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〃I　feel　doubtful　about　the　real　purpose　of　this　banquet；〃　said　Zhang　Yue；　〃and　advise　you　not　to　go。〃
Zhuge　Ke　gave　orders　to　drive　home　again。　But　before　he　had　reached　his　own　gate；　the　two　conspirators………Sun　Jun　and　Teng　Yin………rode　up　and　asked；　〃O　Imperial　Guardian；　why　are　you　turning　back？〃
〃I　feel　unwell　and　cannot　see　the　Emperor　today；〃　replied　Zhuge　Ke。
They　replied；　〃This　court　is　appointed　to　be　held　especially　to　do　honor　to　you　and　the　army。　You　have　not　yet　reported；　and　there　is　a　banquet　for　you。　You　may　be　ill；　but　you　really　must　go　to　court。〃
Zhuge　Ke　yielded；　and　once　more　set　his　face　toward　the　Palace。　Sun　Jun　and　Teng　Yin　went　with　him；　and　his　friend　Zhang　Yue　followed。　The　banquet　was　spread　when　he　arrived；　and　after　he　had　made　his　obeisance　he　went　to　his　place。
When　the　wine　was　brought　in；　Zhuge　Ke；　thinking　it　might　be　poisoned；　excused　himself　from　drinking；　saying；　〃I　am　currently　ill；　and　I　cannot　drink　wine。〃
〃Will　you　have　some　of　the　medicated　wine　brought　from　your　own　residence？〃　said　Sun　Jun。
〃Yes；　I　could　drink　that；〃　replied　he。
So　a　servant　was　sent　for　a　supply　that　he　might　drink　with　the　other　guests。
After　several　courses；　the　Ruler　of　Wu　made　an　excuse　and　left　the　banquet　hall。　Sun　Jun　went　to　the　foot　of　the　hall　and　changed　his　garments　of　ceremony　for　more　homely　garb；　but　underneath　these　he　put　on　armor。
Then　suddenly　he　raised　his　keen　sword　and　ran　up　the　hall；　shouting；　〃The　Emperor　has　issued　an　edict　to　slay　a　rebel！〃
Zhuge　Ke；　startled　so　that　he　dropped　his　cup；　laid　his　hand　upon　his　sword。　But　he　was　too　late；　his　head　rolled　to　the　floor。　His　friend　Zhang　Yue　drew　his　sword　and　rushed　at　the　assassin；　but　Sun　Jun　evaded　the　full　force　of　the　blow　and　was　only　wounded　in　the　left　finger。　Sun　Jun　slashed　back　at　Zhang　Yue　and　wounded　him　in　the　right　arm。　Then　the　braves　dashed　in　and　finished　Zhang　Yue。
The　braves　were　then　sent　to　arrest　Zhuge　Ke's　family；　while　the　bodies　of　Zhuge　Ke　and　Zhang　Yue　were　hastily　rolled　in　matting；　thrown　into　a　cart；　taken　to　the　outside　of　the　south　gate；　and　tossed　into　a　rubbish　pit。
While　Zhuge　Ke　was　absent　in　the　palace；　his　wife　sat　in　the　women's　quarters　at　home　feeling　strangely　unquiet。
Presently　a　maid　came　in　and；　when　she　drew　near；　his　wife　said；　〃Why　does　your　clothing　smell　of　blood？〃
To　her　horror　the　maid　suddenly　transformed　into　a　weird　creature　with　rolling　eyes　and　gritting　teeth；　that　went　dancing　about　the　room　and　leaping　till　it　touched　the　roof…beams；　shrieking　all　the　time；　〃I　am　Zhuge　Ke；　and　I　have　been　slain　by　that　bastard　Sun　Jun！〃
By　this　time　the　whole　family　were　frightened　and　began　wailing。　And　a　few　minutes　later　the　residence　was　surrounded　by　a　crowd　of　armed　guards　sent　to　murder　the　inmates；　whom　they　bound；　carried　off　to　the　market　place；　and　put　to　the　sword。　These　things　occurred　in　the　tenth　month　of　the　second　year　of　Great　Prosperity　（AD　253）。
When　Zhuge　Jin　lived；　he　saw　his　son's　ability　display　prominently；　and　he　often　sighed；　saying；　〃This　son　will　not　safeguard　the　family。〃
Others　had　also　predicted　an　early　death。　Zhang　Qi；　High　Minister　in　Wei；　used　to　say　to　Sima　Shi；　〃Zhuge　Ke　will　die　soon。〃
And　when　asked　why；　Zhang　Qi　replied；　〃Can　a　person　live　long　when　his　dignity　endangers　that　of　his　lord？〃
After　the　conspiracy；　Sun　Jun　became　Prime　Minister　in　place　of　his　victim。　He　was　also　placed　in　mand　of　all　the　military　forces；　and　became　very　powerful。　The　control　of　all　matters　was　in　his　hands。
In　Chengdu；　when　the　letter　of　Zhuge　Ke　asking　help　from　Jiang　Wei　arrived；　Jiang　Wei　had　audience　with　the　Latter　Ruler　and　requested　authority　to　raise　an　army　against　the　north。

The　army　fought；　but　fought　in　vain；
Success　may　crown　a　new　campaign。

Who　were　victorious　will　appear　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　109　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　109
　Chapter　109
A　Ruse　Of　A　Han　General：　Sima　Zhao　Is　Surrounded；
Retribution　For　The　House　Of　Wei：　Cao　Fang　Is　Dethroned。
It　was　the　autumn　of　the　sixteenth　year　of　Long　Enjoyment　（AD　253）；　and　Jiang　Wei's　army　of　two　hundred　thousand　was　ready　to　march　against　the　north。　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　were　Leaders　of　the　Van；　Xiahou　Ba　was　Army　Strategist；　Zhang　Ni　was　in　mand　of　the　missariat。　The　army　marched　out　by　the　Yangping　Pass。
Discussing　the　plan　of　campaign　with　Xiahou　Ba；　Jiang　Wei　said；　〃Our　former　attack　on　Yongzhou　failed；　so　this　time　they　will　doubtless　be　even　better　prepared　to　resist。　What　do　you　suggest？〃
Xiahou　Ba　replied；　〃Nanan　is　the　only　well…provided　place　in　all　Longshang。　If　we　take　that；　it　will　serve　as　an　excellent　base。　Our　former　ill…success　was　due　to　the　non…arrival　of　the　Qiangs。　Let　us　therefore　send　early　to　tell　them　to　assemble　at　Longyou；　after　which　we　will　move　out　at　Shiying　and　march　to　Nanan　by　way　of　Dongting。〃
〃You　spoke　well；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。
He　at　once　sent　Xi　Zheng　as　his　envoy；　bearing　gifts　of　gold　and　pearls　and　silk　to　win　the　help　of　the　King　of　the　Qiangs；　whose　name　was　Mi　Dang。　The　mission　was　successful：　King　Mi　Dang　accepted　the　presents　and　sent　fifty　thousand　troops　to　Nanan　under　the　Qiang　General　Ehe　Shaoge。
When　Guo　Huai　heard　of　the　threatened　attack；　he　sent　a　hasty　memorial　to　Capital　Luoyang。
Sima　Shi　at　once　asked　his　leaders；　〃Who　will　go　out　to　meet　the　army　from　the　west？〃
Xu　Zi　volunteered；　and　as　Sima　Shi　had　a　high　opinion　of　his　capacity；　he　appointed　Xu　Zi　as　Leader　of　the　Van。　The　brother　of　the　Prime　Minister；　Sima　Zhao；　went　as　mander…in…Chief。
The　Wei　army　set　out　for　West　Valley　Land；　reached　Dongting；　and　there　fell　in　with　Jiang　Wei。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed　Xu　Zi；　who　wielded　a　mighty　splitter…of…mountains　ax　as　his　weapon；　rode　out　and　challenged。　Liao　Hua　went　forth　to　accept；　but　after　a　few　bouts　he　took　advantage　of　a　feint　and　fled。
Then　Zhang　Yi　set　his　spear　and　rode　forth　to　continue　the　fight。　He　also　soon　fled　and　returned　within　his　own　ranks。　Thereupon　Xu　Zi　gave　the　signal　to　fall　on　in　force；　and　the　army　of　Shu　lost　the　day。　They　retired　ten　miles；　Sima　Zhao　also　drew　off　his　troops；　and　both　sides　encamped。
〃Xu　Zi　is　very　formidable。　How　can　we　overe　him？〃　asked　Jiang　Wei。
〃Tomorrow　make　pretense　of　defeat　and　so　draw　them　into　an　ambush；〃　replied　Xiahou　Ba。
〃But　remember　whose　son　this　Sima　Zhao　is；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。　〃Sima　Zhao　cannot　be　a　novice　in　war。　If　he　sees　a　likely　spot　for　an　ambush；　he　will　halt。　Now　the　troops　of　Wei　have　cut　our　transportation　many　times。　Let　us　do　the　same　to　them；　and　we　may　slay　this　Xu　Zi。〃
He　called　in　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　and　gave　them　secret　orders；　sending　them　in　different　directions。　Then　he　laid　iron　thorns　along　all　the　approaches　and　planted　thorny　barriers　as　if　making　a　permanent　defense。　When　the　troops　of　Wei　came　up　and　challenged；　the　troops　of　Shu　refused　battle。
The　scouts　reported　to　Sima　Zhao：　〃The　Shu　supplies　are　ing　up　along　the　rear　of　Iron　Cage　Mountain；　and　they　are　using　the　wooden　oxen　and　running　horses　as　transport。　The　Shu　army　are　building　permanent　defenses　and　are　awaiting　the　arrival　of　their　allies　the　Qiang　tribes。〃
Then　said　Sima　Zhao　to　Xu　Zi；　〃We　formerly　defeated　the　army　of　Shu　by　cutting　off　supplies；　and　we　can　do　that　again。　Let　five　thousand　troops　go　out　tonight　and　occupy　the　road。〃
About　the　middle　of　the　first　watch　Xu　Zi　marched　across　the　hills。　When　he　came　to　the　other　side；　he　saw　a　couple　of　hundred　soldiers　driving　a　hundred　or　so　heads　of　mechanical　animals　laden　with　grain　and　forage。　His　army　rushed　down　upon　them　with　shouts；　and　the　troops　of　Shu；　seeing　that　their　road　was　impassable；　abandoned　their　supplies　and　ran　away。　Xu　Zi　took　possession　of　the　supply　train；　which　he　sent　back　to　his　own　camp　under　the　escort　of　half　his　troops。　With　the　other　half　he　set　out　in　pursuit。
About　three　miles　away；　the　road　was　found　blocked　with　carts　set　across　the　track。　Some　of　his　soldiers　dismounted　to　clear　the　way。　But　as　they　did　so；　the　brushwood　on　both　sides　burst　into　a　blaze。　Xu　Zi　at　once　drew　off　his　force　and　turned　to　retire；　but　ing　to　a　defile　he　found　the　road　again　blocked　with　wagons；　and　again　the　brushwood　began　to　burn。　He　made　a　dash　to　escape；　but　before　he　could　get　clear　a　bomb　roared；　and　he　saw　the　troops　of　Shu　ing　down　on　him　from　two　directions。　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　from　left　and　right　fell　on　Xu　Zi　with　great　fury；　and　the　troops　of　Wei　were　wholly　defeated。　Xu　Zi　himself　got　clear；　but　without　any　following。
He　struggled　on　till　he　and　his　steed　were　almost　spent　with　fatigue。　Presently　he　saw　another　pany　of　the　enemy　in　his　way；　and　the　leader　was　Jiang　Wei。　Before　he　could　make　any　resistance；　Jiang　Wei's　spear　thrust　him　down；　and　as　Xu　Zi　lay　on　the　ground　he　was　cut　to　pieces。
Meanwhile　those　troops　of　Wei　who　had　been　sent　to　escort　to　camp　the　convoy　of　supplies　which　they　had　seized　were　captured　by　Xiahou　Ba。　They　surrendered。　Xiahou　Ba　then　stripped　them　of　their　weapons　and　clothing　and　therein　disguised　some　of　his　own　soldiers。　Holding　aloft　banners　of　Wei；　these　disguised　soldiers　made　for　the　Wei　camp。　When　they　arrived；　they　were　mistaken　by　those　in　the　camp　for　rades；　and　the　gates　were　thrown　open。　They　rushed　in　and　began　to　slay。　Taken　wholly　by　surprise；　Sima　Zhao　leaped　upon　his　steed　and　fled。　But　Liao　Hua　met　him　and　drove　him　back。　Then　appeared　Jiang　Wei　in　the　path　of　retreat；　so　that　no　road　lay　open。　Sima　Zhao　made　off　for　the　hills；　hoping　to　be　able　to　hold　out　on　the　Iron　Cage　Mountain。
Now　there　was　only　one　road　up　the　hill；　which　rose　steeply　on　all　sides。　And　the　hill　had　but　one　small　spring　of　water；　enough　to　serve　a　hundred　people　or　so；　while　Sima　Zhao's　force　numbered　six　thousand。　Their　enemies　had　blocked　the　only　road　of　escape。　This　one　fountain　was　unequal　to　supplying　the　needs　of　the　beleaguered　army；　and　soon　they　were　tormented　with　thirst。
In　despair；　Sima　Zhao　looked　up　to　heaven　and　sighed；　saying；　〃Death　will　surely　e　to　me　here！〃

The　host　of　Wei　on　Iron　Cage　Mountain
Were　once　fast　held　by　Jiang　Wei's　skill；
When　Pang　Juan　first　crossed　the　Maling　Hills；
His　strategy　was　reckoned　fine
As　Xiang　Yu　at　the　Nine　Mountains；
Both　bent　opponents　to　their　will。

In　this　critical　situation　Secretary　Wang　Tao　reminded　his　leader　of　what　Geng　Gong　had　done　in　ancient　time；　saying；　〃O　General；　why　do　you　not　imitate　Geng　Gong；　who；　being　in　great　need；　prostrated　himself　and　prayed　at　a　well；　wherefrom　he　afterwards　was　supplied　with　sweet　water？〃
So　the　leader　went　to　the　summit　of　the　hill　and　knelt　beside　the　spring　and　grayed　thus：
〃The　humble　Sima　Zhao　received　a　mand　to　repulse　the　army　of　Shu。　If　he　is　to　die　here；　then　may　this　spring　cease　its　flow；　when　he　will　end　his　own　life　and　let　his　soldiers　yield　to　the　enemy。　But　if　his　allotted　span　of　life　be　not　reached；　then；　O　Blue　Vault；　increase　the　flow　of　water　and　save　the　lives　of　this　multitude。〃
Thus　he　prayed；　and　the　waters　gushed　forth　in　plenty；　so　that　they　all　quenched　their　thirst　and　lived。
Jiang　Wei　had　surrounded　the　hill；　holding　the　army　thereon　as　in　a　prison。
He　said　to　his　officers；　〃I　have　always　regretted　that　our　great　Prime　Minister　was　unable　to　capture　Sima　Yi　in　the　Gourd　Valley；　but　now　I　think　his　son　is　doomed　to　fall　into　our　hands！〃
However；　news　of　the　dangerous　position　of　Sima　Zhao　had　e　to　Guo　Huai；　who　set　about　a　rescue。
Chen　Tai　said　to　him；　〃Jiang　Wei　has　made　a　league　with　the　Qiangs；　and　they　have　arrived　to　help　him。　If　you　go　away　to　rescue　Sima　Zhao；　the　Qiangs　will　attack　from　the　rear。　Therefore　I　would　propose　to　send　someone　to　the　tribespeople　to　try　to　create　a　diversion　and　get　them　to　retire。　If　they　are　disposed　of；　you　may　go　to　the　rescue　of　Sima　Zhao。〃
Guo　Huai　saw　there　was　much　reason　in　this；　and　told　Chen　Tai　to　take　a　force　of　five　thousand　troops　and　go　to　the　camp　of　the　King　of　the　Qiangs。　When　Chen　Tai　reached　the　camp；　he　threw　off　his　armor　and　entered　weeping　and　crying　that　he　was　in　danger　of　death。
He　said；　〃Guo　Huai　sets　himself　up　as　superior　to　everyone　and　is　trying　to　slay　me。　Therefore　I　have　e　to　offer　my　services　to　you。　I　know　all　the　secrets　of　the　Wei　army；　and；　if　you　will；　this　very　night　I　can　lead　you　to　their　camp。　I　have　friends　in