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o　few　to　stand。　Wherefore　I　went　to　friend　Wei　Yan　for　help。　Then　we　were　intercepted　and　imprisoned　in　a　valley　and　only　got　out　by　fighting　most　desperately。　We　got　back　to　my　camp　to　find　the　enemy　in　possession；　and　so　we　set　out　for　Liliu。　On　the　road　I　met　Gao　Xiang；　and　we　three　tried　to　raid　the　enemy's　camp；　hoping　to　recover　Jieting。　But　as　there　was　no　one　soldier　there；　I　grew　suspicious。　From　a　hill　I　saw　Wei　Yan　and　Gao　Xiang　had　been　hemmed　in　by　the　soldiers　of　Wei；　so　I　went　to　rescue　them。　Thence　we　hastened　to　Yangping　Pass　to　try　to　prevent　that　from　falling。　It　was　not　that　I　failed　to　remonstrate。　And　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　can　get　confirmation　of　my　words　from　any　of　the　officers。〃
Zhuge　Liang　bade　him　retire；　and　sent　for　Ma　Su。　He　came；　bound　himself；　and　threw　himself　on　the　earth　at　the　tent　door。
Zhuge　Liang　got　angry；　saying；　〃You　have　filled　yourself　with　the　study　of　the　books　on　war　ever　since　you　were　a　boy。　You　know　them　thoroughly。　I　enjoined　upon　you　that　Jieting　was　most　important；　and　you　pledged　yourself　and　all　your　family　to　do　your　best　in　the　enterprise。　Yet　you　would　not　listen　to　Wang　Ping；　and　thus　you　caused　this　misfortune。　The　army　is　defeated；　generals　have　been　slain　and　cities　and　territory　lost；　all　through　you。　If　I　do　not　make　you　an　example　and　vindicate　the　law；　how　shall　I　maintain　a　proper　state　of　discipline？　You　have　offended；　and　you　must　pay　the　penalty。　After　your　death　the　little　ones　of　your　family　shall　be　my　care；　and　I　will　see　that　they　get　a　monthly　allowance。　Do　not　let　their　fate　cause　you　anxiety。〃
Zhuge　Liang　told　the　executioners　to　take　Ma　Su　away。

＇e＇　Beginning　in　the　sixty…first　year　of　King　Yao's　reign；　the　prosperity　of　the　nation　was　temporarily　disturbed　by　a　thirteen…year　flood。　It　was　a　terrible　disaster；　and　King　Yao　was　greatly　grieved　by　the　sufferings　of　his　people。　With　some　hesitation；　the　great　task　of　reducing　the　waters　was　assigned　to　Gun；　who　failed；　and　for　this　failure　and　other　crimes；　was　put　to　death　by　Shun；　King　Yao's　son…in…law　and　co…ruler。　Strange　as　it　may　seem；　Yu；　son　of　Gun；　was　remended　to　the　throne　by　Shun。　Later　on；　Yao　would　yield　the　throne　to　Shun；　and　Shun　to　Yu。
Ma　Su　wept　bitterly；　saying；　〃Pity　me；　O　Prime　Minister！　You　have　looked　upon　me　as　a　son；　I　have　looked　up　to　you　as　a　father。　I　know　my　fault　is　worthy　of　death；　but　I　pray　you　remember　how　King　Shun　employed　Yu；　after　executing　Yu's　father*。　Though　I　die；　I　will　harbor　no　resentment　down　in　the　depths　of　the　Nine　Golden　Springs。〃
Zhuge　Liang　brushed　aside　his　tears　and　said；　〃We　have　been　as　brothers；　and　your　children　shall　be　as　my　own。　I　know　what　to　do。〃
They　led　the　doomed　man　away。　Without　the　main　gate；　just　as　they　were　going　to　deal　the　fatal　blow；　High　Counselor　Jiang　Wan；　who　had　just　arrived　from　Capital　Chengdu；　was　passing　in。　He　bade　the　executioners　wait　a　while；　and　he　went　in　and　interceded　for　Ma　Su。

＇e＇　Cheng　Dechen　was　a　general　of　Chu　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　Cheng　Dechen　fought　against　Duke　Wen　of　Jin　and　lost　（BC　632）。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Duke　Wen　of　Jin　（reigned　636…628　BC）　was　ruler　of　the　western　state　of　Jin　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　He　and　his　successors　made　Jin　a　dominant　state　for　nearly　200　years。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Sun　Zi　（aka　Sun　Wu；　Sunzi；　Suntzu；　Sun…tzu；　Sun　tzu）　the　author　of　the　famed　treatise　The　Art　of　War。　A　general　of　Wu　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period；　Sun　Zi　made　her　the　mightiest　state　during　his　lifetime　by　defeating　Chu　and　conquering　Yue。　His　treatise　the　Art　of　War　is　still　avidly　read　today　by　many。　。。。。。
〃Formerly　the　King　of　Chu　put　Minister　Cheng　Dechen*　to　death　due　to　a　defeat；　and　his　rival　Duke　Wen　of　Jin*　rejoiced。　There　is　great　confusion　in　the　land；　and　yet　you　would　slay　a　man　of　admitted　ability。　Can　you　not　spare　him？〃
Zhuge　Liang's　tears　fell；　but　he　said；　〃Sun　Zi*　maintains　that　the　one　way　to　obtain　success　is　to　make　the　law　supreme。　Now　confusion　and　actual　war　are　in　every　quarter。　If　the　law　be　not　observed；　how　may　rebels　be　made　away　with？　He　must　die。〃
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　cent