ed　the　flags　of　the　twenty…eight　〃houses〃　of　the　heavens　and　four　constellations：　On　the　east　seven；　with　blue　flags；　on　the　north　seven；　with　black　flags；　on　the　west　seven；　with　white　flags；　and　on　the　south　seven；　with　red　flags。

Around　the　second　tier　he　placed　sixty…four　yellow　flags；　corresponding　to　the　number　of　the　diagrams　of　the　Book　of　Divination；　in　eight　groups　of　eight。

Four　men　were　stationed　on　the　highest　platform；　each　wearing　a　Taoist　headdress　and　a　black　silk　robe　embroidered　with　the　phoenix　and　confined　with　wide　sashes。　They　wore　scarlet　boots　and　square…cut　skirts。　On　the　left　front　stood　a　man　supporting　a　tall　pole　bearing　at　its　top　a　plume　of　light　feathers　to　show　by　their　least　movement　the　wind's　first　breathing。　On　the　right　front　was　a　man　holding　a　tall　pole　whereon　was　a　flag　with　the　symbol　of　the　seven　stars　to　show　the　direction　and　force　of　the　wind。　On　the　left　rear　stood　a　man　with　a　sword；　and　on　the　right　rear　a　man　with　a　censer。

Below　the　altar　were　forty…four　men　holding　flags；　umbrellas；　spears；　lances；　yellow　banners；　white　axes；　red　banderoles；　and　black　ensigns。　And　these　were　spaced　about　the　altar。

On　the　appointed　day　Zhuge　Liang；　having　chosen　a　propitious　moment；　bathed　his　body　and　purified　himself。　Then　he　robed　himself　as　a　Taoist；　loosened　his　locks；　and　approached　the　altar。

He　bade　Lu　Su　retire；　saying；　〃Return　to　the　camp　and　assist　the　General　in　setting　out　his　forces。　Should　my　prayers　avail　not；　do　not　wonder。〃

So　Lu　Su　left　him。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　manded　the　guards　on　no　account　to　absent　themselves；　to　maintain　strict　silence；　and　to　be　reverent。　Death　would　be　the　penalty　of　disobedience。

Next；　with　solemn　steps　he　ascended　the　altar；　faced　the　proper　qu