his　destruction。〃

Jiang　Wei　said；　〃I　know　a　by…way　hereabout　that　will　lead　us　round　to　the　rear　of　these　covered　roads。　True　it　is　precipitous　and　dangerous；　but　it　will　take　us　to　our　destination。　It　is　called　the　Chashan　Mountain　Path。〃

So　they　prepared　a　memorial　and　turned　off　in　order　to　follow　the　narrow　mountain　road。

Meanwhile　in　Chengdu　the　Latter　Ruler　of　Shu　was　troubled；　he　lost　his　appetite　and　was　sleepless。　Then　he　dreamed　that　the　Silky　Hills　that　protected　his　capital　was　rived　and　fell。　This　dream　troubled　him　till　morning；　when　he　called　in　his　officers　of　all　ranks　to　ask　them　to　interpret　his　vision。

When　he　had　related　his　dream；　Qiao　Zhou　stood　forth　and　said；　〃Last　night　I　saw　a　large　red　star　fall　from　the　northeast　to　the　southwest。　Surely　it　forebodes　a　misfortune　to　the　First　Minister。　Your　Majesty's　dream　corresponds　to　what　I　saw。〃

The　Latter　Ruler's　anxiety　increased。　Presently　Li　Fu　returned　and　was　summoned　into　the　Latter　Ruler's　presence。

Li　Fu　bowed　his　head　and　wept；　saying；　〃The　Prime　Minister　is　dead！〃

He　repeated　Zhuge　Liang's　last　messages　and　told　all　that　he　knew。

The　Latter　Ruler　was　overe　with　great　sorrow；　and　wailed；　crying；　〃Heaven　smites　me！〃

And　he　fell　over　and　lay　upon　his　couch。　They　led　him　within　to　the　inner　chambers；　and　when　Empress　Wu；　the　Empress　Dowager；　heard　the　sad　tidings；　she　also　wailed　without　ceasing。　And　all　the　officers　were　distressed　and　wept；　and　the　mon　people　showed　their　grief。

The　Latter　Ruler　was　deeply　affected；　and　for　many　days　could　hold　no　court。　And　while　thus　prostrate　with　grief；　they　told　him　that　Wei　Yan　had　sent　up　a　memorial　charging　Yang　Yi　with　rebellion。　The　astounded　courtiers　went　to　the　Latter　Ruler's　cha