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卷一百一十四 載記第十四 苻堅下

Volume 114 Records 14: Fu Jian Part Two

Chapter 114 of 晉書 · Book of Jin
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Chapter 114
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1
Fu Jian.
2
殿
In the seventh year of Taiyuan, Fu Jian feasted his ministers in the front hall while musicians played and the company composed verse. In a poem by Jiang Pingzi of Tianshui, an aide to the regional inspector of Qinzhou, the graph “丁” appeared straight and unbent. Jian asked why. Pingzi said, “Your subject’s graph 丁 is perfectly firm and cannot be bent; moreover, what bends downward is an improper thing and is not fit to be offered.” Jian laughed and said, "The name is not borne in vain." He thereupon placed him in the top grade of the examination.
3
Jian's cousin, Duke Yang of the East Sea—son of Fu Fa—and Pi, son of Wang Meng and holder of the post of attendant cavalry gentleman, plotted rebellion; the matter leaked out. Jian asked the circumstances of their revolt. Yang said, "The Book of Rites says: the enemy of father and mother is not one you share the world with. My father, posthumously honored as Duke Ai, died though innocent; Duke Huan of Qi avenged a grievance nine generations old—how much more may your subject!" Pi said, "My father the chancellor had merit in aiding the founding mandate, yet your subject could not escape poverty and hunger; that is why I sought riches." Jian wept and said to Yang, "Duke Ai's death was not due to Us—can you truly not know it!" Reproaching Pi, he said, "When the chancellor died he left you ten teams of oxen for farming; We did not hear that he sought office for you. No one knows a son like the father—how true those words ring!" In the end he spared them both, exiling Yang to Gaochang and Pi beyond Shuofang. Fu Rong, mortified that treason had sprouted on his watch as imperial-clan intendant, offered to accept demotion and wait out his disgrace in his own fief. Jian refused the request. He had intended to make Fu Rong minister of education, but Fu Rong steadfastly declined. Determined to strike south toward the Jin heartland, Jian reassigned him as general who conquers the south with full staff privileges matching the three highest ministers.
4
'西 ' ' ' ' 西 '' ' 祿
The commandery of Xinping sent forward jade implements fit for a Son of Heaven. When Jian had first seized the throne, Wang Diao of Xinping had flattered him with apocryphal prophecies; delighted, Jian put him in charge of the astrological office. He once said to Jian, "Your subject has respectfully examined the prophecy: 'At the end of the ancient moon the central plain will be thrown into chaos; great floods will rise and Jian will flow west; only the heroic son will settle the eight provinces.' This then decodes to the sacred taboo names of the three ancestors and Your Majesty. Another line says: 'There shall be a grass-Fu minister-and-earth; he will destroy Eastern Yan, break the white captives, place the Di within and the Chinese without.' Examining the wording of the charts and prophecies, Your Majesty ought to destroy Yan and pacify the six provinces. I ask that the Di of the Qian and Long highlands be moved into the capital region and the great clans of the three Qin districts shifted to the frontiers, to answer the prophecy's words." Jian asked Wang Meng, who dismissed Wang Diao as a charlatan and urged his execution. Diao, facing execution, submitted a memorial: "Your subject, in the fourth year of Later Zhao's Jianwu era, studied with Liu Zhan of Jingzhao and mastered charts and records; he told your subject, 'The land of Xinping was in antiquity the ruins of Zhuanxu; there is a hamlet called Jimen (Chicken Gate).' The records say that from this hamlet should come the imperial treasure vessel named the Extended-Life Treasure Tripod. Zhuanxu said that the gentleman on the river had hidden it for him northwest of Xianyang, and that his descendant, whose name matched the graphs grass-Fu, minister, and earth, would answer it. Zhan also said, 'I once fasted in a chamber, and at night a meteor half the size of the moon fell here—can this not be that place!' May Your Majesty remember it: after you pacify the seven provinces, it will appear in a ren-wu year." Soon afterward locals unearthed a jade object whose raised seal text ranked offices from king and queen down through the nobility and bureaucracy in seven tiers. Below this, it examined recorded documents and arranged emperors, kings, famous ministers, the Son of Heaven, queens, and others in inner and outer sequence. Above, it corresponded to the celestial patterns, resembling the array of the Purple Palace, and it followed the wording of the jade register without violating the proper number of emperors and kings. It began from the Human Sovereign of the Upper Prime, reached the Middle Prime, and ended with the Lower Prime; Heaven and Earth underwent one transformation, and the record stopped when the three primes were exhausted. Convinced by the "fulfilled" prophecy, Jian posthumously ennobled Wang Diao as grand master of brilliant prosperity.
5
使
When a locust swarm blanketed Youzhou, Jian dispatched Liu Lan with imperial staff to rally the northern provinces in beating back the plague.
6
使西西
He appointed Fu Lang commissioner with extraordinary powers, area commander-in-chief for military affairs in Qing, Xu, and Yan provinces, General Who Garrisons the East, and inspector of Qing province. He appointed the remonstrance grandee Pei Yuanlue General Who Blocks the River, colonel of the western Yi, and administrator of Baxi and Zitong commanderies, secretly gave him the plan, and ordered him and Wang Fu to prepare a river fleet in Shu for an invasion.
7
西 西 西西 西
Mixian, king of the front division of Cheshi, and Xiumituo, king of Shanshan, paid court to Jian; Jian bestowed court robes on them and received them in the western hall. Awed by the capital's grandeur and the discipline of the escort, they volunteered annual tribute out of fear. Jian deemed the Silk Road too long for yearly embassies and fixed a cycle of triennial gifts and nine-year audiences instead. Mixian and others requested, "The states of Dayuan and the rest, though they send tribute, are not yet pure in good faith; we beg to follow the Han precedent of installing a protector-general. If the royal army leaves the pass, we ask to serve as guides." Jian therefore gave Lu Guang seventy thousand men, with Jiang Fei and Peng Huang as subordinates, to subdue the Tarim states. Fu Rong warned that a far-western war would drain the core territories for gains neither taxable nor arable. Jian said, "The two Han could not subdue the Xiongnu yet still sent armies to the Western Regions. Now the Xiongnu are already pacified; crushing the west is easier than smashing dry rot; though the army labors on a distant campaign, it can be settled with a single proclamation—transforming even Mount Kunlun, leaving fragrance for a thousand ages—is not this beautiful!" The court objected again and again; Jian brushed every warning aside.
8
輿 ' ' 輿 ' ' 使
A Jin column under Zhu Chuo ravaged Qin's Han River colonies, carrying off six hundred-odd households. Jian summoned the host of ministers and said, "We have upheld the great enterprise for nearly twenty years, cut down fugitive filth, and the four quarters are largely settled; only the southeastern corner has not submitted to royal transformation. Whenever We think that the realm is not one, We never fail to set down Our spoon at the meal; now We wish to raise the hosts of the realm to punish them. Roughly counting crack troops and arms, there may be nine hundred seventy thousand; We will take the van in person and chastise the southern frontier—what do you think?" Director of the Palace Library Zhu Tong said, “Your Majesty accords with Heaven and follows the seasons, reverently carrying out Heaven’s punishment. At your shout the Five Sacred Mountains would collapse; at your breath the rivers and seas would cease to flow. If you raise one million men in a single campaign, there will surely be a march of conquest and no battle. If in one stroke You raise a million men, there will be campaigns without battles. The Jin ruler will of himself bind jade disks to his neck and coffin boards to his back, knock his forehead at the army gate; if he strays and does not awaken, he must flee to die on the rivers and seas—Your fierce generals pursue him—and You may grant him his fate south of the Chao nest. The people of the central plain will be returned to their mulberry-and-catalpa homes. Then You will turn Your carriage to Mount Tai, report success and perform the Feng and Shan sacrifices, raise the white cloud at the middle altar, receive the myriad-years praise upon the central marchmount—then for once since eternity there will be something no written record has seen." Jian was greatly pleased and said, "That is Our purpose." Left cavalier attendant-in-ordinary Quan Yi stepped forward and said, "Your subject holds that Jin must not be attacked. For though King Zhou of Shang lacked the Way, the realm turned its back; eight hundred lords came without prior plan—yet King Wu still said that they had men there, and turned the army and halted the banners. Only after the three worthies were killed or banished did he raise the halberd at Muye. Now though the way of Jin is feeble, We have not heard that its virtue is lost; ruler and ministers are in harmony, and above and below are of one mind. Xie An and Huan Chong are great talents across the Yangtze—one may say Jin has men there. Your subject has heard that armies prevail in harmony; now Jin is in harmony—it cannot be plotted against." Jian was silent a long time, then said, "Each of you may state his mind." Shi Yue, senior commandant of the heir apparent's household guard, replied, "The people of Wu rely on their terrain in a remote corner and do not obey the royal command; if Your Majesty personally controls the six hosts and calls the south to account from Jing-Heng to Yang-Yue, it truly fits the hope of gods and men within the four seas. Yet this year the year star guards Dipper and Ox, and the virtue of blessings lies with Wu. The suspended images are without error—they must not be violated. Moreover Emperor Yuan of Jin was a imperial clansman, and barbarian and Chinese alike supported him; his lingering kindness still endures among the people. Changming is his grandson; the state has the Yangtze as its bulwark, and at court there is no twilight defect born of palace intrigue. Your stupid subject therefore holds that the right course is to cultivate virtue and that it is not yet time to move the army. Confucius said, 'When those afar do not submit, cultivate civil virtue to draw them.' We beg You to guard the borders, nurture the army, and watch for their gaps and weaknesses.'" Jian said, "We have heard that when King Wu attacked Zhou, he went against the year and offended the stars. The Way of Heaven is dark and distant—not to be known. In the past Fuchai overawed the central states yet was destroyed by Goujian. Zhongmou's kindness soaked all Wu; Sun Hao inherited three generations' enterprise—yet with one cry of the Dragon Prancing host ruler and ministers presented themselves bound. Though they had the Yangtze, how could it hold firm! With Our many hosts, if We cast whips into the Yangtze, it is enough to dam its flow." Yue said, "Your subject has heard that Zhou lacked the Way and the realm resented him. Fuchai was licentious and cruel; Sun Hao was dim and violent—the multitudes rebelled and kin departed; that is why they were defeated. Now though Jin lacks virtue, it has not these crimes; your subject deeply wishes You to harden the army, pile grain, and await Heaven's moment." Ministers argued pro and con until the session wore on. Jian said, "This is what is called building a house in the road—ten thousand plans are blocked; We shall decide within Our heart." When the others withdrew he kept Fu Rong alone. Jian said, "Since antiquity great matters have been settled by one or two men; a host of disputation only confuses men's minds—We shall resolve it with you." Rong said, "The year star sits in Dipper and Ox—that is fortune for Wu and Yue; they must not be attacked—that is one. The Jin ruler is enlightened and the court ministers obey commands—they must not be attacked—that is two. We have fought repeatedly; soldiers are weary and generals tired, and there is fear of the enemy—they must not be attacked—that is three. Those who speak of impermissibility offer the upper strategy; I hope Your Majesty will accept them." Jian changed color and said, "If you again speak thus, under Heaven's affairs—with whom shall We speak of them! Now We have hosts in the millions and stores of weapons like mountains; though We have not yet been called a paragon ruler, We are also not dim and inferior. With the might of repeated victories to strike a foe on the verge of perishing—how could there be no victory! We will in the end not leave the bandit to Our sons and grandsons, making trouble for the altars of state and the spirits of grain." Rong wept and said, "That Wu must not be attacked is clear—this hollow great levy will certainly return without merit. What your subject worries about is not this alone. Your Majesty has doted on and reared the Xianbei, Qiang, and Jie, spreading them through the capital region, while the old clans have been shifted to remote places. Now You drain the whole state and go; if there should be the turmoil of wind and dust—what of the ancestral temples! The overseer of the state has but a few tens of thousands of weak troops to guard the capital, while Xianbei, Qiang, and Jie mass like a forest—these are all plunderers of the state and Our enemies. Your subject fears not only a vain return but also that safety in victory is not assured. Your subject's wisdom and knowledge are shallow and foolish, truly unworthy of adoption. Wang Jinglue was a singular man of his age; Your Majesty always compared him to Kongming—the words he spoke at death must not be forgotten." Jian refused to listen. He toured the eastern pleasure grounds and made the monk Dao'an ride beside him in the imperial carriage. Quan Yi remonstrated: "Your subject has heard that in the Son of Heaven's lawful chariot the palace attendant rides as companion, the way is cleared to proceed, and advance and halt have their measure. The last rulers of the three dynasties sometimes injured the great human relationships, indulging a moment's whim; the documents record their evil for later ages. Therefore Lady Ban declined the palanquin and left a beauty that has no end. Dao'an has disfigured his body and is a lowly cleric; he ought not pollute the divine chariot." Jian changed color and said, "Lord An has penetrated the dark utmost realm; in virtue he is honored by the age. We might raise the weight of the whole realm and still not be enough to exchange for him. It is not glory for you to share the palanquin with him—it is Our own display." He ordered Yi to help Dao'an ascend the palanquin, turned and said to Dao'an, "We shall roam south with you to Wu and Yue, array the six hosts for a tour of inspection, pay respects at Shun's tomb on the Yiling ridges, gaze on Yu's grotto at Kuaiji, sail the long river, and stand by the dark sea—is not this joy!" Dao'an said, "Your Majesty responds to Heaven and governs the age, dwelling in the central soil and controlling the four cords; you roam free and follow the seasons to suit the sage's person—when you move, bells ring and the way is cleared; when you halt, the spirit rests in non-action; you sit upright with folded hands and transform all, matching Yao and Shun in numinous virtue—why toil the person in galloping campaigns, weary the mouth in strategizing, comb the wind and wash in the rain, and endure dust in wild encampments? Moreover the southeast is a tiny corner; underground miasma afflicts the soil—Shun toured there and did not return, Yu went there and did not come back—how can it be worth troubling the divine chariot above and wearing out the black-haired people below? The Classic of Poetry says, 'Show kindness here in the central states, thereby to pacify the four quarters.' If civil virtue suffices to embrace those afar, you need not trouble a single inch of blade to seat the Hundred Yue as guests." Jian said, "It is not that the land is not broad or the people insufficient; We only think to merge the six directions into one, thereby to deliver the black-haired people. Heaven begat the teeming masses and set up rulers for them in order to remove vexation and eliminate chaos—how can We shrink from toil! We, whom the great fortune has favored, will examine Heaven's mind and carry out Heaven's punishment. Gaoxin had the campaign at Bear Spring; Tang Yao had the host at Red Water—these are written in the earlier canons and made plain to later kings. If it truly be as you say, do emperors have no texts for inspecting the regions? Moreover this expedition of Ours is a righteous undertaking: We shall let the wandering caps and gowns of gentle descent return to their mound-tombs and restore their mulberry-and-catalpa homes; We only mean to relieve distress and weigh talent, not to exhaust arms to the utmost or exhaust military force." Dao'an said, "If the imperial train must move in person, We still would not wish You to ford the Yangtze and Huai far away; You could for a time favor Luoyang, there openly hand down the winning plan, and gallop a paper proclamation to Danyang to open for them a road to repent their error. If they will not submit at court, then punish them—that can be done." Jian would not take the advice. Earlier, the host of ministers, because Jian trusted and honored Dao'an, had said to Dao'an, "The lord above wishes to undertake affairs in the southeast—why do you not speak one word for the black-haired people!" That was why Dao'an had raised the protest. Fu Rong, Yuan Shao, Shi Yue, and others filed dozens of face-to-face memorials; Jian ignored every one. Jian's youngest son, Duke of Zhongshan Shen, who was favored by Jian, also remonstrated, saying, "Your subject has heard that when Ji Liang was in Sui, the men of Chu feared him; when Gong Zhiqi was in Yu, Jin did not dare point troops. It was because the state had such men in it. When their counsel went unused, destruction did not wait a full year. The overturned rut of the front chariot is the bright mirror of the rear chariot. The Duke of Yangping is the state's chief strategist, yet Your Majesty goes against him; Jin has Xie An and Huan Chong, yet Your Majesty attacks them. On this expedition your stupid subject is privately perplexed." Jian said, "The state has the great tortoise; it can decide great plans; at court there are the excellencies—they can settle advance or withdrawal. When a child speaks thus, he shall be executed."
9
Officials impeached Liu Lan for failing to stop the locusts after two seasons and demanded he face imperial prison. Jian said, "The calamity descended from Heaven; probably it is not what human power can remove. This derives from Our government's deviation—what crime has Lan!"
10
西 使西西使西西
The next year, when Lu Guang set out from Chang'an, Jian saw him off at Jianzhang Palace and said to Guang, "The western Rong are wild customs, not a land of ritual and right. The way of loose reins is: submit and pardon them; display to them the majesty of the central states and guide them with the methods of royal transformation—do not exhaust arms to the utmost or campaign to the limit, going too deep in slaughter and plunder." He added titles for Xiumituo, king of Shanshan: commissioner with extraordinary powers, sanqi permanent attendant, area commander-in-chief for military affairs in the Western Regions, and General Who Pacifies the West. For Mixian, king of the front division of Cheshi, he added commissioner with extraordinary powers, General Who Pacifies the West, and protector-general of the Western Regions, and had them lead the troops of their states as guides for Lu Guang.
11
西使
The same year tribes southwest of Yizhou and states across the southern ocean sent tribute.
12
' '
Jian toured south to Bashang and, at ease, said to the host of ministers, "The Yellow Thearch was a great sage; his benevolence was like Heaven, his wisdom like spirit—yet he still followed and punished those who would not submit, dwelt without a constant place, and took arms as his guard; therefore wherever sun and moon shone and wind and rain reached, none failed to follow. Now the realm hangs almost level; only the southeast is not yet extinguished. We, shamed to bear the great enterprise, with the vast charge returning to Us—how dare We idle away the year in ease and not build the enterprise of great unity! Whenever We think of Huan Wen's invasions, the lands east of the river must be destroyed. Now We have crack troops in the millions, civil and military like a forest; if We beat drums and march to crush remnant Jin, it will be like the autumn wind stripping autumn bamboo. Inside and outside the court all say it cannot be done; We truly do not understand the reason. If Jin Wu had trusted the court gentlemen's words and not campaigned against Wu, by what path would the realm have been brought onto one track! Our plan is decided; We will not debate again with you gentlemen." The heir apparent Hong stepped forward and said, "Wu now obtains the year star; it must not be attacked. Moreover the Jin ruler is without crime and men work for him; Xie An and the Huan Chong brothers are each outstanding talents of their region; ruler and ministers join strength and block the danger of the long river—they cannot be plotted against. You need only harden the army and pile grain to await a violent ruler, then in one stroke destroy him. Now if you move and have no success, then prestige and name will be damaged abroad and resources exhausted within. Therefore when sage kings move hosts, they decide within with perfect sincerity, then use them. If they rely on the Yangtze River to hold firm, move the people north of the Yangtze to Jiangnan, heighten the walls and clear the fields, shut their gates and refuse battle, then we will already be weary before they have drawn a bow. Miasma afflicts the soil above and below; you cannot long remain—what will Your Majesty do then?" Jian said, "In former years the chariot-and-horse host destroyed Yan though it offended the year star and still won. The Way of Heaven is dark and distant—not something you can know. In the past when the First Emperor destroyed the six states, were their kings all violent? Moreover We have long decided within Our heart; when We raise them We must overcome them—how could there be no success! We are about to order the barbarians to attack them within and crack armored picked troops to attack them without—with inner and outer pressure thus, how could there be no victory!" Dao'an said, "The heir apparent's words are right; We beg Your Majesty to accept them." but Jian still refused. Champion general Murong Chui said to Jian, "Your Majesty's virtue matches that of the Yellow Thearch and Tang Yao, your merit rises above Tang and Wu; awe and kindness soak the eight outer regions, and distant barbarians come again and again through interpreters. Sima Changming, relying on the embers that remain, dares to resist the royal command—if this be allowed and not punished, where will the law be placed! The Sun house wrongly seized the lands east of the river and in the end was merged into Jin—that was the tendency of the situation. Your subject has heard that the small does not match the great, the weak cannot withstand the strong—how much more when Great Qin answers the talisman and Your Majesty is sagely martial, with a million strong troops and Han Xin and Bai Qi filling the court—shall we let them steal breath and borrow titles, leaving bandit captives to sons and grandsons! The Classic of Poetry says, 'When you build a house on the road and take counsel there, you therefore cannot complete the work.' Your Majesty's inner decision and divine plan suffice; there is no need broadly to consult court ministers and confuse the sage's thoughts. In the past when Jin Wu pacified Wu, those who said it could be done were only a few worthies such as Zhang and Du—if he had adopted the host of ministers' words, how could he have built an achievement unmatched in the age! The proverb says, rely on Heaven and await the season—the season has arrived; can it be stopped!" Jian was greatly pleased and said, "He who will settle the realm with Us—perhaps it is you alone." He rewarded him with five hundred rolls of silk.
13
A comet trailed across the eastern well of the sky. Since the fourth month of Fu Jian's seventeenth year of Jianyuan, Chang'an had shimmered with phantom floods that resolved into human shapes when approached, omens that ended only now. Jian found the omens ominous. Imperial park bamboo withered and Luoyang's earth gaped open—further ill signs.
14
退 退
Huan Chong marched a hundred thousand Jin troops against Qin and laid siege to Xiangyang. He dispatched columns under Liu Bo, Huan Shiqian, and Huan Shimin against the Han River towns, while Yang Liang struck into Shu, took Wucheng, pressed Fucheng, and Hu Bin seized Xia Cai, and Guo Quan hit Wudang. Another detachment stormed Wansui and carried it. Jian sent Fu Rui, Murong Chui, and Mao Dang with fifty thousand men toward Xiangyang, Zhang Chong toward Wudang, and Zhang He with Yao Chang toward Fucheng. Fu Rui camped at Xinye while Murong Chui stopped at Dengcheng. Jin troops routed Zhang Chong at Wudang and carried off over two thousand households. Fu Rui ordered Murong Chui and Shi Yue ahead to the Han River line. Murong Chui and Shi Yue lit thousands of decoy fires in the trees, lighting the riverbank for miles. Faced with that display, Huan Chong pulled back to Shangming. Zhang He advanced through Xie Valley until Yang Liang likewise retreated.
15
簿 西
Jian drafted every tenth able man and requisitioned horses public and private across the provinces. Families plainly exempt from ordinary service were mustered into a literati volunteer corps. Wealthy youths under twenty who excelled at arms became imperial guardsmen of the Feathered Forest. He boasted that he would house Sima Yao, Xie An, and Huan Chong in ready-built mansions as his ministers after victory. More than thirty thousand elite young horsemen reported for duty. He named Zhao Sheng of Jincheng, a Qinzhou clerk, to lead these young recruits. The first wave—Fu Rong, Zhang He, Fu Fang, Liang Cheng, Murong Wei, Murong Chui—took a quarter million men toward the front. When Jian himself left Chang'an he brought over six hundred thousand foot and two hundred seventy thousand horse in a column that spanned a thousand li. By the time Jian reached Xiangcheng, Liangzhou contingents were still straggling into Xianyang, Sichuan fleets were sliding downriver, and Hebei divisions had reached Pengcheng—Qin's hosts stretched ten thousand li in a coordinated land-and-water advance. Ten thousand transport barges entered Shimen from the River and reached the Ru and Ying.
16
使 使
Fu Rong's van took Shouyang, seizing Jin generals Xu Yuanxi and the Anfeng prefect Wang Xian. Murong Chui seized Yuncheng and killed the Jin commander Wang Taiqiu. Liang Cheng, Wang Xian, Wang Yong, and fifty thousand men walled the Huai at the Luo inlet to stop the eastern Jin relief force. Liang Cheng repulsed several Jin attacks. Xie Shi, Xie Xuan, Huan Yi, and Xie Yan brought seventy thousand men to face Fu Rong but halted twenty-five li short of the Luo lines, intimidated by Liang Cheng. Dragon-prancing general Hu Bin first held Xiaoshi, was pressed by Rong, ran out of grain, feigned raising dust to show Rong's army, and secretly sent a messenger to tell Shi and others, "Now the bandits are strong and our grain is gone; I fear I will not see the great host." Fu Rong's men intercepted the courier and forwarded him to headquarters. Rong thereupon galloped a messenger to report to Jian, "The bandits are few and easy to capture, but I fear they will slip away; You should quickly advance the mass of armies to join in seizing the bandit commanders." Jian was greatly pleased, feared that Shi and the others would flee, left the great army at Xiangcheng, and with eight thousand light cavalry pressed on by double marches, ordering the troops, "Whoever dares say We have reached Shouchun shall have his tongue pulled out." His secrecy kept the Jin command ignorant of his presence. Liu Laizhi's night raid on Liang Cheng's camp killed the Qin general and fifteen thousand men. Emboldened by Liu Laizhi's victory, the Jin army pushed forward on every axis. Jian together with Fu Rong ascended the wall and gazed on the royal army, saw the formations neat, generals and soldiers keen, and also looked north at the trees and grass on Mount Bagong—all resembling human shapes—turned and said to Rong, "These too are strong foes—how can you call them few!" His face fell and fear showed plain. Earlier, when the court heard that Jian was invading, Sima Daozi, Prince of Kuaiji, sought aid from the god of Mount Zhongshan with full honors and martial music, and invested him with the title of minister of state. The historian adds that the omen Jian read in the hillside scrub matched that divine appeal.
17
使 退 使 退 退 使綿 退
Jian ordered the captured Jin minister Zhu Xu to intimidate Xie Shi into capitulation. Xu secretly said to Shi, "If all of Qin's million come, then none can withstand them. While their mass of armies is not yet gathered, you should fight a swift battle. If you break their vanguard, you can achieve your aim." Learning that Fu Jian himself had reached Shouyang, Xie Shi hesitated to offer battle and hoped to delay. Xie Yan pressed him to trust Zhu Xu's advice; they challenged Fu Rong, who accepted. Zhang He had just mauled Xie Shi south of the Fei River, so Xie Xuan and Xie Yan formed a battle line to meet him. Zhang He pulled back and anchored his formation tight against the Fei's north bank. The royal army could not cross and sent a messenger to say to Rong, "You hang your army deep in enemy territory, set your formation pressing the water—this is a plan for endurance; is it the intention of one who wishes to fight? If you slightly withdraw your troops and let generals and soldiers maneuver, your servant and you, my lord, may slacken the reins and watch—is not this beautiful!" Fu Rong ordered a feigned retreat, planning to crush Jin mid-river. Instead the line collapsed into a rout he could not halt. Fu Rong fell from his horse under Jin arrows, and his host shattered. Jin pursuers drove the fugitives to Qinggang, where corpses piled deep. Jian was struck by a stray arrow, fled alone on horseback to north of the Huai, was extremely hungry; someone offered a pot of cooked food and a pig thigh—Jian ate it and was greatly pleased, saying, "How can Gongsun's bean gruel add to this!" He tried to reward the peasant with silk and cotton. He declined, saying, "Your subject has heard that the white dragon tired of the joy of the heavenly pool and was trapped by Yu Ju—what Your Majesty's eyes have seen and ears have heard. Now the hardship of enduring dust—is it from Heaven! Moreover reckless giving is not kindness, reckless accepting is not loyalty. Your Majesty is your subject's father and mother—how can a son who is nourished seek reward!" He bowed off despite Jian's command. Jian was greatly ashamed, turned and said to his lady Zhang, "If We had used the court ministers' words, how could We have seen today's affair! With what face shall We again face all under Heaven?" He left in tears. Every gust and birdcall seemed to the fugitives like pursuing Jin troops. Zhang Tianxi, Zhu Xu, Xu Yuanxi, and other Qin notables surrendered to Jin. Earlier a proverb said, "Jian will not leave Xiang"; the host of ministers urged Jian to halt at Xiang and be the six armies' stabilizing voice, but Jian did not follow—therefore he was defeated.
18
Every column dissolved except Murong Chui's, so Jian rode to his camp with a thousand horse. Murong Bao urged patricide, but Chui refused and instead lent his intact division to shield Jian. Earlier Murong Wei had garrisoned Yuncheng until Jin's Xiahou Cheng killed his defender Jiang Cheng at the Zhang crossing, forcing Wei to bolt. Fu Jian scraped together stragglers until, by Luoyang, he again commanded over a hundred thousand men with something like a court and escort. Before the capital gates Murong Chui begged leave to pacify the old Yan homeland and tend clan graves; Jian consented. Quan Yi warned that releasing Chui was fatal; Jian ignored him. Second thoughts led him to garrison Ye, Bingzhou, and Luoyang against Murong Chui's return. Back near Chang'an he mourned Fu Rong, confessed before the ancestors, issued amnesties and relief, and exempted the households of the fallen forever. He ennobled the dead Fu Rong as grand marshal and posthumously titled him Duke of Lament.
19
When Dingling leader Zhai Bin rose south of the river, Fu Pi ordered Murong Chui and Fu Feilong against him. Murong Chui slew Fu Feilong, allied with Zhai Bin, and annihilated the Di escort. Fu Hui's column under Mao Dang lost to Zhai Bin; Mao Dang fell in battle. Murong Nong fled to Lieren, rallied outlaws, and raised tens of thousands. Fu Pi's general Shi Yue died attacking Murong Nong. Murong Chui besieged Ye with two hundred thousand Dingling and Wuhuan auxiliaries, using siege ladders and saps.
20
使 使西
Murong Hong, former prince of Jibei, fled east, rallied Xianbei herders, and seized Huayin with thousands of riders. Murong Wei smuggled word for kinsmen to rise beyond the capital. Qiang Yong lost to Murong Hong, who then proclaimed himself prince of Jibei with grand titles and named Murong Chui his chancellor in the east.
21
使 使 使 鹿 便 使 使 使
Jian said to Quan Yi, "We did not follow your words—the Xianbei have reached this point. The lands east of the pass—We will not again contest them with them; what shall We do about Hong?" Yi said, "Banditry must not be allowed to grow. Murong Chui may only occupy Shandong and make trouble, without leisure to press near. Now Wei and the whole clan and kind are all in the capital; Xianbei hosts are spread through the capital region—they are truly the fundamental worry for the altars of soil and grain; You should dispatch a weighty general to punish them." Jian thereupon appointed Fu Xi, Duke of Guangping, commissioner with extraordinary powers, area commander-in-chief for the military affairs of the various Rong in Yong province, General-in-chief Who Garrisons the East, and inspector of Yong province, and stationed him at Puban. and Fu Rui with Yao Chang and fifty thousand men to destroy Murong Hong at Huaze. Murong Chong rose in Hedong with twenty thousand men and struck Puban until Jian sent Dou Chong. Fu Rui was rash, despised his foe, and wasted lives. Murong Hong tried to bolt east; Fu Rui raced to cut him off. Yao Chang remonstrated, "The Xianbei have hearts that yearn to return home; you ought to drive them out of the pass, not block them." Fu Rui ignored him, fought at Huaze, and died in defeat. Jian exploded with rage. Fearing blame, Yao Chang mutinied. Dou Chong routed Murong Chong, who fled with eight thousand horse to Murong Hong. Hong's host reached more than one hundred thousand; he sent a messenger to tell Jian, "Qin acted without the Way and destroyed our altars of soil and grain. Now Heaven has opened their bosom and made Qin's army overturn in defeat; We wish to raise Great Yan anew. The prince of Wu has already settled Shandong; You can quickly supply and equip the great carriages and escort home your elder brother the emperor together with the houses of meritorious ministers of the clan. Hong will lead the Yan people of Guanzhong to wing and guard the emperor and return to Ye, share kingship with Qin with Martial Stronghold as boundary, be neighboring friends forever, and no longer be Qin's worry. The duke of Julu's rash impetuosity and sharp advance caused him to be killed by mutinous troops—it was not Hong's intent." Jian was greatly angry, summoned Murong Wei, and rebuked him, saying, "You father and son violated the law, usurped and rebelled, opposed Heaven and man; We responded to Heaven and exercised spirit, exhausted military force and obtained you. You did not reform error and return to good, yet the whole clan received forgiveness; brothers were arrayed as senior generals and intake advisers—though it was called destruction, in truth it was like returning home. How can you, because the royal army suffered a small defeat, act so wildly rebellious! Chui is a long snake east of the pass; Hong and Chong raise arms and insult within. Hong's letter is thus; if you wish to go, We shall supply you. Your clan may be called human faces with beast hearts—truly they cannot be expected to behave as men of the state!" Murong Wei kowtowed in terror and tears. Jian, after a long time, said, "The Book says: father and son, elder and younger brothers do not reach one another with punishment. Your loyalty truly reaches Our heart; this is the crime of the three villains themselves, not your fault." then restored Murong Wei's titles. He ordered Murong Wei to write to Murong Chui, Murong Hong, and Murong Chong, summoning and instructing them to halt their troops and return to Chang'an, with the guilt of their rebellion forgiven. But Wei secretly sent envoys to tell Hong, "Now Qin's reckoning is ended; Chang'an's prodigies are especially extreme—it cannot long stand. We, already a man in a cage, certainly have no prospect of return. In the past We could not preserve the ancestral temples and caused them to be overturned like this—We are a guilty man, not worth again caring about Our survival. The altars of soil and grain are not light—strive to build the great enterprise and make restoration your task. You may make the prince of Wu minister of state, the prince of Zhongshan grand steward and concurrent grand marshal; you may be grand general and concurrent director of education, invest and appoint by edict as circumstances warrant. When you hear of Our death, your envoy may at once assume the supreme position." Murong Hong then marched on Chang'an and proclaimed a new reign title, Yanxing. For a month the capital was haunted by night wailing that then ceased.
22
使
Fu Jian camped at Zhao Stockade, sent Yang Bi's riders to cut Yao Chang's retreat, and used Xu Cheng, Dou Chong, and Mao Sheng to beat him repeatedly while blocking every water convoy. You Qin of Fanyi exploited Qin's southern disaster to supply Yao Chang from Pinyang until Yang Bi seized every convoy. Yao Chang ordered his brother Yinmai with twenty thousand men to break the dam and reach water. Dou Chong crushed them at Guanque Ditch, killing Yinmai and thirteen thousand. Yao Chang's men were parched and desperate; some died of thirst. Then rain soaked only Yao Chang's camp ankle-deep while a ring just outside stayed dry—a miracle that revived his army. Jian was just eating, pushed away the table in anger, and said, "Is Heaven without a heart—why does it send moisture to the bandit camp!" while Yao Chang linked up with Murong Hong.
23
宿
Gao Gai and Suqin Chong murdered Murong Hong for his harsh rule and weaker charisma, elevated Murong Chong as heir-apparent regent, and handed out offices on their own authority.
24
Yao Chang left his younger brother Yao Xu, General Who Conquers Captives, to guard the main camp at Yangqu River, then led seventy thousand men to attack Fu Jian. Fu Jian's counterattack failed; Yao Chang captured Yang Bi and other generals but courteously released them.
25
使使 竿西 姿
Fu Hui led seventy thousand men from Luoyang and Shancheng back to Chang’an. Wang Guang of Yizhou dispatched Wang Hao with Sichuan troops to relieve the throne. Learning Murong Chong neared Chang'an, Fu Jian rushed west, left Fu Fang on Lishan, and gave Fu Hui fifty thousand men to block Murong Chong while Fu Lin backed him with the central army. Murong Chong used women, dust, and sham banners to mask a dawn assault on Fu Hui west of Zheng. Fu Hui rode out to meet him but Murong Chong's dust and noise broke his line. Fu Jian sent Jiang Yu and Fu Lin with thirty thousand to Bashang; Murong Chong killed Jiang Yu, wounded Fu Lin, and seized Epang. When Qin conquered Yan, Fu Jian took Murong Chong's fourteen-year-old sister, the Princess of Qinghe, as concubine and doted on her above all others. At twelve Murong Chong possessed the same androgynous allure, and Jian bedded him too. The siblings shared the harem to the exclusion of every other woman. Chang'an sang of them, saying, "One hen again one cock, pair-flying into the purple palace." The court feared scandal and revolt. Wang Meng's blunt warning finally got Murong Chong expelled from the palace. Chang'an had another ditty: "Phoenix, phoenix, stop at Epang." so Fu Jian planted bamboo and paulownia at Epang to lure the mythical bird. Murong Chong's pet name had been Phoenix; he now fulfilled the omen as Fu Jian's scourge by seizing Epang.
26
西
Huan Shiqian seized Luyang and posted Gao Mao north of Luoyang. Xie Xuan camped at Xiapi while Qin's Zhao Qian fled Pengcheng. Zhang Yuan chased Zhao Qian to Dangshan and fought him to a draw. Xie Xuan then occupied Pengcheng.
27
西 使西西西
Lu Guang had subdued thirty-six Tarim kingdoms and seized treasure beyond counting. Jian issued a writ appointing Lu Guang commissioner with extraordinary powers, sanqi permanent attendant, area commander-in-chief for all military affairs west of Yumen, General Who Pacifies the West, and colonel of the Western Regions; he advanced his enfeoffment to marquis of Shunxiang and increased his fief by one thousand households.
28
退
Liu Laizhi struck Yanzhou; Zhang Chong abandoned Juancheng for Murong Chui. Liu Xi killed Qin's Dongping prefect south of the river and pulled back. Liu Laizhi then held Juancheng.
29
使使 便使 使
Murong Chong pressed Chang'an; Jian ascended the wall and watched them, sighed, saying, "Whence come these bandits? Their strength is like this!" He shouted loudly, rebuking Chong, saying, "You pack of slaves are fit only to herd oxen and sheep—why come to deliver death!" Chong said, "Slave is slave—having tired of the bitterness of slavery, We again wish to take you and replace you." Jian sent an envoy presenting Chong one lined brocade robe, stating by edict, "When men of old crossed arms, envoys went between them. You have come far in rough founding—can it be without toil? Now We send one robe to clarify Our original mind. What have been Our kindness and portion with you, that in one morning you suddenly make this change!" Chong ordered his household steward to answer, also stating, "The imperial heir younger brother has ordered: We now set Our heart on all under Heaven—how could We care for the small favor of one robe. If you can know fate, then ruler and minister may bind their hands, early send the emperor, and We of course will broadly pardon the Fu clan to repay former good feeling—We will never let the kindness shown in the past alone be beautiful in what went before." Jian was greatly angry and said, "We did not use Wang Jinglue and the Duke of Yangping's words, and so the white barbarians dare reach this point."
30
西 西 退 滿 西 使
Besieged in Ye, Fu Pi fed on shaved pine when grain and fodder ran out. When Zhai Bin's revolt drew Murong Chui off, Fu Pi learned of disasters in Guanzhong and sent Shao Xing to rally kinsmen Fu Mo, Fu Liang, Fu Ding, the Gu'an marquis Fu Jian, and Wang Yan as reinforcements, but Murong Chui's Zhang Chong ambushed and captured Shao Xing south of Xiangguo. Fu Pi's envoy Feng Fu failed to move Zhang He and Wang Teng from Jinyang for lack of troops. Trapped, Fu Pi consulted his staff. Yang Ying urged surrender to Jin, but Fu Pi hesitated. Jin seized Qiao'ao and Huatai; Fu Pi's Sang Ju lost to Yan Gong and Liu Xi, who then stormed Liyang. Fu Pi then dispatched Fu Jiu and Jiao Kui to beg Xie Xuan for aid. His letter asked passage and grain to relieve Guanzhong, promised Ye once rescued, or holding Ye if Chang'an fell, framing the plea as a nominal submission. Kui secretly together with adjutant Jiang Rang said to Yang Ying, "Now disaster and hardship are thus; the capital is cut off; good or ill cannot be investigated; we press close on bandit foes; the three armies are exhausted; the tilt toward peril is extreme—not even a morning waits for evening. Observing the duke's bravado not removed, he is not a lord who saves the age; since he cannot exhaust sincere good faith and speedily bring grain support, yet sets up two ends, there will certainly be no success. Today's peril is swifter than a turning machine; it cannot tolerate empty schemes that only make flip-flop. You ought to straighten the letter into a memorial to knot earnest devotion. If the royal army arrives, you must certainly deliver your person. If he will not follow, you may bind him by force and hand him over. If he will not righteously submit, it is the strength of one man only. Men of old exercised expedients—success was all that mattered; how much more when lord and marquis for accumulated generations have borne virtue, when your illustrious ancestor first made a name in the Jin court, and now again you would raise lofty merit, letting merit continue in succession—once in a thousand ages, it cannot be lost." Yang Ying, despising Fu Pi, forged a submissive letter and sent hostages to Jin.
31
殿 使
Fu Jian sent Hao Zhi to fetch the recluse Wang Jia from Mount Daoshou. He consulted Wang Jia and Dao'an daily in the outer hall. Murong Wei entered to see him in the eastern hall, made obeisance, apologized, and said, "My younger brother Chong does not know the proper way; he has betrayed the state's grace. Your subject's crime deserves ten thousand deaths. Your Majesty lets fall the countenance of Heaven and earth; your subject receives the favor of renewed life. Your subject's two sons married yesterday; tomorrow is the third day; foolishly We wish briefly to bend the imperial train to favor your subject's private residence." Fu Jian agreed. When Wei went out, Jia said, "Pounding reeds to make a quchu mat does not make a pattern; when Heaven sends great rain, you cannot kill the sheep." which baffled Fu Jian and the court, until a night storm scrubbed the planned outing. Murong Wei had long schemed against tight Qin security, and now secretly rallied a thousand Xianbei to ambush Fu Jian at the banquet, He ordered their chieftains Xiluo Teng, Qutu Tiehou, and others secretly to tell them, "The officials now order you to garrison outside; they listen to all old followers to follow—on a certain day assemble at a certain place." and the Xianbei believed the lie. Tuxian's sister, a concubine of Dou Chong, leaked the plot, Dou Chong raced to Fu Jian; Xiluo Teng confessed under interrogation, Fu Jian thereupon executed Wei, his sons, and his whole clan; within the city, all Xianbei, young and old, including women, were killed.
32
Murong Chui renewed the siege of Ye. At court some wanted a hostage from Fu Pi before aiding him, but Jiao Kui vouched for Fu Pi's sincerity and Yang Ying's offer, so Jin sent Liu Laizhi with twenty thousand men and grain to relieve Ye.
33
Meanwhile Chang'an starved until people cannibalized one another and soldiers regurgitated meat for their families,
34
殿 西
while Murong Chong declared himself emperor at Epang under a new era name. Fu Jian and Murong Chong traded wins and losses, Once he was surrounded by Chong's army; palace senior general Deng Mai, left middle general Deng Sui, and secretary gentleman Deng Qiong said to one another, "Our gate for generations has borne glory and favor; the former lord built extraordinary merit for the state—we cannot fail to establish loyalty and show integrity, thereby completing the former lord's purpose. Moreover one who does not die in the ruler's crisis is not a real man." donned hides and charged Murong Chong's line, Their sortie broke Murong Chong's ring and earned them rapid promotion, but Murong Chong sent Gao Gai in a night attack that breached the south gate, until Dou Chong and Li Bian slaughtered eighteen hundred attackers and devoured the dead, then Fu Jian drove Murong Chong back to Acheng. Generals wanted to storm Epang, but Fu Jian, fearing ambush, sounded the recall,
35
At the same time Liu Laizhi's relief column reached Fangtou. In Ye, eastern-expedition adjutant Xu Yi and the eunuch Meng Feng accused Yang Ying and Jiang Rang of plotting treason, whereupon Fu Pi arrested and executed both men. Liu Laizhi held his column back once Fu Pi began executing his own advisers.
36
穿
Fu Hui was repeatedly defeated by Chong; Jian rebuked him, saying, "You are Our son, yet embrace a great host and are repeatedly shattered by the white-barbarian boys—what use is living!" Humiliated, Fu Hui took his own life. Over three thousand Guanzhong forts rallied behind Zhao Ao of Fanyi, swore mutual aid, and convoyed supplies to Fu Jian. Gou Chi and Ju Shizi took five thousand horse to seize the wheat fields on Lishan, lost to Murong Chong, and left Gou Chi dead and Ju Shizi running for Ye. Fu Jian then sent Yang Ding with twenty-five hundred elite riders who routed Murong Chong and brought back ten thousand Xianbei captives. In a fury Fu Jian had those prisoners massacred in burial pits. Yang Ding’s prowess terrified Murong Chong into digging cavalry traps around his camp.
37
𡙇 𡙇
Liu Laizhi’s arrival at Ye drew Murong Chui north toward Xincheng. Starving Ye surrendered its garrison to Jin grain ships at Fangtou. Liu Laizhi marched in and occupied Ye. Murong Chui’s army starved until men bolted for Zhongshan and cannibalism spread through You and Ji. Earlier a ditty east of the pass said, "Youzhou Kui—born, it must perish. If it does not perish, the black-haired people will be cut off." Kui was Chui’s original given name. A year’s stalemate between Murong Chui and Fu Pi left the countryside almost depopulated.
38
西 退
Earlier, when Yao Chang attacked Xinping, Xinping prefect Gou Fu was about to surrender; men of the commandery—Liaoxi prefect Feng Jie, Lianzhuo magistrate Feng Yi, and others—remonstrated, saying, "All under Heaven is in ruin and chaos—only then do loyal ministers appear. In the past Tian Dan defended one city and preserved Qi; now what Qin still holds links province after province and fort after fort—hundred cities of commanderies and states. Between subject and son and ruler and father one exhausts heart, exhausts strength, and only then stops—how can one be of two minds!" Heartened, Gou Fu chose to hold the walls. Yao Chang piled siege ramps and sapped tunnels; Gou Fu countered with the same. Fighting on the ridges cost Yao Chang over ten thousand men. Gou Fu’s sham capitulation nearly lured Yao Chang inside before he sensed the trap and pulled back. Gou Fu sallied and killed or captured nearly ten thousand troops. By this time grain was exhausted and arrows were gone, outside rescue did not arrive; Chang sent an official to tell Fu, "We are about to take all under Heaven by righteousness—how could We hate loyal ministers? You need only lead the men and women of your visible host back to Changlou; We need this city to set a garrison." Trusting Yao Chang’s pledge, Gou Fu marched fifteen thousand civilians out of the walls; Yao Chang ringed them and buried every soul alive. Years before, Prefect Cui Yue of Qinghe had been murdered by Xinping locals under Later Zhao, and his son Cui Ye later served Fu Jian until he begged leave to avenge his father’s blood feud. Fu Jian pitied Cui Ye, humiliated Xinping by cropping its wall, and kept its notables under stigma, which spurred Xinping’s gentry to resist Yao Chang to the death.
39
滿 使 使
Ten thousand crows wheeling above Chang’an shrieking like battle omens foretold steel inside the walls. Murong Chong stormed the battlements while Fu Jian, armored and arrow-riddled, led the defense in person. At the time, although enemy troops pressed dangerously close, men from the Fengyi stockades still carried grain through the danger to arrive, and most were killed by the rebels. Jian said to them, "We hear those who come mostly do not arrive safely—truly it is the righteousness of loyal ministers rushing to crisis. Now bandit hardship is thick and manifold; it is not strength one man can remedy. Perhaps the bright spirits have regard—when woe reaches the limit, disaster turns back; take good care, keep true and compliant, for the state cherish yourselves, store grain, harden armor, uprightly await the army’s date—do not vainly perish without success and together fall into beasts’ mouths." People Murong Chong had dragged from the Guanzhong heartland offered to light fires inside his camps as signals for Fu Jian. Jian said, "We pity you gentlemen’s intent of loyalty—why go further. But the times’ fortune is ruined; We fear it will not benefit the state and will only make you gentlemen sit and be extinguished to no purpose—what We cannot bear. Moreover Our crack troops are like beasts, sharp weapons like frost—yet we stumble against a tired, dull mob in a flock; is it not Heaven! You ought to think well on it." The host firmly requested, saying, "Your subjects do not spare their lives, casting bodies for the state; if High Heaven has spirit, perhaps single-minded sincerity may hope for one relief—dying leaves no regret." so Fu Jian sent seven hundred riders to coordinate. Wind whipped Murong Chong’s own fires back on the volunteers, killing nine in ten. Jian deeply grieved for them, personally set offerings for them and summoned, saying, "Loyal and numinous, come to this court. Return to your former fathers; do not take monstrous forms." and wept until he could not contain himself. The host all said to one another, "The supreme one’s kindly grace is thus—with death we shall not shift." while Murong Chong’s cruelty emptied the roads for a thousand li. He appointed Qiu Teng and the Shu general Lan Du to rally Fanyi’s counties. The host all said, "With Your Majesty we die and live together—we swear there is no second mind."
40
殿 西
Each night someone shouted circling the wall, "Yang Ding’s brave lads belong to me; palace halls and terraces I should sit in; father and son go out together—I will not share with you." yet searches found no one. In the city was a book called Ancient Talisman Record of Jia, recording "The emperor goes out to the Five Generals and long survives." Earlier there was also a ditty, "Jian enters Five Generals Mountain and long survives." Jian greatly believed it, told his heir apparent Hong, "If this saying comes true, Heaven perhaps guides Us. Now We leave you to oversee all military affairs jointly; do not contend profit with the bandits; We shall go out Long to collect troops and transport grain to supply you. Heaven perhaps is just instructing Us." He first sent Yang Ding west of the city, but Murong Chong captured him. Growing still more afraid, Fu Jian entrusted the aftermath to Fu Hong and rode out toward Five Generals Mountain with Duke Fu Shen of Zhongshan, Lady Zhang, and several hundred cavalry, announcing to the provinces and commanderies that they should plan to relieve Chang'an in the first month of winter. Fu Hong promptly fled with the women of the harem and thousands of clansmen while the bureaucracy evaporated. Murong Chong’s horde sacked Chang’an beyond counting of corpses.
41
Before the war smoke had risen from bare earth across dozens of li for a month—an uncanny omen. Fu Jian had once invited citizens to signal injustice with smoke north of town, Chang’an made a saying of it: "If you wish to survive, you must raise smoke." There was also a ditty: "Long-scabbard horsewhip strikes the left thigh; Grand Year southward march shall again capture the white barbarians." Qin slang for Murong’s Xianbei. Murong Chui’s rebellion came in the guiwei year, When Jian divided Di households to the various garrisons, Zhao Zheng, taking advantage of attendance, grasped the zither and sang, "A-de-zhi, a-de-zhi—the shrike’s old father is Chou Sui; tail long, wings short, cannot fly; far-moved kindred stay while Xianbei remain—once urgent and slack, whom will you tell!" which Fu Jian laughed off, until every line came true.
42
At Five Generals Mountain Yao Chang’s general Wu Zhong ringed Fu Jian’s camp. The last retainers melted away until a handful of chamber attendants stayed. Fu Jian kept his composure, sat waiting, and called for a meal, until Wu Zhong seized him and locked him in Xinping, Chang sought the transmission seal from Jian, saying, "Chang is next to receive the talisman sequence—can you grant it as a favor." Jian glared and shouted at him, saying, "Little Qiang dare coerce the Son of Heaven—could We give the transmission seal to you Qiang! Charts and registers, on what do they rely? In the Five Hu order there is no Qiang name. To oppose Heaven is inauspicious—can you last long! The seal has already been sent to Jin—it cannot be obtained." Yao Chang then sent Yin Wei urging a Yao-Shun style abdication, Jian rebuked Wei, saying, "Abdication in succession is the affair of sages and worthies. Yao Chang is a rebel bandit—how dare you compare him to the ancients!" and when Fu Jian kept defying and demanding death, Yao Chang strangled him in a Xinping monastery at age forty-eight. Fu Shen and Lady Zhang killed themselves with him. It was the tenth year of the Jin Taiyuan era.
43
Fu Hong first sought Yang Bi at Xiabian, was turned away, detoured through Wudu Di territory to surrender to Jin, and was parked at Jiangzhou, where he rose to general who aids the state, later named Liangzhou inspector under Huan Xuan’s usurpation, and executed early in the Yixi era for plotting revolt.
44
Earlier, when Jian was at his strongest, a children’s ditty in the state said, "The river water clears again and clears—Fu Zhao dies at Xincheng." Jian heard it and detested it; whenever he campaigned, he warned army scouts, "Where the land has a place name with ‘new,’ avoid it." At that time there was also a children’s ditty, "A-Jian dragged along thirty years; if later he wishes defeat, it will be between the Yangtze and Huai." which proved true: twenty-seven years of rule, the Feishui debacle, and death two years later in Xinping matched every omen. After Fu Pi declared himself emperor he canonized Fu Jian posthumously as Shizu’s “Shining Manifest” emperor.
45
Wang Meng.
46
Wang Meng, courtesy name Jinglue, came from Ju county in Beihai but had settled his household in Wei commandery, growing up in poverty he earned a living peddling carrying baskets, Once he sold hampers at Luoyang; then there was one man who expensively bought his hampers yet said he had no cash, himself saying, "My home is not far from here—you may follow me to get cash." Wang Meng took the bait of an inflated price and followed the buyer into the hills until they came to a white-haired patriarch enthroned on a camp stool with a handful of attendants. The old man said, "What reason has Lord Wang to bow!" then paid ten times the asking price and sent him home with an escort. Looking back, Wang Meng realized he had been on Mount Song,
47
姿
Wang Meng was strikingly tall and handsome, well read in the military classics, grave and aloof, disdainful of petty company, which made fashionable men mock him, yet he remained serenely indifferent to their scorn. In his youth he wandered Ye, little noticed by contemporaries, until Xu Tong singled him out and offered him a clerkship, which he declined, preferring reclusion on Mount Huayin, biding his time for a dragon-faced ruler worthy of his talent. When Huan Wen marched into Guanzhong, Wang Meng met him in homespun, spoke of statecraft while picking lice as coolly as if alone, Wen observed him and thought him strange, asking, "We have received the Son of Heaven's command, leading a hundred thousand crack troops, relying on righteousness to punish rebels, removing cruel bandits for the black-haired people—yet the heroes of the three Qin have not come—why is that?" Meng said, "You, sir, did not shrink from several thousand li, deeply entered bandit territory, yet Chang'an is within a foot and you do not cross the Ba waters—the common people have not seen your heart; that is why they do not come." leaving Huan Wen speechless, who then offered Wang Meng rich gifts and a staff post to lure him south, Meng returned to the mountain and consulted his teacher; the teacher said, "Can you and Huan Wen share one age! Here you can naturally be rich and noble—why go far!" so Wang Meng stayed,
48
便 西
When Fu Jian sought greatness, he sent Lü Polou to fetch Wang Meng; their first meeting felt like old friendship, and their talk of rise and fall matched like Liu Bei meeting Zhuge Liang, Fu Jian appointed him palace secretariat gentleman on taking the throne, then sent him to magistrate Pingyuan, a county swarming with Fangtou veterans and bandit magnates, where he enforced harsh justice, sorted good from evil, and crushed local bullies, until a flogged-to-death clerk triggered a lawsuit and his impeachment to imperial prison, Jian personally questioned him, saying, "The body of government takes moral transformation as first; you have not been long in office yet killings are numberless—how is it so cruel!" Meng said, "Your subject has heard that one governs a tranquil state with ritual and a chaotic state with law. Your Majesty, not deeming your subject untalented, assigned your subject to a harsh county; your subject carefully for a bright lord cuts away the fierce and slippery. I have killed one villain; those remaining still count in the myriads—if you hold that your subject cannot exhaust cruelty and violence and clear the tracks of the law, I dare not shrink from the cauldron and chopping block to answer for lone failure. As for punishment for cruel government, your subject truly dares not accept it." Jian said to the host of ministers, "Wang Jinglue truly is of the same class as Yiwu and Zichan." and pardoned him,
49
宿
He was promoted to left assistant of the Secretariat, inner prefect of Xianyang, and metropolitan governor of the capital region. then within a year to director of personnel, tutor to the crown prince, left vice-director, colonel of retainer, and imperial guard, five promotions in one year at age thirty-six made him the most powerful man at court and the target of envy, until Fu Jian banished Qiu Teng and humiliated Xi Bao for slandering him, after which no one dared criticize Wang Meng, Soon he added director of the secretariat and grand tutor, though Wang Meng repeatedly begged off, Fu Jian piled on minister of education and recorder of affairs, which Wang Meng refused for want of merit,
50
then led the conquest of Former Yan under iron discipline, so that banditry vanished the moment his army entered Ye, earning a marquisate, concubines, musicians, horses, and carriages, all of which he tried to return,
51
便 便
while garrisoning Ji he held discretionary personnel power over six provinces to staff the northeast, After several months he submitted a memorial saying, "Your subject earlier therefore heard court in the morning and was appointed by evening, not caring for hardship and peril, was only because the region's difficulty was not yet pacified and military affairs were urgent on authority, hoping to exhaust life in the army, willingly accept the service of driving and galloping, spread and display imperial awe, extend the effect of sinews and bones—therefore stooping to the task, wrongly occupying the place of the overloaded cart—one may call it reverently obeying the order in a time of rescue, awaiting great peace in this day. Now sagely virtue matches August Heaven; awesome spirit covers the eight outer regions; great transformation already shines; the six directions are clear and tranquil—I dare privately spread out cinnabar sincerity and beg to yield the road to worthies. Setting offices and dividing duties—each has its charge—how should one alone burden a foolish subject, thereby hastening overturn and defeat! The affairs of the eastern Xia are not what your subject, in his petty sphere, can peacefully order—I wish to shift appointment to kin and worthies to save your subject from toppling. If because your subject has slight merit like a hawk or hound you cannot yet bear to cast me away, I beg to await punishment in one commandery and exhaust strength and life. Xu region has just submitted; Huai and Ru defenses are heavy; the six provinces' dispositions and prefectural selections on convenience—I rashly request all be stopped. Supervisory duty cannot be left empty; I deeply hope the times will send down divine planning." Fu Jian refused, sent Liang Dan to Ye with the emperor's word, and Wang Meng stayed in office,
52
使
soon summoning him to court as chancellor, secretariat overseer, and colonel while keeping his old titles, and added grand military command over all armies, Wang Meng long declined the added command, Jian said, "You, sir, once coiled as a chilong in common cloth; We, dragon submerged, in the weak-crown years—just when the world's affairs were tangled and the age sharpened gentlemen, overturned that virtue. We marveled at you, sir, on brief sight, likened you to the Crouching Dragon; you, sir, also marveled at Us in one phrase, turning the lofty aim of 'Kao Pan'—is it not subtle tally and spiritual communion, a meeting of a thousand ages! Though Fu Yue entered a dream and Duke Jiang understood the omen—ancient and modern one moment—they are not different. Since you, sir, have assisted government, nearly two twelve-year cycles—within you have ordered the hundred handles, without you have swept away the mass of villains; all under Heaven tends to stability; constant norms begin to be ordered. We for the moment wish to take ease above and look to you, sir, to labor in heart below—the task of great rescue is none other than you, sir!" Fu Jian refused every demurral, and later pressed the minister of education title again, Meng again submitted a memorial saying, "Your subject has heard that the Qian image waxes and wanes—only the later follow it; Positions are titled by talent; if office does not match, it is empty. Duke Wu of Zheng aided Zhou and for generations carried song; Prince Shu misliked favor and government failed and he perished—these are then the bright mirror of success and failure, the blazing warning for ministers. Your subject privately thinks the tripod minister is lofty and weighty, treads the Grand Stairway's middle track—wonderfully it should exhaust the age's worthies to answer the splendid mandate. Wei Taizu made Wenhe duke and left laughter to later Suns; Qianqiu with one phrase became minister—the Xiongnu sneered at it. How is your subject mean and petty yet fit for this elevation! Not only will it fetch ridicule from neighbors afar—it truly will make captives despise Qin. In the past Dongye exhausted the team—Yan Hui knew the carriage would break. Your Majesty no longer measures your subject's talents and strength; your subject privately fears defeat and destruction will reach him. Moreover it would fault the statutes above—what face has your subject to dwell in it! Though Your Majesty favors your subject in private, what of all under Heaven! We beg you turn the sun and moon's mirror, pity your subject's later regret, so that above there is no slander of mistaken appointment and your subject receives the favor of covering shade." Fu Jian still refused, so Wang Meng accepted, and every civil and military decision passed through his hands,
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Wang Meng governed fairly: he dismissed those who held posts while doing nothing, raised up men who had been hidden or blocked, and made worthy talent prominent. Externally he strengthened arms and armor; internally he coordinated Confucian learning, encouraged farming and sericulture, and taught integrity and shame. No guilty man went unpunished, and no untalented man was appointed; all affairs flourished, and the hundred offices were set in order on time. bringing Qin toward prosperity and peace through his effort, Jian once at ease said to Meng, "You, sir, are unwearied day and night, toiling anxiously over the myriad handles—like King Wen obtaining the Grand Duke, We shall take ease and finish the years." Meng said, "We did not expect Your Majesty to know your subject's fault—how can your subject suffice to match the ancients!" Jian said, "As We observe it, the Grand Duke could not surpass you." He constantly ordered the heir apparent Hong, Duke of Changle Pi, and others, "In serving Lord Wang, serve as if serving Us." such was the weight Fu Jian placed on him,
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When Ma Si of Guangping sought leave to bury his mother in Hebei, Meng said to Si, "You may speed packing—by this evening We have already issued the tally dispatching you." and before Ma Si cleared the pass every county had the paperwork, a sample of how nothing stalled in his administration, He was rigidly fair and quick to judge character, yet he repaid every slight and favor, which some critics thought petty,
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When Wang Meng fell ill Fu Jian prayed at every state cult, and issued a sweeping amnesty short of capital crimes, Wang Meng's deathbed memorial thanked the throne and offered policy advice, moving Fu Jian to tears that shook the whole court, At the last Fu Jian visited his bedside to ask for a final testament, Meng said, "Jin, though remote and mean like Wu and Yue, is the one that inherits the true calendar. To be close to benevolence and good to neighbors is a state's treasure. After your subject's death, We beg you not to take Jin as your target. The Xianbei and Qiang captives are Our enemies and in the end will become men's troubles—you ought gradually to remove them to benefit the altars of soil and grain." then fell silent and died at fifty-one. Fu Jian mourned him bitterly, By the time of laying in the coffin he came three times, saying to the heir apparent Hong, "Does Heaven not wish Us to unify the six directions? Why snatch away Our Jinglue so swiftly!" posthumously adding palace attendant to his old titles, with imperial-grade coffin fittings, three thousand bolts of silk, and ten thousand shi of grain, and a herald supervising rites modeled on Han grand generals, canonizing him as Marquis Martial, while capital and countryside keened for three days.
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Fu Rong.
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姿 便
Fu Rong, courtesy Bohou, was Fu Jian's youngest brother, precocious and strikingly handsome, In Jian's father's era he was enfeoffed prince of Anle; Rong submitted a memorial firmly declining; Jian thought it deeply extraordinary and said, "For the moment complete my son's Mount Jishan reclusion." so the enfeoffment lapsed, Fu Sheng kept him at court from boyhood, already marked for high office, and his reputation grew until the realm looked to him, Fu Jian named him palace attendant then central-army general, brilliant at letters and metaphysics, the match of even Dao'an, with memory and recitation likened to Wang Can, and a Stupa rhapsody prized by the world, never omitting verse on heights or dirges at mourning—Zhu Tong and Zhao Zheng marveled at his speed, while in arms he rivaled a hundred soldiers, and in governance he ranked with Wang Meng, his legal insight so keen that Fu Jian relied on him utterly,
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宿 ' '
later making him colonel of the capital, When Dong Feng visited his in-laws and his wife was murdered overnight, her brother accused Dong Feng, who confessed under torture, Rong examined it and doubted, asking, "On your journey back and forth, were there any oddities or divinations or not?" Feng said, "When I was first about to set out, at night I dreamed I rode a horse south across water, returned and crossed north, again from north to south; the horse stopped in the water; though I whipped it it would not go. I bent and looked and saw two suns beneath the water; the horse's left was white and wet, the right black and dry. Awakening I was fearful in my heart and secretly thought it unlucky. On the night of return I again dreamed as at first; I asked a diviner, who said, 'Worry about prison; avoid three pillows and three washings.' When I arrived my wife prepared a washing; at night she gave Feng a pillow. Feng remembered the diviner's words and all did not follow them. The wife then washed herself, used the pillow, and slept." Rong said, "We know it now. In the Changes, Kan is water; the horse is Li; dreaming of riding a horse south across water, then turning north then south, is going from Kan toward Li. The third line changes together, changing and becoming Li. Li is the middle daughter; Kan is the middle son. Two suns are the image of two husbands. Kan is the clerk who enforces the law. The clerk questions her husband; the woman victim bleeds and dies. Kan has two yin and one yang; Li has two yang and one yin—they take over each other's positions. Li below Kan above is Already Fording—King Wen met it imprisoned at Youli; with ritual he lived, without ritual he died. The horse's left being wet—wet is water; left water right horse is the graph Feng. Two suns are the graph Chang. Did not Feng Chang kill her!" Thereupon they investigated, seized Chang, and questioned him; Chang fully confessed, saying, "Originally I plotted with his wife to kill Dong Feng, agreeing that fresh washing and pillow would be the sign—therefore I mistakenly struck the woman." In another case an old woman cried thief, but the captured man accused his rescuers, and at dusk Fu Rong received both parties, Rong saw and laughed, saying, "This is easy to know—let two men run together; whoever first exits Fengyang Gate is not the robber." When they had returned inside, Rong with stern countenance said to the one who came out last, "You are truly the robber—why falsely accuse others!" such was his knack for exposing hidden guilt, under him theft vanished and lost goods stayed put, until every doubtful case in the provinces came to Fu Rong, reading faces and facts with uncanny completeness, and even while holding the eastern front he advised every capital crisis by courier,
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sending thrice-daily couriers to his mother when he first took Ji, until Fu Jian limited him to one a month, his request to go home denied, After a long time, he was summoned and appointed palace attendant, overseer of the secretariat, area commander-in-chief of all military affairs within and without, General of Chariots and Cavalry, colonel director of retainers, grand tutor to the heir apparent, concurrently director of the imperial clan, and recorder of affairs with the Secretariat. though he refused the minister of education title, as a commander he was generous, beloved of troops, and always distinguished in the field,
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When Murong Chui and Yao Chang flattered Fu Jian with talk of conquering Wu and Feng-Shan rites, Fu Jian burned to march south, Rong each time remonstrated, saying, "To know sufficiency is not to be shamed; to know stopping is not to be endangered; exhausting arms to the utmost—none have not perished. Moreover our state is a Rong tribe; the correct calendar's succession will not fall to us. Though the lands east of the river hang by a thread, what Heaven aids in the end cannot be extinguished." Jian said, "Emperors' reign numbers—how can there be constancy? It is only whom virtue grants! The reason you, sir, are not as good as Us is exactly that you are sick with this failure to grasp the great flux of fortune. Could Liu Shan be denied as Han's remaining fortune—yet in the end he was merged by the central states. We are about to entrust you, sir, with all under Heaven's affairs—why do you bend Us on every matter, blocking and ruining the great plan! If you are still thus, how much more the multitude!" When Jian was about to invade south, Rong again urgently remonstrated, saying, "Your Majesty listens to the flattering words of Xianbei and Qiang captives and adopts the clever talk of good-family youths—your subject fears not only no success but that the great matter is already lost. Chui and Chang are both Our enemies; they long to hear the turmoil of wind and dust, hoping by it to give rein to their vicious virtue. The youths are all sons of rich houses who covet joining the army; they only speak sycophantic words to meet Your Majesty's mind—not worth adopting." Fu Jian ignored him, until Feishui and the Murong-Yao revolts deepened Fu Jian's regret,
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Fu Lang.
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Fu Lang, courtesy Yuanda, was Fu Jian's nephew, open-minded and aloof from vulgar ambition, Jian once looked on him and said, "He is Our family's thousand-li foal." then summoned to Qingzhou despite his reluctance, governing like a scholar, lost in books and abstruse talk until nightfall, hiking mountains unaware of age, and earning praise in office,
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Later, Jin sent Gao Su, administrator of Huaiyin, to campaign against Qing province. Lang sent envoys to Xie Xuan at Pengcheng to request surrender; Xuan memorialized on Lang’s behalf and permitted it, and an edict added the title of supernumerary sanqi gentleman. he cut a singular figure in Yangzhou, condescending to almost everyone, snubbing even the brilliant Wang Chen, The monk Shi Fatuo asked Lang, "Have you seen Wang the personnel director's brothers?" Lang said, "Who is the personnel director? Are they not the brothers with human faces and dog hearts, and dog faces and human hearts?" mocking ugly clever Wang Chen and handsome dull Wang Guobao, leaving Fatuo speechless, such insults typified his arrogance,
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when Xie An feasted him amid packed ministers and floor mats. Fu Lang turned every habit into a spectacle: he made boys kneel with mouths open to receive his spit, then spit again, leaving guests unable to rival his outrageousness, and claimed he could taste the provenance of salt, vinegar, and every cut of meat, when Sima Daozi laid a banquet of Jiangzuo's finest, When eating finished, he asked, "How does food in Guanzhong compare to this?" He answered, "All are good; only the salt flavor is slightly 'raw.'" and kitchen staff confirmed each detail, Someone killed a chicken to serve him; when it came forward, Lang said, "This chicken's roost was always half exposed." and inspection proved him right, with goose he could map every patch of dark and light meat, skeptics who marked cuts found him exact to a hair, so contemporaries hailed him as a connoisseur,
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until Wang Guobao's slander brought his execution, Wang Chen delayed his Jingzhou posting until Fu Lang was dead, Facing execution, his intent and color were as if normal; he composed a poem, saying, "From what cause do the four greats arise? Gathering and scattering have no end. Having passed through one life, again entering one death's principle. Darkening the mind, riding harmony and ease, one does not feel there is beginning or end. How is it that a husband of Mount Ji—suddenly ends at the eastern market! Leaving this hundred-year span, far matching Uncle Ji's son. Fate returns to Heaven; entrust transformation to the dark reckoner." His collected essays, the Master Fu, circulated in the Zhuangzi tradition.
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