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The reply satisfied the Ruler of Wei； and he conferred on him the title General Who Guards the South。 But Huang Quan； however； declined the offer。
Then one of the courtiers said； 〃A spy has reported that all of your family have been put to death by the Ruler of Shu。〃
But the leader replied that he could not believe it。
〃The Ruler of Shu and his officials trust each other。 He knows my heart； and he would not injure my family。〃
And the Ruler of Wei agreed with his opinion。
A poem has been written upbraiding Huang Quan：
That was a pity that Huang Quan grudged to die；
Though he yielded to Wei； not Wu；
Yet he crooked the knee in an alien court。
Which the loyal cannot do。
Cao Pi sought advice from Jia Xu concerning his design of bringing the whole country under his own rule。
〃I wish to bring the whole empire under my rule。 Which shall I first reduce； Shu or Wu？〃
〃Liu Bei is an able warrior； and Zhuge Liang is a most capable administrator。 Sun Quan possesses discrimination； and his general； Lu Xun； occupies all the strategic positions of importance； the natural obstacles； the intervening rivers and spreading lakes； would be hard to overe。 I do not think you have any leader to match either of these two men。 Even with the prestige of Your Majesty's own presence； no one could guarantee the result。 The better course is to hold on and await the oute of the struggle between those two。〃
〃I have already dispatched three armies against Wu。 Can it be that they will fail？〃
The Chair of the Secretariat； Liu Ye； held the same opinion as his colleague。
Said he； 〃Lu Xun has just won a great victory over the Shu force of seven hundred thousand； and all his army is full of confidence。 Further； there are the lakes and the rivers； which are natural difficulties hard to cope with。 And again； Lu Xun is resourceful and well prepared。〃
The Ruler of Wei said； 〃Formerly； Sir； you urged me to attack Wu。 Why do you now give contrary advice？〃
〃Because times have changed。 When Wu was suffering defeat after defeat； the country was depressed and might be smitten。 Now this great victory has changed all that； and their morale has increased a hundred times。 I say now they may not be attacked。〃
〃Well； but I have decided to attack。 So say no more；〃 said the Ruler of Wei。
He then led the Imperial Guards out to support his three armies。
But the scouts soon brought news justifying the opinion of his advisers： 〃A force of Wu has been sent to oppose each of our three armies。 Lu Fan leads an army against Cao Xiu at Dongkou； Zhuge Jin against Cao Zhen at Nanjun； and Zhu Huan against Cao Ren at Ruxu。〃
Liu Ye pointed this out and again said； 〃Wu has prepared； and no success can be expected。〃
Still Cao Pi was obstinate； and marched。
The Wu leader； Zhu Huan； who had been sent against Cao Ren at Ruxu； was a young man of twenty…seven。 He was bold and resourceful； and Sun Quan held him in great regard。 Hearing that Cao Ren was going to attack Xianxi； Zhu Huan led the bulk of his troops to defend it； leaving only five thousand troops in Ruxu。 Then he heard that the van of the enemy； fifty thousand under General Chang Diao； with the aid of Zhuge Qian and Wang Shuang； had made a dash for Ruxu； so he hastened back and found the officers were in great fear。
Drawing his sword； he made a speech； 〃Success depends upon the leader rather than on the number of soldiers。 The Art of War says that the value of one soldier who inhabits the place equals that of two soldiers who e from afar； and those who are hosts； however in small number； can overe those who are guests。 Now the enemy is weary from a long march； and I and you； my men； can hold this place together。 We have the Great River to defend us on the south； and we are backed by the mountains on the north。 Success should be ours easily； and we are as hosts at home awaiting the arrival of our weary visitors。 This will give us victory in every fight。 Even if Cao Pi es； we need feel no anxiety。 How much less care we for Cao Ren and his troops？〃
Zhu Huan he issued orders to furl all the banners and to silence all the drums as if the city was empty of defenders。
In time； Chang Diao and his veterans of the van came to the city。 Not a person was visible； and he hastened forward with all speed。 But as he neared the city； suddenly a bomb went off。 Immediately up rose a forest of flags； and out dashed Zhu Huan with his sword drawn。 And he made for Chang Diao。 In the third encounter Zhu Huan cut down Chang Diao； and the troops of Wu； rushing to the attack； thoroughly routed the invaders； slaying innumerable soldiers。 Beside scoring a plete victory； Zhu Huan took much spoil of flags and weapons and horses。
Cao Ren himself； ing up later； was attacked by the troops from Xianxi and was also routed。 He fled home to his master with the news of defeat and destruction。
And before the Ruler of Wei could decide what course to take in regard to this loss； the news came of the defeat of his another army： 〃Cao Zhen and Xiahou Shang were besieging Nanjun when Zhuge Jin from within and Lu Xun from without attacked in concert。 The two generals suffered a great loss。〃
Immediately； another report came： 〃Cao Xiu has been defeated by Lu Fan at Dongkou。〃
So all three armies had failed and were lost。
Cao Pi sighed and said sadly； 〃This has e from my willfulness and neglect of the advice of Jia Xu and Liu Ye。〃
The summer of that year was very unhealthy； and a pestilence swept away the soldiers more than half the number。 So they were marched home to Capital Luoyang。 The two countries were at enmity though they were not fighting。
Meanwhile the First Ruler was failing。 He remained in his Palace of Eternal Peace at Baidicheng and presently was confined to his couch。 Gradually he became worse； and in the fourth moon of the third year of Manifest Might （AD 222） his condition became serious。 He himself felt the end was near； and he was depressed and wept for his two lost brothers till the sight of his eyes suffered。 He was morose and ill…tempered： He could not bear any of his court near him； drove away his servants and lay upon his couch sad and solitary。
One evening as thus he lay； a sudden gust of wind came into the chamber； almost extinguishing the candles。 As they burned bright again； he saw two men standing in the shade behind them。
〃I told you I was worried；〃 said the First Ruler； 〃and bade you leave me。 Why have you e back？ Go！〃
But they remained and did not go。 Wherefore the First Ruler rose and went over to look at them。 As he drew near he saw one was Guan Yu and the other Zhang Fei。
〃Are you still alive； then； brothers？〃 said he。
〃We are not men； we are shades；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃The Supreme One has conferred spirithood upon us in consideration of our faithfulness throughout life； and ere long； brother； we three shall be together again。〃
The First Ruler clutched at the figures and burst into tears； then he awoke。 The two figures were no longer there。 He called in his people and asked the hour。 They told him the third watch。
〃I am not much longer for this world；〃 said he with a sigh。
Messengers were sent to Capital Chengdu to summon the Prime Minister and other high officers of state to receive the Emperor's last instructions。 They came； Zhuge Liang bringing the two younger sons； Prince of Lu Liu Yung and Prince of Liang Liu Li。 The eldest； the heir…apparent； was left in charge of the capital。
Zhuge Liang saw at once that his master was very ill。 He bowed to the ground at the foot of the Dragon Couch。
The dying Emperor bade him e near and sit beside him； and he patted his Minister on the back； saying； 〃The attainment of emperorship was your work。 Little thought you that I should prove so stupid as not to follow your advice and so bring about the late disasters。 But I am deeply sorry； and now I shall not live long。 My heir is a degenerate； but I must leave him to do the best he can with the great inheritance。〃
And the tears flowed in streams。
〃I trust Your Majesty will fulfill the hopes of the people by a speedy recovery；〃 said Zhuge Liang； also in tears。
Turning his head； the First Ruler saw Ma Su； Ma Liang's brother； at the bedside。 He bade him retire。
When Ma Su had left the chamber； the First Ruler said； 〃Do you think Ma Su is clever？〃
〃He is one of the ablest people in the empire；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃I do not think so。 I think his words exceed his deeds。 Do not make much use of him。 Watch him carefully。〃
Having said this； he bade them summon the high officers of state to the chamber。 Taking paper and pen； the First Ruler wrote his testament。
He handed it to the Prime Minister with a sigh and said； 〃I am no great scholar； and I only know the rough outlines of what should be known。 But the Teacher has said： 'A bird's song is sad when death is near； and a dying person's words are good。' I was waiting that we might aid each other in the destruction of the Caos and the restoration of the Hans； but ere the work is plete I am called away； and this last mand of mine I confide to you as Prime Minister to be handed to my son and heir； Liu Shan。 My words are to be taken seriously。 I trust that you will instruct and guide my son。〃
Zhuge Liang and all those present wept and prostrated themselves； saying； 〃We pray Your Majesty repose yourself。