Then Sun Tsʻê sought the title of Ta Ssŭ-ma, or Minister of War, one of the highest offices of State, but Tsʻao Tsʻao prevented the attainment of this ambition, and Sun Tsʻê keenly resented it. Henceforward his thoughts turned toward an attack on Tsʻao Tsʻao. About this time the Prefect of Wuchün sent a secret letter to the capital to Tsʻao Tsʻao, saying that Sun Tsʻê was a turbulent fellow of the Hsiang Chi type and the government ought, under the appearance of showing favour to him, to recall him to the capital for he was a danger in the provinces. But the bearer of this letter was captured on the Yangtse River and sent to Sun Tsʻê, who immediately put him to death. Then he treacherously sent to ask the author of the letter, Hsü Kung by name, to come and consult over some affair. The unsuspecting man came. Sun Tsʻê produced the letter, saying, “So you wish to send me to the land of the dead, eh?” and thereupon the executioners came in and strangled him. The family of the victim scattered, but three of his clients determined to avenge him if only they could find some means of attacking Sun. Their chance came in the hunting field. One day Sun went hunting in the hills to the west of Tantʻu. A stag was started and Sun pressed after it at topmost speed and followed it deep into the forest. Presently he came upon three armed men standing among the trees. Rather surprised to see them there he reined in and asked who they were. “We belong to Han Tang’s army and are shooting deer,” was the reply. So Sun Tsʻê shook his bridle to proceed. But just as he did so one of the men thrust at him with a spear and wounded his thigh. Sun drew the sword at his side, dashed forward and cut down the aggressor. The blade of his sword suddenly fell to the ground, only the hilt remaining in his hand. Then one of the assassins drew his bow and an arrow wounded Sun in the cheek. He plucked out the arrow and shot at the offender, who fell, but the other two attacked him furiously with their spears, shouting, “We are Hsü Kung’s men and his avengers!” Sun Tsʻê then understood. But he had no weapons save his bow against them. He tried to draw off, keeping them at bay by striking with his bow, but the fight was getting too much for him and both he and his steed were wounded in several places. However, just at the critical moment, some of his own men came up and they made short work of the remaining two avengers. But their lord was in a sorry plight. His face was streaming with blood and some of the wounds were very severe. They tore up his robe and therewith bound up his wounds and they carried him home. A poem in praise of the three avengers says:— O Sun Tsʻê was a warrior and a stranger he to fear, But he was basely murdered while hunting of the deer. Yet were they leal who slew him, to avenge a murdered lord, Self immolated like Yü-jang, they dreaded not the sword.