Book of Wu · Biographies of Wu Fan, Liu Dun, and Zhao Da

Wu Fan, courtesy name Wenze, was from Shangyu in Kuaiji. His calendrical calculations and understanding of winds and vapors made him known in the commandery. Recommended as a Man Possessing the Way, he was to go to the capital, but disorder prevented the journey. When Sun Quan rose in the southeast, Fan devoted himself to his service. Whenever disasters or auspicious signs appeared, he calculated and explained them. His arts often proved effective, bringing him fame.

When Quan was at Wu and wanted to attack Huang Zu, Fan said: “This year offers little advantage; next year is better. Next year is wuzi, when Liu Biao of Jing Province will die and his state perish.” Quan nevertheless attacked Zu but failed. Next year the army advanced. At Xunyang Fan observed winds and vapors, came aboard to congratulate Quan, and urged haste. On arrival they defeated Zu, who escaped at night. Quan feared losing him. Fan said: “He is not far. You will certainly capture him alive.” During the fifth night watch they indeed caught him. Liu Biao eventually died and Jing Province was divided.

In the renchen year Fan reported: “In jiawu Liu Bei will obtain Yi Province.” Later Lü Dai returned from Shu after encountering Bei at Baidi and said his followers were dispersed, nearly half dead, and success impossible. Quan challenged Fan, who said: “I speak of Heaven's course; Dai saw only human affairs.” Bei ultimately obtained Shu.

Quan and Lü Meng planned to surprise Guan Yu. Most intimate advisers opposed it. Asked, Fan said: “You will take him.” Later Yu, at Maicheng, sent to request surrender. Quan asked whether he would truly submit. Fan said: “He has the vapor of flight. Surrender is a deception.” Quan sent Pan Zhang to intercept his routes. Scouts reported Yu had departed. Fan said: “Though gone, he will not escape.” Asked when, he answered: “Tomorrow at noon.” Quan set up a shadow-marker and water clock to wait. Noon seemed to pass without news. Asked why, Fan said: “It is not yet exact noon.” Soon wind moved the curtain. Fan clapped: “Yu has arrived!” Moments later cheers of ‘ten thousand years’ sounded outside and word came of Yu's capture.

When Quan made friendship with Wei, Fan said: “By winds and vapors, their overtures are outward only; secretly they have designs. Prepare.” When Liu Bei's great army stood at Xiling, Fan said: “Later there will be peace and friendship.” Everything ultimately happened as he said. Such was the clarity and accuracy of his predictions.

Quan made Fan Cavalry Commandant and concurrent Director of the Grand Astrologer's Office. He repeatedly questioned him, seeking the decisive principles, but Fan jealously guarded his arts and withheld their essentials. Quan resented this.

While Quan was still a general, Fan had said Jiangnan possessed royal energy and great blessings would come between the hai and zi years. Quan promised him a marquisate if it happened. After becoming King of Wu (Sun Quan) <his pre-imperial royal title>, Quan heard Fan ask at a banquet: “Do you remember what I said at Wu?” He agreed and ordered attendants to put a marquis's ribbon on him. Knowing Quan intended this as a symbolic fulfillment of the promise, Fan pushed it away. Later, when achievements were assessed and fiefs granted, Fan was listed as Marquis of Duting. Just before the edict went out, Quan angrily removed his name because he withheld his art.

Fan was firm and straightforward, rather fond of praising himself, but constant in friendship. He was close to Wei Teng of his own county. Teng once offended Quan, whose wrath was so severe that anyone remonstrating would die. Fan told Teng: “I shall die with you.” Teng said: “What use is death without benefit?” Fan answered: “How can I consider that and sit watching you?” He shaved his head, bound himself, and asked the bell attendant at the gate to announce him. The attendant dared not: “It means death. I cannot report it.” Fan asked whether he had a son. He did. Fan said: “If you die for Wu Fan, entrust him to me.” The man agreed and pushed into the chamber. Before he finished, Quan furiously threatened to throw a halberd at him. As he hurried out, Fan burst in, knocked his head until it bled, and spoke through tears. After a long time Quan relented and spared Teng. Teng thanked Fan: “My parents could bear and raise me, but not save me from death. For an understanding friend, one like you is enough. Why need many?”

In Huangwu's fifth year Fan died of illness. His eldest son had already died and his younger son was still a child, so his learning ended. Remembering him, Quan offered a thousand-household marquisate to anyone in three provinces who could recommend a master of arts and calculations like Wu Fan or Zhao Da, but none was found.

Liu Dun, courtesy name Ziren, was from Pingyuan. Fleeing disorder, he sojourned at Luling and served Sun Fu. His understanding of celestial offices and divinatory calculations made him famous in the south. Floods, droughts, and rebellions were all predicted beforehand with dates, never missing. Fu admired him, made him military adviser, and everyone in the army respectfully served him and called him divinely perceptive.

During Jian'an, Quan was at Yuzhang when a celestial change occurred and asked Dun. He said: “Disaster lies in Danyang.” Asked its nature, he answered: “Guest will overcome host. On a certain day news will arrive.” Bian Hong then rebelled, precisely as Dun had said.

Dun excelled in all the arts, especially the Great One method, fully developing its applications and subtle essentials. He wrote over a hundred essays, admired as extraordinary by the renowned scholar Diao Xuan. Dun too treasured his arts and told no one, so no later person could understand them fully.

Zhao Da was from Henan. In youth he studied under Han Palace Attendant Shan Fu, applying precise and meticulous thought. Believing the southeast possessed royal energy and offered refuge, he escaped across the Yangzi. He studied the Nine Palaces and Single Counting-Rod method to its subtlest principles and could produce answers immediately, replying as though divine. Counting flying locusts or identifying hidden things, he never failed. Someone challenged him: “Flying things cannot be checked. Who knows if you are right? It is probably nonsense.” Da had him scatter several dou of small beans on a mat, immediately stated their number, and verification proved it correct. Once visiting a friend, he was served food. Afterward the friend said: “Caught unprepared, I lack wine and fine dishes to express my feelings. What can I do?” Da took one chopstick from the dish, moved it vertically and horizontally several times, and said: “Under your eastern wall is a hu of good wine and three jin of venison. Why claim you have none?” Another guest knew the host's secret. Embarrassed, the host said: “Knowing your skill in detecting things, I wished to test you. It truly works!” He brought out wine and they drank freely. Someone wrote a number in the tens of millions on a document, sealed it in an empty granary, and asked Da to calculate. Da gave the exact number but said: “There is only a name, no substance.” Such was his precision.

Da guarded his arts. Even eminent scholars and good men Kan Ze and Yin Li personally humbled themselves to learn, but he withheld them. Deputy Grand Astrologer Gongsun Teng studied under him from youth, laboring for years. Da promised instruction repeatedly, but always stopped when about to explain. One day Teng brought wine and food, watched his mood, knelt, and begged. Da said: “My ancestors obtained this art intending to become imperial tutors. Yet three generations in office never rose above Gentleman of the Grand Astrologer's Office. I truly do not want to transmit it again. Moreover its subtle method, multiplication at the head and division at the tail with a single rod, is not shared even between father and son. But because you love it tirelessly, I shall truly give it to you now.” After several rounds of wine Da fetched two plain scrolls <the supplied text writes 眷 for 卷> no larger than fingers: “Copy and read these and you will understand. I have neglected them long and no longer examine them. Let me review them; in a few days I shall give them to you.” Teng came as agreed. Da pretended to search, exclaimed they were lost, and said: “My son-in-law came yesterday. He must have stolen them.” That ended it.

In Sun Quan's campaigns he always had Da calculate, and everything happened as predicted. Asked the method, Da never explained. Consequently he lost favor and achieved no high stipend or rank.

Da often laughed at observers of stars, vapors, and winds: “One should turn counting rods behind curtains, knowing Heaven's course without leaving doors and windows. Instead you expose yourselves day and night watching vapors and omens. Is that not difficult?” At leisure he calculated his own fate and sighed: “My calculations end at this year, month, and day. That is my end.” His wife had often seen his accuracy and wept. To soothe her, he calculated again: “I was mistaken just now. Not yet.” He later died at the predicted time. Hearing he had writings, Quan sought them unsuccessfully, interrogated his daughter, and even opened his coffin, finding nothing. His methods ended.

Appraisal: These three each mastered their arts and applied thought with subtle skill. Yet gentlemen should direct mind and spirit toward greater and more distant purposes. Thus discerning men abandon these pursuits for those.