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Still leaning on the sword, Zhou Fang said, “As to the seven things I mentioned, my regret is that I cannot show you all. You doubt me because some persons from Wu and Wei have been poisoning your mind against me. If you heed them, the only course for me is to die. Heaven only can make manifest my loyal heart.”

Again he made to slay himself. But Cao Xiu in trepidation threw his arms about him, saying, “I did not mean it; the words were uttered in jest. Why do you act thus?”

Upon this, Zhou Fang, with his sword, cut off his hair and threw it on the ground, saying, “I have dealt with you with sincerity, Sir, and you joke about it. Now I have cut off the hair, which I inherited from my parents, in order to prove my sincerity.”

Then Cao Xiu doubted no more, but trusted him fully and prepared a banquet for him, and when the feast was over Zhou Fang returned to his own.

General Jia Kui came to Cao Xiu, and when asked whether there was any special reason for the visit, he said, “I have come to warn you, Commander, to be cautious and wait till you and I can attack the enemy together. The whole army of Wu is encamped at Huancheng.”

“You mean you want to share in my victory,” sneered Cao Xiu.

“It is said Zhou Fang cut off his hair as a pledge of sincerity; that is only another bit of deceit. According to the Spring and Autumn Annals, Yao Li cut off his arm as a pledge of loyalty before he assassinated Qing Ji; mutilation is no guarantee. Do not trust Zhou Fang.”

“Why do you come to utter ill-omened words just as I am opening the campaign? You destroy the spirit of the army,” said Cao Xiu.

In his wrath he told the lictors to put Jia Kui to death. However, the officers interceded, saying, “Before the march, killing our general is not favorable to the army. O General, spare him until after the expedition.”

And Jia Kui was reprieved; but he was not assigned any part in the campaign, and his troops were left in reserve. Cao Xiu himself went away to the East Pass.

When Zhou Fang heard that Jia Kui had been broken, he rejoiced in his heart, saying, “If Cao Xiu had attended to his words, then Wu would have lost. Heaven is good to me and is giving me the means of achieving great things.”

Then he sent a secret messenger to Huancheng, and Lu Xun knew that the time had come. He assembled the officers for orders.

Lu Xun said, “Shiding, lying over against us, is a hilly country fit for preparing an ambush. It will be occupied as suitable to array our army and await the coming of Wei. Xu Sheng is to be leader of the van, and the army will move there.”

Now Cao Xiu told Zhou Fang to lead the way for his attack. While on march, Cao Xiu asked, “What is the place lying ahead?”

Zhou Fang replied, “Shiding, a suitable place to camp in.”

So a great camp was made there. But soon after the scouts reported that a very large number of soldiers of Wu had occupied the hills. Cao Xiu began to feel alarmed.

“Zhou Fang said there were no soldiers; why these preparations?”

Cao Xiu hastily sought Zhou Fang to ask him, and was told he had gone away with a few riders, no one knew whither.

“I have been deceived and am in a trap,” said Cao Xiu, now very repentant of his easy confidence. “However, there is nothing to fear.”

Then he made his arrangements to march against the enemy, and when they were complete and the array drawn up, Zhang Pu, the leader of the van, rode out and began to rail at the men of Wu.

“Rebel leader, come and surrender!” cried Zhang Pu.

Then rode out Xu Sheng and fought with him. But Zhang Pu was no match for Xu Sheng, as was soon evident, wherefore he led his troops to retire.

“Xu Sheng is too strong,” said Zhang Pu when he saw Cao Xiu.

“Then will we defeat him by a surprise,” said Cao Xiu.

He sent Zhang Pu with twenty thousand troops to hide in the south of Shiding, while another equal party under Xue Qiao was sent north. And Cao Xiu arranged, saying, “Tomorrow I will lead a thousand soldiers to provoke the troops of Wu into battle, then I will feign defeat and lead them to the hills in the north, when a bomb will explode and a three-pronged ambush will bring us victory.”

On the other side Lu Xun called his two generals, Zhu Huan and Quan Zong, and said, “Each of you is to lead thirty thousand troops and take a cross cut from Shiding to the enemy's camp. Give a fire signal on arrival, and then the main army will advance.”