So he called Wang Ji and Chen Qian and told them to take five thousand troops to keep the road along which Zhu Yi would e and strike him in rear。
Zhu Yi was advancing toward the city when he heard a shouting in the rear； and soon the attack began from two sides by Wang Ji and Chen Qian。 His army was worsted and returned to Anfeng。
When Sun Chen heard of this new defeat； he was very angry。
〃What is the use of leaders who always lose？〃 cried he。
He sentenced Zhu Yi to death； and upbraided Quan Wei； son of Quan Duan； and said； 〃If you do not drive off this army of Wei； let me never again see your face； nor that of your father。〃
Then Sun Chen returned to Capital Jianye。
When this was known in the Wei camp； Zhong Hui said to his chief； 〃Now the city of Shouchun may be attacked； for Sun Chen has gone away； and there is no hope of succor for the besieged。〃
A vigorous assault began。 Quan Wei tried to cut his way through and get into the city。 But when he saw Shouchun quite surrounded by the enemy and no hope of success； he gave in and went over to Sima Zhao； by whom he was well received and given the rank of General。
Deeply affected by this kindness； Quan Wei wrote to his father； Quan Duan； and uncle； Quan Yi； advising them to follow his example。 He tied the letter to an arrow and shot it over the walls。 Quan Yi found the letter； and he and Quan Duan； with their several thousand troops； came out and yielded。
Within the city Zhuge Dan was very sad。
Two advisers； Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi； came to him and said； 〃The food in the city is short； and the soldiers are many； this can not last long。 General； you should let the Wu troops to go out and make a decisive fight with the Wei army。〃
Zhuge Dan turned on them angrily。
〃Why do you tell me to fight when I am set on holding out to the very last？ If you say that again； you shall die as traitors！〃
〃He is lost！〃 said they； going away。 〃We can do no other than surrender or we shall die too。〃
That night Jiang Ban and Jiao Yi slipped over the wall and surrendered。 Both were given employment。
Of those left in the city some were for fighting； but no one dared say so。
Meanwhile Zhuge Dan saw the Wei troops build earth walls to anticipate the expected floods of River Huai。 This flood had been the only hope of Zhuge Dan； who had trusted to be able to smite the besiegers when it came to destroy the earth wall。 However； that autumn was dry； and the river did not swell。
Within the besieged city the food diminished rapidly； and soon starvation stared them in the face。 Wen Qin and his sons were defending the citadel； and they saw their soldiers sinking one by one for lack of food till the sight became unbearable。
Wen Qin went to Zhuge Dan with a proposal； saying； 〃The northern troops should be sent away in order to save food。〃
His suggestion called forth an outburst of fierce wrath of Zhuge Dan。
〃Do you want to kill me that you propose to send the northern soldiers away？〃
Wen Qin suffered death。 His two sons； Wen Yang and Wen Hu； ran amok with rage。 Armed with short swords； they attacked all they met and slew many scores in their desperate anger。 The fit over； they dropped down the wall and deserted to the Wei camp。
However； Sima Zhao had not forgotten that Wen Yang had defied and held at bay his whole army once。 At first Sima Zhao thought to put Wen Yang to death； but Zhong Hui interposed。
〃The real offender was his father； Wen Qin；〃 said Zhong Hui； 〃but he is dead； and these two e to you in desperation。 If you slay those who surrender； you will strengthen the obstinacy of those who remain in the city。〃
There was reason in this； and so their submission was accepted。 They were led to Sima Zhao's tent； and he soothed them with kind words and gave them gifts and lordships； and made them Generals。
After expressing their gratitude； they rode about the city on the horses he had given them； shouting； 〃We have received great kindness at the hands of Sima Zhao； who not only has pardoned us but given us gifts。 Why do you not all yield？〃
When their panions heard this； they said one to another。 〃This Wen Yang was an enemy； and yet he has been well received。 How much more may we expect generous treatment？〃
The desire to surrender possessed them all。 When Zhuge Dan heard it； he was incensed and went round the posts night and day on the watch for any who seemed inclined to go。 He put many to death in these efforts to retain his authority。
Zhong Hui heard how things were going in the city and went in to Sima Zhao to say the moment to attack had e。 Sima Zhao was only too pleased。 He stimulated his troops； and they flocked to the ramparts and assaulted vigorously。 Then the mander of the north gate； Zeng Xuan； treacherously opened the gate and let in the Wei soldiers。
When Zhuge Dan heard that the enemy were in the city； he called his guards and tried to escape。 He took his way along the smaller streets to the gate； but on the drawbridge he met Hu Fen； who cut him down。 His followers were made prisoners。
Wang Ji fought his way to the west gate； where he fell in with the Wu general； Yu Quan。
〃Why do you not yield？〃 shouted Wang Ji。
〃Where is the principle for yielding when I have my orders to rescue the city and so far have not succeeded？〃 Throwing off his helmet； he cried； 〃The happiest death a man can die is on the battlefield！〃
Whirling his sword about； Yu Quan dashed among his enemies and fought till he fell under many wounds。
Many were they who yielded at Shouchun；
Bowing their heads in the dust before Sima Zhao。
Wu had produced its heroes；
Yet none were faithful to the death like Yu Quan。
When Sima Zhao entered the city； he put to death the whole family of Zhuge Dan。 Some of his guards fell into the hands of Sima Zhao alive； and he offered them their lives if they would yield。
They all refused； saying； 〃We would rather share the fate of our leader。〃
They were sent out of the city to be beheaded； but orders were given to offer each one his life at the last moment。 Thus； before a person was about to receive the fatal blow； that one was asked to yield。 Not one accepted； and they all died。 In admiration for their fortitude； they were honorably interred by order of Sima Zhao。
The loyal servant flees not in the day of disaster；
Such were they who followed Zhuge Dan to the shades。
Ever and again begins the Song of Life's Brevity。
Faithful unto death were they； even as Tian Heng's people*。
＇e＇ Tian Heng a warrior of Qi at the end of the Warring States period and Qin Dynasty。 In his bid to regain the lost kingdom of Qi； Tian Heng rebelled against Qin and fought both Liu Bang and Xiang Yu。 Rather than submitting to Liu Bang； Tian Heng mitted suicide so that his five hundred soldiers could be pardoned。 But on learning of his death； all of his five hundred followers killed themselves。 。。。。。
As has been said； many of the troops of Wu surrendered。
Then said Pei Xiu； 〃The parents and children of these soldiers are living all over River Huai。 If you spare them and they return home； they will foment rebellion by and by。 The best way is to bury them。〃
But Zhong Hui said； 〃No。 When the ancients made war； their policy was to maintain the state as a whole； and so they only put to death the originators of trouble。 It would be inhumane to slay all。 Rather let them return home as witnesses to your liberal policy。〃
〃That is better advice；〃 said Sima Zhao。 So the soldiers of Wu were released and allowed to return home。
Tang Zi dared not return to his own place in Wu for fear of the cruel Sun Chen； so he went over to Wei； taking his pany with him。 He was well received； and his people were employed over the counties of the three rivers。
The country about River Huai being now quiet； Sima Zhao decided to march homeward。
Just then the news came： 〃Jiang Wei； the Shu General； is attacking Changcheng and interfering with the supplies。〃
And so a council was called to discuss this matter。
At this time in Shu； the reign style was changed from Long Enjoyment； the twentieth year； to Wonderful Sight； the first year （AD 258）。 In Hanzhong Jiang Wei had recruited two generals； Fu Qian and Jiang Shu； both of whom he loved greatly； and set them to train the army； horse and foot。
Then came the news： 〃Zhuge Dan has set out to destroy Sima Zhao； Sun Chen of Wu has supported him with a large army； and Sima Zhao has led the army himself； bringing with him the Empress Dowager and the Ruler of Wei。〃
Jiang Wei said； 〃The great opportunity has e at last！〃
So he asked the Latter Ruler's authority to make another expedition。
But Minister Qiao Zhou heard this with grief； for internal affairs were not well。
Said he； 〃The court is sunk in dissipation； and the Emperor's confidence is given to that eunuch； Huang Hao。 State affairs are neglected for pleasure； which is the Emperor's sole aim。 Jiang Wei has led many expeditions and wasted the lives of many soldiers； so that the state is falling。〃
Qiao Zhou then wrote an essay on 〃Enemy Kingdoms；〃 which he sent to Jiang Wei。
＇e＇ King Wen； aka the Scholar King； founder of the Zhou Dynasty； father of King Wu。 King Wen did not actually founded the dynasty； but he laid the foundation for Zhou。 At the end of Shang Dynasty； the state Zhou of King Wen had already possessed two…thirds of the empire； but King Wen still faithfully served the last emperor of Shang。 The final conquest was pleted by King Wu and King Wu's brother； the Duke of Zhou。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Gou Jian was king of Yue during the Spring and Autumn period。 Gou Jian had been defeated and humiliated by Wu； but later he was able to fight back and conquer Wu。 。。。。。
＇e＇ When facing the prospect of a bloody battle； Liu Bang and Xiang Yu agreed to a truce； and they divided the empire into two parts； each part for one of them。 The Great Canal was the division line。
＇e＇ Zhang Liang was Liu Bang's master strategist； who helped Liu Bang defeat Xiang Yu and win the empire。 。。。。。
＇e＇ King Tang founder of the Shang Dynasty。 。。。。。
＇e＇ King Wu； aka the Martial King； founded the Zhou Dynasty； with the help of the Duke of Zhou； who was his brother。 。。。。。
〃When one asks by what means the weak overcame the strong in past times； the answer is that those responsible for the strong state made no struggle against general laxity； while those in power in a weak state took careful steps for improvement。 Confusion followed upon laxity and efficiency grew out of diligence； as is the universal rule。 King Wen of Zhou* devoted himself to the welfare of his people； and with a small number achieved great results； Gou Jian* sympathized with all； and with a weak force overcame a powerful opponent。 These were their methods。
〃One may recall that in the past Chu was strong and Han weak when the empire was divided by agreement at the Great Canal*。 Then； seeing that his people were satisfied and settled in their minds； Zhang Liang* went in pursuit of Xiang Yu and destroyed him。
〃But is it necessary to act like King Wen and Gou Jian？ Listen to the reply。 In the days of Shang and Zhou； when imperial ranks had long existed and the relations between prince and minister were firmly established； even such as the Founder of the Hans could not have carved his way to a throne。 But when the dynasty of Qin had suppressed the feudal nobles and set up mere representatives of its own