him, and although outwardly he showed him great favour, yet he kept careful watch over his Prime Minister, whose arrogance knew no bounds.

In the autumn Sun Chên sent into the palace presents of oxen and wine as birthday gifts. The king declined them. The Minister was very annoyed and took the presents to General Pu's residence, where they two dined together. When warmed with wine, Sun said, "When I deposed the present Prince Hui-chi many people urged me to take the throne myself. But I acted magnanimously and set up this present king. Now I suffer the mortification of seeing my presents rejected. You will see what will come of this slight."

Chang sympathised, but the next day he secretly told the king, and the king's fears increased so that he could not rest. Shortly after this, Sun sent a large body of troops under the command of Mêng Tsung into camp at Wuch'ang, and he armed them from the state arsenals. Whereupon Wei Miao and Shih Shuo secretly memorialised the Throne that Sun's action pointed to rebellion.

Then the king called in Chang Pu to consult, and he recommended Ting Fêng as an able and trustworthy officer. So Ting was called and taken into the king's confidence.

"Have no anxiety," said Ting. "I will find some way of ridding the state of this evil."

"What do you propose?"

"When the winter Court is held, and all the officers are assembled, spread a great banquet and invite Sun. I shall be ready to act."

Wei Miao and Shih Shuo were taken into the plot and were to do what was possible outside the palace, and Chang Pu saw to arrangements within.

One night a heavy gale came on to blow, which tore up great trees by the roots. However, by daylight it had abated, and that morning a king's messenger arrived bearing an invitation to a banquet in the royal palace. Sun rose from his couch, and, as he did so, fell flat on the ground as though he had been pushed from behind. This accident troubled him, and he felt apprehensive, so he called half a score of his trusty men to act as his escort to the palace.

As he was leaving home his family besought him not to go out, for they feared the omens of the gale in the night and the fall that morning. However, he made light of their fears and said no one would dare come near him since the family was so strong.

"But if there is anything amiss I will signal."

So he took his seat, and the carriage set out. When he reached the palace the king rose from his place to welcome. him, and at table he sat in the seat of honour. The banquet proceeded.

"There is a fire outside; what does that mean?" said a guest presently.

Sun rose to go out, but the king said, "There is no danger, and there are plenty of soldiers outside."

Just at that moment General Chang entered at the head of a couple of score of armed men. He rushed up the banquet chamber shouting, "I hold a command to slay the rebel Sun."

Instantly the Prime Minister was seized. He fell prostrate before the king, knocking his head on the ground and crying, "Spare my life! Exile me to my own place, but let me live." "Did you exile any of your victims?" said the king, angrily. The order went forth to carry out the execution, and Sun was hustled out and put to death. No single person raised a hand to help him. Then it was proclaimed that Sun was the only culprit and no other would be questioned.

Then at Chang's request the king went up on the Tower of the Five Phoenixes. The brothers of the Prime Minister were brought before him and also condemned to death. After this their families were slain, so that many hundreds suffered death. Not content with all these things, the tomb of Sun Hsün was broken open and his corpse beheaded.

Magnificent tombs were raised to his victims, Chuko Ch'üo, Têng Yin and others. Thus at last loyalty was rewarded, and the banished were permitted to return home with full pardon. The conpirators were rewarded.

News of this revolution was sent into Shu, and King Liu Ch'an sent an envoy into Wu with felicitations. The envoy, Hsüeh Hsü by name, at his audience was questioned about affairs in the west, and he told King Sun Hsiu, saying, "All affairs of state are in the hands of a certain eunuch named Huang Hao, and all the courtiers look up to him as to a father. At Court plain truth is never heard, and the country people look sallow and starved. The whole country appears on the verge of destruction. The birds on the roof do not know that the building is about to be burned."

"Ah! If only Chuko Liang, The Warlike, was still alive; how different all would be!" said King Hsui, with a sigh.

Letters were prepared saying that beyond doubt Ssuma Chao intended usurpation, and when that came about in Wei, both Wu and Shu would be invaded. Wherefore both should

be ready.

On the arrival of these letters Chiang Wei hastened to seek permission to attempt another expedition. Consent being given, a large army marched into Hanchung, with Liao Hua and Chang I as van-leaders. Wang Han, Chiang Pin, Chiang Shu and Hu Chi were on the wings, while Chiang Wei and Hsiahou Pa led the main column.

Asked what he thought should be the first objective, Hsiahou Pa replied, "There is no better fighting ground than Ch'ishan,

as the tactics of the late minister made evident, and it is the only good exit."

So thither the armies marched, and they camped at the entrance to the valley. At this time Têng Ai had a training camp at Ch'ishan drilling the Shênsi troops. The scouts told him of the coming of the western men, and he ascended a hill to see and verify their reports. He seemed pleased when he saw the enemy camp.

"They have just done as I foresaw," said he.

Now Têng Ai had carefully considered the "pulse" of the countryside and so had not interfered with the Shu army when it was on the march or settling into camp. Moreover, he had excavated a subterranean road to the spot where he had thought they would halt, and their "left" camp had been pitched just on it. Wang and Chiang Chi commanded in that camp.

Têng Ai called his son and Shih Tsuan and sent them to attack, one on each flank. He sent men into the underground road, which opened in rear of the threatened camp.

As the newly made camp was not yet well fortified, its two commanders exercised great care and kept their men under arms all night, watching with vigilance. So when the alarm was given they had but to seize their weapons and go out. But as the two leaders were mounting their steeds Têng Ai also attacked, and two faces had to be defended. Soon they found the position untenable and fled.

When Chiang Wei saw that his left camp had been attacked on two sides he mounted and took his position in front of the centre camp.

"Let no one move on pain of death!" he shouted. still, and when the enemy approaches shoot."

"Stand

The right camp was ordered to stand fast. His defence was effective. Half a score of times the men of Wei came forward, only to be driven back before the arrows and bolts of the defenders. Daylight found the Shu camps still firm, and Têng Ai drew off.

"Chiang Wei has indeed learned of K'ung-ming," said Têng. "His men stood the night attack without flinching, and the leaders took the chances of battle quite calmly. He is able."

When the two commanders of the camp that had been attacked went to confess their fault, Chiang said, "It was less your fault than mine, for I did not clearly recognise the nature of the terrain.”

So no penalty was inflicted. The camp was made stronger, and the subterranean passage was filled with the bodies of the slain.

A challenge to battle for the following day was sent to Têng, who accepted it joyfully.

Next day the two armies were arrayed in front of Ch'ishan, the men of Shu according to the "Eight Formations" designed by Chuko Liang, which are called Heaven, Earth, Wind, Cloud, Bird, Serpent, Dragon and Tiger. While the manœuvre was in progress, Têng recognised it as the pa-kua and placed his men accordingly. Chiang Wei then gripped his spear and rode out, saying, "You have made a good imitation of my eight, but can you work variations?"

"You call these yours! Did you think that you alone held the secret? Since I have made it, of course I know the variations."

Têng re-entered his ranks, gave the signal officers certain orders, and the "eight eights" of the variations were evolved in rapid succession. Then he rode to the front again. "What of my evolutions?" asked he.

"Not so bad; would you like to try a surrounding move with me?" replied Chiang.

"Why not?"

The two armies moved in orderly ranks. Têng stood in the midst of his army giving the necessary orders. Then the clash came, but his tactics did not grip. Then Chiang waved a certain signal flag, and his force suddenly assumed the form of a serpent coiled on the ground with Têng in the centre. Shouts arose all about him. He could not understand what had happened and began to feel afraid. Gradually the men of Shu closed in upon him, and he saw no way of escape. "Têng Ai, you must surrender," cried the soldiers. "Indeed I am in the toils," he replied.

Το

Suddenly from the north-west a cohort dashed in. Têng's great joy they were soldiers of Wei, and they crossed over and released him. The leader was Ssŭma Wang.

But although Têng had been rescued, his nine camps were seized by his enemy and he had to retire. He led his army to the south of the River Wei and halted.

"How did you know exactly where to strike?" asked Têng of his rescuer.

Ssuma replied, "In my youth I studied tactics and was friendly with Kuang Yüan of P'ingshih. He explained that formation to me. Chiang Wei used what is known as "The Serpent Ceil," and the only way to break it is to attack the head, which I saw was in the north west."

Têng replied, "Although I have studied formations, I do not know all the modifications. But since you know about this we may be able to recover our camps."

"I fear the little I have learned will not be enough to overcome Chiang Wei."

"To-morrow you shall contend with him, and while his attention is engaged I will attack the rear of Ch'ishan, and we will recover our camps."

So a force was prepared to attack on the morrow, and he sent a challenge to a contest in tactics for the same day. Chiang accepted.

Chiang Wei said to his officers, "In the secret book that I received from the marquis the variations are three hundred and sixty-five, corresponding to the circuit of the heavens. This challenge from them is as one going to teach hewing to the God of Carpenters. I think some ruse lies behind this. Can you guess what it is?"

Liao replied, "While they engage your attention in this competition they intend to attack our rear."

"Just so; that is my opinion." replied Chiang.

So he prepared a counter-stroke by sending Liao and Chang, two of his captains, to lie in wait at the back of the hills.

Next day the men from the nine camps were led out and drawn up in front of the hills. Ssuma Wang came out on the other side and presently rode to the front to parley.

"You have challenged me to a contest; now draw up your men for me to see," said Chiang.

Ssuma did so and arrayed the eight diagrams, pa-kua. "That is what we know as the eight diagrams," said Chiang. "But it is nothing wonderful, only a sort of array fit for a brigand's raid."

"You also have only stolen another man's tactics," replied his adversary.

"How many modifications of this are there?" asked Chiang. "Since I have arranged this, naturally I know the variations, of which there are nine nines, making eighty-one."

"Try them."

Ssuma returned to his array and evolved many, finally riding out and asking his opponent if he recognised them. "My formation admits of three hundred and sixty-five variations. You are but a frog in a well and know nothing of the deeper mysteries."

Now Ssuma knew that so many variations were possible, but had not studied them. However, he put on a bold air and said contemptuously that he did not believe it. And he challenged Chiang to show them.

"Go and call Têng Ai," raplied he. "I will display them to him.

"General Têng has excellent plans and does not think much of such tactics."

"What plans? I suppose you mean a plan to keep me here while he tries a surprise attack in the rear."

Ssuma was aghast. He made a sudden dash forward, and a mêlee began. Chiang Wei made a signal with his whip, and his men poured in from both wings. The men of Wei were seized with sudden panic, threw down their weapons and fled.