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〃After him； Fei Yi。〃
〃Who is next after Fei Yi？〃
No reply came； and when they looked more carefully； they perceived that the soul of the Prime Minister had passed。
Thus died Zhuge Liang； on the twenty…third day of the eighth month in the twelfth year of Beginning Prosperity； at the age of fifty and four （AD 234）。
The poet Du Fu wrote some verses on his death。
A bright star last night falling from the sky；
This message gave； 〃The Master is no more。〃
No more in camps shall bold men tramp at his mand；
At court no statesman ever will fill the place he held；
At home； his clients miss their patron kind；
Sad for the army； who were lonely in this world。
In the green wood stones and creeks are crying；
No more of his lute； birds have hushed singing。
And Bai Juyi also wrote a poem：
Within the forest dim the Master lived obscure；
Till； thrice returning； there the prince his mentor met。
As when a fish the ocean gains； desire was filled
Wholly the dragon freed could soar aloft at will。
As king's son's guardian none more zealous was；
As minister； most loyally he wrought at court。
His war memorials still to us are left；
And； reading them； the tears unconscious fall。
Now in past days； mander Liao Li in Changshui had a high opinion of his own abilities and thought himself perfectly fitted to be Zhuge Liang's second。 So he neglected the duties of his proper post； showed discontent and indiscipline； and was constantly slandering the minister。 Thereupon Zhuge Liang degraded him and transferred him to Minshan。
When Liao Li heard of Zhuge Liang's death； he shed tears and said； 〃Then； after all； I shall remain a barbarian！〃
Li Yan also grieved deeply at the sad tidings； for he had always hoped that Zhuge Liang would restore him to office and so give him the opportunity of repairing his former faults。 After Zhuge Liang had died； he thought there was no hope of reemployment； and so he died。
Another poet； Yuan Weizhi； also wrote in praise of the great adviser。
He fought disorder； helped a weak king；
Most zealously he kept his master's son。
In state…craft he excelled Guan Zhong； Yue Yi；
In war…craft he overpassed Wu Qi； Sun Zi。
With awe the court his war memorials heard；
With majesty his Eight Arrays were planned。
Virtue and wisdom both filled in his heart；
For thousand autumns； his fame would still stay。
Heaven grieved and earth mourned on the night of Zhuge Liang's death。 Even the moon was dimmed； as Zhuge Liang's soul returned to Heaven。
As the late mander had directed； Jiang Wei and Yang Yi forbade the mourning of his death。 His body was placed in the coffer as he had wished； and three hundred of his trusted leaders and soldiers were appointed to watch it。
Secret orders were given to Wei Yan to mand the rearguard； and then； one by one； the camps were broken up and the army began its homeward march。
Sima Yi watched the skies。 One night a large red star with bright rays passed from the northeast to the southwest and dropped over the camps of Shu。 It dipped thrice and rose again。 Sima Yi heard also a low rumbling in the distance。
He was pleased and excited； and said to those about him； 〃Zhuge Liang is dead！〃
At once he ordered pursuit with a strong force。 But just as he passed his camp gates； doubts filled his mind and he gave up the plan。
〃Zhuge Liang is a master of mysteries： He can get aids from the Deities of the Six Layers。 It may be that this is but a ruse to get us to take the field。 We may fall victims to his guile。〃
So he halted。 But he sent Xiahou Ba with a few dozen scouts to reconnoiter the enemy's camps。
One night as Wei Yan lay asleep in his tent； he dreamed a dream。 In his vision two horns grew out of his head。 When he awoke he was much perplexed to explain his dream。
Marching General Zhao Zhi came to see him； and Wei Yan said； 〃You are versed in the Book of Changes。 I have dreamed that two horns grew upon my head； and would trouble you to expound the dream and tell me its portent。〃
Zhao Zhi thought a moment and replied； 〃It is an auspicious dream。 Dragon and Jilin both have horns on the head。 It augurs transformation into an ascending creature。〃
Wei Yan； much pleased； said； 〃If the dream proves true as you said； I will thank you with very generous gifts。〃
Zhao Zhi left and presently met Fei Yi； who asked whence he came。
〃From the camp of our friend Wei Yan。 He dreamed that he grew horns upon his head； and I have given him an auspicious interpretation。 But really it is inauspicious。 However； I did not wish to annoy him。〃
〃How do you know it is inauspicious？〃
〃The word for horn is posed of two parts； 'knife' above and 'use' below； and so means that there is a knife upon his head。 It is a terrible omen。〃
〃Keep it secret；〃 said Fei Yi。
Then Fei Yi went to the camp of Wei Yan； and when they were alone； he said； 〃The Prime Minister died last night in the third watch。 He left certain final orders； and among them； that you are to mand the rearguard to keep Sima Yi at bay while the army retreats。 No mourning is to be worn。 Here is your authority； so you can march forthwith。〃
〃Who is acting in place of the late minister？〃 asked Wei。
〃The chief mand has been delegated to Yang Yi； but the secret plans of campaign have been entrusted to Jiang Wei。 This authority was issued from Yang Yi。〃
Wei Yan replied； 〃Though the Prime Minister is dead； I am yet alive。 Counselor Yang Yi is only a civil officer and unequal to this post。 He ought to conduct the coffin home while I lead the army against Sima Yi。 I shall achieve success； and it is wrong to abandon a whole plan of campaign because of the death of one man； even if that be the Prime Minister。〃
〃The Prime Minister's orders were to retire； and these orders are to be obeyed。〃
〃If the Prime Minister had listened to me； we should now have been at Changan。 I am the Van Leader； General Who Conquers the West； and Lord of Nanzheng。 I am not going to act as rearguard for any civil official；〃 said Wei Yan； angry。
〃It may be as you say； General； but you must not do anything to make us ridiculous。 Let me go back to Yang Yi and explain； and I may be able to persuade him to pass on to you the supreme military authority he holds。〃
Wei Yan agreed； and Fei Yi went back to the main camp and told Yang Yi what had passed。
Yang Yi replied； 〃When near death the Prime Minister confided to me that Wei Yan would turn traitor。 I sent him the authority to test him； and now he has discovered himself as the Prime Minister foretold。 So I will direct Jiang Wei to mand the rearguard。〃
The coffer containing the remains of Zhuge Liang was sent on in advance； and Jiang Wei took up his post to cover the retreat。
Meanwhile Wei Yan sat in his tent waiting for the return of Fei Yi and was perplexed at the delay。 When the suspense became unbearable； he sent Ma Dai to find out the reason。
Ma Dai returned and told him： 〃Jiang Wei is covering the retreat； and that most of the army has already gone。〃
Wei Yan was furious。
〃How dare he play with me； the pedantic blockhead？〃 cried he。 〃But he shall die for this！〃
Turning to Ma Dai； Wei Yan said； 〃Will you help me？〃
Ma Dai replied； 〃I have long hated Yang Yi； certainly I am ready to attack him。〃
So Wei Yan broke camp and marched southward。
By the time Xiahou Ba had reached the Shu camps； they were all empty； and he hastened back with this news。
〃Then Zhuge Liang is really dead！ Let us pursue；〃 said Sima Yi； much irritated at being misled。
〃Be cautious；〃 said Xiahou Ba。 〃Send an subordinate leader first。〃
〃No； I must go myself this time。〃
So Sima Yi and his two sons hastened to the Wuzhang Hills。 With shouts and waving flags； they rushed into the camps； only to find them quite deserted。
Sima Yi said to his sons； 〃You are to bring up the remaining force with all speed； whereas I will lead the vanguard。〃
Sima Yi hastened in the wake of the retreating army。 ing to some hills； he saw them in the distance and pressed on still harder。 Then suddenly a bomb exploded； a great shout broke the stillness； and the retiring army turned about and came toward him； ready for battle。 In their midst fluttered a great banner bearing the words； Prime Minister of Han； Lord of Wuxiang； Zhuge Liang 。
Sima Yi stopped； pale with fear。 Then out from th