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rescue with a body of cavalry. Chang saved his general, but lost his own life. Finally Chiang Wei got back into Hanchung.

From Hanchung the death of Chang I in battle was reported to the king and suitable honours requested. And seeing that there had been serious loss of life in the military operations that had just failed, Chiang, following the precedent of the late Marquis of Wu, asked that he himself should be degraded in rank, retaining, however, the command. to Junior Generalissimo. He was put back

The country being now cleared of the enemy, Ch'ên T'ai and Têng Ai prepared a banquet in honour of victory and gave rewards to the men who had fought. A memorial was sent to the capital upon the services of Teng, and a special commission brought him higher rank; the title of "Marquis" was given to his son.

At this time the style of the reign in Wei was changed to Kan-Lu (Gentle Dew). Ssuma Chao commanded all the military forces. He assumed great pomp, and whenever he moved outside his palace he was escorted by a guard of three thousand mail-clad men, beside squadrons of cavalry. All power lay in his hands, and he decided all questions so that the court was rather in his palace than in that of the king.

Plans for taking the final step constantly occupied his thoughts. The question of mounting the throne was openly mooted by one Chia Yün, a confidant, who was descended from a family that had long held rank at court.

He said, "Sir, all real authority is in your hands, and the country is not tranquil. become actual ruler, and you should find out who are your The only remedy is for you to supporters."

Ssuma replied, "This has been in my thoughts a long time. You might be my emissary to the east to find out the feeling there. You can pretend you go to thank the soldiers who took part in the late campaign. That would be a good pretext."

Accordingly Chia travelled into Huainan, where he saw Chuko Tan, the "Guardian of the East." This officer was of the same family as the late Marquis of Wu, Chuko Liang. He had gone to Wei for employment, but had received no office while his brother lived. On his brother's death his promotion was rapid. He was also titular marquis.

As he was in command of all the Huainan forces, Chia Yün went to him to ask him to convey to the army the appreciation of the soldiers' services. He was received courteously, and at a banquet, when host and guest were both mellow with wine, Chia set himself to discover Chuko's feelings.

He said, "Lately in Loyang there has been much talk of the weakness and lack of ability of the king and his unfitness to rule. Now General Ssuma comes of a family noted for state service for several generations. His own services and virtues.

are high as the heavens, and he is the man best fitted to take the rulership of Wei. Is this not your opinion?"

But Chuko did not favour the suggestion. On the contrary, he broke out angrily, "If the state is in difficulty, then one ought to stand up for it even to the death."

Chia said no more.

what had been said.

He soon returned and told his patron

"The rat!" cried Ssŭma, angrily. "He is exceedingly popular there in Huainan, but if he is left too long he will do harm."

Ssuma began to take measures. He wrote privately to Yüeh Lin, Governor of Yangchou, and sent a messenger to Chuko Tan with an edict making him President of the Board of Works. This meant that he had to come to the capital.

But Chuko knew that his late guest had done him mischief, and he interrogated the messenger, who told him that Yüeh Lin knew all about the matter.

"How does he know?"

"General Ssuma sent him a private letter."

The messenger was condemned to death. Then Chuko placed himself at the head of his personal guard and marched to Yangchou. The city gates were closed and the drawbridge. raised. He summoned the gate, but no one answered.

"How dare this fellow treat me thus?" cried he.

He ordered his men to force the gate. A few dismounted, crossed the moat and climbed the ramparts, where they slew all who opposed them and opened the gate. The others entered, set fire to the houses and began to fight their way toward the residence. The Governor sought refuge in a tower, but Chuko made his way up and, after reproaching his enemy for dishonouring his father, slew him.

Then Chuko sent up a memorial detailing Ssuma's many faults, and made preparations for war. He called up all the militia and took over the four legions who had surrendered on the fall of Yüeh Lin and gathered supplies. He also sent to Wu for aid, offering his son Chuko Ching as a hostage for his good faith.

At this time Sun Hsün was dead and his brother, Sun Ch'ên, was Prime Minister. He was a man of cruel and violent temper and had put many officers to death on his way to power. The King of Wu, although no fool, was helpless in his hands.

The messenger, Wu Kang, conducted the proposed hostage to the residence of this monster, who asked what he had come for. Wu Kang explained and asked for help. His request was received favourably, and Sun sent seven legions with a full complement of officers. They marched, and Chuko returned to report success. Chuko thought all was going well. Chuko's memorial angered Ssuma, who wished to set out to revenge the attack at once, but Chia Yün preached caution.

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"My lord, you derived your power from your father and brother, and people have not had time to discover your own virtue. If you leave the court and there be a revulsion of feeling against you, you will lose all. Rather request the Empress Dowager and the Son of Heaven to go with you, and nothing is to be feared."

The plan was accepted as excellent. He went into the palace and proposed it to Her Majesty, saying, "Chuko Tan is in revolt, and I and my colleagues intend to punish him. I beg that you will accompany the expedition as the late Emperor would have done."

She was afraid, but dared not refuse, and the next day was requested to set out with the king.

The king said, "General, you command all the armies and dispose them as you will; why do you ask me to go?"

Ssuma replied, "Your Majesty is wrong to hesitate. Your ancestors travelled over the empire and wished to unite the whole under one ruler. Wherever there was a worthy opponent they went to face him. Your Majesty should follow their example and sweep the land clean. Why fear?"

The king, fearing his minister's terrible power, consented, and an edict was issued for the commands to march. Wang Chi, a distinguished general, was in command of the van, while Shih Pao and Chou T'ai led the imperial escort. The army moved into Huainan like a great flood.

The van-leader of Wu encountered them, and both sides drew up for battle. Chu I, the leader on the Wu side, rode out and took the challenge, but was overcome in the third bout. P'ang Tzu also followed, but was also beaten in the third encounter.

Wang Chi ordered the Wei army to pursue. The men of Wu retired fifty li and camped. Thence they sent tidings of their ill-success to Shouch'un and Chuko Tan; Wên Ch'in and the two sons of Chuko set out with reinforcements.

Thus Ssuma was faced by many legions of valiant men.

Now here is a check to the armies of Wu,

And Wei's gallant men advance.

The next chapter will tell how went victory.

CHAPTER CXII.

YU CH'UAN DIES NOBLY AT SECUCHUN;

CHIANG WEI FIGHTS FIERCELY AT CH'ANGCH'ENG.

Hearing of this threatened attack, Ssuma sought advice from

two of his officers, P'ei Hsiu, a Leader of Irregular Cavalry, and Chung Hui, a civil official.

The latter said, "The Wu army is helping our enemies for the sake of profit, and hence we can seduce them with an offer of greater pront."

Ssuma agreed in this opinion and resolved accordingly. As part of his plan, he sent to lay ambushes in different places near Shiht'ouch'êng.

As ordered by Ssuma, Ch'êng Ts'ui led several legions out to bring on a battle, while Ch'ên Chün got together many waggons, herds of oxen, droves of horses, donkeys and mules, and heaps of military supplies, all of which he crowded together in the midst of the army. This stuff was meant to be abandoned as soon as the fight began, so that the enemy might be tempted to plunder.

The armics being drawn up, Chuko Tan looked across at his opponents and saw that the centre of the Wei army was taken up by a disorderly mass of transport. Presently he led on his men to attack, and Ch'êng Ts'ui, as bidden to do gave way and fled, leaving a large amount of spoil. When the men of Wu saw such huge quantities of booty, theirs for the taking, they lost all desire to fight and scattered to gather the spoil.

While thus occupied, suddenly a bomb exploded and down came the men of Wei upon the spoilers. Chuko Tan attempted to draw off, but other forces appeared, and he was sore smitten. Then came on Ssuma with his army, and Chuko fled to Shouch'un, where he entered and shut the gates. The army of Wei sat down to the siege of the city, and the army of Wu retired into camp at Anfêng. The King of Wei was lodging at this time in Hsiang-ch'êng.

Then said Chung Hui, "Chuko Tan has been worsted, but the city wherein he has taken refuge is well supplied, and his allies, the men of Wu, are not distant. His position is strong. Our soldiers are besieging the city all round, which means that those within will hold out for a long time, or they will make a desperate sortie. Their allies also may fall upon us

at the same time, and it would go hard with us. Therefore I advise that the attack be made only on three sides, leaving the south gate open for them if they wish to flee. If they flee, we can fall on the fugitives. The men of Wu cannot have supplies for very long, and if we sent some light cavalry round by their rear we might stay their fighting power without a battle."

"You are my Tzu-fang (Chang Liang)", said Ssuma, stroking the back of his adviser. Your advice is excellent.

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So Wang Chi, who was on the south of the city, was ordered to withdraw.

But in the Wu camp at Anfêng was much sadness at the want of success. The General Sun Ch'ên said to his captain Chu I, "I have given up all hope of succouring Shouch'un, and overrunning the north is out of the question. Now and here you have to win a victory or die, for another defeat will mean death."

The threatened leader went back to his camp and talked with Yü Ch'üan. Yü said, "The south gate is free, and I will lead therein some of our men to help Chuko. Then you challenge the Wei army, and we will come out from the city and attack."

Chu I thought the plan good, and many captains were willing to go into the city and share in the attack. They were allowed to march in without hindrance as the Wei captains had no orders to stop them.

When this was reported to Ssuma, he said, "This is a plan to defeat our army by making a front and rear attack."

So he called Wang Chi and Ch'ên Chên and told them to take half a legion to keep the road along which Chu I would come and strike him in rear.

Chu I was advancing toward the city when he heard a shouting in the rear, and soon the attack began from two sides. His army was worsted and returned to Anfêng.

When Sun Ch'ên heard of this new defeat he was very angry. "What is the use of leaders who always lose?" cried he. He sentenced the unfortunate general to death and upbraided Ch'üan I, son of Ch'üan Tuan, and said, "If you do not drive off this army of Wei let me never again see your face, nor that of your father.

Then Sun Ch'ên returned to Chienych.

When this was known in the Wei camp Chung Hui said to his chief, "Now the city may be attacked, for Sun Ch'ên has gone away, and there is no hope of succour for the besieged."

A vigorous assault began. Ch'üan I tried to cut his way through and get into the city, but when he saw Shouch'un quite surrounded by the enemy and no hope of success he gave in and went over to Ssuma Chao, by whom he was well received and given office.

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