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They decided to send scouts to find out the movements of their enemy。 Presently the scouts returned to say that Zhuge Liang had chosen the Wuzhang Hills。
〃Our great Emperor of Wei has remarkable fortune；〃 said Sima Yi； clapping his hand to his forehead。
Then he confirmed the order to remain strictly on the defensive till some change of circumstances on the part of the enemy should promise advantage。
After his army had settled into camp on the Wuzhang Hills； Zhuge Liang continued his attempts to provoke a battle。 Day after day； parties went to challenge the army of Wei； but they resisted all provocation。
One day Zhuge Liang put a dress made of deer hide in a box； which he sent； with a letter； to his rival。 The insult could not be concealed； so the generals led the bearer of the box to their chief。 Sima Yi opened the box and saw the deer hide dress。 Then he opened the letter； which read something like this：
〃Friend Sima Yi； although you are a mander…in…Chief and lead the armies of the Middle Land； you seem but little disposed to display the firmness and valor that would render a contest decisive。 Instead； you have prepared a fortable lair where you are safe from the keen edge of the sword。 Are you not very like a deer？ Wherefore I send the bearer with a suitable gift； and you will humbly accept it and the humiliation； unless； indeed； you finally decide to e out and fight like a warrior。 If you are not entirely indifferent to shame； if you retain any of the feelings of a tiger； you will send this back to me and e out and give battle。〃
Sima Yi； although inwardly raging； pretended to take it all as a joke and smiled。
〃So he regards me as a deer；〃 said he。
He accepted the gift and treated the messenger well。 Before the messenger left； Sima Yi asked him a few questions about his master's eating and sleeping and hours of labor。
〃The Prime Minister works very hard；〃 said the messenger。 〃He rises early and retires to bed late。 He attends personally to all cases requiring punishment of over twenty of strokes。 As for food； he does not eat more than a few pints of grain daily。〃
〃Indeed； Zhuge Liang eats little and works much；〃 remarked Sima Yi to his generals。 〃Can he last long？〃
The messenger returned to his own side and reported to Zhuge Liang； saying； 〃Sima Yi took the whole episode in good part and shown no sign of anger。 He only asked about the Prime Minister's hours of rest； and food； and such things。 He said no word about military matters。 I told him that you ate little and worked long hours； and then he said； 'Can he last long？' That was all。〃
〃He knows me；〃 said Zhuge Liang； pensively。
First Secretary Yang Yong presently ventured to remonstrate with his chief。
〃I notice；〃 said Yang Yong； 〃that you check the books personally。 I think that is needless labor for a Prime Minister to undertake。 In every administration the higher and subordinate ranks have their especial fields of activity； and each should confine his labors to his own field。 In a household； for example； the male plows and the female cooks； and thus operations are carried on without waste of energy； and all needs are supplied。 If one individual strives to attend personally to every matter； he only wearies himself and fails to acplish his end。 How can he possibly hope to perform all the various tasks well？
＇e＇ Bing Ji was a prime minister of Western Han。 One day； while riding in his cart with attendants； they came across brawling people by the road。 He continued without concern。 They then came across a man with an water buffalo panting。 He immediately stopped to ask how long they had been traveling。 His attendants were puzzled as to why he was more concerned about an ox than injured people。 He replied that fighting was a matter for local officials； but an ox panting in early spring （if not traveling for long） suggested unusual heat； which could have disastrous results for all。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Chen Ping （BC ？…178） a master strategist of Liu Bang。 He first served Xiang Yu but then became a follower in Liu Bang's camp。 Served as Liu Bang's prime minister and Empress Lu's left minister。 After the death of Empress Lu； Chen Ping played an important role in returning royal authority to the Liu clan。 。。。。。
〃And； indeed； the ancients held this same opinion； for they said that the high officers should attend to the discussion of ways and means； and the lower should carry out details。 Of old； Bing Ji* was moved to deep thought by the panting of an ox； but inquired not about the corpses of certain brawlers which lay about the road； for this matter concerned the magistrate。 Chen Ping* was ignorant of the figures relating to taxes； for he said these were the concern of the tax controllers。 O Prime Minister； you weary yourself with minor details and sweat yourself everyday。 You are wearing yourself out； and Sima Yi has good reason for what he said。〃
〃I know………I cannot but know；〃 replied Zhuge Liang with tears in his eyes。 〃But this heavy responsibility was laid upon me； and I fear no other will be so devoted as I am。〃
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 Emperor's 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 Emperor's 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 Liang's 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 Emperor's 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 Emperor's 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 Yi's 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。
One night as he sat gazing up at the sky and studying its aspect； he suddenly turned to Xiahou Ba； saying； 〃A leadership star has just lost position： Surely Zhuge Liang is ill and will soon die。 Take a reconnoitering party of one thousand to the Wuzhang Hills and find out。 If you see signs of confusion； it means that Zhuge Liang is ill。 I shall take the occasion to smite hard。〃
Xiahou Ba left with an army。
It was the sixth night of Zhuge Liang's prayers； and the lamp of his fate still burned brightly。 He began to feel a secret joy。 Presently Jiang Wei entered and watched the ceremonies。 He saw Zhuge Liang was loosening his hair； his hand holding a sword； his heels stepping on Ursa Major and Ursa Minor to hold the leadership star。
Suddenly a great shouting was heard outside； and Wei Jiang was about to send someone to inquire when Wei Yan dashed in； crying； 〃The Wei soldiers are upon us！〃
In his haste Wei Yan had knocked over and extinguished the Lamp of Fate。
Zhuge Liang threw down the sword and sighed； saying； 〃Life and death are foreordained。 No prayers can alter them。〃
Stunned； Wei Yan fell to the earth and craved forgiveness。 Jiang Wei got angry and drew his sword to slay the unhappy general。
Nought is under man's control；
Nor can he with fate contend。
The next chapter will unfold what happened。
Main Next to Chapter 104 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 104
Chapter 104
A Falling Star： The Prime Minister Ascends To Heaven；
A Wooden Statue： The mander…In…Chief Is Terrified。
The unhappy Wei Yan did not suffer the edge of the sword； for Zhuge Liang stayed the stroke； saying； 〃It is my fate………not his fault。〃
So Jiang Wei put up his sword。
Zhuge Liang spat a few mouthfuls of blood； then sank wearily upon his couch。
Said he； 〃Sima Yi thinks I am dead； and he sent these few troops to make sure。 Go and drive them off。〃
Wei Yan left the tent and led out a small party to drive away the troops of