Then said Li Dian to Yue Jing； 〃He there opposite us with the golden helm is Sun Quan。 Could we but capture him； the loss of our eight hundred thirty thousand soldiers at the Red Cliffs would be amply avenged。〃
So speaking Yue Jing rode out； alone； just one man and one sword； and went sidelong toward the two batants。 Then suddenly； swift as a flash of lightning； he ran forward and slashed at Sun Quan。 But Sun Quan's two guards were too quick for him。 Up went the two halberds of Song Qian and Jia Hua guarding their lord's head。 The blow fell； but on the crossed halberds which were shorn through near the head； and in another moment they were hammering away on the head of Yue Jing's steed with the shafts of their broken weapons and forcing it back。
Song Qian snatched a spear from a soldier near and went in pursuit of Yue Jing； but Li Dian； on the other side； fitted an arrow to his bow and aimed at Song Qian's heart from behind。 And Song Qian fell as the bowstring twanged。
Then Taishi Ci； seeing his colleague fell； left off the fight with Zhang Liao and returned to his own line。 At this Zhang Liao fell on in a swift attack； and the army of Sun Quan； thrown into confusion； scattered and fled。
Zhang Liao； having distinguished Sun Quan in the distance； galloped in pursuit and had nearly e up with him； when Cheng Pu happily rushed in from one side of the line of fight； stayed the pursuit； and saved his master。 Zhang Liao withdrew to Hefei。 Sun Quan was escorted back to his main camp； where his beaten soldiers gradually rejoined him and their ranks were reformed。
When Sun Quan knew of the death of Song Qian； he was greatly pained and wept aloud。
But Adviser Zhang Hong reproached him； saying； 〃My lord； you relied too much upon your martial prowess and lightly engaged in battle with a formidable enemy。 Every person in the army was chilled with fear； and you lost a general and some of your banners。 It is not for you to exhibit prowess on the actual battlefield and encroach upon the duties of a general。 Rather curb and repress such physical feats as those ancient Xia Yu and Meng Ben； and contemplate schemes of exercising princely virtues with the hegemony of all the feudal states。 It is because of your ill…regulated action in engaging in battle that Song Qian perished at the hands of your enemies。 Hereafter you should regard as most important your personal safety。〃
〃Yes； it is indeed a fault；〃 said Sun Quan。 〃I will reform。〃
Soon after； Taishi Ci entered the tent and said； 〃In my mand there is a certain Ge Ding； brother of a groom in the army of Zhang Liao。 This servant is deeply resentful on account of a punishment inflicted upon him and is anxious to be revenged。 He has sent over to say that he will show a signal tonight when he has assassinated Zhang Liao in revenge for the death of your late leader Song Qian。 I wish to take some troops over to await this signal to attack。〃
〃Where is Ge Ding？〃 asked Sun Quan。
〃Ge Ding has mingled with the enemy and gone into the city。 Let me have five thousand soldiers。〃
Zhuge Jin said； 〃Zhang Liao is full of guile。 I think you will find him prepared for your ing。 Be careful。〃
As Taishi Ci urged his chief to let him go； and Sun Quan was deeply hurt by the death of his leader； the permission was given and the force started。
Now here it must be said that Taishi Ci and this Ge Ding were natives of the same place。 Ge Ding had made his way into the city without detection； found his brother； and the two had arranged their plot。
Ge Ding also told him； saying； 〃Taishi Ci will e over tonight to help us。 What need to be done now？〃
His brother； the groom； said； 〃As the troops of Sun Quan are far away； I fear they cannot be here tonight； so we will make a huge bonfire of straw and then you can rush out and cry treachery。 That will throw all into confusion and will give a chance to kill Zhang Liao。〃
〃This is an excellent plan；〃 said Ge Ding。
Now after the victory； Zhang Liao returned to the city and rewarded his soldiers； but he issued orders that no one was to doff his armor or sleep。
His attendants said； 〃You have gained a great victory today； and the enemy are far away。 You might doff your armor and get some repose。〃
But Zhang Liao replied； 〃That is not the way of a leader。 A victory is no reason for rejoicing； nor should a defeat cause sadness。 If those of the South Land suspect that I am unprepared； they will attack。 And we must be ready to repel them。 Be ready tonight and be doubly careful。〃
Scarcely had he said this than a fire started and cries of 〃Treachery！〃 arose。 Many rushed to tell the leader； who went out and called together his guard of about half a score。 They took up a manding position in the way。
Those about him said； 〃The shouts are insistent。 You ought to go and see what it means。〃
〃A whole city cannot be traitors；〃 said Zhang Liao。 〃Some discontented person has frightened the soldiers。 If I see anyone doing so； I will slay him。〃
Soon after this Li Dian dragged up Ge Ding and his fellow traitor。 After a few brief questions； they were beheaded。
Then arose a great noise； shouting and the rolling of drums was heard outside the gate。
〃That means the troops of South Land are there to help；〃 said Zhang Liao。 〃But we will destroy them by a simple ruse。〃
He bade them light torches and yell 〃Treachery！ Rebellion！〃 and throw open the city gates and let down the drawbridge。
When Taishi Ci saw the gates swing open； he thought his scheme was going well and in full confidence rode in at the gate。 But just at the entrance a signal bomb suddenly exploded； and the enemy arrows came down on him like pelting rain。 Then he knew he had fallen into a snare and turned to ride out。 But he was wounded in many places。 And in the pursuit that followed； more than half the troops under Taishi Ci were cut off。 As he drew near his own lines； a rescue force led by Lu Xun and Dong Xi came to his aid； and the Cao Cao's soldiers ceased from pursuit。
Sun Quan was exceedingly sad when he learned that his faithful general had been grievously wounded。 Then Zhang Zhao prayed him to cease from war； and Sun Quan was content。 They gathered in their soldiers to their ships and sailed to Nanxu and Runzhou where they camped。
Meanwhile Taishi Ci was dying。
When his lord went to ask how he fared； he cried； 〃When a worthy person is born into a turbulent world； he has to be a soldier and gird on a three…span sword to step on the mountains to mend the sky。 I have not rendered great service。 Why must I die before I have attained my desire？〃
These were his last words。 He was forty…one years of age。
Single minded and perfectly loyal；
Such was Taishi Ci； in Donglai；
Far distant frontiers rang with his exploits；
Riding or archery； all humans he excelled；
One in Bohai who admired his valor；
Cared for his mother while he was fighting；
How he roared in the battle at Shenting！
Dying； he spoke as a hero；
All through the ages people sigh for his fate。
Sun Quan was exceedingly grieved when this second of his leaders died。 He gave orders to bury his remains most honorably outside the north wall of Nanxu on Beigu Hill and took his son； Taishi Heng； into his own palace to be brought up。
In Jingzhou； when Liu Bei heard of the series of misfortunes that had befallen Sun Quan and of his retirement to Nanxu； he and Zhuge Liang discussed their plans。
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃I was studying the sky and saw a falling star in the northwest。 The imperial family is to suffer a loss。〃
Zhuge Liang had scarcely said this when they brought news of the death of Liu Qi； son of Liu Biao。
Liu Bei at once began to wail bitterly。
But his adviser said to him； 〃Life and death are beyond our control； wherefore weep not； my lord； for grief harms the body。 Rather consider what is necessary to be done。 Send someone to assume control and make arrangements for the interment。〃
〃Who can go？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃No other than Guan Yu。〃
So they sent Guan Yu to guard the city of Xiangyang。
Liu Bei at once began to feel troubled about his promise to surrender Jingzhou on the death of Liu Qi。 Zhuge Liang did not consider this a matter of moment。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I will have somewhat to say to anyone who es to ask fulfillment of the promise。〃
In half a month it was announced that Lu Su would e to mourn at the funeral。
To claim the promise one will e；
But they will send him empty home。
What reply Zhuge Liang made may be read in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 54 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 54
Chapter 54
The Dowager Marchioness Sees Her Son…In…Law；
The Imperial Uncle Takes A Worthy Consort。
Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang went out of the city to wele the envoy of the South Land and led him to the guest…house。
After the usual greetings； Lu Su said； 〃Hearing of the death of your nephew； my lord Sun Quan has prepared some gifts and sent me to take his place at the funeral sacrifices。 General Zhou Yu also sends regards to the Imperial Uncle and to you； Master Zhuge Liang。〃
Both rose at once and thanked him for the courtesy。 Then the gifts were handed over and a banquet prepared； and while it was in progress； the guest brought up the real object of his visit。
〃You said； Sir； that Jingzhou should be returned to us after the death of Liu Qi。 Now that that event has happened； rendition bees due； and I should be glad to know when the transfer can take place。〃
〃We will discuss that later。 In the meantime let us go on with our wine；〃 said Liu Bei。
So the feasting continued。 Some time later Lu Su returned to the subject； but this time his host remained silent。
However； Zhuge Liang； changing color； said； 〃Lu Su； you are unreasonable。 You could not wait till some other has to explain this matter to you。 From the very foundation of the empire by our illustrious ancestor； the great heritage has descended in due course till today when； unhappily； evil doers have risen among the powerful and they have seized upon such portions as they could。 But with God's favor and help； unity is nearly restored。 My lord is a scion of the Imperial House； a great great grandson of Emperor Jing。 Now； as the Emperor's Uncle； should he not have a share of the empire？ Moreover； Liu Biao was my lord's elder brother； and there is certainly nothing extraordinary in one brother's succession to another's estate。
〃What is your master？ The son of a petty official on the banks of the River Qiantang； absolutely without merit so far as the state is concerned。 Just because he is powerful； he holds actual possession of six territories and eighty…one counties； which has whetted his insatiable appetite till he now desires to swallow the whole empire。 The land is the estate of the Liu family and my lord； who is of that name； has no share thereof； while your master； whose name is Sun； would dispute with； and even fight him。 Beside； at the battle at the Red Cliffs my lord did good service and acquired great merit while his manders risked their lives。 Was it solely the strength of your southern soldiers that won that fight？ Had I not brought that southeast wind that meant so much for Zhou Yu； could he have done anything？ Had the South Land been conquered； it is needless to say that the two paramount beauties would now be gracing the Bronze Bird Palace。 And as for yourself