This remark also angered Zhuge Liang； who replied； 〃It is my fault that a defeated army has returned without any gain of territory。 What injury to Wei was the loss of Jiang Wei？〃
Fei Yi tried again； saying； 〃But with an army of one hundred thousand bold veterans； you can attack Wei again。〃
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃When we were at Qishan and Gu Valley； we outnumbered the enemy； but we could not conquer them。 On the contrary； they beat us。 The defect was not in the number of soldiers； but in the leadership。 Now we must reduce the army； discover our faults； reflect on our errors； and mend our ways against the future。 Unless this is so； what is the use of a numerous army？ Hereafter everyone will have to look to the future of his country。 But most diligently each of you must fight against my shortings and blame my inefficiencies。 Then we may succeed； rebellion can be exterminated； and merit can be set up。〃
Fei Yi and the officers acknowledged the aptness of these remarks。 Fei Yi went back to the capital； leaving Zhuge Liang in Hanzhong resting his soldiers and doing what he could for the people； training and heartening his troops and turning special attention to the construction of apparatus for assaults on cities and crossing rivers。 He also collected grain and fodder and built battle rafts； all for future use。
The spies of Wei got to know of these doings in the River Lands and reported to Luoyang。 The Ruler of Wei called Sima Yi to council and asked how Shu might be annexed。
〃Shu cannot be attacked；〃 was the reply。 〃In this present hot weather they will not e out； but； if we invade； they will only garrison and defend their strategic points； which we should find it hard to overe。〃
〃What shall we do if they invade us again？〃
〃I have prepared for that。 Just now Zhuge Liang shall imitate Han Xin who secretly crossed the river into Chencang。 I can remend a man to guard the place by building a rampart there and rendering it absolutely secure。 He is a nine…span man； round shouldered and powerful； a good archer and prudent strategist。 He would be quite equal to dealing with an invasion。〃
The Ruler of Wei was very pleased and asked for his name。
〃His name is Hao Zhao； and he is in mand at Hexi。〃
The Ruler of Wei accepted the remendation； and an edict went forth promoting Hao Zhao to General Who Guards the West； and sending him to mand in the county of Chencang。
Soon after this edict was issued； a memorial was received from Cao Xiu； Minister of War and mander of Yangzhou； saying that Zhou Fang； the Wu Governor of Poyang； wished to tender his submission and transfer his allegiance； and had sent a man to present a memorandum under seven headings showing how the power of the South Land could be broken and to ask that an army be dispatched soon。
Cao Rui spread the document out on the couch that he and Sima Yi might read it。
〃It seems very reasonable；〃 said Sima Yi。 〃Wu could be quite destroyed。 Let me go with an army to help Cao Xiu。〃
But from among the courtiers stepped out Jia Kui； who said； 〃What this man of Wu says may be understood in two ways。 Do not trust it。 Zhou Fang is a wise and crafty man and very unlikely to desert。 In this is some ruse to decoy our soldiers into danger。〃
〃Such words must also be listened to；〃 said Sima Yi。 〃Yet such a chance must not be missed。〃
〃You and Jia Kui might both go to the help of Cao Xiu；〃 said the Ruler of Wei。
Sima Yi and Jia Kui went。
A large army； led by Cao Xiu； moved to Huancheng。 Jia Kui； assisted by General Man Chong and Governor Hu Zhi of Dongwan； marched to capture Yangcheng； and facing the East Pass。 Sima Yi led the third army to Jiangling。
Now the Prince of Wu； Sun Quan； was at the East Pass in Wuchang； and there he assembled his officers and said； 〃The Governor of Poyang； Zhou Fang； has sent up a secret memorial saying that Cao Xiu intends to invade。 Zhou Fang has therefore set out a trap for Cao Xiu and has drawn up a document giving seven plausible circumstances； hoping thereby to cajole the Wei army into his power。 The armies of Wei are on the move in three divisions； and I need your advice。〃
Gu Yong stood forth； saying； 〃There is only one man fit to cope with the present need： He is Lu Xun。〃
So Lu Xun was summoned and made Grand mander； General Who Pacifies the North； mander…in…Chief of all the State Armies； including the Imperial Guards； and Assistant in the Royal Duties。 He was given the White Banners and the Golden Axes； which denoted imperial rank。 All officers； civil and military； were placed under his orders。 Moreover； Sun Quan personally stood beside him and held his whip while he mounted his steed。
Having received all these marks of confidence and favor； Lu Xun wanted two persons to be his assistants。
Sun Quan asked their names； and Lu Xun said； 〃They are Zhu Huan； General Who Fortifies Prowess； and Quan Zong； General Who Calms the South。 These two should be in mand。〃
Sun Quan approved and appointed Zhu Huan and Quan Zong as Left mander and Right mander respectively。
Then the grand army； prising all the forces of the eighty…one counties of the South Land and the levies of Jingzhou； seven hundred thousand troops in total； was assembled and marched out in three divisions； Lu Xun in the center； with Zhu Huan and Quan Zong supporting him left and right with the other two columns。
Then said Zhu Huan； 〃Cao Xiu is neither able nor bold。 He holds office because he is of the blood。 He has fallen into the trap laid by Zhou Fang and marched too far to be able to withdraw。 If the mander…in…Chief will smite； Cao Xiu must be defeated。 Defeated； he must flee along two roads； one Jiashi on the left； the other Guichi on the right； both of which are precipitous and narrow。 Let me and my colleague go to prepare an ambush in these roads。 We will block them and so cut off their escape。 If this Cao Xiu could be captured； and a hasty advance made； success would be easy and sure。 We should get Shouchun； whence Xuchang and Luoyang can be seen。 This is the one chance in the thousand。〃
〃I do not think the plan good；〃 said Lu Xun。 〃I have a better one。〃
Zhu Huan resented the rejection of his scheme and went away。 Lu Xun ordered Zhuge Jin and certain others to garrison Jiangling and oppose Sima Yi and made all other dispositions of forces。
Cao Xiu neared Huancheng； and Zhou Fang came out of the city to wele him and went to the general's tent。
Cao Xiu said； 〃I received your letter and the memorandum； which was most logical； and sent it to His Majesty。 He has set in motion accordingly three armies。 It will be a great merit for you； Sir； if the South Land can be added to His Majesty's dominions。 People say you are abundant in craft； but I do not believe what they say； for I think you will be true to me and not fail。〃
Zhou Fang wept。 He seized a sword from one of his escort and was about to kill himself； but Cao Xiu stopped him。
Still leaning on the sword； Zhou Fang said； 〃As to the seven things I mentioned； my regret is that I cannot show you all。 You doubt me because some persons from Wu and Wei have been poisoning your mind against me。 If you heed them； the only course for me is to die。 Heaven only can make manifest my loyal heart。〃
Again he made to slay himself。
But Cao Xiu in trepidation threw his arms about him； saying； 〃I did not mean it。 The words were uttered in jest。 Why do you act thus？〃
Upon this； Zhou Fang； with his sword； cut off his hair and threw it on the ground； saying； 〃I have dealt with you with sincerity； Sir； and you joke about it。 Now I have cut off the hair； which I inherited from my parents； in order to prove my sincerity。〃
Then Cao Xiu doubted no more； but trusted him fully and prepared a banquet for him； and when the feast was over Zhou Fang returned to his own。
General Jia Kui came to Cao Xiu； and when asked whether there was any special reason for the visit； he said； 〃I have e to warn you； mander； to be cautious and wait till you and I can attack the enemy together。 The whole army of Wu is encamped at Huancheng。〃
〃You mean you want to share in my victory；〃 sneered Cao Xiu。
〃It is said Zhou Fang cut off his hair as a pledge of sincerity。 That is only another bit of deceit。 According to the Spring and Autumn Annals； Yao Li cut off his arm as a pledge of loyalty before he assassinated King Qing Ji。 Mutilation is no guarantee。 Do not trust Zhou Fang。〃
〃Why do you e to utter ill…omened words just as I am opening the campaign？ You destroy the spirit of the army；〃 said Cao Xiu。
In his wrath he told the lictors to put Jia Kui to death。
However； the officers interceded； saying； 〃Before the march； killing our general is not favorable to the army。 O mander； spare him until after the expedition。〃
And Jia Kui was reprieved。 But he was not assigned any part in the campaign； and his troops were left in reserve。 Cao Xiu himself went away to the East Pass。
When Zhou Fang heard that Jia Kui had been broken； he rejoiced in his heart； saying； 〃If Cao Xiu had attended to his words； then Wu would have lost。 Heaven is good to me and is giving me the means of achieving great things。〃
Then he sent a secret messenger to Huancheng； and Lu Xun knew that the time had e。 He assembled the officers for orders。
Lu Xun said； 〃Shiding； lying over against us； is a hilly country fit for preparing an ambush。 It will be occupied as suitable to array our army and await the ing of Wei。 Xu Sheng is to be Leader of the Van； and the army will move there。〃
Now Cao Xiu told Zhou Fang to lead the way for his attack。 While on march； Cao Xiu asked； 〃What is the place lying ahead？〃
Zhou Fang replied； 〃Shiding； a suitable place to camp in。〃
So a great camp was made there。
But soon after the scouts reported； 〃Wu soldiers； unknown in number； have camped among the hills。〃
Cao Xiu began to feel alarmed； saying； 〃Zhou Fang said there were no soldiers。 Why these preparations？〃
Cao Xiu hastily sought Zhou Fang to ask him； but was told； 〃Zhou Fan has gone away with a few dozen riders。 No one knows whither。〃
〃I have been deceived and am in a trap；〃 said Cao Xiu； now very repentant of his easy confidence。 〃However； there is nothing to fear。〃
Then he made his arrangements to march against the enemy； and when they were plete and the array drawn up； Zhang Pu； the Leader of the Van； rode out and began to rail at the men of Wu。
〃Rebel leader； e and surrender！〃 cried Zhang Pu。
Then rode out Xu Sheng and fought with him。 But Zhang Pu was no match for Xu Sheng； as was soon evident； wherefore he led his troops to retire。
〃Xu Sheng is too strong；〃 said Zhang Pu when he saw Cao Xiu。
〃Then will we defeat him by a surprise；〃 said Cao Xiu。
He sent Zhang Pu with twenty thousand troops to hide in the south of Shiding； while another equal party under Xue Qiao was sent north。
And Cao Xiu arranged； saying； 〃Tomorrow I will lead a thousand soldiers to provoke the troops of Wu into battle； then I will feign defeat and lead them to the hills in the north； when a bomb will explode and a three…pronged ambush will bring us victory。〃
On the other side Lu Xun called his two generals； Zhu Huan and Quan Zong； and said； 〃Each of you is to lead thirty thousand troops and take a cross cut from Shiding to the enemy's camp。 Give a fire signal behind the camp on arrival； and then the main army will advance to the camp's front for a double at