An army of two hundred thousand troops was told off to invade the Middle Land。 Just as it was starting； a stream of white vapor was seen emerging from the earth； and as it spread it gradually enveloped the whole army so that people could not see each other。
〃It is a white rainbow；〃 said Jiang Yan； 〃and it bodes ill to the army。 I advise you； O Imperial Guardian； to return and not march against Wei。〃
〃How dare you utter such ill…omened words and blunt the keenness of my army？〃 cried Zhuge Ke； angrily。
He bade the lictors take Jiang Yan out and put him to death。 But Jiang Yan's colleagues interceded for him； and he was spared； but he was stripped of all rank。 Orders were issued to march quickly。
Then Ding Feng offered a suggestion； saying； 〃Wei depends on Xincheng for the defense of its passes。 It would be a severe blow to Sima Shi if Xincheng falls。〃
Zhuge Ke weled this suggestion and gave orders to march on Xincheng。 They came up and found the city gates closed； wherefore they began to besiege the city。 The mander in the city； Zhang Te； saw the legions of Wu at the walls； held a strict defense。
A hasty messenger was sent to Luoyang； and Secretary Yu Song told the Prime Minister； Sima Shi。
Yu Song said； 〃Zhuge Ke is laying siege to Xincheng。 The city should not try to repulse the attack； but simply hold out as long as possible。 When the besiegers have exhausted their provisions； they will be pelled to retire。 As they retreat； we can smite them。 However； it is necessary to provide against any invasion from Shu。〃
Accordingly Sima Zhao was sent to reinforce Guo Huai so as to keep off Jiang Wei； while Guanqiu Jian and Hu Zun kept the army of Wu at bay。
For months the army of Zhuge Ke battered at Xincheng without success。 He urged his generals to strenuous efforts； threatening to put to death anyone who was dilatory。 At last his attacks looked like succeeding； for the northeast corner of the wall seemed shaken。
Then Zhang Te； the mander of Xincheng； thought of a device。 He sent a persuasive messenger with all the register documents to Zhuge Ke。
And the messenger said； 〃It is a rule in Wei that if a city holds out against attack for a hundred days and reinforcement has not arrived； then its mander may surrender without penalty to his family。 Now Xincheng has held out for over ninety days； and my master hopes you will allow him to withstand the few days necessary to plete the hundred； when he will yield。 Here are all register documents that he desires to tender first。〃
Zhuge Ke had no doubts that the story was genuine。 He ordered the army to retreat temporarily； and the defenders enjoyed a rest。 But all Zhang Te really desired was time wherein to strengthen the weak angle of the wall。 As soon as the attacks ceased； the defenders pulled down the houses near the corner and repaired the wall with the material。
As soon as the repairs were plete； Zhang Te threw off all pretense and cried from the wall； 〃I have half a year's provisions yet and will not surrender to any curs of Wu！〃
The defense became as vigorous as before the truce。 Zhuge Ke was enraged at being so tricked； and urged on the attack。 But one day one of the thousands of arrows that flew from the rampart struck him in the forehead； and he fell。 He was borne to his tent； but the wound inflamed； and he became very ill。
Their leader's illness disheartened the troops； and； moreover； the weather became very hot。 Sickness invaded the camp； so that soldiers and leaders alike wished to go home。
When Zhuge Ke had recovered sufficiently to resume mand； he urged on the attack； but the generals said； 〃The soldiers are sick and unfit for battle。〃
Zhuge Ke burst into fierce anger； and said； 〃The next person who mentions illness will be beheaded。〃
When the report of this threat got abroad； the soldiers began to desert freely。 Presently mander Cai Lin； with his whole pany； went over to the enemy。 Zhuge Ke began to be alarmed and rode through the camps to see for himself。 Surely enough； the soldiers all looked sickly； with pale and puffy faces。
The siege had to be raised； and Zhuge Ke retired into his own country。 But scouts brought the news of retreat to Guanqiu Jian who led the Wei's grand army to follow and harass Zhuge Ke's march and inflicted a severe defeat。
Mortified by the course of events； after his return Zhuge Ke did not attend court held by the Ruler of Wu； but pretended illness。
Sun Liang； the Ruler of Wu； went to the residence to see his general； and the officers came to call。 In order to silence ment； Zhuge Ke assumed an attitude of extreme severity； investigating everyone's conduct very minutely； punishing rigorously any fault or shorting and meting out sentences of banishment； or death with exposure； till everyone walked in terror。 He also placed two of his own cliques………Zhang Yue and Zhu En………over the royal guards； making them the teeth and claws of his vengeance。
Now Sun Jun was a son of Sun Gong and a great grandson of Sun Jing； brother of Sun Jian。 Sun Quan loved him and had put him in mand of the guards。 Sun Jun was enraged at being superseded by Zhang Yue and Zhu En； the two creatures of Zhuge Ke。
Minister Teng Yin； who had an old quarrel with Zhuge Ke； said to Sun Jun； 〃This Zhuge Ke is as cruel as he is powerful。 He abuses his authority； and no one is safe against him。 I also think he is aiming at something yet higher and you； Sir； as one of the ruling family ought to put a stop to it。〃
〃I agree with you； and I want to get rid of him；〃 replied Sun Jun。 〃Now I will obtain an edict condemning him to death。〃
Both went in to see the Ruler of Wu； Sun Liang； and they laid the matter before him。
〃I am afraid of him； too；〃 replied Sun Liang。 〃I have wanted to remove him for some time； but have found no opportunity。 If you would prove your loyalty； you would do it for me。〃
Then said Teng Yin； 〃Your Majesty can give a banquet and invite him； and let a few braves be ready hidden behind the curtains。 At a signal； as the dropping of a wine cup； they might jump out and slay him； and all further trouble would be avoided。〃
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 o