seems　that　now　is　the　moment　to　see　what　should　be　done。〃

So　Yang　Yi　opened　the　bag　and　drew　forth　the　letter　it　held。　On　the　cover　he　read；　〃To　be　opened　when　Wei　Yan　is　actually　arrayed　opposite　you。〃

Said　Jiang　Wei；　〃As　this　has　all　been　arranged　for；　I　had　better　go　out；　and　when　his　line　is　formed　then　you　can　e　forth。〃

Jiang　Wei　donned　his　armor；　took　his　spear；　and　rode　out；　with　three　thousand　troops。　They　marched　out　of　the　city　gates　with　the　drums　beating。　The　array　pleted；　Jiang　Wei　took　his　place　under　the　great　standard　and　opened　with　a　volley　of　abuse。

〃Rebel　Wei　Yan；　the　late　Prime　Minister　never　harmed　you。　Why　have　you　turned　traitor？〃

Wei　Yan　reined　up；　lowered　his　sword　and　replied；　〃Friend　Jiang　Wei；　this　is　no　concern　of　yours。　Tell　Yang　Yi　to　e。〃

Now　Yang　Yi　was　also　beneath　the　standard；　but　hidden。　He　opened　the　letter；　and　the　words　therein　seemed　to　please　him；　for　he　rode　forward　blithely。

Presently　he　reined　in；　pointed　to　Wei　Yan　and　said；　〃The　Prime　Minister　foresaw　your　mutiny　and　bade　me　be　on　my　guard。　Now　if　you　are　able　thrice　to　shout；　'Who　dares　kill　me？'；　then　you　will　be　a　real　hero；　and　I　will　yield　to　you　the　whole　of　Hanzhong。〃

Wei　Yan　laughed。

〃Listen；　you　old　fool！　While　Zhuge　Liang　lived　I　feared　him　somewhat。　But　he　is　dead　and　no　one　dares　stand　before　me。　I　will　not　only　shout　the　words　thrice；　but　a　myriad　times。　Why　not？〃

Wei　Yan　raised　his　sword；　shook　his　bridle；　and　shouted；　〃Who　dares　kill　me？〃

He　never　finished。　Behind　him　someone　shouted　savagely；　〃I　dare！〃　and　at　the　same　moment　Wei　Yan　fell　dead；　cut　down　by　Ma　Dai。

This　was　the　denouement；　and　was　the　secret　entrusted　to　Ma　Dai　just　before　Zhuge　Liang's　death。　Wei　Yan　was　to　b