Chu-ko Liang's Report to the Emperor
Chu-ko Liang K'ung-ming decided to intrude to conquer Wei, which included his rival Ssuma-I, in 227, for achieving the ambition of his late monarch Liu Pei. He is said to have presented an autograph letter to Liu Shan when he was leaving. The following is what I translated the full text. The content of the letter tells us his firm decision, true devotion to his Liu Pei, and deep affection for his son.
My Majesty,
The former emperor had a great work to revive the Han dynasty. He passed away without achieving his ambition, however. Nowadays our land contains three kingdoms, and ours is impoverished, with the time of need to come. But subjects serve sincerely, while generals are resolved to sacrifice their lives in their needs, grateful to him. My Majesty, you should open your mind to them, brightening his desire of the deceased, developing their abilities. You should not ever humble yourself, and plead against them, neither, but lend your ear to them. It will make them to keep their loyalty.
The Court and the government are united and shouldn't have a conflict of opinion on telling good from evil. You are allowed to show your justice by trusting the decision of the treatment of violators or men of merit to your subjects at each department.
The former emperor selected to leave Kuo Yu-tzu, F'ei Wei and Tung Yun to you because he found they are honest and faithful. You can trust them with any matters in the Court. I remark it will be beneficial for the world to enforce your policies by following them. General Chuang Chang is modest and righteous, deeply versed in the military, which has been proved by the former emperor. We made him a general by unanimous for the reason. I remark any of his advice on the military will allow you to assume the leadership of your armies and to put the right person in the right post.
The former Han dynasty prospered because the monarchs listened to sages, away from nobodies, while the latter one collapsed eventually because the monarchs made much of nobodies in spite of sages. The former emperor used to talk about the tragedy, lamenting and deeply regretting about the emperor Han, Ling. Your attendants, Prime Minister, Secretary, and Minister of Defense, all are loyal, their lives laid down on loyalty, so that you can listened to them and trust them. You, therefore, will be able to revive your dynasty in the nearest future.
I, My Majesty, didn't have a rank, followed work on a farm for a livelihood in the turbulent times, unexpected to enter government service. However, the former emperor was courteous to me when he visited my thatched hut three times and consulted me about the situation in those days. You would recognize that I was deeply moved to decide to serve him with all my might. The following year when we have little chance of defeating Wei, the former emperor trusted an important duty to me. Twenty years have passed since my first duty.
The former emperor appreciated that I was honest, and trusted a domestic duty to me at his death. Filled with anxiety day and night since then, I have been apprehensive of disgracing his brilliant name, without responding to his death wish. That moved me to intrude the barren land in southern to conquer it. We are armipotent, ready to command all forces to conquer Wei. I demand you to allow me to exert all of my ability to overthrow traitors there, so that you will revive the Han dynasty and enter the old capital Chauang and I will reward the former emperor.
Kuo Yu-tzu, F'ei Wei and Tung Yun, they can be trusted on working on domestic duties and counseling to you. I demand you to appoint me to subdue traitors to revive the Han dynasty. If I am not successful, I should be punished and reported to the late emperor. Kuo Yu-tzu, F'ei Wei and Tung Yun, they will be equally blamed, their responsibilities exposed to light, if they are not able to give you proper advice. And I hope that you, your father's last will and testament always in your mind, consult your subjects for virtuous ways, their right advice taken. I will never forget each thing he had done for me. I'm now leaving far in Wei, which makes me write the letter. Tears surged up to my eyes while working on it, and now I cannot find a word to write.
