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he　camps　and　posts。　But　the　cold　autumn　wind　chilled　him　to　the　bone。
〃I　shall　never　again　lead　the　army　against　the　rebels；〃　said　he。　〃O　Azure　Heaven；　when　will　this　regret　end？〃
Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　his　tent。　He　became　rapidly　weaker　and　called　Yang　Yi　to　his　bedside。
Said　he；　〃Ma　Dai；　Wang　Ping；　Liao　Hua；　Zhang　Yi；　Zhang　Ni　may　be　depended　on　to　the　death。　They　have　fought　many　campaigns　and　borne　many　hardships；　they　should　be　retained　in　the　public　service。　After　my　death　let　everything　go　on　as　before；　but　the　army　is　to　be　gradually　withdrawn。　You　know　the　tactics　to　be　followed；　and　I　need　say　little。　My　friend　Jiang　Wei　is　wise　and　brave；　set　him　to　guard　the　retreat。〃
Yang　Yi　received　these　orders；　weeping。
Next；　writing　materials　were　brought　in　and　the　dying　minister　set　himself　to　write　his　testament。　It　is　here　given　in　substance：
〃Life　and　death　are　the　mon　lot；　and　fate　cannot　be　evaded。　Death　is　at　hand；　and　I　desire　to　prove　my　loyalty　to　the　end。　I；　thy　servant　Zhuge　Liang；　dull　of　parts；　was　born　into　a　difficult　age；　and　it　fell　to　my　lot　to　guide　military　operations。　I　led　a　northern　expedition；　but　failed　to　win　plete　success。　Now　sickness　has　laid　hold　upon　me　and　death　approaches；　so　that　I　shall　be　unable　to　acplish　my　task。　My　sorrow　is　inexpressible。
〃I　desire　Your　Majesty　to　cleanse　your　heart　and　limit　your　desires；　to　practice　self…control　and　to　love　the　people；　to　maintain　a　perfectly　filial　attitude　toward　your　late　father　and　to　be　benevolent　to　all　the　world。　Seek　out　the　recluse　scholars　that　you　may　obtain　the　services　of　the　wise　and　good；　repel　the　wicked　and　depraved　that　your　moral　standard　may　be　exalted。
〃To　my　household　belong　eight　hundred　mulberry　trees　and　a　hundred　acres　of　land；　thus　there　is　ample　provision　for　my　family。　While　I　have　been　employed　in　the　service　of　the　state；　my　needs　have　been　supplied　from　official　sources；　but　I　have　not　contrived　to　make　any　additions　to　the　family　estate。　At　my　death　I　shall　not　leave　any　increased　possessions；　even　an　excess　roll　of　silk；　that　may　cause　Your　Majesty　to　suspect　that　I　have　wronged　you。〃
Having　posed　this　document；　the　dying　man　turned　again　to　Yang　Yi；　saying；　〃Do　not　wear　mourning　for　me；　but　make　a　large　coffer　and　therein　place　my　body；　with　seven　grains　of　rice　in　my　mouth。　Place　a　lamp　at　my　feet　and　let　my　body　move　with　the　army　as　I　was　wont　to　do。　If　you　refrain　from　mourning；　then　my　leadership　star　will　not　fall；　for　my　inmost　soul　will　ascend　and　hold　it　in　place。　So　long　as　my　star　retains　its　place；　Sima　Yi　will　be　fearsome　and　suspicious。
〃Let　the　army　retreat；　beginning　with　the　rearmost　division；　send　it　away　slowly；　one　camp　at　a　time。　If　Sima　Yi　pursues；　array　the　army　and　offer　battle；　turn　to　meet　him　and　beat　the　attack。　Let　him　approach　till　he　is　very　near　and　then　suddenly　display　the　wooden　image　of　myself　that　I　have　had　carved；　seated　in　my　chariot　in　the　midst　of　the　army；　with　the　generals　right　and　left　as　usual。　And　you　will　frighten　Sima　Yi　away。〃
Yang　Yi　listened　to　these　words　intently。　That　night　Zhuge　Liang　was　carried　into　the　open　and　gazed　up　at　the　sky。
〃That　is　my　star；〃　said　he；　pointing　to　one　that　seemed　to　be　losing　its　brilliancy　and　to　be　tottering　in　its　place。　Zhuge　Liang's　lips　moved　as　if　he　muttered　a　spell。　Presently　he　was　borne　into　his　tent　and　for　a　time　was　oblivious　of　all　about　him。
When　the　anxiety　caused　by　this　state　of　a　was　at　its　height；　Li　Fu　arrived。
He　wept　when　he　saw　the　condition　of　the　great　leader；　crying；　〃I　have　foiled　the　great　designs　of　the　state！〃
However；　presently　Zhuge　Liang's　eyes　reopened　and　fell　upon　Li　Fu　standing　near　his　couch。
〃I　know　your　mission；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃I　came　with　the　royal　mand　to　ask　also　who　should　control　the　destinies　of　the　state　for　the　next　century；〃　replied　Li　Fu。　〃In　my　agitation　I　forgot　to　ask　that。〃
〃After　me；　Jiang　Wan　is　the　most　fitting　man　to　deal　with　great　matters。〃
〃And　after　Jiang　Wan？〃
〃After　him；　Fei　Yi。〃
〃Who　is　next　after　Fei　Yi？〃
No　reply　came；　and　when　they　looked　more　carefully；　they　perceived　that　the　soul　of　the　Prime　Minister　had　passed。
Thus　died　Zhuge　Liang；　on　the　twenty…third　day　of　the　eighth　month　in　the　twelfth　year　of　Beginning　Prosperity；　at　the　age　of　fifty　and　four　（AD　234）。
The　poet　Du　Fu　wrote　some　verses　on　his　death。

A　bright　star　last　night　falling　from　the　sky；
This　message　gave；　〃The　Master　is　no　more。〃
No　more　in　camps　shall　bold　men　tramp　at　his　mand；
At　court　no　statesman　ever　will　fill　the　place　he　held；
At　home；　his　clients　miss　their　patron　kind；
Sad　for　the　army；　who　were　lonely　in　this　world。
In　the　green　wood　stones　and　creeks　are　crying；
No　more　of　his　lute；　birds　have　hushed　singing。

And　Bai　Juyi　also　wrote　a　poem：

Within　the　forest　dim　the　Master　lived　obscure；
Till；　thrice　returning；　there　the　prince　his　mentor　met。
As　when　a　fish　the　ocean　gains；　desire　was　filled
Wholly　the　dragon　freed　could　soar　aloft　at　will。
As　king's　son's　guardian　none　more　zealous　was；
As　minister；　most　loyally　he　wrought　at　court。
His　war　memorials　still　to　us　are　left；
And；　reading　them；　the　tears　unconscious　fall。

Now　in　past　days；　mander　Liao　Li　in　Changshui　had　a　high　opinion　of　his　own　abilities　and　thought　himself　perfectly　fitted　to　be　Zhuge　Liang's　second。　So　he　neglected　the　duties　of　his　proper　post；　showed　discontent　and　indiscipline；　and　was　constantly　slandering　the　minister。　Thereupon　Zhuge　Liang　degraded　him　and　transferred　him　to　Minshan。
When　Liao　Li　heard　of　Zhuge　Liang's　death；　he　shed　tears　and　said；　〃Then；　after　all；　I　shall　remain　a　barbarian！〃
Li　Yan　also　grieved　deeply　at　the　sad　tidings；　for　he　had　always　hoped　that　Zhuge　Liang　would　restore　him　to　office　and　so　give　him　the　opportunity　of　repairing　his　former　faults。　After　Zhuge　Liang　had　died；　he　thought　there　was　no　hope　of　reemployment；　and　so　he　died。
Another　poet；　Yuan　Weizhi；　also　wrote　in　praise　of　the　great　adviser。

He　fought　disorder；　helped　a　weak　king；
Most　zealously　he　kept　his　master's　son。
In　state…craft　he　excelled　Guan　Zhong；　Yue　Yi；
In　war…craft　he　overpassed　Wu　Qi；　Sun　Zi。
With　awe　the　court　his　war　memorials　heard；
With　majesty　his　Eight　Arrays　were　planned。
Virtue　and　wisdom　both　filled　in　his　heart；
For　thousand　autumns；　his　fame　would　still　stay。

Heaven　grieved　and　earth　mourned　on　the　night　of　Zhuge　Liang's　death。　Even　the　moon　was　dimmed；　as　Zhuge　Liang's　soul　returned　to　Heaven。
As　the　late　mander　had　directed；　Jiang　Wei　and　Yang　Yi　forbade　the　mourning　of　his　death。　His　body　was　placed　in　the　coffer　as　he　had　wished；　and　three　hundred　of　his　trusted　leaders　and　soldiers　were　appointed　to　watch　it。
Secret　orders　were　given　to　Wei　Yan　to　mand　the　rearguard；　and　then；　one　by　one；　the　camps　were　broken　up　and　the　army　began　its　homeward　march。
Sima　Yi　watched　the　skies。　One　night　a　large　red　star　with　bright　rays　passed　from　the　northeast　to　the　southwest　and　dropped　over　the　camps　of　Shu。　It　dipped　thrice　and　rose　again。　Sima　Yi　heard　also　a　low　rumbling　in　the　distance。
He　was　pleased　and　excited；　and　said　to　those　about　him；　〃Zhuge　Liang　is　dead！〃
At　once　he　ordered　pursuit　with　a　strong　force。　But　just　as　he　passed　his　camp　gates；　doubts　filled　his　mind　and　he　gave　up　the　plan。
〃Zhuge　Liang　is　a　master　of　mysteries：　He　can　get　aids　from　the　Deities　of　the　Six　Layers。　It　may　be　that　this　is　but　a　ruse　to　get　us　to　take　the　field。　We　may　fall　victims　to　his　guile。〃
So　he　halted。　But　he　sent　Xiahou　Ba　with　a　few　dozen　scouts　to　reconnoiter　the　enemy's　camps。
One　night　as　Wei　Yan　lay　asleep　in　his　tent；　he　dreamed　a　dream。　In　his　vision　two　horns　grew　out　of　his　head。　When　he　awoke　he　was　much　perplexed　to　explain　his　dream。
Marching　General　Zhao　Zhi　came　to　see　him；　and　Wei　Yan　said；　〃You　are　versed　in　the　Book　of　Changes。　I　have　dreamed　that　two　horns　grew　upon　my　head；　and　would　trouble　you　to　expound　the　dream　and　tell　me　its　portent。〃
Zhao　Zhi　thought　a　moment　and　replied；　〃It　is　an　auspicious　dream。　Dragon　and　Jilin　both　have　horns　on　the　head。　It　augurs　transformation　into　an　ascending　creature。〃
Wei　Yan；　much　pleased；　said；　〃If　the　dream　proves　true　as　you　said；　I　will　thank　you　with　very　generous　gifts。〃
Zhao　Zhi　left　and　presently　met　Fei　Yi；　who　asked　whence　he　came。
〃From　the　camp　of　our　friend　Wei　Yan。　He　dreamed　that　he　grew　horns　upon　his　head；　and　I　have　given　him　an　auspicious　interpretation。　But　really　it　is　inauspicious。　However；　I　did　not　wish　to　annoy　him。〃
〃How　do　you　know　it　is　inauspicious？〃
〃The　word　for　horn　is　posed　of　two　parts；　'knife'　above　and　'use'　below；　and　so　means　that　there　is　a　knife　upon　his　head。　It　is　a　terrible　omen。〃
〃Keep　it　secret；〃　said　Fei　Yi。
Then　Fei　Yi　went　to　the　camp　of　Wei　Yan；　and　when　they　were　alone；　he　said；　〃The　Prime　Minister　died　last　night　in　the　third　watch。　He　left　certain　final　orders；　and　among　them；　that　you　are　to　mand　the　rearguard　to　keep　Sima　Yi　at　bay　while　the　army　retreats。　No　mourning　is　to　be　worn。　Here　is　your　authority；　so　you　can　march　forthwith。〃
〃Who　is　acting　in　place　of　the　late　minister？〃　asked　Wei。
〃The　chief　mand　has　been　delegated　to　Yang　Yi；　but　the　secret　plans　of　campaign　have　been　entrusted　to　Jiang　Wei。　This　authority　was　issued　from　Yang　Yi。〃
Wei　Yan　replied；　〃Though　the　Prime　Minister　is　dead；　I　am　yet　alive。　Counselor　Yang　Yi　is　only　a　civil　officer　and　unequal　to　this　post。　He　ought　to　conduct　the　coffin　home　while　I　lead　the　army　against　Sima　Yi。　I　shall　achieve　success；　and　it　is　wrong　to　abandon　a　whole　plan　of　campaign　because　of　the　death　of　one　man；　even　if　that　be　the　Prime　Minister。〃
〃The　Prime　Minister's　orders　were　to　retire；　and　these　orders　are　to　be　obeyed。〃
〃If　the　Prime　Minister　had　listened　to　me；　we　should　now　have　been　at　Changan。　I　am　the　Van　Leader；　General　Who　Conquers　the　West；　and　Lord　of　Nanzheng。　I　am　not　going　to　act　as　rearguard　for　any　civil　official；〃　said　Wei　Yan；　angry。
〃It　may　be　as　you　say；　General；　but　you　must　not　do　anything　to　make　us　ridiculous。　Let　me　go　back　to　Yang　Yi　and　explain；　and　I　may　be　able　to　persuade　him　to　pass　on　to　you　the　supreme　military　authority　he　holds。〃
Wei　Yan　agreed；　and　Fei　Yi　went　back　to　the　main　camp　and　told　Yang　Yi　what　had　passed。
Yang　Yi　replied；　〃When　near　death　the　Prime　Minister　confided　to　me　that　Wei　Yan　would　turn　traitor。　I　sent　him　the　authority　to　test　him；　and　now　he　has　discovered　himself　as　the　Prime　Minister　foretold。　So　I　will　direct　Jiang　Wei　to　mand　the　rearguard。〃
The　coffer　containing　the　remains　of　Zhuge　Liang　was　sent　on　in　advance；　and　Jiang　Wei　took　up　his　post　to　cover　the　retreat。
Meanwhile　Wei　Yan　sat　in　his　tent　waiting　for　the　return　of　Fei　Yi　and　was　perplexed　at　the　delay。　When　the　suspense　became　unbearable；　he　sent　Ma　Dai　to　find　out　the　reason。
Ma　Dai　returned　and　told　him：　〃Jiang　Wei　is　covering　the　retreat；　and　that　most　of　the　army　has　already　gone。〃
Wei　Yan　was　furious。
〃How　dare　he　play　with　me；　the　pedantic　blockhead？〃　cried　he。　〃But　he　shall　die　for　this！〃
Turning　to　Ma　Dai；　Wei　Yan　said；　〃Will　you　help　me？〃
Ma　Dai　replied；　〃I　have　long　hated　Yang　Yi；　certainly　I　am　ready　to　attack　him。〃
So　Wei　Yan　broke　camp　and　marched　southward。
By　the　time　Xiahou　Ba　had　reached　the　Shu　camps；　they　were　all　empty；　and　he　hastened　back　with　this　news。
〃Then　Zhuge　Liang　is　really　dead！　Let　us　pursue；〃　said　Sima　Yi；　much　irritated　at　being　misled。
〃Be　cautious；〃　said　Xiahou　Ba。　〃Send　an　subordinate　leader　first。〃
〃No；　I　must　go　myself　this　time。〃
So　Sima　Yi　and　his　two　sons　hastened　to　the　Wuzhang　Hills。　With　shouts　and　waving　flags；　they　rushed　into　the　camps；　only　to　find　them　quite　deserted。
Sima　Yi　said　to　his　sons；　〃You　are　to　bring　up　the　remaining　force　with　all　speed；　whereas　I　will　lead　the　vanguard。〃
Sima　Yi　hastened　in　the　wake　of　the　retreating　army。　ing　to　some　hills；　he　saw　them　in　the　distance　and　pressed　on　still　harder。　Then　suddenly　a　bomb　exploded；　a　great　shout　broke　the　stillness；　and　the　retiring　army　turned　about　and　came　toward　him；　ready　for　battle。　In　their　midst　fluttered　a　great　banner　bearing　the　words；　Prime　Minister　of　Han；　Lord　of　Wuxiang；　Zhuge　Liang　。
Sima　Yi　stopped；　pale　with　fear。　Then　out　from　the　army　came　some　score　of　generals　of　rank；　and　they　were　escorting　a　small　carr