ate　the　rebels　against　the　Han　House；　and　to　restore　to　the　dynasty　its　glory　in　the　Middle　Land。　To　achieve　this　end；　he　would　use　the　last　remnant　of　his　strength　and　could　die　content。〃

The　sacrifice　ended；　he　took　leave　of　the　Latter　Ruler　and　set　out　for　Hanzhong　to　make　the　final　arrangements　for　his　march。　While　so　engaged；　he　received　the　unexpected　news　of　the　death　of　Guan　Xing。　He　was　greatly　shocked；　and　fainted。　When　he　had　recovered　consciousness；　his　officers　did　their　utmost　to　console　him。

〃How　pitiful！　Why　does　Heaven　deny　long　life　to　the　loyal　and　good？　I　have　lost　a　most　able　general　just　as　I　am　setting　out　and　need　him　most。〃

As　all　are　born；　so　all　must　die；

People　are　as　gnats　against　the　sky；

But　loyalty　or　piety

May　give　them　immortality。

The　armies　of　Shu　numbered　three　hundred　forty　thousand　strong；　and　they　marched　in　five　divisions；　with　Jiang　Wei　and　Wei　Yan　in　the　van；　and　when　they　had　reached　Qishan；　Li　Hui；　the　missary　General；　was　instructed　to　convey　stores　into　the　Xie　Valley　in　readiness。

In　Wei　they　had　recently　changed　the　style　of　the　year　period　to　〃Green　Dragon〃；　because　a　green　dragon　had　been　seen　to　emerge　from　Mopo　Well。　The　year　of　the　fighting　was　the　second　year　（AD　234）。

The　courtiers　said　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　〃The　manders　of　the　passes　report　thirty　or　so　legions　advancing　in　five　divisions　from　Shu　upon　Qishan。〃

The　news　distressed　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　who　at　once　called　in　Sima　Yi　and　told　him　of　the　invasion。

Sima　Yi　replied；　〃The　aspect　of　the　sky　is　very　auspicious　for　the　Middle　Land。　The　Wolf　star　has　encroached　upon　the　planet　Venus；　which　bodes　ill　for　the　River　Lands。　Thus　Zhuge　Liang　is　pitting　his　powers　against　Heaven；　and　will　mee