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〃I　have　been　Leader　of　the　Van　from　the　first　day　of　this　expedition。　Why　not　use　me　today；　when　there　is　work　to　be　done　and　glory　to　be　gained？〃
〃Because　the　utmost　caution　is　necessary。　They　are　retreating；　and　they　will　leave　an　ambush　at　every　possible　point。〃
〃I　know　that；　and　you　need　not　be　afraid。〃
〃Well；　you　wish　to　go　and　may；　but　whatever　happens　you　must　be　prepared　for。〃
〃A　really　noble　man　is　prepared　to　sacrifice　self　for　country。　Never　mind　what　happens。〃
〃Then　take　five　thousand　troops　and　start。　Wei　Ping　shall　follow　with　twenty　thousand　of　horse　and　foot　to　deal　with　any　ambush　that　may　discover　itself。　I　will　follow　later　with　three　thousand　to　help　where　need　be。〃
So　Zhang　He　set　out　and　advanced　quickly。
Ten　miles　out　he　heard　a　roll　of　drums；　and　suddenly　appeared　from　a　wood　a　cohort　led　by　Wei　Yan；　who　galloped　to　the　front；　crying；　〃Whither　would　you　go；　O　rebel　leader？〃
Zhang　He　swiftly　turned　and　engaged　Wei　Yan；　but　after　some　ten　passes　Wei　Yan　fled。　Zhang　He　rode　after　Wei　Yan　along　the　road　for　ten　miles　and　then　stopped　to　observe。　As　he　saw　no　ambush；　he　turned　again　and　resumed　the　pursuit。　All　went　well　till　he　came　to　a　slope；　when　there　arose　shouts　and　yells　and　another　body　of　soldiers　came　out。
〃Zhang　He；　do　not　run　away！〃　cried　this　leader；　who　was　Guan　Xing。
Guan　Xing　galloped　close；　and　Zhang　He　did　not　flee。　They　fought；　and　after　half　a　score　of　passes　Guan　Xing　seemed　to　have　the　worst　of　the　encounter　and　fled。　Zhang　He　followed。　Presently　they　neared　a　dense　wood。　Zhang　He　was　fearful　of　entering　in；　so　he　sent　forward　scouts　to　search　the　thickets。　They　could　find　no　danger；　and　Zhang　He　again　pursued。
But　quite　unexpectedly　Wei　Yan；　who　had　formerly　fled；　got　round　ahead　of　Zhang　He　and　now　appeared　again。　The　two　fought　a　half　score　bouts　and　again　Wei　Yan　ran。　Zhang　He　followed；　but　Guan　Xing　also　got　round　to　the　front　by　a　side　road　and　so　stopped　the　pursuit　of　Zhang　He。　Zhang　He　attacked　furiously　as　soon　as　he　was　checked；　this　time　so　successfully　that　the　troops　of　Shu　threw　away　their　war…gear　and　ran。　The　road　was　thus　littered　with　spoil；　and　the　Wei　soldiers　could　not　resist　the　temptation　to　gather　it。　They　slipped　from　their　horses　and　began　to　collect　the　arms。
The　maneuvers　just　described　continued；　Wei　Yan　and　Guan　Xing　one　after　the　other　engaging　Zhang　He；　and　Zhang　He　pressing　on　after　each　one；　but　achieving　nothing。　And　as　evening　fell　the　running　fight　had　led　both　sides　close　to　the　Wooden　Path。
Then　suddenly　Wei　Yan　made　a　real　stand；　and　he　rode　to　the　front；　yelling；　〃Rebel！　I　have　despised　fighting　you；　but　you　have　kept　pursuing　me。　Now　we　will　fight　to　the　death！〃
Zhang　He　was　furious　and　nothing　loath；　so　he　came　on　with　his　spear　to　meet　Wei　Yan；　who　was　flourishing　his　sword。　They　met；　yet　again；　after　some　ten　bouts；　Wei　Yan　threw　aside　weapons；　armor；　helmet　and　all　his　gear；　and　led　his　defeated　pany　sway　along　the　Wooden　Path。
Zhang　He　was　filled　with　the　lust　to　kill；　and　he　could　not　let　Wei　Yan　escape。　So　he　set　out　after　Wei　Yan；　although　it　was　already　dark。　But　suddenly　lights　appeared；　and　the　sky　became　aglow；　and　at　the　same　time　huge　boulders　and　great　bulks　of　timber　came　rolling　down　the　slopes　and　blocked　the　way。
Fear　gripped　Zhang　He；　and　he　cried；　〃I　have　blundered　into　an　ambush！〃
The　road　was　blocked　in　front　and　behind　and　bordered　by　craggy　precipices。　Then；　rat…tat…tat！　came　the　sound　of　a　rattle；　and　therewith　flew　clouds　of　arrows　and　showers　of　bolts。　Zhang　He；　his　more　than　one　hundred　generals；　and　his　whole　pursuing　army　perished　in　the　Wooden　Path。

With　myriad　shining　bolts　the　air　was　filled；
The　road　was　littered　with　brave　soldiers　killed；
The　force　to　Saber　Pass　faring　perished　here；
The　tale　of　valor　grows　from　year　to　year。

Soon　the　second　army　of　Wei　under　Wei　Ping　came　up；　but　too　late　to　help。　From　the　signs　they　knew　that　their　rades　had　been　victims　of　a　cruel　trick；　and　they　turned　back。
But　as　they　faced　about；　a　shout　was　heard；　and　from　the　hilltops　came；　〃I；　Zhuge　Liang；　am　here！〃
Looking　up　they　saw　his　figure　silhouetted　against　a　fire。
Pointing　to　the　slain；　Zhuge　Liang　cried；　〃I　have　gone　hunting　in　this　wood。　Only　instead　of　slaying　a　horse；　I　have　killed　a　deer。　But　you　may　go　in　peace；　and　when　you　see　your　mander；　tell　him　that　he　will　be　my　quarry　one　day！〃
The　soldiers　told　this　to　Sima　Yi　when　they　returned。
Sima　Yi　was　deeply　mortified；　saying；　〃Letting　friend　Zhang　He　die　is　my　fault！〃
And　when　he　returned　to　Luoyang；　the　Ruler　of　Wei　wept　at　the　death　of　his　brave　leader　and　had　his　body　searched　and　honorably　buried。
Zhuge　Liang　had　no　sooner　reached　Hanzhong　than　he　prepared　to　go　on　to　Capital　Chengdu　and　see　his　lord。
But　Li　Yan；　who　was　in　the　capital；　said　to　the　Latter　Ruler；　〃Why　does　the　Prime　Minister　return；　for　I　have　kept　him　fully　supplied　with　all　things　needed　for　the　army？〃
Then　the　Latter　Ruler　sent　Fei　Yi　into　Hanzhong　to　inquire　why　the　army　had　retired。
When　Fei　Yi　had　arrived　and　showed　the　cause　of　his　ing；　Zhuge　Liang　was　greatly　surprised。
Zhuge　Liang　showed　the　letter　from　Li　Yan；　saying；　〃Li　Yan　wrote　to　warn　that　East　Wu　was　about　to　invade　the　country。〃
Fei　Yi　said；　〃Li　Yan　memorialized　to　the　Throne；　saying　he　had　sent　you　supplies　and　knew　not　why　Your　Excellency　returned。〃
So　Zhuge　Liang　inquired　carefully；　and　then　it　came　out　that　Li　Yan　had　failed　to　find　sufficient　grain　to　keep　the　army　supplied；　and　so　had　sent　the　first　lying　letter　to　the　army　that　it　might　retire　before　the　shortage　showed　itself。　His　memorial　to　the　Throne　was　designed　to　cover　the　former　fault。
〃The　fool　has　ruined　the　great　design　of　the　state　just　to　save　his　own　skin！〃　cried　Zhuge　Liang　bitterly。
He　summoned　the　offender　and　sentenced　him　to　death。
But　Fei　Yi　interceded；　saying；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　the　First　Ruler　had　loved　and　trusted　Li　Yan　with　his　son。　Please　forgive　him　this　time。〃
And　so　Li　Yan's　life　was　spared。
However；　when　Fei　Yi　made　his　report　in　Chengdu；　the　Latter　Ruler　was　wroth　and　ordered　Li　Yan　to　suffer　death。
But　this　time　Jiang　Wan　intervened；　saying；　〃Your　late　father　named　Li　Yan　as　one　of　the　guardians　of　your　youth。〃
And　the　Latter　Ruler　relented。　However；　Li　Yan　was　stripped　of　all　ranks　and　relegated　to　Zitong。
Zhuge　Liang　went　to　Chengdu　and　appointed　Li　Teng；　Li　Yan's　son；　as　High　Counselor。
Preparations　then　began　for　another　expedition。　Plans　were　discussed；　provisions　were　accumulated；　weapons　put　in　order；　and　officers　and　soldiers　kept　fit　and　trained。　By　his　kindness　to　the　people；　Zhuge　Liang　waited　for　three　years　before　beginning　marching；　and　in　the　two　River　Lands　people's　hearts　filled　with　joys。
And　the　time　passed　quickly。
In　the　second　month　of　the　twelfth　year　（AD　234）；　Zhuge　Liang　presented　a　memorial；　saying；　〃I　have　been　training　the　army　for　three　years。　Supplies　are　ample；　and　all　is　in　order　for　an　expedition。　We　may　now　attack　Wei。　If　I　cannot　destroy　these　rebels；　sweep　away　the　evil　hordes；　and　bring　about　a　glorious　entry　into　the　capital；　then　may　I　never　again　enter　Your　Majesty's　presence。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　replied；　〃The　empire　has　settled　on　a　tripod；　and　Wu　and　Wei　trouble　us　not　at　all。　Why　not　enjoy　the　present　tranquillity；　O　Father　Minister？〃
〃Because　of　the　mission　left　me　by　your　father。　I　am　ever　scheming　to　destroy　Wei；　even　in　my　dreams。　I　must　strive　my　best　and　do　my　utmost　to　regain　you　the　Middle　Land　and　restore　the　glory　of　the　Hans。〃
As　Zhuge　Liang　said　this；　a　voice　cried；　〃An　army　may　not　go　forth；　O　Prime　Minister！〃
Qiao　Zhou　had　raised　a　last　protest。

Zhuge　Liang's　sole　thought　was　service；
Himself　he　would　not　spare；
But　Qiao　Zhou　had　watched　the　starry　sky；
And　read　misfortune　there。

The　next　chapter　will　give　the　arguments　against　fighting。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　102　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　102
　Chapter　102
Sima　Yi　Occupies　The　Banks　Of　River　Wei；
Zhuge　Liang　Constructs　Mechanical　Bullocks　And　Horses。
Qiao　Zhou；　who　protested　against　the　war；　was　Grand　Historian。　He　was　also　an　astrologer。
He　opposed　the　war；　saying；　〃My　present　office　involves　the　direction　of　the　observations　on　the　Astrological　Terrace；　and　I　am　bound　to　report　whether　the　aspect　forebodes　misfortune　or　promises　happiness。　Not　long　since；　several　flights　of　thousands　of　birds　came　from　the　south；　plunged　into　River　Han　and　were　drowned。　This　is　an　evil　augury。　Moreover；　I　have　studied　the　aspect　of　the　sky；　and　the　'Wolf'　constellation　is　influencing　the　aspect　of　the　planet　Venus。　An　aura　of　prosperity　pervades　the　north。　To　attack　Wei　will　not　be　to　our　profit。　Again；　the　people　in　Chengdu　say　that　the　cypress　trees　moan　in　the　night。　With　so　many　evil　omens；　I　wish　that　the　Prime　Minister　should　not　go　forth　to　war；　but　remain　at　home　to　guard　what　we　have。〃
〃How　can　I？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃His　Late　Majesty　laid　upon　me　a　heavy　responsibility；　and　I　must　exert　myself　to　the　utmost　in　the　endeavor　to　destroy　these　rebels。　The　policy　of　a　state　cannot　be　changed　because　of　inauspicious　signs。〃
Zhuge　Liang　was　not　to　be　deterred。　He　instructed　the　officials　to　prepare　the　Great　Bovine　Sacrifice　in　the　Dynastic　Temple。　Then；　weeping；　he　prostrated　himself　and　made　this　declaration：
〃Thy　servant　Zhuge　Liang　has　made　five　expeditions　to　Qishan　without　gaining　any　extension　of　territory。　His　fault　weighs　heavily　upon　him。　Now　once　again　he　is　about　to　march；　pledged　to　use　every　effort　of　body　and　mind　to　exterminate　the　rebels　against　the　Han　House；　and　to　restore　to　the　dynasty　its　glory　in　the　Middle　Land。　To　achieve　this　end；　he　would　use　the　last　remnant　of　his　strength　and　could　die　content。〃
The　sacrifice　ended；　he　took　leave　of　the　Latter　Ruler　and　set　out　for　Hanzhong　to　make　the　final　arrangements　for　his　march。　While　so　engaged；　he　received　the　unexpected　news　of　the　death　of　Guan　Xing。　He　was　greatly　shocked；　and　fainted。　When　he　had　recovered　consciousness；　his　officers　did　their　utmost　to　console　him。
〃How　pitiful！　Why　does　Heaven　deny　long　life　to　the　loyal　and　good？　I　have　lost　a　most　able　general　just　as　I　am　setting　out　and　need　him　most。〃

As　all　are　born；　so　all　must　die；
People　are　as　gnats　against　the　sky；
But　loyalty　or　piety
May　give　them　immortality。

The　armies　of　Shu　numbered　three　hundred　forty　thousand　strong；　and　they　marched　in　five　divisions；　with　Jiang　Wei　and　Wei　Yan　in　the　van；　and　when　they　had　reached　Qishan；　Li　Hui；　the　missary　General；　was　instructed　to　convey　stores　into　the　Xie　Valley　in　readiness。
In　Wei　they　had　recently　changed　the　style　of　the　year　period　to　〃Green　Dragon〃；　because　a　green　dragon　had　been　seen　to　emerge　from　Mopo　Well。　The　year　of　the　fighting　was　the　second　year　（AD　234）。
The　courtiers　said　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　〃The　manders　of　the　passes　report　thirty　or　so　legions　advancing　in　five　divisions　from　Shu　upon　Qishan。〃
The　news　distressed　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　who　at　once　called　in　Sima　Yi　and　told　him　of　the　invasion。
Sima　Yi　replied；　〃The　aspect　of　the　sky　is　very　auspicious　for　the　Middle　Land。　The　Wolf　star　has　encroached　upon　the　planet　Venus；　which　bodes　ill　for　the　River　Lands。　Thus　Zhuge　Liang　is　pitting　his　powers　against　Heaven；　and　will　meet　defeat　and　suffer　death。　And　I；　by　virtue　of　Your　Majesty's　good　fortune；　am　to　be　the　instrument　of　destruction。　I　request　to　name　four　leaders　to　go　with　me。〃
〃Who　are　they？　Name　them；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。
〃They　are　the　four　sons　of　Xiahou　Yuan：　Xiahou　Ba；　Xiahou　Wei；　Xiahou　Hui；　and　Xiahou　He。　Xiahou　Ba　and　Xiahou　Wei　are　trained　archers　and　cavaliers；　Xiahou　Hui　and　Xiahou　He　are　deep　strategists。　All　four　desire　to　avenge　the　death　of　their　father。　Xiahou　Ba　and　Xiahou　Wei　should　be　Leaders　of　the　Van；　Xiahou　Hui　and　Xiahou　He　should　be　Marching　Generals；　to　discuss　and　arrange　plans　for　the　repulse　of　our　enemy。〃
〃You　remember　the　evil　results　of　employing　the　Dynastic　Son…in…Law　Xiahou　Mao：　He　lost　his　army　and　is　still　too　ashamed　to　return　to　court。　Are　you　sure　these　are　not　of　the　same　kidney？〃
〃They　are　not　like　Xiahou　Mao　in　the　least。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　granted　the　request　and　named　Sima　Yi　as　mander…in…Chief　with　the　fullest　authority。　When　Sima　Yi　took　leave　of　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　he　received　a　mand　in　C