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　be　a　very　great　feat　to　capture　Chengdu。〃
They　all　said　they　would　go　on。　So　they　came　to　the　precipice。　First　they　threw　over　their　weapons；　then　the　leader　wrapped　himself　in　blankets　and　rolled　over　the　edge；　next　the　generals　followed　him；　also　wrapped　in　blankets。　Those　who　had　not　blankets　were　let　down　by　cords　round　the　waist；　and　others　clinging　to　trees　followed　one　after　another　till　all　had　descended　and　the　Heaven　Cliffs　was　passed。　Then　they　retook　their　armor　and　weapons　and　went　on　their　way。
They　came　across　a　stone　by　the　roadside。　It　bore　a　mysterious　inscription；　translated　literally　it　read：

＇e＇　Two　Lius　were　just　founded；　armies　pass　by　here。　Deng　Ai　and　Zhong　Hui　pete；　both　soon　die。
〃This　stone　is　a　message　of　Zhuge　Liang　the　Prime　Minister：　Two　fires　were　just　founded；　armies　pass　by　here。　Two　soldiers　pete；　both　soon　die。〃*
Deng　Ai　was　astonished。　Presently　he　bowed　before　the　stone　and　prayed　to　the　spirit　of　Zhuge　Liang。
〃O　Martial　Lord；　immortal！　I　grieve　that　I　am　not　thy　worthy　disciple。〃

The　rugged　lofty　mountain　peaks
Of　Yinping；　pierce　the　sky；
The　somber　crane　with　wearied　wing
Can　scarcely　over　them　fly。
Intrepid　Deng　Ai　in　blankets　wrapped
Rolled　down　the　craggy　steep；
His　feat　Zhuge　Liang　prophesied
By　insight　wondrous　deep。

Having　crossed　this　great　range　of　mountains　without　discovery；　Deng　Ai　marched　forward。　Presently　he　came　to　a　roomy　camp；　empty　and　deserted。　He　was　told　that　while　Zhuge　Liang　lived；　a　thousand　troops　had　been　kept　in　garrison　at　this　point　of　danger；　but　the　Latter　Ruler　had　withdrawn　them。　Deng　Ai　sighed　at　the　thought。
He　said　to　his　troops；　〃Now　retreat　is　impossible；　there　is　no　road　back。　Before　you　lies　Jiangyou　with　stores　in　abundance。　Advance　and　you　live；　retreat　and　you　die。　You　must　fight　with　all　your　strength。〃
〃We　will　fight　to　the　death！〃　they　cried。
The　leader　was　now　afoot；　doing　double　marches　with　his　two　thousand　troops　toward　Jiangyou。
The　mander　at　Jiangyou　was　Ma　Miao。　He　heard　the　East　River　Land　had　fallen　into　the　hands　of　the　enemy。　Though　some　thing　prepared　for　defense；　yet　his　post　had　a　wide　area　to　cover　and　guard；　and　he　trusted　Jiang　Wei　would　defend　the　Saber　Pass。　So　he　did　not　take　his　military　duties　very　seriously；　just　maintaining　the　daily　drills　and　then　going　home　to　his　wife　to　cuddle　up　to　the　stove　and　drink。
His　wife　was　of　the　Li　family。　When　she　heard　of　the　state　of　things　on　the　frontier；　she　said　to　her　husband；　〃If　there　is　so　great　danger　on　the　borders；　how　is　it　you　are　so　unaffected？〃
〃The　affair　is　in　Jiang　Wei's　hands　and　is　not　my　concern；〃　replied　he。
〃Nevertheless；　you　finally　have　to　guard　the　capital；　and　that　is　a　heavy　responsibility。〃
〃O；　well！　The　Emperor　trusts　his　favorite　Huang　Hao　entirely　and　is　sunk　in　vice　and　pleasure。　Disaster　is　very　near。　If　the　Wei　armies　get　here；　I　shall　yield。　It　is　no　good　taking　it　seriously。〃
〃You　call　yourself　a　man！　Have　you　such　a　disloyal　and　treacherous　heart？　Is　it　nothing　to　have　held　office　and　taken　pay　for　years？　How　can　I　bear　to　look　upon　your　face？〃
Ma　Miao　was　too　ashamed　to　attempt　to　reply。　Just　then　his　house　servants　came　to　tell　him　that　Deng　Ai；　with　his　two　thousand　troops；　had　found　their　way　along　some　road　and　had　already　broken　into　the　city。　Ma　Miao　was　now　frightened　and　hastily　went　out　to　find　the　leader　and　offer　his　formal　submission。
He　went　to　the　Town　Hall　and　bowed　on　the　steps；　crying；　〃I　have　long　desired　to　e　over　to　Wei。　Now　I　yield　myself　and　my　army　and　all　the　town。〃
Deng　Ai　accepted　his　surrender　and　incorporated　his　army　with　his　own　force。　He　took　Ma　Miao　into　his　service　as　guide。
Then　came　a　servant　with　the　news：　〃Lady　Li　has　hanged　herself！〃
Deng　Ai　asked　why　she　had　done　it；　and　Ma　Miao　told　him。　Deng　Ai；　admiring　her　rectitude；　gave　orders　for　an　honorable　burial。　He　also　went　in　person　to　sacrifice。　Everyone　extolled　her　conduct。

When　the　Ruler　of　Shu　had　wandered　from　the　way；
And　the　House　of　Han　fell　lower；
Heaven　sent　Deng　Ai　to　smite　the　land。
Then　did　a　woman　show　herself　most　noble；
So　noble　in　conduct；
That　no　leader　equaled　her。

As　soon　as　Jiangyou　was　taken；　the　posts　along　the　road　by　which　the　army　had　e　were　withdrawn；　and　there　was　a　general　rendezvous　at　this　point。　This　done；　they　marched　toward　Fucheng。
General　Tian　Xu　remonstrated；　saying；　〃We　have　just　finished　a　long　and　perilous　march　and　are　weary　and　worn　out。　We　ought　to　repose　for　a　few　days　to　recover。〃
Deng　Ai　angrily　replied；　〃Speed　is　the　one　important　matter　in　war。　Do　not　encourage　any　discontent。　I　will　not　have　it。〃
Tian　Xu　was　sentenced　to　death。　But　as　many　officers　interceded　for　him；　he　was　pardoned。
The　army　pressed　on　toward　Fucheng。　As　soon　as　they　arrived；　the　officers　yielded　as　if　they　thought　Deng　Ai　had　fallen　from　the　heavens。　Some　took　the　news　to　the　capital；　and　the　Latter　Ruler　began　to　feel　alarmed。　He　hastily　called　for　Huang　Hao；　who　at　once　denied　the　report。
〃That　is　just　false　rumor。　The　spirits　would　not　deceive　Your　Majesty；〃　said　Huang　Hao。
The　Latter　Ruler　summoned　the　wise　woman　to　the　Palace；　but　the　messengers　said　she　had　gone　no　one　knew　whither。
And　now　urgent　memorials　and　letters　fell　in　from　every　side　like　a　snow　storm；　and　messengers　went　to　and　fro　in　constant　streams。　The　Latter　Ruler　called　a　court　to　discuss　the　danger；　but　no　one　had　any　plan　or　suggestion　to　offer。　The　courtiers　just　looked　blankly　into　each　other's　faces。
Finally　Xi　Zheng　spoke　out；　〃In　this　extremity　Your　Majesty　should　call　in　the　help　of　the　son　of　the　Martial　Lord。〃
This　son　of　Zhuge　Liang　was　named　Zhuge　Zhan。　His　mother　was　born　of　the　Huang　family　and　a　daughter　of　Huang　Chenyan。　She　was　singularly　plain　and　extraordinarily　talented。　She　had　studied　everything；　even　books　of　strategy　and　magic。　Zhuge　Liang　in　Nanyang　had　sought　to　marry　her　because　of　her　goodness；　and　she　had　studied　with　him　for　all　their　lives。　She　had　survived　her　husband　but　a　short　time；　and　her　last　words　to　her　son　had　been　〃be　loyal　and　filial〃。
Zhuge　Zhan　had　been　known　as　a　clever　lad　and　had　married　a　daughter　of　the　Latter　Ruler；　so　that　he　was　an　Imperial　Son…in…Law。　His　father's　rank；　Lord　of　Wuxiang；　had　descended　to　him。　In　the　fourth　year　of　Wonderful　Sight　（AD　261）　Zhuge　Zhan　received　the　rank　of　General　of　the　Guard　as　well。　But　he　had　retired　when　Huang　Hao；　the　eunuch；　as　first　favorite；　began　to　direct　state　affairs。
As　suggested；　the　Latter　Ruler　summoned　Zhuge　Zhan　to　court；　and　he　said；　weeping；　〃Deng　Ai　has　defeated　Fucheng；　and　the　capital　is　seriously　threatened。　You　must　think　of　your　father　and　rescue　me！〃
〃My　father　and　I　owe　too　much　to　the　First　Ruler's　and　Your　Majesty's　kindness　for　me　to　think　any　sacrifice　too　great　to　make　for　Your　Majesty。　I　pray　that　you　give　me　mand　of　the　troops　in　the　capital；　and　I　will　fight　a　decisive　battle。〃
So　the　soldiers；　seventy　thousand；　were　placed　under　Zhuge　Zhan's　mand。
When　he　had　gathered　all　together；　he　said；　〃Who　dares　be　Leader　of　the　Van？〃
His　son；　Zhuge　Shang；　then　nineteen；　offered　himself；　saying；　〃Since　my　father　mands　the　army；　I　volunteer　to　lead　the　van！〃
Zhuge　Shang　had　studied　military　books　and　made　himself　an　adept　in　the　various　exercises。　So　he　was　appointed；　and　the　army　marched　to　find　the　enemy。
In　the　meantime　the　surrender　general；　Ma　Miao；　had　given　Deng　Ai　a　very　plete　map　of　the　country　showing　the　whole　sixty　miles　of　road　to　Chengdu。　However；　Deng　Ai　was　dismayed　when　he　saw　the　difficulties　ahead　of　him。
〃If　they　defend　the　hills　in　front；　I　shall　fail；　for　if　I　am　delayed；　Jiang　Wei　will　e　up；　and　my　army　will　be　in　great　danger。　The　army　must　press　on。〃
He　called　Shi　Zuan　and　his　son　Deng　Zhong　and　said；　〃Lead　one　army　straight　to　Mianzhu　to　keep　back　any　Shu　soldiers　sent　to　stop　our　march。　I　will　follow　as　soon　as　I　can。　But　hasten；　for　if　you　let　the　enemy　forestall　you；　I　will　put　you　to　death。〃
They　went。　Nearing　Mianzhu　they　met　the　army　under　Zhuge　Zhan。　Both　sides　prepared　for　battle。　The　Shu　armies　adopted　the　Eight　Diagrams　formation　and　presently；　after　the　usual　triple　roll　of　drums；　Shi　Zuan　and　Deng　Zhong　saw　their　opponents'　ranks　open　in　the　center；　and　therefrom　emerge　a　light　carriage　in　which　sat　a　figure　looking　exactly　as　Zhuge　Liang　used　to　look　when　he　appeared　on　the　battlefield。　Everybody　knew　the　Taoist　robes　and　the　feather　fan。　The　standard　bore　his　name　and　titles　The　Han　Prime　Minister　Zhuge　Liang　。
The　sight　was　too　much　for　Deng　Zhong　and　Shi　Zuan。　The　cold　sweat　of　terror　poured　down　them；　and　they　stammered　out。
〃If　Zhuge　Liang　is　still　alive；　that　is　the　end　of　us！〃
They　led　their　army　to　flee。　The　troops　of　Shu　came　on；　and　the　army　of　Wei　was　driven　away　in　defeat　and　chased　a　distance　of　seven　miles。　Then　the　pursuers　sighted　Deng　Ai；　and　they　turned　and　retired。
When　Deng　Ai　had　camped；　he　called　the　two　leaders　before　him　and　reproached　them　for　retreating　without　fighting。
〃We　saw　Zhuge　Liang　leading　the　enemy；〃　said　Deng　Zhong；　〃So　we　ran　away。〃
〃Why　should　we　fear；　even　if　they　bring　Zhuge　Liang　to　life　again？　You　ran　away　without　cause；　and　we　have　lost。　You　ought　both　to　be　put　to　death。〃
However；　they　did　not　die；　for　their　fellows　pleaded　for　them；　and　Deng　Ai's　wrath　was　mollified。
Then　the　scouts　came　in　to　say：　〃The　leader　of　the　army　is　a　son　of　Zhuge　Liang；　Zhuge　Zhan。　The　Van　Leader　is　Zhuge　Zhang's　son；　Zhuge　Shang。　They　had　set　up　on　the　carriage　the　old　wooden　image　of　the　late　strategist。〃
Deng　Ai；　however；　said　to　Deng　Zhong　and　Shi　Zuan；　〃This　is　the　critical　stage。　If　you　lose　the　next　battle；　you　will　certainly　lose　your　lives　with　it！〃
At　the　head　of　ten　thousand　troops；　they　went　out　to　battle　once　more。　This　time　they　met　the　vanguard　led　by　Zhuge　Shang；　who　rode　out　alone；　boldly　offering　to　repulse　the　leaders　of　Wei。　At　Zhuge　Zhan's　signal　the　two　wings　advanced　and　threw　themselves　against　the　Wei　line。　The　center　portion　of　the　Wei　line　met　them；　and　the　battle　went　to　and　fro　many　times；　till　at　length　the　force　of　Wei；　after　great　losses；　had　to　give　way。　Both　Deng　Zhong　and　Shi　Zuan　being　badly　wounded；　they　fled　and　the　army　of　Shu　pursued　and　drove　the　invaders　into　their　camp。
Shi　Zuan　and　Deng　Zhong　had　to　acknowledge　a　new　defeat；　but；　when　Deng　Ai　saw　both　were　severely　wounded；　he　forbore　to　blame　them　or　decree　any　penalty。
To　his　officers　Deng　Ai　said；　〃This　Zhuge　Zhan　well　continues　the　paternal　tradition。　Twice　they　have　beaten　us　and　slain　great　numbers。　We　must　defeat　them；　and　that　quickly；　or　we　are　lost。〃
Then　Military　Inspector　Qiu　Ben　said；　〃Why　not　persuade　their　leader　with　a　letter？〃
Deng　Ai　agreed　and　wrote　a　letter；　which　he　sent　by　the　hand　of　a　messenger。　The　warden　of　the　Shu　camp　gate　led　the　messenger　in　to　see　Zhuge　Zhan；　who　opened　the　letter　and　read：
〃Deng　Ai；　General　Who　Conquers　the　West；　writes　to　Zhuge　Zhan；　General　of　the　Guard　and　Leader　of　the　army　in　the　field。
〃Now　having　carefully　observed　all　the　talents　of　the　time；　I　see　not　one　of　them　is　equal　to　your　most　honored　father。　From　the　moment　of　his　emergence　from　his　retreat；　he　said　that　the　country　was　to　be　in　tripod　division。　He　conquered　Jingzhou　and　Yizhou　and　Hanzhong　and　thus　established　a　position。　Few　have　been　his　equal　in　all　history。　He　made　six　expeditions　from　Qishan；　and；　if　he　failed；　it　was　not　that　he　lacked　skill………it　was　the　will　of　Heaven。
〃But　now　this　Latter　Ruler　is　dull　and　weak；　and　his　kingly　aura　is　already　exhausted。　I　have　a　mand　from　the　Son　of　Heaven　to　smite　Shu　with　severity；　and　I　already　possess　the　land。　Your　capital　must　quickly　fall。　Why　then　do　you　not　bow　to　the　will　of　Heaven　and　fall　in　with　the　desires　of　people　by　acting　rightly　and　ing　over　to　our　side？　I　will　obtain　the　rank　of　Prince　of　Langye　for　you；　whereby　your　ancestors　will　be　rendered　illustrious。　These　are　no　vain　words　if　happily　you　will　consider　them。〃
The　letter　made　Zhuge　Zhan　furiously　angry。　He　tore　it　to　fragments　and　ordered　the　bearer　thereof　to　be　put　to　death　immediately。　He　also　ordered　the　escort　to　bear　the　head　of　the　messenger　to　the　camp　of　Wei　and　lay　it　before　Deng　Ai。
Deng　Ai　was　very　angry　at　this　insult　and　wished　to　go　forth　at　once　to　battle。　But　Qiu　Ben　dissuaded　him。
〃Do　not　go　out