Sun Liang agreed。
Zhuge Ke had never been to court since his return from the unfortunate expedition。 Under a plea of indisposition he had remained moping at home。 One day he was going out of his reception room when he suddenly saw ing in a person dressed in the mourning white。
〃Who are you？〃 said he； rather roughly。
The person seemed too terror…stricken to reply or resist when he was seized。
They questioned him； and he said； 〃I was in mourning for my father newly dead； and had e into the city to seek a priest to read the liturgy。 I had entered by mistake； thinking it was a temple。〃
The gate wardens were questioned。 They said； 〃There are scores of us at the gate； which is never unwatched。 We have not seen a man enter。〃
Zhuge Ke raged and had the mourner and the gate wardens put to death。 But that night he was restless and sleepless。 By and by he heard a rending sound that seemed to e from the reception hall； so he arose and went to see what it was。 The great main beam had broken in two。
Zhuge Ke； much disturbed； returned to his chamber to try once more to sleep。 But a cold wind blew； and； shivering in the chilly air； he saw the figures of the mourner and the gate wardens he had put to death。 They advanced toward him holding their heads in their hands and seemed to threaten him。 He was frightened； and fell in a swoon。
Next morning； when washing his face； the water seemed tainted with the smell of blood。 He bade the maid throw it away and bring more； it made no difference； the odor was still there。 He was perplexed and distressed。 Then came a messenger with an invitation to a royal banquet。 He had his carriage prepared。 As he was passing through the gate； a yellow dog jumped up and caught hold of his garment and then howled lugubriously。
〃The dog even mocks me！〃 said he； annoyed； and he bade his attendants take it away。
Then he set out for the Palace。 Before he had gone far； he saw a white rainbow rise out of the earth and reach up to the sky。 While he was wondering what this might portend； his friend Zhang Yue came up and spoke a word of warning。
〃I feel doubtful about the real purpose of this banquet；〃 said Zhang Yue； 〃and advise you not to go。〃
Zhuge Ke gave orders to drive home again。 But before he had reached his own gate； the two conspirators………Sun Jun and Teng Yin………rode up and asked； 〃O Imperial Guardian； why are you turning back？〃
〃I feel unwell and cannot see the Emperor today；〃 replied Zhuge Ke。
They replied； 〃This court is appointed to be held especially to do honor to you and the army。 You have not yet reported； and there is a banquet for you。 You may be ill； but you really must go to court。〃
Zhuge Ke yielded； and once more set his face toward the Palace。 Sun Jun and Teng Yin went with him； and his friend Zhang Yue followed。 The banquet was spread when he arrived； and after he had made his obeisance he went to his place。
When the wine was brought in； Zhuge Ke； thinking it might be poisoned； excused himself from drinking； saying； 〃I am currently ill； and I cannot drink wine。〃
〃Will you have some of the medicated wine brought from your own residence？〃 said Sun Jun。
〃Yes； I could drink that；〃 replied he。
So a servant was sent for a supply that he might drink with the other guests。
After several courses； the Ruler of Wu made an excuse and left the banquet hall。 Sun Jun went to the foot of the hall and changed his garments of ceremony for more homely garb； but underneath these he put on armor。
Then suddenly he raised his keen sword and ran up the hall； shouting； 〃The Emperor has issued an edict to slay a rebel！〃
Zhuge Ke； startled so that he dropped his cup； laid his hand upon his sword。 But he was too late； his head rolled to the floor。 His friend Zhang Yue drew his sword and rushed at the assassin； but Sun Jun evaded the full force of the blow and was only wounded in the left finger。 Sun Jun slashed back at Zhang Yue and wounded him in the right arm。 Then the braves dashed in and finished Zhang Yue。
The braves were then sent to arrest Zhuge Ke's family； while the bodies of Zhuge Ke and Zhang Yue were hastily rolled in matting； thrown into a cart； taken to the outside of the south gate； and tossed into a rubbish pit。
While Zhuge Ke was absent in the palace； his wife sat in the women's quarters at home feeling strangely unquiet。
Presently a maid came in and； when she drew near； his wife said； 〃Why does your clothing smell of blood？〃
To her horror the maid suddenly transformed into a weird creature with rolling eyes and gritting teeth； that went dancing about the room and leaping till it touched the roof…beams； shrieking all the time； 〃I am Zhuge Ke； and I have been slain by that bastard Sun Jun！〃
By this time the whole family were frightened and began wailing。 And a few minutes later the residence was surrounded by a crowd of armed guards sent to murder the inmates； whom they bound； carried off to the market place； and put to the sword。 These things occurred in the tenth month of the second year of Great Prosperity （AD 253）。
When Zhuge Jin lived； he saw his son's ability display prominently； and he often sighed； saying； 〃This son will not safeguard the family。〃
Others had also predicted an early death。 Zhang Qi； High Minister in Wei； used to say to Sima Shi； 〃Zhuge Ke will die soon。〃
And when asked why； Zhang Qi replied； 〃Can a person live long when his dignity endangers that of his lord？〃
After the conspiracy； Sun Jun became Prime Minister in place of his victim。 He was also placed in mand of all the military forces； and became very powerful。 The control of all matters was in his hands。
In Chengdu； when the letter of Zhuge Ke asking help from Jiang Wei arrived； Jiang Wei had audience with the Latter Ruler and requested authority to raise an army against the north。
The army fought； but fought in vain；
Success may crown a new campaign。
Who were victorious will appear in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 109 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 109
Chapter 109
A Ruse Of A Han General： Sima Zhao Is Surrounded；
Retribution For The House Of Wei： Cao Fang Is Dethroned。
It was the autumn of the sixteenth year of Long Enjoyment （AD 253）； and Jiang Wei's army of two hundred thousand was ready to march against the north。 Liao Hua and Zhang Yi were Leaders of the Van； Xiahou Ba was Army Strategist； Zhang Ni was in mand of the missariat。 The army marched out by the Yangping Pass。
Discussing the plan of campaign with Xiahou Ba； Jiang Wei said； 〃Our former attack on Yongzhou failed； so this time they will doubtless be even better prepared to resist。 What do you suggest？〃
Xiahou Ba replied； 〃Nanan is the only well…provided place in all Longshang。 If we take that； it will serve as an excellent base。 Our former ill…success was due to the non…arrival of the Qiangs。 Let us therefore send early to tell them to assemble at Longyou； after which we will move out at Shiying and march to Nanan by way of Dongting。〃
〃You spoke well；〃 said Jiang Wei。
He at once sent Xi Zheng as his envoy； bearing gifts of gold and pearls and silk to win the help of the King of the Qiangs； whose name was Mi Dang。 The mission was successful： King Mi Dang accepted the presents and sent fifty thousand troops to Nanan under the Qiang General Ehe Shaoge。
When Guo Huai heard of the threatened attack； he sent a hasty memorial to Capital Luoyang。
Sima Shi at once asked his leaders； 〃Who will go out to meet the army from the west？〃
Xu Zi volunteered； and as Sima Shi had a high opinion of his capacity； he appointed Xu Zi as Leader of the Van。 The brother of the Prime Minister； Sima Zhao； went as mander…in…Chief。
The Wei army set out for West Valley Land； reached Dongting； and there fell in with Jiang Wei。 When both sides were arrayed Xu Zi； who wielded a mighty splitter…of…mountains ax as his weapon； rode out and challenged。 Liao Hua went forth to accept； but after a few bouts he took advantage of a feint and fled。
Then Zhang Yi set his spear and rode forth to continue the fight。 He also soon fled and returned within his own ranks。 Thereupon Xu Zi gave the signal to fall on in force； and the army of Shu lost the day。 They retired ten miles； Sima Zhao also drew off his troops； and both sides encamped。
〃Xu Zi is very formidable。 How can we overe him？〃 asked Jiang Wei。
〃Tomorrow make pretense of defeat and so draw them into an ambush；〃 replied Xiahou Ba。
〃But remember whose son this Sima Zhao is；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃Sima Zhao cannot be a novice in war。 If he sees a likely spot for an ambush； he will halt。 Now the troops of Wei have cut our transportation many times。 Let us do the same to them； and we may slay this Xu Zi。〃
He called in Liao Hua and Zhang Yi and gave them secret orders； sending them in different directions。 Then he laid iron thorns along all the approaches and planted thorny barriers as if making a permanent defense。 When the troops of Wei came up and challenged； the troops of Shu refused battle。
The scouts reported to Sima Zhao： 〃The Shu supplies are ing up along the rear of Iron Cage Mountain； and they are using the wooden oxen and running horses as transport。 The Shu army are building permanent defenses and are awaiting the arrival of their allies the Qiang tribes。〃
Then said Sima Zhao to Xu Zi； 〃We formerly defeated the army of Shu by cutting off supplies； and we can do that again。 Let five thousand troops go out tonight and occupy the road。〃
About the middle of the first watch Xu Zi marched across the hills。 When he came to the other side； he saw a couple of hundred soldiers driving a hundred or so heads of mechanical animals laden with grain and forage。 His army rushed down upon them with shouts； and the troops of Shu； seeing that their road was impassable； abandoned their supplies and ran away。 Xu Zi took possession of the supply train； which he sent back to his own camp under the escort of half his troops。 With the other half he set out in pursuit。
About three miles away； the road was found blocked with carts set across the track。 Some of his soldiers dismounted to clear the way。 But as they did so； the brushwood on both sides burst into a blaze。 Xu Zi at once drew off his force and turned to retire； but ing to a defile he found the road again blocked with wagons； and again the bru