e。〃
Soon after they bore in the head of Ma Su as proof； and Zhuge Liang wailed bitterly。
〃Why do you weep for him now that he has met the just penalty for his fault？〃 said Jiang Wan。
〃I was not weeping then because of Ma Su； but because I remembered the words of the First Ruler。 At his last moment in Baidicheng； he said： 'Ma Su's words exceed his deeds。 Do not make much use of him。' It has e true； and I greatly regret my want of insight。 That is why I weep。〃
Every officer wept。 Ma Su was but thirty…nine； and he met his end in the fifth month of the sixth year of Beginning Prosperity （AS 228）。
A poet wrote about him thus：
That was pitiful that he who talked so glib
Of war； should lose a city； fault most grave；
With death as expiation。 At the gate
He paid stern law's extremest penalty。
Deep grieved； his chief recalled the late Prince's words。
The head of Ma Su was paraded round the camps。 Then it was sewn again to the body and buried with it。 Zhuge Liang conducted the sacrifices for the dead and read the oration。 A monthly allowance was made for the family； and they were consoled as much as possible。
Next Zhuge Liang made his memorial to the Throne and bade Jiang Wan bear it to the Latter Ruler。 Therein Zhuge Liang proposed his own degradation from his high office。
〃Naturally a man of mediocre abilities； I have enjoyed your confidence undeservedly。 Having led out an expedition； I have proved my inability to perform the high office of leader。 Over solicitude was my undoing。 Hence happened disobedience at Jieting and the failure to guard the Gu Valley。 The fault is mine in that I erred in the use of officers。 In my anxiety I was too secretive。 The 'Spring and Autumn' philosophy has pronounced the mander such as I am is blameworthy； and whither may I flee from my fault？ I pray that I may be degraded three degrees as punishment。 I cannot express my mortification。 I humbly await your mand。〃
〃Why does the Prime Minister speak thus？〃 said the Latter Ruler after reading the memorial。 〃It is but the ordinary fortune of war。〃
Court Counselor Fei Yi said； 〃The ruler must enhance the majesty of the law； for without law how can people support him？ It is right that the Prime Minister should be degraded in rank。〃
Thereupon an edict was issued reducing Zhuge Liang to the rank of General of the Right Army； but retaining him in the same position in the direction of state affairs and mand of the military forces。 Fei Yi was directed to municate the decision。
Fei Yi bore the edict into Hanzhong and gave it to Zhuge Liang； who bowed to the decree。 The envoy thought Zhuge Liang might be mortified； so he ventured to felicitate him in other matters。
〃It was a great joy to the people of Shu when you； O Prime Minister； captured the four northwest counties；〃 said he。
〃What sort of language is this？〃 said Zhuge Liang； annoyed。 〃Success followed by failure is no success。 It shames me indeed to hear such a pliment。〃
〃His Majesty will be very pleased to hear of the acquisition of Jiang Wei。〃
This remark also angered Zhuge Liang； who replied； 〃It is my fault that a defeated army has returned without any gain of territory。 What injury to Wei was the loss of Jiang Wei？〃
Fei Yi tried again； saying； 〃But with an army of one hundred thousand bold veterans； you can attack Wei again。〃
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃When we were at Qishan and Gu Valley； we outnumbered the enemy； but we could not conquer them。 On the contrary； they beat us。 The defect was not in the number of soldiers； but in the leadership。 Now we must reduce the army； discover our faults； reflect on our errors； and mend our ways against the future。 Unless this is so； what is the use of a numerous army？ Hereafter everyone will have to look to the future of his country。 But most diligently each of you must fight against my shortings and blame my inefficiencies。 Then we may succeed； rebellion can be exterminated； and merit can be set up。〃
Fei Yi and the officers acknowledged the aptness of these remarks。 Fei Yi went back to the capital； leaving Zhuge Liang in Hanzhong resting his soldiers and doing what he could for the people； training and heartening his troops and turning special attention to the construction of apparatus for assaults on cities and crossing rivers。 He also collected grain and fodder and built battle rafts； all for future use。
The spies of Wei got to know of these doings in the River Lands and reported to Luoyang。 The Ruler of Wei called Sima Yi to council and asked how Shu might be annexed。
〃Shu cannot be attacked；〃 was the reply。 〃In this present hot weather they will not e out； but； if we invade； they will only garrison and defend their strategic points； which we should find it hard to overe。〃
〃What shall we do if they invade us again？〃
〃I have prepared for that。 Just now Zhuge Liang shall imitate Han Xin who secretly crossed the river into Chencang。 I can remend a man to guard the place by building a rampart there and rendering it absolutely secure。 He is a nine…span man； round shouldered and powerful； a good archer and prudent strategist。 He would be quite equal to dealing with an invasion。〃
The Ruler of Wei was very pleased and asked for his name。
〃His name is Hao Zhao； and he is in mand at Hexi。〃
The Ruler of Wei accepted the remendation； and an edict went forth promoting Hao Zhao to General Who Guards the West； and sending him to mand in the county of Chencang。
Soon after this edict was issued； a memorial was received from Cao Xiu； Minister of War and mander of Yangzhou； saying that Zhou Fang； the Wu Governor of Poyang； wished to tender his submission and transfer his allegiance； and had sent a man to present a memorandum under seven headings showing how the power of the South Land could be broken and to ask that an army be dispatched soon。
Cao Rui spread the document out on the couch that he and Sima Yi might read it。
〃It seems very reasonable；〃 said Sima Yi。 〃Wu could be quite destroyed。 Let me go with an army to help Cao Xiu。〃
But from among the courtiers stepped out Jia Kui； who said； 〃What this man of Wu says may be understood in two ways。 Do not trust it。 Zhou Fang is a wise and crafty man and very unlikely to desert。 In this is some ruse to decoy our soldiers into danger。〃
〃Such words must also be listened to；〃 said Sima Yi。 〃Yet such a chance must not be missed。〃
〃You and Jia Kui might both go to the help of Cao Xiu；〃 said the Ruler of Wei。
Sima Yi and Jia Kui went。
A large army； led by Cao Xiu； moved to Huancheng。 Jia Kui； assisted by General Man Chong and Governor Hu Zhi of Dongwan； marched to capture Yangcheng； and facing the East Pass。 Sima Yi led the third army to Jiangling。
Now the Prince of Wu； Sun Quan； was at the East Pass in Wuchang； and there he assembled his officers and said； 〃The Governor of Poyang； Zhou Fang； has sent up a secret memorial saying that Cao Xiu intends to invade。 Zhou Fang has therefore set out a trap for Cao Xiu and has drawn up a document giving seven plausible circumstances； hoping thereby to cajole the Wei army into his power。 The armies of Wei are on the move in three divisions； and I need your advice。〃
Gu Yong stood forth； saying； 〃There is only one man fit to cope with the present need： He is Lu Xun。〃
So Lu Xun was summoned and made Grand mander； General Who Pacifies the North； mander…in…Chief of all the State Armies； including the Imperial Guards； and Assistant in the Royal Duties。 He was given the White Banners and the Golden Axes； which denoted imperial rank。 All officers； civil and military； were placed under his orders。 Moreover； Sun Quan personally stood beside him and held his whip while he mounted his steed。
Having received all these marks of confidence and favor； Lu Xun wanted two persons to be his assistants。
Sun Quan asked their names； and Lu Xun said； 〃They are Zhu Huan； General Who Fortifies Prowess； and Quan Zong； General Who Calms the South。 These two should be in mand。〃
Sun Quan approved and appointed Zhu Huan and Quan Zong as Left mander and Right mander respectively。
Then the grand army； prising all the forces of the eighty…one counties of the South Land and the levies of Jingzhou； seven hundred thousand troops in total； was assembled and marched out in three divisions； Lu Xun in the center； with Zhu Huan and Quan Zong supporting him left and right with the other two columns。
Then said Zhu Huan； 〃Cao Xiu is neither able nor bold。 He holds office because he is of the blood。 He has fallen into the trap laid by Zhou Fang and marched too far to be able to withdraw。 If the mander…in…Chief will smite； Cao Xiu must be defeated。 Defeated； he must flee along two roads； one Jiashi on the left； the other Guichi on the right； both of which are precipitous and narrow。 Let me and my colleague go to prepare an ambush in these roads。 We will block them and so cut off their escape。 If this Cao Xiu could be captured； and a hasty advance made； success would be easy and sure。 We should get Shouchun； whence Xuchang and Luoyang can be seen。 This is the one chance in the thousand。〃
〃I do not think the plan good；〃 said Lu Xun。 〃I have a better one。〃
Zhu Huan resented the rejection of his scheme and went away。 Lu Xun ordered Zhuge Jin and certain others to garrison Jiangling and oppose Sima Yi and made all other dispositions of forces。
Cao Xiu neared Huancheng； and Zhou Fang came out of the city to wele him and went to the general's tent。
Cao Xiu said； 〃I received your letter and the memorandum； which was most logical； and sent it to His Majesty。 He has set in motion accordingly three armies。 It will be a great merit for you； Sir； if the South Land can be added to His Majesty's dominions。 People say you are abundant in craft； but I do not believe what they say； for I think you will be true to me and not fail。〃
Zhou Fang wept。 He seized a sword from one of his escort and was about to kill himself； but Cao Xiu stopped him。
Still leaning on the sword； Zhou Fang said； 〃As to the seven things I mentioned； my regret is that I cannot show you all。 You doubt me because some persons from Wu and Wei have been poisoning your mind against me。 If you heed them； the only course for me is to die。 Heaven only can make manifest my loyal heart。〃
Again he made to slay himself。
But Cao Xiu in trepidation threw his arms about him； s