on. However, that was a glorious exploit last year when Wang Shuang was slain. This year, Kuo Huai has been driven back and the Ch'iang have been reduced; the two districts have been recovered; you have driven fear into the hearts of all evil doers and thus rendered magnificent services.

"But the land is in confusion, and the original evil has not been destroyed. You fill a great office, for you direct the affairs of the state. It is not well for you to remain under a cloud for any length of time and cloak your grand virtue, wherefore I restore you to the rank of Prime Minister and pray you not to decline the honour."

K'ung-ming heard the edict to the end and then said, "My task is not yet accomplished; how can I return to my duties as Prime Minister? I must really decline to accept this."

Fei I said, "If you decline this you flout the desires of the king and also show contempt for the feelings of the army. At any rate accept for the moment."

Then K'ung-ming humbly bowed acquiescence.

Fei I went away. Seeing that Ssuma remained obstinately on the defensive, K'ung-ming thought of a plan by which to draw him. He gave orders to break camp and retire.

When the scouts told Ssuma, he said, "We may not move; certainly there is some deep craftiness in this move."

Chang said, "It must mean that their food is exhausted. Why not pursue?"

"I reckon that K'ung-ming laid up ample supplies last year. Now the wheat is ripe, and he has plenty of every sort. Transport might be difficult, but yet he could hold out half a year. Why should he run away? He sees that we resolutely refuse battle, and he is trying some ruse to inveigle us into fighting. Send out spies to a distance to see what is going on."

"Remain

They reconnoitred a long way round, and the scouts returned to say that a camp had been formed thirty li away. "Ah; then he is not running away," said Ssuma. on the defensive still more strictly and do not advance." Ten days passed without further news; nor did the men of Shu offer the usual challenge. Again spies were sent far afield, and they reported a further retreat of thirty li and a new encampment.

"K'ung-ming is certainly working some scheme," said Ssuma. "Do not pursue."

Another ten days passed and spies went out. The enemy had gone thirty li farther and encamped.

Chang Ho said, "What makes you so over-suspicious? I can see that K'ung-ming is retreating into Hanchung, only he is doing it gradually. Why not pursue before it is too late. Let me go and fight one battle."

"No," said the general. "A defeat would destroy the morale of our men, and I will not risk it. K'ung-ming's vile tricks are innumerable."

"If I go and get beaten I will stand the full rigour of military punishment," said Chang.

"Well, if you are set on going, we will divide the army. You take your wing and go, but you will have to fight your best. I will follow to help in case of need."

So Chang got independent command of three legions and took Tai Ling as his second in command, and he had a few score of captains of lower rank. Halfway they camped. Then Ssuma, leaving a substantial guard for his camp, set out along the same road with five legions.

K'ung-ming knew the movements of the army of Wei and when Chang's army camped to rest. In the night he summoned his captains and told them.

"The enemy are coming in pursuit and will fight desperately. You will have to fight every one of you like ten, but I will set an ambush to attack their rear. Only a wise and bold leader is fit for this task."

As he closed this speech he glanced at Wei Yen, but this captain hung his head without response. Then Wang P'ing stepped forth and said he was willing to go on this expedition. "But if you fail, what then?" said K'ung-ming.

"Then there is the military rule."

K'ung-ming sighed. "Wang P'ing is most loyal. He is willing to risk wounds and death in his country's service. However, the enemy are in two divisions, one coming in front, the other trying to get round to the rear. Wang P'ing is crafty and bold, but he cannot be in two places at once, so I must have yet another captain. Is it ti among you there is no other willing to devote himself to death?"

He did not wait long for a reply; Chang I stepped to the front.

"Chang Ho is a most famous leader in Wei and valorous beyond all compare. You are not a match for him," said K'ung-ming.

"If I fail may my head fall at the tent door," said he.

"Since you wish to go, I accept you. Each of you shall have a legion of veterans. You will hide in the valleys till the enemy come up, and you will let them pass. Then you will fall upon their rear. If Ssuma comes you must divide the men, Chang to hold the rear and Wang to check the advance. But they will fight desperately, and I must find a way to aid you."

When they had gone, Chiang Wei and Liao Hua were called, and K'ung-ming said, "I am going to give you a silken bag. You are to proceed secretly into those mountains in front. When you see that your two colleagues are in great straits with

the enemy, then open the bag and you will find a plan of escape."

After this he gave secret instructions to four other captains to observe the enemy and, if they seemed confident of victory, to retire, fighting at intervals, till they saw Kuan Hsing and Chang Pao come up, when they could turn and fight their best. Then calling Kuan and Chang, he said to them, "Hide in the valleys with half a legion till you see a red flag flutter out, and then fall on the enemy."

Chang Ho and Tai Ling hurried along like a rain squall till they were suddenly confronted by the men of Shu. Chang dashed toward his enemy, and then they retired, stopping at intervals to fight. The Wei army pursued for about twenty li.

It was the sixth moon and very hot, so that men and horses sweated profusely. When they had gone thirty li farther the men and horses were panting and nearly spent. Then K'ungming, who had watched the fighting from a hill, gave the signal for Kuan Hsing to emerge and join battle. The four other leaders all led on their men. Chang and Tai fought well, but they could not extricate themselves and retire.

Presently, with a roll of drums, Wang P'ing and Chang I came out and made for the rear to cut the retreat. "Why do you not fight?" shouted Chang Ho when he saw their move.

The men of Wei dashed this way and that, but were stayed at every attempt. Then there was heard another roll of drums, and Ssuma came up in the rear. He at once signalled to his captains to surround Wang P'ing and Chang I.

"Our minister is truly wonderful. The battle goes just as he foretold," cried Chang I. "He will surely send help now, and we will fight to the death."

Thereupon the men were divided into parties. Wang P'ing led one army to hold up Chang Ho and Tai Ling; Chang I led the other division to oppose Ssuma. On both sides the fighting was keen and continued all the day.

From their station on a hill, Chiang Wei and Miao Hua watched the battle. They saw that the Wei force was very strong and their side was in danger and slowly giving way. "Now surely is the moment to open the bag," said Chiang Wei.

So the bag was opened, and they read the letter. It said that if Ssuma came and Wang P'ing and Chang I seemed hard pressed, they were to divide forces and go off to attack Ssuma's camp, which would cause him to retire, and then they could attack him. The actual capture of the camp was not of great moment.

So they divided the force and started for the enemy's camp. Now Ssuma had really feared that he would fall victim to some ruse of K'ung-ming, so he had arranged for news to meet him at intervals along the road. He was pressing his men to fight

when a messenger galloped up to say that the men of Shu were making for his camp.

Ssuma was frightened and changed colour. He turned on his captains, saying, "I knew K'ung-ming would plan some trick, but you did not believe me. You forced me to pursue, and now the whole scheme has gone agley."

Thereupon he gathered in his men and turned to retire. The men went hurriedly and got into disorder. Chang I came up behind, and they were routed. Chang Ho and Tai Ling, having but few men left, sought refuge among the hills. The victory was to Shu, and Kuan Hsing came up helping in the rout wherever there appeared a chance to strike.

Ssuma, defeated, hurried to the camp. But when he reached it the men of Shu had already left. He gathered in his broken army and abused his captains as the cause of his failure.

"You are all ignorant of the proper way to wage war, and think it simply a matter of valour and rude strength. This is the result of your unbridled desire to go out and give battle. For the future no one of you will move without definite orders, and I will apply strict military law to any who disobey."

They were all greatly ashamed and retired to their quarters. In this fight the losses of Wei were very heavy, not only in men, but in horses and weapons.

He

K'ung-ming led his victorious army to their camp. intended to advance still farther, when a messenger arrived from the capital with the sad news that Chang Pao had died. When they told K'ung-ming he uttered a great cry, blood gushed from his mouth and he fell in a swoon. He was raised and taken to his tent, but he was too ill to march and had to keep his bed. His captains were much grieved.

A later poet sang:

Fierce and valiant was Chang Pao,
Striving hard to make a name;
Sad the gods should interfere
And withhold a hero's fame!

K'ung-ming wept his end untimely,
For he knew a warrior gone,
And he needed every helper;

His own strength was nearly done.

K'ung-ming's illness continued. Ten days later he summoned to his tent Tung Chüeh and Fan Chien, and said, "I feel dizzy and am too ill to carry on, and the best thing for me is to return into Hanchung and get well. You are to keep my absence perfectly secret, for Ssuma will certainly attack if he hears."

He issued orders to break up the camp that night, and the army retired into Hanchung forthwith. Ssuma only heard of it five days later, and he knew that again he had been outwitted.

"The man appears like a god and disappears like a demon; he is too much for me," sighed he.

Ssuma set certain captains over the camp and placed others to guard the commanding positions, and he also marched homeward.

As soon as the Shu army was settled in Hanchung, K‘ungming went to Ch'èngtu for treatment. The officials of all ranks came to greet him and escort him to his palace. The king also came to enquire after his condition and sent his own physicians to treat him. So gradually he recovered.

In Chien-Hsing, eighth year and seventh month, Ts'ao Chên, the Commander-in-chief in Wei, had recovered, and he sent a memorial to his master, saying, "Shu has invaded more than once and threatened the capital. If this state be not destroyed it will ultimately be our ruin. The autumn coolth is now here. The army is in good form, and it is the time most favourable for an attack on Shu. I desire to take Ssuma as colleague and march into Hanchung to exterminate this wretched horde and free the borders from trouble."

Personally, King Jui approved, but he consulted Liu Hua, who replied, "The Commander-in-chief speaks well. If that state be not destroyed it will be to our hurt. Your Majesty should give effect to his desire."

When he came out, a crowd of officers flocked to enquire, saying, "We heard the king has consulted you about an expedition against Shu: what think you?"

"No such thing," said Liu. "Shu is too difficult a country to invade; it would be a mere waste of men and weapons."

They left him. Then Yang Chi went into the king and said, "It is said that yesterday Liu Hua advised Your Majesty to fall upon Shu; to-day when we talked with him he said Shu could not be attacked. This is treating Your Majesty with indignity, and you should issue a command to punish him." Wherefore the king called in Liu Hua and asked him to explain.

Liu Hua replied, "I have studied the details; Shu cannot be attacked."

The king laughed. In a short time Yang Chi left, and then Liu Hua said, "Yesterday I advised Your Majesty to attack Shu; that being a matter of state policy should be divulged to no person. The essential of a military move is secrecy."

Then the king understood, and thereafter Liu Hua was held in greater consideration. Ten days later Ssuma came to court, and Ts'ao Chên's memorial was shown him.

Ssuma replied, "The moment is opportune; I do not think there is any danger from Wu."

Ts'ao Chên was created Minister of War and Commanderin-chief of the Western Expedition, and Ssuma I was made General and was second in command. Liu Hua was made