Lu Xun/Lu Kang relay

Lu Xun/Lu Kang SGZ Biography Translation Relay
(Feedback of all kinds is welcome in this thread)
I apologize for any inconvenience caused my recreation of this post, I had to do this in order to preserve a strange difficult-to-duplicate problem. Read this for more information: http://the-scholars.com/viewtopic.php?p=34181#34181
Lady Wu
-------------------
Same thing as for the Lu Bu relay. Except this time it's Lu Xun/Lu Kang... everyone who can translate SGZ should help out, even if it's just a small section...
I'm kicking this off with Lu Xun, but if people feel like starting Lu Kang's (on p. 1354 in the Zhonghua Shuju edition of SGZ, in the middle of Lu Xun's chapter), they should start it too.
-------
Lu Xun, styled Boyan, was originally named Yi. A native of Wu, in the commandery of Wu, Lu Xun comes from a prosperous and famous family east of the Yangtze River (1). Since he was orphaned at a young age, he lived with his grandfather Lu Kang [translator’s note: this Kang is a different character from that in Lu Kang, Lu Xun’s son], who was then the Grand Administrator of Lujiang. When Lu Kang found out that he was about to be attacked by Yuan Shu, who had long borne a grudge against him, he sent Lu Xun and his family back to Wu for safety. Since Lu Xun was several years older than Lu Kang’s son Lu Ji, he kept his family in order for him.
When Sun Quan became a general, Lu Xun was 21 years of age, and began his career by working in Sun Quan’s office. After serving as a consultant clerk of both the Department of the East and the Department of the West, he was sent out to the field as a garrison chief commandant at Haichang, with the additional duties of civil affairs of the prefecture (2). The prefecture had suffered years of drought, and so Lu Xun opened up the stores of grain to relieve the poor, as well as encouraging and overseeing farming personally. The people benefitted greatly from that. At that time, there were many bandits in hiding in the Wu, Kuaiji, and Danyang areas. Lu Xun petitioned to Sun Quan to attack them, listing the advantages of doing so. Now, there was one Pan Lin, the “general-in-chief” of the bandits in Kuaiji, who had been a scourge of the area, and who had escaped from the government’s efforts to capture him through the years. And so Lu Xun had his subordinates recruit soldiers, and went straight into the holdings of the outlaws. Wherever he went the outlaws submitted to him, and his command grew to 2,000 soldiers. Then, when the leader of the Boyang bandits, You Tu, staged a rebellion, Lu Xun went to quell it. For that, Lu Xun was made Colonel Who Settles Majesty, and made to garrison at Lipu.
(1) Lushi Shi Song: Lu Xun’s grandfather, Lu Yu, had the style name of Shupen. He was a virtuous man, quick in wits, and served as a Colonel of the City Gates. Lu Xun’s father, Lu Jun, who had the style name of Jicai, was magnanimous and trustworthy, greatly loved by the different families in the clan. The highest rank he held was Chief Commandant of Jiujiang.
(2) From the Eulogy of the Portraits in the Lu Ancestral Temple: Haichang is located in the current day prefecture of Yan’guan.
Cai Yan
-------------------
Sun Quan married Sun Ce's daughter to Lu Xun and often sought his advice on various world affairs. Lu Xun suggested, "At present, conquerers each take a portion of the land and fortify their stands. They wait and watch like wolves, and thus to win the enemies and bring peace to the land, we need many people to assist us. However, the bandits are still at large, owing to their geographically strategic hideouts. If we do not pacify them, it would be difficult for any other long term conquests to go far. Thus, we should lead an army to pacify them and in the process, recruit the best forces amongst them." Sun Quan accepted his proposal and appointed him as a right hand under his personal command. Fei Zhan, the leader of the bandits at Dan Yang, having received an official order from Cao Cao, rallied the Shanyue people to coordinate with him. Lu Xun was then sent by Sun Quan to annihilate Zhan. Zhan had a greater army than Lu Xun, hence Lu Xun increased the quantity of flags, drums and horns in his army and the troops entered the valley in the night. Suddenly the drums and horns sounded in the night as Lu Xun's troops charged forth and the bandits were defeated or dispersed almost immediately. Lu Xun reorganised the army stationed at the three eastern counties and also recruited people for the army. The more able-bodied ones became soldiers while the weaker ones were employed to manage agricultural lands. In the process, some ten thousand strong men were recruited and the remnants of the bandits were destroyed. The places where the army passed by were swept clean of bandits and Lu Xun returned to Wu Hu where the army was stationed.
(Edited by Cai Yan on 12/3/02)
Lady Wu
-------------------
Chunyu Shi, the Grand Administrator of Kuaiji, reported to Sun Quan that Lu Xun enlisted commoners unnecessarily, disturbing the peace of the area. Later on, Lu Xun passed by the commandery, and in a conversation [with Sun Quan], praised Chunyu Shi for being an excellent official. Sun Quan said, "Chunyu Shi had reported against you, but yet you praise him. Why is this so?" Lu Xun replied, "Chunyu Shi's mind is on taking care of his people, and that was why he criticized me. It would not do if I, in turn, denounce him in order to seek your approval." Sun Quan said, "You have indeed the conduct of a trustworthy person! Not all could do what you have done."
When Lü Meng was on sick leave to Jianye, Lu Xun went to pay him a visit. "Guan Yu is stationed close to the borders," said Lu Xun, "should we devise a long-term plan, to reduce this threat?"
"What you said is right," replied Lü Meng, "but I'm gravely ill now."
Lu Xun said, "Guan Yu, proud of his own valour, is disdainful towards others. He has just accomplished something great, and now he has become overly arrogant, seeking only to strike northward. Since he hasn't suspected much activity from our side, once he hears of your illness, his defenses will certainly drop. So if we can take him by surprise, he is certain to be captured. It would be best if I could have an audience with the lord and devise a plan."
"Guan Yu's known for his military prowess," said Lü Meng, "and has been a difficult enemy. Now that he's in charge of Jingzhou, he has been benevolent towards the people. Furthermore, morale is high on his side due to his recent victories. It may not be so easy to defeat him."
Lü Meng thus came to the capital city. Sun Quan asked him, "Who would you recommend to replace you?" Lü Meng answered, "Lu Xun has far-reaching plans, and is able to take up great responsibility. Looking at his way of thinking, I think he would be the one capable for the great task at hand. Also, since his name is not well-known yet, Guan Yu would not be wary of him. Thing cannot be better! If he is employed, those from without will not see what we are up to, while we, from within, can seek an opportune time to strike and to defeat [Guan Yu]." And thus Sun Quan summoned Lu Xun, and made him replace Lü Meng as Lieutenant-General, Inspector of the Right Division.
Lady Wu
-------------------
Once Lu Xun arrived at Lukou, he wrote to Guan Yu thus,
"Shortly ago I had witnessed your feats at battle: leading your army with discipline, you accomplished great victory with only a slight maneuver. How awesome and admirable that was!
Now that our common enemy is defeated, it is a time most meet for us to build an alliance. Having heard of your good news, I turn my mind to the command that has been entrusted to me, thinking always to follow your footsteps in conquest, and to fulfill the ambitions of our lords together.
Recently, unworthy though I am, I have been ordered to take up a post here in the west. I long to see even a speck of your glory, and to have your good counsel to bear in my mind. "
And he wrote on:
"Since Yu Jin and company were captured, everyone near and far proclaimed your name in praise. Not even the leadership of Duke Wen of Jin of yore, shown at Chengpu, nor even the strategies demonstrated by Han Xin at Zhao, can match what you have done.
I have heard that Xu Huang and his remaining mounted troops are stationed nearby, poised to strike. Though their number is few, Cao Cao is a cunning scoundrel, and there is no knowing what he would do in his wrath -- I would be afraid that he will secretly increase the troops there, in order to carry out his malicious plans. It is true that their army is fatigued, but they still have might in them. Furthermore, after a victory in battle, one is in danger of underestimating the enemy. The ancients who were skilled at warfare heightened their defenses even in the sight of a victory. Thus, I pray that you, o General, will plan far ahead, and ensure that your victory be complete.
I am but a student of the letters, unlearned, dull, unworthy in all regards. And thus I am overjoyed to have such a majestic and virtuous neighbour! My joy is indeed overflowing. Even though we have not had the chance to cooperate yet, I keep you in my thoughts. And so I dared to write thus to you, hoping that you will understand what is on my mind."
(Feedback of all kinds is welcome in this thread)
I apologize for any inconvenience caused my recreation of this post, I had to do this in order to preserve a strange difficult-to-duplicate problem. Read this for more information: http://the-scholars.com/viewtopic.php?p=34181#34181
Lady Wu
-------------------
Same thing as for the Lu Bu relay. Except this time it's Lu Xun/Lu Kang... everyone who can translate SGZ should help out, even if it's just a small section...
I'm kicking this off with Lu Xun, but if people feel like starting Lu Kang's (on p. 1354 in the Zhonghua Shuju edition of SGZ, in the middle of Lu Xun's chapter), they should start it too.
-------
Lu Xun, styled Boyan, was originally named Yi. A native of Wu, in the commandery of Wu, Lu Xun comes from a prosperous and famous family east of the Yangtze River (1). Since he was orphaned at a young age, he lived with his grandfather Lu Kang [translator’s note: this Kang is a different character from that in Lu Kang, Lu Xun’s son], who was then the Grand Administrator of Lujiang. When Lu Kang found out that he was about to be attacked by Yuan Shu, who had long borne a grudge against him, he sent Lu Xun and his family back to Wu for safety. Since Lu Xun was several years older than Lu Kang’s son Lu Ji, he kept his family in order for him.
When Sun Quan became a general, Lu Xun was 21 years of age, and began his career by working in Sun Quan’s office. After serving as a consultant clerk of both the Department of the East and the Department of the West, he was sent out to the field as a garrison chief commandant at Haichang, with the additional duties of civil affairs of the prefecture (2). The prefecture had suffered years of drought, and so Lu Xun opened up the stores of grain to relieve the poor, as well as encouraging and overseeing farming personally. The people benefitted greatly from that. At that time, there were many bandits in hiding in the Wu, Kuaiji, and Danyang areas. Lu Xun petitioned to Sun Quan to attack them, listing the advantages of doing so. Now, there was one Pan Lin, the “general-in-chief” of the bandits in Kuaiji, who had been a scourge of the area, and who had escaped from the government’s efforts to capture him through the years. And so Lu Xun had his subordinates recruit soldiers, and went straight into the holdings of the outlaws. Wherever he went the outlaws submitted to him, and his command grew to 2,000 soldiers. Then, when the leader of the Boyang bandits, You Tu, staged a rebellion, Lu Xun went to quell it. For that, Lu Xun was made Colonel Who Settles Majesty, and made to garrison at Lipu.
(1) Lushi Shi Song: Lu Xun’s grandfather, Lu Yu, had the style name of Shupen. He was a virtuous man, quick in wits, and served as a Colonel of the City Gates. Lu Xun’s father, Lu Jun, who had the style name of Jicai, was magnanimous and trustworthy, greatly loved by the different families in the clan. The highest rank he held was Chief Commandant of Jiujiang.
(2) From the Eulogy of the Portraits in the Lu Ancestral Temple: Haichang is located in the current day prefecture of Yan’guan.
Cai Yan
-------------------
Sun Quan married Sun Ce's daughter to Lu Xun and often sought his advice on various world affairs. Lu Xun suggested, "At present, conquerers each take a portion of the land and fortify their stands. They wait and watch like wolves, and thus to win the enemies and bring peace to the land, we need many people to assist us. However, the bandits are still at large, owing to their geographically strategic hideouts. If we do not pacify them, it would be difficult for any other long term conquests to go far. Thus, we should lead an army to pacify them and in the process, recruit the best forces amongst them." Sun Quan accepted his proposal and appointed him as a right hand under his personal command. Fei Zhan, the leader of the bandits at Dan Yang, having received an official order from Cao Cao, rallied the Shanyue people to coordinate with him. Lu Xun was then sent by Sun Quan to annihilate Zhan. Zhan had a greater army than Lu Xun, hence Lu Xun increased the quantity of flags, drums and horns in his army and the troops entered the valley in the night. Suddenly the drums and horns sounded in the night as Lu Xun's troops charged forth and the bandits were defeated or dispersed almost immediately. Lu Xun reorganised the army stationed at the three eastern counties and also recruited people for the army. The more able-bodied ones became soldiers while the weaker ones were employed to manage agricultural lands. In the process, some ten thousand strong men were recruited and the remnants of the bandits were destroyed. The places where the army passed by were swept clean of bandits and Lu Xun returned to Wu Hu where the army was stationed.
(Edited by Cai Yan on 12/3/02)
Lady Wu
-------------------
Chunyu Shi, the Grand Administrator of Kuaiji, reported to Sun Quan that Lu Xun enlisted commoners unnecessarily, disturbing the peace of the area. Later on, Lu Xun passed by the commandery, and in a conversation [with Sun Quan], praised Chunyu Shi for being an excellent official. Sun Quan said, "Chunyu Shi had reported against you, but yet you praise him. Why is this so?" Lu Xun replied, "Chunyu Shi's mind is on taking care of his people, and that was why he criticized me. It would not do if I, in turn, denounce him in order to seek your approval." Sun Quan said, "You have indeed the conduct of a trustworthy person! Not all could do what you have done."
When Lü Meng was on sick leave to Jianye, Lu Xun went to pay him a visit. "Guan Yu is stationed close to the borders," said Lu Xun, "should we devise a long-term plan, to reduce this threat?"
"What you said is right," replied Lü Meng, "but I'm gravely ill now."
Lu Xun said, "Guan Yu, proud of his own valour, is disdainful towards others. He has just accomplished something great, and now he has become overly arrogant, seeking only to strike northward. Since he hasn't suspected much activity from our side, once he hears of your illness, his defenses will certainly drop. So if we can take him by surprise, he is certain to be captured. It would be best if I could have an audience with the lord and devise a plan."
"Guan Yu's known for his military prowess," said Lü Meng, "and has been a difficult enemy. Now that he's in charge of Jingzhou, he has been benevolent towards the people. Furthermore, morale is high on his side due to his recent victories. It may not be so easy to defeat him."
Lü Meng thus came to the capital city. Sun Quan asked him, "Who would you recommend to replace you?" Lü Meng answered, "Lu Xun has far-reaching plans, and is able to take up great responsibility. Looking at his way of thinking, I think he would be the one capable for the great task at hand. Also, since his name is not well-known yet, Guan Yu would not be wary of him. Thing cannot be better! If he is employed, those from without will not see what we are up to, while we, from within, can seek an opportune time to strike and to defeat [Guan Yu]." And thus Sun Quan summoned Lu Xun, and made him replace Lü Meng as Lieutenant-General, Inspector of the Right Division.
Lady Wu
-------------------
Once Lu Xun arrived at Lukou, he wrote to Guan Yu thus,
"Shortly ago I had witnessed your feats at battle: leading your army with discipline, you accomplished great victory with only a slight maneuver. How awesome and admirable that was!
Now that our common enemy is defeated, it is a time most meet for us to build an alliance. Having heard of your good news, I turn my mind to the command that has been entrusted to me, thinking always to follow your footsteps in conquest, and to fulfill the ambitions of our lords together.
Recently, unworthy though I am, I have been ordered to take up a post here in the west. I long to see even a speck of your glory, and to have your good counsel to bear in my mind. "
And he wrote on:
"Since Yu Jin and company were captured, everyone near and far proclaimed your name in praise. Not even the leadership of Duke Wen of Jin of yore, shown at Chengpu, nor even the strategies demonstrated by Han Xin at Zhao, can match what you have done.
I have heard that Xu Huang and his remaining mounted troops are stationed nearby, poised to strike. Though their number is few, Cao Cao is a cunning scoundrel, and there is no knowing what he would do in his wrath -- I would be afraid that he will secretly increase the troops there, in order to carry out his malicious plans. It is true that their army is fatigued, but they still have might in them. Furthermore, after a victory in battle, one is in danger of underestimating the enemy. The ancients who were skilled at warfare heightened their defenses even in the sight of a victory. Thus, I pray that you, o General, will plan far ahead, and ensure that your victory be complete.
I am but a student of the letters, unlearned, dull, unworthy in all regards. And thus I am overjoyed to have such a majestic and virtuous neighbour! My joy is indeed overflowing. Even though we have not had the chance to cooperate yet, I keep you in my thoughts. And so I dared to write thus to you, hoping that you will understand what is on my mind."