Zhuge Liang replied； 〃The heaviest responsibility lies upon me； the well…being of Your Majesty confided to me by the First Ruler。 My efforts may not be relaxed night or day。 The south is at rest； at home is no anxiety。 What better time could be hoped for to destroy the rebels and recover the Middle Land？〃
Forth from the ranks of courtiers stood Minister Qiao Zhou and said； 〃I have studied the aspect of the stars。 The northern quarter is brilliant and strong。 The scheme will not speed。〃
Then turning toward the Prime Minister； he continued； 〃You； O Prime Minister； understand the mysteries of the skies。 Why do you oppose the stars？〃
〃Because the stars are in infinite changes；〃 replied Zhuge Liang。 〃One may rely on the stars too much。 Moreover； I have already sent the army into Hanzhong； where I shall act as soon as I have studied what is afoot。〃
Qiao Zhou pleaded in vain。 Zhuge Liang was too strongly set upon his purpose to yield。 So Guo Youzhi； Dong Yun； and Fei Yi were ordered to attend to matters in the Palace； Xiang Chong was to control all military affairs and became Grand mander； Jiang Wan was made Military Adviser； Chen Zhen became Chair of the Secretariat； Zhang Si； Controller of the Prime Minister's palace； Du Qiong； Imperial Censor； Du Wei and Yang Hong； Ministers； Meng Guang and Lai Min； Libationers； Yin Mo and Li Zhuan； Academicians； Xi Zheng and Fei Shi； General Secretaries； Qiao Zhou； Chief Secretary； and others to the number of over a hundred； all to manage the administration of Shu in the absence of Zhuge Liang。
Having received his Emperor's mand to lead an expedition against the north； Zhuge Liang returned to his palace and summoned the officers of the army to listen to the orders。 And they came； and to each was appointed a duty in the great army：
Front Army mander………Wei Yan
Front Army Marching Generals………Zhang Yi； Wang Ping
Rear Army mander………Li Hui
Rear Army Marching General………Lu Yin
Left Army mander and Chief of the missariat………Ma Dai
Left Army Marching General………Zhang Ni
Right Army mander………Ma Zheng
Right Army Marching General………Deng Zhi
Center Army Director………Liu Yang
Center Army Marching Generals………Liao Hua； Hu Ji
Center Army Front Generals………Yuan Lin； Liu Ba； Xu Yun
Center Army Rear General………Hu Ban
Center Army Left Generals………Wu Yi； Ding Xian
Center Army Right Generals………Gao Xiang； Guan Yong； Liu Min
Center Army Center Generals………Du Qi； Sheng Bo； Fan Qi
Advisers………Ma Su； Yang Yi； Cuan Xi； Du Yi
Secretaries………Fan Jian； Dong Jue
Left Guard………Guan Xing
Right Guard………Zhang Bao
Inspector………Yan Yan
Li Yan was given the task of guarding the passes against Wu from the southeast。
Zhuge Liang was the mander…in…Chief of the Northern Expedition。
All being ready； a day was chosen for the start： The fifth year； the third month； on the day of 〃tiger〃。
After the appointments had all been made； there came forward a veteran who had listened in vain for the duty assigned him。
＇e＇ Lian Po mander…in…chief of Zhao in the Warring States period； who made Zhao a powerful state。 Liu Xiangru； the Prime Minister of Zhao； was his good friend。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Ma Yuan （BC 14…AD 49） a general who first served Wang Mang； then join Liu Xiu in restoring Han Dynasty。 In his life of career； Ma Yuan contributed much to Liu Xiu's success by putting down rebellions throughout the empire and abroad。 。。。。。
〃Old I may be；〃 said he； 〃yet have I still the valor of Lian Po* and the heroism of Ma Yuan*。 Why am I thought useless any more than these two who refused to acknowledge old age？〃
It was Zhao Yun。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I have lost my friend Ma Chao by illness since I returned from the Southern Expedition； and I feel as I had lost an arm。 Now； General； you must own that the years are mounting up。 Any slight lapse would not only shake the life…long reputation of yourself； but might have a bad effect on the whole army。〃
Zhao Yun replied bitterly； 〃I have never quailed in the presence of the enemy from the day I first joined the First Ruler。 I have ever pressed to the front。 It is a happy ending for a person of valor to die on the frontier。 Think you that I should resent it？ Let me lead the van； I pray。〃
Zhuge Liang used all his skill to dissuade the veteran； but in vain。
Zhao Yun was set on it； saying； 〃If you； O Prime Minister； do not let me lead the van； I will smash my head on the floor and die at your feet。〃
At last Zhuge Liang yielded； saying； 〃General； you can have the post of Van Leader； but you must choose a colleague to support you。〃
〃I will go to help the Veteran Leader！〃 cried Deng Zhi； without a moment's hesitation。 〃I am not worth much； but I will help lead the attack on the enemy。〃
Accordingly five thousand of veterans were chosen for the advanced guard； and with them； to assist Zhao Yun； went Deng Zhi and ten other generals。
After the vanguard had set out； the main body marched by the north gate； the Latter Ruler himself going to see his minister start。 The farewell was taken three miles from the gate； in the face of the grand army with its banners and pennons flaunting in the wind； and spears and swords gleaming in the sun。
Then they took the road leading to Hanzhong。
Naturally； this movement was duly reported in Luoyang at a court held by Cao Rui； when a minister said； 〃A report from the border stations says that Zhuge Liang has marched three hundred thousand troops into Hanzhong。 Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi are leading the advanced guard。〃
The report alarmed Cao Rui； and he asked； 〃Who can lead an army to repel the advance？〃
At once out spoke one； saying； 〃My father died in Hanzhong； and to my bitter resentment his death is unavenged。 Now I desire to lead the army against Shu； and I pray that the armies west of the Pass may be given me for this purpose。 I shall render a service to the state； as well as taking vengeance for my father。 I care not what fate may befall me。〃
The speaker was Xiahou Yuan's son； Xiahou Mao。 He was by nature very impulsive and also very miserly。 When young he had been adopted by Xiahou Dun。 When Xiahou Yuan was killed by Huang Zhong； Cao Cao was moved and married Xiahou Mao to one of his daughters； Princess Qinghe； so that he was an Imperial Son…in…Law。 As such he enjoyed great deference at court。 But although he held a military mission； he had never been with the army。 However； as he requested the mand； he was made mander…in…Chief of the western armies and was ready to march。
But Minister of the Interior Wang Lang spoke against the appointment； saying； 〃The appointment is wrong。 Xiahou Mao； the Son…in…Law； has never seen a battle and is unsuitable for this post； especially when his opponent is the clever and crafty Zhuge Liang； a man thoroughly versed in strategy。〃
〃I suppose you have arranged with Zhuge Liang to be his ally；〃 sneered Xiahou Mao。 〃Ever since I was a boy； I have studied strategy； and I am well acquainted with army matters。 Why do you despise my youth？ Unless I capture this Zhuge Liang； I pledge myself never again to see the Emperor's face。〃
Wang Lang and his supporters were silenced。 Xiahou Mao took leave of the Ruler of Wei and hastened to Changan to get his army in order。 He had two hundred thousand troops from the western areas。
He would go to bat