Yang Hu replied； 〃Sun Hao is a very cruel ruler and could be conquered without fighting。 If he were to die and a wise successor sat upon his throne； Your Majesty would never be able to gain possession of Wu。〃
The Ruler of Jin realized the truth； and he said； 〃Suppose your army attacked now。 What then？〃
〃I am now too old and too ill for the task；〃 replied Yang Hu。 〃Some other bold and capable leader must be found。〃
Yang Hu left the court and retired to his home。 Toward the end of the year he was nigh unto death； and the Ruler of Jin went to visit him。 The sight of his master at his bedside brought tears to the eyes of the faithful old leader。
〃If I died a myriad times； I could never requite Your Majesty；〃 said Yang Hu。
Sima Yan also wept； saying； 〃My great grief is that I could not take advantage of your abilities to attack Wu。 Who now is there to carry out your design？〃
Hesitatingly the sick man replied； 〃I am dying and must be wholly sincere。 General Du Yu is equal to the task； and is the one man to attack Wu。〃
Sima Yan said； 〃How beautiful it is to bring good people into prominence！ But why did you write a memorial remending certain people and then burn the draft so that no one knew？〃
The dying man answered； 〃I bowed before the officials in open court； but I did not beseech the kindness of the private attendants。〃
So Yang Hu died； and Sima Yan wailed for him and then returned to his palace。 He conferred on the dead leader the posthumous rank of Imperial Guardian and Lord of Juping。 The traders closed their shops out of respect to his memory； and all the frontier camps were filled with wailing。 The people of Xiangyang； recalling that he loved to wander on the Xian Hills； built there a temple to him and set up a stone and sacrificed regularly at the four seasons。 The passers…by were moved to tears when they read Yang Hu's name on the tablet； so that it came to be called 〃The Stone of Tears〃。
I saw the fragments of a shattered stone
One spring time on the hillside； when； alone；
I walked to greet the sun。 The pines distilled
Big drops of dew unceasing； sadness filled
My heart。 I knew this was the Stone of Tears；
The stone of memory of long…past years。
On the strength of Yang Hu's remendation； Du Yu was made mander of Jingzhou； and the title of General Who Guards the South was conferred upon him。 He was a man of great experience； untiring in study and devoted to the Zuo Volume； the book of mentaries posed by Zuo Qiuming upon the Spring and Autumn Annals。 In hours of leisure； a copy of Zuo Volume was never out of his hand； and when he went abroad； an attendant rode in front with the beloved book。 He was said to be 〃Zuo mad〃。
Du Yu went to Xiangyang and began by being kind to the people and caring for his soldiers。 By this time Wu had lost by death both Ding Feng and Lu Kang。
The conduct of the Ruler of Wu waxed worse and worse。 He used to give great banquets whereat intoxication was universal。 He appointed Rectors of Feasts to observe all the faults mitted by guests； and after these banquets all offenders were punished； some by flaying the face； others by gouging out the eyes。 Everyone went in terror of these Rectors。
Wang Jun； Imperial Protector of Yizhou； sent in a memorial advising an attack upon Wu。 He said：
〃Sun Hao is steeped in vice and should be attacked at once。 Should he die and be succeeded by a good ruler； we might meet with serious opposition。 The ships I built seven years ago lie idle and rotting： We can use them。 I am seventy years of age and must soon die。 If any one of these three events happen………the death of Sun Hao； the destruction of these ships； or my death………then success will be difficult to ensure。 I pray Your Majesty not to miss the tide。〃
At the next assembly of officers Sima Yan said to them； 〃I have decided to act。 I have received similar advice from Yang Hu and Wang Jun。〃
At this arose Minister Wang Hun and said； 〃I hear Sun Hao intends to march north to the Middle Land and has his army ready。 Report says it is formidable and would be hard to defeat。 I counsel to await another year till that army has lost its first vigor。〃
A mand to cease warlike preparations was the result of this counsel。 The Ruler of Jin betook himself to his private chamber where he engaged in a game of chess with Secretary Zhang Hua as opponent。 While at the game； another memorial arrived。 It was from Du Yu。 It read：
〃Formerly Yang Hu explained his plans confidentially to Your Majesty； but did not lay them before the court。 The result has been much debate and conflict of opinion。 In every project there are pros and cons； but in this the arguments are mostly in favor。 The worst that can happen is failure。 Since last autumn the proposed attack has bee generally known； and； if we stop now； Sun Hao will be frightened and remove the capital to Wuchang； repair his fortifications in the South Land； and move his threatened people out of danger。 Then the southern capital cannot be assaulted； nor is there anything left in the countryside to rob。 Hence next year's attack will also fail。〃
Just as the Ruler of Jin finished reading； Zhang Hua pushed aside the board； rose and drew his hands into his sleeves； saying； 〃Your Majesty's skill in war is almost divine； your state is prosperous； and the army strong。 The Ruler of Wu is a tyrant； his people are miserable； and his country mean。 Now you can easily conquer him； and I pray that there be no further hesitation！〃
〃How could I hesitate after your discourse？〃 said Sima Yan。
Thereupon he returned to the council chamber and issued his mands。 Du Yu was made mander…in…Chief and； with one hundred thousand troops； was to attack Jiangling； Sima Zhou； Prince of Langye and General Who Guards the East； was to attack Tuzhong； Wang Hun； General Who Conquers the East； to go up against Hengjiang； Wang Rong； General Who Exhibits Prowess； to move against Wuchang； Hu Fen； General Who Pacifies the South； to attack Xiakou。 And all divisions； fifty thousand troops each； were under the orders of Du Yu。 In addition to the land forces； two large fleets were to operate on the river under Wang Jun； General Who Shows Dragon Courage； and Tang Bin； General Who Possesses Martial Bravery。 Marines and lands troops amounted to more than two hundred thousand。 A separate force under Yang Ji； General Who Holds the South； was sent away to Xiangyang to coordinate all forces。
The Ruler of Wu was greatly alarmed at the news of such armies and fleets； and he called to him quickly his Prime Minister Zhang Ti； Minister of the Interior He Zhi； and Minister of Works Teng Xun； to consult how to defend his land。
Zhang Ti proposed： 〃Send mander of the Flying Chariots Wu Yan to meet the enemy at Jiangling； mander of the Flying Cavalry Sun Xin to Xiakou； I volunteer to take mand of a camp at Niuzhu； together with the General of the Left Army Shen Zong and General of the Right Army Zhuge Xing； ready to lend help at any point。〃
The Ruler of Wu approved his dispositions and felt satisfied that he was safe by land。 But in the privacy of his own apartment he felt miserable； for he realized that no preparations had been made against an attack by water under the Wei leader Wang Jun。
Then the favorite eunuch Cen Hun asked the Emperor why he bore a sad countenance； and Sun Hao told him of his dread of the enemy navy。
〃The armies of Jin are ing； and I have deployed troops for general defense。 Only the water front； by which Wang Jun and his several thousand battleships sail east along the tide； makes me feel so worried。〃
〃But I have a scheme that will smash all Wang Jun's ships！〃 cried Cen Hun。
〃What is it？〃 asked the Ruler of Wu； pleased to hear this。
〃Iron is plentiful。 Make great chains with heavy links and stretch them across the river at various points。 Also forge many massive hammers and arrange them in the stream； so that when the enemy's ships sail down before the wind； they will collide with the hammers and be wrecked。 Then they will sail no more。〃
Blacksmiths were soon at work on the river bank welding the links and forging the hammers。 Work went on day and night； and soon all the chains were placed in different points。
As has been said Du Yu was to attack Jiangling； and he sent General Zhou Zhi with eight hundred