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he　field；　but　he　is　no　match　for　Zhuge　Liang。　Still　there　is　such　a　match；　and　I　will　pledge　my　whole　family　that　he　will　succeed。　But　Your　Majesty　may　be　unwilling　to　listen　to　me。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　replied；　〃You　are　a　minister　of　high　rank　and　old。　If　you　know　any　wise　person　able　to　repel　these　soldiers　of　Shu；　call　him　without　delay　and　ease　my　mind。〃
Then　said　Zhong　Yao；　〃When　Zhuge　Liang　decided　to　invade　us；　he　was　afraid　of　the　one　man　I　will　name。　Wherefore　he　spread　calumnies　concerning　him；　raising　suspicion　in　Your　Majesty's　mind　that　you　might　dismiss　him。　That　done；　Zhuge　Liang　invaded。　Now　employ　this　man　again；　and　the　enemy　will　retire。〃
〃Who　is　it？〃　asked　the　Ruler　of　Wei。
〃I　mean　the　Imperial　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　Sima　Yi。〃
〃I　have　long　regretted　my　action；〃　said　Cao　Rui。　〃Where　now　is　friend　Sima　Yi？〃
〃He　is　at　the　city　of　Wancheng；　idle。〃
An　edict　was　prepared　recalling　Sima　Yi　and　restoring　him　to　his　rank　and　titles；　and　conferring　upon　him　the　new　title　mander…in…Chief　of　the　Western　Forces　and　General　Who　Pacifies　the　West。　All　troops　of　Nanyang　were　set　in　motion；　and　Cao　Rui　led　them　to　Changan。　At　the　same　time　Cao　Rui　ordered　Sima　Yi　to　be　there　to　meet　him　on　a　certain　day。　And　the　orders　were　sent　by　a　swift　messenger　to　the　city　of　Wancheng。
At　this　time　Zhuge　Liang　greatly　rejoiced　at　the　success　he　had　had。　He　was　at　Qishan；　busy　with　plans　for　other　victories；　when　Li　Yan；　who　was　in　mand　at　the　Palace　of　Eternal　Peace；　sent　his　son　Li　Teng　to　the　camp。　Zhuge　Liang　concluded　that　such　a　visit　could　only　mean　that　Wu　had　invaded　them；　and　he　was　in　consequence　cast　down。　However；　he　summoned　Li　Teng　to　his　tent；　and　when　asked　the　object　of　his　mission；　Li　Teng　replied　that　he　had　joyful　news　to　impart。
〃What　is　your　joyful　news？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃Formerly　Meng　Da　deserted　to　Wei；　but　only　because　he　could　do　nothing　else。　Cao　Pi　thought　much　of　his　capabilities；　treated　him　most　generously；　kept　him　at　his　side；　gave　him　titles　of　General　Who　Establishes　Strong　Arms　and　Lord　of　Pingyang；　and　appointed　him　to　the　posts　of　Governor　of　Xincheng　and　mander　of　Shangyong　and　Jincheng；　and　so　on。　But　when　Cao　Pi　died；　all　was　changed。　In　Cao　Rui's　court　were　many　who　were　jealous　of　Meng　Da's　influence　and　power；　so　that　he　enjoyed　no　peace。
〃He　used　to　talk　about　being　originally　one　of　the　Shu　leaders；　and　he　was　forced　to　do　so…and…so。　Lately　he　has　sent　several　confidants　with　letters　to　my　father　asking　that　he　would　state　his　case　to　you　as　to　the　happenings。　When　the　five　armies　came　upon　Shu；　he　wanted　to　rejoin　the　River　Lands。　Now　he　is　at　Xincheng；　and；　hearing　you　are　attacking　Wei；　he　proposes　to　lead　the　army　of　the　three　counties　about　Xincheng；　Jincheng；　and　Shangyong　to　attack　Luoyang　while　you　attack　Changan；　whereby　both　capitals　will　be　taken。　I　have　brought　with　me　his　messenger　and　his　letters。〃
This　was　good　news；　and　the　bearer　was　fittingly　rewarded。　But　at　that　moment　came　the　news　that　Cao　Rui　was　leading　an　army　to　Changan　and　had　recalled　the　banished　Sima　Yi　to　office。　This　piece　of　bad　news　saddened　Zhuge　Liang　not　a　little。
He　told　Ma　Su；　who　said；　〃Cao　Rui　should　not　be　your　worry。　If　he　goes　to　Changan；　we　will　march　there　and　capture　him　on　the　road；　and　there　will　be　an　end　of　him。〃
〃Do　you　think　I　fear　him？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　bitterly。　〃But　the　recall　of　Sima　Yi　is　another　matter；　that　troubles　me。　And　Meng　Da's　proposal　will　avail　nothing　if　he　es　across　this　man。　Meng　Da　is　no　match　for　him。　He　will　he　captured；　and；　if　he　should　be；　the　Middle　Land　will　be　hard　to　conquer。〃
〃Why　not　put　Meng　Da　on　his　guard　then？〃　said　Ma　Su。
Zhuge　Liang　decided　to　write；　and　the　letter　was　dispatched　immediately。
Meng　Da　was　then　at　Xincheng；　anxiously　expecting　the　return　of　his　last　confidential　messenger；　when；　one　day；　the　man　returned　and　gave　him　this　letter　from　Zhuge　Liang　himself：
〃Your　last　letter　has　convinced　me　of　your　loyal　rectitude；　and　I　still　remember　with　joy　our　old　friendship。　If　your　plan　succeeds；　you　will　certainly　stand　in　the　first　rank　of　most　worthy　ministers。　But　I　scarcely　need　impress　upon　you　the　extreme　necessity　for　most　perfect　secrecy。　Be　very　careful　whom　you　trust。　Fear　everyone；　guard　against　everyone。　This　news　of　the　recall　of　Sima　Yi　and　the　proposed　junction　of　armies　at　Changan　is　very　serious。　If　a　word　reaches　Sima　Yi；　he　will　e　to　you　first。　Therefore　take　every　precaution　and　do　not　regard　this　as　a　matter　of　unimportance。〃
〃They　say　Zhuge　Liang　leaves　nothing　to　chance；〃　said　Meng　Da；　smiling　as　he　read。　〃This　proves　it。〃
He　lost　no　time　in　preparing　a　reply；　which　he　sent　also　by　a　trusty　messenger。　This　letter　was　like　this：
〃I　acknowledge　your　most　valuable　advice；　but　is　it　possible　that　I　should　be　remiss？　For　my　part　I　do　not　think　the　Sima　Yi's　affair　need　cause　anxiety；　for　Wancheng　is　three　hundred　miles　from　Luoyang　and　four　hundred　miles　from　Xincheng。　Should　he　hear　anything；　it　would　take　a　month　to　send　a　memorial　to　the　capital　and　get　a　reply。　My　ramparts　here　are　strong　and　my　forces　posted　in　the　best　positions。　Let　him　e！　I　am　not　afraid　of　the　result；　so　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　need　feel　no　anxiety。　You　have　only　to　wait　for　the　good　news　of　success。〃
Zhuge　Liang　read　the　letter　and　threw　it　on　the　ground；　stamping　his　foot　with　rage。
〃Meng　Da　is　a　dead　man！〃　said　he；　〃A　victim　of　Sima　Yi。〃
〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃　said　Ma　Su。
〃What　does　the　Art　of　War　say？　'Attack　before　the　enemy　is　prepared；　do　what　he　does　not　expect。'　What　is　the　use　of　reckoning　upon　a　month's　delay　for　sending　up　a　memorial？　Cao　Rui's　mission　has　already　gone；　and　Sima　Yi　may　strike　whom　he　will。　He　will　not　have　to　wait　to　memorialize　the　Throne。　Ten　days　after　he　hears　of　Meng　Da's　defection；　he　will　be　upon　Meng　Da　with　an　army；　and　Meng　Da　will　be　helpless。〃
The　others　agreed。　However；　Zhuge　Liang　sent　the　messenger　back　again　with　a　message：
〃If　the　matter　has　not　yet　actually　started；　no　other　person　is　to　be　told　of　it；　for　if　anyone　knows；　it　shall　certainly　e　to　nothing。〃
And　the　messenger　left　for　Xincheng。
In　his　idle　retreat　in　Wancheng；　Sima　Yi　had　heard　of　his　master's　ill…success　against　the　armies　of　Shu；　and　the　news　made　him　very　sad。　He　lifted　up　his　eyes　and　sighed。
He　had　two　sons；　Sima　Shi　the　elder　and　Sima　Zhao；　both　clever　and　ambitious；　and　both　earnest　students　of　military　books。　One　day　they　were　present　when　their　father　seemed　very　cast　down；　and　Sima　Shi　asked　his　father　the　reason。
〃You　would　not　understand；〃　said　the　father。
〃I　think　you　are　grieving　because　the　Ruler　of　Wei　does　not　use　you；〃　replied　Sima　Shi。
〃But　they　will　send　for　you　presently；〃　said　Sima　Zhao。
The　prophecy　was　not　long　in　fulfillment；　for　even　then　the　bearer　of　the　mand　stood　at　the　gate；　and　the　servant　announced　a　messenger　from　the　court　bearing　a　mission。
As　soon　as　he　heard　its　terms；　Sima　Yi　set　about　ordering　the　armies　of　Wancheng。　Soon　came　a　messenger　from　Governor　Shen　Yi　of　Jincheng　with　a　secret　message　for　Sima　Yi。　The　messenger　was　taken　into　a　private　chamber；　and　his　message　was　that　Meng　Da　was　on　the　point　of　rebellion。　The　leakage　of　this　news　was　due　to　Li　Gu；　a　confidential　subordinate　of　Meng　Da；　and　Deng　Xian；　Meng　Da's　nephew。　Li　Gu　and　Deng　Xian　went　to　confess　the　plot　in　exchange　for　a　promise　of　amnesty。
Sima　Yi　smote　his　forehead。
〃This　is　the　Emperor's　great　good　fortune；　high　as　heaven　itself。　Zhuge　Liang's　army　is　at　Qishan　already；　and　all　people's　courage　is　at　the　brink　of　breakdown。　The　Emperor　must　go　to　Changan；　and　if　he　does　not　use　me　soon；　Meng　Da　will　carry　out　his　plan；　his　plot　will　succeed；　and　both　capitals　will　be　lost。　Meng　Da　is　surely　in　league　with　Zhuge　Liang；　and　if　I　can　seize　this　Meng　Da　before　he　makes　any　move；　that　will　damp　Zhuge　Liang's　spirits　and　he　will　retreat。〃
His　elder　son　Sima　Shi　remarked；　〃It　is　necessary　to　memorialize　the　Throne。〃
〃No；〃　replied　his　father；　〃that　would　take　a　month；　and　delay　would　mean　failure。〃
Sima　Yi　gave　orders　to　prepare　to　advance　by　double…rapid　marches　and　threatened　death　to　all　loiterers。　In　order　to　avert　suspicion；　he　sent　letters　to　Meng　Da　by　the　hand　of　Military　Adviser　Liang　Ji　to　tell　Meng　Da　to　prepare　to　join　the　western　expedition。
Sima　Yi　quickly　followed　Liang　Ji。　After　two　days'　march　Sima　Yi　fell　in　with　an　army　of　General　Xu　Huang　over　the　hills。
Xu　Huang　got　an　interview　with　Sima　Yi；　and　he　said；　〃The　Emperor　has　arrived　at　Changan　to　lead　an　expedition　against　Shu。　Whither　is　the　mander…in…Chief　going？〃
Sima　Yi；　in　a　low　voice；　said　to　him；　〃Meng　Da　is　on　the　verge　of　rebellion；　and　I　am　going　to　seize　him。〃
〃Let　me　go　as　your　Van　Leader；〃　said　Xu　Huang。
So　Xu　Huang's　troops　were　joined　to　the　expedition　and　marched　in　the　van。　Sima　Yi　manded　the　center；　and　his　sons　brought　up　the　rear。
Two　days　farther　on；　some　of　the　scouts　captured　Meng　Da's　confidential　messenger；　and　with　him　Zhuge　Liang's　reply。
Sima　Yi　said　to　the　man；　〃I　will　let　you　live　if　you　tell　all　you　know。〃
So　the　messenger　told　all　about　the　letters　and　messages　he　had　taken　from　one　to　the　other。
When　Sima　Yi　read；　he　remarked；　〃All　able　people　think　the　same　way。　Our　plan　would　have　been　foiled　by　Zhuge　Liang's　cleverness　unless；　by　the　good　luck　of　the　Emperor；　this　messenger　had　been　captured。　Now　Meng　Da　will　be　helpless。〃
The　army　pressed　on　still　more　rapidly。
Meng　Da　had　arranged　for　his　stroke　with　Governor　Shen　Yi　of　Jincheng　and　Governor　Shen　Dan　of　Shangyong　and　was　awaiting　the　day　he　had　fixed。　But　Shen　Yi　and　Shen　Dan　were　only　pretending　to　abet　him；　although　they　went　on　training　and　drilling　their　troops　to　keep　up　appearances　till　the　soldiers　of　Wei　could　arrive。　To　Meng　Da　they　pretended　delay　in　their　transport　as　the　reason　for　being　unable　to　start。　And　he　believed　them。
Just　then　Liang　Ji　came；　and　when　he　had　been　ceremoniously　received；　he　produced　the　order　from　Sima　Yi　and　said；　〃The　mander…in…Chief　has　received　the　edict　of　the　Emperor　to　call　in　all　the　forces　in　this　area；　and　he　has　sent　me　to　direct　you　to　hold　your　troops　in　readiness　to　march。〃
〃On　what　day　does　the　mander…in…Chief　start？〃　asked　Meng　Da。
〃He　is　just　about　starting　now；　and　is　on　the　way　to　Changan〃　replied　Liang　Ji。
Meng　Da　smiled　inwardly；　for；　this　being　so；　he　saw　success　before　him。　He　gave　a　banquet　to　Liang　Ji。　After　Liang　Ji　took　his　leave；　Meng　Da　sent　to　his　fellow　conspirators………Shen　Yi　and　Shen　Dan………to　say　the　first　step　must　be　taken　next　day　by　exchanging　the　banners　of　Wei　for　those　of　Han　and　marching　to　attack　Luoyang。
Then　the　watchmen　reported　a　great　cloud　of　dust　in　the　distance　as　though　an　army　was　ing。　Meng　Da　was　surprised　and　went　up　on　the　ramparts　to　see　for　himself。　Soon　he　made　out　the　banner　of　Xu　Huang　leading。　He　ran　down　from　the　wall　and　in　a　state　of　trepidation　ordered　the　raising　of　the　drawbridge。　Xu　Huang　still　came　on　and　in　due　time　stood　on　the　bank　of　the　moat。
Then　Xu　Huang　called　out；　〃Let　the　traitor　Meng　Da　yield　quickly！〃
Meng　Da；　in　a　rage；　opened　upon　him　with　arrows；　and　Xu　Huang　was　wounded　in　the　forehead。　He　was　helped　to　a　place　of　safety　while　the　arrows　flew　down　in　great　numbers。　When　the　soldiers　of　Wei　retired；　Meng　Da　opened　the　gates　and　went　in　pursuit。　But　the　whole　of　Sima　Yi's　army　soon　came　up；　and　the　banners　stood　so　thick　that　they　hid　the　sun。
〃This　is　what　Zhuge　Liang　foresaw！〃　said　Meng　Da　despairingly。　The　gates　were　closed　and　barred。
Meanwhile　the　wounded　general；　Xu　Huang；　had　been　borne　to　his　tent；　where　the　arrow　head　was　extracted　and　the　physician　attended　to　him。　But　that　night　he　died。　He　was　fifty…nine。　His　body　was　sent　to　Luoyang　for　burial。
Next　day；　when　Meng　Da　went　up　on　the　wall；　he　saw　the　city　was　entirely　surrounded　as　with　a　girdle　of　iron。　He　was　greatly　perturbed　and　could　not　decide　what　to　do。　Presently　he　saw　two　bodies　of　troops　ing　up；　their　banners　bearing　the　names　of　his　fellow　conspirators………Shen　Yi　and　Shen　Dan。　He　could　only　conclude　that　they　had　e　to　his　help；　so　he　opened　the　gates　to　them　and　went　out　to　join　them　in　the　fight。
〃Rebel；　stay！〃　cried　they　both　as　they　came　up。
Realizing　that　they　had　been　false；　he　turned　and　galloped　toward　the　city；　but　a　flight　of　arrows　met　him；　and