ing　Prosperity　（AD　223）　that　the　Latter　Ruler　heard　of　the　plans　and　intentions　of　Wei　against　his　state。

The　persons　who　told　him　gave　him　full　details　said：　〃Wei　has　mustered　five　armies　of　one　hundred　thousand　each　to　march　against　the　River　Lands。　The　first　army　led　by　mander…in…Chief　Cao　Zhen　is　heading　to　Yangping　Pass。　The　second　army　from　Shangyong　led　by　the　rebel　Meng　Da　is　planning　to　attack　Hanzhong。　The　third　army　from　Wu　is　threatening　the　Three　Gorges。　The　fourth　army　under　King　Kebi　Neng　of　the　Qiang　tribes　is　marching　to　Xiping　Pass。　And　the　fifth　army　by　Meng　Huo　of　the　Mang　nations　is　approaching　the　southern　border　near　Yizhou；　Yongchang；　Zangge；　and　Yuesui。　The　border　stations　have　sent　flying　requests　for　help。　We　have　informed　the　Prime　Minister。　But　his　conduct　puzzles　us。　We　do　not　know　why　he　does　not　take　some　action　instead　of　remaining　shut　up　in　his　palace　all　the　time。〃

The　Latter　Ruler　became　really　alarmed；　and　he　sent　one　of　his　personal　attendants　to　call　the　Prime　Minister　to　court。

The　servant　was　gone　a　long　time；　and　then　returned　to　say：　〃The　servants　in　the　residence　said　the　Prime　Minister　was　ill　and　not　to　be　seen。〃

The　young　Emperor's　distress　increased；　and　he　sent　two　High　Ministers………Dong　Yun　and　Du　Qiong………to　Zhuge　Liang；　saying　they　were　to　see　him　even　if　he　was　on　his　couch　and　tell　him　the　dreadful　news　of　invasion。　They　went；　but　they　got　no　farther　than　the　gate。　The　keepers　of　the　gate　refused　them　admission。

But　Du　Qiong　said；　〃The　First　Ruler　had　confided　his　son　to　the　Prime　Minister。　It　has　not　been　long　since　His　Majesty's　accession　to　the　Throne　that　Cao　Pi　threatens　to　invade　our　territories　with　five　armies。　This　is　urgent　military　matter。　How　can　the　Prime　Minister　make　i