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Xu Sheng ordered the lictors to take Sun Shao out and put him to death。
They led him away； and forthwith the black flag was hoisted。 But one of Sun Shao's generals went off in hot haste to tell Sun Quan； who came immediately to try to save his favorite。 Happily the execution had not been acplished when the Prince appeared on the scene； and he bade the executioners disperse。 The youth was saved。
Sun Shao began to press his claim to the Prince； saying； 〃I have been at Guangling； and if we do not attack the enemy there； but let him get down to the river； there will be an end of Wu。〃
Sun Quan went into the camp； and Xu Sheng came to receive him。
When the Prince was seated in his tent； Xu Sheng said； 〃O Prince； you placed me in mand of the force to repulse Wei。 Now this general of mine； Sun Shao； is disobedient and should suffer death。 I would ask why he should be pardoned。〃
〃He is naturally hot and impetuous。 He has been guilty of disobedience； but I hope you will overlook his fault。〃
〃The law is none of my making； nor is it yours； O Prince。 It is a state penalty； and if relationship is enough to evade it； where is discipline？〃
〃He has offended； and you have the right to judge and punish。 But although his real name is Yu Shao； yet my brother Sun Ce loved him and gave him our family name。 Further； Sun Shao has rendered me good service。 If he should be put to death； I should fail in my fraternal duty。〃
〃Since you have intervened； O Prince； I remit the death penalty。〃
Sun Quan bade his nephew thank his chief； but the youth would not make an obeisance。 On the contrary； he loudly maintained the correctness of his view。
〃Leading troops against Cao Pi is the only way；〃 cried Sun Shao。 〃I cannot consent to your other plan even under the penalty of death！〃
Xu Sheng's countenance changed。 The recalcitrant young man was ordered to leave the tent by Sun Quan。
〃He will not be any loss to us；〃 said Sun Quan to Xu Sheng； 〃and I will not employ him again。〃
Then the Prince left and returned to his own place。
That night they reported to Xu Sheng that Sun Shao had gone secretly over the river with his own three thousand troops。 Xu Sheng did not wish him to e to harm； as evidently that would displease the Prince。 So Xu Sheng sent a force to support him。 Ding Feng was chosen to mand this reinforcement； and he was told what to do。
The Ruler of Wei； in his dragon ships； reached Guangling； and the van got to the river bank。 He came to survey the position。
〃How many soldiers are on the other bank？〃 asked Cao Pi。
Cao Zhen replied； 〃I have not seen a single one。 Nor are there any flags or encampments。〃
〃That is a ruse。 I will go and find out。〃
So Cao Pi set out to cross the river in one of the dragon ships。 He anchored under the bank。 On his boat were displayed the imperial emblems of dragon； phoenix； sun； moon； and they shone out bravely。 Seated in the ship； the Emperor looked up and down the south bank； but not a man was visible。
〃Do you think we should cross？〃 asked the Emperor of his strategists。
Liu Ye replied； 〃If the rules of war mean anything； they ought to be prepared。 We think Your Majesty should exercise caution。 Wait a few days and watch。 Then perhaps the van might be sent to make a reconnaissance。〃
〃So I think；〃 said the Ruler of Wei。 〃But as it is now late； we will pass the night on the river。〃
It was a dark night； and the ships was brilliantly lighted up； it seemed like day on board。 But all along the south bank there appeared no glimmer of light。
〃What do you think it means？〃 said Cao Pi。
The courtiers replied； 〃They heard that Your Majesty's heavenly army was ing； and ran away like so many rats。〃
The Ruler of Wei laughed to himself。 When daylight came there came with it a thick fog； so that nothing on the bank could be seen。 After a time； a breeze blew off the fog； and then； to their immense surprise； they found that the whole length of the South of the Great River as far as they could see was one battlement； with towers at intervals； while spears and swords glittered in the sun and flags and pennons fluttered in the breeze。
In just a short time several reports came： 〃A long wall by the Great River has grown up in a night and stood there with carts and masts of ships lying along it； stretching some one hundred miles from Shidou to Nanxu。〃
The fact was that the wall was an imitation； and the warriors that manned it were bundles of reeds dressed in soldiers' uniforms。 And this was Xu Sheng's tactic。 But the sight chilled the ardor of the invaders。
〃My hosts of troops are no use against such warriors。 We can do nothing against those talents of the South Land；〃 said Cao Pi。
He thought over this sadly enough。 But now the wind had increased in force； and white bers began to heave up in the river； and waters broke over his boat； drenching the dragon robes。 The ship seemed as if it would roll right over。 So Cao Zhen sent out small boats to rescue his master and his people。 But they were too affrighted to move。 Wherefore Wen Ping； who was in charge； leaped on board and helped the Emperor down into one of the smaller craft； which then flew away before the wind and got safely into a creek。
Soon came a hasty messenger to report： 〃Zhao Yun is marching out through Yangping Pass and threatening Changan。〃
This frightened Cao Pi so badly that he decided to retreat； and gave orders to retire。 The whole army were in a mood to run away； and moved off toward the north； pursued by the troops of Wu。 To hasten the march； the Ruler of Wei bade his soldiers abandon all the imperial paraphernalia and impediments。 The dragon ships withdrew into River Huai one by one。
As they moved in disorder； suddenly arose the sounds of an enemy force； shouts and the rolling of drums and the blaring of trumpets； and a cohort marched down obliquely on to their line。 And at the head was Sun Shao。
The troops of Wei could make no effective stand； and many were slain； while large numbers were driven into the river and drowned。 By dint of great efforts； the Emperor was saved and got away up the river。 But when they had sailed about ten miles； they saw ahead a tract of blazing reeds。 The enemy had poured fish oil over the dry reeds and set them afire。 The wind was spreading the flames down river toward the fleet of Wei； and the heat was intense。 The dragon ships had to stop。
Cao Pi was put into a smaller craft and taken on shore。 His larger ships were presently set on fire and destroyed。 They mounted the Emperor on a horse and moved along the bank； but soon they fell in with another body of troops。 This time it was the supports under Ding Feng。
Zhang Liao rode ahead to engage the leader； but was soon wounded by an arrow of Ding Feng in the loins。 However； he was helped away by Xu Huang； and the Ruler of Wei was gotten safely out of the turmoil。 The loss of soldiers was heavy； and a huge booty of horses； carts； ships； and weapons fell to the victors。
So the Wei armies went away north thoroughly beaten； while Xu Sheng had scored a great success。 Sun Quan richly rewarded him。
Zhang Liao got to Xuchang； but only to die from the effects of his wound。 He was honorably buried by the Ruler of Wei。
It has been said that Zhao Yun was threatening Changan。 But soon after he went through Yangping Pass； the Prime Minister of Shu sent a dispatch to recall him because General Yong Kai in Yizhou had joined himself with the Mangs and invaded the four southern territories。 So Zhao Yun returned。 Meanwhile Ma Chao was ordered to take mand of Yangping Pass。 The Prime Minister was about to go to subdue the nations along the south border。 He was then preparing at Chengdu for this expedition。
First Wu met Wei and drove them north；
Then Shu against the Mangs went south。
The story of this campaign will follow in the next chapters。
Main Next to Chapter 87 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 87
Chapter 87
Conquering The South Mang； The Prime Minister Marches The Army；
Opposing Heaven Troops； The King Of The Mangs Is Captured。
＇e＇ Vision of Confucius became reality： When the Great Principle prevails； the world is a monwealth in which officials are selected according to their wisdom and ability。 Mutual confidence is promoted and good neighborline