Volume 54 Biographies 24: Lu Ji

陸機，字士衡，吳郡人也。祖遜，吳丞相。父抗，吳大司馬。機身長七尺，其聲如鐘。少有異才，文章冠世，伏膺儒術，非禮不動。抗卒，領父兵為牙門將。年二十而吳滅，退居舊裏，閉門勤學，積有十年。以孫氏在吳，而祖父世為將相，有大勳于江表，深慨孫皓舉而棄之，乃論權所以得，皓所以亡，又欲述其祖父功業，遂作《辯亡論》二篇。其上篇曰：

Lu Ji, whose courtesy name was Shiheng, came from Wu Commandery. His grandfather, Lu Xun, had served as chancellor of Wu. His father, Lu Kang, had held the post of grand marshal of Wu. Lu Ji stood seven chi tall, and his voice rang like a bell. From boyhood he showed rare gifts; his prose outshone his contemporaries. He devoted himself to Confucian teaching and never stepped outside what ritual allowed. After Lu Kang died, he inherited his father's command and was appointed a garrison general. He was twenty when Wu fell. He retired to his ancestral district, shut his gate, and studied without stint for a full decade. The Sun clan had ruled Wu, and his grandfather and father had for generations held the highest civil and military posts, earning great distinction south of the Yangzi. He grieved that Sun Hao had inherited that legacy only to throw it away. He set out how Sun Quan had succeeded and Sun Hao had failed, and he wished to commemorate his forebears' achievements, so he wrote two essays, the Discourses on the Fall of Wu. The first essay begins:

昔漢氏失禦，奸臣竊命，禍基京畿，毒遍宇內，皇綱弛頓，王室遂卑。於是群雄蜂駭，義兵四合。吳武烈皇帝慷慨下國，電發荊南，權略紛紜，忠勇伯世，威棱則夷羿震盪，兵交則醜虜授馘，遂掃清宗祊，蒸禋皇祖。于時雲興之將帶州，猋起之師跨邑，哮闞之群風驅，熊羆之族霧合。雖兵以義動，同盟戮力，然皆苞藏禍心，阻兵怙亂，或師無謀律，喪威稔寇。忠規武節，未有如此其著者也。

Long ago the Han lost its grip: favorites stole power, calamity fastened on the capital, and poison seeped across the empire until the dynastic order frayed and the throne itself sank low. Then rival warlords rose on every side, and armies gathered in the name of righteousness from every quarter. Emperor Wu Lie of Wu roused the south: he shot forth from Jing like lightning, schemes thick upon schemes, loyalty and courage unmatched. His majesty laid low the strongest bowmen; wherever blades crossed, the foe surrendered heads. He cleared the temple of the Sun ancestors and heaped the sacrifices before their spirits. Generals sprang up like clouds, each claiming a province; hosts rose like squalls and overran town after town; howling warbands swept along like driven wind; picked fighters massed as thick as mist. Though they marched under the cause of justice and swore common effort, most nursed private ambition, clung to arms and fed on chaos, or led troops without plan or discipline—so awe leaked away and the enemy grew fat. In steadfast loyalty and martial honor, none stood out as clearly as he.

武烈既沒，長沙桓王逸才命世，弱冠秀髮，招攬遺老，與之述業。神兵東驅，奮寡犯眾，攻無堅城之將，戰無交鋒之虜。誅叛柔服，而江外底定；飭法修師，則威德翕赫。賓禮名賢，而張公為之雄；交禦豪俊，而周瑜為之傑。彼二君子皆弘敏而多奇，雅達而聰哲，故同方者以類附，等契者以氣集，江東蓋多士矣。將北伐諸華，誅鉏幹紀，旋皇輿於夷庚，反帝坐於紫闥，挾天子以令諸侯，清天步而歸舊物。戎車既次，群凶側目，大業未就，中世而殞。

After Sun Jian died, the Prince of Changsha, Sun Ce, appeared—a prodigy fitted for his time. Still in his twenties, he gathered the old loyalists of Wu and with them built anew what his father had begun. His army swept east: outnumbered, he struck numerically stronger foes. City walls yielded without stubborn defenders; battles ended before the enemy could close. He executed rebels and drew submitters gently to heel until the land beyond the Yangzi lay quiet; he tightened law and drilled the army, and majesty with virtue flared as one. He honored worthy men as guests, and Zhang Zhao towered above the rest; he joined battle-side by side with bold spirits, and Zhou Yu stood first among them. Both men were broad-minded, quick, and brilliant—refined, far-seeing, and wise. Men of like purpose flocked to them; kindred spirits rallied by sheer affinity. East of the Yangzi teemed with talent. He meant to strike north into the heartland, root out traitors, wheel the imperial carriage onto the high road, set the throne again within the palace gates, take the emperor in hand and command the lords in his name, and sweep the realm clean until the Han regalia returned. His host was already on the march and rivals watched with fear, but the great work was unfinished—he died in his prime.

用集我大皇帝，以奇蹤襲逸軌，睿心因令圖，從政咨於故實，播憲稽乎遺風；而加之以篤敬，申之以節儉，疇諮俊茂，好謀善斷，束帛旅於丘園，旌命交乎塗巷。故豪彥尋聲而響臻，志士晞光而景騖，異人輻輳，猛士如林。於是張公為師傅；周瑜、陸公、魯肅、呂蒙之儔，入為腹心，出為股肱；甘甯、淩統、程普、賀齊、硃桓、硃然之徒奮其威，韓當、潘璋、黃蓋、蔣欽、周泰之屬宣其力；風雅則諸葛瑾、張承、步騭以名聲光國，政事則顧雍、潘浚、呂范、呂岱以器任幹職，奇偉則虞翻、陸績、張惇以風義舉政，奉使則趙咨、沈珩以敏達延譽，術數則吳范、趙達以禨祥協德；董襲、陳武殺身以衛主，駱統、劉基強諫以補過。謀無遺計，舉不失策。故遂割據山川，跨制荊、吳，而與天下爭衡矣。魏氏嘗藉戰勝之威，率百萬之師，浮鄧塞之舟，下漢陰之眾，羽楫萬計，龍躍順流，銳師千旅，武步原隰，謨臣盈室，武將連衡，喟然有吞江滸之志，壹宇宙之氣。而周瑜驅我偏師，黜之赤壁，喪旗亂轍，僅而獲免，收跡遠遁。漢王亦憑帝王之號，帥巴、漢之人，乘危騁變，結壘千里，志報關羽之敗，圖收湘西之地。而我陸公亦挫之西陵，覆師敗績，困而後濟，絕命永安。續以濡須之寇，臨川摧銳；蓬蘢之戰，孑輪不反。由是二邦之將，喪氣挫鋒，勢<血醜>財匱，而吳莞然坐乘其弊，故魏人請好，漢氏乞盟，遂躋天號，鼎峙而立。西界庸、益之郊，北裂淮、漢之涘，東苞百越之地，南括群蠻之表。於是講八代之禮，搜三王之樂，告類上帝，拱揖群後。武臣毅卒，循江而守；長棘勁鎩，望猋而奮。庶尹盡規于上，黎元展業於下，化協殊裔，風衍遐圻。乃俾一介行人，撫巡外域，巨象逸駿，擾於外閑，明珠瑋寶，耀於內府，珍瑰重跡而至，奇玩應響而赴；輶軒騁于南荒，沖輣息於朔野；黎庶免干戈之患，戎馬無晨服之虞，而帝業固矣。

Then rose our Great Emperor Sun Quan, following that soaring example with designs of his own. His judgment rested on sound strategy; in government he weighed ancient precedent; in law he drew on customs handed down; to these he joined deep reverence and thrift. He sought out every able mind, loved counsel, and decided swiftly. Gifts of silk piled up at recluses' doors; imperial summons crossed every lane. Heroes answered his call like echoes; men of purpose raced toward his light like horses chasing the sun. Strange talents crowded in; fierce soldiers stood thick as trees. Zhang Zhao became his tutor; Zhou Yu, Lu Su, Lu Meng, and Lord Lu Xun served him at court as his closest counselors and in the field as his strong right arms; Gan Ning, Ling Tong, Cheng Pu, He Qi, Zhu Huan, Zhu Ran, and their like struck terror; Han Dang, Pan Zhang, Huang Gai, Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, and their kind poured out sheer force; Zhuge Jin, Zhang Cheng, and Bu Zhi lent the court literary grace; Gu Yong, Pan Jun, Lu Fan, and Lu Dai ran administration by sheer competence; Yu Fan, Lu Ji the younger, and Zhang Dun brought daring integrity to policy; Zhao Zi and Shen Heng won renown as nimble envoys; Wu Fan and Zhao Da read heaven's signs to match the ruler's virtue; Dong Xi and Chen Wu gave their lives for their prince; Luo Tong and Liu Ji spoke bluntly to cure his missteps. Plans left nothing unthought; every move matched the moment. Thus they carved a realm between river and mountain, held Jing and Wu together, and faced the north as an equal power. Wei once rode the prestige of victory: a million men, fleets launched from the Deng defiles, armies sweeping down from the Han northlands—oar blades beyond counting, hulls racing like dragons with the current, crack divisions marching plain and fen. Counselors packed their halls; generals stood ranged like stars. They meant to swallow the southern shore and knit the world under one breath. Yet Zhou Yu led our southern army against them at Red Cliffs: their standards fell, their columns broke; they barely escaped with their lives and fled far north. Liu Bei likewise claimed imperial rank, marched the Ba and Han levies through crisis and sudden turns, and strung camps across a thousand li—intent on avenging Guan Yu's defeat and snatching the territory west of the Xiang. Our own Lu Xun broke them again at Xiling: whole armies drowned in rout; trapped and struggling to escape, Liu Bei ended his days at Yong'an. Later, at Ruxu, they lost their edge along the river; at Penglong not one chariot wheel rolled home. So both northern rivals lost heart and edge—their strength spent, their treasuries bare—while Wu watched at ease and turned their exhaustion to gain. Wei sued for peace; Shu begged for treaty. Thus Wu claimed the imperial title and stood as one leg of the tripod. Its frontier touched Yong and Yi in the west, Huai and Han in the north, the Yue peoples in the east, and the southern tribes beyond. They revived the rituals of ancient dynasties, gathered the music of the sage-kings, sacrificed to inform High Heaven, and received the feudal lords with folded hands. Fierce officers and hardened troops patrolled the long river; halberds and spears leveled, each man springing to action at the first wind of war. Ministers spoke freely at court; commoners flourished in the fields. Civilizing influence reached alien peoples; good order spread to the farthest marches. A lone envoy could pacify distant lands; elephants and thoroughbreds crowded the imperial parks; pearls and jewels lit the palace stores; tribute gems arrived in endless trains; curiosities poured in at the slightest summons; light carts swept the southern wilds; war wagons fell idle on the northern steppe; the people knew little of arms; horses were seldom saddled at dawn—and the imperial house seemed secure.

大皇既沒，幼主蒞朝，奸回肆虐。景皇聿興，虔修遺憲，政無大闕，守文之良主也。降及歸命之初，典刑未滅，故老猶存。大司馬陸公以文武熙朝，左丞相陸凱以謇諤盡規，而施績、範慎以威重顯，丁奉、鐘離斐以武毅稱，孟宗、丁固之徒為公卿，樓玄、賀邵之屬掌機事，元首雖病，股肱猶良。爰逮末葉，群公既喪，然後黔首有瓦解之患，皇家有土崩之釁，曆命應化而微，王師躡運而發，卒散于陳，眾奔於邑，城池無籓籬之固，山川無溝阜之勢，非有工輸雲梯之械，智伯灌激之害，楚子築室之圍，燕人濟西之隊，軍未浹辰而社稷夷矣。雖忠臣孤憤，烈士死節，將奚救哉！

After Sun Quan died, a boy emperor sat the throne, and wicked men ran wild. Sun Xiu then rose to the throne: he honored his predecessors' institutions and kept government largely sound—a worthy steward who preserved the founding pattern. Even at the start of Sun Hao's reign, old institutions still lived and veterans yet remained. Lu Kang as grand marshal lent dignity to court and camp alike; Lu Kai as chief minister spoke blunt truth; Shi Ji and Fan Shen commanded respect; Ding Feng and Zhong Li Fei were famed as warriors; Meng Zong and Ding Gu rose to the highest offices; Lou Xuan and He Shao handled state secrets. The sovereign might be weak, but capable arms still served him. But by the final years those pillars were gone. The people scattered like tiles; the throne crumbled like earth. Heaven's favor faded; Jin's hosts marched with destiny. Troops melted away in the field; refugees clogged the towns. Walls offered no hedge of defense; rivers no trench or hill to rely on—and yet no enemy needed Gongshu's siege ladders, Zhi Bo's drowned cities, Chu-style slow sieges, or Yan-style western diversions. Within twelve days the altars lay in ruins. What could loyal ministers do but rage alone, what could heroes do but die for honor—when nothing could save the state?

夫曹、劉之將非一世所選，向時之師無曩日之眾，戰守之道抑有前符，險阻之利俄然未改，而成敗貿理，古今詭趣，何哉？彼此之化殊，授任之才異也。

Cao Wei and Liu Shu's commanders were not raised in a single generation; later armies were smaller than those old hosts. The arts of attack and defense had not changed; terrain favored the south as before—yet fortune reversed. Why do success and failure trade places so strangely between past and present? Because the temper of the times differed, and the men placed in charge were not the same.

其下篇曰：

The second essay reads:

昔三方之王也，魏人據中夏，漢氏有岷、益，吳制荊、揚而掩有交、廣。曹氏雖功濟諸華，虐亦深矣，其人怨。劉翁因險以飾智，功已薄矣，其俗陋。夫吳，桓王基之以武，太祖成之以德，聰明睿達，懿度弘遠矣。其求賢如弗及，血阝人如稚子，接士盡盛德之容，親仁罄丹府之愛。拔呂蒙於戎行，試潘浚於系虜。推誠信士，不恤人之我欺；量能授器，不患權之我偪。執鞭鞠躬，以重陸公之威；悉委武衛，以濟周瑜之師。卑宮菲食，豐功臣之賞；披懷虛己，納謨士之算。故魯肅一面而自托，士燮蒙險而效命。高張公之德，而省游田之娛；賢諸葛之言，而割情欲之歡；感陸公之規，而除刑法之煩；奇劉基之議，而作三爵之誓；屏氣跼蹐，以伺子明之疾；分滋損甘，以育淩統之孤；登壇慷愾，歸魯子之功；削投怨言，信子瑜之節。是以忠臣競盡其謨，志士咸得肆力，洪規遠略，固不厭夫區區者也。故百官苟合，庶務未遑。初都建鄴，群臣請備禮秩，天子辭而弗許，曰：「天下其謂朕何！」宮室輿服，蓋慊如也。爰及中葉，天人之分既定，故百度之缺粗修，雖醲化懿綱，未齒乎上代，抑其體國經邦之具，亦足以為政矣。地方幾萬里，帶甲將百萬，其野沃，其兵練，其器利，其財豐；東負滄海，西阻險塞，長江制其區宇，峻山帶其封域，國家之利未見有弘於茲者也。借使守之以道，禦之以術，敦率遺典，勤人謹政，修定策，守常險，則可以長世永年，未有危亡之患也。

When the realm split three ways, Wei held the heartland, Shu the Min and Yi basins, and Wu Jing and Yang with Jiao and Guang besides. Cao Wei may have brought order to the north, but their cruelty ran deep and the people nursed grudges. Old Liu Bei traded on mountain barriers to seem clever; his achievement was slight and his realm coarse in habit. Wu was another matter: Sun Ce laid its foundations in war, Sun Quan perfected it in virtue—clear-sighted, magnanimous, with breadth of vision few could match. He sought worthy men as if always behindhand; he cherished the people like children. With scholars he showed unstinting courtesy; with the humane he shared every secret warmth. He pulled Lü Meng from the ranks and tried Pan Jun even while the man was prisoner. He trusted men with open sincerity and never troubled himself over whether they might deceive him; he fitted office to talent and never feared that ministers might crowd him out. He took the driver's whip and bowed low to magnify Lu Xun's authority; he stripped the palace guard to reinforce Zhou Yu's campaign. He kept his halls modest and his table plain while lavishing rewards on those who earned them; He opened his heart and humbled himself before good counsel. Lu Su pledged himself after a single audience; Shi Xie crossed deadly ground to answer his call. He honored Zhang Zhao's integrity and cut back the pleasures of the hunt; he prized Zhuge Jin's advice and put aside private indulgence; moved by Lu Xun's memorials, he swept away needless severity in punishment; he marveled at Liu Ji's counsel and swore the oath of the three goblets; he held his breath and tiptoed to nurse Lü Meng in his illness; he gave his own sweet portions to raise Ling Tong's orphaned children; on the altar he spoke with fierce gratitude and gave Lu Su full credit for his deeds; he struck harsh words from edicts and trusted Zhuge Jin's steadfast honor. So loyal officers strained every faculty for him; men of purpose found room to give their all. Great design and long vision—nothing petty escaped his care. Officialdom barely kept pace; routine business never quite caught up. When they first made Jianye the capital, ministers begged for full court ceremonial. The sovereign refused: 'What would the empire say of me if I indulged?' Palaces, equipage, and dress stayed deliberately plain. By mid-reign heaven's mandate and human affairs had settled; policy gaps were roughly mended. Their refinement never matched antiquity's golden age, yet the instruments of statecraft sufficed to rule. Their territory spanned tens of thousands of li; nearly a million men bore arms. The soil was rich, soldiers veteran, weapons keen, treasuries full; east lay the sea, west rugged passes; the Yangzi hemmed their domain and mountains walled their borders—no kingdom ever held stronger natural gifts. Had they held this with sound principle, governed with art, honored inherited statute, kept administration careful and people diligent, refined stable strategy, and trusted their terrain— they might have lasted age upon age without fear of ruin.

或曰：「吳、蜀脣齒之國也，夫蜀滅吳亡，理則然矣。」夫蜀，蓋籓援之與國，而非吳人之存亡也。其郊境之接，重山積險，陸無長轂之徑；川厄流迅，水有驚波之艱。雖有銳師百萬，啟行不過千夫；軸轤千里，前驅不過百艦。故劉氏之伐，陸公喻之長蛇，其勢然也。昔蜀之初亡，朝臣異謀，或欲積石以險其流，或欲機械以禦其變。天子總群議以諮之大司馬陸公，公以四瀆天地之所以節宣其氣，固無可遏之理，而機械則彼我所共，彼若棄長技以就所屈，即荊、楚而爭舟楫之用，是天贊我也，將謹守峽口以待擒耳。逮步闡之亂，憑寶城以延強寇，資重幣以誘群蠻。于時大邦之眾，雲翔電發，懸旍江介，築壘遵渚，衿帶要害，以止吳人之西，巴、漢舟師，沿江東下。陸公偏師三萬，北據東坑，深溝高壘，按甲養威。反虜宛跡待戮，而不敢北窺生路，強寇敗績宵遁，喪師太半。分命銳師五千，西禦水軍，東西同捷，獻俘萬計。信哉賢人之謀，豈欺我哉！自是烽燧罕驚，封域寡虞。陸公沒而潛謀兆，吳釁深而六師駭。夫太康之役，眾未盛乎曩日之師；廣州之亂，禍有愈乎向時之難，而邦家顛覆，宗廟為墟。嗚呼！「人之雲亡，邦國殄瘁」，不其然歟！

Some say: 'Wu and Shu were lip and teeth—once Shu fell, Wu was doomed. That sounds reasonable. Shu was only a shield and ally—hardly the pivot of Wu's fate. Between them rose range upon range—no corridor for heavy chariots; rivers ran swift through narrows where waves could smash any fleet. Even a million veterans could feed only a thousand men forward along those roads; oared fleets might string out endlessly downriver, yet no more than a hundred hulls could fight abreast at the van. Lu Xun likened Liu Bei's invasion to a long snake—terrain alone dictated it. When Shu first fell, Wu's court argued—some urged damming the Yangzi with stone, others clever machines to meet whatever came. The emperor put the debate to Lu Kang. Lu answered: the great rivers vent heaven and earth—no dam can long hold them back. Engines of war both sides know; if Jin abandons its strengths to fight where river craft decide the battle on former Chu ground, heaven favors Wu—we need only seal the gorges and wait. Later Bu Chan rebelled, trusting fortress walls to stall a mighty foe and rich bribes to win the southern tribes. Then Jin's host rose like storm clouds: flags lined the midstream, forts studded the shoals, every choke point held to bar Wu from the west while Ba and Han fleets bore down the river. Lu Kang led thirty thousand to hold Dongkeng in the north—deep moats, high walls, blades sheathed while prestige ripened. The rebels huddled in their holes awaiting slaughter and dared not strike north for escape; the mighty foe broke at night and fled, leaving more than half his army dead. He detached five thousand picked troops to hold the western fleet; east and west both reported victories, and prisoners handed up ran to the tens of thousands. So true was worthies' counsel—surely they did not mislead us! After that alarm fires seldom blazed along the frontier; the realm rarely faced alarm. Lu Kang's death opened the door to intrigue; Wu's fatal weakness deepened and every army felt the shock. Consider the Taikang invasion: Jin's host was no larger than armies Wu had faced before; the Guangzhou rising hurt worse than earlier shocks—yet in the end the dynasty fell and its temples lay in ruins. Alas! "When such men are gone, the land itself sickens"—was it not exactly so!

《易》曰「湯、武革命順乎天」，或曰「亂不極則治不形」，言帝王之因天時也。古人有言曰「天時不如地利」，《易》曰「王侯設險以守其國」，言為國之恃險也。又曰「地利不如人和」，「在德不在險」，言守險之在人也。吳之興也，參而由焉，孫卿所謂合其參者也。及其亡也，恃險而已，又孫卿所謂舍其參者也。夫四州之萌非無眾也，大江以南非乏俊也，山川之險易守也，勁利之器易用也，先政之策易修也，功不興而禍遘何哉？所以用之者失也。故先王達經國之長規，審存亡之至數，謙己以安百姓，敦惠以致人和，寬沖以誘俊乂之謀，慈和以結士庶之愛。是以其安也，則黎元與之同慶，及其危也，則兆庶與之同患。安與眾同慶，則其危不可得也；危與下同患，則其難不足血阝也。夫然，故能保其社稷而固其土宇，《麥秀》無悲殷之思，《黍離》無湣周之感也。

The Book of Changes says Tang and Wu's revolution followed Heaven's mandate; others say order does not emerge until chaos reaches its limit—meaning kings must ride the season Heaven grants. The ancients held that Heaven's timing yields to terrain; the Changes adds that lords raise barriers to shield their realms—terrain is the state's buckler. It also says terrain bows to human harmony and that security rests in virtue, not cliffs—meaning defenses live or die with the men who hold them. Wu rose because all three factors worked together—what Xunzi meant by uniting Heaven, earth, and men. When it fell, Wu trusted nothing but rivers and mountains—exactly Xunzi's warning about throwing the three away. The south still had multitudes and talent; rivers and hills were easy to hold, arms ready to hand, old policies easy to revive—why then did fortune fail and ruin strike? Because those who wielded these advantages misused them. Ancient kings grasped enduring principles of government and the calculus of survival. They humbled themselves to steady the people, piled kindness high to win harmony, stayed open and yielding to draw counsel from worthies, and ruled with gentleness so gentle and commoner alike loved them. In peace the people rejoiced with the throne; in danger they suffered with it. Share joy with the people in good times, and disaster cannot take you unawares; Share peril with those below in dark hours, and hardship loses its sting. That is how altars and territory endure—never needing the lament of "The Wheat in Ear" for Yin nor the sorrow of "Millet Stalk" for Zhou.

至太康末，與弟雲俱入洛，造太常張華。華素重其名，如舊相識，曰：「伐吳之役，利獲二俊。」又嘗詣侍中王濟，濟指羊酪謂機曰：「卿吳中何以敵此？」答云：「千里蓴羹，未下鹽豉。」時人稱為名對。張華薦之諸公。後太傅楊駿辟為祭酒。會駿誅，累遷太子洗馬、著作郎。范陽盧志於眾中問機曰：「陸遜、陸抗於君近遠？」機曰：「如君于盧毓、盧廷。」志默然。既起，雲謂機曰：「殊邦遐遠，容不相悉，何至於此！」機曰：「我父祖名播四海，寧不知邪！」議者以此定二陸之優劣。

Toward the end of the Taikang era he traveled to Luoyang with his brother Lu Yun and called on the Chamberlain Zhang Hua. Zhang Hua had long admired his reputation and greeted him like an old friend. "The campaign against Wu," he said, "paid us twice over with brilliant recruits." Another time he visited the imperial attendant Wang Ji, who pointed at a dish of sheep-milk cheese and asked, "What in Wu can rival this?" Lu Ji replied, "A bowl of water-shield broth from a thousand li away—salt and fermented beans have yet to touch it." Contemporaries hailed it as a perfect riposte. Zhang Hua recommended him to the ranking ministers. Later Grand Tutor Yang Jun appointed him libationer of his bureau. When Yang Jun fell to execution, Lu Ji rose step by step to groom of the heir apparent and secretary in the editorial office. Lu Zhi of Fanyang asked him before company, "How were Lu Xun and Lu Kang related to you?" Lu Ji answered, "As you stand to Lu Yu and Lu Ting." Lu Zhi said nothing. Afterward Lu Yun said to him, "We come from distant lands; perhaps he truly did not know—yet why answer so sharply?" Lu Ji replied, "My father's and grandfather's fame fills the realm—could he really be ignorant?" Onlookers took this exchange as the measure of the two brothers' temperaments.

吳王晏出鎮淮南，以機為郎中令，遷尚書中兵郎，轉殿中郎。趙王倫輔政，引為相國參軍。豫誅賈謐功，賜爵關中侯。倫將篡位，以為中書郎。倫之誅也，齊王冏以機職在中書，九錫文及禪詔疑機與焉，遂收機等九人付廷尉。賴成都王穎、吳王晏並救理之，得減死徙邊，遇赦而止。

When Prince Yan of Wu went out to command Huainan, he named Lu Ji superintendent of his household; Lu Ji then rose through secretary posts on the military desk and moved into the palace corps. When Prince Lun of Zhao became regent, he brought Lu Ji onto staff as counselor of the counselor-in-chief. For helping eliminate Jia Mi he received the noble title Marquis of Guannei. When Lun prepared to seize the throne he appointed Lu Ji gentleman at the Secretariat. After Lun fell, Prince Jiong of Qi suspected Lu Ji—still serving at the Secretariat—of drafting the nine-insignia memorial and abdication edict, so he arrested Lu Ji and eight others and sent them to the minister of justice. Prince Ying of Chengdu and Prince Yan of Wu intervened to spare their lives; their sentence was reduced to exile on the frontier, though an amnesty soon halted even that.

初機有駿犬，名曰黃耳，甚愛之。既而羈寓京師，久無家問，笑語犬曰：「我家絕無書信，汝能齎書取消息不？」犬搖尾作聲。機乃為書以竹筒盛之而系其頸，犬尋路南走，遂至其家，得報還洛。其後因以為常。時中國多難，顧榮、戴若思等咸勸機還吳，機負其才望，而志匡世難，故不從。

Lu Ji once owned a fleet hound named Yellow Ear that he adored. Later, stalled in the capital without word from home, he teased the dog: "No letters reach me—could you carry one home and bring back a reply?" The dog barked and thumped its tail. Lu Ji rolled a letter into a bamboo tube, lashed it around the dog's neck, and sent him south. The hound found his way home, collected a reply, and trotted back to Luoyang. After that they relied on the dog whenever mail was needed. The north was riven by crisis; Gu Rong, Dai Yong, and others urged Lu Ji to retreat south, but pride in his gifts and a desire to mend the age kept him at court.

冏既矜功自伐，受爵不讓，機惡之，作《豪士賦》以刺焉。其序曰：

Prince Jiong swaggered over his deeds and seized honors without modesty. Lu Ji despised him and wrote his Rhapsody on the Magnate to needle him. The preface runs:

夫立德之基有常，而建功之路不一。何則？修心以為量者存乎我，因物以成務者系乎彼。存乎我者，隆殺止乎其域；系乎彼者，豐約惟所遭遇。落葉俟微飆以隕，而風之力蓋寡；孟嘗遭雍門以泣，而琴之感以末。何哉？欲隕之葉無所假烈風，將墜之泣不足煩哀響也。是故苟時啟於天，理盡於人，庸夫可以濟聖賢之功，鬥筲可以定烈士之業。故曰「才不半古，功已倍之」，蓋得之于時世也。曆觀今古，徼一時之功而居伊、周之位者有矣。

Virtue rests on fixed roots, yet merit may be won by many paths. Why? Cultivating the heart lies entirely within us; accomplishing deeds through circumstance depends on what lies beyond. What rests with us alone rises or falls within narrow bounds; what rides on the world waxes or wanes with sheer accident. Leaves fall when a breeze stirs—yet the gust itself is slight; Lord Mengchang wept when Yongmen Zhou played—but the last notes barely brushed his heart. Why? A leaf ready to drop needs no gale; tears already falling need no funeral song. When Heaven opens the moment and human effort matches it, even common men may finish the labors of sages; even petty vessels may seal a hero's deed. Hence the saying that men with half the talent of the ancients double their deeds—they owe it to the hour history gives them. History shows men who seized fleeting luck and climbed to seats worthy of Yi Yin or the Duke of Zhou.

夫我之自我，智士猶嬰其累；物之相物，昆蟲皆有此情。夫以自我之量而挾非常之勳，神器暉其顧眄，萬物隨其俯仰，心玩居常之安，耳飽從諛之說，豈識乎功在身外，任出才表者哉！且好榮惡辱，有生之所大期，忌盈害上，鬼神猶且不免，人主操其常柄，天下服其大節，故曰天可仇乎。而時有玄服荷戟，立乎廟門之下，援旗誓眾，奮於阡陌之上，況乎世主制命，自下裁物者乎！廣樹恩不足以敵怨，勤興利不足以補害，故曰代大匠斫者必傷其手。且夫政由甯氏，忠臣所以慷慨；祭則寡人，人主所不久堪。是以君奭怏怏，不悅公旦之舉；高平師師，側目博陸之勢。而成王不遣嫌吝于懷，宣帝若負芒刺於背，非其然者歟？

Even wise men are trapped by their sense of self; creatures judging one another feel the same—insects included. Attach outsized deeds to an inflated self, let regalia glitter with every glance, let the world sway as you nod—stay drunk on ease and flattery, and you will never see merit as something beyond yourself or office as larger than your gifts. All living souls crave honor and dread shame; even spirits punish pride that wounds superiors. The emperor holds the supreme grip; the realm bows to his authority—can anyone blame Heaven when disaster follows? Common soldiers in temple guard still seize standards and rally the ranks—how much more dangerous when the age itself lets lesser men steer the realm. Kindness heaped high cannot drown out hate; profit poured out cannot heal every wound—hence the warning that whoever swings the master carpenter's axe cuts his own hand. When ministers of Wei ran the state through the Ning family, loyal hearts boiled— yet at sacrifice only the ruler stood titled "the solitary"—no sovereign long tolerates such hollowing. Lord Shi sulked because he distrusted the Duke of Zhou's schemes; at Gaoping every soldier glared sideways at Huo Guang's grip on power. King Cheng nursed no lasting grudge; Emperor Xuan felt barbs between his shoulders—could trust survive anything less?

嗟乎！光于四表，德莫富焉。王曰叔父，親莫昵焉。登帝天位，功莫厚焉。守節沒齒，忠莫至焉。而傾側顛沛，僅而自全，則伊生抱明允以嬰戮，文子懷忠敬而齒劍，固其所也。因斯以言，夫以篤聖穆親，如彼之懿，大德至忠，如此之盛，尚不能取信於人主之懷，止謗於眾多之口，過此以往，惡睹其可！安危之理，斷可識矣。又況乎饕大名以冒道家之忌，運短才而易聖哲所難者哉！身危由於勢過，而不知去勢以求安；禍積起于寵盛，而不知辭寵以招福。見百姓之謀己，則申宮警守，以崇不畜之威；懼萬方之不服，則嚴刑峻制，以賈傷心之怨。然後威窮乎震主，而怨行乎上下，眾心日陊，危機將發，而方偃仰瞪眄，謂足以誇世，笑古人之未工，忘己事之已拙，知曩勳之可矜，暗成敗之有會。是以事窮運盡，必有顛仆；風起塵合，而禍至常酷也。聖人忌功名之過己，惡寵祿之逾量，蓋為此也。

Alas! His brightness reached the four seas—no virtue richer. The king called him uncle—no bond closer. He mounted the throne—no merit weightier. He kept faith to the grave—no loyalty purer. Still they staggered through ruin barely alive: Yi Yin wore integrity yet faced the headsman's blade; Wen Zhong served with devotion yet fell on his sword—small wonder. If kinship so honorable and loyalty so deep still failed to win the ruler's trust or silence gossip, what hope has anyone beyond them? The calculus of survival ought to be plain. How much worse to chase grand fame against Heaven's warning, or wield shallow wit on puzzles that baffled the sages! Peril comes when power swells past measure, yet men refuse to shed power to find peace; disaster gathers when favor crests, yet they will not reject favor to invite fortune. Suspecting the people plot against them, they tighten palace guards and inflate a majesty no subject may endure; fearing every quarter might rebel, they pile cruel laws until hearts turn bitter. Majesty tips into menace; resentment spreads high and low; loyalty frays by the day; crisis looms—yet they lounge about, sneering that they outshine antiquity, mocking forebears as clumsy, fondling old laurels while blind to how fortune turns. When luck runs out, the fall comes hard; storm winds whip dust into teeth, and ruin strikes without mercy. That is why sages shrink from fame beyond desert and stipends above measure.

夫惡欲之大端，賢愚所共有，而遊子殉高位于生前，志士思垂名於身後，受生之分，惟此而已。夫蓋世之業，名莫盛焉；率意無違，欲莫順焉。借使伊人頗覽天道，知盡不可益，盈難久持，超然自引，高揖而退，則巍巍之盛，仰邈前賢，洋洋之風，俯觀來籍，而大欲不止於身，至樂無愆乎舊，節彌效而德彌廣，身逾逸而名逾劭。此之不為，而彼之必昧，然後河海之跡堙為窮流，一匱之釁積成山嶽，名編凶頑之條，身厭荼毒之痛，豈不謬哉！故聊為賦焉，庶使百世少有悟雲。

Love and loathing rule sage and fool alike: some chase titles in life, others chase names beyond the grave—within our mortal portion, nothing else remains. Empires overshadowing an age earn the loftiest fame; follow whim without check and every craving seems tame. Had they read Heaven's pattern—seen that peaks cannot climb forever nor fullness endure—and stepped back with a bow, they might have matched ancient paragons above and left shining pages below. Desire would ease, joy stay blameless, virtue widen as they yielded, fame sharpen as they withdrew. Refusing this course, they rush blind into ruin—rivers shrink to ditches, small cracks yawn into chasms, their names land on traitors' lists, their bodies taste agony. Could folly run deeper? I jot this rhapsody down, hoping a few souls centuries hence might wake.

冏不之悟，而竟以敗。

Prince Jiong ignored the warning—and fell all the same.

機又以聖王經國，義在封建，因采其遠指，著《五等論》曰：

Lu Ji also argued that sagely kings ordered the realm through feudal allotments; gathering these deeper implications he wrote his Discourse on the Five Ranks:

夫體國經野，先王所慎，創制垂基，思隆後葉。然而經略不同，長世異術。五等之制，始于黃、唐，郡縣之治，創于秦、漢，得失成敗，備在典謨，是以其詳可得而言。

Ordering capital and countryside demands utmost care: founders laid frameworks hoping prosperity would reach generations yet unborn. Plans diverged, and so did the arts of endurance. The five ranks trace to high antiquity; commanderies and counties arose under Qin and Han. Canon and commentary spell out every triumph and failure—enough to weigh both systems fairly.

夫王者知帝業至重，天下至廣。廣不可以偏制，重不可以獨任。任重必於借力，制廣終乎因人。故設官分職，所以輕其任也；並建伍長，所以弘其制也。於是乎立其封疆之典，裁其親疏之宜，使萬國相維，以成磐石之固；宗庶雜居，而定維城之業。又有以見綏世之長禦，識人情之大方，知其為人不如厚己，利物不如圖身；安上在於悅下，為己存乎利人。故《易》曰「悅以使人，人忘其勞」，孫卿曰「不利而利之，不如利而後利之利也」。是以分天下以厚樂，則己得與之同憂；饗天下以豐利，而己得與之共害。利博而恩篤，樂遠則憂深，故諸侯享食土之實，萬國受傳世之祚。夫然，則南面之君各務其政，九服之內知有定主，上之子愛於是乎生，下之禮信於是乎結，世平足以敦風，道衰足以禦暴。故強毅之國不能擅一時之勢，雄俊之人無所寄霸王之志。然後國安由萬邦之思化，主尊賴群後之圖身，譬猶眾目營方，則天網自昶；四體辭難，而心膂獲乂。蓋三代所以直道，四王所以垂業也。

A king knows the imperial enterprise weighs heavier than anything and the realm stretches wider than sight. A realm too wide cannot be steered from one point; a burden too heavy cannot be carried alone. Heavy tasks demand borrowed strength; ruling vast lands ends by trusting others. Hence offices multiply and duties divide—to lighten what rests on the throne; layer upon layer of local heads—to widen the system's reach. They framed feudal boundaries and graded kin near and distant until myriad domains knitted together firm as bedrock; kin and cadets mingled in each domain, locking every rampart to the throne. Here lay wise rule for an age: grasp human nature—others matter less than self, things profit less than one's skin; secure the throne by pleasing those below; secure yourself by enriching others. The Book of Changes says win hearts and labor feels light; Xunzi warns that profit seized without sharing trails profit freely shared. Share the empire's bounty and you will share its sorrow; spread wealth abroad and harm will find you together. Wide blessings deepen loyalty; distant joy breeds deep care—so lords truly tasted their soil's yield and lineages held mandate age after age. Each prince minded his own realm; every province knew its sovereign; rulers nursed the people as children and subjects answered with faith—peace bred manners; decline still bred defenders. No bold state could seize every advantage at once; no adventurer could vault alone to overlordship. The throne rested on myriad districts pulling toward virtue; majesty rested on lords minding their skins—like countless eyes scanning corners until Heaven's net widened of itself; limbs shrugged off peril while heart and spine stayed whole. Such was the straight path of the Three Dynasties and the lasting work of the founding kings.

夫盛衰隆弊，理所固有，教之廢興，系乎其人，原法期於必諒，明道有時而暗。故世及之制弊于強禦，厚下之典漏於末折，侵弱之釁遘自三委，陵夷之禍終乎七雄。昔成湯親照夏後之鑒，公旦目涉商人之戒，文質相濟，損益有物。然五等之禮，不革于時，封畛之制，有隆爾者，豈玩二王之禍而暗經世之算乎？固知百世非可懸禦，善制不能無弊，而侵弱之辱愈於殄祀，土崩之困痛於陵夷也。是以經始獲其多福，慮終取其少禍，非謂侯伯無可亂之符，郡縣非興化之具。故國憂賴其釋位，主弱憑于翼戴。及承微積弊，王室遂卑，猶保名位，祚垂後嗣，皇統幽而不輟，神器否而必存者，豈非事勢使之然歟！

Rise and fall are woven into order itself; rites live or die with the men who keep them. Law seeks steadfast truth; even the clearest Way knows nights of shadow. Hereditary succession bred bullying ministers; favor to vassals frayed at the edges until nibbling aggression began with surrender after surrender and decay ran its course in the age of the Seven Powers. Tang of Shang studied Xia's mirror; the Duke of Zhou walked Shang's caution—culture and simplicity balanced each shift. Yet the five ranks stayed ritual kin to their age; border allotments still waxed or waned—were sages blind to later kings' ruin? Hardly; they counted generations ahead. No institution lasts forever unguided; every good law ages—yet nibbling weakness hurts less than extinct temples; total collapse hurts worse than slow decay. Founders chose feudalism for maximal blessing and minimal ruin—not because lords cannot rebel or counties cannot civilize. When peril struck, rulers leaned on lords who yielded power; weak sovereigns leaned on those who raised them up. Even when the house wore thin, titles endured, heirs continued, the thread never snapped—the tripod tarnished yet survived. Could mere geography explain it?

降及亡秦，棄道任術，懲周之失，自矜其得。尋斧始於所庇，制國昧於弱下，國慶獨饗其利，主憂莫與共害。雖速亡趨亂，不必一道，顛沛之釁，實由孤立。是蓋思五等之小怨，亡萬國之大德，知陵夷之可患，暗土崩之為痛也。周之不競，有自來矣。國乏令主，十有餘世。然片言勤王，諸侯必應，一朝振矜，遠國先叛，故強晉收其請隧之圖，暴楚頓其觀鼎之志，豈劉、項之能窺關，勝、廣之敢號澤哉！借使秦人因循其制，雖則無道，有與共亡，覆滅之禍，豈在曩日！

Then came doomed Qin: it spurned moral sway for naked expedient, punishing Zhou's faults while congratulating itself. It swung the axe against its own shelter; it ruled blind to enfeebled subjects; it hoarded gain while its lord bore every grief alone. Paths to swift ruin vary; every collapse traced to standing utterly alone. They traded petty feudal quarrels for the broad virtue of many states; they feared gradual slide yet ignored catastrophic rupture. Zhou's weakness had brewed long before. Over ten reigns no worthy king sat the throne. Yet one call to rescue the throne rallied every lord; one hour of royal arrogance lost the frontier first—so Jin dropped its tunnel demand and Chu forgot the cauldrons. Was it Liu Bang who breached the passes or Chen Sheng who shouted from the marsh? Had Qin kept Zhou's feudal spine, even its cruelty would have met allies in ruin—would the throne have fallen so soon?

漢矯秦枉，大啟王侯，境土逾溢，不遵舊典，故賈生憂其危，晁錯痛其亂。是以諸侯岨其國家之富，憑其士庶之力，勢足者反疾，土狹者逆遲，六臣犯其弱綱，七子沖其漏網，皇祖夷於黔徒，西京病於東帝。是蓋過正之災，而非建侯之累也。然呂氏之難，朝士外顧；宋昌策漢，必稱諸侯。逮至中葉，忌其失節，割削宗子，有名無實，天下曠然，復襲亡秦之軌矣。是以五侯作威，不忌萬國；新都襲漢，易於拾遺也。光武中興，纂隆皇統，而由遵覆車之遺轍，養喪家之宿疾，僅及數世，奸宄棄斥。卒有強臣專朝，則天下風靡，一夫從衡，而城池自夷，豈不危哉！

Han reversed Qin by flinging wide noble titles until domains spilled past precedent—hence Jia Yi's dread and Chao Cuo's alarm. Lords fattened on wealth and militias—great domains revolted fast, tiny ones slow—until six ministers tore Han's thin laws, seven princes slipped the net, clans fell to common dust, and Chang'an bowed to eastern challengers. That was excess correction, not feudalism's flaw. When the Lüs seized power, courtiers looked to the feudatories; Song Chang's counsel for Han named the lords first. Mid-Han envied princely power and pared imperial sons to titles without troops—so the realm stood hollow and slid back toward Qin's lonely rail. Five court favorites strutted unafraid of any lord; Wang Mang seized Han like snatching dropped coins. Guangwu revived the Liu line yet drove the same rut that wrecked Qin, nursing old sickness—within a few reigns traitors filled the court. Strong ministers soon owned the court; the realm bent like grass; one adventurer tipped the scale and walls fell without siege—was that safety?

在周之衰，難興王室，放命者七臣，幹位者三子，嗣王委其九鼎，凶族據其天邑，鉦鼙震於閫宇，鋒鏑流于絳闕，然禍止畿甸，害不覃及，天下晏然，以安待危。是以宣王興于共和，襄惠振于晉、鄭。豈若二漢階闥暫擾，而四海已沸，嬖臣朝入，九服夕亂哉！

Late Zhou saw seven officers spurn orders and three princes grasp rank—cauldrons slipped away, traitors held the capital, drums shook the gates and arrows flew at crimson towers—yet ruin stayed inside the plain while the realm waited calm. King Xuan rose from joint rule; Kings Xiang and Hui rallied with Jin and Zheng. Contrast Han: a brief palace scuffle boiled the seas—favorites slipped in at dawn and by dusk the empire burned.

遠惟王莽篡逆之事，近覽董卓擅權之際，億兆悼心，愚智同痛。然周以之存，漢以之亡，夫何故哉？豈世乏曩時之臣，士無匡合之志歟？蓋遠績屈于時異，雄心挫於卑勢耳。故烈士扼腕，終委寇仇之手；中人變節，以助虐國之桀。雖復時有鳩合同志以謀王室，然上非奧主，下皆市人，師旅無先定之班，君臣無相保之志，是以義兵雲合，無救劫殺之禍，眾望未改，而已見大漢之滅矣。

Remember Wang Mang's theft or watch Dong Zhuo's grip—every soul grieved, sage or fool alike. Zhou survived such storms where Han died—why? Were good ministers fewer than before? Did ambition die? Great deeds bent before a changed age; bold hearts broke under petty circumstance. Heroes gnashed wrists yet fell into bandit hands; mediocre men switched sides and fed tyrants. Sometimes men rallied for the throne—but no worthy sovereign led them, troops were rabble without ranks, courtiers lacked mutual faith—so righteous armies gathered yet could not halt slaughter; hope lingered while Han already died.

或以「諸侯世位，不必常全，昏主暴君，有時比跡，故五等所以多亂。今之牧守，皆官方庸能，雖或失之，其得固多，故郡縣易以為政」。夫德之休明，黜陟日用，長率連屬，咸述其職，而淫昏之郡無所容過，何則其不治哉！故先代有以興矣。苟或衰陵，百度自悖，鬻官之吏以貨准財，則貪殘之萌皆群後也，安在其不亂哉！故後王有以之廢矣。且要而言之，五等之君，為己思政；郡縣之長，為吏圖物。何以征之？蓋企及進取，仕子之常志；修己安人，良士所希及。夫進取之情銳，而安人之譽遲，是故侵百姓以利己者，在位所不憚；損實事以養名者，官長所夙慕也。君無卒歲之圖，臣挾一時之志。五等則不然。知國為己土，眾皆我民；民安，己受其利；國傷，家嬰其病。故前人欲以垂後，後嗣思其堂構，為上無苟且之心，群下知膠固之義。使其並賢居政，則功有厚薄；兩愚處亂，則過有深淺。然則八代之制，幾可以一理貫；秦、漢之典，殆可以一言蔽也。

Some argue hereditary lords breed corrupt rulers—hence chaos under feudal ranks. Today's governors pass exams—failures happen, yet gains outweigh loss—so counties rule easier." When virtue shines, promotions flow daily and every magistrate reports duty—could a vicious prefect hide? Why call that ungovernable? Earlier dynasties rose on such grounds. But decay breeds contradiction—offices sell for silver—greed stains every lord alike. Where is peace then? Later kings abandoned such systems for cause. In short, feudal lords mind their own realms; magistrates scheme goods as hired clerks. How know? Ambition is every clerk's habit; self-cultivation and easing the people remain rare. Advancement rewards speed while kindness earns praise slowly—so magistrates strip commoners without qualm; they hollow real work to polish reputations they have coveted all along. The throne plans no further than the year; ministers chase the fashion of the hour. Feudal lords differ. They know the realm is private soil and every soul their charge; when people thrive, they reap the yield; when the land bleeds, their own house sickens. Forebears built for heirs who cherish ancestral beams—lords scorn shortcuts; followers grasp loyalty like lacquer. When multiple worthy lords rule, deeds differ in weight; when two foolish lords reign error ranges shallow or deep. Eight dynasties of feudal rule thus speak one logic; Qin and Han county rule sums in a single sentence.

時成都王穎推功不居，勞謙下士。機既感全濟之恩，又見朝廷屢有變難，謂穎必能康隆晉室，遂委身焉。穎以機參大將軍軍事，表為平原內史。太安初，穎與河間王顒起兵討長沙王乂，假機後將軍、河北大都督，督北中郎將王粹、冠軍牽秀等諸軍二十餘萬人。機以三世為將，道家所忌，又羈旅入宦，屯居群士之右，而王粹、牽秀等皆有怨心，固辭都督。穎不許。機鄉人孫惠亦勸機讓都督于粹，機曰：「將謂吾為首鼠避賊，適所以速禍也。」遂行。穎謂機曰：「若功成事定，當爵為郡公，位以台司，將軍勉之矣！」機曰：「昔齊桓任夷吾以建九合之功，燕惠疑樂毅以失垂成之業，今日之事，在公不在機也。」穎左長史盧志心害機寵，言於穎曰：「陸機自比管、樂，擬君暗主，自古命將遣師，未有臣陵其君而可以濟事者也。」穎默然。機始臨戎，而牙旗折，意甚惡之。列軍自朝歌至於河橋，鼓聲聞數百里，漢、魏以來，出師之盛，未嘗有也。長沙王乂奉天子與機戰于鹿苑，機軍大敗，赴七里澗而死者如積焉，水為之不流，將軍賈棱皆死之。

Prince Ying of Chengdu refused credit and humbled himself before scholars. Lu Ji owed him his life and watched the court reel—he believed Ying could restore Jin and pledged himself wholly. Ying named him army adviser to the grand general and recommended him interior secretary of Pingyuan. In early Taian Ying joined Prince Yong of Hejian against Prince Yi of Changsha, naming Lu Ji rear general and commander-in-chief north of the Yellow River over Wang Cui, Qian Xiu, and more than two hundred thousand troops. Lu Ji cited the proverb against three generations of generals, his outsider status, and resentment from Wang Cui and Qian Xiu—he firmly refused command. Ying refused his refusal. His townsman Sun Hui urged him to yield command to Wang Cui. Lu Ji replied, "They would call me a coward shirking battle—that would only hasten disaster." He marched. Ying told him, "When this is done I will make you a duke and minister of state—do your utmost!" Lu Ji answered, "Duke Huan trusted Guan Zhong and united the state; King Hui of Yan doubted Yue Yi and ruined a victory almost won—today hangs on you, not on me." Lu Zhi, chief clerk, envied Lu Ji and murmured to Ying, "Lu Ji ranks himself with Guan Zhong and Yue Yi and casts you as a blind ruler—since when did subjects bully kings and still succeed?" Ying said nothing. As Lu Ji first took the field his banner pole snapped—a grim omen. Hosts stretched from Zhaoge to the Yellow River bridge—drums rolled for hundreds of li—the greatest mobilization since Han and Wei. Prince Yi of Changsha led the emperor against Lu Ji at Deer Park; Lu Ji's army broke. Corpses dammed the Seven-li gorge till the water stalled—General Jia Ling died among them.

初，宦人孟玖弟超並為穎所嬖寵。超領萬人為小都督，未戰，縱兵大掠。機錄其主者。超將鐵騎百餘人，直入機麾下奪之，顧謂機曰：「貉奴能作督不！」機司馬孫拯勸機殺之，機不能用。超宣言於眾曰：「陸機將反。」又還書與玖言機持兩端，軍不速決。及戰，超不受機節度，輕兵獨進而沒。玖疑機殺之，遂譖機於穎，言其有異志。將軍王闡、郝昌、公師籓等皆玖所用，與牽秀等共證之。穎大怒，使秀密收機。其夕，機夢黑幰繞車，手決不開，天明而秀兵至。機釋戎服，著白帢，與秀相見，神色自若，謂秀曰：「自吳朝傾覆，吾兄弟宗族蒙國重恩，入侍帷幄，出剖符竹。成都命吾以重任，辭不獲已。今日受誅，豈非命也！」因與穎箋，詞甚淒惻。既而歎曰：「華亭鶴唳，豈可復聞乎！」遂遇害於軍中，時年四十三。二子蔚、夏亦同被害。機既死非其罪，士卒痛之，莫不流涕。是日昏霧晝合，大風折木，平地尺雪，議者以為陸氏之冤。

The eunuch Meng Jiu and his brother Meng Chao had both been Ying's favorites. Meng Chao led ten thousand as sub-commander and looted wildly before the battle. Lu Ji arrested the ringleaders. Meng Chao burst into headquarters with a hundred riders, snatched them back, and sneered, "Can a raccoon-dog pretend to command?" Major Sun Zheng urged Lu Ji to execute him; Lu Ji refused. Meng Chao publicly accused Lu Ji of plotting rebellion. He wrote his brother that Lu Ji hesitated between sides and stalled battle. In the fight Meng Chao disobeyed Lu Ji, charged ahead with light troops, and died. Meng Jiu suspected Lu Ji of murder and slandered him to Ying as disloyal. Wang Chan, Hao Chang, Gongshi Fan—Meng Jiu's creatures—joined Qian Xiu to bear false witness. Enraged, Ying told Qian Xiu to arrest Lu Ji by stealth. That night Lu Ji dreamed dark drapes choking his carriage—he could not tear free—and at daybreak Qian Xiu's men came. He doffed armor for a plain white cap and faced Qian Xiu calmly. "After Wu fell," he said, "my kin owed Jin everything—counsel within the curtain, command beyond with tally in hand. The prince of Chengdu pressed a grave charge on me until refusal was impossible. To die today—is that not fate itself?" He sent Prince Ying a letter heartbreakingly earnest. Then he sighed, "Shall I ever hear the cranes of Huating again?" They cut him down in camp. He was forty-three. His sons Lu Wei and Lu Xia died with him. Lu Ji died innocent; the ranks wept until none had dry cheeks. That noon fog swallowed daylight; gales snapped trees; snow a foot deep on level ground—onlookers called it heaven's proof of the Lu family's wrong.

機天才秀逸，辭藻宏麗，張華嘗謂之曰：「人之為文，常恨才少，而子更患其多。」弟雲嘗與書曰：「君苗見兄文，輒欲燒其筆硯。」後葛洪著書，稱「機文猶玄圃之積玉，無非夜光焉，五河之吐流，泉源如一焉。其弘麗妍贍，英銳漂逸，亦一代之絕乎！」其為人所推服如此。然好游權門，與賈謐親善，以進趣獲譏。所著文章凡三百餘篇，並行於世。

Lu Ji's genius flowed effortless; his lines blazed—Zhang Hua once said, "Writers usually mourn scarce talent—only you fret having too much." Lu Yun wrote, "When Junmiao reads your prose he wants to burn brush and inkstone." Later Ge Hong wrote that Lu Ji's prose was piled jade from the Kunlun gardens—every piece a pearl—or five rivers pouring from one springhead. Grand, lush, keen, and free—peerless in an age!" The world esteemed him at that level. Yet he haunted great houses and flattered Jia Mi—critics sneered at his ambition. His writings ran past three hundred pieces and circulated everywhere.

孫拯者，字顯世，吳都富春人也。能屬文，仕吳為黃門郎。孫皓世，侍臣多得罪，惟拯與顧榮以智全。吳平後，為涿令，有稱績。機既為孟玖等所誣收拯考掠，兩踝骨見，終不變辭。門生費慈、宰意二人詣獄明拯，拯譬遣之曰：「吾義不可誣枉知故，卿何宜復爾？」二人曰：「僕亦安得負君！」拯遂死獄中，而慈、意亦死。

Sun Zheng, courtesy Xianshi, came from Fuchun in the Wu metropolitan commandery. He wrote well and served Wu as a palace attendant. Under Sun Hao many courtiers fell—only Sun Zheng and Gu Rong kept their wits and survived. After the conquest he became magistrate of Zhuo county with a praised record. When Lu Ji fell to Meng Jiu's plot they seized Sun Zheng and tortured him until his ankle bones showed—he never changed his story. Students Fei Ci and Zai Yi pled his case in jail; Sun Zheng sent them away: "I cannot frame an old friend—why torment yourselves for me?" How could we betray you?" Sun Zheng died in prison; Fei Ci and Zai Yi died as well.

雲字士龍，六歲能屬文，性清正，有才理。少與兄機齊名，雖文章不及機，而持論過之，號曰「二陸」。幼時吳尚書廣陵閔鴻見而奇之，曰：「此兒若非龍駒，當是鳳雛。」後舉雲賢良，時年十六。吳平，入洛。機初詣張華，華問云何在。機曰：「雲有笑疾，未敢自見。」俄而雲至。華為人多姿制，又好帛繩纏須。雲見而大笑，不能自已。先是，嘗著縗絰上船，于水中顧見其影，因大笑落水，人救獲免。雲與荀隱素未相識，嘗會華坐，華曰：「今日相遇，可勿為常談。」雲因抗手曰：「雲間陸士龍。」隱曰：「日下荀鳴鶴。」鳴鶴，隱字也。雲又曰：「既開青雲睹白雉，何不張爾弓，挾爾矢？」隱曰：「本謂是雲龍騤騤，乃是山鹿野麋。獸微弩強，是以發遲。」華撫手大笑。刺史周浚召為從事，謂人曰：「陸士龍當今之顏子也。」

Lu Yun, courtesy Shilong, composed essays at six—upright and lucid in judgment. In youth he rivaled Lu Ji in fame; his prose fell short, debate surpassed—together they were the Two Lu. As a boy Minister Min Hong of Guangling marveled: "Either a dragon foal or a phoenix chick." At sixteen he was recommended Worthy and Good. After Wu fell he went to Luoyang. When Lu Ji first called on Zhang Hua, Zhang asked where his brother was. Lu Ji said, "He has fits of laughter and feared to meet you unprepared." Soon Lu Yun arrived. Zhang Hua cut a striking figure and tied his beard up with silk cord. Lu Yun took one look and laughed uncontrollably. Once in mourning garb he boarded a boat, glimpsed his reflection, laughed until he fell overboard—someone fished him out. Lu Yun and Xun Yin had never met. At Zhang Hua's salon Zhang said, "Meet as strangers—skip the usual pleasantries." Lu Yun raised his cup: "Lu Shilong from Between the Clouds." Xun Yin answered, "Xun Minghe from Beneath the Sun." Minghe was Xun Yin's courtesy name. Lu Yun pressed, "Green clouds parted and showed a white pheasant—why not bend your bow and nock an arrow?" Xun Yin replied, "I expected a cloud dragon stalking proud—a hill elk or marsh deer instead. The quarry looks small but your bow is stout—so my shot comes late." Zhang Hua clapped his knees and roared. Inspector Zhou Jun made him clerk and said, "Lu Shilong is our age's Yan Hui."

俄以公府掾為太子舍人，出補浚儀令。縣居都會之要，名為難理。雲到官肅然，下不能欺，市無二價。人有見殺者，主名不立，雲錄其妻，而無所問。十許日遣出，密令人隨後，謂曰：「其去不出十里，當有男子候之與語，便縛來。」既而果然。問之具服，云：「與此妻通，共殺其夫，聞妻得出，欲與語，憚近縣，故遠相要候。」於是一縣稱其神明。郡守害其能，屢譴責之，雲乃去官。百姓追思之，圖畫形象，配食縣社。

Soon he rose from aide in the great minister's office to crown prince attendant, then magistrate of Junyi. Junyi sat at a capital junction—famous as hard to rule. Lu Yun ran a stern court—clerks dared not cheat—markets showed a single fair price. A murder lacked a principal suspect; Lu Yun took the widow into custody yet questioned no one. After ten days he released her and secretly had men tail her: "Within ten li some man will stop her to speak—seize him." It happened exactly so. Under questioning he confessed: "I slept with her and helped kill her husband; when I heard she was freed I meant to meet her but feared the county seat, so I waited far out." The whole county called him uncanny. The prefect envied him and berated him repeatedly—Lu Yun resigned. People missed him—set portraits beside the county god.

尋拜吳王晏郎中令。晏于西園大營第室，雲上書曰：

Soon Prince Yan of Wu named him superintendent of his household. Prince Yan lavished funds on mansions in the Western Garden—Lu Yun memorialized:

時晏信任部將，使覆察諸官錢帛，雲又陳曰：

The prince then tasked brigade officers with auditing office accounts—Lu Yun protested again:

伏見令書，以部曲將李咸、馮南、司馬吳定、給使徐泰等覆校諸官市買錢帛簿。臣愚以聖德龍興，光有大國，選眾官材，庶工肄業。中尉該、大農誕皆清廉淑慎，恪居所司，其下眾官，悉州閭一介，疏暗之咎，雖可日聞，至於處義用情，庶無大戾。今咸、南軍旅小人，定、泰士卒廝賤，非有清慎素著，忠公足稱。大臣所關，猶謂未詳，咸等督察，然後得信，既非開國勿用之義，又傷殿下推誠曠蕩之量。雖使咸等能盡節益國，而功利百倍，至於光輔國美，猶未若開懷信士之無失。況所益不過姑息之利，而使小人用事，大道陵替，此臣所以慷慨也。臣備位大臣，職在獻可，苟有管見，敢不盡規。愚以宜發明令，罷此等覆察，眾事一付治書，則大信臨下，人思盡節矣。

Your directive orders Brigade Commander Li Xian, Feng Nan, Major Wu Ding, and attendant Xu Tai to re-check every office purchase ledger. Your servant believes Your Highness's dragon ascent lights a great kingdom—you chose officers for timber and trained artisans for duty. Captain of the Guard Gai and Minister of Agriculture Dan are scrupulous men anchored in their posts; subordinates are humble locals whose petty slips surface daily, yet in justice and tact they commit no grave offense. Li Xian and Feng Nan are camp henchmen; Wu Ding and Xu Tai are low-order troop attendants—neither famed for integrity nor proved loyal. Weighty affairs barely earn scrutiny—yet these men "verify" truth; this flouts the founders' ban on misused agents and bruises your reputation for open trust. Even were they to prove loyal beyond measure and profit the realm a hundredfold, they could not match the glory of trusting worthy men without suspicion. The gain is petty tolerance at best while petty men steer policy—this is why your servant burns with grief. I stand among great officers charged with candid counsel—how dare I hold back what little I see? Issue an edict ending these audits and leave matters to the Director of Documents—great trust will reach below and men will give their utmost.

雲愛才好士，多所貢達。移書太常府薦同郡張贍曰：

Lu Yun loved talent and raised many men. He wrote the Chamberlain recommending Zhang Shan of their commandery:

蓋聞在昔聖王，承天禦世，殷薦明德，思和人神，莫不崇典謨以教思，興禮學以陶遠。是以帝堯昭煥而道協人天，西伯質文而周隆二代。大晉建皇，崇配天地，區夏既混，禮樂將庸。君侯應曆運之會，贊天人之期，博延俊茂，熙隆載典。伏見衛將軍舍人同郡張贍，茂德清粹，器思深通。初慕聖門，棲心重仞，啟塗及階，遂升樞奧。抽靈匱于秘宮，披金滕于玄夏，思樂百氏，博采其珍；辭邁翰林，言敷其藻。探微集逸，思心洞神；論道屬書，篇章光覿。含奇宰府，婆娑公門。棲靜隱寶，淪虛藏器；褧裳襲錦，緇衣被玉。曾泉改路，懸車將邁，考盤下位，歲聿屢遷。搢紳之士，具懷愾恨。方今太清辟宇，四門啟籥，玄綱括地，天網廣羅；慶雲興以招龍，和風起而儀鳳，誠岩穴耀穎之秋，河津托乘之日也。而贍沈淪下位，群望悼心。若得端委太學，錯綜先典；垂纓玉階，論道紫宮，誠帝室之瑰寶，清廟之偉器。廣樂九奏，必登昊天之庭；《韶》《夏》六變，必饗上帝之祀矣。

Ancient kings who ruled by Heaven spread luminous virtue to harmonize gods and men—always teaching through canon and ritual. Thus bright Yao aligned heaven and man; the Earl of the West balanced pattern and culture so Zhou rose through two ages. Great Jin seats its sovereign beside Heaven and earth; the realm is one—ritual and music wait deployment. You ride the hour of destiny and aid Heaven's covenant—gather brilliance and lift the canon. Your servant presents Zhang Shan of your commandery, steward to the Guard General—virtue pure, judgment deep. He long sought the sage's school, climbed the high stair, and entered the inner chamber of learning. He drew classics from the imperial treasury and opened metal-bound archives—took joy in every school and gathered their gems; his phrases outshine the Hanlin forests—his words scatter ornament. He probes the subtle and nets the overlooked—thought pierces to the spirit; his essays on the Way shine when read. He bears rare gifts in the minister's bureau—moves with ease at your gate. Yet he rests quiet as hidden treasure—depths that conceal a vessel; he wears hemp over brocade—black silk over jade. Like water rerouted or a cart about to halt—he lingers in low office while years slip past. Every belted scholar burns with regret. Now Grand Clarity opens space; the four gates unlock; the dark net spans earth and heaven's net casts wide; auspicious clouds call dragons and mild winds measure phoenix—this is the season for recluses to gleam and scholars to board the raft. Yet Zhang Shan still wallows in low rank—the hopeful mourn. Seat him in the academy to weave the classics; let tassels brush the jade stairs while he teaches in the purple palace—he would be the throne's jewel and the ancestral shrine's great vessel. Grand music played ninefold belongs in heaven's hall; the Shao and Xia suites in six turns belong at High God's altar.

入為尚書郎、侍御史、太子中舍人、中書侍郎。成都王穎表為清河內史。穎將討齊王冏，以雲為前鋒都督。會冏誅，轉大將軍右司馬。穎晚節政衰，雲屢以正言忤旨。孟玖欲用其父為邯鄲令，左長史盧志等並阿意從之，而雲固執不許，曰：「此縣皆公府掾資，豈有黃門父居之邪！」玖深忿怨。張昌為亂，穎上雲為使持節、大都督、前鋒將軍以討昌。會伐長沙王，乃止。

He entered court as palace writer, attendant censor, crown prince attendant, and vice-president of the Secretariat. Prince Ying of Chengdu recommended him interior secretary of Qinghe. When Ying marched against Prince Jiong of Qi he named Lu Yun vanguard commander. After Jiong fell he became senior major on the grand general's right. Ying's rule rotted in his later years—Lu Yun's blunt counsel repeatedly angered him. Meng Jiu wanted his father named magistrate of Handan; Lu Zhi and others humored him—Lu Yun refused: "That post belongs to tested aides—how can a eunuch's father hold it?" Meng Jiu nursed a bitter grudge. When Zhang Chang rose, Prince Ying named Lu Yun commissioner, commander-in-chief, and vanguard against him. The campaign against Prince Yi of Changsha canceled that order.

機之敗也，並收雲。穎官屬江統、蔡克、棗嵩等上疏曰：

Lu Ji's defeat led to Lu Yun's arrest. Staff officers Jiang Tong, Cai Ke, Zao Song, and others petitioned Prince Ying:

統等聞人主聖明，臣下盡規，苟有所懷，不敢不獻。昨聞教以陸機後失軍期，師徒敗績，以法加刑，莫不謂當。誠足以肅齊三軍，威示遠近，所謂一人受戮，天下知誡者也。且聞重教，以機圖為反逆，應加族誅，未知本末者，莫不疑惑。夫爵人於朝，與眾共之；刑人於市，與眾棄之。惟刑之恤，古人所慎。今明公興舉義兵，以除國難，四海同心，雲合回應，罪人之命，懸於漏刻，泰平之期，不旦則夕矣。機兄弟並蒙拔擢，俱受重任，不當背罔極之恩，而向垂亡之寇；去泰山之安，而赴累卵之危也。直以機計慮淺近，不能董攝群帥，致果殺敵，進退之間，事有疑似，故令聖鑒未察其實耳。刑誅事大，言機有反逆之征，宜令王粹、牽秀檢校其事。令事驗顯然，暴之萬姓，然後加雲等之誅，未足為晚。今此舉措，實為太重，得則足令天下情服，失則必使四方心離，不可不令審諦，不可不令詳慎。統等區區，非為陸雲請一身之命，實慮此舉有得失之機，敢竭愚戇，以備誹謗。

When a lord is wise, ministers speak plainly—we dare hold nothing back. Yesterday's report said Lu Ji missed his rendezvous and his army broke—the law calls for punishment and none deny it. Execution would stiffen the host and warn the realm—one death teaching every quarter. Yet graver word brands Lu Ji traitor and demands his clan—those who lack facts stand baffled. Bestowing rank belongs to the court with all the world watching; inflicting death belongs to the marketplace with all the world judging. Mercy in punishment was every sage's care. Your Highness raises the righteous host to save the state—the empire rallies—traitors' breath runs out—peace comes within hours. The Lu brothers owed you preferment and heavy trust—they could hardly repay endless kindness by siding with a doomed foe— to flee Taishan's safety for an egg-shell gamble. Lu Ji erred from shallow counsel—he could not bind his generals or crush the foe—his moves seemed dubious but that proves no rebellion. Capital guilt demands proof—if Lu Ji rebelled, let Wang Cui and Qian Xiu investigate. Let facts face the people—then execute Lu Yun and kin—still not too late. This stroke is too harsh—success wins hearts; failure splits the empire—we beg deliberate care. We plead not for Lu Yun alone—we fear how this deed tips fortune—so we speak bluntly though it risks blame.

穎不納。統等重請，穎遲回者三日。盧志又曰：「昔趙王殺中護軍趙浚，赦其子驤，驤詣明公而擊趙，即前事也。」蔡克入至穎前，叩頭流血，曰：「雲為孟玖所怨，遠近莫不聞。今果見殺，罪無彰驗，將令群心疑惑，竊為明公惜之。」僚屬隨克入者數十人，流涕固請，穎惻然有宥雲色。孟玖扶穎入，催令殺雲。時年四十二。有二女，無男。門生故吏迎喪葬清河，修墓立碑，四時祠祭。所著文章三百四十九篇，又撰《新書》十篇，並行於世。

Prince Ying refused. They petitioned again; Prince Ying hesitated three days. Lu Zhi cited Prince Lun executing Zhao Jun yet sparing Zhao Xiang who later attacked Lun—a precedent for mercy. Cai Ke rushed to Prince Ying and knocked his brow bloody: "Everyone knows Meng Jiu hates Lu Yun. Now Lu Yun dies without proof—the realm will doubt—your servant grieves for Your Highness." Dozens of aides followed, weeping and begging—Prince Ying softened toward sparing Lu Yun. Meng Jiu hustled Prince Ying inside and pressed him to kill Lu Yun. Lu Yun was forty-two. He left two daughters and no son. Students and former aides bore him to Qinghe, built his tomb and stele, and sacrifice each season. His writings numbered 349 pieces plus ten chapters of New Writings—all widely read.

初，雲嘗行，逗宿故人家，夜暗迷路，莫知所從。忽望草中有火光，於是趣之。至一家，便寄宿，見一年少，美風姿，共談老子，辭致深遠。向曉辭去，行十許裏，至故人家，雲此數十里中無人居，雲意始悟。卻尋昨宿處，乃王弼塚。雲本無玄學，自此談老殊進。

Lu Yun once lodged with an old friend, lost his way in darkness, and knew not which path to take. He saw a glow in the grass and hurried toward it. He reached a house and stayed—met a handsome youth—they debated the Laozi with penetrating wit. At dawn he left; ten li on he reached his friend's house and learned no one lived for miles—then grasped the strangeness. Searching back for last night's inn, he found Wang Bi's tomb. Lu Yun had ignored metaphysics—after that night his discourse on the Laozi leaped forward.

雲弟耽

Lu Dan

雲弟耽為平東祭酒，亦有清譽，與雲同遇害。大將軍參軍孫惠與淮南內史硃誕書曰：「不意三陸相攜暗朝，一旦湮滅，道業淪喪，痛酷之深，荼毒難言。國喪俊望，悲豈一人！」其為州裏所痛悼如此。後東海王越討穎，移檄天下，亦以機、雲兄弟枉害罪狀穎雲。

Younger brother Lu Dan served as libationer to the general pacifying the east, enjoyed a clean name, and died with Lu Yun. Sun Hui wrote Zhu Dan, "The Three Lus vanished together into a blind court—their teaching lost—grief cuts deeper than words. The realm lost its brightest—not one man's sorrow!" Their district mourned them so. Later Prince Yue of Donghai attacked Prince Ying and cited the wrongful deaths of the Lu brothers among his crimes.

從叔喜

Lu Xi

喜字恭仲。父瑁，吳吏部尚書。喜仕吳，累遷吏部尚書。少有聲名，好學有才思。嘗為自敘，其略曰：「劉向省《新語》而作《新序》，桓譚詠《新序》而作《新論》。餘不自量，感子雲之《法言》而作《言道》，睹賈子之美才而作《訪論》，觀子政《洪範》而作《古今曆》，鑒蔣子通《萬機》而作《審機》，讀《幽通》、《思玄》、《四愁》而作《娛賓》、《九思》，真所謂忍愧者也。」其書近百篇。

Lu Xi, courtesy Gongzhong. His father Lu Mao had been Wu's minister of personnel. Lu Xi served Wu and rose to minister of personnel. Renowned as a youth, he loved study and showed literary wit. He once wrote an autobiographical sketch: "Liu Xiang condensed the New Conversations into the New Prefaces; Huan Tan responded with the New Discourse. Shamelessly stirred by Yang Xiong's Model Words I wrote On the Way; admiring Jia Yi I wrote an Inquiry; studying Liu Xiang's Great Plan I compiled calendars ancient and modern; reviewing Jiang Yong's myriad affairs I wrote Scrutinizing Affairs; reading Ban's laments I penned Guest's Delight and Nine Thoughts—pure vanity." His books approached one hundred pieces.

吳平，又作《西州清論》傳於世，借稱諸葛孔明以行其書也。有《較論格品篇》曰：

After the conquest he issued Western Province Pure Discussion under Zhuge Liang's name to gain readers. His chapter Ranking Worthies runs:

或問予，薛瑩最是國士之第一者乎？答曰：'以理推之，在乎四五之間，問者愕然請問。答曰：'夫孫皓無道，肆其暴虐，若龍蛇其身，沈默其體，潛而勿用，趣不可測，此第一人也。避尊居卑，祿代耕養，玄靜守約，沖退澹然，此第二人也。侃然體國思治，心不辭貴，以方見憚，執政不懼，此第三人也。斟酌時宜，在亂猶顯，意不忘忠，時獻微益，此第四人也。溫恭修慎，不為諂首，無所雲補，從容保寵，此第五人也。過此已往，不足復數。故第二已上，多淪沒而遠悔吝，第三已下，有聲位而近咎累。是以深識君子，晦其明而履柔順也。 '問者曰：'始聞高論，終年啟寤矣。'

Someone asked whether Xue Ying ranked first among Wu worthies. He answered, "Judging coolly, he sits fourth or fifth—the listener gaped and pressed him." First rank: amid Sun Hao's tyranny the man who coils like a dragon, stays silent, hides unused—trackless danger. Second: avoiding rank for humble pay, farming rice in quiet seclusion. Third: candor for the state despite perilous office. Fourth: weighing each hour, loyal even in chaos, offering modest good. Fifth: mild, careful, never leading flatterers—harmless yet keeping favor. Below these none merit counting. Above the second many vanished shy of scandal; below the third fame brought blame. Wise men therefore veil brilliance and stay supple. The questioner said, "Your words wake me after a year of sleep."

太康中，下詔曰：「偽尚書陸喜等十五人，南士歸稱，並以貞潔不容皓朝，或忠而獲罪，或退身修志，放在草野。主者可皆隨本位就下拜除，敕所在以禮發遣，須到隨才授用。」乃以喜為散騎常侍，尋卒。子育，為尚書郎、弋陽太守。

Mid-Taikang edict: fifteen Wu ministers including Lu Xi—Southerners praised—were too honest for Sun Hao or loyal yet punished or withdrew to the wild. Authorities shall reinstate their offices by courtesy and assign posts by talent. Lu Xi became palace attendant and soon died. His son Lu Yu served as palace writer and prefect of Yiyang.

贊曰：古人云：「雖楚有才，晉實用之。」觀夫陸機、陸雲，實荊、衡之杞梓，挺圭璋於秀實，馳英華於早年，風鑒澄爽，神情俊邁。文藻宏麗，獨步當時；言論慷慨，冠乎終古。高詞迥映，如朗月之懸光；疊意回舒，若重岩之積秀。千條析理，則電坼霜開；一緒連文，則珠流璧合。其詞深而雅，其義博而顯，故足遠超枚、馬，高躡王、劉，百代文宗，一人而已。然其祖考重光，羽楫吳運，文武奕葉，將相連華。而機以廊廟蘊才，瑚璉標器，宜其承俊乂之慶，奉佐時之業，申能展用，保譽流功。屬吳祚傾基，金陵畢氣，君移國滅，家喪臣遷。矯翮南辭，翻棲火樹；飛鱗北逝，卒委湯池。遂使穴碎雙龍，巢傾兩鳳。激浪之心未騁，遽骨修鱗；陵雲之意將騰，先灰勁翮。望其翔躍，焉可得哉！夫賢之立身，以功名為本；士之居世，以富貴為先。然則榮利人之所貪，禍辱人之所惡，故居安保名，則君子處焉；冒危履貴，則哲士去焉。是知蘭植中塗，必無經時之翠；桂生幽壑，終保彌年之丹。非蘭怨而桂親，豈塗害而壑利？而生滅有殊者，隱顯之勢異也。故曰，衒美非所，罕有常安；韜奇擇居，故能全性。觀機、雲之行己也，智不逮言矣。睹其文章之誡，何知易而行難？自以智足安時，才堪佐命，庶保名位，無忝前基。不知世屬未通，運鐘方否，進不能辟昏匡亂，退不能屏跡全身，而奮力危邦，竭心庸主，忠抱實而不諒，謗緣虛而見疑，生在己而難長，死因人而易促。上蔡之犬，不誡于前，華亭之鶴，方悔於後。卒令覆宗絕祀，良可悲夫！然則三世為將，釁鐘來葉；誅降不祥，殃及後昆。是知西陵結其凶端，河橋收其禍末，其天意也，豈人事乎！

The historian's verdict: "Chu may breed talent; Jin in the end employed it." Lu Ji and Lu Yun were the finest timber of Jing and Heng—jade in the bud, splendor in youth, judgment limpid, spirit bold. Their prose outshone the age; their words rang loftier than antiquity's best. Soaring lines gleam like a clear moon; layered thought rolls like misted peaks. A thousand arguments crack like lightning on frost; one theme knits jade to pearl. Depth and grace, reach and clarity—they surpass Mei and Sima, stride past Wang and Liu, and stand as the age's one literary patriarch. Forebears twinned eminence, oared Wu's fate, stacked civil and martial glory in unbroken offices. Lu Ji bore hall-and-temple gifts, shone like ritual jade—fit to claim wise men's blessing, aid the hour, and leave lasting praise. Yet Wu's pillar cracked, Jinling's breath failed, the ruler fell, the state perished, families scattered. They straightened wings to leave the south and roosted in a burning tree; they flicked northward scales and sank into scalding pools. Their lair shattered two dragons; their nest toppled twin phoenixes. Surge-tossed hearts never raced—long fins turned bare bones; cloud-soaring will barely stirred—strong pinions burned first. Who could watch them soar again? The worthy stake life on merit and name; gentlemen face the world seeking fortune and rank. Glory lures and ruin terrifies—so gentlemen nest where safety guards reputation; sages flee when danger buys rank. Orchids planted mid-road cannot stay green; cassia rooted in deep valleys keeps red fragrance years. Not because orchids hate cassias—exposure harms, shelter profits. Life and death diverge by hidden or exposed. Thus flashing greatness out of place seldom stays safe; treasuring odd gifts in wise recess preserves one's nature. Consider how Lu Ji and Lu Yun lived—wit fell short of their words. Their essays preach caution—why easier read than done? They trusted mind enough for the times and talent fit to aid Heaven—hoping to save name and honor forbears. They missed Heaven's closed gate while fortune tolled ill—could not cleanse darkness or hide safely—yet strained in perilous courts for mediocre lords; loyalty went unbelieved, idle slander drew suspicion; life stayed fragile, death came swift. They never heeded the hunting dogs at Shangcai until Huating's cranes taught regret too late. Their house fell and their ancestral offerings ceased—how bitter a fate! Three generations under arms invite Heaven's bell—and later leaves bear the wound; Slaying those who yield courts ill luck—and children's children pay the price. So Xiling seeded their doom and the Yellow River bridge sealed it—was that Heaven's ledger, not mortal deed?

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