mber　to　talk　over　this　thing；　and　Empress　Wu　was　also　there。　The　memorial　was　read　aloud。　It　was　much　like　this：

〃I；　thy　Minister　and　General；　Wei　Yan；　General　Who　Conquers　the　West　and　Lord　of　Nanzheng；　humbly　and　with　bowed　head　write　that　Yang　Yi　has　assumed　mand　of　the　army　and　is　in　rebellion。　He　has　made　off　with　the　coffin　of　the　late　Prime　Minister　and　wishes　to　lead　enemies　within　our　borders。　As　a　precaution；　and　to　hinder　his　progress；　I　have　burned　the　Plank　Trail　and　now　report　these　matters。〃

The　Latter　Ruler　said；　〃Wei　Yan　is　a　valiant　warrior　and　could　easily　have　overe　Yang　Yi。　Why　then　did　he　destroy　the　Plank　Trail？〃

Empress　Wu　said；　〃The　First　Ruler　used　to　say　that　Zhuge　Liang　knew　that　treachery　lurked　in　the　heart　of　Wei　Yan；　and　he　wished　to　put　Wei　Yan　to　death；　he　only　spared　Wei　Yan　because　of　his　valor。　We　should　not　believe　too　readily　this　tale　of　his　that　Yang　Yi　has　rebelled。　Yang　Yi　is　a　scholar　and　a　civil　officer；　and　the　late　Prime　Minister　placed　him　in　a　position　of　great　responsibility；　thereby　proving　that　he　trusted　and　valued　Yang　Yi。　If　we　believe　this　statement；　surely　Yang　Yi　will　be　forced　to　go　over　to　Wei。　Nothing　should　be　done　without　due　meditation。〃

As　they　were　discussing　this　matter；　an　urgent　memorial　came　from　Yang　Yi；　and　opening　it；　they　read：

〃I；　Yang　Yi；　leader　of　the　retreating　army；　humbly　and　with　trepidation；　present　this　memorial。　In　his　last　moments　the　late　Prime　Minister　made　over　to　me　the　charge　of　the　great　enterprise；　and　bade　me　carry　out　his　plan　without　change。　I　have　respected　his　charge。　I　ordered　Wei　Yan　to　mand　the　rearguard　with　Jiang　Wei　as　his　second。　But　Wei　Yan　refused　obedience　and　led　away　his　own　army　into　Hanzhong。　Then　he　burned　the　Plank　Trail；　tr