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d 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