he field； but he is no match for Zhuge Liang。 Still there is such a match； and I will pledge my whole family that he will succeed。 But Your Majesty may be unwilling to listen to me。〃
The Ruler of Wei replied； 〃You are a minister of high rank and old。 If you know any wise person able to repel these soldiers of Shu； call him without delay and ease my mind。〃
Then said Zhong Yao； 〃When Zhuge Liang decided to invade us； he was afraid of the one man I will name。 Wherefore he spread calumnies concerning him； raising suspicion in Your Majesty's mind that you might dismiss him。 That done； Zhuge Liang invaded。 Now employ this man again； and the enemy will retire。〃
〃Who is it？〃 asked the Ruler of Wei。
〃I mean the Imperial mander of the Flying Cavalry； Sima Yi。〃
〃I have long regretted my action；〃 said Cao Rui。 〃Where now is friend Sima Yi？〃
〃He is at the city of Wancheng； idle。〃
An edict was prepared recalling Sima Yi and restoring him to his rank and titles； and conferring upon him the new title mander…in…Chief of the Western Forces and General Who Pacifies the West。 All troops of Nanyang were set in motion； and Cao Rui led them to Changan。 At the same time Cao Rui ordered Sima Yi to be there to meet him on a certain day。 And the orders were sent by a swift messenger to the city of Wancheng。
At this time Zhuge Liang greatly rejoiced at the success he had had。 He was at Qishan； busy with plans for other victories； when Li Yan； who was in mand at the Palace of Eternal Peace； sent his son Li Teng to the camp。 Zhuge Liang concluded that such a visit could only mean that Wu had invaded them； and he was in consequence cast down。 However； he summoned Li Teng to his tent； and when asked the object of his mission； Li Teng replied that he had joyful news to impart。
〃What is your joyful news？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃Formerly Meng Da deserted to Wei； but only because he could do nothing else。 Cao Pi thought much of his capabilities； treated him most generously； kept him at his side； gave him titles of General Who Establishes Strong Arms and Lord of Pingyang； and appointed him to the posts of Governor of Xincheng and mander of Shangyong and Jincheng； and so on。 But when Cao Pi died； all was changed。 In Cao Rui's court were many who were jealous of Meng Da's influence and power； so that he enjoyed no peace。
〃He used to talk about being originally one of the Shu leaders； and he was forced to do so…and…so。 Lately he has sent several confidants with letters to my father asking that he would state his case to you as to the happenings。 When the five armies came upon Shu； he wanted to rejoin the River Lands。 Now he is at Xincheng； and； hearing you are attacking Wei； he proposes to lead the army of the three counties about Xincheng； Jincheng； and Shangyong to attack Luoyang while you attack Changan； whereby both capitals will be taken。 I have brought with me his messenger and his letters。〃
This was good news； and the bearer was fittingly rewarded。 But at that moment came the news that Cao Rui was leading an army to Changan and had recalled the banished Sima Yi to office。 This piece of bad news saddened Zhuge Liang not a little。
He told Ma Su； who said； 〃Cao Rui should not be your worry。 If he goes to Changan； we will march there and capture him on the road； and there will be an end of him。〃
〃Do you think I fear him？〃 said Zhuge Liang bitterly。 〃But the recall of Sima Yi is another matter； that troubles me。 And Meng Da's proposal will avail nothing if he es across this man。 Meng Da is no match for him。 He will he captured； and； if he should be； the Middle Land will be hard to conquer。〃
〃Why not put Meng Da on his guard then？〃 said Ma Su。
Zhuge Liang decided to write； and the letter was dispatched immediately。
Meng Da was then at Xincheng； anxiously expecting the return of his last confidential messenger； when； one day； the man returned and gave him this letter from Zhuge Liang himself：
〃Your last letter has convinced me of your loyal rectitude； and I still remember with joy our old friendship。 If your plan succeeds； you will certainly stand in the first rank of most worthy ministers。 But I scarcely need impress upon you the extreme necessity for most perfect secrecy。 Be very careful whom you trust。 Fear everyone； guard against everyone。 This news of the recall of Sima Yi and the proposed junction of armies at Changan is very serious。 If a word reaches Sima Yi； he will e to you first。 Therefore take every precaution and do not regard this as a matter of unimportance。〃
〃They say Zhuge Liang leaves nothing to chance；〃 said Meng Da； smiling as he read。 〃This proves it。〃
He lost no time in preparing a reply； which he sent also by a trusty messenger。 This letter was like this：
〃I acknowledge your most valuable advice； but is it possible that I should be remiss？ For my part I do not think the Sima Yi's affair need cause anxiety； for Wancheng is three hundred miles from Luoyang and four hundred miles from Xincheng。 Should he hear anything； it would take a month to send a memorial to the capital and get a reply。 My ramparts here are strong and my forces posted in the best positions。 Let him e！ I am not afraid of the result； so you； O Prime Minister； need feel no anxiety。 You have only to wait for the good news of success。〃
Zhuge Liang read the letter and threw it on the ground； stamping his foot with rage。
〃Meng Da is a dead man！〃 said he； 〃A victim of Sima Yi。〃
〃Why do you say that？〃 said Ma Su。
〃What does the Art of War say？ 'Attack before the enemy is prepared； do what he does not expect。' What is the use of reckoning upon a month's delay for sending up a memorial？ Cao Rui's mission has already gone； and Sima Yi may strike whom he will。 He will not have to wait to memorialize the Throne。 Ten days after he hears of Meng Da's defection； he will be upon Meng Da with an army； and Meng Da will be helpless。〃
The others agreed。 However； Zhuge Liang sent the messenger back again with a message：
〃If the matter has not yet actually started； no other person is to be told of it； for if anyone knows； it shall certainly e to nothing。〃
And the messenger left for Xincheng。
In his idle retreat in Wancheng； Sima Yi had heard of his master's ill…success against the armies of Shu； and the news made him very sad。 He lifted up his eyes and sighed。
He had two sons； Sima Shi the elder and Sima Zhao； both clever and ambitious； and both earnest students of military books。 One day they were present when their father seemed very cast down； and Sima Shi asked his father the reason。
〃You would not understand；〃 said the father。
〃I think you are grieving because the Ruler of Wei does not use you；〃 replied Sima Shi。
〃But they will send for you presently；〃 said Sima Zhao。
The prophecy was not long in fulfillment； for even then the bearer of the mand stood at the gate； and the servant announced a messenger from the court bearing a mission。
As soon as he heard its terms； Sima Yi set about ordering the armies of Wancheng。 Soon came a messenger from Governor Shen Yi of Jincheng with a secret message for Sima Yi。 The messenger was taken into a private chamber； and his message was that Meng Da was on the point of rebellion。 The leakage of this news was due to Li Gu； a confidential subordinate of Meng Da； and Deng Xian； Meng Da's nephew。 Li Gu and Deng Xian went to confess the plot in exchange for a promise of amnesty。
Sima Yi smote his forehead。
〃This is the Emperor's great good fortune； high as heaven itself。 Zhuge Liang's army is at Qishan already； and all people's courage is at the brink of breakdown。 The Emperor must go to Changan； and if he does not use me soon； Meng Da will carry out his plan； his plot will succeed； and both capitals will be lost。 Meng Da is surely in league with Zhuge Liang； and if I can seize this Meng Da before he makes any move； that will damp Zhuge Liang's spirits and he will retreat。〃
His elder son Sima Shi remarked； 〃It is necessary to memorialize the Throne。〃
〃No；〃 replied his father； 〃that would take a month； and delay would mean failure。〃
Sima Yi gave orders to prepare to advance by double…rapid marches and threatened death to all loiterers。 In order to avert suspicion； he sent letters to Meng Da by the hand of Military Adviser Liang Ji to tell Meng Da to prepare to join the western expedition。
Sima Yi quickly followed Liang Ji。 After two days' march Sima Yi fell in with an army of General Xu Huang over the hills。
Xu Huang got an interview with Sima Yi； and he said； 〃The Emperor has arrived at Changan to lead an expedition against Shu。 Whither is the mander…in…Chief going？〃
Sima Yi； in a low voice； said to him； 〃Meng Da is on the verge of rebellion； and I am going to seize him。〃
〃Let me go as your Van Leader；〃 said Xu Huang。
So Xu Huang's troops were joined to the expedition and marched in the van。 Sima Yi manded the center； and his sons brought up the rear。
Two days farther on； some of the scouts captured Meng Da's confidential messenger； and with him Zhuge Liang's reply。
Sima Yi said to the man； 〃I will let you live if you tell all you know。〃
So the messenger told all about the letters and messages he had taken from one to the other。
When Sima Yi read； he remarked； 〃All able people think the same way。 Our plan would have been foiled by Zhuge Liang's cleverness unless； by the good luck of the Emperor； this messenger had been captured。 Now Meng Da will be helpless。〃
The army pressed on still more rapidly。
Meng Da had arranged for his stroke with Governor Shen Yi of Jincheng and Governor Shen Dan of Shangyong and was awaiting the day he had fixed。 But Shen Yi and Shen Dan were only pretending to abet him； although they went on training and drilling their troops to keep up appearances till the soldiers of Wei could arrive。 To Meng Da they pretended delay in their transport as the reason for being unable to start。 And he believed them。
Just then Liang Ji came； and when he had been ceremoniously received； he produced the order from Sima Yi and said； 〃The mander…in…Chief has received the edict of the Emperor to call in all the forces in this area； and he has sent me to direct you to hold your troops in readiness to march。〃
〃On what day does the mander…in…Chief start？〃 asked Meng Da。
〃He is just about starting now； and is on the way to Changan〃 replied Liang Ji。
Meng Da smiled inwardly； for； this being so； he saw success before him。 He gave a banquet to Liang Ji。 After Liang Ji took his leave； Meng Da sent to his fellow conspirators………Shen Yi and Shen Dan………to say the first step must be taken next day by exchanging the banners of Wei for those of Han and marching to attack Luoyang。
Then the watchmen reported a great cloud of dust in the distance as though an army was ing。 Meng Da was surprised and went up on the ramparts to see for himself。 Soon he made out the banner of Xu Huang leading。 He ran down from the wall and in a state of trepidation ordered the raising of the drawbridge。 Xu Huang still came on and in due time stood on the bank of the moat。
Then Xu Huang called out； 〃Let the traitor Meng Da yield quickly！〃
Meng Da； in a rage； opened upon him with arrows； and Xu Huang was wounded in the forehead。 He was helped to a place of safety while the arrows flew down in great numbers。 When the soldiers of Wei retired； Meng Da opened the gates an