General who Secures the East ∙ Sun Huan ∙ AD 222

When—if, I tell myself, if—Wu falls, I shall survive long enough to locate that damned Lu Xun and hack him to pieces before dying in service of this kingdom, I swear to myself daily. For half a year, my troops have been under siege at Yidao, with limited provender. In desperation, I sent my best commander, Dai Yan, to request for reinforcements from Lu Xun. Imagine my consternation when Dai Yan returned, wailing that the scoundrel had refused to send help, claiming, 'The General who Secures the East is respected by his soldiers, the city's defences are strong and there are sufficient provisions. There is no need to worry. Once my plan is put into action, the General will be able to break out on his own even without reinforcements.' I heard further that Lu Xun had ordered his generals to defend the passes but not attack the enemy. No wonder he refused to send reinforcements, the incompetent coward!

The city's defences are strong and there are sufficient provisions? I think bitterly as I stand at the city wall observing the enemy troops surrounding the city. Fine, Lu Xun, since you say so, I shall defend the city and ensure that its residents do not starve, until the day Wu falls. When you surrender to Liu Bei, I shall hold my head high and know that I have not shamed the soldiers of Yidao and have done right by its residents.

Engrossed in the bitter thoughts that have kept me going for the past six months, it is not until some time has passed that I notice that the scene before my eyes is rapidly changing—the enemy troops are retreating! I call my commanders to give chase, and on the road we are joined by other troops of Wu, carrying the splendid news: the Commander-in-Chief defeated Liu Bei with an enormous blaze of fire in a single night! Liu Bei is fleeing, like a coward, to Baidi!

'General Sun did an excellent job defending Yidao and ensuring nobody went hungry,' one of my commanders commends me as the conversation turns to the situation at Yidao. Around him, my commanders cheer in agreement.

'General Sun is well respected by his soldiers, the city's defences are strong and there are sufficient provisions.' I recall the words of the Commander-in-Chief. How correct he was in his estimation of the situation in the city! To hear this praise from my commanders now—I do not deserve it, not when what pushed me to achieve it was the resentment I bore against the Commander-in-Chief. What a small-minded man I have been! The Commander-in-Chief believed in me more than I believed in myself!

And I know that the first thing I shall do when I meet the Commander-in-Chief is kneel before him and seek forgiveness for the malevolent thoughts I have held against him for the past half year. Oh, I would chase Liu Bei to the ends of the world for such a Commander-in-Chief!