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 Cao Rui's own writing