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 Ch'angan, 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 himseif :

"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

affair need cause anxiety, for Wanch'êng is eight hundred li from Loyang and twelve hundred li from here. Should he hear anything, it would take a month to send a memorial and get a reply. My ramparts here are strong and my forces posted in the best positions. Let him come! I am not afraid of the result, so you, O Minister, need feel no anxiety. You have only to wait for the good news of success.'

K'ung-ming read the letter and threw it on the ground, stamping his foot with rage.

"You are a dead man," said he; "a victim of Ssuma I." "Why do you say that?" said Ma Su.

"What does the book say? 'Attack before the enemy is prepared; do what he does not expect.' What is the use of reckoning upon a month's delay for sending up a memorial? Ts'ao Jui's commission has already gone and Ssuma may strike whom he will. He will not have to wait to memorialise. Ten days after he hears of Mêng's defection he will be upon him with an army, and Mêng Ta will be helpless."

The others agreed. However, K'ung-ming sent the messenger back again to say that if the matter had not yet actually started no other person was to be told of it, for if anyone knew it would certainly come to nothing. And the man left for Hsinch'êng.

In his idle retreat in Wan City Ssuma had heard of his master's ill-success against the armies of Shu, and the news. made him very sad. He lifted up his eyes and sighed.

He had two sons, Shih the elder and Chao, both clever and ambitious, and both earnest students of military books. One day they were present when their father seemed very cast down, and the elder asked his father the reason.

"You would not understand," said the father.

"I think you are grieving because the lord of Wei does not use you," replied Ssuma Shih.

"But they will send for you presently," said the younger son. The prophecy was not long in fulfilment, for even then the bearer of the command stood at the gate, and the servant announced a messenger from the court bearing a commission. As soon as he heard its terms, Ssuma set about ordering the armies of his own city. Soon came a messenger from the Prefect of Chinch'êng with a secret message for Ssuma I. He was taken into a private chamber, and his message was that Mêng Ta was on the point of rebellion. The authority for this was a confidential fried, Li Fu, and a nephew, Têng Hsien.

Ssuma I smote his forehead.

"This is the Emperor's great good fortune, high as heaven itself. Chuko Liang's army is at Ch'ishan already, and if he had got these places all men's courage would fail. The Emperor must go to Ch'angan, and if he does not use me soon

Mêng Ta will carry out his plan; his plot will succeed and both capitals will be lost. This fellow is surely in league with the enemy, and if I can seize him before he makes any move, that will damp Chuko's spirits and he will retreat." His elder son remarked that it would be necessary to memorialise.

"No," replied his father; "that would take a month, and delay would mean failure."

Ssuma gave orders to prepare to advance by double marches and threatened death to all loiterers. In order to avert suspicion, he sent letters to Mêng Ta in Hsinch'êng to tell him to prepare to join the expedition.

Ssuma I quickly followed this messenger.

After two days'

march the general Hsü Huang came over the hills and told Ssuma that the Emperor had arrived at Ch'angan to lead an expedition against Shu, and he asked whither the Commanderin-chief was then going.

Ssuma, in a low voice, said to him, "Mêng Ta is on the verge of rebellion, and I am going to seize him."

"Let me go as your van-leader," said Hsü.

So Hsü Huang's men were joined to the expedition and marched in the van. The sons of Ssŭma I brought up the

rear.

Two days farther on some of the scouts captured Mêng Ta's confidential messenger, and with him K'ung-ming's reply. Ssuma promised the man his life if he would tell all he knew. So he told all about the letters and messages he had taken from one to the other. When Ssuma read the captured letter he remarked that all able people thought the same way.

"Our plan would have been foiled by K'ung-ming's cleverness unless, by the good luck of the Emperor, this man had been captured. Now Mêng Ta will be helpless."

The army pressed on still more rapidly.

Mêng Ta had arranged for his stroke with the Prefects of the other two cities and was awaiting the way he had fixed. But the other two, Shên I and Chên Ch'ên, were only pretending to abet him, although they went on training and drilling their men to keep up appearances till the men of Wei could arrive. To Mêng Ta they pretended delay in their transport as the reason for being unable to start. And he believed them. Just then Liang Ch'i came, and when he had been ceremoniously received, he produced the order from Ssuma I and said, "The Commander-in-chief has received the edict of the Emperor to call in all the forces in this district, and he has sent me to direct you to hold your men in readiness to march."

"On what day does the Commander-in-chief start?" asked Mêng Ta.

"He is just about starting now," replied the messenger.

Mêng smiled inwardly, for, this being so, he saw success before him. He gave a banquet to Liang, and after he had set him on his way he sent to his fellow conspirators to say the first step must be taken next day by exchanging the banners of Wei for those of Han and marching to attack Loyang.

Then the watchmen reported a great cloud of dust in the distance as though an army was coming. Mêng Ta was surprised and went up on the ramparts to see for himself. Soon he made out the banner of Hsü Huang leading. He ran down from the wall and in a state of trepidation ordered the raising of the drawbridge. Hsü Huang still came on and in due time stood on the bank of the moat.

Then he called out, "Let the traitor Mêng Ta yield quickly!" Mêng Ta, in a rage, opened upon him with arrows, and Hsü Huang was wounded in the forehead. He was helped to a place of safety while the arrows flew down in great numbers. When the men of Wei retired, Meng opened the gates and went in pursuit. But the whole of Ssuma's army soon came up, and the banners stood so thick that they hid the sun.

"This is what K'ung-ming foresaw," said Mêng despairingly. The gates were closed and barred.

Meanwhile the wounded captain, Hsü, had been borne to his tent, where the arrow head was extracted and the physician attended to him. But that night he died. He was fifty-nine. His body was sent to Loyang for burial.

Next day, when Mêng went up on the wall, he saw the city was entirely surrounded as with a girdle of iron. He was greatly perturbed and could not decide what to do. Presently he saw two bodies of troops coming up, their banners bearing the names of his fellow conspirators. He could only conclude that they had come to his help, so he opened the gates to them and went out to fight.

"Rebel, stay!" cried they both as they came up.

Realising that they had been false, he turned and galloped toward the city, but a flight of arrows met him, and the two who had betrayed him, Li Fu and Têng Hsien, began to revile. him.

"We have already yielded the city," they cried.

Then Mêng Ta fled. But he was pursued, and as he and his horse were both exhausted he was speedily overtaken and slain. They exposed his head, and his soldiers submitted. Ssuma was welcomed at the open gates. The people were pacified, the soldiers were rewarded and, this done, a report of their success was sent to Ts'ao Jui.

Ts'ao Jui ordered the body of Mêng Ta to be exposed in the market place of Loyang, and he promoted the two Shêns and gave them posts in the army of Ssuma. He gave the two betrayers command of the cities of Hsinch'êng and Shangyung.