the besiegers. On the fourth day Liu Pei led an attack on the west gate, sending his two lieutenants to attack the east. The south gate was left to give the besieged a chance to escape if they would.

Now, outside the south gate of Loch'êng the country was rough and hilly, while the swift Fou River ran past the north. For this reason the city could not be surrounded. From the city wall Chang Jên watched the progress of the attack and saw Yüan-tê the whole day indefatigably going to and fro directing the assault. He also saw that as the sun dropped toward the west the attacking force showed signs of weariness. Wherefore he sent his two captains, Wu Lan and Lei T'ung, out of the city by the north gate with orders to make their way around and attack Liu Pei's two lieutenants. He said he himself would go out by the south gate and steal round to attack Liu Pei. Lest the withdrawal of men from the ramparts should discover his plans, he sent the populace up on the walls to make a show and bade them shout loudly to reinforce the rolling of the drums.

At sundown Yüan-tê ordered the retirement of his army, and the rearmost company turned about to march back to camp. At this moment arose still louder shouting from the ramparts, and out at the south gate burst Chang Jên and his force. Chang made straight for Yüan-tê, who was in the middle of his army. His men were thrown into confusion. As his two lieutenants on the east side were also attacked, they could render no help, and Yüan-tê fled to the hills. Chang followed and soon got very near. They were a whole company pursuing one solitary man, and as Yüan-tê plied his whip he felt that the odds were much against him. Just then he saw another company of soldiers ahead, emerging from a hill path.

"An ambush in front; pursuers in rear! Surely Heaven wishes to destroy me!" cried he.

But all was not lost. As they drew nearer he recognised his own men, and the leader who dashed to meet him was his brother Chang Fei.

Chang Fei and Yen Yen had happened to take that road and Chang Fei had hastened forward when he saw the dust of conflict.

The two Changs soon came up with each other and they fought a half score bouts. By this time Yen Yen with the main body had come up and Chang Jên turned and fled. Chang Fei followed and chased him as far as the city wall. The gate was opened to allow Chang Jên to enter and at once shut. drawbridge was raised.

The

Then Chang Fei returned to his elder brother to report his arrival and the incidents of the way. Hearing that K'ungming had not yet arrived, he rejoiced, saying, "So I have the credit of first arrival although he is travelling by river."

Yüan-tê said, "But how is it you have come so quickly seeing the precipitous road you had to travel? Did you meet no opposition?"

Chang replied, "The fact is I have taken the forty-five places on the way by making use of the veteran general Yen, whom I captured. It was not my own merit at all. I have come all the way without the least effort."

He told the story of Yen's capture and services from beginning to end, and then presented the man himself.

Yüan-tê said, "General, my brother's speedy arrival is certainly owing to your help." Whereupon he took off the golden chain mantlet he was wearing and gave it to his new ally.

Orders were given for a banquet. While it was being prepared a messenger came to say that Huang and Wei had been fighting with the two captains Wu and Lei and had held their own till enemy reinforcements had arrived. They had then gone away eastward. Chang Fei at once asked his brother to go with him to rescue them. Both went. When Wu and Lei saw the men of Han coming they retired into the city. The other two continued the pursuit.

The coming of Yüan-tê and Chang Fei threatened their rear and the fugitives turned and recommenced the battle. The two captains were thus between two fires and helpless. They offered to surrender and were received. Yüan-tê returned to his own camp near the city.

The loss of his two captains grieved Chang Jên sorely. He called his remaining two and asked advice. They proposed to risk all in one desperate battle while they sent to Ch'êngtu to tell their master of their sorry plight.

Chang Jên agreed. Said he, "To-morrow I will go and challenge them. If they accept and come out to fight, I will feign retreat and inveigle them round to the north side of the city. As they follow me, a sortie must be made when they pass the gate so as to cut their army in two. We ought to overcome them in this way."

"Let me lead the sortie," said Wu I. "General Liu can stay to help our lord's son guard the city."

This also was agreed to. Next morning Chang Jên went out to offer the challenge, his men waving flags and shouting lustily. At once Chang Fei took up the challenge and rode out. He stayed not to parley, but galloped up to Chang Jên and engaged him. After half a score of bouts Chang Jên seemed to be getting worsted, so he turned and fled, taking the way around the north of the city. Chang Fei pursued him with all speed. Then as he passed the gate the sortie was made so that Chang Fei was between two forces and unable to get clear. Chang Jên turned back to attack.

Chang Fei seemed in a parlous state. But at this very moment a body of soldiers came up from the river-side and a

fierce warrior rode straight for Wu I, and in the first bout made him prisoner. His men were then easily forced back and Chang Fei was free. It was Chao Yün who had so opportunely appeared.

"Where is the Commander-in-chief?" asked Chang Fei. "He has arrived; I think he has already seen our lord," replied Chao.

was.

The prisoner was carried to the camp where K'ung-ming Fei dismounted and went in to greet him. K'ung-ming was surprised, and said, "How comes it that you arrived before me?"

Yuan-tê told the story of Fei's prudence and sagacity in dealing with Yen. K'ung-ming congratulated him and said, "When Chang Fei behaves with such skill my lord's good fortune is indeed ample."

When the prisoner was taken in, Yüan-tê asked him if he would surrender.

He replied, "Why not, seeing I am a prisoner?"

Thereupon Yüan-tê himself loosed his bonds. K'ung-ming began to question him upon the defence. Wu told him the names of the officers, adding, "Liu Kuei does not count for much, but Chang Jên is a man to be avoided."

"Then before we can get the city we must capture Chang," said K'ung-ming.

"There is a bridge on the east; what is it called?"

"It is known as the Bridge of the Golden Goose." "

K'ung-ming rode over to the bridge and scrutinised the neighbourhood.

After his return to camp he summoned Huang and Wei for orders. To them he said, "On the east of the city is a bridge called the 'Bridge of the Golden Goose' and about five li south of this I saw a dense growth of reed and sedge which would afford excellent shelter. Wei is to lead a company of men to the left and attack, but only attack horsemen. Huang will lead a company of swordsmen who are to hough the horses. When Chang Jên has lost most of his men and horses he will flee by the hill road, where he will fall into an ambush.

Next Chao Yün was called and sent to lie in ambush close to the bridge, which he was to destroy as soon as the enemy had crossed. That done, Chao was to take up a position beyond the bridge to prevent the enemy from getting away to the north. Forced to the south, their destruction was inevitable. These arrangements made, K'ung-ming himself went to challenge the enemy and try to bring them to battle.

The Prefect had sent two captains to reinforce Chang Jên. He sent one of them to the help of Liu Kuei in the city, while the other, Cho Ying by name, was to march second with Chang himself. K'ung-ming guilefully led out a mob of disorderly looking soldiers, all in disarray, whom he drew up as if they

were a fighting force. He himself, dressed in a simple robe and toying with a fan, took his seat in a small four-wheeled carriage. A few horsemen caracolling gaily to and fro formed his escort.

Having crossed the bridge, K'ung-ming halted and pointed to Chang Jên, saying, "Dare you withstand me and not surrender when Ts'ao Ts'ao's hundred legions fled at my name?"

But the enemy leader was rather occupied with inspecting the disorderly lot of soldiers he saw in front, all standing anyhow and not drawn up into "fives" at all. With a cynical smile, he said, "People talk of Chuko Liang's superhuman military genius; I say his reputation is false."

With that he whirled his spear about his head and he dashed forward with all his men. As he came, K'ung-ming left his carriage, mounted a horse and retired to the far side of the bridge. Chang impetuously pursued and rushed over the Bridge of the Golden Goose. It was only when he had reached the other side that he saw a body of soldiers on either hand. Then he knew that he had been led into a trap.

As soon as he had got across the bridge the two bodies of soldiers came to the attack. Chang turned to re-cross to the north, but Chao Yün had done his work and the bridge was in ruins. He made to turn away north, but Chao's men stopped the way. So he had to turn southward and followed the course of the river. He presently reached the place where grew the reeds and sedges. Out came Wei and his company of spearmen, who attacked fiercely while Huang, with his swordsmen, houghed the horses. Men and horses were soon lying on the ground. The few survivors were quickly made prisoners and bound with cords.

No footman escaped. But a few lucky horsemen followed Chang and got away to the hills. There they met Chang Fei, who fell upon them with a mighty roar, scattered the few men and captured the leader. Seeing Chang Jên a prisoner, his second in command turned toward Chao Yün and surrendered. Victorious, they returned to camp. Yüan-tê rewarded Cho

Ying.

When the leader Chang Jên was led in by Chang Fei, K'ungming was seated beside his lord.

"Why have you held out so long after all the other captains of Shu have yielded?" said Yüan-tê.

"Can a loyal servant take a second master?" cried Chang fiercely, his eyes glaring with hate.

"You do not know the times; submission means life."

"I might submit to-day, but it would not endure. I should repent it. You had better slay me."

Yüan-tê was inclined to mercy, but the prisoner was irreconcilable and kept up a stream of furious abuse. So at last

the order was given for his execution, thus giving him a right to fame.

A poem says:—

No second lord the heroic servant knows,

The way of death Chang Jên contented goes.
Clear shines his fame as doth the heavenly moon
That nightly lights the ramparts of Lo Town.

Yüan-tê grieved for him although he had been an enemy, for he was a brave man. He was given honourable burial, sepulture beside the Bridge of the Golden Goose, where all the passers-by would be reminded of his loyalty.

Next day the army moved on to Loch'êng, Yen Yen and the other captains who had submitted leading the way. At the gate they hailed the wardens and called upon them to surrender, whereby the city should be saved from utter destruction. From the wall, Liu Kuei abused the treacherous Yen and took his bow to shoot, but just as he was fitting the arrow to the string another man cut him down. Soon the gates were thrown open and the city had yielded.

As Yüan-tê entered the city by one gate, Liu Hsün, who had shared the command of the city, escaped by another gate and set off for Ch'êngtu.

Yüan-tê put forth proclamations to allay the fears of the inhabitants of the city. He enquired who had been on his side in cutting down Liu Kuei and was told it was one Chang I, of Wuyang. He and all who had helped in the capture were amply rewarded.

"Our next city is Ch'êngtu." said K'ung-ming. "However, in the meantime there may be some trouble in pacifying the outlying districts, and hence it will be well for you to send Chao Yün and Chang Fei, with a certain number of those who have joined us, into the country around to reassure the people and to repress any risings that may take place. There will be no need for any especial precautions in the neighbourhood of Ch'êngtu."

The two warriors went their ways, and then K'ung-ming began to make careful enquiries concerning the road to Ch'êngtu. Certain of those who had given in their allegiance to the invaders said that the only place where they could expect any serious defence was Mienchu. Once they had passed this the capital lay at their mercy.

Then Fa Chêng was consulted. Said he, "With the fall of Loch'êng the land of Shu passed to you. Let our lord only deal with the people kindly and justly and there will be no need of weapons. I can write such a letter to the Prefect Liu Chang as shall make him surrender at call."

"That would be most excellent," said K'ung-ming.

The letter was written and sent by the hand of a messenger.