his　return　to　his　capital。　He　heard　that　Quan　Zong　had　marched　out　with　a　large　army　from　Wu　and　camped　at　the　entrance　to　Baqiu。　No　one　knew　the　object　of　this　expedition。

〃Here　is　Wu　breaking　their　oath　just　as　the　Prime　Minister　has　died；〃　cried　the　Latter　Ruler。　〃What　can　we　do？〃

Then　said　Jiang　Wan；　〃My　advice　is　to　send　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Ni　to　camp　at　Baidicheng　as　a　measure　of　precaution；　while　you　send　an　envoy　to　Wu　to　announce　the　death　and　period　of　mourning。　He　can　there　observe　the　signs　of　the　times。〃

〃The　envoy　must　have　a　ready　tongue；〃　said　the　Latter　Ruler。

One　stepped　from　the　ranks　of　courtiers　and　offered　himself。　He　was　Zong　Yu；　a　man　of　Nanyang；　a　Military　Adviser。　So　he　was　appointed　as　envoy　with　the　missions　of　announcing　the　death　of　the　Prime　Minister　and　observing　the　conditions。

Zong　Yu　set　out　for　Capital　Jianye；　arrived　and　was　taken　in　to　the　Emperor's　presence。　When　the　ceremony　of　introduction　was　over　and　the　envoy　looked　about　him；　he　saw　that　all　were　dressed　in　mourning。

But　Sun　Quan's　countenance　wore　a　look　of　anger；　and　he　said；　〃Wu　and　Shu　are　one　house。　Why　has　your　master　increased　the　guard　at　Baidicheng？〃

Zong　Yu　replied；　〃It　seemed　as　necessary　for　the　west　to　increase　the　garrison　there　as　for　the　east　to　have　a　force　at　Baqiu。　Neither　is　worth　asking　about。〃

〃As　an　envoy　you　seem　no　way　inferior　to　Deng　Zhi；〃　said　Sun　Quan；　smiling。

Sun　Quan　continued；　〃When　I　heard　that　your　Prime　Minister　Zhuge　Liang　had　gone　to　heaven；　I　wept　daily　and　ordered　my　officers　to　wear　mourning。　I　feared　that　Wei　might　take　the　occasion　to　attack　Shu；　and　so　I　increased　the　garrison　at　Baqiu　by　ten　thousand　troops　that　I　might　be　able　to　help　you　in　case　of　need。　That　was　my　s