The Fragile Foundations of a New Dynasty
The year 273 CE marked the ninth year of the Tai Shi era under Emperor Wu (Sima Yan), founder of the Jin Dynasty. This period witnessed the consolidation of Jin power following the overthrow of Cao Wei, but the new regime faced significant challenges in establishing legitimacy and stability. The deaths of key figures like Zheng Mao and Shi Bao in early 273 removed experienced officials from the scene, while the appointment of Sima Zhi as Prince of Donghai reflected the emperor’s efforts to strengthen imperial clan control.
A particularly revealing incident involved the posthumous treatment of Deng Ai, the brilliant general who had conquered Shu Han but was executed on false charges during the Cao Wei period. Despite widespread recognition of his innocence, the court hesitated to rehabilitate him until scholar Duan Zhuo’s impassioned memorial forced the issue. This episode exposed the political tensions beneath the surface of Jin rule – the need to acknowledge past injustices while maintaining the narrative of legitimate succession from Wei.
The Tyranny of Sun Hao and the Decline of Wu
Across the Yangtze, the Wu kingdom under Sun Hao descended into increasingly brutal tyranny. The execution of historian Wei Zhao for refusing to falsify records demonstrated Sun Hao’s intolerance of dissent. His cruel entertainments – forcing officials to drunkenly expose each other’s secrets – created an atmosphere of terror. When loyal officials like Chen Sheng tried to uphold law by punishing the emperor’s favorite concubine for theft, they met horrific ends, their heads severed with red-hot saws.
Sun Hao’s paranoia extended to any perceived threats. Rumors about his possible death while mourning a concubine led to bloody purges. His obsession with omens and prophecies (like the reopening of Linping Lake) became tools for manipulation, while real governance deteriorated. The 274 CE plague that ravaged Wu for three years compounded these problems, further weakening the southern kingdom.
The Struggle for Succession in Jin
Emperor Wu faced his own dynastic challenges. Concerns about Crown Prince Sima Zhong’s intellectual limitations prompted discussions about replacing him with the more capable Prince Sima You of Qi. This triggered a complex power struggle involving figures like Jia Chong and Xun Xu, who manipulated the emperor’s fears about succession stability.
The emperor’s marital politics also caused controversy. His 273 CE order prohibiting the selection of concubines as empresses reflected concerns about harem influence, yet his own 274 CE selection of thousands of young women for the palace – including the future Empress Yang Zhi – showed hypocrisy. These mass selections, which disrupted normal marriages across the realm, became a source of public resentment.
Military Reforms and Border Conflicts
On the frontiers, Jin engaged in constant military preparations. The brilliant general Yang Hu advocated strongly for a Wu campaign, arguing that Jin’s strength would only decline over time. His 278 CE memorial outlined a comprehensive strategy exploiting Wu’s weaknesses – Sun Hao’s tyranny, overextended defenses, and demoralized troops.
Meanwhile, the northwest saw innovative leadership against Xianbei rebels. Ma Long’s 279 CE recruitment of 3,500 exceptional archers and his specialized “flat-box chariots” demonstrated creative military thinking. His eventual victory over rebel leader Shu Nengji stabilized the Liangzhou region after years of conflict.
The Road to Unification
By 279 CE, the stage was set for Jin’s final push against Wu. Du Yu’s persistent memorials overcame court opposition, arguing that delay would only allow Wu to strengthen its defenses. The massive multi-pronged invasion launched in late 279 – involving forces under Sima Zhou, Wang Hun, Wang Rong, Hu Fen, Du Yu, and Wang Jun – represented the culmination of years of preparation.
The campaign’s success would ultimately unify China after nearly a century of division, but the Jin Dynasty’s underlying weaknesses – harem politics, imperial clan rivalries, excessive aristocratic privilege, and military decentralization – already contained the seeds of future turmoil. As the historian Sima Guang later noted, the triumph of 280 CE created an empire without creating lasting stability.