when he saw the condition of the great leader; crying; 〃I have foiled the great designs of the state!〃
However; presently Zhuge Liang's eyes reopened and fell upon Li Fu standing near his couch。
〃I know your mission;〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃I came with the royal mand to ask also who should control the destinies of the state for the next century;〃 replied Li Fu。 〃In my agitation I forgot to ask that。〃
〃After me; Jiang Wan is the most fitting man to deal with great matters。〃
〃And after Jiang Wan?〃
〃After him; Fei Yi。〃
〃Who is next after Fei Yi?〃
No reply came; and when they looked more carefully; they perceived that the soul of the Prime Minister had passed。
Thus died Zhuge Liang; on the twenty…third day of the eighth month in the twelfth year of Beginning Prosperity; at the age of fifty and four (AD 234)。
The poet Du Fu wrote some verses on his death。
A bright star last night falling from the sky;
This message gave; 〃The Master is no more。〃
No more in camps shall bold men tramp at his mand;
At court no statesman ever will fill the place he held;
At home; his clients miss their patron kind;
Sad for the army; who were lonely in this world。
In the green wood stones and creeks are crying;
No more of his lute; birds have hushed singing。
And Bai Juyi also wrote a poem:
Within the forest dim the Master lived obscure;
Till; thrice returning; there the prince his mentor met。
As when a fish the ocean gains; desire was filled
Wholly the dragon freed could soar aloft at will。
As king's son's guardian none more zealous was;
As minister; most loyally he wrought at court。
His war memorials still to us are left