Presently he heard a great noise again behind him. Yüehchi and his men had found a way down into the gully and were coming at him down the stream. Kuan braced himself for a struggle in the water.

Then he saw someone on the bank fighting with, and driving off, the Ch'iang. Kuan Hsing gripped his sword and was waiting to get in a stroke at Yüehchi as he came up when suddenly his enemy jumped out of the water and ran away. At once Kuan Hsing caught the steed he had left, led him up the bank and soon had him ready to mount. Then he girded on his sword, and was just getting on the horse when again appeared the captain he had seen before driving off his

enemies.

"Whoever this may be, he has saved my life," thought Kuan Hsing. "I ought to make his acquaintance.”

He accordingly pressed forward after his deliverer. As he drew nearer he saw, enveloped in mist, a man, evidently an officer of rank, with a dark red face and heavy eyebrows, wearing a green robe and a golden helmet. He wielded a huge sword such as was Black Dragon and rode a hare-coloured steed. From time to time he stroked a long flowing beard. Then he understood; it was his dead father, Kuan the Noble. Kuan Hsing was frightened. But his father pointed southeast and said, "My son, go quickly along that road and I will guard you to your camp.'

With that the figure disappeared. Kuan took the road he had been shown and hastened along. About midnight he saw a cohort advancing to meet him, and recognised his cousin Chang Pao.

"Have you seen my uncle?" asked Chang.

"How did you know?" asked Kuan.

"I was pursued by the iron chariots when I suddenly saw my uncle coming down from the sky, and he frightened the pursuers away. Then he told me to come along this road and rescue you. So I came."

Thereupon Kuan Hsing related what had happened to him, and they were both astonished.

They quickly gained the camp, where Ma Tai welcomed them.

"I do not know how to overcome these men," said Ma Tai. "Let me protect the camp while you go back and ask the minister what we should do."

The two started at once and made the best of their way back. They told K'ung-ming what had happened. He at once sent off Chao Yün and Wei Yen to go into ambush. After this he went himself with three legions and certain officers and soon came to Ma Tai's camp. The day after, from the summit of a hill, he surveyed the country and the enemy, who were coming on in a ceaseless stream.

"It is not difficult," said Kʻung-ming.

He called up Ma Tai and Chang I and gave them certain orders.

They having gone, he turned to Chiang Wei, saying, "My friend, do you know how to overcome them?"

"The Ch'iang only depend upon force or courage, not upon fine strategy." was the reply.

"You know," said K'ung-ming, smiling. "Those dark clouds and the strong north wind mean snow. Then I can do what I wish."

The two leaders, Kuan and Chang, were sent into ambush, and Chiang Wei went out to offer battle. But he was to retire before the iron chariots. At the entrance to the camp were displayed many flags, but the men that should serve under them were not there.

It was now full winter, the twelfth month, and the snow had come. The army of Shu went out to offer battle, and when the iron chariots came forward they retired and thus led the Ch'iang to the gate of the camp, Chiang Wei going to its rear. The Ch'iang came to the gate and stopped to look. They heard the strumming of a lute, but there were no soldiers there; the flags meant nothing. They told Yüehchi, and he suspected some ruse. Instead of entering, he went back to the Minister Yatan and told him.

"It is a ruse," said Yatan. "Chuko Liang's base trick is the pretence of a pretence, and you had better attack."

So Yüehchi led his men again to the camp gate, and there he saw K'ung-ming with a lute just getting into his chariot. With a small escort he went toward the back of the camp. The barbarians rushed into the camp and caught sight of the light chariot again just as it disappeared into a wood.

Then said Yatan, "There may be an ambush, but I think we need not be afraid of these men.'

Hence they decided to pursue. Ahead of them they saw the division under Chiang Wei hastening off through the snow. Yüehchi's rage boiled up at this sight, and he urged his men to go faster. The snow had filled in the roads among the hills, making every part look like a level plain.

As they marched, one reported that some of the enemy were appearing from the rear of the hills. Some thought this meant an ambush, but Yatan said it did not matter, and they need not fear. He urged them to hasten.

Shortly after this they heard a roaring as if the hills were rending asunder and the earth falling in, and the pursuers on foot fell one atop of the other into great pits that were invisible in the snow. The iron chariots, being close behind and hurrying along, could not stop, and they went into the pits also. Those still farther in the rear halted, but just as they were. facing about, Kuan and Chang came up, one on either side,

and attacked. Myriads of bolts flew through the air. Then three other divisions arrived and confusion was worse than ever.

The Chiang leader, Yüehchi, fled to the rear and was making for the mountains when he met Kuan Hsing, who slew him in the first encounter. The Minister Yutan was captured and taken to the main camp. The soldiers scattered.

Hearing of the capture of one leader, K'ung-ming took his seat in his tent and bade them bring the prisoner. He told the guards to loose his bonds, and he had wine brought to refresh him and soothed him with kindly words. Yatan was grateful for this kindness, and felt more so when K'ung-ming said, "My master, the Emperor of the Great Hans, sent me to destroy those who are in revolt; why are you helping them? But I will release you, and you will return to your master and say that we are neighbours and we will swear an oath of everlasting friendship, and tell him to listen no more to the words of those rebels."

The minister was released and so were all the soldiers that had been captured, and all their stuff was given back to them. They left for their own country.

The Ch'iang being thus disposed of, K'ung-ming quickly marched again to Ch'ishan. He sent letters to the capital announcing his success.

Meanwhile Ts'ao Chên anxiously waited for news of his expected allies. Then a scout came in with the news that the men of Shu had broken camp and were marching away.

"That is because the Ch'iang have attacked," said Kuo Huai gleefully, and the two made ready to pursue.

Ahead of them the army of Shu seemed to be in confusion. The van-leader Ts'ao Tsun led the pursuit. Suddenly, as he pressed on, there came a roll of drums, followed by the appearance of a cohort led by Wei Yen, who cried, "Stop! you rebels!"

He dashed

But Ts'ao Tsun did not obey the summons. forward to meet the attack. He was killed in the third encounter. His colleague Chu Tsan in similar fashion fell in with a cohort under Chao Yün, to whose long spear he soon fell victim. The loss of these two made the Commander-inchief and his second hesitate, and they made to retire.

But before they could face about they heard the drums of an army in their rear, and Kuan Hsing and Chang Pao came out and surrounded them. They made a stand for a time, but were soon worsted and fled. The army of Shu pursued the beaten enemy to the banks of the River Wei, where they took possession of the enemy's camp.

Ts'ao Chên was greatly chagrined at his defeat and sad at the loss of his captains. He send a repart of his misfortune to his master and asked for reinforcements.

At the court of Wei one of the ministers told the story of defeat of Ts'ao Chên and the allies and asked the king to decide upon the next step. Jui was alarmed and asked for someone to say how to drive off the victorious foe. Thereupon Hua Hsin said, "It will be necessary for Your Majesty to go in person. You should call together all the nobles, and each will have to exert himself. Unless this is done the capital will be lost and the whole country be in danger."

But Chung Yu opposed him. Said he, "The knowledge of every leader must exceed that of those led; then only will he be able to control them. Sun, the military writer, sums it up very briefly: 'Know the enemy, know thyself; and every battle is a victory.' I know Ts'ao Chên has had great experience in the field, but he is no match for Chuko Liang. Still there is such a match, and I will pledge my whole family that he will succeed. But Your Majesty may be unwilling to listen to me."

King Jui replied, "You are a minister of high rank and old. If you know any wise man able to repel these men of Shu, call him without delay and ease my mind.

Then said Chung Yu, "When Chuko Liang decided to invade us he was afraid of the one man I will name. Wherefore he spread calumnies concerning him, raising suspicion in Your Majesty's mind that you might dismiss him. That done, he invaded. Now employ this man again, and the enemy will retire."

"Who is it?" asked Jui.

"I mean the great general Ssuma I."

"I have long regretted my action," said Jui. "Where now is friend Ssuma?"

"He is at the city of Wan, idle."

An edict was prepared recalling Ssuma and restoring him to his rank and titles, and conferring upon him the new title Commander-in-chief, "Pacificator of the West." The troops of Nanyang were set in motion and King Jui led them to Ch'angan. At the same time he ordered Ssuma I to be there to meet him on a certain day. And the orders were sent by a swift messenger to the city of Wan.

At this time K'ung-ming greatly rejoiced at the success he had had. He was at Ch'ishan, busy with plans for other victories, when Li Yen, who was still in command at Jungan, sent his son Li Fêng to the camp. K'ung-ming concluded that such a visit could only mean that Wu had invaded them, and he was in consequence cast down. However, he summoned Li Fêng to his tent, and when asked the object of his mission Li replied that he had joyful news to impart.

"What is your joyful news?" said K'ung-ming.

"Formerly Mêng Ta deserted to Wei, but only because he could do nothing else. Ts'ao P'ei thought much of his cap

abilities, treated him most generously, kept him at his side, gave him titles and offices and so on. But when P'ei died all was changed. In Ts'ao Jui's court were many who were jealous of his influence and power, so that he enjoyed no peace. He used to talk about being originally one of the Shu leaders and he would be forced to do so-and-so. Lately he has sent several confidants with letters to my father asking that he would state his case to you as to the happenings when the five armies came upon Shu. Now he is at Hsinch❜êng, and, hearing you are attacking Wei, he proposes to lead the men of the three districts about Chinch'êng, Hsinch'êng and Shangyung to attack Loyang while you attack Chʻangan, whereby both capitals will be taken. I have brought with me his messenger and his letters."

This was good news, and the bearer was fittingly rewarded. But at that moment came the news that Ts'ao Jui was leading an army to Ch'angan and had recalled the banished Ssuma I to office. This piece of bad news saddened K'ung-ming not a little. He told Ma Su, who at once proposed the plan to capture Ts'ao Jui on the road, and there would be an end of him.

"Do you think I fear him?" said K'ung-ming bitterly. "But the recall of Ssuma I is another matter; that troubles me. And Mêng Ta's proposal will avail nothing if he comes across this man. Mêng Ta is no match for him. He will be captured, and, if he should be, there will be no capital for us." "Why not put Mêng Ta on his guard then?" said Ma Su. K'ung-ming decided to write, and the letter was despatched immediately. Mêng was then at Hsinch'éng, anxiously expecting the return of his last confidential messenger, when, one day, the man returned and gave him this letter from K'ungming himself:

"Your last letter has convinced me of your loyal rectitude, and I still remember with joy our old friendship. If your plan succeed you will certainly stand in the first rank of most worthy ministers. But I scarcely need impress upon you the extreme necessity for most perfect secrecy. Be very careful whom you trust. Fear everyone, guard against everyone. This news of the recall of Ssuma I and the proposed junction of armies at Ch'angan is very serious, and if a word reaches Ssuma he will come to you first. Therefore take every precaution and do not regard this as a matter of unimportance."

"They say K'ung-ming leaves nothing to chance," said Mêng, smiling as he read. "This proves it."

He lost no time in preparing a reply, which he sent also by a trusty messenger. This letter was like this:-"I acknowledge your most valuable advice, but is it possible that I should be remiss? For my part I do not think the Ssuma