But Chang Fei's spirit was roused, and was it likely that such advice would be palatable?

"No," shouted he, "I will die and not come back."

"But it is late; you cannot go on fighting," said Yüan-tê. "Let them bring torches, and we will have a night battle," said Fei.

Ma Ch'ao having mounted a fresh steed, now rode out and shouted, "Dare you try a night battle, Chang Fei?"

Chang Fei's excitement rose higher. He hastily changed horses with his brother and rode forth.

"If I do not capture you, I will not go back to the Pass," said Fei.

"And if I do not overcome you I will not return to the camp," said Ma.

Both sides cheered. They lit many torches till it seemed as light as day, and the two great captains went to the front to fight. At the twentieth bout Ma Ch'ao turned his steed and fled. "Whither are you going?" called out Fei.

The fact was that Ma Ch'ao had begun to see he could not win in direct and simple combat, so he thought to try a ruse. By a false flight, as though he knew he had lost, he would inveigle Chang Fei into pursuit. He picked up a copper hammer secretly and kept a careful watch on his opponent for the most favourable moment to strike. But his enemy's flight only put Chang Fei upon his guard, and when the moment came for the blow with the hammer he dodged, so that the weapon flew harmlessly past his ear. Then Fei turned his horse. Whereupon Ma Ch'ao began to pursue. Then Fei pulled up, took his bow, fitted an arrow to the string and let fly at Ma. But Ma also dodged, and the arrow flew by. Then each returned to his own side.

Then Yüan-tê came out to the front of his battle line and called out, "Note well, O Ma Ch'ao, that I, who have never treated men other than with kindness and justice and truth and sincerity, swear that I will not take advantage of your period of repose to pursue or attack. Wherefore you may rest awhile in peace.'

Ma Ch'ao, hearing these words, withdrew to the rear, and the other captains one by one returned, while Yüan-tê drew off his army toward the Pass.

Early next day Chang Fei was once more going down out of the Pass to fight, when they told him that the Commanderin-chief, Chuko Liang, had arrived. Yüan-tê went to receive him, and K'ung-ming at once began to speak of Ma Ch'ao.

"He is the most terrible leader of the age; if he fights a desperate battle with Chang Fei loss will ensue. So I have come as quickly as I could. I left Mienchu in safe hands. I think I have a little ruse left that will bring Ma over to our

"Now I have seen the man. I greatly admire him," said Yüan-tê. "If we could only win him over!" "Then listen" said K'ung-ming. "Chang Lu greatly desires the title of "Prince of Hanning" and among his most intimate subordinates I know one open to bribery. So we will send a person secretly to see him and give him gold and silver and so win his support. This done, we will write to Chang and tell him that you are set upon taking Hsich'üan from its present ruler, which will give an opportunity to wipe out the enmity he has so long nourished against Liu Chang, and that the reward of his remaining firmly on our side to the end will be that you will memorialise the Throne for the coveted title for him. This will make him order Ma to return, and, when that is done, I shall find a means of winning him over."

Yüan-tê wrote a letter and sent it by the hand of Sun Ch'ien together with gold and pearls. Sun went by secret roads to give these to Yang Sung. And when he found Yang and explained his mission in private, he was quickly led into the presence of Chang Lu.

"How can Yüan-tê memorialise the Throne to confer on me the rank of prince when he is but a simple General himself?" asked Chang Lu, when he understood the offer and its conditions.

"He is an Imperial Uncle;" said Yang Sung, "with such a rank he could present such a memorial."

Chang Lu assented. He sent orders to Ma Ch'ao to cease fighting, and Sun Ch'ien remained as the guest of Yang Sung till he should see whether Ma Ch'ao would obey the command. Before long the messenger returned with a word from Ma that he could not cease fighting till he had been successful. A second messenger returned with a similar response.

"This Ma is untrustworthy," said Yang Sung. "He will not withdraw his soldiers because he contemplates rebellion. That is the real reason."

He set stories afloat that Ma Ch'ao desired to make himself the ruler of Shu and had said that he would no longer be content with subordinate rank. And he meant to avenge the death of his father. The rumours came to the ear of Chang Lu, and he asked Yang Sung what should be done. Yang proposed that he should give Ma Ch'ao a limit of a month in order to accomplish his task, provided he consented to three conditions. And if he would not agree he would have to be put to death.

So a messenger was sent to declare the three conditions, which were: the capture of Hsich'üan, the head of Liu Chang and the repulse of the Chingchou troops.

"If he fails in any one of the just bring his head," said Chang.

While the messenger went to carry these orders Chang Wei was sent as guard at one of the strategic points which would control Ma's army in case of rebellion.

When Ma Ch'ao heard the three demands made on him he was greatly troubled, saying, "What can such a charge mean?" After taking counsel with his son it seemed best to suspend fighting, and the army rested. But Yang had not yet attained his end, so he dropped another hint that Ma Ch'ao's return with an army would be a danger, and hence all the points of vantage on the homeward road were guarded so that he should not return. Thus Ma Ch'ao was helpless and could see no way out of the difficulty.

Then K'ung-ming said to his lord, "Now is my chance to use my little three inches of unworn tongue; Ma Ch'ao is in a fix. I am going to his camp to persuade him to come over to your side."

"But I do not like you to run such a risk, my Master. You are my most necessary support, and if anything happened to you, what should I do?"

K'ung-ming was set upon going and persisted in his request. Yüan-tê again and again refused. At this juncture a messenger came with letters from Chao Yün. Yüan-tê called him in and questioned him. He was Li Hui of Chienning, the man who had formerly remonstrated so earnestly with Liu Chang. "You once pleaded with your master to keep me out; why are you here now?"

"Because the prudent bird chooses its perch and the wise man his master. I did attempt to dissuade Liu of Ichou from a course which I felt to be disastrous, and thereby fulfilled my duty as his servant. He rejected my counsel and I knew he would fail. Your liberality, O General, has won over all the province, and success must be yours. I wish to serve under your banner."

"Your services will surely be of great advantage to me, Sir," said Yüan-tê.

Then Li began to talk of Ma Ch'ao. "I knew him when we were in Shênsi together. He is now in great straits, and I may be able to talk him over. What say you?"

"Just the man to go instead of me," interjected K'ung-ming. "But what arguments will you use?"

Li Hui leaned over and whispered in his ear thus-and thus -What he said seemed to please K'ung-ming mightily, and he was bidden to go forthwith.

I

Arrived at the camp, he sent in his name, at which Ma Ch'ao remarked, "Yes; I know him; a glib and specious talker. know what he has come for too."

So he placed a score of armed ruffians in hiding about his tent and told them to cut the visitor to pieces if the signal was given.

Then the guest was led in and came walking proudly. His host remained seated stiff and upright. He spoke roughly, saying, "What are you come for?"

"I am here as bearer of a message."

"This sword here in the scabbard is newly ground. You may try me by words, but if the words do not penetrate I shall ask you to try the sword."

Li Hui smiled, saying, "O, General, evil is not far off. However, I am thinking the newly ground sword will not be tried on my head. You will want to try it on your own.'

"What evil were you talking about?" "The worst vilification could not hide the beauty of Hsi-tzů nor could the most fulsome praise gloze over the ugliness of Wu-yen. The sun rises to the meridian and then declines; the moon waxes to the full and then wanes. All things obey the one law. Now, Sir, you are at enmity with Ts'ao Ts'ao for your father's death, but Shênsi hates you with a stubborn, grinding hate. You can neither rescue Liu Chang by repulsing the army from Chingchou, nor can you settle Yang Sung by getting an interview with Chang Lu. The whole world now holds no place for a man without a lord, and if you experience further defeats, like that one on the Wei River, or the loss of Chich'êng, will you not be too shamed to look any man in the face?"

Ma Ch'ao bowed his head. am helpless."

"You speak well, Sir. But I

"Now that you listen to me I would ask why those fearsome ruffians are in hiding by your tent?" continued Li Hui.

Ma, suddenly stricken with shame, ordered them to retire. Li Hui continued his speech.

"Liu, the Imperial Uncle, is considerate to his subordinates, and I am certain he will succeed, and so I have forsaken Liu Chang to cleave to him. Your honoured father joined him in destroying rebels. Why do you not flee from darkness into the light? Thereby you would avenge your father and become famous."

Ma, convinced of the wisdom of the course thus recommended, proved his conversion by sending for Yang Sung and slaying him forthwith. Taking with him the head of his victim, he accompanied Li Hui to the Pass and tendered his submission. Yüan-tê welcomed him warmly and treated him as a highly honoured guest.

Ma Ch'ao bowed his head, saying, "Meeting you, O illustrious lord, is like seeing the clear sky when the clouds have been swept aside."

When Sun Ch'ien returned, Yüan-tê detached certain forces to go to the capture of Ch'êngtu, left two captains to guard the Pass and made a triumphant entry into Mienchu. Two of the Shu captains came to oppose Yüan-tê, but Chao Yün went out

against them while Yüan-tê was entertaining Ma Ch'ao at a banquet on the city wall. Ere it had concluded, Chao Yün slew both the captains and brought their heads to the banquet chamber. This exploit put Ma Ch'ao on his mettle and doubled his respect for the conquerors.

"Let not my lord attack," said he. "I will make Liu Chang surrender of his own accord. Should he resist, my son and I will take the city and offer it to you with both hands."

Yüan-tê was very pleased with the course of events; the day was indeed one of rejoicing. But Liu Chang was greatly distressed at the news of his fresh misfortunes, which reached him with the return of his defeated soldiers. He barred the gates and stopped all exit. Before long came news of the approach of Ma Ch'ao with an army of rescue. The Governor then ventured to mount the walls, and soon Ma Chao and Ma Tai rode up and stood below the ramparts. And the former called out, "I wish to speak with Liu Chi-yü.”

Then Liu Chang showed himself, and Ma Ch'ao plunged into the matter without more ado.

"I took the leadership of Chang Lu's army to rescue Ichou, little thinking that, under the calumnious advice of Yang Sung, he would try to slay me. However, now I have gone over to the side of Liu, the Imperial Uncle, and advise you, Sir, to do the same, you and all your officers. Thereby you will all escape harm. If any one holds on a misguided course I shall take the city."

Such words came as a shock, and Liu Chang paled. His feelings overcame him and he swooned. When he came to his senses he muttered, "I am stupid and I am sorry. Better open the gates and end it. The city will be saved."

"No, no," cried Yung Ho. "There are three legions of good soldiers in the city and ample money and stores for a year to come. Hold out."

But Liu was broken. "My father and I have ruled here for twenty years and have done no particular good for the people. If we fight for three years the grass will be stained with the blood of my people and the fault will be mine. I could not bear it, and so I see no better way than to surrender, whereby I may bring peace to the people.'

Those about him wept. One man spoke, saying, "You speak as Heaven guides you."

Turning toward him they recognised a man of Pahsi named Ch'iao Chou, who had the reputation of being an astrologer.

"I have studied the aspect of the heavens and a multitude of stars gathered over Shu, one of which shone as the full moon; a right royal star. And I recall a popular couplet of last year:

"When comes the ruler from the east,
Then may you on new rice feast."