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unable to dislodge them。 Let us occupy it。〃
So the army set out。 But before they drew near； the scouts reported a camp already there。 It was incredible； and Guanqiu Jian rode to the front to reconnoiter。 He was convinced by the sight of flags and banners over all the plain； fluttering above an orderly array of tents and huts。 The sight disconcerted him； and he rode back to the main body not knowing what to do。
Just then a scout came in to say： 〃Sun Jun of Wu has crossed the river to attack Shouchun。〃
〃If we lose that city； we shall have no base；〃 cried Guanqiu Jian。
That same night he retreated upon Xiangcheng。
Seeing the enemy retreat； Sima Shi called together his officers to talk it over。
Chair of the Secretariat Fu Gu； who was of the expedition； said； 〃The retirement to Xiangcheng was obviously due to Wu's threatened attack upon Shouchun。 General； you should send three armies to attack upon Xiangcheng； Lojia； and Shouchun。 The Imperial Protector of Yanzhou； Deng Ai； is a man of tactics； he should be sent against Lojia。 Our main army will reinforce them。〃
His plan was acceptable to Sima Shi； who sent letters to Yanzhou telling Deng Ai to march against Lojia； where Sima Shi himself would soon meet him。
Camped at Xiangcheng； Guanqiu Jian sent spies to Lojia to see what might be happening there； for he feared it would be attacked。
When he spoke of his fears to Wen Qin； the latter said； 〃General； you need not be anxious。 My son Wen Yang and I will answer for its safety。 Give us but five thousand troops。〃
Father and son； with the five thousand troops； went to Lojia。
Before the main body arrived； the scouts reported： 〃Wei banners are flying on the west of the city。 There are about ten thousand troops。 In their midst are seen authority ensigns such as white yaks' tails； golden axes； purple umbrellas； and a flag bearing the word mander 。 Perhaps Sima Shi himself is at this camp。 The troops are pitching the camp rapidly； but it is not yet plete。〃
When this was reported to Wen Qin； his son Wen Yang； bearing his famous whip of steel； was by his father's side。
〃We should attack before they have settled down in camp； Father；〃 said he。 〃Let us go quickly and attack on two sides。〃
〃When can we start？〃 said the father。
〃Tonight at dusk。 You lead half the force round by the south； and I will march the other half round by the north； and we will meet in the third watch at the Wei camp。〃
The youth who propounded this plan was then eighteen； tall and strong。 He wore plete armor and carried at his waist a steel whip。 When the hour came to start； he took his spear； swung himself into the saddle and set out。
That night Sima Shi； who had arrived and had at once set about settling into camp； lay on a couch in his tent； for he was still suffering pain from the surgery wound beneath his eye。 The tent was surrounded by several hundred armored guards。 Deng Ai had not arrived。
About the third watch Sima Shi heard a great shouting and asked what it was。
One replied： 〃An army has e round from the north and burst into the lines。 The leader is too bold for anyone to face。〃
Sima Shi became much troubled。 His heart burned within him； and the excitement caused the wound to open； so that the eyeball protruded and blood flowed freely。 The pain became intense； nearly unbearable。 In his agony and alarm lest his army should be thrown into confusion； he lay gnawing the bed clothes till they were in rags。
Wen Yang's force lost no time； but attacked as soon as it arrived。 He dashed into the camp； slashing and thrusting right and left； and everyone gave way before him。 If anyone stayed to oppose； the sharp spear or the terrible whip did its work； and that one fell。 But after a time； seeing no sign of his father； Wen Yang grew anxious。 And he had to retire several times before the fierce flights of arrows and crossbow bolts as he tried to reach the main tent。
About daylight he heard shouts and thought they must mean the arrival of his father with help。 But the shouting came from the north； and his father was to arrive by the south road。 He galloped out to get a clearer view； and saw a force sweeping down like a gale of wind。
It was not his father； but a body of the enemy； and the leader was Deng Ai。
Deng Ai rode forward shouting； 〃Rebel； flee not！〃
Wen Yang had no intention to flee。 Setting his spear； he rode savagely toward his opponent。 They engaged and fought half a hundred bouts without either gaining the advantage。 Then； the duel still raging； the Wei army attacked in full force； and Wen Yang's troops began to give way and run； so that soon he found himself alone。
However； he got clear of the fight and went away south。 But he was pursued； for more than a hundred Wei generals plucked up courage to follow when he ran away。 They pressed on his heels till near the Lojia Bridge； when it seemed that they must catch him。 Then he suddenly pulled up his steed； turned and rode in among them； flogging with the terrible steel whip； and wherever it struck there lay warriors and horses in confused heaps。 So they left him； and he retook his way in peace。
Then the Wei generals met and said； 〃Lo！ Here is a man who has driven us all backward。 But we are many and may not suffer that。〃
Wherefore they reformed and once again took up pursuit。
〃You fools？〃 cried Wen Yang； as he saw them ing on。 〃Have you then no regard for your lives？〃
Again he fell upon them with the steel whip and slew many； so that the survivors retreated。 But yet again they found courage to e on； and yet again； but they had to fall back before the lash of that terrible whip。
Defiance hurled at Cao Cao's mighty host
Arrayed near Long Slope proclaimed Zhao Yun；
A valiant man； and peerless stood he till。
At Lojia another hero faced；
Alone； another host； and Wen Yang's name
Was added to the roll of famous people。
Wen Qin never reached the appointed rendezvous。 In the darkness he lost his way among the precipices and gullies； whence he only got out as day dawned。 He saw all the signs of a fight and a victory for Wei； but could not discover whither his son had gone。 So he returned without fighting； and in spite of pursuit； made his way safely to Shouchun。
Now mander Yin Damu had acpanied Sima Shi on his expedition； but was no friend of his。 He had been of the Cao Shuang's party and bitterly resented the death of his patron。 He was watching for a chance to avenge him。 Seeing that Sima Shi was ill； he thought to secure his end by making friends with Wen Qin。
So he went in to see the sick Sima Shi； and said； 〃Wen Qin had no sincere intention to rebel； but was led astray by Guanqiu Jian。 If you will let me go and speak with him； he will e over to you at once。〃
Sima Shi said he might go to try； and Yin Damu put on his armor and rode after Wen Qin。 By and by he got near enough to shout。
〃Do you not recognize me？ I am Yin Damu。〃
Wen Qin stopped and looked back。
Yin Damu removed his helmet that his face might be clearly seen； and said； 〃O Imperial Protector； why can you not bear up for a few days？〃
Yin Damu implied that Sima Shi was very near death； and he wished Wen Qin to remain at hand。 But Wen Qin did not understand。 He abused Yin Damu and even threatened that the bowmen should shoot； and Yin Damu could only sorrowfully turn away。
When Wen Qin reached Shouchun and found it occupied by Zhuge Dan； he tried for Xiangcheng。 But three armies under Hu Zun； Wang Ji； and Deng Ai came up and attacked at once so that it seemed impossible that his army could hold out long。 So he decided to flee to Wu and serve Sun Jun。
Guanqiu Jian； then behind the walls of Xiangcheng； heard that Shouchun had fallen； that his fellow…conspirator Wen Qin had failed and； with three armies against his city； knew that his case was desperate。 He mustered all the forces in the city and marched out to try his fortune。
As he went forth； he fell in with Deng Ai。 He bade Ge Yong go out to fight； but Ge Yong fell in the first encounter； cut down by Deng Ai himself。 The enemy came on in force。 Guanqiu Jian fought gallantly； but his army fell into confusion。 Then two other armies under Wang Ji and Hu Zun came up； and he was pletely surrounded。 Nothing could be done； and he fled from the field with a dozen riders and made for Sh