chinese story - 4

　But Sun Hao GREw angry and said, “I desire to take this opportunity to return to my real heritage. Why do you employ this ill-omened language？ Were it not for your long service, now would I slay you and expose your head as a warning.”
　　He bade the lictors hustle Minister Hua Jiao from his presence, and Hua Jiao left the court.
　　“It is pitiful,” said Hua Jiao. “Ere long our silky, beautiful country will pass to another！”
　　So Hua Jiao retired.
　　And the Ruler of Wu ordered Lu Kang, General Who Guards the East, to camp his army at Jiangkou in order to attack Xiangyang.
　　Spies reported this in Luoyang, and it was told the Ruler of Jin. When Sima Yan heard that the army of Wu threatened to invade Xiangyang, he called a council.
　　Jia Chong stood forth, saying, “I hear the government of Wu, under its present ruler, Sun Hao, is devoid of virtue, and the Ruler of Wu has turned aside out of the road. Your Majesty should send Commander Yang Hu to oppose this army. When internal trouble shall arise, let him attack, and victory will then be easy.”
　　the Ruler of Jin issued an edict ordering Yang Hu to prepare, and so he mustered his troops and set himself to guard the county.
　　Yang Hu became very popular in Xiangyang. Any of the soldiers of Wu who desired to desert to the other side were allowed to come over. He employed only the fewest possible troops on patrol duty. Instead he set his soldiers to till the soil, and they cultivated an extensive area, whereby the hundred days supplies with which they set out were soon increased to enough for ten years.