Ce told them to drive out the priests belonging to the place and burn it。 They did so； and when the flames rose their highest； Sun Ce saw the dead Taoist Yu Ji standing in the midst of the fire。
Sun Ce returned home still in a bad humor； which increased when he saw the form of Yu Ji standing at his gate。 He would not enter but mustered his army and went into camp outside the city walls。 And there he summoned his officers to meet him and talk over joining Yuan Shao in an attack on Cao Cao。
They assembled； but they remonstrated with him and begged him to consider his precious health。 That night he slept in the camp and again saw Yu Ji； this time with his hair hanging loose。 Sun Ce raged at the vision without cessation。
Next day his mother called him into the city and he went。 She was shocked at the change in his appearance： He looked so utterly miserable。 Her tears fell。
〃My son；〃 said Lady Wu； 〃how wasted you are！〃
He had a mirror brought and looked at himself。 He was indeed so gaunt and thin that he was almost frightened and exclaimed； 〃How do I e to look so haggard？〃
While he spoke； Yu Ji appeared in the mirror。 He struck it and shrieked。 Then the half healed wounds reopened and he fainted。
He was raised and borne within。 When he recovered consciousness； he said； 〃This is the end。 I shall die。〃
He sent for Zhang Zhao and his other chief officers and his brother； Sun Quan； and they gathered in his chamber。
＇e＇ Wu and Yue were two powerful states in the south during the Spring and Autumn period。 The South Land was frequently called Wu or East Wu； which implied to include the territories of Yue。 。。。。。
He gave them his dying charge； saying； 〃In the disordered state of the empire； the domains of Wu and Yue*； with its strong defense of the three rivers and resourceful lands； has a brilliant future。 You； Zhang Zhao； must assist my brother。〃
So saying Sun Ce handed his seal to Sun Quan； saying； 〃For manipulating the might of Wu so as to make it the deciding force among the factions and then obtaining the whole empire； you are not so suited as I。 But in encouraging the wise and confiding in the able and getting the best out of everyone for the preservation of this land； I should not succeed as you will。 Remember with what toil and labor your father and I have won what we possess； and take good care thereof。〃
Sun Quan wept as he knelt to receive the seal； and the dying Sun Ce turned to his mother； saying； 〃Mother； the days allotted of Heaven have run out； and I can no longer serve my tender mother。 I have given over the seal to my brother and trust that you will advise him early and late； and see that he lives worthy of his predecessors。〃
〃Alas！ Your brother is full young for such a task；〃 said his mother； weeping。 〃I know not what may happen。〃
〃He is far abler than I and fully equal to the task of ruling。 Should he have doubts upon internal affairs； he must turn to Zhang Zhao； for outer matters he must consult Zhou Yu。 It is a pity Zhou Yu is absent so that I cannot give him my charge face to face。〃
To his brothers Sun Ce said； 〃When I am gone； you must help your brother。 Should any discord arise in the family； let the others punish the wrongdoer and let not his ashes mingle with those of his ancestors in the family vaults。〃
The young men wept at these words。
＇e＇ Sun Ce and Zhou Yu wedded two sisters； who were daughters of Duke Qiao in the South Land。
Then he called for his wife； Lady Qiao； and said； 〃Unhappily we have to part while still in the full vigor of life。 You must care for my mother。 Your sister will e to see you presently； and you can ask her to tell her husband； Zhou Yu*； to help my brother in all things and make my brother keep to the way I have taught him to walk in。〃
Then Sun Ce closed his eyes and soon after passed away。 He was only twenty…six。
People called him first of the chieftains；
The east had felt his might；
He watched like a tiger crouching。
Struck as a hawk in flight。
There was peace in the lands he ruled。
His fame ran with the wind。
But he died and left to another。
The great scheme in his mind。
As his brother breathed his last； Sun Quan sank by the bed and wept。
〃This is not the time to mourn；〃 said Zhang Zhao。 〃First see to the funeral ceremonies and that the government is safe。〃
So the new ruler dried his tears。 The superintendence of the funeral was confided to Sun Jing； and then Zhang Zhao led his young master to the hall to receive the felicitations of his officers。
Sun Quan was endowed with a square jaw and a large mouth； he had green eyes and a purple beard。
Formerly； when Minister Liu Wan had gone to Wu to visit the Sun family； he said of the family of brothers； 〃I have looked well at them all； and they are all clever and perspicacious； but none of them have the very ultimate degree of good fortune。 Only the second； Sun Quan； has the look of a deep thinker。 His face is remarkable； and his build unusual； and he has the look of one who will e to great honor。〃
When Sun Quan succeeded to his brother and his brother's might； there was still some reorganization to be done。 Soon Zhou Yu had arrived at Wujun。
The young ruler received him very graciously and said； 〃I need have no anxiety now that you have e。〃
Zhou Yu had been sent to hold Baqiu。 When he heard that his chief had been wounded； he thought it well to return to see how he was。 But Sun Ce had died before Zhou Yu could arrive。 He hurried to be present at the funeral。
When Zhou Yu went to wail at the coffin of his late chief； Lady Wu； the dead man's mother； came out to deliver her son's last injunctions。
When she had told him the last charge； Zhou Yu bowed to the earth； saying； 〃I shall exert the puny powers I have in your service as long as I live。〃
Shortly after Sun Quan came in； and； after receiving Zhou Yu's obeisance； said； 〃I trust you will not forget my brother's charge to you。〃
Zhou Yu bowed； saying； 〃I would willingly suffer any form of death for you。〃
〃How best can I maintain this great charge which I have inherited from my father and brother？〃
〃He who wins people； prospers； he who loses them； fails。 Your present plan should be to seek people of high aims and farseeing views； and you can establish yourself firmly。〃
〃My brother bade me consult Zhang Zhao for internal administration； and yourself on external matters；〃 said Sun Quan。
〃Zhang Zhao is wise and understanding and equal to such a task。 I am devoid of talent and fear to take such responsibility； but I venture to remend to you as a helper one Lu Su； a man of Linhuai。 This man's bosom hides strategy； and his breast conceals tactics。 He lost his father in early life and has been a perfectly filial son to his mother。 His family is rich and renowned for charity to the needy。 When I was stationed at Juchao； I led some hundreds of soldiers across Linhuai。 We were short of grain。 Hearing that the Lu family had two granaries there； each holding three thousand carts； I went to ask for help。 Lu Su pointed to one granary and said； 'Take that as a gift。' Such was his generosity！
〃He has always been fond of fencing and horse archery。 He was living in Que。 His grandmother died while he was there； and he went to bury her in Dongcheng； and then his friend； Liu Ziyang； wished to engage him to go to Chaohu and join Zheng Bao。 However； he hesitated about that and has not gone yet。 You should invite him without loss of time。〃
Sun Quan at once sent Zhou Yu to engage the services of this man； and Zhou Yu set out。 When the obeisance was over； Zhou Yu laid before Lu Su the inducements that his own master held out。
Lu Su replied； 〃I have been engaged by Liu Ziyang to go to Chaohu； and I am just starting thither。〃
＇e＇ Ma Yuan （BC 14…AD 49） a general who first served Wang Mang； then join Liu Xiu in restoring Han Dynasty。 In his life of career； Ma Yuan contributed much to Liu Xiu's success by putting down rebellions throughout the empire and abroad。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Liu Xiu （or Guang Wu） （BC 5…AD 57） （reigned AD 25…57） restored Han after Wang Mang's usurpation。 The dynasty Liu Xiu restored is also known as Eastern Han （capital in Luoyang） or Latter Han。 。。。。。
Said Zhou Yu； 〃Of old Ma Yuan* said to Liu Xiu*； 'This is an age when not only do princes select their ministers； but ministers must also choose their princes。' Now our General Sun Quan calls to him the wise and treats his officers well。 Thus he engages the help of the wonderful and gets the services of the extraordinary in a way that few others do。 But if you are not engaged elsewhere； e with me to the South Land as the best thing to do。〃
Lu Su returned with Zhou Yu and saw Sun Quan； who treated him with the greatest deference and with him discussed affairs very fully。 The conference proved so interesting that it went on all day and neither felt fatigue。
One day at the close of the usual reception； Sun Quan kept Lu Su to dine with him。 They sat up late and by and by slept on the same couch as would the closest of friends。
＇e＇ Duke Wen of Jin； （reigned 636…628 BC） ruler of the western state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period。 By serving the Zhou Dynasty； he and his successors made Jin a dominant state for nearly 200 years。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Duke Huan of Qi （reigned BC 685…643）； in the name of serving the Zhou emperor； became the leader of a league of small states in northeast China during the Spring and Autumn period。 His prime minister was the famed Guan Zhong。 。。。。。
In the dead of night Sun Quan said to his bedfellow； 〃The dynasty is failing； and everything is at sixes and sevens。 I have received a great charge from my father and brother； and I am thinking of imitating the actions of the celebrated Protectors of Reign； Wen* and Huan*； and being the leader of the feudal lords； and I pray you instruct me。〃
Lu Su replied； 〃Of old the Founder of Han； the Supreme Ancestor； wished to honor and serve Emperor Yi of Qin； but could not on account of Xiang Yu's evildoings。 Now Cao Cao can be pared with Xiang Yu： How can you be the protector of the Emperor？ My humble opinion is that the Hans have fallen beyond hope of recovery and Cao Cao cannot be destroyed； and that the only key to your big schemes is to secure your present position in order to keep the master hand and control the binations among the others。 Now take advan