At this time Wei Yan was camped at Nangu Valley； which was a manding position。 He thought his plan was succeeding well。 It had not occurred to him that Yang Yi and Jiang Wei could get past him by any by…way。
On the other hand； Yang Yi； thinking that Hanzhong was lost； sent He Ping with three thousand troops on in front while he followed with the coffin。
When He Ping had got to the rear of Nangu Valley； they announced their presence with rolling drums。 The scouts quickly told Wei Yan； who at once armed himself； took his sword； and rode out to confront He Ping。 When both sides were arrayed； He Ping rode to the front and began to revile his opponent。
〃Where is that rebel Wei Yan？〃 cried He Ping。
〃You aided that traitor Yang Yi！〃 cried Wei Yan； no way backward with his tongue。 〃How dare you abuse me？〃
He Ping waxed more indignant。
〃You rebelled immediately after the late chief's death； before even his body was cold。 How could you？〃
Then shaking his whip at the followers of Wei Yan； He Ping cried； 〃And you soldiers are Shu people。 Your fathers and mothers； wives and children； and your friends are still in the land。 Were you treated unkindly that you have joined a traitor and aid his wicked schemes？ You ought to have returned home and waited quietly the rewards that would have been yours。〃
The soldiers were touched by his words。 They cheered； and more than a half ran away。
Wei Yan was now raging。 He whirled up his sword and galloped forward straight for He Ping； who went to meet him with his spear ready。 They fought several bouts； and then He Ping rode away as if defeated。 Wei Yan followed； but He Ping's troops began to shoot and Wei Yan was driven backward。 As he got near his own ranks； Wei Yan saw many generals leaving their panies and going away。 He rode after them and cut some of them down。 But this did not stay the movement； they continued to go。 The only steady portion of his own army was that manded by Ma Dai。 They stood their ground。
〃Will you really help me？〃 said Wei Yan。 〃I will surely remember you in the day of success。〃
The two then went in pursuit of He Ping； who fled before them。 However； it was soon evident that He Ping was not to be overtaken； and the pursuers halted。 Wei Yan mustered his now small force。
〃What if we go over to Wei？〃 said Wei Yan。
〃I think your words unwise；〃 said Ma Dai。 〃Why should we join anyone？ A really strong person would try to carve out his own fortune and not be ready to crook the knee to another。 You are far more able and brave than any leader in the River Lands。 No one would dare to stand up to you。 I pledge myself to go with you to the seizure of Hanzhong； and thence we will attack the West River Land。〃
So they marched together toward Nanzheng； where Jiang Wei stationed。 From the city wall Jiang Wei saw their approach and marked their proud； martial look。 He ordered the drawbridge to be raised and sent to tell his colleague； Yang Yi。
As they drew near； both Wei Yan and Ma Dai shouted out； 〃Surrender！〃
In spite of the smallness of their following； Jiang Wei felt that Ma Dai acting with Wei Yan was a dangerous bination； and he wanted the advice of Yang Yi。
〃Wei Yan is valorous； and he is having the help of Ma Dai。 How shall we repel them？〃 asked Jiang Wei。
Yang Yi replied； 〃Just before his death； the Prime Minister gave me a silken bag； which he said I was to open when Wei Yan's mutiny reached a critical point。 It contains a plan to rid ourselves of this traitor； and it seems that now is the moment to see what should be done。〃
So Yang Yi opened the bag and drew forth the letter it held。 On the cover he read； 〃To be opened when Wei Yan is actually arrayed opposite you。〃
Said Jiang Wei； 〃As this has all been arranged for； I had better go out； and when his line is formed then you can e forth。〃
Jiang Wei donned his armor； took his spear； and rode out； with three thousand troops。 They marched out of the city gates with the drums beating。 The array pleted； Jiang Wei took his place under the great standard and opened with a volley of abuse。
〃Rebel Wei Yan； the late Prime Minister never harmed you。 Why have you turned traitor？〃
Wei Yan reined up； lowered his sword and replied； 〃Friend Jiang Wei； this is no concern of yours。 Tell Yang Yi to e。〃
Now Yang Yi was also beneath the standard； but hidden。 He opened the letter； and the words therein seemed to please him； for he rode forward blithely。
Presently he reined in； pointed to Wei Yan and said； 〃The Prime Minister foresaw your mutiny and bade me be on my guard。 Now if you are able thrice to shout； 'Who dares kill me？'； then you will be a real hero； and I will yield to you the whole of Hanzhong。〃
Wei Yan laughed。
〃Listen； you old fool！ While Zhuge Liang lived I feared him somewhat。 But he is dead and no one dares stand before me。 I will not only shout the words thrice； but a myriad times。 Why not？〃
Wei Yan raised his sword； shook his bridle； and shouted； 〃Who dares kill me？〃
He never finished。 Behind him someone shouted savagely； 〃I dare！〃 and at the same moment Wei Yan fell dead； cut down by Ma Dai。
This was the denouement； and was the secret entrusted to Ma Dai just before Zhuge Liang's death。 Wei Yan was to be made to shout these words and slain when he least expected it。 Yang Yi knew what was to happen； as it was written in the letter in the silken bag。 A poem says：
Zhuge Liang foresaw when freed from his restraint
Wei Yan would traitor prove。 The silken bag
Contained the plan for his undoing。 We see
How it succeeded when the moment came。
So before Dong Yun had reached Nanzheng； Wei Yan was dead。 Ma Dai joined his army to Jiang Wei's； and Yang Yi wrote another memorial； which he sent to the Latter Ruler。
The Latter Ruler issued an edict： 〃Wei Yan had paid the penalty of his crime。 He should be honorably buried in consideration of his former services。〃
Then Yang Yi continued his journey and in due time arrived at Chengdu with the coffin of the late Prime Minister。 The Latter Ruler led out a large cavalcade of officers to meet the body at a point seven miles from the walls； and he lifted up his voice and wailed for the dead； and with him wailed all the officers and the mon people； so that the sound of mourning filled the whole earth。
By royal mand the body was borne into the city to the palace of the Prime Minister； and his son Zhuge Zhan was chief mourner。
When next the Latter Ruler held a court； Yang Yi bound himself； and confessed he had been in fault。
The Latter Ruler bade them loose his bonds and said； 〃Noble Sir； the coffin would never have reached home but for you。 You carried out the orders of the late Prime Minister； whereby Wei Yan was destroyed and all was made secure。 This was all your doing。〃
Yang Yi was promoted to be the Instructor of the Center Army； and Ma Dai was rewarded with the rank that Wei Yan had forfeited。
Yang Yi presented Zhuge Liang's testament； which the Latter Ruler read； weeping。 By a special edict it was manded that soothsayers should cast lots and select the site for the tomb of the great servant of the state。
Then Fei Yi said to the Latter Ruler； 〃When nearing his end； the Prime Minister manded that he should be buried on Dingjun Mountain； in open ground； without sacrifice or monument。〃
This wish was respected； and they chose a propitious day in the tenth month for the interment； and the Latter Ruler followed in the funeral procession to the grave on the Dingjun Mountain。 The posthumous title conferred upon the late Prime Minister was Zhuge Liang the Loyally Martial； and a temple was built in Mianyang wherein were offered sacrifices at the four seasons。
The poet Du Fu wrote a poem：
To Zhuge Liang stands a great memorial hall；
In cypress shade； outside the Chengdu Wall；
The steps thereto are bright with new grass springing；
Hiding among the branches orioles are singing。
The people and army asked for his wisdoms；
Upon the throne； built for the father； sat the son。
But ere was passed all his plans conceived
He died； and heroes since for him have ever grieved。
Another poem by the same author says：
Zhuge Liang's fair fame stands clear to all the world；
Among king's ministers he surely takes
Exalted rank； for when the empire cleft
In three； a kingdom for his lord he won
By subtle craft。 Throughout all time he stands
A shining figure； clear against the sky。
Akin was he to famous Yi Yin； Lu Wang；
Yet stands with chiefs； like Xiao He； Cao Shen；
The fates forbade that Han should be restored；
War…worn and weary； yet he steadfast stood。
Evil tidings came to the Latter Ruler on his return to his capital。 He heard that Quan Zong had marched out with a large army from Wu and camped at the entrance to Baqiu。 No one knew the object of this expedition。
〃Here is Wu breaking their oath just as the Prime Minister has died；〃 cried the Latter Ruler。 〃What can we do？〃
Then said Jiang Wan； 〃My advice is to send Wang Ping and Zhang Ni to camp at Baidicheng as a measure of precaution； while you send an envoy to Wu to announce the death and period of mourning。 He can there observe the signs of the times。〃
〃The envoy must have a ready tongue；〃 said the Latter Ruler。
One stepped from the ranks of courtiers and offered himself。 He was Zong Yu； a man of Nanyang； a Military Adviser。 So he was appointed as envoy with the missions of announcing the death of the Prime Minister and observing the conditions。
Zong Yu set out for Capital Jianye； arrived and was taken in to the Emperor's presence。 When the ceremony of introduction was over and the envoy looked about him； he saw that all were dressed in mourning。
But Sun Quan's countenance wore a look of anger； and he said； 〃Wu and Shu are one house。 Why has your master increased the guard at Baidicheng？〃
Zong Yu replied； 〃It seemed as necessary for the west to increase the garrison there as for the east to have a force at Baqiu。 Neither is worth asking about。〃
〃As an envoy you seem no way inferior to Deng Zhi；〃 said Sun Quan； smiling。
Sun Quan continued； 〃When I heard that your Prime Minister Zhuge Liang had gone to heaven； I wept daily and ordered my officers to wear mourning。 I feared that Wei might take the occasion to attack Shu； and so I increased the garrison at Baqiu by ten thousand troops that I might be able to help you in case of need。 That was my sole reason。〃
Zong Yu bowed and thanked the Ruler of Wu。
〃I would not go back upon the pledge between us；〃 said Sun Quan。
Zong Yu said； 〃I have been sent to inform you of the mourning for the late Prime Minister。〃
Sun Quan took up a gold…tipped arrow and snapped it in twain； saying； 〃If I betray my oath； may my posterity be cut off！〃
Then the Ruler of Wu dispatched an envoy with incense and silk and other gifts to be offered in sacrifice to the dead in the land of Shu。
Zong Yu and the envoy took leave of the Ruler of Wu and journeyed to Chengdu； where they went to the Latter Ruler。
Zong Yu made a memorial； saying； 〃The Ruler of Wu has wept for our Prime Minister and put his court into mourning。 The increased garrison at Baqiu is intended to safeguard us from Wei； lest they take the occasion of a public sorrow to attack。 And in token of his pledge； the Ruler of Wu broke an arrow in twain。〃
The Latter Ruler was pleased and rewarded Zong Yu。 Moreover； the envoy of Wu was generously