are to be allowed to obtain a permanent hold on some province? I do not understand the arguments.

"A stable condition of affairs is indeed difficult to obtain. Once, when the late Emperor was defeated in Ch'u, Ts'ao Ts'ao patted himself on the back and said that the empire was settled. Yet, after that, the late Emperor obtained the support of Wu and Yüeh on the east, took Pa and Shu on the west and undertook an expedition to the north, wherein Hsiahou lost his life. So Ts'ao Ts'ao's calculations proved erroneous, and the affairs of Han seemed about to prosper. But, still later, Wu proved false to pledges, our Kuan was defeated, we sustained a check at Tzukuei-and Ts'ao P'ei assumed the imperial style. Such events prove the difficulty of forecast. I shall strive on to the end, but the final result, whether success or failure, whether gain or loss, is beyond my powers to foresee."

The king was convinced, and by edict directed K'ung-ming to start on the expedition. He marched out with thirty legions of well-trained men, Wei Yen leading the first division, and made all haste to Ch'ênts'ang.

The news soon reached Loyang, and Ssŭma I informed the King of Wei, who called his council. Then Ts'ao Chên stepped forth and said, "I failed to hold Shênsi, and my disgrace is terrible to bear. But now I beg to be given another command that I may capture Chuko Liang. Lately I have found a stalwart soldier for a leader, a man who wields a sixty catty sword, rides a swift and savage steed, bends the two hundred catty bow and carries hidden about him when he goes into battle three meteor maces with which his aim is certain. So valorous is he that none dare stand against him. He comes from Shênsi and is named Wang Shuang. I would recommend him for my leader of the van.'

Ts'ao Jui approved at once and summoned this marvel to the hall. There came a tall man with a dusky complexion, hazel eyes, strong as a bear in the hips and with a back supple as a tiger's.

"No need to fear anything with such a man," said Ts'ao Jui, laughing.

He gave the new hero rich presents, a silken robe and golden breastplate, and gave him the title "Tiger-majesty" General. And he became leader of the van of the new army.

Ts'ao Chên took leave of his master and left the court. He collected his fifteen legions of veterans and, in consultation with Kuo Huai and Chang Ho, decided upon the districts and the points to be guarded.

The first companies of the army of Shu sent out their scouts as far as Ch'ênts'ang. They came back and reported that a rampart had been built and behind it was a captain named Hao Chao in command. The rampart was very strong and

was further defended by "deerhorns." And they thought it would be well to give up all thought of taking it and go out to Ch'ishan by T'aipailing, where was a practicable, though winding, road.

But K'ung-ming said, "Due north of Ch'ênts'ang is Chieht'ing, so that I must get this city in order to advance."

Wei Yen was sent to surround the city and take it. He went, but days passed without success. Therefore he returned and told his chief the place was impregnable. In his anger, K'ung-ming was going to put his general to death, but a certain Yin Hsiang, who said he was a close friend of Hao's, suddenly asked to be allowed to try the effect of persuasion.

"How do you think you will persuade him?" said K'ungming. "What will you say?"

"We are both from Shensi and pledged friends from boyhood. If I can get to see him I will so lay matters before him that he must surrender."

He got permission to try, and rode quickly to the wall. Then he called out, "Friend Hao, your old chum Yin has come to see you."

A sentry on the wall told Hao Chao, who bade them let the visitor enter and bring him up on the wall.

"Friend, why have you come?" asked Hao.

"I am in the service of Shu, serving under K'ung-ming as an assistant in the tactical department. I am treated exceedingly well, and my chief has sent me to say something to you."

Hao was rather annoyed, and said, "Chuko is our enemy. I serve Wei while you serve Shu. Each serves his own lord. We were brothers once, but now we are enemies; so do not say any more."

And the visitor was requested to take his leave. He tried to reopen the conversation, but his friend left him and went up on the tower. The Wei soldiers hurried him on to his horse and led him to the gate. As he passed out he looked up and saw his friend leaning on the guard rail. He pulled up his horse, pointed with his whip at Hao, and said, "My friend and worthy brother, why has your friendship become so thin?"

"Brother, you know the laws of Wei," replied Hao. "I have accepted their bounty, and if that leads to death, so be it. Say no more, but return quickly to your master and tell him to come and attack. I am not afraid."

So the abashed Yin had to return and report failure. "He would not let me begin to explain," said he.

"Try again," said K'ung-ming. "Go and really talk to him." So the go-between soon found himself once more at the foot of the wall. Hao presently appeared on the tower, and Yin shouted to him, "My worthy brother, please listen to my words.

while I explain clearly. Here you are holding one single city; how can you think of opposing ten legions? If you do not yield, you will be sorry when it is too late. Instead of serving the great Hans, you are serving a depraved country called Wei. Why do you not recognise the decree of Heaven? Why do you not distinguish between the pure and the foul? Think over it."

Then Hao began to get really angry.

He fitted an arrow

to his bow and he called out, "Go! or I will shoot. I meant what I said at first, and I will say no more."

Again Yin returned and reported failure to K'ung-ming. "The fool is very ill-mannered," said K'ung-ming. "Does he think he can beguile me into sparing the city?"

He called up some of the local people and asked about the forces in the city. They told him about three companies.

"I do not think such a small place can beat me," said K'ungming. "Attack quickly before any reinforcements arrive."

can

Thereupon the assailants brought up scaling ladders, upon the platforms of which a half score men could stand. These were surrounded by planks as protection. The other soldiers had short ladders and ropes, and, at the beat of the drum, they attempted to scale the walls.

But when Hao saw the ladders being brought up he made his men shoot fire-arrows at them. K'ung-ming did not expect this. He knew the city was not well prepared for defence, and he had had the great ladders brought up and bade the soldiers take the wall with a rush. He was greatly chagrined when the fire arrows set his ladders on fire and so many of his men were burned. And as the arrows and stones rained down from the wall, the men of Shu were forced to retire.

K'ung-ming angrily said, "So you burn my ladders; then I will use battering rams" ("battering carts")..

So the rams were brought and placed against the walls and again the signal given for assault. But the defenders brought up great stones suspended by ropes, which they swung down at the battering rams and so broke them to pieces. Next the besiegers set to work to bring up earth and fill the moat, and three companies were set to excavating a tunnel under the ramparts. But Hao Chao cut a counter-trench within the city and turned that device.

So the struggle went on for near a month, and still the city was not taken. K'ung-ming was very depressed.

That was not all. The scouts reported the coming of a relief force, the flags of which bore the name of Wang Shuang. Some one had to try to turn him back, and Wei Yen offered himself.

"No," said K'ung-ming; "you are too valuable as leader of the van."

Hsieh Hsiung offered his services; they were accepted, and he was given three companies. After he had gone, K‘ungming decided to send a second force, and for command of this one Kung Ch'i volunteered and was accepted. He also had three companies. Then K'ung-ming feared lest there would be a sortie from the city to aid the relief force just arriving, so he led off the army twenty li and made a camp.

The first body sent against Wang Shuang had no success; its leader fell almost immediately under Wang's great sword. The men fled and Wang pursued, and so came upon Kung, who had come to support his colleague. He met a similar fate, being slain in the third bout.

When the defeated parties returned, K'ung-ming was anxious and called up three leaders to go out to check this Wang, They went and drew up in formal array, and then Chang I rode to the front. Wang Shuang rode to meet him, and they two fought several bouts. Then Wang Shuang ran away and Chang I followed. His colleague, Wang P'ing, suspected this flight was but a ruse, so he called to Chang to stop. Wang Shuang then turned and hurled one of his meteor hammers, which hit Chang I in the back, so that he fell forward and lay over the saddle. Wang Shuang rode on to follow up this advantage, but the two colleagues of Chang I interfered and checked him. Wang Shuang's whole force then came on and slew many of the men of Shu.

Chang I was hurt internally and vomited blood at times. He came back and told K'ung-ming that Wang Shuang was very terrible and no one could stand up to him. Beside there was a strong camp at the city with double walls and a deep moat.

Having lost two captains, and a third being wounded, K'ungming called up Chiang Wei and said, "We are stopped this way; can you suggest another road?"

"Yes," said Chiang, "The place is too well protected and, with this Wang as defender, cannot be taken. I would propose to move away to some suitable place and make a strong camp. Then try to hold the roads so that the attack on Chiehtʻing may be prevented. Then if you will send a strong force against Ch'ishan I can do something which will give us success.

K'ung-ming agreed. He sent Wang P'ing and Li K'uei to hold the side road to Chieht'ing, and Wei Yen was sent to guard the way from Ch'ênts'ang. And then the army marched out of Hsieh Valley by a small road and made for Ch'ishan.

Now Ts'ao Chên still remembered bitterly that in the last campaign Ssuma I had filched from him the credit he hoped to obtain. So when he reached Lok'ou he detached Kuo Huai and Sun Li and sent them to hold positions east and west. Then he had heard that Ch'ênts'ang was threatened, so had sent Wang Shuang to its relief, and now to his joy he heard

of his henchman's success. He placed Fei Yao in command of the van and stationed other captains at strategic and commanding points.

Then they caught a spy. He was taken into the presence of the general to be questioned. The man knelt down and said, "I am not really a spy in the bad sense. I was bringing a secret communication for you, Sir, but I was captured by one of the parties in ambush. Pray send away your attendants."

The man's bonds were loosed and the tent cleared. The captive said, "I am a confidant of Chiang Wei, who has entrusted me with a secret letter."

"Where is the letter?"

The man took it from among his garments and presented it to Ts'ao Chên, who read:-"I, Chiang Wei, your guilty captain, make a hundred prostrations to the great leader Ts'ao, now in the field. I have never forgotten that I was in the employ of Wei and disgraced myself; having enjoyed favours, I never repaid them. Lately I have been an unhappy victim of Chuko Liang's wiles and so fell into the depths. But I never forgot my old allegiance; how could I forget? Now happily the army of Shu has gone west, and Chuko Liang trusts me. I rely upon your leading an army this way. If resistance be met, then you may simulate defeat and retire, but I shall be behind and will make a blaze as signal. Then I shall set fire to their stores, whereupon you will face about and attack. Chuko Liang ought to fall into your hands. If it be that I cannot render service and repay my debt to the state, then punish me for my former crime.

"If this should be deemed worthy of your attention, then without delay communicate your commands."

The letter pleased Ts'ao Chên, and he said, "This is heavensent help to aid me in an achievement."

He rewarded the man and bade him return to say that it was accepted. Then he called Fei Yao to his councils and said, "I have just had a secret letter from Chiang Wei telling me to act in a certain fashion."

But Fei Yao replied, "Chuko Liang is very crafty and Chiang Wei is very knowing. If by chance Chuko has planned all this and sent this man we may fall into a snare."

"But Chiang Wei is really a man of Wei; he was forced into surrender. Why are you suspicious?"

"My advice is not to go, but to remain here on guard. Let me go to meet this man, and any service I can accomplish will redound to your credit. And if there be any craft I can meet it for you.

Ts'ao Chên approved this and bade Fei Yao take five legions by way of Hsieh Valley. He told him to halt after the second or third stage and send out scouts. This was done, and the