Clan nephew ∙ Lu Yin ∙ AD 245

'At that time, Quan Ji, Yang Zhu and others fawned over the Prince of Lu, Sun Ba, and were in a clash for power with [then Crown Prince] Sun He, slandering him. Lu Yin was implicated and thus imprisoned. Despite being tortured to the utmost, he said nothing against the Crown Prince. Records of Wu states: The Crown Prince was afraid that he would be disposed of, while the Prince of Lu coveted a promotion in status. At that time, Sun Quan met with Yang Zhu and, having dismissed the attendants, discussed Sun Ba's talents with him. Yang Zhu described in great detail how Sun Ba had a heroic bearing both literarily and militarily, and should be made Crown Prince; thus Sun Quan agreed to do so. An attendant had been lying underneath the bed, had heard everything and informed the Crown Prince. At that time, Lu Yin was about to depart for Wuchang and went to take leave of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince declined to see him, but instead disguised himself in plain clothes and went to meet Lu Yin in the latter's carriage, where he divulged the situation to Lu Yin and expressed his wish that Lu Xun would submit a memorial [regarding the issue]. Subsequently, Lu Xun submitted a memorial. Sun Quan suspected that Yang Zhu had leaked information, but Yang Zhu denied doing so. Sun Quan ordered Yang Zhu to find the source of the leak; Yang Zhu was aware that only Lu Yin had travelled westwards recently, and concluded that he must have been the person responsible. He dispatched a messenger to ask Lu Xun how he had found out about the matter; Lu Xun answered that Lu Yin had disclosed it to him. Lu Yin was summoned to be interrogated, but covered for the Crown Prince by replying, 'It was Yang Zhu who told me about it.' Thus Yang Zhu too was imprisoned. Unable to withstand prison torture, Yang Zhu pleaded guilty. Initially, Sun Quan had suspected that it was Yang Zhu who had divulged the affair, and found Yang Zhu's confession expected, thus he had Yang Zhu executed.'

—Lu Yin's biography in Records of the Three Kingdoms

'Elder Brother!' I exclaim upon seeing the prison warden escorting my brother Lu Kai to visit me. 'What are you doing here?'

Elder Brother grasps my hands through the bars. 'Uncle said no matter what, I must get you out. He said enough people have suffered unjustly: Wu Can, Gu Tan, Gu Cheng, Zhang Xiu, Yao Xin—he won't let you be next.'

'How is Uncle?' I enquire anxiously.

'Not well. Uncle fell heavily ill after you were arrested. Youjie says...' Elder Brother breaks off, then resumes, 'I heard that Yang Zhu submitted twenty allegations against Uncle. His Majesty was furious, and dispatched a messenger to interrogate Uncle.'

'Yang Zhu, that cur! Grand Tutor Wu was executed because of his slander—now he's targeting Uncle?' I rage. Beating my fists against the grating, I rue, 'I brought this upon Uncle.'

'The Crown Prince hopes you will memorialise His Majesty on his behalf,' I conclude.

Uncle contemplates lengthily, finally replying, 'I can write this petition. I'm just afraid you'll be implicated.'

'The Crown Prince has shown me great favour; I am obliged to repay him. Uncle, don't worry about me when writing this petition,' I respond.

Several days later, visiting Uncle to bid him farewell before departing for Jianye, the housekeeper informs me, 'The Prime Minister is speaking with a messenger from Yang Zhu. Please wait outside his study.'

The messenger's voice knells through the wooden doors. 'Master Yang wishes to know who informed you about this matter.'

After a protracted pause, I hear the subdued reply: 'It was Lu Yin.' Through the closed doors, I can feel Uncle's helplessness and see the tears in his eyes. I run back to the guesthouse to wait patiently for my capture, because I dare not let Uncle see me outside the door.

Elder Brother shakes his head. 'Uncle knew you would say that. He asked me to tell you that this was his own choice.'

'Precisely because he says that, it is all the more my fault,' I counter. 'Elder Brother, do you remember the story Father told us about the double-pupilled bird[1]?'

Elder Brother nods. 'In the time of Emperor Yao[2], there was a double-pupilled bird. Resembling a chicken[3], it could chase away tigers, wolves and other beasts, and repel demons and disasters. It ate but little jade essence. Being concerned for the people, it would visit several times a year.'

'But it was a divine bird, not meant to survive in the mortal realm. As mankind throve, it came less frequently, then no more,' I continue. 'I feel that Uncle is like a double-pupilled bird, except one that, having seen the people's sufferings, decided never to leave thereafter.'

Later, under the interrogator's torture, I break my usual silence.

'Yang Zhu told me!' I spit.

Uncle would not endorse my lie, but I have not his forbearance. If Yang Zhu is punished, that is retribution!

Fainting, I recall Elder Brother's parting words: 'Two thousand years later, people still remember the double-pupilled bird...'

Footnotes:

[1] 重明鸟。

[2] Yao (ca. 2356–2255 BC) was one of the mythological Five Emperors in the period preceding the Xia dynasty.

[3] Ancient Chinese regarded the chicken highly, deeming it a 'bird of five virtues'. In the Han Outer Commentary to the Book of Odes 《韩诗外传》, it is said that the comb on its head is its civil virtue; the spurs on its legs, which aid it in fighting, are its military virtue; its daring to fight against the enemies it faces is its virtue of courage; inviting others to share food with it is its virtue of benevolence; never failing to herald break of day is its virtue of trustworthiness.