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ll；　this　very　night　I　can　lead　you　to　their　camp。　I　have　friends　in　the　camp　to　help；　and　you　can　destroy　it。〃
King　Mi　Dang　was　taken　with　the　scheme；　and　sent　his　General　Ehe　Shaoge　to　go　with　Chen　Tai。　The　deserters　from　Wei　were　placed　in　the　rear；　but　Chen　Tai　himself　rode　with　the　leading　body　of　the　Qiangs。　They　set　out　at　the　second　watch　and　soon　arrived。　They　found　the　gates　open；　and　Chen　Tai　rode　in　boldly。　But　when　Ehe　Shaoge　and　his　troops　galloped　in；　there　suddenly　arose　a　great　cry　as　soldiers　and　horses　went　tumbling　into　great　pits。　At　the　same　time　Chen　Tai　came　round　in　the　rear　and　attacked；　while　Guo　Huai　appeared　on　the　flank。　The　Qiangs　trampled　each　other　down；　and　many　were　killed。　Those　who　escaped　death　surrendered；　and　the　leader；　Ehe　Shaoge；　mitted　suicide　in　a　pit。
Guo　Huai　and　Chen　Tai　then　hastened　back　into　the　camp　of　the　Qiangs。　Mi　Dang；　taken　unprepared；　rushed　out　of　his　tent　to　get　to　horse；　but　was　made　prisoner。　He　was　taken　before　Guo　Huai；　who　hastily　dismounted；　loosed　the　prisoner's　bonds；　and　soothed　him　with　kindly　words。
〃Our　government　has　always　regarded　you　as　a　loyal　and　true　friend；〃　said　Guo　Huai。　〃Why　then　are　you　helping　our　enemies？〃
Mi　Dang　sank　to　the　ground　in　confusion；　while　Guo　Huai　continued；　〃If　you　will　now　raise　the　siege　of　Iron　Cage　Mountain　and　drive　off　the　troops　of　Shu；　I　will　memorialize　the　Throne　and　obtain　a　substantial　reward　for　you。〃
Mi　Dang　agreed。　He　set　out　forthwith；　his　own　army　leading　and　the　army　of　Wei　in　the　rear。　At　the　third　watch　he　sent　on　a　messenger　to　tell　Jiang　Wei　of　his　ing。　And　the　Shu　leader　was　glad。　Mi　Dang　was　invited　to　e。　On　the　march　the　soldiers　of　Wei　had　mingled　with　the　Qiangs；　and　many　of　them　were　in　the　forefront　of　the　army。
As　they　drew　near　the　camp；　Jiang　Wei　gave　order：　〃The　army　are　to　camp　outside。　Only　the　King　can　enter　the　gate。〃
Mi　Dang　went　up　toward　the　gate　with　a　hundred　or　more　followers；　and　Jiang　Wei　with　Xiahou　Ba　went　to　wele　him。　Just　as　they　met；　before　Mi　Dang　could　say　a　word；　the　Wei　generals　dashed　on　past　him　and　set　on　to　slay。　Jiang　Wei　was　taken　aback；　leaped　on　his　steed　and　fled；　while　the　mixed　force　of　troops　of　Wei　and　Qiangs　drove　the　camp　defenders　before　them　and　sent　them　flying。
When　Jiang　Wei　leaped　upon　his　steed　at　the　gate；　he　had　no　weapon　in　his　hand；　only　his　bow　and　quiver　hung　at　his　shoulder。　In　his　hasty　flight　the　arrows　fell　out　and　the　quiver　was　empty；　so　when　he　set　off　for　the　hills　with　Guo　Huai　in　pursuit；　Jiang　Wei　had　nothing　to　oppose　to　the　spears　of　his　pursuers。　As　they　came　near　he　laid　hands　upon　his　bow　and　made　as　if　to　shoot。　The　string　twanged　and　Guo　Huai　blenched。　But　as　no　arrow　went　flying　by；　Guo　Huai　knew　Jiang　Wei　had　none　to　shoot。　Guo　Huai　therefore　hung　his　spear；　took　his　bow　and　shot。　Jiang　Wei　caught　the　arrow　as　it　flew　by　and　fitted　it　to　his　bowstring。　He　waited　till　Guo　Huai　came　quite　near；　when　he　pulled　the　string　with　all　his　force　and　sent　the　arrow　flying　straight　at　Guo　Huai's　face。　Guo　Huai　fell　even　as　the　bowstring　sang。
Jiang　Wei　pulled　up　and　turned　to　finish　his　fallen　enemy；　but　the　soldiers　of　Wei　were　nearly　upon　him；　and　he　had　only　time　to　snatch　up　Guo　Huai's　spear　and　ride　off。　Now　that　Jiang　Wei　was　armed　and　their　own　leader　wounded；　the　soldiers　of　Wei　had　no　more　desire　to　fight。　They　picked　up　their　general　and　carried　him　to　camp。　There　the　arrow…head　was　pulled　out；　but　the　flow　of　blood　could　not　be　stanched；　and　Guo　Huai　died。
Sima　Zhao　descended　from　the　hill　as　soon　as　Jiang　Wei　moved　away；　and　pursued　some　distance　before　returning。
Xiahou　Ba　forced　his　way　out　and　rejoined　Jiang　Wei　as　soon　as　he　could；　and　they　marched　away　together。　The　losses　of　Shu　in　this　defeat　were　very　heavy。　On　the　road　they　dared　not　halt　to　muster　or　reform；　but　went　helter…skelter　into　Hanzhong。　In　that　campaign；　though　the　Shu　army　were　defeated；　they　had　killed　Xu　Zi　and　Guo　Huai　on　the　other　side　and　had　damaged　the　prestige　of　Wei。　Thus　Jiang　Wei's　achievement　made　up　for　his　offense。
After　rewarding　the　Qiangs　for　their　help；　Sima　Zhao　led　his　army　back　to　Capital　Luoyang；　where　he　joined　his　brother　Sima　Shi　in　administering　the　government。　They　were　too　strong　for　any　of　the　officers　to　dare　opposition；　and　they　terrorized　Cao　Fang；　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　so　that　he　shook　with　fright　whenever　he　saw　Sima　Shi　at　court；　and　felt　as　if　needles　were　being　stuck　into　his　back。
One　day；　when　the　Ruler　of　Wei　was　holding　a　court；　Sima　Shi　came　into　the　hall　wearing　his　sword。　Cao　Fang　hastily　left　his　Dragon　Throne　to　receive　him。
〃What　does　this　mean？　Is　this　the　correct　etiquette　for　a　prince　when　his　minister　approaches？〃　said　Sima　Shi；　smiling。　〃I　pray　Your　Majesty　remember　your　dignity　and　listen　while　the　ministers　address　the　Throne。〃
Court　business　then　proceeded。　Sima　Shi　decided　every　question　without　reference　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　and　when　Sima　Shi　retired；　he　stalked　haughtily　down　the　hall　and　went　home；　followed　by　his　escort；　which　numbered　thousands　of　horse　and　foot。
When　the　Ruler　of　Wei　left　the　court；　only　three　followed　him　to　the　private　apartments。　They　were　Minister　Xiahou　Xuan；　Secretary　Li　Feng；　and　High　Minister　Zhang　Qi。　Zhang　Qi　was　the　father　of　his　consort；　Empress　Zhang。　Sending　away　the　servants；　Cao　Fang　and　these　three　went　into　a　private　chamber。
Seizing　his　father…in…law's　hand；　Cao　Fang　began　to　weep；　saying；　〃That　man　Sima　Shi　treats　me　as　a　child　and　regards　the　officers　of　state　as　if　they　were　so　many　straws。　I　am　sure　the　throne　will　be　his　one　day。〃
And　he　wept　bitterly。
Said　Li　Feng；　〃Do　not　be　so　sad；　Sire。　I　am　but　a　poor　sort　of　person。　But　if　Your　Majesty　will　give　me　authority；　I　will　call　together　all　the　bold　people　in　the　country　and　slay　this　man。〃
〃It　was　from　fear　of　this　man　that　my　brother　Xiahou　Ba　was　forced　to　go　over　to　Shu；〃　said　Xiahou　Xuan。　〃If　Sima　Shi　were　destroyed；　my　brother　could　return。　I　belong　to　a　family　related　to　the　rulers　of　the　state　for　many　generations；　and　I　cannot　sit　still　while　a　wretch　ruins　the　government。　Put　my　name　in　the　mand　as　well；　and　we　will　work　together　to　remove　him。〃
〃But　I　am　afraid　we　can　not　overe　him；〃　said　Cao　Fang。
They　wept　and　said；　〃We　pledge　ourselves　to　work　together　for　the　destruction　of　the　tyrant；　and　to　show　our　gratitude　to　Your　Majesty！〃
Cao　Fang　them　stripped　himself　of　his　innermost　garment；　gnawed　his　finger　till　the　blood　flowed；　and　with　his　finger…tip　traced　a　mand　in　blood。
He　gave　it　to　his　father…in…law；　Zhang　Qi；　saying；　〃My　ancestor；　Emperor　Cao；　put　to　death　Dong　Cheng　for　just　such　a　matter　as　this；　so　you　must　be　exceedingly　careful　and　maintain　the　greatest　secrecy。〃
〃Oh；　why　use　such　ill…omened　words？〃　cried　Li　Feng。　〃We　are　not　like　Dong　Cheng；　and　Sima　Shi　cannot　pare　to　the　Founder。　Have　no　doubts。〃
The　three　conspirators　took　leave　and　went　out　carrying　the　edict　with　them。　Beside　the　Donghua　Gate　of　the　Palace；　they　saw　Sima　Shi　ing　to　meet　them　wearing　a　sword。　Following　him　were　many　armed　guards。　The　three　ministers　took　the　side　of　the　road　to　let　the　party　go　by。
〃Why　are　you　three　so　late　in　leaving　the　Palace？〃　asked　Sima　Shi。
〃His　Majesty　was　reading；　and　we　stayed　with　him；〃　said　Li　Feng。
〃What　was　he　reading？〃
〃The　histories　of　the　Xia；　Shang；　and　Zhou　dynasties。〃
〃What　questions　did　the　Emperor　ask　as　he　read　those　books？〃

＇e＇　Yi　Yin　was　was　helper　and　prime　minister　of　King　Tang；　the　founder　of　Shang　Dynasty。　After　King　Tang's　death；　Yi　Yin　served　his　sons　and　grandson。　Soon　after　Tai　Jia；　King　Tang's　grandson；　ascended　the　throne；　he　mitted　many　faults；　and　Yi　Yin；　acting　as　regent；　exiled　Tai　Jia　to　Tong　Palace………the　burial　place　of　King　Tang。　After　three　years　Yi　Yin　returned　him　the　throne。　Tai　Jia　eventually　became　an　enlightened　emperor。　Shang　Dynasty　lasted　for　650　years　（BC　1700…1050）。　It　was　this　act　of　Yi　Yin　rather　than　his　services　in　building　up　an　empire　that　has　made　him　immortal。　Whether　he　did　right　in　temporarily　dethroning　the　king　was　open　to　question；　until　a　final　verdict　was　rendered　by　Mencius　who　thought　that　his　ends　amply　justified　his　means。　This　historical　event　attests　the　extent　of　the　power　exercised　by　a　prime　minister　in　those　days。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Duke　of　Zhou　was　brother　of　King　Wu；　who　was　the　founder　of　Zhou　Dynasty。　After　King　Wu's　death；　the　Duke　of　Zhou　served　his　young　son　as　regent。　The　Duke　of　Zhou　pletely　ended　the　Shang　domination；　and　he　helped　establish　the　Zhou　administrative　framework；　which　served　as　a　model　for　future　Chinese　dynasties。　Zhou　Dynasty　lasted　for　800　years　（BC　1050…221）。　。。。。。
〃He　asked　about　Yi　Yin*　and　how　he　upheld　the　Shang；　and　the　Duke　of　Zhou*；　how　he　acted　when　he　was　regent。　And　we　told　His　Majesty　that　you　were　both　Yi　Yin　and　the　Duke　Zhou　to　him。〃
Sima　Shi　smiled　grimly　and　said；　〃Why　did　you　pare　me　with　those　two　when　in　your　hearts　you　think　me　a　rebel　like　Wang　Mang　and　Dong　Zhuo？〃
〃How　should　we　dare　when　we　are　your　subordinates？〃　said　the　three　ministers。
〃You　are　a　lot　of　flatterers；〃　said　Sima　Shi；　angrily。　〃And　what　were　you　crying　about　in　that　private　chamber　with　the　Emperor？〃
〃We　did　no　such　thing。〃
〃Your　eyes　are　still　red：　You　cannot　deny　that。〃
Xiahou　Xuan　then　knew　that　the　secrecy　had　been　showed；　so　he　broke　out　into　a　volley　of　abuse；　crying；　〃Well；　we　were　crying　because　of　your　conduct；　because　you　terrorize　over　the　Emperor　and　are　scheming　to　usurp　the　Throne！〃
〃Seize　him！〃　roared　Sima　Shi。
Xiahou　Xuan　threw　back　his　sleeves　and　struck　at　Sima　Shi　with　his　fists；　but　the　lictors　pulled　him　back。　Then　the　three　were　searched；　and　on　Zhang　Qi　was　found　the　blood…stained　garment　of　the　Emperor。　They　handed　it　to　their　chief；　who　recognized　the　object　of　his　search；　the　secret　edict。　It　said：
〃The　two　Sima　brothers　have　stolen　away　all　my　authority　and　are　plotting　to　take　the　Throne。　The　edicts　I　have　been　forced　to　issue　do　not　represent　my　wishes；　and　hereby　all　officers；　civil　and　military；　may　unite　to　destroy　these　two　and　restore　the　authority　of　the　Throne。　These　ends　achieved；　I　will　reward　those　who　help　to　acplish　them。〃
Sima　Shi；　more　angry　than　ever；　said；　〃So　you　wish　to　destroy　me　and　my　brother。　This　is　too　much！〃
He　ordered　his　followers　to　execute　the　three　on　the　public　ground　by　waist…bisection　and　to　destroy　their　whole　clans。
The　three　reviled　without　ceasing。　On　the　way　to　the　place　of　execution；　they　ground　their　teeth　with　rage；　spitting　out　the　pieces　they　broke　off。　They　died　muttering　curses。
Sima　Shi　then　went　to　the　rear　apartments　of　the　Palace；　where　he　found　the　Emperor　talking　with　his　Consort。
Just　as　he　entered；　she　was　saying　to　the　Emperor；　〃The　Palace　is　full　of　spies；　and　if　this　es　out；　it　will　mean　trouble　for　me。〃
Sima　Shi　strode　in；　sword　in　hand。
〃My　father　placed　Your　Majesty　on　the　throne；　a　service　no　less　worthy　than　that　of　Duke　Zhou；　I　have　served　Your　Majesty　as　Yi　Yin　served　his　master。　Now　is　kindness　met　by　enmity　and　service　regarded　as　a　fault。　Your　Majesty　has　plotted　with　two　or　three　insignificant　officials　to　slay　me　and　my　brother。　Why　is　this？〃
〃I　had　no　such　intention；〃　said　Cao　Fang。
In　reply　Sima　Shi　drew　the　garment　from　his　sleeve　and　threw　it　on　the　ground。
〃Who　did　this？〃
Cao　Fang　was　overwhelmed：　His　soul　flew　beyond　the　skies；　his　spirit　lied　to　the　ninth　heaven。
Shaking　with　fear；　he　said；　〃I　was　forced　into　it。　How　could　I　think　of　such　a　thing？〃
〃To　slander　ministers　by　charging　them　with　rebellion　is　an　aggravated　crime；〃　said　Sima　Shi。
Cao　Fang　knelt　at　his　feet；　saying；　〃Yes；　I　am　guilty。　Forgive　me。〃
〃I　beg　Your　Majesty　to　rise：　The　laws　must　be　respected！〃
Pointing　to　Empress　Zhang；　Sima　Shi　said；　〃She　is　of　the　Zhang　house　and　must　die！〃
〃Spare　her！〃　cried　Cao　Fang；　weeping　bitterly。
But　Sima　Shi　was　obdurate。　He　bade　the　lictors　lead　her　away；　and　she　was　strangled　with　a　white　silk　cord　at　a　Palace　gate。

Now　I　recall　another　year；　and　lo！
An　empress　borne　away　to　shameful　death。
Barefooted；　weeping　bitterly　she　shrieks
〃Farewell；〃　torn　from　her　consort's　arms。
History　repeats　itself；　time's　instrument；
Sima　Shi　avenges　this　on　Cao　Cao's　heirs。
＇e＇　Huo　Guang　（BC　？…68）　a　general　and　regent　of　Han。　After　Emperor　Wu　died；　Huo　Guang　became　regent　to　three　su