ang　Liao。　〃But　we　will　destroy　them　by　a　simple　ruse。〃

He　bade　them　light　torches　and　yell　〃Treachery！　Rebellion！〃　and　throw　open　the　city　gates　and　let　down　the　drawbridge。

When　Taishi　Ci　saw　the　gates　swing　open；　he　thought　his　scheme　was　going　well　and　in　full　confidence　rode　in　at　the　gate。　But　just　at　the　entrance　a　signal　bomb　suddenly　exploded；　and　the　enemy　arrows　came　down　on　him　like　pelting　rain。　Then　he　knew　he　had　fallen　into　a　snare　and　turned　to　ride　out。　But　he　was　wounded　in　many　places。　And　in　the　pursuit　that　followed；　more　than　half　the　troops　under　Taishi　Ci　were　cut　off。　As　he　drew　near　his　own　lines；　a　rescue　force　led　by　Lu　Xun　and　Dong　Xi　came　to　his　aid；　and　the　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　ceased　from　pursuit。

Sun　Quan　was　exceedingly　sad　when　he　learned　that　his　faithful　general　had　been　grievously　wounded。　Then　Zhang　Zhao　prayed　him　to　cease　from　war；　and　Sun　Quan　was　content。　They　gathered　in　their　soldiers　to　their　ships　and　sailed　to　Nanxu　and　Runzhou　where　they　camped。

Meanwhile　Taishi　Ci　was　dying。

When　his　lord　went　to　ask　how　he　fared；　he　cried；　〃When　a　worthy　person　is　born　into　a　turbulent　world；　he　has　to　be　a　soldier　and　gird　on　a　three…span　sword　to　step　on　the　mountains　to　mend　the　sky。　I　have　not　rendered　great　service。　Why　must　I　die　before　I　have　attained　my　desire？〃

These　were　his　last　words。　He　was　forty…one　years　of　age。

Single　minded　and　perfectly　loyal；

Such　was　Taishi　Ci；　in　Donglai；

Far　distant　frontiers　rang　with　his　exploits；

Riding　or　archery；　all　humans　he　excelled；

One　in　Bohai　who　admired　his　valor；

Cared　for　his　mother　while　he　was　fighting；

How　he　roared　in　the　battle　at　Shenting！

Dying；　he　spoke　as　a　hero；

All　throug