Chapter 119

Chapter 119

Meanwhile, Zhong Hui invited Jiang Wei to discuss a plan to capture Deng Ai. Jiang Wei said, "We can first send the Army Supervisor Wei Guan to arrest Deng Ai. If Deng Ai tries to kill Wei Guan, then his rebellious intentions will be confirmed. The general can then raise an army to punish him, and that will be proper." Zhong Hui was greatly pleased and ordered Wei Guan to lead several dozen men into Chengdu to arrest Deng Ai and his son. Wei Guan's soldiers tried to stop him, saying, "This is because the Minister of Works Zhong ordered the General Who Conquers the West, Deng, to kill you, in order to confirm his rebellious intentions. You absolutely must not go." Wei Guan replied, "I have my own plan." He then first issued twenty or three dozen proclamations. The proclamation read: "By imperial decree, we are arresting Deng Ai. All others will not be questioned. Those who come forward early to submit will be rewarded with titles and gifts. Those who dare not come out will have their three clans exterminated." He also prepared two prison carts and hastened toward Chengdu by day and night.

By the time the rooster crowed, those of Deng Ai's officers who had seen the proclamation all came to surrender before Wei Guan's horse. At that time, Deng Ai had not yet risen from his bed in his official residence. Wei Guan led several dozen men rushing in, shouting loudly, "By imperial decree, we are arresting Deng Ai and his son!" Deng Ai was greatly startled and tumbled off his bed. Wei Guan ordered the warriors to bind him and place him in the prison cart. His son Deng Zhong came out to inquire and was also seized and bound in the cart. The officers and clerks in the residence were greatly alarmed and wanted to fight back and seize them, but they soon saw a great cloud of dust rising, and a scout horse reported that the Minister of Works Zhong Hui's great army had arrived. The crowd scattered in all directions. Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei dismounted and entered the residence, where they saw that Deng Ai and his son had already been bound. Zhong Hui struck Deng Ai's head with his whip and cursed, "You little whelp, how dare you behave like this!" Jiang Wei also cursed, "A common fellow who took reckless risks and stumbled into luck—so you have finally met your day?" Deng Ai cursed back loudly. Zhong Hui sent Deng Ai and his son to Luoyang. Zhong Hui entered Chengdu and took possession of all of Deng Ai's troops, and his prestige shook the land. He then said to Jiang Wei, "Today I have finally fulfilled the ambition of a lifetime." Jiang Wei said, "In the past, Han Xin did not listen to Kuai Tong's advice and met his doom in the Weiyang Palace. Doctor Zhong (Wen Zhong) did not follow Fan Li to the Five Lakes and was eventually forced to fall upon his sword and die. These two men—were their achievements not illustrious? It was only because they did not clearly perceive where their interests lay and failed to recognize the signs in time. Now that your great accomplishment is complete and your prestige overshadows your master, why not set a boat adrift and disappear from the world, climb the peaks of Mount Emei, and roam with Chisongzi?" Zhong Hui laughed and said, "Your words are mistaken. I am not yet forty years of age and am still thinking of advancing. How could I retire into idleness so easily?" Jiang Wei said, "If you will not retire, then you must devise a good plan early. This is within the capacity of your wisdom and intelligence—there is no need for this old man's words." Zhong Hui clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "BoYue understands my heart!" From then on, the two discussed great affairs every day. Jiang Wei secretly wrote a letter to the Latter Sovereign, saying: "I hope Your Majesty will endure humiliation for a few days. I will bring the altars of soil and grain from peril back to safety, and cause the sun and moon to shine again from darkness. I will never allow the House of Han to be utterly destroyed."

Meanwhile, as Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei were plotting rebellion, a report arrived that Sima Zhao had sent a letter. Zhong Hui received the letter, which read: "I feared that the Minister of Works might not succeed in capturing Deng Ai, so I have stationed troops at Chang'an. We will meet soon, and I report this in advance." Zhong Hui was greatly alarmed and said, "My troops outnumber Deng Ai's several times over. If he only wanted me to capture Deng Ai, the Duke of Jin would know that I could accomplish it alone. That he is now coming with his own troops shows that he suspects me." He then discussed the matter with Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei said, "When a lord suspects his minister, the minister must die. Have you not seen what happened to Deng Ai?" Zhong Hui said, "My mind is made up. If we succeed, we gain the world. If we fail, we retreat to Xishu, and I will not do worse than becoming another Liu Bei." Jiang Wei said, "I have recently heard that Empress Dowager Guo has just died. We can forge a claim that the Empress Dowager left a testament ordering the punishment of Sima Zhao for the crime of murdering his sovereign. With your talents, the Central Plains can be swept and secured." Zhong Hui said, "BoYue shall serve as the vanguard. After the matter is accomplished, we shall share the wealth and honor." Jiang Wei said, "I am willing to offer my humble services. But I fear the various generals may not submit." Zhong Hui said, "On the Lantern Festival tomorrow, we will illuminate the old palace with lanterns and lights and invite all the generals to a banquet. Those who do not comply will be put to death." Jiang Wei secretly rejoiced. The next day, Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei invited all the generals to a banquet. After several rounds of wine, Zhong Hui held his cup and wept loudly. The generals were startled and asked why. Zhong Hui said, "When Empress Dowager Guo was on her deathbed, she left a testament here. Because Sima Zhao murdered his sovereign at the southern palace gate, committing the most heinous crime, and will soon usurp the Wei throne, she ordered me to punish him. You must each sign your names to join in this undertaking." All were greatly shocked and looked at each other in dismay. Zhong Hui drew his sword and said, "Those who disobey will be beheaded!" All were terrified and had no choice but to comply. After the signatures were completed, Zhong Hui confined all the generals in the palace and placed them under strict guard with soldiers. Jiang Wei said, "I see that the generals are not willing to submit. I suggest we bury them alive." Zhong Hui said, "I have already ordered a pit to be dug in the palace, and several thousand large clubs have been prepared. Those who do not comply will be beaten to death and thrown into the pit."

At that time, a trusted officer named Qiu Jian was at his side. Qiu Jian was a former subordinate of the Army Protector Hu Lie. Hu Lie was also being held under guard in the palace. Qiu Jian secretly reported everything Zhong Hui had said to Hu Lie. Hu Lie was greatly alarmed and told him with tears, "My son Hu Yuan commands troops outside. How could he know that Zhong Hui harbors such intentions? If you remember our past relationship, please get a message out, and I will die without regret." Qiu Jian said, "My lord, do not worry. Let me devise a plan." He then went out and reported to Zhong Hui, saying, "My lord, you have confined the generals inside, and it is inconvenient for them to receive water and food. You should appoint someone to deliver these to them." Zhong Hui had always trusted Qiu Jian's words, so he put Qiu Jian in charge of supervision. He instructed him, "I am entrusting you with a matter of great importance. You must not leak it." Qiu Jian said, "My lord, rest assured. I have my own strict methods." Qiu Jian secretly ordered a trusted man of Hu Lie to enter, and Hu Lie gave him a secret letter. The man took the letter and hastened to Hu Yuan's camp, explaining the matter in detail and presenting the secret letter. Hu Yuan was greatly alarmed and showed it to all the camps. The generals were furious and quickly came to Hu Yuan's camp to discuss the matter, saying, "Even if we die, how could we submit to a rebellious minister?" Hu Yuan said, "On the eighteenth day of the first month at noon, we can rush in suddenly and act accordingly." The Army Supervisor Wei Guan was greatly pleased with Hu Yuan's plan and immediately organized his troops, sending Qiu Jian to relay the message to Hu Lie. Hu Lie informed the other generals.

Zhong Hui invited Jiang Wei and said, "Last night I dreamed of several thousand large snakes biting me. What does this portend—good or ill?" Jiang Wei replied, "To dream of dragons or snakes is always an auspicious sign." Zhong Hui was pleased and believed him. He then said to Jiang Wei, "The weapons are all prepared. Shall I release the generals and question them?" Jiang Wei replied, "These men all harbor rebellious intentions. Given time, they will certainly become a threat. It would be best to put them to death at once." Zhong Hui followed his advice and ordered Jiang Wei to lead armed men to kill the Wei commanders. Jiang Wei received the order and was about to act when suddenly a sharp pain seized his heart and he collapsed to the ground. His attendants helped him up, and only after some time did he regain consciousness. Then a report came that the area outside the palace was seething with noise. Zhong Hui had just sent someone to investigate when a great shout arose, and soldiers arrived from all directions in countless numbers. Jiang Wei said, "This must be the generals in revolt. We should execute them first." Suddenly word came that the soldiers had already entered the palace. Zhong Hui ordered the palace gates shut and commanded soldiers to climb onto the roof of the hall and hurl tiles down upon the attackers. Dozens on both sides were killed in the melee. Fires broke out on all four sides outside the palace, and the soldiers outside hacked open the gates and poured in. Zhong Hui drew his sword and personally killed several men before he was struck down by a volley of arrows. The generals cut off his head. Jiang Wei drew his sword and rushed into the hall, fighting back and forth, but the pain in his heart only grew worse. He looked up to heaven and cried out, "My plan has failed—it is the will of Heaven!" He then cut his own throat and died. He was fifty-nine years old. Several hundred people died within the palace. Wei Guan said, "All troops, return to your camps and await the royal command." But the Wei soldiers, eager for revenge, fought over Jiang Wei's body and cut open his belly—his gallbladder was as large as a chicken's egg. The generals also seized and killed all of Jiang Wei's family. When Deng Ai's subordinates learned that Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei were dead, they set out through the night to pursue and rescue Deng Ai. Word was quickly reported to Wei Guan. Wei Guan said, "I am the one who arrested Deng Ai. If he is allowed to survive, I shall have no place left to bury myself." The army protector Tian Xu said, "When Deng Ai took Jiangyou, he wanted to put me to death, but the other officials interceded and I was spared. Today I shall repay that grudge." Wei Guan was delighted and dispatched Tian Xu with five hundred soldiers to Mianzhu. There they encountered Deng Ai and his son, who had just been released from their prisoner's cage and were making their way back to Chengdu. Deng Ai assumed these were his own troops and made no preparations. Before he could even ask, Tian Xu struck him down with a single sword stroke. Deng Zhong also perished in the chaos of battle. A later poet lamented Deng Ai in these words:

From youth he could devise plans,

With many schemes and mastery of war.

A steady gaze revealed the lay of the land,

A lifted face discerned the patterns of the sky.

Where his horse charged, the mountain roots were severed;

Where his troops advanced, the stone paths were split.

His deeds accomplished, he met with death—

His soul drifts among the clouds of the Han River.

Another poet lamented Zhong Hui:

In childhood he was called a prodigy,

And served as Palace Library Secretary.

His cunning schemes overthrew the Sima clan,

And in his time he was called the Zhang Liang of the age.

At Shouchun his counsel was much praised,

At the Sword Tower his eagle spirit shone.

Had he but learned from Tao Zhu to live in seclusion,

He would not now wander as a sorrowful ghost mourning his homeland.

Another poet lamented Jiang Wei:

Tiansui boasted of his noble bearing,

Liangzhou produced this rare talent.

His lineage traced back to Shangfu,

His arts were devoted to the legacy of the Martial Marquis.

With great daring he feared nothing,

With boundless ambition he vowed never to turn back.

On the day he died in Chengdu,

The Han generals wept with lingering sorrow.

After Zhong Hui, Jiang Wei, and Deng Ai had been killed, Zhang Yi and others also perished in the chaos of battle. The crown prince Liu Xuan and Guanyihou of Hanshou were both slain by Wei soldiers. The army and the people fell into utter disorder, trampling one another, and the dead were beyond counting. Ten days later, Jia Chong arrived first and posted proclamations to pacify the populace, and only then did calm return. He left Wei Guan to guard Chengdu and escorted the Latter Lord to Luoyang. Only a handful of officials accompanied him: Shangshu Ling Fan Jian, Shizhong Zhang Shaofu, Guanglu Dafu Qiao Zhou, and Mishulang Xi Zheng. Liao Hua and Dong Jue both feigned illness and would not rise from their beds; both later died of grief.

This was the fifth year of the Jingyuan era of Wei, which was changed to the first year of Xanning. In the spring, the third month, the Wu general Ding Feng, seeing that Shu had fallen, withdrew his forces and returned to Wu. The Palace Secretariat Zhongshu Cheng Hua He memorialized the Wu sovereign Sun Xiu: "Wu and Shu are as lips and teeth to one another. 'When the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold.' I surmise that Sima Zhao's attack on Wu is imminent. I entreat Your Majesty to strengthen our defenses." Sun Xiu heeded his counsel and appointed Lu Xun's son Lu Kang as Grand General of the East, Governor of Jingzhou, and defender of the river's mouth; General of the Left Sun Yi was assigned to guard the various passes at Nanxu; and along the length of the Yangtze, several hundred encampments were established, with the veteran Ding Feng overseeing all, to guard against Wei forces.

When Huo Yi, the Grand Warden of Jianning, learned that Chengdu had fallen, he dressed in mourning garments and wept facing west for three days. His generals all said, "Since the Han sovereign has lost his position, why do you not surrender quickly?" Huo Yi replied with tears, "The roads are cut off, and I do not know whether our lord is safe or in peril. If the Wei ruler treats him with proper courtesy, then we may surrender the city—it would not be too late. But if our lord is subjected to danger or humiliation, then when the sovereign is disgraced, the minister must die. How can we surrender?" The assembly agreed with his words, and he sent a man to Luoyang to ascertain news of the Latter Lord.

When the Latter Lord arrived in Luoyang, Sima Zhao had already returned to court. Zhao reproached the Latter Lord, saying, "You have been dissolute and devoid of virtue, discarding the worthy and losing governance. You ought to be put to death." The Latter Lord turned ashen and did not know what to do. His civil and military officials all submitted, "Since the Lord of Shu has lost the laws of his state and fortunately surrendered early, he should be pardoned." Zhao thereupon enfeoffed Shan as the Duke of Anle, granting him a residence, monthly provisions, ten thousand bolts of silk, and a hundred servants. His son Liu Yao and the officials Fan Jian, Qiao Zhou, Xi Zheng, and others were all enfeoffed as marquises. The Latter Lord came out of the palace to express his gratitude. Zhao, because Huang Hao had corrupted the state and harmed the people, ordered soldiers to escort him to the marketplace to be executed by slow slicing. At that time, Huo Ge learned that the Latter Lord had been enfeoffed and led his troops to surrender. The next day, the Latter Lord went in person to Sima Zhao's residence to express his thanks. Zhao held a banquet in his honor. First, Wei music and dance were performed before them. The Shu officials were moved to sorrow, but only the Latter Lord showed a happy expression. Zhao then ordered men of Shu to perform Shu music before them. The Shu officials all shed tears, but the Latter Lord smiled and carried on as before. When the wine was half finished, Zhao said to Jia Chong, "A man's lack of feeling can reach such an extent! Even if Zhuge Kongming were alive, he could not have assisted him for long and kept him whole, let alone Jiang Wei?" He then asked the Latter Lord, "Do you miss Shu?" The Latter Lord replied, "This place is delightful. I do not think of Shu." After a short while, the Latter Lord rose to change his clothes. Xi Zheng followed him to the side chamber and said, "Why did Your Majesty answer that you do not think of Shu? If he asks again, you may weep and reply, 'My ancestors' tombs are far away in Shu; my heart grieves for the west, and not a day passes without longing.' The Duke of Jin will surely allow Your Majesty to return to Shu." The Latter Lord firmly remembered this and returned to his seat. When he was slightly drunk, Zhao asked again, "Do you miss Shu?" The Latter Lord answered according to Xi Zheng's words, wishing to weep but having no tears, so he closed his eyes. Zhao said, "Why does this sound exactly like Xi Zheng's words?" The Latter Lord opened his eyes in alarm and said, "It is truly as you say." Zhao and those around him all laughed. Zhao therefore took great pleasure in the Latter Lord's honesty and harbored no suspicion. A later poet wrote a poem lamenting:

Pursuing pleasure and mirth, his face beamed with joy,

He gave no thought to peril or ruin, not a trace of sorrow.

Delighting in a foreign land, he forgot his native state—

Now we know the Latter Lord was a mediocrity.

Now it happened that the ministers at court, because Zhao had the merit of conquering Shu, honored him as king and submitted a memorial to the Wei sovereign Cao Huan. At that time, Huan bore the name of Son of Heaven but in truth could no longer exercise authority. All governance rested with the Sima clan, and he dared not refuse. He therefore enfeoffed the Duke of Jin, Sima Zhao, as the King of Jin, posthumously honored his father Sima Yi as King Xuan, and his brother Sima Shi as King Jing. Zhao's wife was the daughter of Wang Su and bore him two sons: the elder was Sima Yan, a man of imposing stature, whose hair reached the ground when he stood, whose hands hung past his knees, wise and heroic, with courage surpassing others; the younger was Sima You, of a gentle and amiable disposition, respectful, frugal, filial, and fraternally devoted. Zhao loved him deeply, and because Sima Shi had no son, he adopted You to continue Shi's line. Zhao often said, "The world belongs to my elder brother." Thus, when Sima Zhao was enfeoffed as King of Jin, he wished to establish You as heir. Shan Tao remonstrated, "To set aside the elder and establish the younger violates ritual and is inauspicious." Jia Chong, He Zeng, and Pei Xiu also remonstrated, "The eldest son is wise and martial, possessing talent beyond the ordinary; his reputation is already great, and his bearing is such—this is no minister's appearance." Zhao hesitated and had not yet decided. Grand Commandant Wang Xiang and Minister of Works Xun Yi remonstrated, "When previous generations established a younger son, it often brought disorder to the state. May Your Highness ponder this." Zhao thereupon established his eldest son Sima Yan as heir.

The ministers memorialized: "In those days, in Xiangwu County, a man descended from heaven, over two zhang tall, with footprints three chi and two cun long, white hair and a pale beard, wearing a yellow robe and wrapped in a yellow turban, leaning on a staff of wild藜. He declared, 'I am the People of Kings. I come to announce to you: the world shall change its ruler, and peace shall be seen at once.' He thus walked through the market for three days and suddenly disappeared. This is an auspicious omen for Your Highness. Your Highness may wear a crown with twenty pendants, establish the banners of the Son of Heaven, have guards clear the road on entering and exiting, ride in the Golden Root Chariot drawn by six horses, advance the consort to Queen, and establish the heir as Crown Prince." Zhao secretly rejoiced in his heart. He returned to the palace and was just about to drink wine when suddenly he suffered a stroke and could not speak. The next day his condition was critical. Grand Commandant Wang Xiang, Minister over the Masses He Zeng, Sima Xun Yi, and the various ministers entered the palace to inquire after his health. Zhao could not speak; he pointed at the Crown Prince Sima Yan and died. It was the xinmao day of the eighth month.

He Zeng said, "The great affairs of the world all rest with the King of Jin. We may establish the Crown Prince as King of Jin, and then proceed with the sacrifices and burial." On that day, Sima Yan ascended the throne as King of Jin, enfeoffed He Zeng as Chancellor of Jin, Sima Wang as Minister over the Masses, Shi Bao as General of Agile Cavalry, and Chen Qian as General of Chariot and Cavalry, and posthumously honored his father as King Wen. After the funeral was completed, Yan summoned Jia Chong and Pei Xiu to the palace and asked, "Cao Cao once said, 'If Heaven's mandate rests with me, then I shall be King Wen of Zhou, shall I not?' Was this truly so?" Chong replied, "Cao had received Han emoluments for generations and feared that people would speak of usurpation, hence he spoke those words. He was clearly instructing Cao Pi to become sovereign." Yan said, "How does my late father compare to Cao Cao?" Chong said, "Although Cao's merit covered all of Xia, the common people feared his might but did not cherish his virtue. His son Pi carried on his enterprise with heavy conscription and labor, driving the people east and west without a year of peace. Later, our Kings Xuan and Jing built great merit repeatedly, spreading favor and virtue—the world had long turned their hearts to us. King Wen swallowed up Shu in the west, his merit covered all under heaven. How can Cao Cao compare?" Yan said, "Cao Pi still succeeded the Han line. Cannot I then succeed the Wei line?" Jia Chong and Pei Xiu bowed twice and memorialized, "Your Highness should follow the precedent of Cao Pi's succession to the Han, build a Terrace of Abdication, proclaim it to the world, and ascend the great throne."

Yan was overjoyed. The next day he entered the inner palace bearing a sword. By this time, the Wei sovereign Cao Huan had not held court for many days. His mind was in a fog, his bearing agitated and unsure. Yan strode straight into the rear palace, and Huan, in alarm, descended from his imperial couch to receive him. Once Yan had seated himself, he asked, "To whom does the realm of Wei owe its existence?" Huan replied, "It was bestowed upon us by the grace of the Jin King's father and grandfather." Yan smiled and said, "I observe that Your Majesty cannot discourse on the Way through civil means, nor can you govern the state through martial prowess. Why not yield to one of greater talent and virtue?" Huan was greatly shocked and could not speak. At his side, Palace Attendant Zhang Jie shouted, "The Jin King speaks amiss! In former days, the Great Ancestor, Emperor Wu, swept east and cleared west, campaigned south and conquered north—he did not gain this realm lightly. The Son of Heaven today is virtuous and without fault. Why should he yield to another?" Yan flew into a rage. "This altars of soil and grain belong to the great House of Han. Cao Cao held the Son of Heaven hostage to command the lords, set himself up as King of Wei, and usurped the Han throne. My grandfather, father, and I served Wei for three generations. Who gained the realm? Not through the ability of the Cao clan—truly it was the power of the Sima clan. All within the four seas knows it. Am I not fit to inherit the realm of Wei today?" Zhang Jie said again, "To carry out this deed is to be a thief who steals the state!" Yan roared in fury, "I am avenging the House of Han—what fault is there in that?" He ordered his guards to beat Zhang Jie to death with cudgels beneath the hall. Cao Huan wept and knelt to plead. Yan rose and descended from the hall. Huan said to Jia Chong and Pei Xiu, "The crisis is upon us. What can we do?" Chong said, "The mandate of Heaven is spent. Your Majesty cannot defy Heaven's will. You should follow the precedent of Emperor Xian of Han, rebuild the Terrace of Abdication, prepare the full rites, and yield the throne to the King of Jin. Thus you accord with Heaven's heart above and satisfy the people's wishes below, and Your Majesty may be assured of safety." Huan followed this counsel and ordered Jia Chong to build the Terrace of Abdication. On the day of Jiazi in the twelfth month, Huan personally bore the imperial seal of state and stood upon the terrace, gathering all civil and military officers. A poet of later times lamented:

Wei swallowed the Han house; Jin swallowed Wei—

The cycle of Heaven's mandate cannot be escaped.

Zhang Jie, pitiable, died loyal to his state—

How could one fist block Mount Tai's height?

They invited the King of Jin, Sima Yan, to ascend the terrace and conferred the great rites upon him. Huan descended from the terrace and stood at the head of the assembly in his ducal robes. Yan sat in solemn state upon the terrace. Jia Chong and Pei Xiu stood to his left and right, holding swords, and ordered Cao Huan to prostrate himself again and listen to the decree. Chong said: "Since the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an, when Wei received the abdication of Han, forty-five years have passed. Now the heavenly mandate has ended forever, and the mandate of Heaven rests with Jin. The merits of the Sima clan have grown ever more exalted, reaching to the ends of Heaven and Earth. You may now assume the imperial throne and inherit the line of Wei. You shall be enfeoffed as Prince of Chenliu, and you shall depart to reside in Jinyang. Set forth at once, and do not enter the capital without a summons." Huan wept and departed with thanks. Grand Tutor Sima Fu wept and bowed before Huan, saying, "I have been a minister of Wei to the end—I shall never turn my back on Wei." Yan, seeing Fu thus, enfeoffed Fu as Prince of Anping. Fu declined and withdrew. That day the civil and military officers prostrated themselves before the terrace, crying "Long live the Emperor!" Yan inherited the Wei line, named his state Great Jin, changed the era name to the first year of Taishi, and proclaimed a general amnesty throughout the realm. Thus Wei came to an end. A poet of later times lamented:

Jin's design was patterned on the Kings of Wei;

Chenliu's fate was like that of Shanyang.

The Terrace of Abdication saw the same deed done again,

And looking back upon those years, one could only grieve.

The Jin Emperor Sima Yan posthumously honored Sima Yi as Emperor Xuan, his uncle Sima Shi as Emperor Jing, and his father Sima Zhao as Emperor Wen. He established seven ancestral temples to glorify his forebears. What were those seven temples? Sima Jun, General Who Subdues the West of Han; Jun begot Sima Liang, Grand Administrator of Yuzhang; Liang begot Sima Jun, Grand Administrator of Yingchuan; Jun begot Sima Fang, Grand Administrator of Jingzhao; Fang begot Sima Yi, Emperor Xuan; Yi begot Sima Shi, Emperor Jing; and Sima Zhao, Emperor Wen. These were the seven temples. With the great matter settled, he held court daily to deliberate plans for the campaign against Wu. Truly it was said:

The city walls of Han are no longer as of old;

The rivers and mountains of Wu shall soon be changed again.

How the campaign against Wu was to unfold, read on in the chapter below.