f Sima Zhao。
The loyal servant flees not in the day of disaster；
Such were they who followed Zhuge Dan to the shades。
Ever and again begins the Song of Life's Brevity。
Faithful unto death were they； even as Tian Heng's people*。
＇e＇ Tian Heng a warrior of Qi at the end of the Warring States period and Qin Dynasty。 In his bid to regain the lost kingdom of Qi； Tian Heng rebelled against Qin and fought both Liu Bang and Xiang Yu。 Rather than submitting to Liu Bang； Tian Heng mitted suicide so that his five hundred soldiers could be pardoned。 But on learning of his death； all of his five hundred followers killed themselves。 。。。。。
As has been said； many of the troops of Wu surrendered。
Then said Pei Xiu； 〃The parents and children of these soldiers are living all over River Huai。 If you spare them and they return home； they will foment rebellion by and by。 The best way is to bury them。〃
But Zhong Hui said； 〃No。 When the ancients made war； their policy was to maintain the state as a whole； and so they only put to death the originators of trouble。 It would be inhumane to slay all。 Rather let them return home as witnesses to your liberal policy。〃
〃That is better advice；〃 said Sima Zhao。 So the soldiers of Wu were released and allowed to return home。
Tang Zi dared not return to his own place in Wu for fear of the cruel Sun Chen； so he went over to Wei； taking his pany with him。 He was well received； and his people were employed over the counties of the three rivers。
The country about River Huai being now quiet； Sima Zhao decided to march homeward。
Just then the news came： 〃Jiang Wei； the Shu General； is attacking Changcheng and interfering with the supplies。〃
And so a council was called to discuss this matter。
At this time in Shu； the reign style was changed from Long Enjoyment； the twentieth year； to Wonderful Sight； the first year （AD 258）。 In Hanzhong Jiang Wei had recruited two generals； Fu Qian and Jiang Shu； both of whom he loved greatly； and set them to train the army； horse and foot。
Then came the news： 〃Zhuge Dan has set out to destroy Sima Zhao； Sun Chen of Wu has supported him with a large army； and Sima Zhao has led the army himself； bringing with him the Empress Dowager and the Ruler of Wei。〃
Jiang Wei said； 〃The great opportunity has e at last！〃
So he asked the Latter Ruler's authority to make another expedition。
But Minister Qiao Zhou heard this with grief； for internal affairs were not well。
Said he； 〃The court is sunk in dissipation； and the Emperor's confidence is given to that eunuch； Huang Hao。 State affairs are neglected for pleasure； which is the Emperor's sole aim。 Jiang Wei has led many expeditions and wasted the lives of many soldiers； so that the state is falling。〃
Qiao Zhou then wrote an essay on 〃Enemy Kingdoms；〃 which he sent to Jiang Wei。
＇e＇ King Wen； aka the Scholar King； founder of the Zhou Dynasty； father of King Wu。 King Wen did not actually founded the dynasty； but he laid the foundation for Zhou。 At the end of Shang Dynasty； the state Zhou of King Wen had already possessed two…thirds of the empire； but King Wen still faithfully served the last emperor of Shang。 The final conquest was pleted by King Wu and King Wu's brother； the Duke of Zhou。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Gou Jian was king of Yue during the Spring and Autumn period。 Gou Jian had been defeated and humiliated by Wu； but later he was able to fight back and conquer Wu。 。。。。。
＇e＇ When facing the prospect of a bloody battle； Liu Bang and Xiang Yu agreed to a truce； and they divided the empire into two parts； each part for one of them。 The Great Canal was the division line。
＇e＇ Zhang Liang was Liu Bang's master strategist； who helped Liu Bang defeat Xiang Yu and win the empire。 。。。。。
＇e＇ King Tang founder of the Shang Dynasty。 。。。。。
＇e＇ King Wu； aka the Martial King； founded the Zhou Dynasty； with the help of the Duke of Zhou； who was his brother。 。。。。。
〃When one asks by what means the weak overcame the strong in past times； the answer is that those responsible for the strong state made no struggle against general laxity； while those in power in a weak state took careful steps for improvement。 Confusion followed upon laxity and efficiency grew out of diligence； as is the universal rule。 King Wen of Zhou* devoted himself to the welfare of his people； and with a small number achieved great results； Gou Jian* sympathized with all； and with a weak force overcame a powerful opponent。 These were their methods。
〃One may recall that in the past Chu was strong and Han weak when the empire was divided by agreement at the Great Canal*。 Then； seeing that his people were satisfied and settled in their minds； Zhang Liang* went in pursuit of Xiang Yu and destroyed him。
〃But is it necessary to act like King Wen and Gou Jian？ Listen to the reply。 In the days of Shang and Zhou； when imperial ranks had long existed and the relations between prince and minister were firmly established； even such as the Founder of the Hans could not have carved his way to a throne。 But when the dynasty of Qin had suppressed the feudal nobles and set up mere representatives of its own power； and the people were weak and enslaved； the empire was rived asunder； and there succeeded a time of contention； when every bold soul strove with his neighbor。
〃But we are now in other times。 Since there is not the state of confusion that waited on the end of Qin； but a state of things more nearly like that of the period of the Warring States； in which six kingdoms contended for the mastery； therefore one may play the part of King Wen。 If one would found a dynasty； then must that one wait upon time and favorable destiny。 With these in his favor； the consummation will follow forthwith； as the armies of Kings Tang* and Wu* fought but one battle。 Therefore have real passion for the people and wait on opportunity。 If wars are constant； and a mishap e； even the wisest will be unable to show the way of safety。〃
〃An effusion from the pen of a rotten pedant？〃 cried Jiang Wei wrathfully as he finished reading； and he dashed the essay on the ground in contempt。
The protest was disregarded； and the army marched。
〃In your opinion where should we begin？〃 asked he of Fu Qian。
Fu Qian replied； 〃The great storehouse of Wei is at Changcheng； and we ought to burn their grain and forage。 Let us go out by the Luo Valley and cross the Shen Ridge。 After the capture of Changcheng； we can go on to Qinchuan； and the conquest of the Middle Land will be near。〃
〃What you say just fits in with my secret plans；〃 replied Jiang Wei。
So the army marched to the Luo Valley and crossed the Shen Ridge。
The mander in Changcheng was Sima Wang； a cousin of Sima Zhao。 Huge stores of grain were in the city； but its defenses were weak。 So when Sima Wang heard of the approach of the Shu army； he and his two leaders； Wang Zhen and Li Peng； made a camp seven miles from the walls to keep any attack at a distance。
When the enemy came up； Sima Wang and his two generals went forth from the ranks to meet them。
Jiang Wei stood in the front of his army and said； 〃Sima Zhao has forced his prince to go with him to war； which plainly indicates that he intends to emulate the deeds of Li Jue and Guo Si。 My government has manded me to punish this fault。 Wherefore I say to you yield at once。 For if you persist in the way of error； you and yours shall all be put to death！〃
Sima Wang shouted back； 〃You and yours are wholly strangers to any feeling of rectitude。 You have repeatedly invaded a superior state's territory。 If you do not at once retire； I will see to it that not even a breastplate returns！〃
With these words General Wang Zhen rode out； his spear set ready to thrust。 From the host of Shu came Fu Qian to take the challenge； and the two champions engaged。 After a few encounters Fu Qian tempted his opponent by feigning weakness。 Wang Zhen thrust at the opening he gave。 Fu Qian evaded the blow； snatched Wang Zhen out of the saddle； and bore him off。
Seeing this； his colleague； Li Peng whirled up his sword and went pounding down toward the captor。 Fu Qian went but slowly； thus luring Li Peng into rash pursuit。 When Li Peng was near enough； Fu Qian dashed his prisoner with all his strength to the earth； took a firm grip on his four…edg