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any sign of giving battle； no display of flags or rolling of drums all day。
At nightfall the army of Shu returned to camp； and Jiang Wei sent a letter reproaching his opponent with his failure to keep his word。
Deng Ai treated the bearer of the letter with great courtesy and explained； saying； 〃I have been indisposed today； but will certainly fight on the morrow。〃
But the next day passed also without any move on the part of Wei； and the same thing went on for five days。
Then said Fu Qian to his chief； 〃There is some knavery afoot； and we must be on our guard。〃
〃They must be waiting for reinforcements from Within the Passes that they may attack on three sides；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃But now will I send into Wu and get Sun Chen to strike at the same time as I。〃
Just then scouts came to give the news of the rout of the army of Wu： 〃Sima Zhao has defeated Shouchun and killed Zhuge Dan。 Many in the Wu army have gone over to Wei。 Sima Zhao has gone to Luoyang and is planning to march an army to attack Changcheng。〃
〃So our attack on Wei is but a sham！〃 said Jiang Wei； bitterly。 〃It is only a picture of a cake。〃
Four times he missed！ He hailed
The fifth occasion joyfully； and failed。
The next chapter will tell the story of the retreat。
Main Next to Chapter 113 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 113
Chapter 113
Ding Feng Makes A Plan To Slay Sun Chen；
Jiang Wei Arrays A Battle To Defeat Deng Ai。
Fearing lest reinforcements would strengthen his enemy beyond his own power of resistance； Jiang Wei decided to retreat while he could。 He sent all his stores and baggage away first with the footmen； and kept the cavalry to cover the retirement。
The spies reported his movements to Deng Ai； who said； 〃He has gone because he knew that the main army would soon be upon him。 Let him go； and do not follow。 If we pursue； he will play us some evil trick。〃
Scouts were sent to keep in touch with the retreating army； and when they returned they reported that preparations of dry woods and straws had been made in the Luo Valley to check any pursuit with fire。
The officers praised the prescience of Deng Ai； 〃General； your calculation is superhuman！〃
When Deng Ai reported these matters to the capital； Sima Zhao was very pleased and confer more rewards。
The Prime Minister of Wu； Sun Chen； was greatly angered by the desertion of so many of his soldiers and officers to Wei； and revenged himself by putting their families to death。 The Ruler of Wu； Sun Liang； disapproved of these acts of cruelty； but he was powerless。
The young Emperor was of an ingenious turn of mind。 One day he went to the West Park to eat of the newly ripened plums。 He bade one of the eunuchs bring some honey。 It was brought； but there were mouse droppings in it。 The Ruler of Wu called the storekeeper and blamed him for carelessness。
The storekeeper said； 〃We are very careful to keep the stores in good order； and the honey cannot not possibly have been fouled in the storehouse。〃
〃Has anyone asked you for honey lately？〃 asked the Ruler of Wu。
〃One of the eunuchs asked for some a few days ago。 I refused him。〃
The Ruler of Wu called the named eunuch and said； 〃You defiled the honey out of spite。〃
The man denied it。
〃It is very easy to tell；〃 said the Ruler of Wu。 〃If the dirt has been lying in the honey for some time it will be wet all through。〃
Then the Ruler of Wu ordered them to cut one of the lumps； and it was quite dry inside。 The eunuch then confessed。
This shows the Ruler of Wu was quick…witted。 But clever as he was； he could not control his Prime Minister； whose relatives were in mand of all the garrisons and armies； so that he was unassailable。 His four brothers all had high offices： Sun Ju was General Who Terrifies Distant Regions and mander of Imperial Guards； Sun En； General Who Shows Prowess； Sun Gan； Imperial mander； and Sun Kan； mander of Changshui。
One day the Ruler of Wu； musing over his sorrows and feeling very miserable； began to weep。 The officer in charge of the eunuchs； who was an Imperial Brother…in…Law； stood by。
〃Sun Chen holds all real power and does as he wishes； while I am despised；〃 said the Ruler of Wu。 〃Something must be done。〃
Quan Ji said； 〃I would think no sacrifice too great if Your Majesty would make use of me。〃
〃If you could muster the Palace guards and help General Liu Cheng to keep the gates； I would go and murder that ruffian。 But you must not let anyone know； for if you tell your noble mother； who is a sister of Sun Chen； she will tell her brother； and that would be very serious for me。〃
〃Will Your Majesty give me a mand that I may have authority to act when the time es？〃 said Quan Ji。 〃At the critical moment I could show the edict and hold back Sun Chen's supporters。〃
The mand was given； and Quan Ji went home。 But he could not keep his secret； and confided the plan to his father； Quan Shang。
His father told his wife； 〃Sun Chen will be got rid of in three days。〃
〃Oh； he deserves that；〃 said she。
Although she seemed to approve with her tongue； she sent a secret messenger with a letter to the proposed victim。
That same night Sun Chen called in his four leader brothers； and the Palace was surrounded。 The conspirators were seized； with Liu Cheng and Quan Shang and all their families。
About dawn the Ruler of Wu was disturbed by a motion at the gates； and a servant told him； 〃Sun Chen with his army has surrounded the Inner Palace！〃
Sun Liang knew that he had been betrayed。 He turned on Empress Quan； who was of the Quan house； and reproached her。
〃Your father and brother have upset all my plans！〃
Drawing his sword； he was dashing out when his Consort and her people clung to his clothing and held him back。
After putting to death Liu Cheng's and Quan Shang's parties； Sun Chen assembled the officers in the court and addressed them thus： 〃The Emperor is vicious and weak； depraved and foolish and unfit for his high office。 Wherefore he must be deposed。 Any of you who oppose will be punished as for conspiracy。〃
〃We shall obey your mand； O General！〃 said the court officiers out of fear。
Only one of those present dared to say a word of protest。
It was Chair of the Secretariat Huan Yi； who said； 〃How dare you utter such words？ Our Emperor is very intelligent； and I will not support you。 I would rather die！〃
Sun Chen wrathfully drew his sword and slew Huan Yi。
Then Sun Chen went into the Palace and said to Sun Liang； 〃O unrighteous and unenlightened Highness； your death would be the only fitting reparation to make to the empire； but out of consideration for your ancestors you are only deposed and degraded to princely rank as Prince of Kuaiji。 I will select a worthy successor。〃
Secretary Li Zong was ordered to bring in the royal seal； which was delivered to Deng Cheng。 The deposed ruler retired weeping。
The sage example of the wise Yi Yin*
Perverted now to traitor's use we see；
And Huo Guang's faithful services* are made
A cloak to cover vilest treachery。
Even able princes are but toys of fate；
And need our pity； fallen from high estate。
＇e＇ Yi Yin was was helper and prime minister of King Tang； the founder of Shang Dynasty。 After King Tang's death； Yi Yin served his sons and grandson。 Soon after Tai Jia； King Tang's grandson； ascended the throne； he mitted many faults； and Yi Yin； acting as regent； exiled Tai Jia to Tong Palace………the burial place of King Tang。 After three years Yi Yin returned him the throne。 Tai Jia eventually became an enlightened emperor。 Shang Dynasty lasted for 650 years （BC 1700…1050）。 It was this act of Yi Yin rather than his services in building up an empire that has made him immortal。 Whether he did right in temporarily dethroning the king was open to question； until a final verdict was rendered by Mencius who thought that his ends amply justified his means。 This historical event attests the extent of the power exercised by a prime minister in those days。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Huo Guang （BC ？…68） a general and regent of Han。 After Emperor Wu died； Huo Guang became regent to three successive emperors； and the second one had been the Prince of Changyi； who was on the throne for only twenty…seven days。 Huo Guang had the Prince of Changyi declared unfit to rule and deposed him。 Even though Huo Guang contributed much to the empire's stabilization； after he died； he was distanced by the emperor and most of his family were executed for conspiracy charges。 。。。。。
Sun Chen then sent two ministers of the court； Royal Clan Recorder Sun Kai and Secretary Dong Cao； went as envoys to Hulin to request Sun Xiu； Prince of Langye； the sixth son of Sun Quan； to ascend the throne。
The Emperor…elect had had some premonition of the high honor to which he was now called； for in a dream he saw he ascended into the skies seated on a dragon。 Only the dragon seemed to have no tail。 He woke up in a fright； and the next day brought the Imperial Envoys； Sun Kai and Dong Cao。
Sun Xiu set out。 At Que his carriage was stopped by a venerable old man who claimed to be Gan Xiu and offered felicitations。
〃Your Majesty should move faster； for things may change swiftly；〃 said the aged one。
Sun Xiu thanked the old man。
At Busai Pavilion awaited Sun En with a chariot； but Sun Xiu's modesty would not allow him to mount