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Those　who　heard　him　wept。　Thereafter　Zhuge　Liang　appeared　more　and　more　harassed；　and　military　operations　did　not　speed。

On　the　other　side　the　officers　of　Wei　resented　bitterly　the　insult　that　had　been　put　upon　them　when　their　leader　had　been　presented　with　the　deer　hide　dress。

They　wished　to　avenge　the　taunt；　and　went　to　their　general；　saying；　〃We　are　reputable　generals　of　the　army　of　a　great　state。　How　can　we　put　up　with　such　insults　from　these　soldiers　of　Shu？　We　pray　you　let　us　fight　them。〃

〃It　is　not　that　I　fear　to　go　out；〃　said　Sima　Yi；　〃nor　that　I　relish　the　insults；　but　I　have　the　Emperors　mand　to　hold　on　and　may　not　disobey。〃

The　officers　were　not　in　the　least　appeased。

Wherefore　Sima　Yi　said；　〃I　will　send　your　request　to　the　Throne　in　a　memorial。　What　think　you　of　that？〃

They　consented　to　await　the　Emperors　reply；　and　a　messenger　bore　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　in　Hefei；　this　memorial：

〃I　have　small　ability　and　high　office。　Your　Majesty　laid　on　me　the　mand　to　defend　and　not　fight　till　the　army　of　Shu　had　suffered　by　the　flux　of　time。　But　Zhuge　Liang　has　now　sent　me　a　gift　of　a　deer　hide　dress；　and　my　shame　is　very　deep。　Wherefore　I　advise　Your　Majesty　that　one　day　I　shall　have　to　fight　in　order　to　justify　your　kindness　to　me　and　to　remove　the　shameful　stigma　that　now　rests　upon　my　army。　I　cannot　express　the　degree　to　which　I　am　urged　to　this　course。〃

Cao　Rui　read　it　and　turned　questioningly　to　his　courtiers　seeking　an　explanation。

Said　he；　〃Sima　Yi　has　been　in　obstinate　defense：　Why　does　he　want　to　attack　now？〃

mander　Xin　Pi　replied；　〃Sima　Yi　has　no　desire　to　give　battle。　This　memorial　is　because　of　the　shame　put　upon　the　officers　by　Zhuge　Liangs　gift。　They　are　all　in　a　rage。　He　wishes　for　an　edict　to　pacify　them。〃

Cao　Rui　understood　and　gave　to　Xin　Pi　an　authority　ensign　and　sent　him　to　the　River　Wei　camp　to　make　known　that　it　was　the　Emperors　mand　not　to　fight。

Sima　Yi　received　the　messenger　with　all　respect；　and　it　was　given　out　that　any　future　reference　to　offering　battle　would　be　taken　as　disobedience　to　the　Emperors　especial　mand　in　the　edict。

The　officers　could　but　obey。

Sima　Yi　said　to　Xin　Pi；　〃Noble　Sir；　you　interpreted　my　own　desire　correctly！〃

It　was　thenceforward　understood　that　Sima　Yi　was　forbidden　to　give　battle。

When　it　was　told　to　Zhuge　Liang；　he　said；　〃This　is　only　Sima　Yis　method　of　pacifying　his　army。〃

Wei　Jiang　asked；　〃How　do　you　know；　O　Prime　Minister？〃

〃Sima　Yi　has　never　had　any　intention　of　fighting。　So　he　requested　the　edict　to　justify　his　strategy。　It　is　well　known　that　a　general　in　the　field　takes　no　mand　from　any　person；　not　even　his　own　prince。　Is　it　likely　that　he　would　send　a　thousand　miles　to　ask　permission　to　fight　if　that　was　all　he　needed？　The　officers　were　bitter；　and　so　Sima　Yi　got　the　Emperor　to　assist　him　in　maintaining　discipline。　All　this　is　meant　to　slacken　our　soldiers。〃

Just　at　this　time　Fei　Yi　came　from　Capital　Chengdu。　He　was　called　in　to　see　the　Prime　Minister；　and　Zhuge　Liang　asked　the　reason　for　his　ing。

He　replied；　〃The　Ruler　of　Wei；　Cao　Rui；　hearing　that　Wu　has　invaded　his　country　at　three　points；　has　led　a　great　army　to　Hefei　and　sent　three　armies　under　Man　Chong；　Tian　Du；　and　Liu　Shao；　to　oppose　the　invaders。　The　stores　and　fight…material　of　Wu　have　been　burned；　and　the　army　of　Wu　have　fallen　victims　to　sickness。　A　letter　from　Lu　Xun　containing　a　scheme　of　attack　fell　into　the　hands　of　the　enemy；　and　the　Ruler　of　Wu　has　marched　back　into　his　own　country。〃

Zhuge　Liang　listened　to　the　end；　then；　without　a　word；　he　fell　in　a　swoon。　He　recovered　after　a　time；　but　he　was　broken。

He　said；　〃My　mind　is　all　in　confusion。　This　is　a　return　of　my　old　illness；　and　I　am　doomed。〃

Ill　as　he　was；　Zhuge　Liang　that　night　went　forth　from　his　tent　to　scan　the　heavens　and　study　the　stars。　They　filled　him　with　fear。

He　returned　and　said　to　Jiang　Wei；　〃My　life　may　end　at　any　moment。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　such　a　thing？〃

〃Just　now　in　the　Triumvirate　constellation　the　Guest　Star　was　twice　as　bright　as　usual；　while　the　Host　Star　was　darkened；　the　supporting　stars　were　also　obscure。　With　such　an　aspect　I　know　my　fate。〃

〃If　the　aspect　be　as　malignant　as　you　say；　why　not　pray　in　order　to　avert　it？〃　replied　Jiang　Wei。

〃I　am　in　the　habit　of　praying；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃but　I　know　not　the　will　of　God。　However；　prepare　me　forty…nine　guards　and　let　each　have　a　black　flag。　Dress　them　in　black　and　place　them　outside　my　tent。　Then　will　I　from　within　my　tent　invoke　the　Seven　Stars　of　the　North。　If　my　master…lamp　remain　alight　for　seven　days；　then　is　my　life　to　be　prolonged　for　twelve　years。　If　the　lamp　goes　out；　then　I　am　to　die。　Keep　all　idlers　away　from　the　tent；　and　let　a　couple　of　guards　bring　me　what　is　necessary。〃

Jiang　Wei　prepared　as　directed。

It　was　then　the　eighth　month；　mid…autumn；　and　the　Milky　Way　was　brilliant　with　scattered　jade。　The　air　was　perfectly　calm；　and　no　sound　was　heard。　The　forty…nine　men　were　brought　up　and　spaced　out　to　guard　the　tent；　while　within　Zhuge　Liang　prepared　incense　and　offerings。　On　the　floor　of　the　tent　he　arranged　seven　lamps；　and；　outside　these；　forty…nine　smaller　lamps。　In　the　midst　he　placed　the　lamp　of　his　own　fate。

This　done；　he　prayed：

〃Zhuge　Liang；　born　into　an　age　of　trouble；　would　willingly　have　grown　old　in　retirement。　But　His　Majesty；　Liu　Bei　the　Glorious　Emperor；　sought　him　thrice　and　confided　to　him　the　heavy　responsibility　of　guarding　his　son。　He　dared　not　do　less　than　spend　himself　to　the　utmost　in　such　a　task；　and　he　pledged　himself　to　destroy　the　rebels。　Suddenly　the　star　of　his　leadership　has　declined；　and　his　life　now　nears　its　close。　He　has　humbly　indited　a　declaration　on　this　silk　piece　to　the　Great　Unknowable　and　now　hopes　that　He　will　graciously　listen　and　extend　the　number　of　his　days　that　he　may　prove　his　gratitude　to　his　prince　and　be　the　savior　of　the　people；　restore　the　old　state　of　the　empire　and　establish　eternally　the　Han　sacrifices。　He　dares　not　make　a　vain　prayer：　This　is　from　his　heart。〃

This　prayer　ended；　in　the　solitude　of　his　tent　Zhuge　Liang　awaited　the　dawn。

Next　day；　ill　as　he　was；　he　did　not　neglect　his　duties；　although　he　spat　blood　continually。　All　day　he　labored　at　his　plans；　and　at　night　he　paced　the　magic　steps；　the　steps　of　seven　stars　of　Ursa　Major　and　Ursa　Minor。

Sima　Yi　remained　still　on　the　defensive。

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