Then

The head of the victim was paraded round the camps. it was sewn again to the body and buried with it. K'ung-ming conducted the sacrifices for the dead and read the oration. A monthly allowance was made for the family and they were consoled as much as possible. Next K'ung-ming made his memorial to the Throne and bade Chiang Wan bear it to the king. Therein he proposed his own degradation from his high office.

"Naturally a man of mediocre abilities, I have enjoyed your confidence undeservedly. Having led out an expedition, I have proved my inability to perform the high office of leader. Over solicitude was my undoing. Hence happened disobedience at Chieht'ing and the failure to guard Chiku. The fault is mine in that I erred in the use of men. In my anxiety I was too secretive. The 'Spring and Autumn' has pronounced such as I am to be blameworthy, and whither may I flee from my fault? I pray that I may be degraded three degrees as punishment. I cannot express my mortification. I humbly await your command."

"Why does the Prime Minister speak thus?" said the king. "It is but the ordinary fortune of war."

The courtier Fei I said, "The Ruler must enhance the majesty of the law, for without law how can men support him? It is right that the minister should be degraded in rank."

Thereupon an edict was issued reducing K'ung-ming to the rank of a Chiang-chün, Generalissimo, but retaining him in the same position in the direction of state affairs and command of the military forces. Fei I was directed to communicate

the decision.

Fei bore the edict into Hanchung and gave it to K'ung-ming, who bowed to the decree. The envoy thought K'ung-ming might be mortified, so he ventured to felicitate him in other matters.

"It was a great joy to the people when the four districts were captured," said he.

"What sort of language is this?" said K'ung-ming, annoyed. "Success followed by failure is no success. It shames me indeed to hear such a compliment."

"His Majesty will be very pleased to hear of the acquisition of Chiang Wei."

This remark also angered K'ung-ming, who replied, "It is my fault that a defeated army has returned without any gain of territory. What injury to the enemy was the loss of this man?"

Fei I tried again. "But with an army of ten legions of bold men you can attack Wei again."

"When we were at Ch'ishan and Chi Valley we outnumbered the enemy, but we could not conquer them. On the contrary,

they beat us. The defect was not in the number of soldiers, but in the leadership. Now we must reduce the army, discover our faults, reflect on our errors and mend our ways against the future. Unless this is so, what is the use of a numerous army? Hereafter every man will have to look to the future of his country. But most diligently we must fight against our shortcomings and blame our inefficiencies; then we may succeed. Rebellion can be exterminated and merit can be set up."

Fei I and the officers acknowledged the aptness of these remarks. Fei went back to the capital, leaving K'ung-ming in Hanchung resting his soldiers and doing what he could for the people, training and heartening his men and turning special attention to the construction of apparatus for assaults on cities and crossing rivers. He also collected grain and fodder and built battle rafts, all for future use.

The spies of Wei got to know of these doings, and the king called Ssuma I to council and asked how Shu might be annexed. "Shu cannot be attacked," was the reply. "In this present hot weather they will not come out, but, if we invade, they will only garrison and defend their strategic points, which we should find it hard to overcome."

"What shall we do if they invade us again?"

"I have prepared for that. Just now Chuko Liang is imitating Han Hsin when he secretly crossed the river into Ch'ênts'ang. I can recommend a man to guard the place by building a rampart there and rendering it absolutely secure. He is a tall man, round shouldered and powerful, a good archer and prudent strategist. He would be quite equal to dealing with an invasion. His name is Hao Chao, and he is in command ai Hohsi."

The king accepted the recommendation, and an edict went forth promoting this man and sending him to command in the Ch'ênts'ang district.

Soon after this edict was issued, a memorial was received from Ts'ao Hsiu, Minister of War and Commandant of Yangchou, saying that Chou Fang, Prefect of Yehyang, wished to tender his submission and transfer his allegiance, and had sent a man to present a memorandum under seven headings showing how the power of East Wu could be broken and to ask that an army be despatched soon. Ts'ao Jui spread the document out on the couch that he and Ssuma might read it.

"It seems very reasonable," said Ssuma. "Wu could be quite destroyed. Let me go with an army to help Ts'ao Hsiu." But from among the courtiers stepped out Chia K'uei, who said, "What this man of Wu says may be understood in two ways; do not trust it. Chou Fang is a wise and crafty man and very unlikely to desert. In this is some ruse to decoy our soldiers into danger."

"Such words also must be listened to," said Ssuma. "Yet such a chance must not be missed."

"You and he might both go to the help of Ts'ao Hsiu," said the king.

They went; and a large army, led by Ts'ao Hsiu, moved to Wanch'êng (Anking, another to Yangch'êng, just toward the East Pass, and a third under Ssuma I to Chiangling.

Now the King of Wu, Sun Ch'üan, was at the East Pass in Wuchang, and there he assembled his officers and said, "The Prefect of Yehyang, Chou Fang, has sent up a secret memorial saying that Ts'ao Hsiu, of Wei, intends to invade. He has therefore set out a trap for him and has drawn up a document giving seven plausible circumstances, hoping thereby to cajole the Wei army into his power. The armies of Wei are on the move in three divisions, and I need your advice."

Ku Yung stood forth, saying, "There is only one man fit to cope with the present need; he is Lu Hsün."

So Lu Hsün was summoned and made "Upholder of State" General, Master of the Forces and Commander-in-chief of all the State Armies, including the Royal Corps of Guards, and Associate Assistant in the Royal Duties. He was given the White Banners and the Golden Axes, which denoted imperial rank in the days of Chou, and all officers, civil and military, were placed under his orders. Moreover, Sun Ch'üan personally stood beside him and held his whip while he mounted his steed.

Having received all these marks of confidence and favour, Lu Hsün named as his two immediate assistants Chu Huan and Ch'üan Ts'ung, who were approved by the king. Their titles were Right and Left Commander-in-chief respectively.

Then the grand army, comprising all the forces of the eighty one districts of Chiangnan and the levies of Chingchou and Hu, seventy-one legions, was assembled and marched out in three divisions, Lu Hsün in the centre, with his two lieutenants supporting him right and left with the other two columns.

Then said Chu Huan, "Ts'ao Jên is neither able nor bold; he holds office because he is of the blood. He has fallen into the trap laid by Chou Fang and marched too far to be able to withdraw. If the Master of the Forces will smite he must be defeated. Defeated, he must flee along two roads, one Chiashih, the other Kueich'e, both of which are precipitous and narrow. Let me and my colleague go to prepare an ambush in these roads. We will block them and so cut off their escape. If this Ts'ao Hsiu could be captured, and a hasty advance made, success would be easy and sure. We should get Shouch'un, whence Hsüch'ang and Loyang can be seen. This is the one chance in the thousand."

"I do not think the plan good," said Lu Hsün. "I have a better one."

Chu Huan resented the rejection of his scheme and went away angry. Lu Hsün ordered Chuko Chin and certain others to garrison Chiangling and oppose Ssuma I and made all other dispositions of forces.

Ts'ao Hsiu neared Huanch'êng, and Chou Fang came out of the city to welcome him and went to the general's tent. Ts'ao Hsiu said, "I received your letter and the memorandum, which was most logical, and sent it to His Majesty. He has set in motion accordingly three armies. It will be a great merit for you, Sir, if Chiangtung can be added to his dominions. Men say you are insufficient in craft, but I do not believe what they say, for I think you will be true to me. and not fail."

Chou Fang wept. He seized a sword from one of his escort and was about to kill himself, but Ts'ao Hsiu stopped him. Still leaning on the sword, Chou Fang said, "As to the seven things I mentioned, my regret is that I cannot show you all. You doubt me because some persons from Wu have been poisoning your mind against me. If you heed them the only course for me is to die. Heaven only can make manifest my loyal heart."

Again he made to slay himself. But Ts'ao Hsiu in trepidation threw his arms about him, saying, "I did not mean it; the words were uttered in jest. Why do you act thus?" Upon this, Chou Fang, with his sword, cut off his hair and threw it on the ground, saying, "I have dealt with you with sincerity, Sir, and you joke about it. Now I have cut off the hair, which I inherited from my parents, in order to prove my sincerity."

Then Ts'ao Hsiu doubted no more, but trusted him fully and prepared a banquet for him, and when the feast was over Chou Fang returned to his own.

The General Chia K'uei came to Ts'ao Hsiu, and when asked whether there was any special reason for the visit, he said, "I have come to warn you, Commander, to be cautious and wait till you and I can attack the enemy together. The whole army of Wu is encamped at Wanch'êng."

"You mean you want to share in my victory," sneered Ts'ao Hsiu.

"It is said Chou Fang cut off his hair as a pledge of sincerity; that is only another bit of deceit. According to the 'Spring and Autumn' Yao Li cut off his arm as a pledge that he meant to assassinate Ch'ing Chi; mutilation is no guarantee. Do not trust him."

"Why do you come to utter ill-omened words just as I am opening the campaign? You destroy the spirit of the army,' said Ts'ao.

In his wrath he told the lictors to put Chia to death. However, the officers interceded, and Chia was reprieved; but

he was not assigned any part in the campaign, and his men were left in reserve. He himself went away to Tung Kuan. When Chou Fang heard that Chia had been broken, he rejoiced in his heart, saying, "If Ts'ao Hsiu had attended to his words then Wu would have lost. Heaven is good to me and is giving me the means of achieving great things."

Then he sent a secret messenger to Wanch'êng, and Lu Hsün knew that the time had come. He assembled the officers for orders.

Lu said, "Shiht'ing, lying over against us, is a nilly country fit for preparing an ambush. It will be occupied as suitable to array our army and await the coming of Wei. Hsü Shêng

is to be leader of the van, and the army will move."

Now Ts'ao Hsiu told Chou Fang to lead the way for his attack. He asked Chou the name of the place lying ahead, and was told Shiht‘ing.

“It is a suitable place to camp in," said Chou Fang.

Sc a great camp was made there. But soon after the scouts reported that a very large number of soldiers of Wu had occupied the hills. Ts'ao Hsiu began to feel alarmed. "Chou Fang said there were no soldiers; why these preparations?" He hastily sought Chou Fang to ask him, and was told he had gone away, no one knew whither.

"I have been deceived and am in a trap," said Ts'ao Hsiu, now very repentant of his easy confidence. "However, there is nothing to fear."

Then he made his arrangements to march against the enemy, and when they were complete and the array drawn up. Chang P'u, the leader of the van, rode out and began to rail at the men of Wu.

"Rebel leader, come and surrender!" cried Chang. Then rode out Hsü Sheng and fought with him.

But Chang was no match for the men of Wu, as was soon evident, wherefore he led his men to retire.

"Hsü Shêng is too strong," said he when he saw Ts'ao Hsiu.

"Then will we defeat him by a surprise," said Ts'ao Hsiu.

He sent Chang with two legions to hide in the south of Shiht'ing, while another equal party was sent north. And they arranged that on the morrow Ts'ao Hsiu, by pretended defeat, should lead the men of Wei into the ambush thus prepared.

On the other side Lu Hsün called his two lieutenants Chu and Ch'üan and said, "Each of you is to lead three legions. and take a cross cut from Shiht'ing to the enemy's camp. Give a signal on arrival, and then the main army will advance between you."

As evening fell these two moved out their men, and by the middle of the second watch both had got close to the camp of

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