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Sima　Zhao　replied；　〃Your　Majesty　is　wrong　to　hesitate。　Your　ancestors　traveled　over　the　empire　and　wished　to　unite　the　whole　under　one　ruler。　Wherever　there　was　a　worthy　opponent；　they　went　to　face　him。　Your　Majesty　should　follow　their　example　and　sweep　the　land　clean。　Why　fear？〃
Cao　Mao；　fearing　his　minister's　terrible　power；　consented；　and　an　edict　was　issued　for　the　mands　to　mobilize　two　hundred　sixty　thousand　troops　of　two　capitals。　Wang　Ji；　General　Who　Corrects　the　South；　was　in　mand　of　the　van；　and　Chen　Qian；　General　Who　Pacifies　the　East；　was　second　in　mand　of　the　van。　Shi　Bao；　Army　Inspector；　and　Zhou　Cai；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yangzhou；　led　the　Imperial　Escort。　The　army　moved　into　the　South　of　River　Huai　like　a　great　flood。
Zhu　Yi；　the　Leader　of　the　Van　of　Wu；　encountered　them；　and　both　sides　drew　up　for　battle。　Zhu　Yi　rode　out　and　took　the　challenge；　but　was　overe　by　Wang　Ji　in　the　third　bout　and　he　fled。　Tang　Zi　also　rode　out；　but　was　also　beaten　in　the　third　encounter　by　Wang　Ji。　Then　Wang　Ji　ordered　a　full　attack。　The　troops　of　Wu　were　broken　and　retired　fifteen　miles　and　camped。　Thence　they　sent　tidings　of　their　ill…success　to　Shouchun。
Zhuge　Dan　in　Shouchun　led　out　his　bold　and　strong　soldiers　to　join　forces　with　Wen　Qin　and　his　two　sons；　Wen　Yang　and　Wen　Hu。　Then　they　set　out　against　Sima　Zhao。

Now　here　is　a　check　to　the　armies　of　Wu；
And　Wei's　gallant　men　advance。

The　next　chapter　will　tell　how　went　victory。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　112　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　112
　Chapter　112
Rescuing　Shouchun；　Yu　Quan　Dies　Nobly；
Attacking　Changcheng；　Jiang　Wei　Mobilizes。
Hearing　of　this　threatened　attack；　Sima　Zhao　sought　advice　from　two　of　his　officers；　High　Counselor　Pei　Xiu　and　Palace　Assistant　Zhong　Hui。
Zhong　Hui　said；　〃The　Wu　army　is　helping　our　enemies　for　the　sake　of　profit；　and　hence　we　can　seduce　them　with　an　offer　of　greater　profit。〃
Sima　Zhao　agreed　in　this　opinion　and　resolved　accordingly。　As　part　of　his　plan；　he　sent　Shi　Bao　and　Zhou　Cai　to　lay　ambushes　in　different　places　near　Shouchun。
As　ordered　by　Sima　Zhao；　Wang　Ji　and　Chen　Qian　manded　an　army　of　veterans　on　the　rear；　Cheng　Zu　led　thirty　thousand　troops　out　to　bring　on　a　battle；　while　Chen　Jun　got　together　many　wagons；　herds　of　oxen；　droves　of　horses；　donkeys　and　mules；　and　heaps　of　military　supplies；　all　of　which　he　crowded　together　in　the　midst　of　the　army。　This　stuff　was　meant　to　be　abandoned　as　soon　as　the　fight　began；　so　that　the　enemy　might　be　tempted　to　plunder。
That　day；　Zhuge　Dan　led　the　center　army；　while　Zhu　Yi　and　Wen　Qin　manded　the　left　and　right　armies。　The　armies　being　drawn　up；　Zhuge　Dan　looked　across　at　his　opponents　and　saw　that　the　center　of　the　Wei　army　was　taken　up　by　a　disorderly　mass　of　transport。　Presently　he　led　on　his　troops　to　attack；　and　Cheng　Zu；　as　bidden　to　do；　gave　way　and　fled；　leaving　a　large　amount　of　spoil。　When　the　soldiers　of　Wu　saw　such　huge　quantities　of　booty；　theirs　for　the　taking；　they　lost　all　desire　to　fight　and　scattered　to　gather　the　spoil。
While　thus　occupied；　suddenly　a　bomb　exploded　and；　from　left　and　right；　down　came　Shi　Bao　and　Zhou　Cai　and　the　army　of　Wei　upon　the　spoilers。　Zhuge　Dan　attempted　to　draw　off；　but　other　forces　under　Wang　Ji　and　Chen　Qian　appeared；　and　he　was　heavily　smitten。　Then　came　on　Sima　Zhao　with　his　army；　and　Zhuge　Dan　fled　to　Shouchun；　where　he　entered　and　shut　the　gates。　The　army　of　Wei　set　down　to　the　siege　of　the　city；　and　the　army　of　Wu　retired　into　camp　at　Anfeng。　The　Ruler　of　Wei；　Cao　Mao；　was　lodging　at　this　time　in　Xiangcheng。
Then　said　Zhong　Hui；　〃Zhuge　Dan　has　been　worsted；　but　the　city　wherein　he　has　taken　refuge　is　well　supplied；　and　his　allies；　the　troops　of　Wu；　are　not　distant。　His　position　is　strong。　Our　soldiers　are　besieging　the　city　all　round；　which　means　that　those　within　will　hold　out　for　a　long　time；　or　they　will　make　a　desperate　sortie。　Their　allies　also　may　fall　upon　us　at　the　same　time；　and　it　would　go　hard　with　us。　Therefore；　I　advise　that　the　attack　be　made　only　on　three　sides；　leaving　the　south　gate　open　for　them　if　they　wish　to　flee。　If　they　flee；　we　can　fall　on　the　fugitives。　The　troops　of　Wu　cannot　have　supplies　for　very　long。　If　we　sent　some　light　cavalry　round　by　their　rear；　we　might　stay　their　fighting　power　without　a　battle。〃

＇e＇　Zhang　Liang；　aka　Zhang　Zifang；　the　master　strategist　for　Liu　Bang。　His　family　had　served　the　state　of　Han　as　chief　ministers　during　the　Warring　States　period。　It　is　said　that　he　received　the　strategy　book　of　Lu　Wang　from　a　mysterious　old　man。　When　he　was　young；　Zhang　Liang　plotted　to　assasinate　the　First　Emperor；　but　failed。　He　later　rebeled　against　Qin。　Joined　Liu　Bang　（BC　206）　to　fight　against　Qin　and　then　Chu。　Remended　Han　Xin　to　Liu　Bang。　Zhang　Liang's　insights　had　earned　him　the　name　〃The　Teacher　of　Emperor〃。　After　Liu　Bang　won　the　empire；　Zhang　Liang　was　enobled　as　Lord　of　Liu；　but　did　not　take　office；　instead　he　resigned　from　political　life　and　traveled。　。。。。。
〃You　are　my　Zhang　Liang*；〃　said　Sima　Zhao；　stroking　the　back　of　his　adviser。　〃Your　advice　is　excellent！〃
So　Wang　Ji；　who　was　on　the　south　of　the　city；　was　ordered　to　withdraw。
But　in　the　Wu　camp　at　Anfeng　was　much　sadness　at　the　want　of　success。
Sun　Chen　said　to　General　Zhu　Yi；　〃If　we　cannot　succor　Shouchun；　how　can　we　hope　to　overrun　the　Middle　Land？　Now　and　here　you　have　to　win　a　victory　or　die；　for　another　defeat　will　mean　death。〃
Zhu　Yi　went　back　to　his　camp　and　talked　with　Yu　Quan。
Yu　Quan　said；　〃The　south　gate　of　Shouchun　is　free；　and　I　will　lead　therein　some　of　our　troops　to　help　Zhuge　Dan。　Then　you　challenge　the　Wei　army　on　one　side；　and　we　will　e　out　from　the　city　and　attack　on　the　other　side。〃
Zhu　Yi　thought　the　plan　good；　and　Quan　Yi；　Quan　Duan；　and　Wen　Qin　were　willing　to　go　into　the　city　and　share　in　the　attack。　They　were　allowed　to　march　in　without　hindrance　as　the　Wei　generals　had　no　orders　to　stop　them。
When　this　was　reported　to　Sima　Zhao；　he　said；　〃This　is　a　plan　to　defeat　our　army　by　making　a　front　and　rear　attack。〃
So　he　called　Wang　Ji　and　Chen　Qian　and　told　them　to　take　five　thousand　troops　to　keep　the　road　along　which　Zhu　Yi　would　e　and　strike　him　in　rear。
Zhu　Yi　was　advancing　toward　the　city　when　he　heard　a　shouting　in　the　rear；　and　soon　the　attack　began　from　two　sides　by　Wang　Ji　and　Chen　Qian。　His　army　was　worsted　and　returned　to　Anfeng。
When　Sun　Chen　heard　of　this　new　defeat；　he　was　very　angry。
〃What　is　the　use　of　leaders　who　always　lose？〃　cried　he。
He　sentenced　Zhu　Yi　to　death；　and　upbraided　Quan　Wei；　son　of　Quan　Duan；　and　said；　〃If　you　do　not　drive　off　this　army　of　Wei；　let　me　never　again　see　your　face；　nor　that　of　your　father。〃
Then　Sun　Chen　returned　to　Capital　Jianye。
When　this　was　known　in　the　Wei　camp；　Zhong　Hui　said　to　his　chief；　〃Now　the　city　of　Shouchun　may　be　attacked；　for　Sun　Chen　has　gone　away；　and　there　is　no　hope　of　succor　for　the　besieged。〃
A　vigorous　assault　began。　Quan　Wei　tried　to　cut　his　way　through　and　get　into　the　city。　But　when　he　saw　Shouchun　quite　surrounded　by　the　enemy　and　no　hope　of　success；　he　gave　in　and　went　over　to　Sima　Zhao；　by　whom　he　was　well　received　and　given　the　rank　of　General。
Deeply　affected　by　this　kindness；　Quan　Wei　wrote　to　his　father；　Quan　Duan；　and　uncle；　Quan　Yi；　advising　them　to　follow　his　example。　He　tied　the　letter　to　an　arrow　and　shot　it　over　the　walls。　Quan　Yi　found　the　letter；　and　he　and　Quan　Duan；　with　their　several　thousand　troops；　came　out　and　yielded。
Within　the　city　Zhuge　Dan　was　very　sad。
Two　advisers；　Jiang　Ban　and　Jiao　Yi；　came　to　him　and　said；　〃The　food　in　the　city　is　short；　and　the　soldiers　are　many；　this　can　not　last　long。　General；　you　should　let　the　Wu　troops　to　go　out　and　make　a　decisive　fight　with　the　Wei　army。〃
Zhuge　Dan　turned　on　them　angrily。
〃Why　do　you　tell　me　to　fight　when　I　am　set　on　holding　out　to　the　very　last？　If　you　say　that　again；　you　shall　die　as　traitors！〃
〃He　is　lost！〃　said　they；　going　away。　〃We　can　do　no　other　than　surrender　or　we　shall　die　too。〃
That　night　Jiang　Ban　and　Jiao　Yi　slipped　over　the　wall　and　surrendered。　Both　were　given　employment。
Of　those　left　in　the　city　some　were　for　fighting；　but　no　one　dared　say　so。
Meanwhile　Zhuge　Dan　saw　the　Wei　troops　build　earth　walls　to　anticipate　the　expected　floods　of　River　Huai。　This　flood　had　been　the　only　hope　of　Zhuge　Dan；　who　had　trusted　to　be　able　to　smite　the　besiegers　when　it　came　to　destroy　the　earth　wall。　However；　that　autumn　was　dry；　and　the　river　did　not　swell。
Within　the　besieged　city　the　food　diminished　rapidly；　and　soon　starvation　stared　them　in　the　face。　Wen　Qin　and　his　sons　were　defending　the　citadel；　and　they　saw　their　soldiers　sinking　one　by　one　for　lack　of　food　till　the　sight　became　unbearable。
Wen　Qin　went　to　Zhuge　Dan　with　a　proposal；　saying；　〃The　northern　troops　should　be　sent　away　in　order　to　save　food。〃
His　suggestion　called　forth　an　outburst　of　fierce　wrath　of　Zhuge　Dan。
〃Do　you　want　to　kill　me　that　you　propose　to　send　the　northern　soldiers　away？〃
Wen　Qin　suffered　death。　His　two　sons；　Wen　Yang　and　Wen　Hu；　ran　amok　with　rage。　Armed　with　short　swords；　they　attacked　all　they　met　and　slew　many　scores　in　their　desperate　anger。　The　fit　over；　they　dropped　down　the　wall　and　deserted　to　the　Wei　camp。
However；　Sima　Zhao　had　not　forgotten　that　Wen　Yang　had　defied　and　held　at　bay　his　whole　army　once。　At　first　Sima　Zhao　thought　to　put　Wen　Yang　to　death；　but　Zhong　Hui　interposed。
〃The　real　offender　was　his　father；　Wen　Qin；〃　said　Zhong　Hui；　〃but　he　is　dead；　and　these　two　e　to　you　in　desperation。　If　you　slay　those　who　surrender；　you　will　strengthen　the　obstinacy　of　those　who　remain　in　the　city。〃
There　was　reason　in　this；　and　so　their　submission　was　accepted。　They　were　led　to　Sima　Zhao's　tent；　and　he　soothed　them　with　kind　words　and　gave　them　gifts　and　lordships；　and　made　them　Generals。
After　expressing　their　gratitude；　they　rode　about　the　city　on　the　horses　he　had　given　them；　shouting；　〃We　have　received　great　kindness　at　the　hands　of　Sima　Zhao；　who　not　only　has　pardoned　us　but　given　us　gifts。　Why　do　you　not　all　yield？〃
When　their　panions　heard　this；　they　said　one　to　another。　〃This　Wen　Yang　was　an　enemy；　and　yet　he　has　been　well　received。　How　much　more　may　we　expect　generous　treatment？〃
The　desire　to　surrender　possessed　them　all。　When　Zhuge　Dan　heard　it；　he　was　incensed　and　went　round　the　posts　night　and　day　on　the　watch　for　any　who　seemed　inclined　to　go。　He　put　many　to　death　in　these　efforts　to　retain　his　authority。
Zhong　Hui　heard　how　things　were　going　in　the　city　and　went　in　to　Sima　Zhao　to　say　the　moment　to　attack　had　e。　Sima　Zhao　was　only　too　pleased。　He　stimulated　his　troops；　and　they　flocked　to　the　ramparts　and　assaulted　vigorously。　Then　the　mander　of　the　north　gate；　Zeng　Xuan；　treacherously　opened　the　gate　and　let　in　the　Wei　soldiers。
When　Zhuge　Dan　heard　that　the　enemy　were　in　the　city；　he　called　his　guards　and　tried　to　escape。　He　took　his　way　along　the　smaller　streets　to　the　gate；　but　on　the　drawbridge　he　met　Hu　Fen；　who　cut　him　down。　His　followers　were　made　prisoners。
Wang　Ji　fought　his　way　to　the　west　gate；　where　he　fell　in　with　the　Wu　general；　Yu　Quan。
〃Why　do　you　not　yield？〃　shouted　Wang　Ji。
〃Where　is　the　principle　for　yielding　when　I　have　my　orders　to　rescue　the　city　and　so　far　have　not　succeeded？〃　Throwing　off　his　helmet；　he　cried；　〃The　happiest　death　a　man　can　die　is　on　the　battlefield！〃
Whirling　his　sword　about；　Yu　Quan　dashed　among　his　enemies　and　fought　till　he　fell　under　many　wounds。

Many　were　they　who　yielded　at　Shouchun；
Bowing　their　heads　in　the　dust　before　Sima　Zhao。
Wu　had　produced　its　heroes；
Yet　none　were　faithful　to　the　death　like　Yu　Quan。

When　Sima　Zhao　entered　the　city；　he　put　to　death　the　whole　family　of　Zhuge　Dan。　Some　of　his　guards　fell　into　the　hands　of　Sima　Zhao　alive；　and　he　offered　them　their　lives　if　they　would　yield。
They　all　refused；　saying；　〃We　would　rather　share　the　fate　of　our　leader。〃
They　were　sent　out　of　the　city　to　be　beheaded；　but　orders　were　given　to　offer　each　one　his　life　at　the　last　moment。　Thus；　before　a　person　was　about　to　receive　the　fatal　blow；　that　one　was　asked　to　yield。　Not　one　accepted；　and　they　all　died。　In　admiration　for　their　fortitude；　they　were　honorably　interred　by　order　of　Sima　Zhao。

The　loyal　servant　flees　not　in　the　day　of　disaster；
Such　were　th