eside　a　fishpond　looking　at　the　fish。　The　Latter　Ruler　approached；　and　stood　behind　him　for　a　long　time。

Presently　the　Latter　Ruler　said　slowly　and　with　dignity；　〃Is　the　Prime　Minister　really　enjoying　himself？〃

Zhuge　Liang　started　and　looked　round。　When　he　saw　who　the　speaker　was；　he　suddenly　dropped　his　staff　and　prostrated　himself。

〃I　ought　to　be　put　to　death　ten　thousand　times！〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

But　the　Emperor　put　forth　his　hand　and　helped　him　to　rise；　saying；　〃Cao　Pi　threatens　immediate　invasion　from　five　points。　Why　will　you　not　e　forth　and　attend　to　business？〃

Zhuge　Liang　laughed。　He　conducted　the　Emperor　into　an　inner　room；　and；　when　he　was　seated；　Zhuge　Liang　addressed　the　Emperor；　saying；　〃Could　it　be　possible　that　I　was　ignorant　of　these　five　armies？　I　was　not　looking　at　the　fishes；　I　was　thinking。〃

〃But；　this　being　so；　what　shall　we　do？〃

〃I　have　already　turned　back　that　Kebi　Neng　of　the　Qiangs；　and　Meng　Huo　of　the　Mangs；　and　the　rebel　leader　Meng　Da；　and　the　army　from　Wei。　I　have　also　thought　out　a　plan　to　circumvent　the　army　from　Wu；　but　I　need　a　special　sort　of　person　to　carry　it　out。　I　want　an　envoy；　an　able　talker；　one　capable　of　persuading　other　people。　It　was　because　I　have　not　found　such　a　person　yet　that　I　was　so　deeply　in　thought。　But　Your　Majesty　may　set　your　mind　at　rest　and　not　be　anxious。〃

The　Latter　Ruler　heard　this　half　terrified　and　half　glad。

〃Surely　your　superhuman　devices　are　too　deep　for　the　mortal。　But　may　I　ask　how　these　armies　have　been　made　to　turn　back？〃

〃Since　His　Late　Majesty　bade　me　take　the　best　care　of　your　welfare；　I　dare　not　be　remiss　for　a　single　moment。　Some　officers　in　Chengdu　are　ignorant　of　that　refinement　of　war　which　consists　in　not　allowing　the　enem