快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

Shen　Zong　said　to　his　colleague；　〃The　forces　above　have　failed　to　stop　the　enemy；　and　the　enemy　will　surely　e　here。　We　shall　have　to　put　forth　all　our　strength。　If　haply　we　can　succeed；　the　safety　of　our　South　Land　is　assured。　But　suppose　we　fight　and　lose　the　battle；　then　is　our　country　lost。〃
〃Sir；　you　only　say　what　is　too　true；〃　said　Zhuge　Xing。
Just　as　they　talked　of　these　matters　came　reports　of　the　approach　of　their　enemies　in　irresistible　force。　The　two　leaders　were　seized　with　panic　and　went　back　to　see　the　Prime　Minister。
〃Our　country　is　lost！〃　cried　Zhuge　Xing。　〃Why　not　run？〃
〃We　all　know　that　the　land　is　doomed；〃　replied　Zhang　Ti。　〃But　if　we　make　no　defense；　and　no　one　dies　for　his　country；　shall　we　not　be　shamed？〃
Zhuge　Xing　left；　weeping；　and　Zhang　Ti　went　with　Shen　Zong　to　the　army。　The　invaders　soon　arrived；　and　the　Jin　General　Zhou　Zhi　was　the　first　to　break　into　the　camp。　Zhang　Ti　resisted　stubbornly；　but　was　soon　slain　in　a　melee；　and　Shen　Zong　was　killed　by　Zhou　Zhi。　The　army　of　Wu　was　defeated　and　scattered。

Jin's　army　banners　waved　on　Bashan　Mountains
And　trusty　Zhang　Ti　in　Jiangling　fighting　died；
He　accepted　not　that　the　kingly　grace　was　spent；
He　rather　chose　to　die　than　shame　his　side。

The　armies　of　Jin　conquered　at　Niuzhu　and　penetrated　deeply　into　the　country　of　Wu。　From　his　camp　Wang　Jun　sent　a　report　of　his　victory　to　Luoyang；　and　Sima　Yan　was　pleased。
But　Jia　Chong　again　opposed　further　fighting；　saying；　〃The　armies　have　been　long　absent；　and　the　soldiers　will　suffer　from　the　unhealthiness　of　the　southern　country。　It　would　be　well　to　call　them　home。〃
Zhang　Hua　spoke　against　this　course；　saying；　〃The　Jin　army　has　reached　the　very　home　and　center　of　the　enemy。　Soon　Wu　courage　will　fail；　and　the　Ruler　of　Wu　himself　will　be　our　prisoner。　To　recall　the　army　now　would　be　to　waste　the　efforts　already　made。〃
The　Ruler　of　Jin　inclined　to　neither　side。
Jia　Chong　turned　upon　Zhang　Hua　savagely；　saying；　〃You　are　wholly　ignorant　and　understand　nothing。　You　are　bent　upon　winning　some　sort　of　glory　at　the　expense　of　our　soldiers'　lives。　Death　would　be　too　good　for　you！〃
〃Why　wrangle？〃　said　Sima　Yan。　〃Zhang　Hua　agrees　with　me；　and　he　knows　my　wishes。〃
Just　at　this　moment　came　a　memorial　from　the　leader　Du　Yu　also　remending　advance；　whereupon　the　Ruler　of　Jin　decided　that　the　army　should　go　on。
The　royal　mandate　duly　reached　the　camp　of　Wang　Jun；　and　the　Jin　navy　went　out　to　the　attack　in　great　pomp。　The　soldiers　of　Wu　made　no　defense；　but　surrendered　at　once。
When　Sun　Hao；　the　Ruler　of　Wu；　heard　his　armies　had　surrendered　thus；　he　turned　pale；　and　his　courtiers　said；　〃What　is　to　be　done？　Here　the　northern　army　es　nearer　every　day　and　our　troops　just　give　in。〃
〃But　why　do　they　not　fight？〃　said　Sun　Hao。
The　courtiers　replied；　〃The　one　evil　of　today　is　Eunuch　Cen　Hun。　Slay　him；　and　we　ourselves　will　go　out　and　fight　to　the　death！〃
〃How　can　a　eunuch　harm　a　state？〃　cried　Sun　Hao。
〃Have　we　not　seen　what　Huang　Hao　did　in　Shu？〃　shouted　the　courtiers　in　chorus。
Moved　by　sudden　fury；　the　courtiers　rushed　into　the　Palace；　found　the　wretched　object　of　their　hate　and　slew　him；　and　even　feeding　on　his　palpitating　flesh。
Then　Tao　Jun　said；　〃All　my　ships　are　small；　but　give　me　large　vessels　and　I　will　place　thereon　twenty　thousand　marines　and　go　forth　to　fight。　I　can　defeat　the　enemy。〃
His　request　was　granted；　and　the　royal　guards　were　sent　up　the　river　to　join　battle；　while　another　naval　force　went　down　stream；　led　by　Leader　of　the　Van　Zhang　Xiang。　But　a　heavy　gale　came　on。　The　flags　were　blown　down　and　lay　over　in　the　ships；　and　the　marines　would　not　embark。　They　scattered　leaving　their　leader　with　only　a　few　score　men。
Wang　Jun；　the　leader　of　Jin；　set　sail　and　went　down　the　river。
After　passing　Three　Mountains；　the　sailing　master　of　his　ship　said；　〃The　gale　is　too　strong　for　the　fleet　to　go　on。　Let　us　anchor　till　the　storm　has　moderated。〃

＇e＇　Shidou　has　been　a　southern　capital　of　China　for　successive　dynasties。　A　beautiful　place；　Shidou　was　considered　a　treasure　by　the　emperors　of　Yuan　Dynasty　（Mongol　rule）。　Located　near　Shanghai　where　the　Great　River　meets　the　East　Sea；　Shidou's　modern　name　is　Nanjing。
But　Wang　Jun　would　not　listen。　Drawing　his　sword；　he　said；　〃I　wish　to　capture　Capital　Shidou*；　and　will　not　hear　of　anchoring。〃
So　he　pelled　the　sailing　master　to　continue。　On　the　way　Zhang　Xiang；　one　of　the　leaders　of　Wu；　came　to　offer　surrender。
〃If　you　are　in　earnest；　you　will　lead　the　way　and　help　me；〃　said　Wang　Jun。
Zhang　Xiang　consented；　returned　to　his　own　ship；　and　led　the　squadron。　When　he　reached　the　walls　of　Shidou；　he　called　to　the　defenders　to　open　the　gates　and　allow　the　Jin　army　to　enter。　The　gates　were　opened。
When　the　Ruler　of　Wu　heard　that　his　enemies　had　actually　entered　the　capital　city；　he　wished　to　put　an　end　to　his　life；　but　his　officers　prevented　this。
Secretary　Hu　Zong　and　Palace　Officer　Xue　Rong　said；　〃Your　Majesty；　why　not　imitate　the　conduct　of　Liu　Shan　of　Shu；　now　Duke　of　Anle？〃
So　Sun　Hao　no　longer　thought　of　death；　but　went　to　offer　submission。　He　bound　himself　and　took　a　coffin　with　him。　His　officers　followed　him。　He　was　graciously　received；　and　the　Jin　General　Wang　Jun　himself　loosened　the　bonds；　and　the　coffin　was　burned。　The　vanquished　Ruler　was　treated　with　the　ceremony　due　to　a　prince。
A　poet　of　the　Tang　Dynasty　wrote　a　few　lines　on　this　surrender：

Adown　the　stream　ride　storied　warships　tall；
With　massive　chains　some　seek　to　stop　their　way。
But　Jiangling's　independence　fades　away；
And　soon　〃We　yield〃　is　signaled　from　the　wall。
Full　oft　I　think　of　bygone　days　and　sigh；
Along　the　stream；　unmoved；　the　old　hills　rest；
While　I　am　homeless　on　the　earth's　broad　breast；
Where　grim　old　forts　stand　gray　beneath　the　sky。

Therefore　Wu　was　subdued　and　ceased　to　exist　as　a　state。　Its　4　regions；　43　counties；　313　districts；　5；230；000　families；　62；000　civil　officers；　230；000　soldiers　and　military　officers；　23；000；000　inhabitants；　its　stores　of　grain　and　over　five　thousand　large　ships；　all　fell　booty　to　the　victorious　Jin　Dynasty。　In　the　women's　quarters　of　the　Palace　were　found　more　than　five　thousand　persons。
Proclamations　were　issued；　treasuries　and　storehouses　were　sealed。　Tao　Jun's　navy　soon　melted　away　without　striking　a　blow。　Wang　Jun　was　greatly　elated　at　his　success。　Sima　Zhou；　Prince　of　Langye；　and　General　Wang　Rong　also　arrived　and　congratulated　each　other。
When　Du　Yu；　the　mander…in…Chief；　arrived；　there　were　great　feastings　and　rewards　for　the　soldiers。　The　granaries　were　opened　and　doles　of　grain　issued　to　the　people；　so　that　they　also　were　glad　of　peace。
Only　one　city　stood　out………Jianping；　under　Governor　Wu　Yang。　However；　he　too　surrendered　when　he　heard　the　capital　had　fallen。
The　tidings　of　all　these　successes　reached　Capital　Luoyang　just　at　the　celebration　of　the　birthday　of　the　Ruler　of　Jin；　and　the　rejoicings　and　congratulations　were　redoubled。　At　one　of　the　banquets　the　Ruler　of　Jin　did　honor　to　the　memory　of　the　late　Yang　Hu。
Raising　his　wine　cup；　and　in　a　voice　broken　by　emotion；　he　said；　〃Today's　success　is　the　merit　of　the　Imperial　Guardian。　I　regret　that　he　is　not　here　to　share　our　rejoicings。〃
In　Wu；　Sun　Xi；　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　went　away　from　the　court　and　wailed；　facing　the　south。
〃Alas；　ye　blue　heavens！　What　manner　of　man　is　this　Sun　Hao　to　yield　thus　the　heritage　of　his　family；　won　by　the　sword　of　General　Sun　Jian　the　Martially　Glorious　in　the　brave　days　that　are　past？〃
Meantime　the　victors　marched　homeward；　and　Sun　Hao　went　to　Luoyang　to　present　himself　at　court。　In　his　capacity　of　minister；　he　prostrated　himself　at　the　feet　of　the　Emperor　of　the　Jin　Dynasty　in　the　Hall　of　Audience。　He　was　allowed　a　seat。
〃I　set　that　seat　for　you　long　since；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Jin。
〃Thy　servant　also　set　a　seat　for　Your　Majesty　in　the　south；〃　retorted　Sun　Hao。
The　Ruler　of　Jin　laughed　loudly。
Then　Jia　Chong　turned　to　Sun　Hao　and　said；　〃I　hear；　Sir；　that　when　you　were　in　the　south；　they　gouged　out　people's　eyes　and　flayed　their　faces。　What　crimes　were　so　punished？〃
〃Murders　of　princes　and　malicious　speech　and　disloyal　conduct　were　so　punished！〃
Jia　Chong　was　silenced；　for　he　was　ashamed。
Sun　Hao　was　created　Lord　of　Guiming。　His　sons　and　grandsons　received　minor　ranks　and　other　grades　were　conferred　upon　his　ministers　who　had　followed　him　in　his　surrender。　The　sons　and　grandsons　of　the　late　Prime　Minister　of　Wu；　Zhang　Ti；　who　had　perished　in　battle；　were　given　ranks。　The　victorious　leader；　Wang　Jun；　was　rewarded　with　the　title　General　Who　Upholds　the　State。　And　many　other　ranks　were　conferred　to　the　Jin　officers。
The　three　states　now　became　one　empire　under　the　rule　of　Sima　Yan　of　the　Jin　Dynasty。　That　is　domains　under　heaven；　after　a　long　period　of　union；　tends　to　divide；　after　a　long　period　of　division；　tends　to　unite。
Liu　Shan；　the　Emperor　of　Shu…Han；　passed　away　in　the　seventh　year　of　Great　Beginning；　in　Jin　calendar　（AD　271）。　Cao　Huang；　the　Emperor　of　Wei；　passed　away　in　the　first　year　of　Magnificent　Peace　（AD　302）。　And　Sun　Hao；　the　Emperor　of　Wu；　passed　away　in　the　fourth　year　of　Prosperous　Peace　（AD　283）。　All　three　died　of　natural　causes。
A　poet　has　summed　up　the　history　of　these　stirring　years　in　a　poem：

It　was　the　dawning　of　a　glorious　day
When　first　the　Founder　of　the　House　of　Han
Xianyang's　proud　Palace　entered。　Noontide　came
When　Liu　Xiu　the　imperial　rule　restored。
Alas；　that　Liu　Xian　succeeded　in　full　time
And　saw　the　setting　of　the　sun　of　power！
He　Jin；　the　feeble；　fell　beneath　the　blows
Of　Palace　minions。　Dong　Zhuo；　vile　though　bold；
Then　ruled　the　court。　The　plot　Wang　Yun
To　oust　him；　failed；　recoiled　on　his　own　head。
The　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　lit　up　the　flame　of　war
And　brigands　swarmed　like　ants　through　all　the　land。
Then　rose　the　valiant　and　deployed　their　might。
Sun　Ce　carved　out　a　kingdom　in　the　southeast；
North　of　Yellow　River　the　Yuans　strove　to　make　their　own。
Liu　Zhang　went　west　and　seized　on　Ba　and　Shu；
Liu　Biao　laid　hold　on　Jingzhou　and　Chu；
Zhang　Lu；　in　turn　held　Hanzhong　by　force。
Ma　Teng　and　Han　Sui　kept　Xiliang。
Tao　Qian　and　Gongsun　Zan　built　up　quarters；
Zhang　Xiu　and　Lu　Bu　challenged　the　bold。
But　overtopping　all　Cao　Cao　the　strong
Became　first　minister；　and　to　his　side；
Drew　many　able　people。　He　swayed　the　court；
Without；　he　held　the　nobles　in　his　hand；
By　force　of　arms　he　held　the　capital
Against　all　rivals。　Of　imperial　stock
Was　born　Liu　Bei；　who　with　sworn　brothers　twain
Made　oath　the　dynasty　should　be　restored。
These　wandered　homeless　east　and　west　for　years；
A　petty　force。　But　Destiny　was　kind
And　led　Liu　Bei　to　Nanyang's　rustic　cot；
Where　lay　Sleeping　Dragon；　he　who
Already　that　the　empire　must　be　rent。
Twice　Liu　Bei　essayed　in　vain　to　see　the　sage
Once　more　he　went？　And　then　his　fortune　turned。
Jingzhou　fell　to　him；　followed　the　River　Lands；
A　fitting　base　to　build　an　empire　on。
Alas！　He　ruled　there　only　three　short　years；
Then　left　his　only　son　to　Zhuge　Liang's　care。
Full　nobly　Zhuge　Liang　played　protector's　part；
Unceasing　strove　to　win　first　place　for　Shu；
But　Fate　forbade；　one　night　for　aye　his　star
Went　down　behind　the　rampart　of　the　hills。
Jiang　Wei　the　strong　inherited　his　task
And　struggled　on　for　years。
But　Zhong　Hui　and　Deng　Ai
Attacked　the　Hans'　last　stronghold；　and　it　fell。
Five　sons　of　Cao　Cao　sat　on　the　dragon　throne；
And　Sima　Yan　snatched　the　court　from　Cao　Huang。
Before　him　bowed　the　kings　of　Shu　and　Wu；
Content　to　forfeit　kingly　power　for　life。
All　down　the　ages　rings　the　note　of　change；
For　fate　so　rules　it；　none　escapes　its　sway。
The　three　kingdoms　have　vanished　as　a　dream；
The　useless　misery　is　ours　to　grieve。
THE　END　＇e＇　*
＇e＇　The　Three　Kingdoms　ended　here；　60　years　after　the　fall　of　Han。　Even　though　the　novel　ends　with　a　union　moment；　the　empire　was　actually　on　the　verge　of　being　divided　for　another　340　years；　until　Tang　Dynasty　emerged　（AD　618）。　But　those　are　other　chapters　in　history：　〃When　the　last　Han　emperor　abdicated　in　220；　each　of　the　warlords　proclaimed　himself　ruler；　beginning　what　is　known　as　the　Three　Kingdoms　Period　（220…265）。　The　northern　state；　Wei；　was　the　strongest；　but　before　it　had　succeeded　in　unifying　the　realm；　Sima　Yan；　a　Wei　general；　led　a　successful　coup　in　265　and　founded　the　Jin　Dynasty。　By　280　h