arguments　against　fighting。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　102　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　102

Chapter　102

Sima　Yi　Occupies　The　Banks　Of　River　Wei；

Zhuge　Liang　Constructs　Mechanical　Bullocks　And　Horses。

Qiao　Zhou；　who　protested　against　the　war；　was　Grand　Historian。　He　was　also　an　astrologer。

He　opposed　the　war；　saying；　〃My　present　office　involves　the　direction　of　the　observations　on　the　Astrological　Terrace；　and　I　am　bound　to　report　whether　the　aspect　forebodes　misfortune　or　promises　happiness。　Not　long　since；　several　flights　of　thousands　of　birds　came　from　the　south；　plunged　into　River　Han　and　were　drowned。　This　is　an　evil　augury。　Moreover；　I　have　studied　the　aspect　of　the　sky；　and　the　'Wolf'　constellation　is　influencing　the　aspect　of　the　planet　Venus。　An　aura　of　prosperity　pervades　the　north。　To　attack　Wei　will　not　be　to　our　profit。　Again；　the　people　in　Chengdu　say　that　the　cypress　trees　moan　in　the　night。　With　so　many　evil　omens；　I　wish　that　the　Prime　Minister　should　not　go　forth　to　war；　but　remain　at　home　to　guard　what　we　have。〃

〃How　can　I？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃His　Late　Majesty　laid　upon　me　a　heavy　responsibility；　and　I　must　exert　myself　to　the　utmost　in　the　endeavor　to　destroy　these　rebels。　The　policy　of　a　state　cannot　be　changed　because　of　inauspicious　signs。〃

Zhuge　Liang　was　not　to　be　deterred。　He　instructed　the　officials　to　prepare　the　Great　Bovine　Sacrifice　in　the　Dynastic　Temple。　Then；　weeping；　he　prostrated　himself　and　made　this　declaration：

〃Thy　servant　Zhuge　Liang　has　made　five　expeditions　to　Qishan　without　gaining　any　extension　of　territory。　His　fault　weighs　heavily　upon　him。　Now　once　again　he　is　about　to　march；　pledged　to　use　every　effort　of　body　and　mind　to　extermin