Abstract
This chapter talks about Fuchai, who was the last king of Wu. According to Sima Qian, Fuchai was a complicated and tragic figure who avenged his father's death, defeated Wu's long time rival Yue, extended Wu's influence to the north, and led Wu to become a political hegemon among the states. It focuses on the fall of the king of Wu by highlighting Fuchai's obstinance, his trust of dishonest words, his executions of loyal ministers, and the eventual decline of his state. It also omits the early successful years of King Fuchai and begins with the eleventh year of his rule, the year he ignored the most dangerous enemy Yue in the south and extended his power north by attacking the state of Qi. The chapter concludes with Fuchai's reluctant suicide that was preceded by expressions of remorse for killing Wu Zixu and Gongsun Sheng.
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