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ndred 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； saying； 〃I did not mean it。 The words were uttered in jest。 Why do you act thus？〃
Upon this； Zhou Fang； with his sword； cut off his hair and threw it on the ground； saying； 〃I have dealt with you with sincerity； Sir； and you joke about it。 Now I have cut off the hair； which I inherited from my parents； in order to prove my sincerity。〃
Then Cao Xiu doubted no more； but trusted him fully and prepared a banquet for him； and when the feast was over Zhou Fang returned to his own。
General Jia Kui came to Cao Xiu； and when asked whether there was any special reason for the visit； he said； 〃I have e to warn you； mander； to be cautious and wait till you and I can attack the enemy together。 The whole army of Wu is encamped at Huancheng。〃
〃You mean you want to share in my victory；〃 sneered Cao Xiu。
〃It is said Zhou Fang cut off his hair as a pledge of sincerity。 That is only another bit of deceit。 According to the Spring and Autumn Annals； Yao Li cut off his arm as a pledge of loyalty before he assassinated King Qing Ji。 Mutilation is no guarantee。 Do not trust Zhou Fang。〃
〃Why do you e to utter ill…omened words just as I am opening the campaign？ You destroy the spirit of the army；〃 said Cao Xiu。
In his wrath he told the lictors to put Jia Kui to death。
However； the officers interceded； saying； 〃Before the march； killing our general is not favorable to the army。 O mander； spare him until after the expedition。〃
And Jia Kui was reprieved。 But he was not assigned any part in the campaign； and his troops were left in reserve。 Cao Xiu himself went away to the East Pass。
When Zhou Fang heard that Jia Kui had been broken； he rejoiced in his heart； saying； 〃If Cao Xiu had attended to his words； then Wu would have lost。 Heaven is good to me and is giving me the means of achieving great things。〃
Then he sent a secret messenger to Huancheng； and Lu Xun knew that the time had e。 He assembled the officers for orders。
Lu Xun said； 〃Shiding； lying over against us； is a hilly country fit for preparing an ambush。 It will be occupied as suitable to array our army and await the ing of Wei。 Xu Sheng is to be Leader of the Van； and the army will move there。〃
Now Cao Xiu told Zhou Fang to lead the way for his attack。 While on march； Cao Xiu asked； 〃What is the place lying ahead？〃
Zhou Fang replied； 〃Shiding； a suitable place to camp in。〃
So a great camp was made there。
But soon after the scouts reported； 〃Wu soldiers； unknown in number； have camped among the hills。〃
Cao Xiu began to feel alarmed； saying； 〃Zhou Fang said there were no soldiers。 Why these preparations？〃
Cao Xiu hastily sought Zhou Fang to ask him； but was told； 〃Zhou Fan has gone away with a few dozen riders。 No one knows whither。〃
〃I have been deceived and am in a trap；〃 said Cao Xiu； now very repentant of his easy confidence。 〃However； there is nothing to fear。〃
Then he made his arrangements to march against the enemy； and when they were plete and the array drawn up； Zhang Pu； the Leader of the Van； rode out and began to rail at the men of Wu。
〃Rebel leader； e and surrender！〃 cried Zhang Pu。
Then rode out Xu Sheng and fought with him。 But Zhang Pu was no match for Xu Sheng； as was soon evident； wherefore he led his troops to retire。
〃Xu Sheng is too strong；〃 said Zhang Pu when he saw Cao Xiu。
〃Then will we defeat him by a surprise；〃 said Cao Xiu。
He sent Zhang Pu with twenty thousand troops to hide in the south of Shiding； while another equal party under Xue Qiao was sent north。
And Cao Xiu arranged； saying； 〃Tomorrow I will lead a thousand soldiers to provoke the troops of Wu into battle； then I will feign defeat and lead them to the hills in the north； when a bomb will explode and a three…pronged ambush will bring us victory。〃
On the other side Lu Xun called his two generals； Zhu Huan and Quan Zong； and said； 〃Each of you is to lead thirty thousand troops and take a cross cut from Shiding to the enemy's camp。 Give a fire signal behind the camp on arrival； and then the main army will advance to the camp's front for a double attack。〃
As evening fell these two moved out their troops； and by the middle of the second watch both had got behind the camp of Wei。 Due to darkness； Zhang Pu； Cao Xiu's general； who was there in ambush； did not recognize that the troops who approached him were enemies； but went as to meet friends and was at once slain by the blade of Zhu Huan。 The soldiers of Wei then fled； and Zhu Huan lit his signal fires。
Quan Zong； marching up； came across the northern ambush under Xue Qiao。 Quan Zong began a battle at once； and the troops of Wei were soon put to flight。 Both the armies of Wu pursued； and confusion reigned in Cao Xiu's camp； troops fighting with others of their own side and slaying each other。
Cao Xiu despaired and fled toward Jiashi。 Xu Sheng； with a strong force； came along the high road and attacked。 And the soldiers of Wei killed were very many。 Those who escaped did so by abandoning all their armors。
Cao Xiu was in straits； but he struggled along the Jiashi Road。 Here came a cohort into the road from the side。 It was led by Jia Kui。 Cao Xiu's alarm gave place to shame on meeting Jia Kui。
〃I took no notice of what you said； and so this evil came upon me；〃 said he。
Jia Kui replied； 〃mander； you should quickly get out of this road。 For if the troops of Wu block it； we shall be in grave danger。〃
So Cao Xiu hastened； while Jia Kui protected his retreat。 And Jia Kui ordered his soldiers to set flags and banners up among trees and in thickets and along by…paths； so as to give an impression of having many men posted all round。 Wherefore when Xu Sheng came in pursuit； he thought the country was full of ambushing men and dared not proceed far。 So he gave up the pursuit and retired。
By these means Cao Xiu was rescued； and finally Sima Yi withdrew his army upon the news of Cao Xiu's defeat。
In the meantime； Lu Xun was awaiting news of victory。 Soon Xu Sheng； Zhu Huan； and Quan Zong came and reported their successes； and they brought great spoil of carts and bullocks； horses and mules； and military material and weapons。 And they had also ten