Shi　and　wishes　to　avenge　on　the　Sima　brothers　the　death　of　Cao　Shuang。　He　would　make　an　excellent　Leader　of　the　Van。〃

Guanqiu　Jian　was　delighted　to　get　such　ready　and　willing　support；　and　the　two　poured　a　libation　in　pledge　of　mutual　good　faith。　Then；　pretending　that　they　held　an　edict　from　the　Empress　Dowager；　they　summoned　all　the　officers　to　Shouchun；　where　they　built　an　altar　on　the　west　side　and　sacrificed　a　white　horse；　smearing　their　lips　with　its　blood　in　token　of　their　oath。

They　made　this　declaration：

〃Sima　Shi　is　a　rebel　and　devoid　of　rectitude。　We　have　a　secret　edict　manding　us　to　muster　the　forces　of　the　South　of　River　Huai　and　put　down　this　rebellion。〃

Thus　supported；　Guanqiu　Jian　led　sixty　thousand　troops　to　Xiangcheng；　where　he　camped；　while　his　fellow…conspirator　Wen　Qin　took　twenty　thousand　troops　to　the　front　to　go　to　and　fro　lending　help　where　it　was　needed。　Letters　were　sent　all　through　the　counties　and　territories　calling　for　assistance。

Now　that　mole　below　the　left　eye　of　Sima　Shi　used　to　pain　at　times；　and　he　decided　to　have　it　removed。　The　surgeon　excised　it；　closed　and　dressed　the　wound；　and　the　patient　rested　quietly　in　his　palace　till　it　should　heal。

It　was　at　this　time　that　he　received　the　disquieting　news　of　opposition　to　his　authority。　Whereupon　he　called　in　Grand　mander　Wang　Su　to　discuss　the　matter。

Said　Wang　Su；　〃When　Guan　Yu　was　most　famous；　Sun　Quan　sent　Lu　Meng　to　capture　Jingzhou　by　surprise。　What　did　Lu　Meng　do？　He　first　won　over　the　officers　of　Guan　Yu　by　taking　care　of　their　families　and　thus　broke　the　power　of　his　enemy　like　a　tile。　Now　the　families　of　all　the　officers　in　the　South　of　River　Huai　are　here　in　the　Middle　Land。　Treat　them　well；　at　the　same　time　taking　care　that　they　d