ly surrounded。 Nothing could be done； and he fled from the field with a dozen riders and made for Shenxian。
Here Governor Song Bai received him kindly and forted him with a feast。 At the banquet Guanqiu Jian drowned his sorrows in the wine cup till he was helpless； when he was slain by his host。 His head was sent to the Wei army as proof of his death； and the rising came to an end。 Peace was restored in the South of River Huai。
Sima Shi grew worse。 Recovery being hopeless； he called Zhuge Dan to his tent and gave him a seal and conferred upon him the title of General Who Conquers the East； with mand of all the forces in Yangzhou； and soon after the army marched back to Xuchang。
The sick man began to have visions。 Night after night he was troubled by the apparitions of the three courtiers………Zhang Qi； Li Feng； and Xiahou Xuan………he had put to death； and he knew that his end was near。 He sent for his brother； Sima Zhao； who came and wept by his couch while he listened to his elder brother's last mands。
Said Sima Shi； 〃The responsibility of power is heavy； but we must bear it： There is no possible relief。 You must continue my plans and maintain my policy yourself； and you must be exceedingly careful how you entrust any other with power； lest you bring about the destruction of our whole clan。〃
Then Sima Shi handed the seal of office to Sima Zhao； weeping the while。 Sima Zhao would ask some questions still； but with a deep groan as his eye popped out Sima Shi died。 It was the second month of the second year of Right Origin （AD 256）。
Sima Zhao put on mourning for his brother and informed the Ruler of Wei； Cao Mao； of the death。 By special edict Sima Zhao was ordered to remain at Xuchang so as to guard against any attack from Wu。 This order was unpleasing to its recipient； but he felt doubtful what to do。
Sima Zhao took counsel with Zhong Hui； who said； 〃The death of your brother has disturbed the country。 If you remain here； some shifting of power at the capital will surely work to your disadvantage。 It will be too late for regrets then。〃
Wherefore Sima Zhao left Xuchang and camped on River Luo。 This move alarmed Cao Mao。
Then Grand mander Wang Su advised； saying； 〃Sima Zhao has succeeded the office of his late brother。 It is well that Your Majesty should placate him with a new title。〃
So Cao Mao sent Wang Su with an edict creating Sima Zhao Regent Marshal； with control of the Secretariat。 Sima Zhao came to Luoyang to thank the Emperor for these honors and stayed。 Henceforward all matters and the whole government were under Sima Zhao's hand。
When news of these things came to Chengdu； Jiang Wei thought the time had e to make another bid for the empire； so he wrote a memorial to the Latter Ruler：
〃Sima Shi having just died； his brother； Sima Zhao； who succeeds； will be unable to leave Luoyang until he has consolidated his position。 Wherefore I crave permission to attack Wei。〃
The Latter Ruler agreed and bade him raise an army。 So he went into Hanzhong to prepare for the expedition。
However； Zhang Yi； General Who Conquers the West； was opposed to the expedition and said； 〃Shu is not a big country； and its resources are not too abundant。 Thus a far expedition should be avoided。 The state policy should rather be the improvement of conditions at home。 Thinking well for the soldiers and the people is the way to preserve the country。〃
〃You are mistaken；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃Before our great Minister Zhuge Liang emerged from his reed hut in the wilds and undertook the affairs of a state； the three kingdoms were already a fact。 Six times he led armies to try to gain the northern portion of the empire； but failed to attain his desire。 Unhappily he died leaving his design unacplished。 But he bequeathed to me the legacy of his intention； and I must be a loyal and worthy executor。 If I die in the attempt； I will perish without regret。 Now is our opportunity； and if we miss it； shall we find a better？〃
〃What you say is the real truth；〃 said Xiahou Ba。 〃Let us send first some light horse out by Baohan to capture Nanan and thereby settle that county。〃
Then said Zhang Yi； 〃Procrastination and delay have been hitherto the causes of our failure。 We ought to obey the precepts of the books of war； strike where the enemy is unprepared and appear where he does not expect us。 A rapid march and a sudden blow will find Wei unready； and we shall succeed。〃
So Jiang Wei led an army of fifty thousand troops out by Baohan。 When he reached River Yao； the spies reported his arrival to Wang Jing； Imperial Protector of Yongzhou； who led out seventy thousand troops against him。 Jiang Wei gave certain orders to Zhang Yi and Xiahou Ba； and after they had marched； he drew up the main body by River Yao。
Wang Jing rode out to parley。
〃Wu； Shu； and Wei are now actually established as a tripod。 Why then have you invaded our borders these many times？〃
Jiang Wei replied； 〃Because Sima Shi deposed his prince without cause； and it behooves the neighboring countries to punish such a crime。 Moreover； your country is a rival state。〃
Then Wang Jing turned and said to four of his generals； Zhang Ming； Hua Yong； Liu Dan； and Zhu Fang； 〃You see that the enemy is drawn up with a river at his back； so that his troops must conquer or drown。 Though Jiang Wei is bold； you four can fight him at the same time and pursue if he retires。〃
The four rode out two and two。 Jiang Wei stood through a few encounters； but then moved backward toward his camp。 At this； Wang Jing led on his main body to smite。 Jiang Wei fled toward the river。
As he drew near he shouted； 〃Danger； O Generals！ Now do your utmost！〃
His generals turned on the foe and fought with such vigor that the Wei army was defeated； and； as they turned away； Zhang Yi and Xiahou Ba fell upon their rear。 Soon the Wei army was hemmed in； and Jiang Wei rushed in among the host of Wei and threw them into utter confusion。 They trod each other down in the press； and many fell into the river。 Dead bodies lay about over several miles。
Wang Jing and a hundred horsemen forced their way out and fled to Didao； where they entered within the walls and barred the gates。
After Jiang Wei had rewarded and feasted his army； he was for attacking Didao； but Zhang Yi was against this。
〃General； you have won a great victory； which will bring you fame。 If you attempt more； things may go astray； and you will only add legs to your sketch of a serpent。〃
Said Jiang Wei； 〃When our army were defeated not long ago； they still desired to overrun the whole north。 Now our opponents have been overe； and that has broken the spirit of their army； and this city can be easily captured。 Do not damp the spirit of the soldiers。〃
So it was decided to attack Didao despite further remonstrances of Zhang Yi。
Chen Tai； General Who Conquers the West and mander of Yongzhou； was just about to set out to avenge the defeat of Wang Jing when Deng Ai； Imperial Protector of Yanzhou； arrived with his army。 Chen Tai weled him； and when Deng Ai had said he had e by imperial edict to assist to defeat the army of Shu； Chen Tai asked his plans。
Deng Ai replied； 〃They are victors on River Yao。 If they enlist the aid of the Qiangs to cause a diversion in the West Valley Land and the Land Within the Passes and also obtain the support of the four counties； it will be a misfortune for us。 If they do not think of that； but try to take Didao； they will only fritter away their energies against a place too strongly fortified for them to capture。 Let us now array our force along the Xiangling Mountain； and then we can advance and smite them。 We shall get a victory。〃
〃That is well said！〃 cried Chen Tai。
Then twenty cohorts of fifty soldiers each were told off to find their way secretly to the southeast of Didao and there hide in the valleys。 They were then to display many ensigns and sound trumpets as if they were a very large force； and make huge fires at night； so as to cause anxiety among the enemy。 And thus they waited for the troops of Shu to e； while Chen Tai and Deng Ai marched with forty thousand troops against the Shu army。
The army of Shu had marched to Didao and begun the siege around the whole circuit of the walls。 At the end of many days the fall of the city seemed no nearer； a