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The next time Chiang turned he saw his pursuer close upon him, and already the spear was threatening his life. But as the youth thrust, Chiang evaded the blow and caught the shaft under his arm. Thus deprived of his weapon, the young man made for his own array.

"What a pity! What a great pity!" cried Chiang, turning to pursue.

He followed Têng close up to the standard, but just as he came near, a warrior came to the front, saying, "Chiang Wei, you fool, do not pursue my son when I am here."

Chiang Wei was taken aback; so he had only been contending with the son of his real opponent. Although he was astonished at the skill and vigour of the youth, he now knew that a heavier task lay before him and feared lest his steed was then too far spent for the contest.

So he said to Têng Ai, "Seeing things are so, let us both hold off our men till the morrow, when we will fight."

Têng Ai, glancing around, saw that the place was ill-suited for him, so he agreed to wait, saying "Let us lead off our men then, and whoever shall take any secret advantage is a base fellow."

Both sides retired into camp, Têng on the bank of the Wei River and Chiang on the hills.

Têng saw that the men of Shu had the advantage of position, so he wrote off at once to Ssuma Wang not to give battle, but to wait for reinforcements. Meanwhile the men of Shu would be consuming their supply of grain, and he reckoned upon striking his blow when they began to be hungry. He also wrote to Ssuma Chao for further help.

A messenger was sent to the Wei camp to deliver a letter of battle, the contest to take place the next day. Têng Ai openly accepted, but when morning came and Chiang Wei had arrayed his men, his enemy had not appeared on the field. Nor was there any sign of giving battle, no display of flags or rolling of drums all day.

At nightfall the army of Shu returned to camp and Chiang sent a letter reproaching his opponent with his failure to keep his word. Têng Ai treated the bearer of the letter with great courtesy and explained that he had been indisposed that day, but would certainly fight on the morrow.

But the next day passed also without any move on the part of Wei; and the same thing went on for five days.

Then said Fu Ch'ien to his chief, "There is some knavery afoot, and we must be on our guard."

"They must be waiting for reinforcements that they may attack on three sides," said Chiang. "But now will I send into Wu and get Sun Ch'ên to strike at the same time. as I.

Just then came news of the rout of the army of Wu, of the fall of Shouch'un and the death of Chuko Tan. Moreover, that an army was going to attack Ch'angch'êng.

"So our attack on Wei is but a sham!" said Chiang, bitterly. "It is only a picture of a Cake.'

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Four times he missed! he hailed

The fifth occasion joyfully, and failed.

The next chapter will tell the story of the retreat.

CHAPTER CXIII.

TING FENG'S PLAN TO SLAY SUN CH'ÊN;
CHIANG WEI DEFEATS TÊNG AI.

Fearing lest reinforcements would strengthen his enemy

beyond his own power of resistance, Chiang decided to retreat while he could. He sent all his stores and baggage away first with the footmen, and kept the cavalry to cover the retirement. The spies reported his movements to Têng Ai, who said, "He has gone because he knew that the main army would soon be upon him. Let him go, and do not follow. If we pursue he will play us some evil trick."

Scouts were sent to keep in touch with the retreating army, and when they returned they reported that preparations had been made in the Lo Valley to check any pursuit with fire. The officers praised the prescience of their leader. When Têng reported these matters he was commended, and the Prime Minister requested the king to confer a reward.

The Prime Minister of Wu was greatly angered by the desertion of so many of his men and officers to Wei, and revenged himself by putting their families to death. King Liang disapproved of these acts of cruelty, but he was powerless.

The young king was of an ingenious turn of mind, as will be seen from the following story. One day he went to the West Park to eat of the newly ripened plums. He bade one of the eunuchs bring some honey. It was brought, but there were lumps of dirt in it. The young king called the storekeeper and blamed him for carelessness. The storekeeper said he was very careful to keep his stores in good order, and the honey could not possibly have been fouled in the storehouse.

I

"Has any one asked you for honey lately?" asked the king. "One of the eunuchs asked for some a few days ago. refused him."

"You defiled the honey out of spite," said the king to the eunuch named.

The man denied it.

"It is very easy to tell," said the king. "If the dirt has been lying in the honey for some time it will be soft all through."

He broke one of the lumps, and it was quite dry inside. The eunuch then confessed.

This shows the king was quick-witted. But clever as he was, he could not control his Prime Minister, whose relatives were in command of all the garrisons and armies, so that he was unassailable.

One day the young king, musing over his sorrows and feeling very miserable, began to weep. The officer in charge of the eunuchs, who was a "State Uncle," stood by.

"Sun Chên holds all real power and does as he wishes, while I am despised," said the king. "Something must be done."

Ch'üan Chi said, "I would think no sacrifice too great if Your Majesty would make use of me."

"If you could muster the guards and help General Liu to keep the gates, I would go and murder that ruffian. But you must not let anyone know, for if you tell your noble mother she will tell her brother, and that would be very serious for me."

Now Ch ́üan's mother was the Prime Minister's sister. "Will Your Majesty give me a command that I may have authority to act when the time comes?" said Ch'üan. "At the critical moment I could show the edict and hold back Sun's supporters."

The command was given, and Ch'üan went home. But he could not keep his secret, and confided the plan to his father, Shang. His father told his wife that Sun would be got rid of in a few days.

"Oh, you are going to kill him then," said she.

Although she seemed to approve with her tongue, she sent a secret messenger with a letter to the proposed victim.

That same night Sun Ch'ên called in his four soldier brothers, and the palace was surrounded. The conspirators were seized, with Liu Ch'eng and Ch'üan Shang and all their families. About dawn the young king was disturbed by a commotion at the gates, and a servant told him that the palace was surrounded.

The king knew that he had been betrayed. He turned on the Empress, who was of the Ch'üan house, and reproached her.

"Your father and brother have upset all my plans." Drawing his sword, he was dashing out when his Consort and her people clung to his clothing and held him back.

After putting to death Liu Ch'êng and Ch'üan Shang, the Prime Minister Sun Ch'ên assembled the officers in the court and addressed them thus:-"The king is vicious and weak, depraved and foolish and unfit for his high office. Wherefore he must be deposed. Any of you who oppose will be punished

as for conspiracy."

Only one of those present dared to say a word of protest. It was an officer named Hêng I, who said, "How dare you utter

such words? Our king is very intelligent, and I will not support you. I had rather die."

Death was his portion. Then Sun went into the palace and said to the king, "O unrighteous and unenlightened King, your death would be the only fitting reparation to make to the empire, but out of consideration for your ancestors you are only deposed and degraded to princely rank as Prince Hui-chi. I will select a worthy successor."

Li Tsung, the Chung-shu-lang, was ordered to bring in the the royal seal, which was delivered to Têng Ch'êng. The deposed ruler retired weeping.

The sage example of the wise I Yin
Perverted now to traitor's use we see;
And Ho Kuang's faithful services are made

A cloak to cover vilest treachery.

Even able princes are but toys of fate,

And need our pity, fall'n from high estate.

Then two officers of the court, Sun K'ai and Tung Chao, went as envoys to Hulin to request Sun Hsiu, Prince of Langya, to ascend the throne.

The King-elect had had some premonition of the high honour to which he was now called, for in a dream he ascended into the skies seated on a dragon. Only the dragon seemed to have no tail. He woke up in a fright, and the next day brought the messengers.

He set out. At Ch'üa his carriage was stopped by a venerable old man who offered felicitations.

"Changes are inevitable, and I wish you a prosperous journey," said the aged one.

At Pusait'ing awaited an officer with a chariot, but Sun Hsiu's modesty would not allow him to mount it. He remained in his own simple carriage and therein travelled to the capital. Officials lined the road to salute him, and he dismounted to return their salutations. Then the Prime Minister stood forth and bade them take the newly-elected king by the arm and lead him into the Great Hall, where, after thrice refusing the honour, he at last took his seat and received the jade seal passed from one ruler to another.

When all the officers had made obeisance, there were the usual amnesties, promotions, honours and change of reignstyle. Jun-An, "Eternal Tranquillity," was the name of the new reign. Sun Ch'ên was confirmed as Prime Minister, with the governorship of Chingchou. Moreover, Sun Hao, the son of his elder brother, was created Marquis of Wuch'êng.

Sun Ch'ên, with five marquisates in his family and the whole army under their command, was immensely powerful, able to set up and pull down at will. The new king secretly feared.

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