not　consent　at　once。

As　he　was　hesitating；　Qiao　Zhou　stood　forth　and　said；　〃I　have　observed　the　heavens。　I　have　seen　the　leadership　stars　in　Shu　dull　and　obscured。　This　expedition　will　be　disastrous；　and　I　hope　Your　Majesty　will　not　approve。〃

The　Latter　Ruler　replied；　〃Let　us　see　the　results　of　this　campaign。　If　it　fails；　then　the　war　shall　cease。〃

Qiao　Zhou　tried　to　dissuade　the　Latter　Ruler　two　or　three　more　times；　but　he　failed。　In　despair　he　withdrew　to　his　home；　and　retired　on　the　pretext　of　illness。

As　the　final　preparations　were　being　made；　Jiang　Wei　said　to　Liao　Hua；　〃We　are　pledged　to　get　through　to　the　Middle　Land　this　time。　What　do　you　advise　to　start　with？〃

〃I　dare　not　presume　to　advise　you；　General。　For　years　we　have　been　fighting　and　giving　the　people　no　rest。　In　Deng　Ai　we　find　a　most　formidable　and　resourceful　opponent　and　an　extraordinarily　capable　man；　so