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Sima　Yi　stopped；　pale　with　fear。　Then　out　from　the　army　came　some　score　of　generals　of　rank；　and　they　were　escorting　a　small　carriage；　in　which　sat　Zhuge　Liang　as　he　had　always　appeared；　in　his　hand　the　feather　fan。
〃Then　Zhuge　Liang　is　still　alive！〃　gasped　Sima　Yi。　〃And　I　have　rashly　placed　myself　in　his　power。〃
As　he　pulled　round　his　horse　to　flee；　Jiang　Wei　shouted；　〃Do　not　try　to　run　away；　O　rebel！　You　have　fallen　into　one　of　the　Prime　Minister's　traps　and　had　better　stay！〃
The　soldiers；　seized　with　panic；　fled；　throwing　off　all　their　gear。　They　trampled　each　other　down；　and　many　perished。　Their　leader　galloped　fifteen　miles　without　pulling　rein。　When　at　last　two　of　his　generals　came　up　with　him；　and　had　stopped　his　flying　steed　by　catching　at　the　bridle；　Sima　Yi　clapped　his　hand　to　his　head；　crying；　〃Have　I　still　a　head？〃
〃Do　not　fear；　mander；　the　soldiers　of　Shu　are　now　far　away；〃　they　replied。
But　he　still　panted　with　fear；　and　only　after　some　time　did　he　recognize　that　his　two　panions　were　Xiahou　Ba　and　Xiahou　Hui。　The　three　found　their　way　by　by…roads　to　their　own　camp；　whence　scouts　were　sent　out　in　all　directions。
In　a　few　days　the　natives　brought　news：　〃The　Shu　army　had　really　gone；　and　as　soon　as　the　retiring　army　entered　the　valley；　they　raised　a　wailing　for　the　dead　and　hoisted　white　flags。　Zhuge　Liang　was　really　dead；　and　Jiang　Wei's　rearguard　consisted　of　only　one　thousand　troops。　The　figure　in　the　carriage　was　only　a　wooden　image　of　the　Prime　Minister。〃
〃While　he　lived；　I　could　guess　what　he　would　do；　dead；　I　was　helpless！〃　said　Sima　Yi。
The　people　had　a　saying　that　〃A　dead　Zhuge　Liang　can　scare　off　a　live　Sima　Yi。〃

In　the　depth　of　night　a　brilliant　star
Fell　from　the　northern　sky；
Doubts　stayed　Sima　Yi
When　he　would　pursue
His　dead；　but　fearsome　enemy。
And　even　now　the　western　people；
With　scornful　smile；　will　say
〃Oh；　is　my　head　on　my　shoulder　still？
It　was　nearly　lost　today。〃

Now　indeed　Sima　Yi　knew　that　his　rival　was　no　more；　so　he　retook　the　pursuit。　But　when　he　reached　the　Red　Hills；　the　Shu　army　had　marched　too　far　away。
As　he　took　the　homeward　road；　he　said　to　his　officers；　〃We　can　now　sleep　in　fort。〃
As　they　marched　back；　they　saw　the　camps　of　their　enemies；　and　were　amazed　at　their　skillful　arrangement。
〃Truly　a　wonderful　genius！〃　sighed　Sima　Yi。
The　armies　of　Wei　returned　to　Changan。　Leaving　officers　to　guard　the　various　strategic　points；　Sima　Yi　himself　went　on　to　Luoyang　to　see　the　audience。
Yang　Yi　and　Jiang　Wei　retired　slowly　and　in　good　order　till　they　neared　the　Plank　Trail；　when　they　donned　mourning　garb　and　began　to　wail　for　their　dead。　The　soldiers　threw　themselves　on　the　ground　and　wailed　in　sorrow。　Some　even　wailed　themselves　to　death。
But　as　the　leading　panies　entered　upon　the　Plank　Trail；　they　saw　a　great　blaze　in　front；　and；　with　a　great　shout；　a　cohort　came　out　barring　the　way。　The　leaders　of　the　retreating　army　were　taken　aback　and　sent　to　inform　Yang　Yi。

The　regiments　of　Wei　are　nowhere　near；
Then　who　are　these　soldiers　that　now　appear？

The　next　chapter　will　tell　who　they　were。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　105　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　105
　Chapter　105
The　Lord　of　Wuxiang　Leaves　A　Plan　In　The　Silken　Bag；
The　Ruler　of　Wei　Removes　The　Bronze　Statue　With　The　Dew　Bowl。
Yang　Yi　sent　forward　a　man　to　find　out　what　force　this　was　that　stood　in　his　way；　and　the　scout　returned　to　say　they　were　soldiers　of　Shu　led　by　Wei　Yan。　Wei　Yan　had　burned　the　Plank　Trail　and　now　barred　the　way。
Then　said　Yang　Yi；　〃Just　before　his　death　the　Prime　Minister　foretold　that　this　man　would　one　day　turn　traitor；　and　here　it　has　e　to　pass。　I　did　not　expect　to　meet　it　thus；　but　now　our　road　of　retreat　is　cut；　and　what　is　to　be　done？〃
Then　replied　Fei　Yi；　〃He　certainly　has　slandered　us　to　the　Emperor　and　said　that　we　were　rebelling；　and　therefore　he　has　destroyed　the　wooden　roads　in　order　to　prevent　our　progress　first。　Therefore；　we　must　memorialize　to　the　Throne　the　truth　about　him　and　then　plan　his　destruction。〃
Jiang　Wei　said；　〃I　know　a　by…way　hereabout　that　will　lead　us　round　to　the　rear　of　these　covered　roads。　True　it　is　precipitous　and　dangerous；　but　it　will　take　us　to　our　destination。　It　is　called　the　Chashan　Mountain　Path。〃
So　they　prepared　a　memorial　and　turned　off　in　order　to　follow　the　narrow　mountain　road。
Meanwhile　in　Chengdu　the　Latter　Ruler　of　Shu　was　troubled；　he　lost　his　appetite　and　was　sleepless。　Then　he　dreamed　that　the　Silky　Hills　that　protected　his　capital　was　rived　and　fell。　This　dream　troubled　him　till　morning；　when　he　called　in　his　officers　of　all　ranks　to　ask　them　to　interpret　his　vision。
When　he　had　related　his　dream；　Qiao　Zhou　stood　forth　and　said；　〃Last　night　I　saw　a　large　red　star　fall　from　the　northeast　to　the　southwest。　Surely　it　forebodes　a　misfortune　to　the　First　Minister。　Your　Majesty's　dream　corresponds　to　what　I　saw。〃
The　Latter　Ruler's　anxiety　increased。　Presently　Li　Fu　returned　and　was　summoned　into　the　Latter　Ruler's　presence。
Li　Fu　bowed　his　head　and　wept；　saying；　〃The　Prime　Minister　is　dead！〃
He　repeated　Zhuge　Liang's　last　messages　and　told　all　that　he　knew。
The　Latter　Ruler　was　overe　with　great　sorrow；　and　wailed；　crying；　〃Heaven　smites　me！〃
And　he　fell　over　and　lay　upon　his　couch。　They　led　him　within　to　the　inner　chambers；　and　when　Empress　Wu；　the　Empress　Dowager；　heard　the　sad　tidings；　she　also　wailed　without　ceasing。　And　all　the　officers　were　distressed　and　wept；　and　the　mon　people　showed　their　grief。
The　Latter　Ruler　was　deeply　affected；　and　for　many　days　could　hold　no　court。　And　while　thus　prostrate　with　grief；　they　told　him　that　Wei　Yan　had　sent　up　a　memorial　charging　Yang　Yi　with　rebellion。　The　astounded　courtiers　went　to　the　Latter　Ruler's　chamber　to　talk　over　this　thing；　and　Empress　Wu　was　also　there。　The　memorial　was　read　aloud。　It　was　much　like　this：
〃I；　thy　Minister　and　General；　Wei　Yan；　General　Who　Conquers　the　West　and　Lord　of　Nanzheng；　humbly　and　with　bowed　head　write　that　Yang　Yi　has　assumed　mand　of　the　army　and　is　in　rebellion。　He　has　made　off　with　the　coffin　of　the　late　Prime　Minister　and　wishes　to　lead　enemies　within　our　borders。　As　a　precaution；　and　to　hinder　his　progress；　I　have　burned　the　Plank　Trail　and　now　report　these　matters。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　said；　〃Wei　Yan　is　a　valiant　warrior　and　could　easily　have　overe　Yang　Yi。　Why　then　did　he　destroy　the　Plank　Trail？〃
Empress　Wu　said；　〃The　First　Ruler　used　to　say　that　Zhuge　Liang　knew　that　treachery　lurked　in　the　heart　of　Wei　Yan；　and　he　wished　to　put　Wei　Yan　to　death；　he　only　spared　Wei　Yan　because　of　his　valor。　We　should　not　believe　too　readily　this　tale　of　his　that　Yang　Yi　has　rebelled。　Yang　Yi　is　a　scholar　and　a　civil　officer；　and　the　late　Prime　Minister　placed　him　in　a　position　of　great　responsibility；　thereby　proving　that　he　trusted　and　valued　Yang　Yi。　If　we　believe　this　statement；　surely　Yang　Yi　will　be　forced　to　go　over　to　Wei。　Nothing　should　be　done　without　due　meditation。〃
As　they　were　discussing　this　matter；　an　urgent　memorial　came　from　Yang　Yi；　and　opening　it；　they　read：
〃I；　Yang　Yi；　leader　of　the　retreating　army；　humbly　and　with　trepidation；　present　this　memorial。　In　his　last　moments　the　late　Prime　Minister　made　over　to　me　the　charge　of　the　great　enterprise；　and　bade　me　carry　out　his　plan　without　change。　I　have　respected　his　charge。　I　ordered　Wei　Yan　to　mand　the　rearguard　with　Jiang　Wei　as　his　second。　But　Wei　Yan　refused　obedience　and　led　away　his　own　army　into　Hanzhong。　Then　he　burned　the　Plank　Trail；　tried　to　steal　away　the　body　of　the　late　mander…in…Chief；　and　behaved　altogether　unseemly。　His　rebellion　came　upon　me　suddenly　and　unexpectedly。　I　send　this　memorial　in　haste。〃
The　Empress　Dowager　listened　to　the　end。
Then；　turning　to　the　officers；　she　said；　〃What　is　your　opinion　now？〃
Jiang　Wan　replied；　〃Yang　Yi　is　hasty　and　intolerant；　but　he　has　rendered　great　services　in　supplying　the　army。　He　has　long　been　a　trusted　colleague　of　the　late　Prime　Minister；　who；　being　near　his　end；　entrusted　to　him　the　conduct　of　affairs。　Certainly　he　is　no　rebel。　On　the　other　hand；　Wei　Yan　is　bold　and　ambitious　and　thinks　himself　everybody's　superior。　Yang　Yi　is　the　only　one　who　has　openly　been　of　different　opinion；　and　hence　Wei　Yan　hates　him。　When　he　saw　Yang　Yi　placed　over　his　head　in　mand　of　the　army；　Wei　Yan　refused　his　support。　Then　Wei　Yan　burned　the　Plank　Trail　in　order　to　cut　off　Yang　Yi's　retreat；　and　maligned　him；　hoping　to　bring　about　his　fall。　I　am　ready　to　guarantee　Yang　Yi's　fealty　to　the　extent　of　my　whole　house；　but　I　would　not　answer　for　Wei　Yan。〃
Dong　Yun　followed；　〃Wei　Yan　has　always　been　conceited　and　discontented。　His　mouth　was　full　of　hate　and　resentment；　and　only　fear　of　the　late　Prime　Minister　held　him　in　check。　The　Prime　Minister's　death　gave　him　his　opportunity；　and　he　turned　traitor。　This　is　certainly　the　true　state　of　the　case。　Yang　Yi　is　able；　and　his　employment　by　the　late　Prime　Minister　is　proof　of　his　loyalty。〃
〃If　this　is　true　and　Wei　Yan　is　really　a　rebel；　what　should　be　done？〃　asked　the　Latter　Ruler。
Jiang　Wan　said；　〃I　think　the　late　Prime　Minister　has　framed　some　scheme　by　which　to　get　rid　of　Wei　Yan。　If　Yang　Yi　had　not　felt　secure；　he　would　scarcely　have　set　out　to　return　through　the　valleys。　Your　Majesty　may　feel　sure　that　Wei　Yan　will　fall　into　some　trap。　We　have　received；　almost　at　the　same　time；　two　memorials　from　two　men；　each　bringing　against　the　other　a　charge　of　rebellion。　Let　us　wait。〃
In　a　short　time　another　memorial　arrived　from　Wei　Yan；　who　accused　Yang　Yi　of　rebellion。　The　Latter　Ruler　was　reading　it；　when　a　messenger　from　Yang　Yi　was　announced　with　yet　another　memorial　labeling　Wei　Yan　a　rebel。　The　court　received　several　more　memorials　from　both　sides　blaming　each　other；　and　the　officials　did　not　know　what　to　do。
Just　then　Fei　Yi　arrived。　He　was　summoned　into　the　royal　presence　and　told　the　story　of　Wei　Yan's　revolt。
The　Latter　Ruler　replied；　〃In　that　case　I　should　do　well　to　send　Dong　Yun　with　the　ensigns　of　authority　to　mediate　the　situation　and　attempt　to　persuade　Wei　Yan　with　kind　words。〃
So　Dong　Yun　left　on　this　mission。
At　this　time　Wei　Yan　was　camped　at　Nangu　Valley；　which　was　a　manding　position。　He　thought　his　plan　was　succeeding　well。　It　had　not　occurred　to　him　that　Yang　Yi　and　Jiang　Wei　could　get　past　him　by　any　by…way。
On　the　other　hand；　Yang　Yi；　thinking　that　Hanzhong　was　lost；　sent　He　Ping　with　three　thousand　troops　on　in　front　while　he　followed　with　the　coffin。
When　He　Ping　had　got　to　the　rear　of　Nangu　Valley；　they　announced　their　presence　with　rolling　drums。　The　scouts　quickly　told　Wei　Yan；　who　at　once　armed　himself；　took　his　sword；　and　rode　out　to　confront　He　Ping。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed；　He　Ping　rode　to　the　front　and　began　to　revile　his　opponent。
〃Where　is　that　rebel　Wei　Yan？〃　cried　He　Ping。
〃You　aided　that　traitor　Yang　Yi！〃　cried　Wei　Yan；　no　way　backward　with　his　tongue。　〃How　dare　you　abuse　me？〃
He　Ping　waxed　more　indignant。
〃You　rebelled　immediately　after　the　late　chief's　death；　before　even　his　body　was　cold。　How　could　you？〃
Then　shaking　his　whip　at　the　followers　of　Wei　Yan；　He　Ping　cried；　〃And　you　soldiers　are　Shu　people。　Your　fathers　and　mothers；　wives　and　children；　and　your　friends　are　still　in　the　land。　Were　you　treated　unkindly　that　you　have　joined　a　traitor　and　aid　his　wicked　schemes？　You　ought　to　have　returned　home　and　waited　quietly　the　rewards　that　would　have　been　yours。〃
The　soldiers　were　touched　by　his　words。　They　cheered；　and　more　than　a　half　ran　away。
Wei　Yan　was　now　raging。　He　whirled　up　his　sword　and　galloped　forward　straight　for　He　Ping；　who　went　to　meet　him　with　his　spear　ready。　They　fought　several　bouts；　and　then　He　Ping　rode　away　as　if　defeated。　Wei　Yan　followed；　but　He　Ping's　troops　began　to　shoot　and　Wei　Yan　was　driven　backward。　As　he　got　near　his　own　ranks；　Wei　Yan　saw　many　generals　leaving　their　panies　and　going　away。　He　rode　after　them　and　cut　some　of　them　down。　But　this　did　not　stay　the　movement；　they　continued　to　go。　The　only　steady　portion　of　his　own　army　was　that　manded　by　Ma　Dai。　They　stood　their　ground。
〃Will　you　really　help　me？〃　said　Wei　Yan。　〃I　will　surely　remember　you　in　the　day　of　success。〃
The　two　then　went　in　pursuit　of　He　Ping；　who　fled　before　them。　However；　it　was　soon　evident　that　He　Ping　was　not　to　be　overtaken；