d　the　words　with　great　surprise；　and　it　confirmed　his　secret　opinion　that　Zhuge　Liang　really　was　rather　more　than　human。　He　decided　that　the　only　course　was　to　be　open　and　tell　him　all。

So　he　said；　〃Since　you　know　the　cause　of　the　disease；　what　do　you　remend　as　treatment？　The　need　of　a　remedy　is　very　urgent。〃

〃I　have　no　great　talent；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃but　I　have　had　to　do　with　humans　of　no　ordinary　gifts　from　whom　I　have　received　certain　magical　books　called　'Concealing　Method'。　I　can　call　the　winds　and　summon　the　rains。　Since　you　need　a　southeast　breeze；　General；　you　must　build　an　altar　on　the　Southern　Hills；　the　Altar　of　the　Seven　Stars。　It　must　be　nine　spans　high；　with　three　steps；　surrounded　by　a　guard　of　one　hundred　and　twenty　humans　bearing　flags。　On　this　altar　I　will　work　a　spell　to　procure　a　strong　southeast　gale　for　three　days　and　three　nights。　Do　you　approve？〃

〃Never　mind　three　whole　days；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃One　day　of　strong　wind　will　serve　my　purpose。　But　it　must　be　done　at　once　and　without　delay。〃

〃I　will　sacrifice　for　a　wind　for　three　days　from　the　twentieth　day　of　the　moon。　Will　that　suit　you？〃

Zhou　Yu　was　delighted　and　hastily　rose　from　his　couch　to　give　the　necessary　orders。　He　manded　that　five　hundred　men　should　be　sent　to　the　mountains　to　build　the　altar；　and　he　told　off　the　guard　of　one　hundred　and　twenty　to　bear　the　flags　and　be　at　the　orders　of　Zhuge　Liang。

Zhuge　Liang　took　his　leave；　went　forth；　and　rode　off　with　Lu　Su　to　the　mountains　where　they　measured　out　the　ground。　He　bade　the　soldiers　build　the　altar　of　red　earth　from　the　southeast　quarter。　It　was　two　hundred　and　forty　spans　in　circuit；　square　in　shape；　and　of　three　tiers；　each　of　three　spans；　in　all　nine　spans　high。

On　the　lowest　tier　he　plac