Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast.

This is episode 153.

Last time, after many delays and postponements, the Kingdom of Jin finally decided to march south.

Its army was cutting through Wu territory like a hot knife through butter,

or if you prefer the Chinese equivalent of that saying, like a knife through bamboo.

They were knocking on the doorstep of Jianye, the Wu's capital city,

but there was dissent back home about whether to press forward.

The senior court official Jia Chong wanted to recall the troops on account of fatigue and disease,

but his colleague Zhang Hua spoke against it, prompting Jia Chong to scold Zhang Hua.

But Sima Yan was like,

If you're done, Mr. Let's recall the army, I would like to say something, seeing how I am,

you know, emperor and all. It is my intention to continue, Sima Yan said. Zhang Hua just happens

to share my opinion. There is no need to bicker.

And just then, a dispatch arrived from the Jin Grand Commander Du Yu,

also urging Sima Yan to continue pressing the troops forward.

With all second thoughts erased, Sima Yan promptly gave the order to advance.

With that command, the Jin army resumed its course on land and water,

and just like before, the people of Wu surrendered at the first sight of their banners.

When Sun Hao, the emperor of Wu, heard this, he turned pale.

The northern army draws near by the day, his officials told him,

and our soldiers and people are surrendering without a fight.

What should we do?

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