So Cai Mao was placed in mand of ten thousand troops and went out to the Xian Hills where he drew up his battle line。 Sun Jian led the invaders； now flushed with success。
When Cai Mao approached； Sun Jian looked at him and said； 〃He is brother…in…law to Liu Biao。 Who will capture him？〃
Cheng Pu set his iron…spined lance and rode out。 After a few bouts Cai Mao turned and fled。 Sun Jian's army rode in and slaughtered till corpses filled the countryside； and Cai Mao took refuge in Xiangyang。
Kuai Liang said； 〃Cai Mao ought to be put to death by military law。 This defeat was due to his obstinacy。〃
But Liu Biao was unwilling to punish the brother of his newly wedded wife。
Sun Jian surrounded Xiangyang and assailed the walls daily。 One day a fierce gale sprang up； and the pole bearing his standard was broken。
〃Very inauspicious！〃 said Han Dang。 〃We ought to go back。〃
Sun Jian said； 〃I have won every battle and the city is on the point of falling。 Shall I return because the wind felled a flagstaff？〃
He flouted the advice and attacked the walls still more vigorously。
Within the city the defenders had seen an omen。 Kuai Liang told Liu Biao； 〃Last night I saw that a great star fall into the sky corresponding to Sun Jian's territory。 I calculated that it inferred the fall of Sun Jian。〃
Then Kuai Liang advised Liu Biao to seek help from Yuan Shao as quickly as possible。
So Liu Biao wrote。 Then he asked who would undertake to fight his way through the blockade with the letter。 One Lu Gong； a warrior of great strength； offered himself for this service。
Kuai Liang said； 〃If you undertake this service； listen to my advice。 You will have five hundred soldiers： Choose good bowmen。 Dash through the enemy's formation and make for Xian Hills。 You will be pursued； but send a hundred soldiers up the hill to prepare large stones； and place a hundred archers in ambush in the woods。 These are not to flee from the pursuers but to beguile them along devious ways round to the place where the boulders have been prepared。 There stones will be rolled down and arrows shot。 If you succeed； fire off a series of bombs as a signal； and the armies in the city will e out to help。 If you are not pursued； get away as fast as possible。 Tonight will be suitable as there is very little moon。 Start at dusk。〃
Lu Gong having received these directions； prepared his force to carry them out。 As soon as day began to close in； he went quietly out at the east gate。
Sun Jian was in his tent when he heard shouting； and a soldier came to report： 〃There was a group of horsemen going out from the city！〃
Sun Jian at once mounted and rode out with thirty horsemen to discover the cause。 Lu Gong's troops had already hidden themselves in the thick woods。 Sun Jian rode ahead of his escort； and soon he found himself alone and close to the enemy。 He called out to them to halt。 Lu Gong at once turned back and came as if to fight。 But they had only exchanged a single pass when Lu Gong again fled； taking the road among the hills。 Sun Jian followed but soon lost sight of his foe。
Sun Jian turned up the hill。 Then the gongs clanged and down the hills fell showers of stones； while from among the trees the arrows flew in clouds。 Sun Jian was hit by several arrows and a huge stone crushed in his head。 Both he and his steed were killed。 Sun Jian was only thirty…seven years old at his death。
His escort was overpowered and every man of them slain。 Then Lu Gong let off a series of bombs； the sign of success； as agreed。 At this signal Huang Zu； Kuai Yue； and Cai Mao led three armies out of the city and fell upon the Changsha troops； throwing them into the utmost confusion。
When Huang Gai heard the sound of battle； he led up the troops from the ships。 He met Huang Zu and took Huang Zu prisoner after a brief fight。
Cheng Pu set out to bear the sad news to Sun Ce。 While he was seeking a way out； he came across Lu Gong。 Cheng Pu at once put his horse at full speed and engaged Lu Gong。 After a few bouts Lu Gong went down under a spear thrust。 The battle became general and continued till daylight broke； when each drew off his army。 Liu Biao withdrew into the city。
When Sun Ce returned to the river； he heard that his father had perished in the fight； and his body had been carried within the enemy's walls。 He uttered a great cry； and the army joined him with wailing and tears。
〃How can I return home leaving my father's corpse with them？〃 cried Sun Ce。
Huang Gai said； 〃We have Huang Zu as our prisoner。 Let one enter the city and discuss peace； giving up our prisoner for our lord's body。〃
He had barely finished speaking when an officer in the army； Huan Ji； offered himself as messenger； saying； 〃I am an old friend of Liu Biao。 I volunteer to take the mission。〃
Sun Ce agreed。 So Huan Ji went and peace was discussed。
Liu Biao told Huan Ji； saying； 〃The body is already laid in a coffin and ready to be delivered as soon as Huang Zu returned。 Let us both cease fighting and never again invade each other's territories。〃
Huan Ji thanked him and took his leave。
But as Huan Ji went down the steps； Kuai Liang suddenly broke in； saying； 〃No； no！ Let me speak and I will see to it that not a single enemy can survive。 I pray you first put this man to death and then to employ my means。〃
Pursuing his enemy； Sun Jian dies；
On a peaceful mission； Huan Ji is threatened。
The fate of the ambassador will be disclosed in a later chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 8 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Wang Yun Prepares The Chaining Scheme；
Dong Zhuo Rages At Phoenix Pavilion。
This is what Kuai Liang said； 〃Sun Jian is now gone； and his children are but youths。 Seize this moment of weakness to break into Changsha； and it is yours in one beat of the drum。 If you return the corpse and make peace； you give them time to grow powerful； and evil will ensue to Jingzhou。〃
〃How can I leave Huang Zu in their hands？〃 said Liu Biao。
〃Why not sacrifice this blundering warrior for a region？〃
〃But he is my dear friend and to abandon him is wrong。〃
So Huan Ji was allowed to return to his own side with the understanding that Sun Jian's dead body should be given in exchange。 Sun Ce freed his prisoner； brought away his father's coffin； and the fighting ceased。 Sun Jian was interred in the plains of Que。 When the ceremonies were over； Sun Ce led his army home again。
＇e＇ The Yangtze or Yangzi river； which flows from west to east to the Pacific at Shanghai。
In Changsha； the southern territory of the Great River*； Sun Ce set himself to the task of ruling well。 Being humble and generous； he invited to his side humans of wisdom and valor and so bore himself that all the best and bravest of the country gathered about him。
Meanwhile； Dong Zhuo at Capital Changan； when he heard of the death of the turbulent Sun Jian； said； 〃An evil that pressed hard upon my heart has been removed！〃
He asked what children Sun Jian had left； and when they told him the eldest was but seventeen； he dismissed all anxiety from his thoughts。
From this time forward his arrogance and domineering spirit waxed worse and worse。 He styled himself 〃Imperial Rector；〃 a name full of honor； and in all his behavior aped imperial state。 He created his younger brother； Dong Min； Lord of Huazhou and made him mander of the Left Army。 A nephew； Dong Huang； was made Court Counselor and placed in mand of the Palace Guard； and everyone of his clan； young or old； was ennobled。 Eighty miles from the capital Dong Zhuo laid out a city called Meiwo； an exact replica of Changan； with its palaces； granaries； treasuries； and magazines； and employed a quarter of a million people to build it。 Here he accumulated supplies sufficient for twenty years。 He selected eight hundred of the most beautiful maidens and sent them to dwell in his new city。 The stores of wealth in every form were incalculable。 All his family and retainers found quarters in this new city。
Dong Zhuo visited his city at intervals of a month or so； and every visit was like an imperial progress； with booths by the roadside to refresh the officials and courtiers who attended him to the northwest Royal Gate and saw him start。
On one occasion Dong Zhuo spread a great feast for all those assembled to witness his departure； and while it was in progress； there arrived a large number of rebels from the north who had voluntarily surrendered。 The tyrant had them brought before him as he sat at table and meted out to them wanton cruelties。 The hands of this one were lopped off； the feet of that； one had his eyes gouged out； another lost his tongue。 Some were boiled to death。 Shrieks of agony arose to the very heavens； and the courtiers were faint with terror。 But the author of the misery ate and drank； chatted and smiled as if nothing was going on。
Another day Dong Zhuo was presiding at a great gathering of officers who were seated in two long rows。 After the wine had gone up and down several times； Lu Bu entered and whispered a few words in his master's ear。
Dong Zhuo smiled and said； 〃He was always so。 Take Minister Zhang Wan outside。〃
The others all turned pale。 In a little time a serving man brought the head of their fellow guest on a red dish and showed it to their host。 They nearly died with fright。
〃Do not fear；〃 said Dong Zhuo smiling。 〃Minister Zhang Wan was in league with Yuan Shu to assassinate me。 A letter he wrote fell by mistake into the hands of my son； so I have had him put to death。 You gentlemen； who have no reason； need have no fear。〃
The officials hastened to disperse。 One of them； Minister of the Interior Wang Yun； who had witnessed all this； returned to his palace very pensive and much distressed。 The same evening； a bright moonlight night； he took his staff and went strolling in his private garden。 Standing near one of the creeper trellises； he gazed up at the sky and the tears rolled down his cheeks。 Suddenly he heard a rustle in the Peony Pavilion and someone sighing deeply。 Stealthily creeping near； he saw there one of the household singing girls named Diao Chan。
This maiden had been brought up in his palace； where she had been taught to sing and dance。 At twenty…one； she was then just bursting into womanhood； a pretty and clever girl whom Wang Yun regarded more as a daughter than a dependant。
After listening for some time； Wang Yun suddenly called out； 〃What mischief are you up to there； you naughty girl？〃
The maiden dropped on her knees in terror； saying； 〃Would thy unworthy handmaid dare to do anything wrong？〃
〃Then what are you sighing about out here in the darkness？〃
〃May thy handmaid speak from the bottom of her heart？〃
〃Tell me the whole truth。 Do not conceal anything。〃
And the girl said； 〃Thy handmaid has been the recipient of bountiful kindness。 She has been taught to sing and dance and been treated so kindly that were she torn in pieces for her lord's sake； it would not repay a thousandth part。 She has noticed lately that her lord's brows have been knit in distress and knows it is on account of the state troubles。 But she has not dared to ask。 This evening he seemed sadder than ever； and she was miserable on her lord's account。 But she did not know she would be seen。 Could she be of any use she would not shrink from a myriad deaths。〃
A sudden idea