point　over　Shoushan　Mountain　and　travel　over　toward　Xiangping；　where　it　fell。　The　soldiers　were　rather　frightened　at　this　apparition；　but　the　leader　rejoiced。

〃Five　days　from　now　Gongsun　Yuan　will　be　slain　where　that　star　fell；〃　said　he。　〃Therefore　attack　with　vigor。〃

They　opened　the　attack　the　next　morning　at　dawn；　throwing　up　banks　and　sapping　the　walls；　setting　up　stone…throwing　machines　and　rearing　ladders。　When　night　came　the　attack　did　not　cease。　Arrows　fell　in　the　city　like　pelting　rain。

Within　the　city；　grain　began　to　run　short；　and　soon　there　was　none。　They　slaughtered　bullocks　and　horses　for　food。　The　soldiers　began　to　be　mutinous　and　no　longer　fought　with　any　spirit。　There　was　talk　of　slaying　Gongsun　Yuan　and　yielding　the　city。

Gongsun　Yuan　was　disheartened　and　frightened；　and　decided　to　sue　for　peace。　He　sent　his　Prime　Minister　Wang　Jian　and　Imperial　Censor　Liu　Fei　out　of　the　city　to　beg　Sima　Yi　to　allow　him　to　submit。　These　two　had　to　be　let　down　from　the　walls　by　ropes；　as　no　other　means　of　exit　were　possible。

Wang　Jian　and　Liu　Fei　found　their　way　to　Sima　Yi　and　said；　〃We　pray　you；　O　mander；　retire　seven　miles　and　allow　the　officers　to　e　forth　and　surrender。〃

〃Why　did　not　Gongsun　Yuan　himself　e？〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃He　is　rude。〃

He　put　the　two　envoys　to　death　and　sent　their　heads　back　into　the　city。

Gongsun　Yuan　was　still　more　alarmed；　but　he　resolved　to　make　one　more　attempt。　This　time　he　sent　High　Counselor　Wei　Yin　as　his　envoy。　Sima　Yi　received　this　messenger　sitting　in　state　in　his　tent　with　his　officers　standing　right　and　left。　Wei　Yin　approached　on　his　knees；　and　when　he　reached　the　door　of　the　tent　recited　his　petition。

〃I　pray　you；　O　mander；　turn　your　thunderous　wrath　from　us。　We　will　se