from drinking on account of his state of health.
“Sir, you often take medicated wine at home,” said Sun Jun. “Would you like to have some brought to you from your own residence?”
“Yes, I could drink that,” replied Zhuge Ke.
So his attendant was sent to get the wine from his home. When the wine was brought, Zhuge Ke began to drink with ease.
After the wine had gone several rounds, the Emperor left the banquet hall with an excuse. Sun J
un went down the hall, took off his long robe, and changed into a short coat under which he wore his armor. Then he returned to the hall sword in hand, shouting, “The Emperor has issued an edict to slay the rebel!”
Extremely startled, Zhuge Ke dropped his cup to draw his sword, but it was too late. Before he could defend himself his head rolled to the floor. Seeing this, Zhang Yue drew his sword and rushed to Sun Jun, who sidestepped and the sword cut a finger on his left hand. Sun Jun slashed back at Zhang Yue and wounded him in the right arm. Then the hidden guards dashed in and finished him off.
The guards were then sent to slay Zhuge Ke’s family, while the bodies of the two victims were hastily rolled in matting, dropped into a cart, and driven outside the south gate to be thrown into a rubbish pit.
While Zhuge Ke was being murdered in the palace, his wife sat in her chamber feeling strangely upset. Presently a maid came in and her mistress asked her, “Why do you smell of blood?”
To her horror the maid suddenly rolled her eyes, gritted her teeth, and jumped up till her head hit the roof beam. “I am Zhuge Ke,” she cried. “I have been slain by that ruffian, Sun Jun!”
The whole family were frightened and began wailing. A few minutes later the residence was surrounded by armed guards and all of Zhuge Ke’s family members were bound, taken to the market place, and put to death.
These events occurred in the second year of the period Jian Xing in the Kingdom of Wu.
In former days, when Zhuge Jin was alive, he had noticed how his son Zhuge Ke showed off his wit and ability, and had remarked, “He is not a son that will safeguard his family.”
An official of Wei had also predicted his early death. When asked why, he replied, “How can a man live long when he outshines his lord?”
Sun Jun, having slain his rival, was heaped with high honors. He was also given command of all the armed forces. From then on, all power rested in his hands.
Away in the Shu capital, Jiang Wei had received Zhuge Ke’s letter asking him to launch a joint attack against Wei. Jiang Wei sought an audience with the Second Ruler and obtained an edict to raise an army to conquer the north.
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: An Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation Page 50