ll； this very night I can lead you to their camp。 I have friends in the camp to help； and you can destroy it。〃
King Mi Dang was taken with the scheme； and sent his General Ehe Shaoge to go with Chen Tai。 The deserters from Wei were placed in the rear； but Chen Tai himself rode with the leading body of the Qiangs。 They set out at the second watch and soon arrived。 They found the gates open； and Chen Tai rode in boldly。 But when Ehe Shaoge and his troops galloped in； there suddenly arose a great cry as soldiers and horses went tumbling into great pits。 At the same time Chen Tai came round in the rear and attacked； while Guo Huai appeared on the flank。 The Qiangs trampled each other down； and many were killed。 Those who escaped death surrendered； and the leader； Ehe Shaoge； mitted suicide in a pit。
Guo Huai and Chen Tai then hastened back into the camp of the Qiangs。 Mi Dang； taken unprepared； rushed out of his tent to get to horse； but was made prisoner。 He was taken before Guo Huai； who hastily dismounted； loosed the prisoner's bonds； and soothed him with kindly words。
〃Our government has always regarded you as a loyal and true friend；〃 said Guo Huai。 〃Why then are you helping our enemies？〃
Mi Dang sank to the ground in confusion； while Guo Huai continued； 〃If you will now raise the siege of Iron Cage Mountain and drive off the troops of Shu； I will memorialize the Throne and obtain a substantial reward for you。〃
Mi Dang agreed。 He set out forthwith； his own army leading and the army of Wei in the rear。 At the third watch he sent on a messenger to tell Jiang Wei of his ing。 And the Shu leader was glad。 Mi Dang was invited to e。 On the march the soldiers of Wei had mingled with the Qiangs； and many of them were in the forefront of the army。
As they drew near the camp； Jiang Wei gave order： 〃The army are to camp outside。 Only the King can enter the gate。〃
Mi Dang went up toward the gate with a hundred or more followers； and Jiang Wei with Xiahou Ba went to wele him。 Just as they met； before Mi Dang could say a word； the Wei generals dashed on past him and set on to slay。 Jiang Wei was taken aback； leaped on his steed and fled； while the mixed force of troops of Wei and Qiangs drove the camp defenders before them and sent them flying。
When Jiang Wei leaped upon his steed at the gate； he had no weapon in his hand； only his bow and quiver hung at his shoulder。 In his hasty flight the arrows fell out and the quiver was empty； so when he set off for the hills with Guo Huai in pursuit； Jiang Wei had nothing to oppose to the spears of his pursuers。 As they came near he laid hands upon his bow and made as if to shoot。 The string twanged and Guo Huai blenched。 But as no arrow went flying by； Guo Huai knew Jiang Wei had none to shoot。 Guo Huai therefore hung his spear； took his bow and shot。 Jiang Wei caught the arrow as it flew by and fitted it to his bowstring。 He waited till Guo Huai came quite near； when he pulled the string with all his force and sent the arrow flying straight at Guo Huai's face。 Guo Huai fell even as the bowstring sang。
Jiang Wei pulled up and turned to finish his fallen enemy； but the soldiers of Wei were nearly upon him； and he had only time to snatch up Guo Huai's spear and ride off。 Now that Jiang Wei was armed and their own leader wounded； the soldiers of Wei had no more desire to fight。 They picked up their general and carried him to camp。 There the arrow…head was pulled out； but the flow of blood could not be stanched； and Guo Huai died。
Sima Zhao descended from the hill as soon as Jiang Wei moved away； and pursued some distance before returning。
Xiahou Ba forced his way out and rejoined Jiang Wei as soon as he could； and they marched away together。 The losses of Shu in this defeat were very heavy。 On the road they dared not halt to muster or reform； but went helter…skelter into Hanzhong。 In that campaign； though the Shu army were defeated； they had killed Xu Zi and Guo Huai on the other side and had damaged the prestige of Wei。 Thus Jiang Wei's achievement made up for his offense。
After rewarding the Qiangs for their help； Sima Zhao led his army back to Capital Luoyang； where he joined his brother Sima Shi in administering the government。 They were too strong for any of the officers to dare opposition； and they terrorized Cao Fang； the Ruler of Wei； so that he shook with fright whenever he saw Sima Shi at court； and felt as if needles were being stuck into his back。
One day； when the Ruler of Wei was holding a court； Sima Shi came into the hall wearing his sword。 Cao Fang hastily left his Dragon Throne to receive him。
〃What does this mean？ Is this the correct etiquette for a prince when his minister approaches？〃 said Sima Shi； smiling。 〃I pray Your Majesty remember your dignity and listen while the ministers address the Throne。〃
Court business then proceeded。 Sima Shi decided every question without reference to the Ruler of Wei； and when Sima Shi retired； he stalked haughtily down the hall and went home； followed by his escort； which numbered thousands of horse and foot。
When the Ruler of Wei left the court； only three followed him to the private apartments。 They were Minister Xiahou Xuan； Secretary Li Feng； and High Minister Zhang Qi。 Zhang Qi was the father of his consort； Empress Zhang。 Sending away the servants； Cao Fang and these three went into a private chamber。
Seizing his father…in…law's hand； Cao Fang began to weep； saying； 〃That man Sima Shi treats me as a child and regards the officers of state as if they were so many straws。 I am sure the throne will be his one day。〃
And he wept bitterly。
Said Li Feng； 〃Do not be so sad； Sire。 I am but a poor sort of person。 But if Your Majesty will give me authority； I will call together all the bold people in the country and slay this man。〃
〃It was from fear of this man that my brother Xiahou Ba was forced to go over to Shu；〃 said Xiahou Xuan。 〃If Sima Shi were destroyed； my brother could return。 I belong to a family related to the rulers of the state for many generations； and I cannot sit still while a wretch ruins the government。 Put my name in the mand as well； and we will work together to remove him。〃
〃But I am afraid we can not overe him；〃 said Cao Fang。
They wept and said； 〃We pledge ourselves to work together for the destruction of the tyrant； and to show our gratitude to Your Majesty！〃
Cao Fang them stripped himself of his innermost garment； gnawed his finger till the blood flowed； and with his finger…tip traced a mand in blood。
He gave it to his father…in…law； Zhang Qi； saying； 〃My ancestor； Emperor Cao； put to death Dong Cheng for just such a matter as this； so you must be exceedingly careful and maintain the greatest secrecy。〃
〃Oh； why use such ill…omened words？〃 cried Li Feng。 〃We are not like Dong Cheng； and Sima Shi cannot pare to the Founder。 Have no doubts。〃
The three conspirators took leave and went out carrying the edict with them。 Beside the Donghua Gate of the Palace； they saw Sima Shi ing to meet them wearing a sword。 Following him were many armed guards。 The three ministers took the side of the road to let the party go by。
〃Why are you three so late in leaving the Palace？〃 asked Sima Shi。
〃His Majesty was reading； and we stayed with him；〃 said Li Feng。
〃What was he reading？〃
〃The histories of the Xia； Shang； and Zhou dynasties。〃
〃What questions did the Emperor ask as he read those books？〃
＇e＇ Yi Yin was was helper and prime minister of King Tang； the founder of Shang Dynasty。 After King Tang's death； Yi Yin served his sons and grandson。 Soon after Tai Jia； King Tang's grandson； ascended the throne； he mitted many faults； and Yi Yin； acting as regent； exiled Tai Jia to Tong Palace………the burial place of King Tang。 After three years Yi Yin returned him the throne。 Tai Jia eventually became an enlightened emperor。 Shang Dynasty lasted for 650 years （BC 1700…1050）。 It was this act of Yi Yin rather than his services in building up an empire that has made him immortal。 Whether he did right in temporarily dethroning the king was open to question； until a final verdict was rendered by Mencius who thought that his ends amply justified his means。 This historical event attests the extent of the power exercised by a prime minister in those days。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Duke of Zhou was brother of King Wu； who was the founder of Zhou Dynasty。 After King Wu's death； the Duke of Zhou served his young son as regent。 The Duke of Zhou pletely ended the Shang domination； and he helped establish the Zhou administrative framework； which served as a model for future Chinese dynasties。 Zhou Dynasty lasted for 800 years （BC 1050…221）。 。。。。。
〃He asked about Yi Yin* and how he upheld the Shang； and the Duke of Zhou*； how he acted when he was regent。 And we told His Majesty that you were both Yi Yin and the Duke Zhou to him。〃
Sima Shi smiled grimly and said； 〃Why did you pare me with those two when in your hearts you think me a rebel like Wang Mang and Dong Zhuo？〃
〃How should we dare when we are your subordinates？〃 said the three ministers。
〃You are a lot of flatterers；〃 said Sima Shi； angrily。 〃And what were you crying about in that private chamber with the Emperor？〃
〃We did no such thing。〃
〃Your eyes are still red： You cannot deny that。〃
Xiahou Xuan then knew that the secrecy had been showed； so he broke out into a volley of abuse； crying； 〃Well； we were crying because of your conduct； because you terrorize over the Emperor and are scheming to usurp the Throne！〃
〃Seize him！〃 roared Sima Shi。
Xiahou Xuan threw back his sleeves and struck at Sima Shi with his fists； but the lictors pulled him back。 Then the three were searched； and on Zhang Qi was found the blood…stained garment of the Emperor。 They handed it to their chief； who recognized the object of his search； the secret edict。 It said：
〃The two Sima brothers have stolen away all my authority and are plotting to take the Throne。 The edicts I have been forced to issue do not represent my wishes； and hereby all officers； civil and military； may unite to destroy these two and restore the authority of the Throne。 These ends achieved； I will reward those who help to acplish them。〃
Sima Shi； more angry than ever； said； 〃So you wish to destroy me and my brother。 This is too much！〃
He ordered his followers to execute the three on the public ground by waist…bisection and to destroy their whole clans。
The three reviled without ceasing。 On the way to the place of execution； they ground their teeth with rage； spitting out the pieces they broke off。 They died muttering curses。
Sima Shi then went to the rear apartments of the Palace； where he found the Emperor talking with his Consort。
Just as he entered； she was saying to the Emperor； 〃The Palace is full of spies； and if this es out； it will mean trouble for me。〃
Sima Shi strode in； sword in hand。
〃My father placed Your Majesty on the throne； a service no less worthy than that of Duke Zhou； I have served Your Majesty as Yi Yin served his master。 Now is kindness met by enmity and service regarded as a fault。 Your Majesty has plotted with two or three insignificant officials to slay me and my brother。 Why is this？〃
〃I had no such intention；〃 said Cao Fang。
In reply Sima Shi drew the garment from his sleeve and threw it on the ground。
〃Who did this？〃
Cao F