That night a strong north wind brought a heavy fall of snow； and the besieged were thus temporarily relieved from the water famine。 They melted the snow and prepared food。
Li Xin； severely wounded； made his way west along the hill paths。 After two days he fell in with Jiang Wei。
He dismounted； prostrated himself； and told his story： 〃Qushan had been surrounded and cut off water supplies。 By luck it snowed； and our soldiers were partly relieved。 But the situation was very urgent。〃
〃The delay is not due to my slackness。 The Qiang allies we depended upon have not e；〃 said Jiang Wei。
Jiang Wei sent an escort with the wounded Li Xin to conduct him to Chengdu； where his wounds could be treated。
Turning to Xiahou Ba； Jiang Wei asked； 〃The Qiangs do not e； and the Wei army is besieging Qushan。 General； do you have any plan to propose？〃
Xiahou Ba replied； 〃If we wait for the ing of the Qiangs； it looks as if we shall be too late to relieve Qushan。 It is very probable that Yongzhou has been left undefended； wherefore I propose that you go toward Ox Head Hills and work round to the rear of Yongzhou； which will cause the Wei army to fall back to relieve Yongzhou and so relieve our force。〃
〃The plan appears excellent；〃 replied Jiang Wei。 And he set out。
When Chen Tai knew that Li Xin had escaped； he said to his chief； 〃Now that this man has got out； he will tell Jiang Wei of the danger and Jiang Wei will conclude that our efforts are concentrated on the ramparts and will endeavor to attack our rear。 Therefore I suggest； General； that you go to River Yao and stop the supplies of our enemies； while I go to the Ox Head Hills and smite them。 They will retreat as soon as they know their supplies are threatened。〃
So Guo Huai marched secretly to River Yao； while Chen Tai went to the hills。
When the Shu army led by Jiang Wei came near the Ox Head Hills； they heard a great shouting in front； and the scouts came in to report that the road was barred。 Jiang Wei himself rode out to look。
〃So you intended to attack Yongzhou； did you？〃 shouted Chen Tai。 〃But we know it and have been watching for you a long time。〃
Jiang Wei rode forth to attack。 Chen Tai advanced with a flourish of his sword； and they engaged。 Chen Tai soon ran away。 Then the soldiers of Shu came forward and fell on； driving the soldiers of Wei back to the summit of the hills。 But they halted there； and Jiang Wei encamped at the foot of the hills； whence he challenged the enemy every day。 But he could gain no victory。
Seeing no result after some days of this； Xiahou Ba said； 〃This is no place to remain in。 We can get no victory and are tempting fate by remaining open to a surprise。 I think we should retire till some better plan can be tried。〃
Just then it was reported： 〃The supplies road by River Yao has fallen into the hands of Guo Huai！〃
Shocked with the news； Jiang Wei bade Xiahou Ba march away first； and he covered the retreat。 Chen Tai pursued in five divisions along five different roads； but Jiang Wei got possession of the meeting point and held them all in check； finally forcing them back on the hills。 But from this position Chen Tai ordered his troops to shoot heavy discharges of arrows and stones so that Jiang Wei was forced to abandon his position。 He went to River Yao； where Guo Huai led his force out to attack。 Jiang Wei went to and fro smiting where he could； but he was surrounded and only got out by a desperate effort and after suffering more than half of his force。
Jiang Wei hastened toward Yangping Pass； but fell in with another body of the enemy； at the head of which he saw a fierce； youthful leader； who at once rode out furiously to attack。 This leader had a round face； long ears； and a square mouth with thick lips。 Below his left eye was a large hairy mole。 It was the elder son of Sima Yi。 He was General of the Flying Cavalry； Sima Shi。
〃Simpleton！ How dare you stand in my way？〃 yelled Jiang Wei； as he rode forward with his spear set。
Sima Shi met the attack； and a few bouts were fought before Sima Shi fled。 Jiang Wei came off victor and so was free to continue his way。 Presently he reached the pass and was weled within its sheltering walls。 Sima Shi soon followed and attacked the Pass after his arrival； but those within the ramparts replied with the multiple crossbows which threw ten bolts at each discharge。 For the army of Shu had made these engines of war after the design left by Zhuge Liang。
Owing to superior weapons； Shu defeated Wei；
Wei would never recover what was lost that day。
What befell Sima Shi will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 108 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 108
Chapter 108
In The Snow； Ding Feng Wins A Victory；
At A Banquet； Sun Jun Executes A Secret Plan。
As has been said； Jiang Wei； in his retreat； fell in with a force under Sima Shi； barring his road。 It came about thus。 After Jiang Wei invaded Yongzhou； Guo Huai had sent a flying messenger to the capital； and the Ruler of Wei summoned Sima Yi for advice。 It had then been decided to send reinforcements to Yongzhou； and fifty thousand troops had marched； led by the son of the Prime Minister。 On the march Sima Shi had heard that the Shu army had been beaten back； and he had concluded they were weak。 So he decided to meet them on the road and give battle。 Near the Yangping Pass； however； the roads had been lined with troops armed with the multiple crossbows designed by Zhuge Liang。 Since Zhuge Liang's death； large numbers of these weapons had been made； and the bolts from them； which went in flights of ten； were poisoned。 Consequently the Wei losses were very heavy； and Sima Shi himself barely escaped with life。 However； eventually he returned to Luoyang。
From the walls of Qushan； the Shu general； Gou Ai； watched anxiously for the expected help。 As it came not； he ultimately surrendered。 And Jiang Wei； with a loss of twenty to thirty thousand soldiers； marched back into Hanzhong。
In the third year of Domestic Calm （AD 251）； in the eighth month； Sima Yi fell ill。 His sickness increased rapidly； and； feeling that his end was near； he called his two sons to his bedside to hear his last words。
〃I have served Wei many years and reached the highest rank possible among ministers。 People have suspected me of ulterior aims； and I have always felt afraid of that。 After my death the government will be in your hands； and you must be doubly careful。〃
Sima Yi passed away even as he said these last words。 The sons informed the Ruler of Wei； who conferred high honors upon the dead and advanced his sons； Sima Shi to the rank of Regent Marshal with the leadership of the Chairs of the Boards； and Sima Zhao to the rank of mander of the Flying Cavalry。
Meanwhile in the South Land； the Ruler of Wu； Sun Quan； had named his son Sun Deng as his heir。 His mother was Lady Xu。 But Sun Deng died in the fourth year of the Red Crow Era （AD 241）。 So the second son Sun He was chosen his successor。 His mother was Lady Wang。 A quarrel arose between Sun He and Princess Quan； who maligned him and intrigued against him； so that he was set aside。 Sun He died of mortification。 Then the third son Sun Liang was named the Heir Apparent。 His mother was Lady Pan。
At this time old officials like Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin were dead； and the business of the government； great and small； was in the hands of Zhuge Ke； son of Zhuge Jin。
In the first year of Grand Beginning Era （AD 251）； on the first of the eighth month； a great storm passed over Wu。 The waves rose to a great height； and the water stood eight feet deep over the low…lying lands。 The pines and cypresses； which grew at the cemetery of the Imperial Ancestors of Wu； were uprooted and carried to the South Gate of Jianye； where they stuck； roots upward； in the road。
Sun Quan was frightened and fell ill。 In the early days of the next year his illness became serious； whereupon he called in Imperial Guardian Zhuge Ke and Regent Marshal Lu Dai to hear the declaration of his last wishes。 Soon after he died； at the age of seventy…one。 He had reigned for twenty…four years。 In Shu…Han calendar it was the fifteenth year of Long Enjoyment （AD 252）。
A hero； green…eyed and purple…bearded；
He called forth devotion from all。
He lorded the east without challenge
Till death's one imperative call。
Zhuge Ke immediately placed his late lord's son Sun Liang on the throne； and the opening of the new reign was marked by the adoption of the style Great Prosperity Era； the first year （AD 252）。 A general amnesty was proclaimed。 The late ruler received the posthumous style of Sun Quan the Great Emperor and was buried in Jiangling。
When these things were reported in the Wei capital； Sima Shi's first thought was to attack the South Land。
But his plans were opposed by Chair of the Secretariat Fu Gu； saying； 〃Remember what a strong defense to Wu is the Great River。 The country has been many times attacked by our ancestors； but never conquered。 Rather let us all hold what we have till the time be expedient to possess the whole empire。〃
Sima Shi replied； 〃The way of Heaven changes thrice in a century； and no three…part division is permanent。 I wish to attack Wu。〃
Sima Zhao； his brother； was in favor of attack； saying 〃The occasion is most opportune。 Sun Quan is newly dead； and the present ruler is a child。〃
An expedition was decided upon。 Wang Chang； General Who Conquers the South； was sent with one hundred thousand troops against Nanjun。 Guanqiu Jian； General Who Guards the South； was given one hundred thousand troops to go against Wuchang。 Hu Zun； General Who Conquers the East； led one hundred thousand troops against Dongxing。 They marched in three divisions。 Sima Zhao was made mander…in…Chief of the campaign。
In the winter of that year； the tenth month； Sima Zhao marched the armies near to the Wu frontiers and camped。 Sima Zhao called together Wang Chang； Guanqiu Jian； Hu Zun； and various other manders to decide upon plans。
He said； 〃The county of Dongxing is most important to Wu。 They have built a great rampart； with walls right and left to defend Lake Chaohu from an attack in the rear。 You gentlemen will have to exercise extreme care。〃
Then he bade Wang Chang and Guanqiu Jian each to take ten thousand troops and place themselves ri