l　have　to　be　put　to　death。　The　three　conditions　are　the　capture　of　West　River　Land；　the　head　of　Liu　Zhang；　and　the　repulse　of　the　Jingzhou　troops。　If　he　fails　in　anyone　of　these；　just　bring　his　head。　Meanwhile；　Zhang　Wei　should　be　sent　as　guard　at　one　of　the　strategic　points　which　will　control　Ma　Chao's　army　in　case　of　rebellion。〃

When　Ma　Chao　heard　the　three　demands　made　on　him；　he　was　greatly　troubled；　saying；　〃What　can　such　a　charge　mean？〃

After　taking　counsel　with　Ma　Dai；　it　seemed　best　to　suspend　fighting；　and　the　army　returned。

But　Yang　Song　had　not　yet　attained　his　end；　so　he　said　to　Zhang　Lu；　〃Ma　Chao's　return　with　an　army　will　be　a　danger；　and　hence　all　the　points　of　vantage　on　the　homeward　road　must　be　guarded　so　that　to　stop　him。〃

Thus　Ma　Chao　was　helpless　and　could　see　no　way　out　of　the　difficulty。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　said　to　his　lord；　〃Now　is　my　chance　to　use　my　little　three　inches　of　unworn　tongue。　Ma　Chao　is　in　a　fix。　I　am　going　to　his　camp　to　persuade　him　to　e　over　to　your　side。〃

〃But　I　do　not　like　you　to　run　such　a　risk；　Instructor。　You　are　my　most　necessary　support；　and　if　anything　happened　to　you；　what　should　I　do？〃

Zhuge　Liang　was　set　upon　going　and　persisted　in　his　request。　Liu　Bei　again　and　again　refused。　At　this　juncture　a　messenger　came　with　letters　from　Zhao　Yun。　Liu　Bei　called　him　in　and　questioned　him。　He　was　Li　Hui　of　Jianning；　the　man　who　had　formerly　remonstrated　so　earnestly　with　Liu　Zhang。

〃You　once　pleaded　with　your　master　to　keep　me　out。　Why　are　you　here　now？〃

〃Because　the　prudent　bird　chooses　its　perch；　and　the　wise　person　his　master。　I　did　attempt　to　dissuade　Liu　Zhang　of　Yizhou　from　a　course　which　I　felt　to　be　disastrous；　and　thereby　fulfilled　my　duty　as　his　servant。　He　reje