Cen Hun

The favourite eunuch, the confidant Sun Hao chooses on his accession, and the author of the chain-and-hammer barrier that is supposed to stop the Jin navy: 'Iron is plentiful. Make great chains with heavy links and stretch them across the river at various points. Also forge many massive hammers and arrange them in the stream.' Blacksmiths work day and night; Wang Jun laughs and melts the chains with oil-soaked torches. When the court finally finds its voice it names him as the one thing to be done: 'The one evil of today is Eunuch Cen Hun. Slay him, and we ourselves will go out and fight to the death!'