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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
d Sun Xin hastened back to the city。 But the eight hundred Jin soldiers of Zhou Zhi mingled with the Wu army at the ramparts and so entered the gates。 The Jin soldiers raised signal fires on the walls。
This maneuver amazed Sun Xin； and he said； 〃The northern troops had surely flown across the river into the city！〃
Sun Xin made an effort to escape； but the leader of Jin； Zhou Zhi； unexpectedly appeared and slew him。
Admiral Lu Jing of the Wu fleet of that had acpanied Sun Xin saw on the south shore； in the Bashan Mountains； a great standard bearing the name Jin General Who Guards the South Du Yu 。 Lu Jing became alarmed and landed to try to escape； but the Jin General Zhang Shang soon found and slew him。
At his position at Jiangling； Wu Yan heard of these defeats and knew his position was untenable； so he fled。 However； he was soon captured and led into the presence of the victorious general。
〃No use sparing you；〃 said Du Yu； and he sentenced the prisoner to death。
Thus Jiangling was captured and all the counties along the River Xiang and River Yuan as far as Huangzhou； which surrendered at the first summons。
Du Yu sent out officers to soothe the people of the conquered counties； and they suffered nothing from the soldiery。 Next he marched toward Wuchang； and that city also yielded。 So the glory of Du Yu became very great。 He then summoned his officers to a council to decide upon attacking Capital Jianye。
Hu Fen said； 〃A one…century rebellion will not be reduced pletely at once。 The time of the spring rise of waters is near； and our position is precarious。 We should do well to await the ing spring。〃
Du Yu replied； 〃In the days of old； Yue Yi overcame the powerful state Qi in one battle in Jixi。 Our prestige is now high and success certain； easy as the splitting of a bamboo； which seems to wele the knife after the first few joints have been overe。 We shall meet no great opposition。〃
So Du Yu gave orders to the various leaders to move in concert against the capital land of Jianye。
Now the Jin leader Wang Jun had gone down the river with his naval force。 From his scouts he heard of the iron chains and the hammers that had been laid in the river to hinder his progress。 But he only laughed。 He constructed great rafts of timber and placed on them straw effigies of soldiers in armors and sent them down river with the current。 The defenders of Wu took them for real troops and； alarmed by their numbers； fled in panic。 Then the great hammers and chains were dragged away as the rafts drifted on。 Moreover； on the rafts they laid great torches many fathoms long； and very thick； made of straw soaked in linseed oil。 When the raft was checked by a chain； the torches were lighted and the chains exposed to the heat till they melted and broke asunder。 Thus the rafts went down stream conquering wherever they came。
Then the Prime Minister of Wu； Zhang Ti； sent two leaders； General of the Left Army Shen Zong and General of the Right Army Zhuge Xing； to try to check the advance of the armies。
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