Under these several attacks； the troops of Wei quailed and gave way。 The fire grew more and more fierce。 Soldiers ran and horses stampeded； and the dead were too many to count。 Sun Li made a dash through the smoke and fire of the battle and got away。
When Zhang Hu and Yue Chen saw the fire； they threw open the gates of their camp and sallied forth to help defeat the army of Shu by seizing their camp。 But when they reached the Shu camp； they found it empty。 So they hurried to set out to return。 That was the moment for Hu Ban and Wu Yi to appear and cut off their retreat。 However； they fought bravely and got through。 But when at length they reached their own camp； they were met by arrows flying thick as locusts。 For Guan Xing and Zhang Bao had taken possession in their absence。
They could only set out for headquarters to report their mishap。 As they neared Cao Zhen's camp； they met another remnant marching up。 They were Sun Li's soldiers； and the two parties went into camp together and told the tale of their victimization。 Cao Zhen thereafter looked to his defenses and attacked no more。
Thus victorious； the soldiers of Shu went to Zhuge Liang； who at once dispatched secret directions to Wei Yan。 Then Zhuge Liang gave orders to break camp and retreat。
This move was not understood； and Yang Yi asked the leader； 〃O Prime Minister； you have just scored a victory； and the enemy have lost their bravery； why retreat？〃
〃Because we are short of food；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Our success lay in swift victory； but the enemy will not fight； and thus they weaken us day by day。 Though we have worsted them now； they will soon be reinforced； and their light horse can cut off our provisions。 Then we could not retreat at all。 For a time they will not dare look at us； and we must take the occasion to do what they do not expect； and retreat。 But I am solicitous about Wei Yan； who is on the Chencang road to keep off Wang Shuang。 I fear he cannot get away。 So I have sent him certain orders to slay Wang Shuang； and then the force of Wei will not dare to pursue。〃
Therefore the retreat began； but to deceive the enemy the watchmen were left in the empty camp to beat the watches through the night。
Cao Zhen was depressed at his recent misfortune。 Then they told him Zhang He； General of the Left Army； had e。 Zhang He came up to the gate； dismounted； and entered。
When he saw Cao Zhen； he said； 〃I have received a royal mand to e and to be into your arrangements。〃
〃Did you take leave of friend Sima Yi？〃 asked Cao Zhen。
Zhang He said； 〃His said to me that if you won the field the Shu army would stay； but if you did not； the Shu army would retreat。 It seems that our side has missed success。 Have you since found out what the troops of Shu are doing？〃
〃Not yet。〃
So Cao Zhen sent out some scouts； and they found empty camps。 There were flags flying； but the army had been gone two days。 Cao Zhen was disgusted。
When Wei Yan received his secret orders； he broke up camp that night and hastened toward Hanzhong。 Wang Shuang's scouts heard this and told their chief； who hurried in pursuit。 After about seven miles； he came in sight of Wei Yan's ensigns。
As soon as Wang Shuang got within hailing distance； he shouted； 〃Do not flee； Wei Yan！〃
But no one looked back； so he again pressed forward。
Then he heard one of his guards behind him shouting； 〃There is a blaze in the camp outside the city wall。 I think it is some wile of the enemy！〃
Wang Shuang pulled up and； turning； saw the fire。 He therefore tried to draw off his troops。 Just as he passed a hill； a horseman suddenly came out of a wood。
〃Here is Wei Yan！〃 shouted the horseman。
Wang Shuang was too startled to defend himself and fell at the first stroke of Wei Yan's blade。 Wang Shuang's troops thought this was only the beginning of an ambush and serious attack； so they scattered。 But really Wei Yan only had thirty men with him； and they moved off leisurely toward Hanzhong。
No man could better Zhuge Liang's foresight keen；
Brilliant as a et where it flashed：
Back and forth at will his soldiers dashed；
And Wang Shuang's dead body marked where they had been。
The secret orders sent to Wei Yan was that he was to keep back thirty men and hide beside Wang Shuang's camp till that warrior left。 Then the camp was to be set on fire。 After that the thirty were to wait till Wang Shuang's return to fall upon him。 The plan being successfully carried out； Wei Yan followed the retreating army into Hanzhong and handed over his mand。
The Shu army having retreated safely to Hanzhong； feastings were held in celebration of the event。
Zhang He； who； failing to e up with the retiring enemy； presently returned to camp。 Hao Zhao sent a letter to say that Wang Shuang had met his end。 This loss caused Cao Zhen deep grief； so that he became ill and had to return to Luoyang。 He left Zhang He； Sun Li； and Guo Huai to guard the approaches to Changan。
Meanwhile in the South Land； at a court held by Sun Quan； the Prince of Wu； a certain spy reported： 〃Prime Minister Zhuge Liang has invaded Wei twice； and mander…in…Chief Cao Zhen has suffered great losses。〃
Thereupon his ministers urged on Sun Quan that he should attack Wei and try to gain the Middle Land。
However； Sun Quan could not make up his mind； and Zhang Zhao endeavored to prove to him that his hour was e by this memorial：
＇e＇ King Yu was the founder of Xia Dynasty； King Tang； Shang Dynasty； Kings Wen and Wu； Zhou Dynasty。
〃I have heard that a phoenix has lately appeared in the hills east of Wuchang and bowed； that a yellow dragon has been seen in the Great River。 My lord； your virtue matches that of Kings Yu* and Tang*； and your understanding is on a level with that of Kings Wen* and Wu*。 Wherefore you should now proceed to the imperial style and then raise an army to maintain your authority。〃
And many other officers supported Zhang Zhao's proposal。 They finally persuaded Sun Quan to decide upon the 'tiger' day in the forth month； in summer。 They prepared an altar on the south of Wuchang； and on that day his courtiers formally requested him to ascend to the high place and assume the style of 〃Emperor〃。
〃Yellow Dragon〃 was chosen as the style of the reign （AD 229）。 Sun Jian； the deceased father of the new Emperor； was given the title of the Martially Glorious Emperor； his mother Empress Wu； and his elder brother； Sun Ce； was made posthumously Prince of Changsha； and his son； Sun Deng； was styled Heir Apparent。 The rank of Left panion of the Heir Apparent was conferred upon the eldest son of Zhuge Jin； Zhuge Ke。 The rank of Right panion of the Heir Apparent was bestowed upon the second son of Zhang Zhao； Zhang Xi。
This son of Zhuge Jin was a person seven…span height； very clever； and especially apt at capping verses。 Sun Quan liked him much。 When Zhuge Ke was six； he went with his father to a banquet。 Sun Quan noticed that Zhuge Jin had a long face； so he bade a man lead in a donkey； and he wrote on it with chalk； 〃My friend Zhuge Jin〃。 Everyone roared with laughter。 But the youngster ran up and added a few strokes making it read； 〃My friend Zhuge Jin's donkey〃。 The guests were astonished at his ready wit； and praised him。 Sun Quan was also pleased and made him a present of the donkey。
Another day； at a large official banquet； Sun Quan sent the boy with a goblet of wine to each courtier。
When he came to Zhang Zhao； the old man declined it； saying； 〃This is not the proper treatment for old age。〃
〃Can you not make him drink？〃 said Sun Quan。
＇e＇ Lu Wang was a master strategist； founding minister of Zhou Dynasty； counselor to King Wen。 Before joining King Wen； Lu Wang had been a fisher； who mediated on the river bank on political events。 。。。。。
Then said Zhuge Ke to the old gentleman； 〃You remember Lu Wang*； he was ninety and yet gripped the signaling flags and wielded the axes of an army mander in the field。 He never spoke of age。 Nowadays in battle we put seniors behind； but at the banquet board we give them a front place。 How can you say we do not treat old age properly？〃
Zhang Zhao had no reply ready； and so had to drink。 This sort of precocity endeared the boy to Sun Quan； and now Sun Quan made him the Left panion to the Heir Apparent。
Zhang Zhao's son； Zhang Xi； was chosen for honor on account of the eminent services of his father； whose rank was only below that of Prince。 Then Gu Yong became Prime Minister and Lu Xun； Regent Marshal。 And Lu Xun assisted the Heir Apparent in the custody of Wuchang。 Sun Quan himself returned to Jianye。
As Sun Quan seemed powerful and well established； the whole of his court turned their thoughts toward the suppression of Wei。 Only Zhang Zhao opposed it and tendered counsels of internal reform。
〃It is not well to begin Your Majesty's new reign with fighting。 Rather improve learning and hide the sword； establish schools and so give the people the blessings of peace。 Make a treaty with Shu to share the empire； and lay your plans slowly and carefully。〃
Sun Quan saw the wisdom of the advice。 He sent an envoy into the River Lands to lay the scheme of an alliance before the Latter Ruler。 The Latter Ruler called his courtiers to discuss it。 Many were opposed to Sun Quan as an upstart usurper and advised rejection of any friendly proposals from him。
Then Jiang Wan said； 〃We should get the opinion of Zhuge Liang。〃
So they sent and put the matter before the Prime Minister。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃Send an envoy with presents and felicitations and ask Sun Quan to send Lu Xun against Wei。 Then Sima Yi will be engaged with Wu； and I may once more march to Qishan and attempt Capital Changan。〃
Wherefore the Chair of the Secretariat； Chen Zhen； was sent with presents of horses； a jeweled belt； gold and pearls； and precious things into the South Land to congratulate the Ruler of Wu on his newly assumed dignity。 And the presents were accepted； and the bearer thereof honored and allowed to return。
When this was all over； Sun Quan called in Lu Xun and asked his opinion about the concerted attack on Wei。 Lu Xun saw through the scheme at once。
〃We owe this to Zhuge Liang's fear of Sima Yi；〃 said he。 〃However； we must consent since Shu asks it。 We will make a show of raising an army and in a measure support them。 When Zhuge Liang has actually attacked Wei； we w