Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 105

original: "Zizhi Tongjian" (通鑑). This is one of the most important works of Chinese historiography, compiled by Sima Guang in the 11th century.

After his advice was ignored, Zhu Xu a Jin general who had been defending Xiangyang was indeed captured when his strength was exhausted.

The Duke of Yangping of the Qin state, Fu Rong brother of the Qin King Fu Jian, and his commanders attacked Shouyang a major strategic city in modern Anhui and successfully captured it. Hu Bin an Eastern Jin general retreated to defend Xiashi. Fu Rong advanced his attack. Meanwhile, Liang Cheng and others stationed their forces at Luojian, building palisades along the Huai River to block the Eastern Jin army.

Xie Shi and Xie Xuan the primary commanders of the Eastern Jin defense were intimidated by the enemy's strength and did not dare to advance. When Hu Bin’s supplies were exhausted, he secretly sent a messenger to tell Xie Shi and the others: "The enemy is currently at their peak strength. I fear we are all doomed and I will never see the main army again."

The Qin forces captured the messenger and sent him to Fu Rong. Rong immediately dispatched an officer to report to the King of Qin, Fu Jian, saying: "The enemy is few in number and easy to capture, but I fear they may flee. You should arrive here with all haste." Fu Jian then left his main army at Xiangcheng and led eight thousand light cavalry, traveling day and night to join Fu Rong.

He sent the captured general Zhu Xu to persuade Xie Shi and the others to surrender. It is better to surrender quickly. These glosses represent the "judou" punctuation marks in the original woodblock, emphasizing the command to surrender.

However, Zhu Xu privately whispered to Xie Shi and the others: "If the entire Qin host arrives, it will truly be difficult to face them as an enemy. But now, while their various armies have not yet assembled, you should strike them quickly. If you defeat their vanguard, then they [will lose their morale...]"