Sun Hao 吳末帝孫皓

Sun Hao (242–284) was the grandson of Sun Quan, the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). He was the fourth and last emperor of Eastern Wu, reigning from 264 to 280. His absurdity and atrocity led to the destruction of Eastern Wu by Jin in 280, thus ending the Three Kingdoms period. He became the captive of Sima Yan, Emperor Wu of Jin and was sent to Luo Yang, where he died of illness in 284.

Sun was not only incapable of handling state affairs, but he was also extravagant, suspicious, cruel and vindictive in nature. The emperor, who at first took some measures to reduce taxes, regulate the behaviors of officials and release many concubines, soon turned out to be a tyrant indulged in wine and women, killing faithful advisors and anyone who dissented on whim. He no longer cared for the job, but busied himself having sex with his concubines and slaughtering innocents.

He ordered that the major officials' daughters should not marry anyone before he decided whether they were beautiful enough to be his concubines. Those at fault would be tossed into the river drowned. He favored punishing people by gouging out their eyes and peeling their facial skin. Officials who dared not to drink at the feasts were penalized severely or even beheaded. He once beheaded an official named Chen Sheng by red-hot saw only because Chen punished a maid of his favorite concubine for stealing something from the fair.

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