and bloodshed； which endured till Jia Chong arrived and restored confidence and order。
＇e＇ Matt； a reader： 〃Shu's Demise………I Am Pissed： I found it disheartening that the Shu Kingdom was overturned by Deng Ai。 In all； all the three kingdoms were united by the Jins。 Man； Shu Kingdom were the most righteous； honorable kingdom which actually tried to upheld the Han Dynasty。 In the end； Cao Cao's decendants and Sima Yi's heirs managed to destroy Shu and Wu。 This is not right！！ The Emperor was never avenged； and the kingdom which was actually trying to restore the Hans were destroyed。 If they were so righteous； why were they defeated by the rebel！！ Man； where there is a great warrior like Zhou Yu； there is Zhuge Liang that defeated him。 Where there is great Prime Minister Zhuge Liang； there is great strategist Sima Yi that out…witted him。 Where there is Jiang Wei； there is Deng Ai。 Rebels remains victor and the righteous are defeated。〃 。。。。。
＇e＇ Sephiroth； a reader： 〃I tend to agree with you。 The ones who actually tried to restore the Hans were defeated and the rebels remains victorous。 This sucks but this is based on facts。 So； can't we argue with it any more。 What does it tell ya； man？ The good guys don't always win。。。in fact； in life； the bad guys often have a winning hand。 For example； look at ＇modern politics and how bullies have their way。＇ So； relax。。。life is like that。。。〃 。。。。。
＇e＇ Justin； a reader： 〃Yea； the ending is very sad； but you got to rememember that this is true histroy； so they can't alter the storyline of the story。 If you follow the story carefully； some scenes foreshadow the ending。 For example； Ma Su's disobedience is one of them。 Zhuge Liang mented after the defeat that there would be no more golden opportunity to capture Changan。 Another scene is when Zhuge Liang ingeniously lured Sima Yi into a small valley to burn him。 Sima Yi would have perished but luckily he was saved by a sudden rainstorm。 Zhuge Liang knew at that moment that Heaven had destined Sima Yi to reunite the land； not Shu…Han。 To me； Shu had the most talents but it was pre…destined to lose to Jins。 Others can be blamed for the downfall of Shu。 Shu kingdom was really small pared to the vast kingdom of Wei。 Of all the people I hate the most； it would be Liu Chan。 His lack of knowledge and his apathy for the kingdom was one of the causes of the downfall。 Beside this； If some generals would listen and heed Zhuge Liang's advice； major strategic locations wouldn't be lost。 This is another factor that caused the demise。 It is sad for me to read the ending of Zhuge Liang' life。 The man worked his butt off for his land； but Heaven had to betray him。 This can be seen clearly in the scene when he invokes the stars。〃 。。。。。
＇e＇ # 44； a reader： 〃Zhuge Liang was never effectively outmanuvered by Sima Yi。 If he had been allowed to live ten more years； he might have been able to make it。 But good doesn't always win over evil in the real world。 And virtue is rarely a guarantee of anything but being virtuous。 The world should follow good and honorable humans； but more often they follow power out of fear or opulence out of desire。 At least Shu was there to make sure Cao Cao never saw a plete empire in his lifetime。 The most cathartic part； to me at least； was that the Sima family had their empire taken away for the most part by ＇northern＇ tribespeople； and where did they run to to hide？ Shu。〃 。。。。。
＇e＇ Sai； a reader： 〃I also sympathized with the Han dynasty。 But like the other Latter Han empeperors。。。 Liu Chan was just too typical。 They were weak。。。 and they sold out to the enunches。 I'm not familiar enough with ancient Chinese culture to understand whats so great about these enunches。 They never seemed very cool to me just from reading the novel。 Wei just knew how to play the game better than Shu。 After Guan Yu and Zhang Fei went。。。 I could tell Shu was in for it。。。 I knew Liu Bei didn't have much longer to live。 After Zhunge Liang went。。。 I knew Shu had died with him。 But no matter who wins or loses。。。 only the heroes live on forever。〃 。。。。。
＇e＇ Khang； the coordinator： 〃Eunuchs are your servants； and they are closer to you than any other officials。 In a court where officials are greedy and ambitious； you can always rely on the eunuchs for their loyalty。 But some eunuchs are foolish and corrupt； and relying on them would ruin your kingdom。 I guess a kingdom should rely on able officials………mandarins or eunuchs………and at the same time must be able to check their power。 Zhuge Liang； as an official； never gives us anxiety； because he checks himself。 The First Emperor of Qin； Cao Cao of Wei； and many other men built huge tombs for themselves； where they hid treasures for their next lives。 Zhuge Liang missioned a simple grave among wild hills； where he could continue guarding Shu。〃
Jia Chong set Wei Guan over the city of Chengdu and sent the captive Latter Ruler to Luoyang。 A few officers………Fan Jian； Zhang Shao； Qiao Zhou； and Xi Zheng………acpanied the deposed emperor on this degrading journey。 Liao Hua and Dong Jue made illness an excuse not to go。 They died of grief soon after。*
At this time the year…style of Wei was changed from Wonderful Beginning； the fifth year； to Great Glory； the first year （AD 264）。 In the third month of this year； since nothing could be done to assist Shu to recover its independence； the troops of Wu under Ding Feng were withdrawn and returned to their own land。
Now Secretary Hua Jiao sent up a memorial to Sun Xiu； the Ruler of Wu； saying； 〃Wu and Shu were as close as are one's lips to one's teeth； and when the lips are gone the teeth are cold。 Without doubt Sima Zhao will now turn his thoughts to attacking us； and Your Majesty must realize the danger and prepare to meet it。〃
Sun Xiu knew that he spoke truly； so he set Lu Kang； son of the late leader Lu Xun； over the army of Jingzhou and the river ports with the title General Who Guards the East； Sun Yin was sent to Nanxu； and Ding Feng was ordered to set up several hundred garrisons along the river banks。
In Shu when Huo Yi； Governor of Jianning； heard that Chengdu had been taken； he dressed himself in white and wailed during three days； facing west toward the capital。
〃Now that the capital has fallen and the Ruler of Shu is a captive； it would be well to surrender；〃 said his officers。
Huo Yi replied； 〃There is a hindrance。 I know not how fares our lord； whether he is in fort or in misery。 If his captors treat him generously； then will I yield。 But perhaps they will put him to shame； and when the prince is shamed； the minister dies。〃
So certain persons were sent to Luoyang to find out how fared the Latter Ruler。
Soon after the Latter Ruler reached the capital of Wei； Sima Zhao returned。
Seeing the Latter Ruler at court； Sima Zhao upbraided him； saying； 〃You deserved death for your vicious courses………corrupt morality； unchecked self…indulgence； contempt of good people； and misgovernment………； which had brought misfortune upon yourself！〃
Hearing this； the face of the Latter Ruler turned to the color of clay with fear； and he was speechless。
But the courtiers said； 〃He has lost his kingdom； he has surrendered without a struggle； and he now deserves pardon。〃
Thus the Latter Ruler suffered no injury； but was created Duke of Anle。 Moreover； he was assigned a residence and a revenue； and he received presents of silk； and servants were sent to wait upon him； males and females in total one hundred。 His son Liu Dao and the officers of Shu………Fan Jian； Qiao Zhou； Xi Zheng； and others………were given ranks of nobility。 The Latter Ruler expressed his thanks and left。
Huang Hao； whose evil influence had brought the kingdom to nought； and who had oppressed the people； was put to death with ignominy in the public place。
When Huo Yi heard all these things； he came with his officers and yielded submission。
Next day the Latter Ruler went to the residence of Sima Zhao to thank him for his bounty； and a banquet was prepared。 At the banquet they performed the music of Wei； with the dances； and the hearts of the officers of Shu were sad。 Only the Latter Ruler appeared merry。
Half way through the feast； Sima Zhao said to Jia Chong； 〃The man lacks feeling。 That is what has ruined him。 Even if Zhuge Liang had lived； he could not have maintained such a man。 It is no wonder that Jiang Wei failed。〃
Turning to his guest； Sima Zhao said； 〃Do you never think of Shu？〃
〃With such music as this； I forget Shu；〃 replied the Latter Ruler。
Presently the Latter Ruler rose and left the table to change dress。
Xi Zheng went over to him and said； 〃Why did Your Majesty not say you missed Shu？ If Your Majesty are questioned again； weep and say that in Shu are the tombs of your forefathers and no day passes that Your Majesty do not grieve to be so far away。 The Duke of Jin may let Your Majesty return。〃
The Latter Ruler promised he would。
When the wine had gone round several more times； Sima Zhao put the same question a second time： 〃Do you never think of Shu？〃
The Latter Ruler replied as he had been told。 He also tried to weep； but failed to shed a tear。 So he shut his eyes。
〃Is not that just what Xi Zheng told you to say？〃 asked Sima Zhao。
〃It is just as you say；〃 was the reply。
They all laughed。 But really Sima Zhao was pleased with the frank answer and felt that nothing was to be feared from him。
Laughter loving； pleasure pursuing；
Rippling smiles over a merry face；
Never a thought of his former glory
In his callous heart finds place。
Childish joy in a change of dwelling；
That he feels and that alone；
Manifest now that he was never
Worthy to sit on his father's throne。
The courtiers thought that so grand an exploit as the conquest of the River Lands was worthy of high honor； so they memorialized the Ruler of Wei； Cao Huang； to confer the rank Prince of Jin on Sima Zhao。 At that time； Cao Huang ruled in name only； for he had no authority。 The whole land was under Sima Zhao； whose will the Emperor himself dared not cross。 And so； in due course； the Duke of Jin became Prince of Jin。
After being made Prince of Jin； Sima Zhao posthumously created his father； Sima Yi； the Original Prince and his late elder brother； Sima Shi； the Wonderful Prince。
The wife of Sima Zhao was the daughter of Wang Su。 She bore to him two sons； the elder of whom was named Sima Yan。 Sima Yan was huge of frame； his flowing hair reached to the ground when he stood up； and both hands hung down below his knees。 He was clever； brave； and skilled in the use of arms。
The second son； Sima You； was mild of disposition； a filial son and a dutiful brother。 His father loved him dearly。 As Sima Shi had died without leaving sons； this youth； Sima You； was regarded as his son； to continue that line of the family。
Sima Zhao used to say： 〃The empire was really my brother's。〃
Being a prince； it was necessary for Sima Zhao to choose his heir； and he wished to name his younger son Sima You。 But Shan Tao remonstrated。
〃It is improper and infelicitous to prefer the younger；〃 said Shan Tao。
And Jia Chong； He Zeng； and Pei Xiu followed in the same strain。
〃The elder is clever； able in war； one of the most talented people in the state and popular。 With such natural advantages he has a great destiny： He was not born to serve。〃
Sima Zhao hesitated； for he was s