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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 it。 He remained in his own simple carriage and therein traveled to the Palace。 Officials lined the road to salute him; and he dismounted to return their salutations。 Then Sun Chen stood forth and bade them take the newly…elected Emperor by the arm and lead him into the Great Hall; where; after thrice refusing the honor; he at last took his seat in the Dragon Throne and received the jade seal passed from one ruler to another。
When all the officers had made obeisance; there were the usual amnesties; promotions; and honors; and Eternal Tranquillity; the first year (AD 258); was the name of the new reign。 Sun Chen was confirmed as Prime Minister; with the Imperial Protectorship of Jingzhou。 Moreover; Sun Hao; the son of his elder brother; was created Lord of Wucheng。
Sun Chen; with five persons in his family holding lordships and the whole army under their mand; was immensely powerful; able to set up and pull down at will。 The new Ruler of Wu; Sun Xiu; secretly feared him; and although outwardly he showed Sun Chen great favor; yet he kept careful watch over Sun Chen; whose arrogance knew no bounds。
In the winter Sun Chen sent into the Palace presents of oxen and wine as birthday gifts。 The Ruler of Wu declined them。 Sun Chen was very annoyed and took the presents to Zhang Bu's residence; where they two dined together。 Zhang Bu was the General of the Left Army。
When warmed with wine; Sun Chen said; 〃When I deposed the present Prince of Kuaiji; many people urged me to take the throne myself。 But I acted magnanimously and set up this present Emperor。 Now I suffer the mortification of seeing my presents rejected。 You will see what will e of this slight。〃
Zhang Bu showed sympathy; but the next day he secretly told the Ruler of Wu; and Sun Xiu's fears increased so that he could not rest。 Shortly after this; Sun Chen sent a large body of troops under the mand of Minister Meng Zong into camp at Wuchang; and Sun Chen armed them from the state arsenals。
Whereupon General Wei Miao and Imperial Guard Shi Shuo secretly memorialized the Ruler of Wu: 〃Sun Chen has moved the troops outside and provided them with state arms。 This action points to rebellion。〃
Sun Xiu was shocked; and called in Zhang Bu to consult; and he said; 〃The Veteran General Ding Feng is an able and trustworthy officer。 He should be consulted。〃
So Ding Feng was called and taken into the Emperor's confidence。
〃Have no anxiety;〃 said Ding Feng。 〃I will find some way of ridding the state of this evil。〃
〃What do you propose?〃
〃When the winter court is held; and all the officers are assembled; spread a great banquet and invite Sun Chen。 I shall be ready to act。〃
Wei Miao and Shi Shuo were taken into the plot and were to do what was possible outside the Palace; and Zhang Bu saw to arrangements within。
One night a heavy storm came on to blow; which tore up great trees by the roots。 However; by daylight it had abated; and that morning an Emperor's messenger arrived bearing an invitation to a banquet in the Palace。 Sun Chen rose from his couch; and; as he did so; fell flat on the ground as though he had been pushed from behind。 This accident troubled him; and he felt apprehensive; so he called half a score of his trusty guards to act as his escort to the Palace。
As he was leaving home; his family besought him not to go out; saying; 〃The storm last night and the fall this morning are fearful omens。 You should not go to that banquet。〃
However; he made light of their fears and said; 〃My brothers are holding the army。 Who will dare e near me? But if there is anything amiss; you just give a fire signal from the Prime Minister's residence。〃
So Sun Chen took his seat; and the carriage set out。 When he reached the court; the Ruler of Wu rose from his place to wele him; and at table Sun Chen sat in the seat of honor。 The banquet proceeded。
〃There is a fire outside: What does that mean?〃 said a guest presently。
Sun Chen rose to go out; but the Ruler of Wu said; 〃There is no danger; and there are plenty of soldiers outside to take care of that。〃
Just at that moment Zhang Bu entered at the head of thirty armed guards。 He rushed up the banquet chamber; shouting; 〃I hold a mand to slay the rebel Sun Chen!〃
'e' Jiaozhou was a deep…south region; which is now northern Vietnam。
Instantly the Prime Minister was seized。 He fell prostrate before the Ruler of Wu; knocking his head on the ground and crying; 〃Spare my life! Exile me to Jiaozhou*; where I will do plow work。〃
〃Did you exile any of your victims………Teng Yin; Lu Ju; Wang Chun; and others?〃 said the Ruler of Wu; angrily。
The order went forth to carry out the execution; and Sun Chen was hustled out and put to death。 No single person of his servants raised a hand to help him。
Then Zhang Bu read an edict: 〃Sun Chen is the only culprit; and no other will be questioned。〃
Then at Zhang Bu's request; the Ruler of Wu went up on the Tower of the Five Phoenixes。 Zhang Bu; Wei Miao; and Shi Shuo brought the brothers of the Prime Minister before Sun Xiu; and he condemned them to death。 After this their families were slain; so that many hundreds suffered death。 Not content with all these things; the tomb of Sun Jun was broken open and his corpse beheaded。
Magnificent tombs were raised to his victims………Zhuge Ke; Teng Yin; Lu Ju; Wang Chun; and others。 Thus at last loyalty was rewarded; and the banished were permitted to return home with full pardon。 The conspirators were rewarded。
News of this revolution was sent into Chengdu; and the Latter Ruler sent an envoy into Wu with felicitations。 In return; the Ruler of Wu sent Xue Xu as his envoy to Shu。
When Xue Xu returned; the Ruler of Wu questioned about affairs in the west; and Xue Xu said; 〃All affairs of state are in the hands of a certain eunuch named Huang Hao; and all the courtiers look up to him as to a father。 At court plain truth is never heard; and the country people look sallow and starved。 The whole country appears on the verge of destruction。 The birds on the roof do not know that the building is about to be burned。〃
〃Ah ! If only Zhuge Liang the Martial Lord was still alive………how different all would be!〃 said Sun Xiu; with a sigh。
Letters were prepared saying that beyond doubt Sima Zhao intended usurpation; and when that came about in Wei; both Wu and Shu would be invaded。 Wherefore both should be ready。
On the arrival of these letters; Jiang Wei hastened to seek permission to attempt another expedition。 Consent being given; a large army marched into Hanzhong in the winter of the first year of Wonderful Sight (AD 258)。 Liao Hua and Zhang Yi were appointed Leaders of the Van; Wang Han and Jiang Bin as manders of the Left Army; and Jiang Shu and Fu Qian as manders of the Right Army; while Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba led the main column。
Asked what he thought should be the first objective; Xiahou Ba replied; 〃There is no better fighting ground than Qishan; as the tactics of the late Prime Minister made evident; and it is the only good exit。〃
So thither three armies marched; and they made three camps at the entrance to the valley。 At this time Deng Ai had a training camp at Qishan drilling the Longyou troops。
The scouts told him: 〃The Shu army have pitched three camps in the valley。〃
He ascended a hill to see and verify their reports。 He seemed pleased when he saw the enemy camp。
〃They have just done as I foresaw;〃 said Deng Ai。
Now Deng Ai had carefully considered the topography of the countryside; and so had not interfered with the Shu army when it was on the march or settling into camp。 Moreover; he had excavated a subterranean road to the spot where he had thought they would halt; and their left camp had been pitched just on it。 Wang Han and Jiang Bin manded in that camp。
Deng Ai called his son Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan and sent them with ten thousand troops each to attack the left camp; one on each flank。 Then he sent Zheng Lun and five hundred troops into the underground road; which opened in rear of the camp of Wang Han and Jiang Bin。
As the newly made camp was not yet well fortified; Wang Han and Jiang Bin exercised great care and kept their troops under arms all night; watching with vigilance。 So when the alarm was given; they had but to seize their weapons and go out。 But as the two leaders were mounting their steeds; Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan had attacked from without; and Zheng Lun from within。 Thus attacked from three sides; soon Wang Han and Jiang Bin found the position untenable and fled。
When Jiang Wei saw that his left camp had been attacked on three sides; he mounted and took his position in front of the center camp。
〃Let no one move on pain of death!〃 he shouted。 〃Stand still。 When the enemy approaches; shoot!〃
The right camp was ordered to stand fast。 His defense was effective。 A dozen of times the troops of Wei came forward; only to be driven back before the arrows and bolts of the defenders。 Daylight found the Shu camps still firm; and the Wei troops drew off。
〃Jiang Wei has indeed learned of Zhuge Liang;〃 said Deng Ai。 〃His soldiers stood the night attack without flinching; and the leaders took the chances of battle quite calmly。