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 the army came some score of generals of rank； and they were escorting a small carriage； in which sat Zhuge Liang as he had always appeared； in his hand the feather fan。
〃Then Zhuge Liang is still alive！〃 gasped Sima Yi。 〃And I have rashly placed myself in his power。〃
As he pulled round his horse to flee； Jiang Wei shouted； 〃Do not try to run away； O rebel！ You have fallen into one of the Prime Minister's traps and had better stay！〃
The soldiers； seized with panic； fled； throwing off all their gear。 They trampled each other down； and many perished。 Their leader galloped fifteen miles without pulling rein。 When at last two of his generals came up with him； and had stopped his flying steed by catching at the bridle； Sima Yi clapped his hand to his head； crying； 〃Have I still a head？〃
〃Do not fear； mander； the soldiers of Shu are now far away；〃 they replied。
But he still panted with fear； and only after some time did he recognize that his two panions were Xiahou Ba and Xiahou Hui。 The three found their way by by…roads to their own camp； whence scouts were sent out in all directions。
In a few days the natives brought news： 〃The Shu army had really gone； and as soon as the retiring army entered the valley； they raised a wailing for the dead and hoisted white flags。 Zhuge Liang was really dead； and Jiang Wei's rearguard consisted of only one thousand troops。 The figure in the carriage was only a wooden image of the Prime Minister。〃
〃While he lived； I could guess what he would do； dead； I was helpless！〃 said Sima Yi。
The people had a saying that 〃A dead Zhuge Liang can scare off a live Sima Yi。〃
In the depth of night a brilliant star
Fell from the northern sky；
Doubts stayed Sima Yi
When he would pursue
His dead； but fearsome enemy。
And even now the western people；
With scornful smile； will say
〃Oh； is my head on my shoulder still？
It was nearly lost today。〃
Now indeed Sima Yi knew that his rival was no more； so he retook the pursuit。 But when he reached the Red Hills； the Shu army had marched too far away。
As he took the homeward road；