Soon after, Taishi Ci entered the tent and said, “In my command there is a certain Ge Ding, brother of a groom in the army of Zhang Liao. This servant is deeply resentful on account of a punishment inflicted upon him and is anxious to be revenged. He has sent over to say that he will show a signal tonight when he has assassinated Zhang Liao in revenge for the death of your late leader Song Qian. I wish to take some troops over to await this signal to attack.” “Where is Ge Ding?” asked Sun Quan.
“Ge Ding has mingled with the enemy and gone into the city. Let me have five thousand soldiers.”
Zhuge Jin said, “Zhang Liao is full of guile; I think you will find him prepared for your coming. Be careful.”
As Taishi Ci urged his chief to let him go, and Sun Quan was deeply hurt by the death of his leader, the permission was given and the force started.
Now here it must be said that Taishi Ci and this Ge Ding were natives of the same place. Ge Ding had made his way into the city without detection, found his brother, and the two had arranged their plot. Ge Ding also told him, saying, “Taishi Ci will come over tonight to help us; what need to be done now?”
His brother, the groom, said, “As the troops of Sun Quan are far away, I fear they cannot be here tonight, so we will make a huge bonfire of straw and then you can rush out and cry treachery. That will throw all into confusion and will give a chance to kill Zhang Liao.”
“This is an excellent plan,” said Ge Ding.
Now after the victory, Zhang Liao returned to the city and rewarded his soldiers, but he issued orders that no one was to doff his armor or sleep. His attendants said, “You have gained a great victory today, and the enemy are far away. You might doff your armor and get some repose.”
But Zhang Liao replied, “That is not the way of a leader. A victory is no reason for rejoicing, nor should a defeat cause sadness. If those of the South Land suspect that I am unprepared, they will attack; and we must be ready to repel them. Be ready tonight and be doubly careful.”
Scarcely had he said this than a fire started and cries of “Treachery!” arose. Many rushed to tell the leader, who went out and called together his guard of about half a score. They took up a commanding position in the way.
Those about him said, “The shouts are insistent; you ought to go and see what it means.”
“A whole city cannot be traitors,” said Zhang Liao. “Some discontented person has frightened the soldiers. If I see any one doing so, I will slay him.”
Soon after this Li Dian dragged up Ge Ding and his fellow traitor. After a few brief questions, they were beheaded.
Then arose a great noise, shouting and the rolling of drums was heard outside the gate.
“That means the troops of South Land are there to help,” said Zhang 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; and when Zhang Zhao prayed him to cease from war, 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.
