Wang Jun, the leader of Jin, set sail and went down the river. After passing Three Mountains, the sailing master of his ship said the gale was too strong for him to go on. He wished to anchor till the storm had moderated.
But Wang Jun would not listen. Drawing his sword, he said, “I wish to capture Shidou, and will not hear of anchoring.”
So he compelled the sailing master to continue. On the way Zhang Xiang, one of the leaders of Wu, came to offer surrender.
“If you are in earnest, you will lead the way and help me,” said Wang Jun.
Zhang Xiang consented, returned to his own ship, and led the squadron. When he reached the walls of Shidou, he called to the defenders to open the gates and allow the Jin army to enter. The gates were opened.
When the Ruler of Wu heard that his enemies had actually entered the city, he wished to put an end to his life, but his officers prevented this.
Secretary Hu Zhong and Minister Xue Rong said, “Your Majesty, why not imitate the conduct of Liu Shan of Shu, now Duke of Anle?”
So Sun Hao no longer thought of death, but went to offer submission. He bound himself and took a coffin with him. His officers followed him. He was graciously received, and the Jin General Wang Jun himself loosened the bonds, and the coffin was burned. The vanquished Ruler was treated with the ceremony due to a prince.
A poet of the Tang Dynasty wrote a few lines on this surrender:
So Wu was subdued and ceased to exist as a state; its 4 regions, 43 counties, 313 districts, 5,230,000 families, 32,000 civil officers, 230,000 soldiers and military officers, 23,000,000 inhabitants, its stores of grain and over five thousand large ships, all fell booty to the victorious Jin Dynasty. In the women's quarters of the palace were found more than five thousand persons.
Proclamations were issued; treasuries and storehouses were sealed. Tao Jun's army soon melted away without striking a blow. Wang Jun was greatly elated at his success. Sima Zhou, Prince of Langye, and General Wang Rong also arrived and congratulated each other.
When Du Yu, the Commander-in-Chief, arrived, there were great feastings and rewards for the soldiers. The granaries were opened and doles of grain issued to the people, so that they also were glad of peace.
One city only stood out; Jianping, under Governor Wu Yan. However, he too surrendered when he heard the capital had fallen.
The tidings of all these successes reached Luoyang just at the celebration of the birthday of the Ruler of Jin, and the rejoicings and congratulations were redoubled. At one of the banquets the Ruler of Jin did honor to the memory of the late Yang Hu.
Raising his wine cup, and in a voice broken by emotion, he said, “Today's success is the merit of the Imperial Guardian. I regret that he is not here to share our rejoicings.”
Sun Xiu, General of the Flying Cavalry in Wu, went away from the court and wailed, facing the south.
“Alas, ye blue heavens! What manner of man is this Sun Hao to yield thus the heritage of his family, won by the sword of General Sun Jian the Martially Glorious in the brave days that are past?”
Meantime the victors marched homeward, and Sun Hao went to Luoyang to present himself at court; and in his capacity of minister, he prostrated himself at the feet of the Emperor of the Jin Dynasty in the Hall of Audience. He was allowed a seat.
“I set that seat for you long since,” said the Ruler of Jin.
“Thy servant also set a seat for Your Majesty in the south,” retorted Sun Hao.
The Ruler of Jin laughed loudly.
Then Jia Chong turned to Sun Hao and said, “I hear, Sir, that when you were in the south, they gouged out people's eyes and flayed their faces; what crimes were so punished?”
“Murders of princes and malicious speech and disloyal conduct were so punished.”
Jia Chong was silenced, for he was ashamed.
Sun Hao was created Lord of Guiming. His sons and grandsons received minor ranks and other grades were conferred upon his ministers who had followed him in his surrender. The sons and grandsons of the late Prime Minister of Wu, Zhang Ti, who had perished in battle, were given ranks. The victorious leader, Wang Jun, was rewarded with the title General Who Upholds the State. And many other ranks were conferred to the
Jin officers.
