"The T'ai-fu will surely keep faith with me," said Ts'ao. The seal was borne away, and the captains, thus released from the bonds of discipline, dispersed and the hosts melted away. When the brothers reached the Floating Bridge, they were ordered to go to their dwellings, and they went. Their supporters were imprisoned to await the pleasure of the Emperor.

Ts'ao Shuang and his friends, so lately all-powerful, entered the city alone, without even a servant following. As Huan approached the bridge, Ssŭma, from horseback, pointed his whip disdainfully at him and said, "What brought you to this?" Huan made no reply, but with head bent followed the others.

It was decided to request the Emperor to declare the hunt at an end and order a return to the city. The three Ts'aos were confined in their own house, the gate whereof was fastened with a huge lock, and soldiers were set to guard it round about. They were sad and anxious, not knowing what would be their fate. Then Ts'ao Hsi said, "We have but little food left. Let us write and ask for supplies. If he send us food we may be sure he does not intend harm."

They wrote, and ample supplies were sent. This cheered them, and they thought their lives were safe.

The eunuch Chang Fang was arrested and put to the question. He said he was not the only one who had tried to subvert the government, and he named the five friends of Ts'ao Shuang. So they were arrested and, when interrogated, confessed that a revolt had been arranged for the third month. All were locked in one long wooden collar. The Warden of the Gate testified that Huan Fan had imposed upon him with a pretended command from Her Majesty and so had escaped out of the city. Beside he had said the T'ai-fu was a rebel.

Then said Ssuma I, "When a man maligns another and is false, the punishment for such a crime as he imputes falls upon his own head."

Huan and those with him were thrown into prison.

Presently Ts'ao Shuang and his brothers, and all persons connected with them, were put to death in the market-place. All the treasure of their houses was sent to the public treasury. Now there was a certain woman of the Hsiahou family who had been wife to a second cousin of Ts'ao Shuang's. Early left a childless widow, her father wished her to marry again. She refused and cut off one ear as a pledge of constancy. However, when the Ts'aos were all put to death her father arranged another marriage for her; whereupon she cut off her nose. Her own people were chagrined at her obstinate determination.

"For whom are you keeping your vow?" said they. "Man is but as the light dust upon the tender grass, and what is the good of mutilating your body?"

The woman replied, weeping, "The honourable woman does not break a vow of chastity for the sake of wealth, and the heart of a righteous woman is constant unto death. While the house of Ts'ao enjoyed prosperity I remained faithful; how much more should I be true now that it has fallen upon evil days? Can I act like a mere beast of the field?"

The story of her devotion came to the ears of Ssŭma, who praised her conduct and allowed her to adopt a son to rear as her own and so continue the family.

A poem says:

What is a man to be mindful of?

A grain of dust on a blade of grass;
Such virtue as Hsiahou's daughter had
Stands out sublime as the ages pass.
This fair young wife of gentle mien
Dared all to maintain her purpose high.
What man though strong in the flush of life
Has equalled her in constancy?

After Ts'ao Shuang had suffered death, Chiang Chi recalled certain others who had been of his party and were still alive, notably Yang Tsung, who had opposed the surrender of the seal of the late minister. However, no action was taken against them.

"He is a righteous man who serves his master faithfully," said Ssuma, and he even confirmed these men in their offices. Hsin Ch'ang remembered that it had been on the advice of his sister that he had decided to stand by his lord, and thus had saved his reputation.

A poet has praised his sister's conduct.

"You call him lord and take his pay,

Then stand by him when danger nears."
Thus to her brother spake Hsien-ying,
And won fair fame though endless years.

A general amnesty was extended to all Ts'ao's partizans, and no officer was removed or dismissed for having supported the late order of things. All were left in possession of their property, and soon all was tranquillity.

However, it is to be noted that Ho and Têng met the unhappy end that Kuan Lu had foretold for them.

The seer Kuan Lu was deeply read
In all the lore of th' ancient sages.
Thus he could see events to come

As clear as those of former ages.
And he perceived the soul of Ho,
Already in the vale of gloom,
And knew the outer shell of Têng

Was hastening to an early tomb.

After his recovery of power, Ssŭma was made Prime Minister and received the Nine Gifts. Ssuma refused these

honours, but the king insisted and would take no denial. His two sons were made assistants to their father, and all state affairs fell under the control of these three.

However, Ssŭma remembered that one man, Hsiahou Pa, a member of the Ts'ao clan, still commanded at Yungchou. In his position he might be a real danger, and he must be removed. So an edict was issued calling him to the capital to discuss affairs. But instead of obeying this call, Hsiahou declared himself a rebel, although he had but a small force to support him. As soon as this was known, Kuo Huai marched to suppress the malcontent. The two armies were soon face to face, and Kuo went to the front and began to revile his opponent.

"How could you rebel against the ruling house, you who are of the same clan as our great founder, and who have always been treated generously?"

Hsiahou Pa replied, "My forefathers served the state right well, but who is this Ssuma that he has put to death my kinsmen and would now destroy me? What is his aim, if it be not to usurp the Throne? If I can cut him off and so frustrate his design I shall at least be no traitor to the state."

Kuo Huai rode forward to attack, and Hsiahou advanced to the encounter. They fought a half score of bouts, and then Kuo turned and fled. But this was only a feint to lead on his enemy, for ere Hsiahou had gone far he heard a shout behind him and turned to see Ch'ên T'ai about to attack. At the same moment Kuo turned again, and thus Hsiahou was between two fires. He could effect nothing, so he fled, losing many men. Soon he decided that his only course was to desert to Shu.

Wherefore he went into Hanchung to see if haply the Later Ruler would accept his services. When Chiang Wei heard of his desire to surrender, he had doubts of his sincerity. However, after due enquiry Chiang was satisfied and allowed the renegade from Wei to enter the city. After making his obeisance, Hsiahou, with many tears, told the story of his wrongs. Chiang expressed sympathy.

Said he, "A thousand years ago Wei Tsŭ left the court of Chou in disgust, and this act has assured to him everlasting honour. You may be able now to assist in the restoration of the House of Han, and you will then stand no whit inferior to any man of antiquity.'

A banquet was ordered, and while it was being prepared the host talked of affairs in the capital.

"The Ssuma family is now most powerful and in a position to carry out any scheme they planned. Think you that they have any intentions against us?"

"The old traitor has enough to do with his rebellion; he has no leisure to trouble about any outside matters. However, two other men in Wei have lately come to the front, and if he

sent them against your country and Wu it might go ill with you both."

"And who are these two?"

"One is named Chung Hui, a man of Ch'angsha; he is a descendant of the T'ai-fu Chung Yu. As a mere boy he was noted for being bold and smart. His father used to take him and his brother to court. Chung Hui was seven and his brother a year older. The Emperor Ts'ao P'ei noticed one day that the elder boy was sweating and asked him the

reason.

"Whenever I am frightened the sweat pours out and I cannot help it,'" replied the boy.

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'You do not seem frightened,' said the Emperor to the other.

"I am so frightened that the sweat cannot come out,' replied he.

"The Emperor was the only one who discerned the extraordinary ability of the boy. A little later the lad was always studying books on war and tactics, and became an able strategist, so that he won admiration from both Ssŭma and Chiang Chi.

"The second man is Têng Ai. He was left an orphan very early, but he was ambitious and enterprising. If he saw lofty mountains or wide marshes he always looked for those points where soldiers might be stationed or dépôts of provisions made or combustibles laid. People ridiculed him, but Ssuma saw there was much to admire and employed the young man on his staff.

"Têng Ai had an impediment in his speech, so that he called himself 'Ai-Ai,' and Ssuma used to make fun of him and asked him one day how many there were of him since he called himself 'Ai-Ai.'

"Têng at once replied, "There was only one Fêng in the Lun-yü when Chieh Yu cried 'O Fêng.'

"This ready repartee shows the quickness of his intellect, and you may well be on your guard against him and the other, for they are to be feared."

"I do not think them worth even talking about," replied. Chiang Wei.

Chiang Wei took Hsiahou Pa to Ch'êngtu and presented him to the king, telling the story of events in Loyang, the overthrow of Ts'ao Shuang, the rise of the Ssŭma family to supreme power, the weakness of Ts'ao Fang, the king, and then proposed that another attempt be made to re-establish the House of Han in its old capital.

But Fei I opposed any expedition, saying, "We have lately lost by death two trusty counsellors, and there is no one left fit to take care of the government. The attempt should be postponed."

"Not so," replied Chiang. "Life is short. Our days flash by as the glint of a white horse across a chink in the door. We are waiting and waiting. Are we never to try to restore Han to its old glory?"

"Remember the saying of the wise Sun: 'Know thyself and know thine enemy. Then is victory sure.' Then is victory sure.' We are not the equals of the late Prime Minister, and where he failed, are we likely to succeed?"

Chiang said, "I would enlist the aid of the Ch'iang. I have lived near them in Shênsi and know them well. With their help, even if we do not gain the capital and the whole empire, we can at least conquer and hold all west of Shênsi."

The king here closed the discussion, saying, "Sir, as you desire to conquer Wei, do your best. I will not damp your enthusiasm."

Thus the king's consent was given. Then Chiang Wei left the court and betook himself, with Hsiahou Pa, into Hanchung to prepare for a new expedition.

"We will first send an envoy to the Ch'iang to make a league with them," said Chiang. "Then we will march out by Hsip'ing to Yungchou, where we will throw up two ramparts near the Ch'ü Hills and garrison them. The position is a point of vantage. Then we will send supplies to Ch'uank‘ou, and advance gradually, according to the plan devised by the great strategist."

In the autumn of the year they sent the two Shu generals Chü An and Li Hsin, with a large force, to construct the two ramparts, of which Chü was to hold the eastern and Li the western.

When the news reached Yungchou, the Governor, Kuo Huai, sent a report to Loyang and also despatched a force to oppose the men of Shu. When that army arrived both the Shu captains led their men to meet it, but their armies were too weak and they once more retired into the city. The army of Wei laid siege and occupied the road that led to Hanchung, so that supplies were cut off. After some days, and when the men of Shu began to feel the pinch of hunger, Kuo Huai came to see what progress his two lieutenants were making. At sight of the position he rejoiced exceedingly, and when he returned to camp he said to Ch'ên T'ai, "In this high country the city must be short of water, which means that the besieged must come out for supplies. Let us cut off the streams that supply them, and they will perish of thirst."

So the soldiers were set to work to divert the streams above the city, and the besieged were soon distressed. Li Hsin led out a strong force to try to seize the water sources and fought stubbornly, but was at length worsted and driven back within the walls.