chinese story - 10

　Wang Jun, Imperial Protector of Yizhou, sent in a memorial advising an attack upon Wu.
He said：
　　“Sun Hao is steeped in vice and should be attacked at once. Should he die and be
succeeded by a good ruler, we might meet with serious opposition. the ships I built seven
years ago lie idle and rotting： We can use them. I am seventy years of age and must soon
die. If any one of these three events happen——the death of Sun Hao, the destruction of
these ships, or my death——then success will be difficult to ensure. I pray Your Majesty
not to miss the tide.”
　　At the next assembly of officers Sima Yan said to them, “I have decided to act. I have
received similar advice from Yang Hu and Wang Jun.”
　　At this arose Minister Wang Hun and said, “I hear Sun Hao intends to march north to the
Middle Land and has his army ready. Report says it is formidable and would be hard to
defeat. I counsel to await another year till that army has lost its first vigor.”
　　A command to cease warlike preparations was the result of this counsel. The Ruler of Jin
betook himself to his private chamber where he engaged in a game of chess with Secretary
Zhang Hua as opponent. While at the game, another memorial arrived. It was from Du Yu. It
read：
　　“Formerly Yang Hu explained his plans confidentially to Your Majesty, but did not lay
them before the court. The result has been much debate and conflict of opinion. In every
project there are pros and cons, but in this the arguments are mostly in favor. The worst
that can happen is failure. Since last autumn the proposed attack has become generally
known, and, if we stop now, Sun Hao will be frightened and remove the capital to Wuchang,
repair his fortifications in the South Land, and move his threatened people out of danger.
Then the southern capital cannot be assaulted, nor is there anything left in the countryside
to rob. Hence next year's attack will also fail.”
　　Just as the Ruler of Jin finished reading, Zhang Hua pushed aside the board, rose and
drew his hands into his sleeves, saying, “Your Majesty's skill in war is almost divine,
your state is prosperous, and the army strong. The Ruler of Wu is a tyrant, his people are
miserable, and his country mean. Now you can easily conquer him, and I pray that there be no
further hesitation！”