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Ruler　of　Wei　was　alarmed　at　the　report　of　this　rising；　and　sent　for　Sima　Yi。
Sima　Yi　was　not　greatly　perturbed；　and　said；　〃My　forty　thousand　troops　will　be　equal　to　the　task。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　replied；　〃The　task　is　heavy；　for　your　troops　are　few　and　the　road　is　long。〃
〃The　strength　of　an　army　is　not　in　numbers；　but　in　strategy。　Aided　by　Your　Majesty's　good　fortune；　I　shall　certainly　be　able　to　bring　this　fellow　Gongsun　Yuan　a　captive　to　your　feet。〃
〃What　do　you　think　will　be　the　rebel's　plan？〃　asked　the　Ruler　of　Wei。
〃His　high　plan　would　be　flight　before　our　army　can　arrive；　his　middle　plan　would　be　defending　his　position　in　Liaodong；　his　low　plan　would　be　to　try　to　hold　Xiangping。　In　the　last　case　I　shall　certainly　capture　him。〃
〃How　long　will　the　expedition　take？〃
〃We　have　to　cover　one　thousand　five　hundred　miles　which　will　take　a　hundred　days。　Attack　will　consume　another　hundred。　The　return　will　need　a　hundred；　and　with　sixty　days　to　rest　we　shall　take　a　year。〃
〃Suppose　during　that　year　we　are　attacked　by　Wu　or　Shu。〃
〃My　plans　provide　for　that。　Your　Majesty　need　have　no　anxiety。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　being　thus　reassured；　formally　ordered　Sima　Yi　to　undertake　the　expedition。
Hu　Zun　was　appointed　to　lead　the　van。　Hu　Zun　went　and　camped　in　Liaodong。　The　scouts　hastened　to　tell　Gongsun　Yuan；　who　sent　Bei　Yan　and　Yang　Zuo　to　camp　at　Liaosui　with　eighty　thousand　troops。　They　surrounded　their　camp　with　a　wall　seven　miles　in　circumference　and　placed　thorny　barriers　outside　the　rampart。　It　seemed　very　secure。
Hu　Zun　saw　these　preparations　and　sent　to　tell　his　chief。　Sima　Yi　smiled。
〃So　the　rebel　does　not　want　to　fight；　but　thinks　to　weary　my　soldiers；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃Now　I　am　disposed　to　think　that　most　of　his　army　is　within　that　wall；　so　that　his　stronghold　is　empty　and　undefended。　I　will　make　a　dash　at　Xiangping。　He　will　have　to　go　to　its　rescue；　and　I　will　smite　him　on　the　way。　I　should　score　a　great　success。〃
So　Sima　Yi　hastened　to　Xiangping　along　unfrequented　ways。
Meanwhile　Bei　Yan　and　Yang　Zuo；　the　two　generals　within　the　walled　camp；　discussed　their　plans。
Yang　Zuo　said；　〃When　the　Wei　army　es　near；　we　will　not　fight。　They　will　have　e　a　long　march　and　their　supplies　will　be　short；　so　that　they　cannot　hold　out　long。　When　they　retreat；　we　shall　find　our　opportunity。　These　were　the　tactics　Sima　Yi　used　against　Zhuge　Liang　on　River　Wei；　and　Zhuge　Liang　died　before　the　end　of　the　expedition。　We　will　try　similar　means。〃
Presently　the　scouts　reported　that　the　Wei　army　had　marched　south。
Bei　Yan　at　once　saw　the　danger　and　said；　〃They　are　going　to　attack　Xiangping；　which　they　know　has　few　troops。　If　that　base　be　lost；　this　position　is　useless。〃
So　they　broke　up　their　camp　and　followed　the　enemy。
When　Sima　Yi　heard　it；　he　rejoiced；　saying；　〃Now　they　will　fall　into　the　snare　I　have　laid　for　them。〃
Sima　Yi　sent　Xiahou　Ba　and　Xiahou　Wei　to　take　up　position　on　the　River　Ji。　They　were　to　attack　if　the　army　of　Liaodong　came　near　them。　They　had　not　long　to　wait。　As　soon　as　Bei　Yan　and　his　army　approached；　Xiahou　Ba　and　Xiahou　Wei　exploded　a　bomb；　beat　the　drums；　waved　their　flags；　and　came　out；　one　force　on　each　side。　Bei　Yan　and　Yang　Zuo　made　a　fight　but　soon　fled　to　Shoushan　Mountain；　where　they　fell　in　with　Gongsun　Yuan　and　joined　the　main　army。　Then　they　turned　to　give　battle　to　the　Wei　army。
Bei　Yan　rode　to　the　front　and　reviled　the　enemy；　shouting；　〃You　rebels！　Do　not　try　trickery；　but　dare　you　fight　in　the　open？〃
Xiahou　Ba　rode　out　to　accept　the　challenge；　and　after　a　few　bouts　Bei　Yan　fell。　In　the　confusion　caused　by　the　death　of　their　leader；　Xiahou　Ba　urged　on　his　troops　and　drove　Gongsun　Yuan　back　to　Xiangping；　and　Gongsun　Yuan　took　refuge　in　the　city。
The　city　was　surrounded。　It　was　autumn；　and　the　rain　fell　day　after　day　without　ceasing。　At　the　end　of　the　month；　the　plain　was　under　three　feet　of　water；　so　that　the　grain　boats　sailed　straight　from　River　Ji　to　the　city　walls。　The　besiegers　suffered　much　from　the　floods。
Pei　Jing；　mander　of　the　Left；　went　to　Sima　Yi　and　asked；　〃The　rain　keeps　pouring　down；　and　tents　cannot　be　pitched　on　mud。　May　the　army　be　moved　to　camp　on　the　higher　ground？〃
But　Sima　Yi　flouted　the　suggestion。
〃How　can　the　army　move　away　just　when　success　is　in　sight？　The　rebels　will　be　conquered　now　any　day。　If　any　other　speaks　about　drawing　off；　he　will　be　put　to　death。〃
Pei　Jing　agreed　and　went　away。
Soon　after；　Chou　Lian；　mander　of　the　Right；　came　to　see　his　chief　and　repeated　the　suggestion；　saying；　〃The　soldiers　are　suffering　from　the　rains。　O　mander；　let　them　camp　on　the　hills。〃
Sima　Yi　got　angry　and　said；　〃I　have　sent　the　mand；　and　you　are　against　it！〃
And　he　ordered　Chou　Lian　to　be　executed。　His　head　was　suspended　at　the　camp　gate　as　a　warning　to　others。　The　soldiers　dared　to　plain　any　more。
Then　Sima　Yi　ordered　the　south　camp　to　be　abandoned；　and　the　army　marched　seven　miles　south；　thus　allowing　the　soldiers　and　people　in　the　city　to　e　out　to　gather　fuel　and　pasture　their　cattle。
The　attacking　army　could　not　understand　this　move；　and　General　Chen　Qun　spoke　about　it。
〃When　you　besieged　Shangyong；　O　mander；　you　attacked　all　round　at　eight　points；　and　the　city　fell　in　eight　days。　Meng　Da　was　taken；　and　you　won　a　great　success。　Now　your　forty　thousand　troops　have　borne　their　armors　many　days　over　long　marches　and　you　do　not　press　the　attack；　but　keep　them　in　the　mud　and　mire　and　let　the　enemy　gather　supplies　and　feed　their　cattle。　I　do　not　know　what　your　intention　may　be。〃
〃Sir；〃　replied　the　mander…in…Chief；　〃I　see　you　are　ignorant　of　war　after　all。　You　do　not　understand　the　different　conditions。　Meng　Da　then　had　ample　supplies　and　few　troops；　while　we　were　under　exactly　opposite　conditions。　So　we　had　to　attack　vigorously　and　at　once。　The　suddenness　of　the　attack　defeated　the　enemy。　But　look　at　present　conditions。　The　Liaodong　troops　are　many　and　we　few；　they　are　on　the　verge　of　starvation；　and　we　are　full　fed。　Why　should　we　force　the　attack？　Our　line　is　to　let　the　soldiers　desert　and　capture　the　city。　Therefore　I　leave　a　gate　open　and　the　road　free　that　they　may　run　away。〃
Chen　Qun　then　understood　and　acknowledged　the　correctness　of　the　strategy。　Sima　Yi　sent　to　Luoyang　to　hasten　supplies；　that　there　should　be　no　shortage。
However；　the　war　was　not　supported　in　the　capital；　for　when　the　messenger　arrived　and　the　Ruler　of　Wei　summoned　his　courtiers；　they　said；　〃In　Liaodong　the　rain　has　been　continuous　for　a　month；　and　the　soldiers　are　in　misery。　Sima　Yi　ought　to　be　recalled；　and　the　war　renewed　at　a　more　convenient　season。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　replied；　〃The　leader　of　our　army　is　most　capable　and　best　able　to　decide　upon　what　should　be　done。　He　understands　the　conditions　and　is　teeming　with　magnificent　plans。　He　will　certainly　succeed。　Wherefore；　Noble　Sirs；　wait　a　few　days　and　let　us　not　be　anxious　about　the　result。〃
So　Cao　Rui　heeded　not　the　voice　of　the　dissentients；　but　took　care　that　provisions　were　sent。
After　a　few　days　the　rain　ceased；　and　fine；　clear　weather　followed。　That　night　Sima　Yi　went　out　of　his　tent　that　he　might　study　the　sky。　Suddenly　he　saw　a　very　large　and　bright　star　start　from　a　point　over　Shoushan　Mountain　and　travel　over　toward　Xiangping；　where　it　fell。　The　soldiers　were　rather　frightened　at　this　apparition；　but　the　leader　rejoiced。
〃Five　days　from　now　Gongsun　Yuan　will　be　slain　where　that　star　fell；〃　said　he。　〃Therefore　attack　with　vigor。〃
They　opened　the　attack　the　next　morning　at　dawn；　throwing　up　banks　and　sapping　the　walls；　setting　up　stone…throwing　machines　and　rearing　ladders。　When　night　came　the　attack　did　not　cease。　Arrows　fell　in　the　city　like　pelting　rain。
Within　the　city；　grain　began　to　run　short；　and　soon　there　was　none。　They　slaughtered　bullocks　and　horses　for　food。　The　soldiers　began　to　be　mutinous　and　no　longer　fought　with　any　spirit。　There　was　talk　of　slaying　Gongsun　Yuan　and　yielding　the　city。
Gongsun　Yuan　was　disheartened　and　frightened；　and　decided　to　sue　for　peace。　He　sent　his　Prime　Minister　Wang　Jian　and　Imperial　Censor　Liu　Fei　out　of　the　city　to　beg　Sima　Yi　to　allow　him　to　submit。　These　two　had　to　be　let　down　from　the　walls　by　ropes；　as　no　other　means　of　exit　were　possible。
Wang　Jian　and　Liu　Fei　found　their　way　to　Sima　Yi　and　said；　〃We　pray　you；　O　mander；　retire　seven　miles　and　allow　the　officers　to　e　forth　and　surrender。〃
〃Why　did　not　Gongsun　Yuan　himself　e？〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃He　is　rude。〃
He　put　the　two　envoys　to　death　and　sent　their　heads　back　into　the　city。
Gongsun　Yuan　was　still　more　alarmed；　but　he　resolved　to　make　one　more　attempt。　This　time　he　sent　High　Counselor　Wei　Yin　as　his　envoy。　Sima　Yi　received　this　messenger　sitting　in　state　in　his　tent　with　his　officers　standing　right　and　left。　Wei　Yin　approached　on　his　knees；　and　when　he　reached　the　door　of　the　tent　recited　his　petition。
〃I　pray　you；　O　mander；　turn　your　thunderous　wrath　from　us。　We　will　send　the　son　of　our　leader；　Gongsun　Xiu；　the　Heir　Apparent；　as　hostage　and　all　the　officers　shall　appear　before　you　bound　with　cords。〃
Sima　Yi　replied；　〃There　are　five　possible　operations　for　any　army。　If　you　can　fight；　fight；　if　you　cannot　fight；　defend；　if　you　cannot　defend；　flee；　if　you　cannot　flee；　surrender；　if　you　cannot　surrender；　die。　These　five　courses　are　open　to　you；　and　a　hostage　would　be　useless。　Now　return　and　tell　your　master。〃
Wei　Yin　put　his　hands　over　his　head　and　fled　like　a　rat。　He　went　into　the　city　and　related　what　had　happened　to　him。
The　Gongsuns；　father　and　son；　resolved　to　flee。　They　chose　a　thousand　of　mounted　troops；　and　in　the　dead　of　night　opened　the　south　gate　and　got　out。　They　took　the　road　to　the　east　and　were　rejoiced　to　find　it　clear。
All　went　well　for　a　distance　of　three　miles；　when　a　bomb　exploded。　This　was　followed　by　a　roll　of　drums　and　the　blare　of　trumpets；　and　a　cohort　stood　in　the　way。　The　leader　was　Sima　Yi；　supported　by　his　two　sons………Sima　Shi　and　Sima　Zhao。
〃Stop；　O　rebel！〃　cried　the　sons。
But　Gongsun　Yuan　lashed　his　steed　to　a　gallop。　Then　Hu　Zun；　Xiahou　Ba；　Xiahou　Wei；　Zhang　Hu；　and　Yue　Chen；　with　their　troops；　came　up　and　quickly　surrounded　them　so　that　they　were　helpless。　Gongsun　Yuan　saw　that　escape　was　impossible；　so　he　came　with　his　son；　dismounted；　and　offered　surrender。
Sima　Yi　hardly　looked　at　the　two　men；　but　he　turned　to　his　officers　and　said；　〃That　night　the　star　fell　to　this　land；　and　today；　five　days　later；　the　omen　bees　true。〃
They　all　felicitated　him；　saying；　〃The　mander　is　superhuman！〃
Gongsun　Yuan　and　Gongsun　Xiu　were　slain　where　they　stood。　Then　Sima　Yi　turned　to　resume　the　siege　of　Xiangping；　but　before　he　had　reached　the　walls；　Hu　Zun's　army　had　entered。　Sima　Yi　went　in　and　was　received　with　great　respect；　the　people　burning　incense　as　he　passed。　He　went　to　the　residence；　and　then　the　whole　of　the　Gongsun　Yuan's　clan；　and　all　who　had　assisted　in　his　rising；　were　beheaded。　They　counted　heads　to　the　number　of　seventy。
The　city　taken　and　the　rebels　destroyed；　Sima　Yi　issued　a　proclamation　in　order　to　restore　confidence　among　the　people。
Certain　persons　told　him；　〃Jia　Fan　and　Lun　Zhi　had　been　against　the　revolt　and　had　therefore　suffered　death。〃
So　Sima　Yi　honored　their　tombs　and　conferred　ranks　upon　their　children。　The　contents　of　the　treasury　were　distributed　among　the　soldiers　as　rewards；　and　then　the　army　marched　back　to　Luoyang。
One　night　the　Ruler　of　Wei　was　suddenly　awakened　by　a　chill　blast　that　extinguished　all　the　lights；　but　he　saw　the　form　of　the　late　Empress　Mao；　with　a　score　or　two　of　other　Palace　attendants；　ing　toward　the　bed　whereon　he　lay；　and　as　they　approached　they　demanded　his　life。　He　was　very　frightened　and　fell　ill　so　that　he　was　like　to　die。
So　the　two　officers；　Liu　Fang　and　Sun　Zu；　were　set　over　the　privy　council；　and　he　summoned　his　brother　Cao　Yu；　the　Prince　of　Yan；　to　the　capital　to　make　him　Regent　Marshal　to　assist　the　Heir　Apparent；　Cao　Fang。　However；　Cao　Yu　being　modest　and　retiring　by　nature；　declined　these　high　offices　and　their　responsibilities。
The　Ruler　of　Wei　then　turned　to　his　two　confidants；　Liu　Fang　and　Sun　Zu；　inquired　of　them；　saying；　〃Who　of　the　family　is　a　suitable　person　to　support　the　Heir　Apparent？〃
As　Liu　Fang　and　Sun　Zu　had　both　received　many　favors　from　Cao　Zhen；　they　replied；　〃None　is　so　fit　as　Cao　Shuang；　the　son　of　Cao　Zhen。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　approved　their　choice；