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Besides, Ssu-ma I is sure not to come himself, and the generals

that will be sent against us are not worth troubling about." The

next letter, however, was filled with consternation: "Though only

eight days have passed since I threw off my allegiance, an army

is already at the city-gates. What miraculous rapidity is this!"

A fortnight later, Hsin- ch'eng had fallen and Meng Ta had lost

his head. [See Chin Shu, ch. 1, f. 3.] In 621 A.D., Li Ching was

sent from K'uei-chou in Ssu-ch'uan to reduce the successful rebel

Hsiao Hsien, who had set up as Emperor at the modern Ching-chou

Fu in Hupeh. It was autumn, and the Yangtsze being then in flood,

Hsiao Hsien never dreamt that his adversary would venture to come

down through the gorges, and consequently made no preparations.

But Li Ching embarked his army without loss of time, and was just

about to start when the other generals implored him to postpone

his departure until the river was in a less dangerous state for

navigation.