be pitched on mud。 May the army be moved to camp on the higher ground？〃
But Sima Yi flouted the suggestion。
〃How can the army move away just when success is in sight？ The rebels will be conquered now any day。 If any other speaks about drawing off； he will be put to death。〃
Pei Jing agreed and went away。
Soon after； Chou Lian； mander of the Right； came to see his chief and repeated the suggestion； saying； 〃The soldiers are suffering from the rains。 O mander； let them camp on the hills。〃
Sima Yi got angry and said； 〃I have sent the mand； and you are against it！〃
And he ordered Chou Lian to be executed。 His head was suspended at the camp gate as a warning to others。 The soldiers dared to plain any more。
Then Sima Yi ordered the south camp to be abandoned； and the army marched seven miles south； thus allowing the soldiers and people in the city to e out to gather fuel and pasture their cattle。
The attacking army could not understand this move； and General Chen Qun spoke about it。
〃When you besieged Shangyong； O mander； you attacked all round at eight points； and the city fell in eight days。 Meng Da was taken； and you won a great success。 Now your forty thousand troops have borne their armors many days over long marches and you do not press the attack； but keep them in the mud and mire and let the enemy gather supplies and feed their cattle。 I do not know what your intention may be。〃
〃Sir；〃 replied the mander…in…Chief； 〃I see you are ignorant of war after all。 You do not understand the different conditions。 Meng Da then had ample supplies and few troops； while we were under exactly opposite conditions。 So we had to attack vigorously and at once。 The suddenness of the attack defeated the enemy。 But look at present conditions。 The Liaodong troops are many and we few； they are on the verge of starvation； and we are full fed。 Why should we force the attack？ Our line is to let the soldiers desert and capture the city。 Therefore I leave a gate open and the road free that they may run away。〃
Chen Qun then understood and acknowledged the correctness of the strategy。 Sima Yi sent to Luoyang to hasten supplies； that there should be no shortage。
However； the war was not supported in the capital； for when the messenger arrived and the Ruler of Wei summoned his courtiers； they said； 〃In Liaodong the rain has been continuous for a month； and the soldiers are in misery。 Sima Yi ought to be recalled； and the war renewed at a more convenient season。〃
The Ruler of Wei replied； 〃The leader of our army is most capable and best able to decide upon what should be done。 He understands the conditions and is teeming with magnificent plans。 He will certainly succeed。 Wherefore； Noble Sirs； wait a few days and let us not be anxious about the result。〃
So Cao Rui heeded not the voice of the dissentients； but took care that provisions were sent。
After a few days the rain ceased； and fine； clear weather followed。 That night Sima Yi went out of his tent that he might study the sky。 Suddenly he saw a very large and bright star start from a point over Shoushan Mountain and travel over toward Xiangping； where it fell。 The soldiers were rather frightened at this apparition； but the leader rejoiced。
〃Five days from now Gongsun Yuan will be slain where that star fell；〃 said he。 〃Therefore attack with vigor。〃
They opened the attack the next morning at dawn； throwing up banks and sapping the walls； setting up stone…throwing machines and rearing ladders。 When night came the attack did not cease。 Arrows fell in the city like pelting rain。
Within the city； grain began to run short； and soon there was none。 They slaughtered bullocks and horses for food。 The soldiers began to be mutinous and no longer fought with any spirit。 There was talk of slaying Gongsun Yuan and yielding the city。
Gongsun Yuan was disheartened and frightened； and decided to sue for peace。 He sent his Prime Minister Wang Jian and Imperial Censor Liu Fei out of the city to beg Sima Yi to allow him to submit。 These two had to be let down from the walls by ropes； as no other means of exit were possible。
Wang Jian and Liu Fei found their way to Sima Yi and said； 〃We pray you； O mander； retire seven miles and allow the officers to e forth and surrender。〃
〃Why did not Gongsun Yuan himself e？〃 said Sima Yi。 〃He is rude。〃
He put the two envoys to death and sent their heads back into the city。
Gongsun Yuan was still more alarmed； but he resolved to make one more attempt。 This time he sent High Counselor Wei Yin as his envoy。 Sima Yi received this messenger sitting in state in his tent with his officers standing right and left。 Wei Yin approached on his knees； and when he reached the door of the tent recited his petition。
〃I pray you； O mander； turn your thunderous wrath from us。 We will send the son of our leader； Gongsun Xiu； the Heir Apparent； as hostage and all the officers shall appear before you bound with cords。〃
Sima Yi replied； 〃There are five possible operations for any army。 If you can fight； fight； if you cannot fight； defend； if you cannot defend； flee； if you cannot flee； surrender； if you cannot surrender； die。 These five courses are open to you； and a hostage would be useless。 Now return and tell your master。〃
Wei Yin put his hands over his head and fled like a rat。 He went into the city and related what had happened to him。
The Gongsuns； father and son； resolved to flee。 They chose a thousand of mounted troops； and in the dead of night opened the south gate and got out。 They took the road to the east and were rejoiced to find it clear。
All went well for a distance of three miles； when a bomb exploded。 This was followed by a roll of drums and the blare of trumpets； and a cohort stood in the way。 The leader was Sima Yi； supported by his two sons………Sima Shi and Sima Zhao。
〃Stop； O rebel！〃 cried the sons。
But Gongsun Yuan lashed his steed to a gallop。 Then Hu Zun； Xiahou Ba； Xiahou Wei； Zhang Hu； and Yue Chen； with their troops； came up and quickly surrounded them so that they were helpless。 Gongsun Yuan saw that escape was impossible； so he came with his son； dismounted； and offered surrender。
Sima Yi hardly looked at the two men； but he turned to his officers and said； 〃That night the star fell to this land； and today； five days later； the omen bees true。〃
They all felicitated him； saying； 〃The mander is superhuman！〃
Gongsun Yuan and Gongsun Xiu were slain where they stood。 Then Sima Yi turned to resume the siege of Xiangping； but before he had reached the walls； Hu Zun's army had entered。 Sima Yi went in and was received with great respect； the people burning incense as he passed。 He went to the residence； and then the whole of the Gongsun Yuan's clan； and all who had assisted in his rising； were beheaded。 They counted heads to the number of seventy。
The city taken and the rebels destroyed； Sima Yi issued a proclamation in order to restore confidence among the people。
Certain persons told him； 〃Jia Fan and Lun Zhi had been against the revolt and had therefore suffered death。〃
So Sima Yi honored their tombs and conferred ranks upon their children。 The contents of the treasury were distributed among the soldiers as rewards； and then the army marched back to Luoyang。
One night the Ruler of Wei was suddenly awakened by a chill blast that extinguished all the lights； but he saw the form of the late Empress Mao； with a score or two of other Palace attendants； ing toward the bed whereon he lay； and as they approached they demanded his life。 He was very frightened and fell ill so that he was like to die。
So the two officers； Liu Fang and Sun Zu； were set over the privy council； and he summoned his brother Cao Yu； the Prince of Yan； to the capital to make him Regent Marshal to assist the Heir Apparent； Cao Fang。 However； Cao Yu being modest and retiring by nature； declined these high offices and their responsibilities。
The Ruler of Wei then turned to his two confidants； Liu Fang and Sun Zu； inquired of them； saying； 〃Who of the family is a suitable person to support the Heir Apparent？〃
As Liu Fang and Sun Zu had both received many favors from Cao Zhen； they replied； 〃None is so fit as Cao Shuang； the son of Cao Zhen。〃
The Ruler of Wei approved their choice； and thus Cao Shuan