t　of　his　army；　so　that　he　will　not　feel　inclined　to　make　any　expeditions　further。　Ma　Chao　is　in　mand　at　the　passes　between　Wei　and　Hanzhong。　I　shall　also　leave　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　with　forces　to　reinforce　any　point　where　danger　may　appear。　I　can　assure　Your　Majesty　that　no　untoward　event　will　happen。

〃I　am　going　to　sweep　clean　the　Mang　country；　so　that　we　may　have　a　free　hand　to　attack　Wei　when　the　day　es。　Thus　I　shall　be　enabled　to　requite　the　honor　paid　me　by　your　father　the　First　Ruler；　who　came　thrice　to　seek　me　and　who　doubled　my　obligation　when　he　confided　to　me　the　care　of　his　son。〃

〃Indeed　I　am　young　and　ignorant；〃　replied　the　Latter　Ruler；　〃and　can　only　exist　with　you　to　decide　for　me。〃

At　that　moment　Counselor　Wang　Lian；　a　man　of　Nanyang；　stepped　forward；　crying；　〃No；　no；　Sir；　you　may　not　go！　The　South　Mang　is　a　wild　country　reeking　with　malaria。　It　is　wrong　that　an　officer　of　state　in　such　an　exalted　and　responsible　position　should　go　away　on　a　distant　expedition。　These　rebels　and　tribespeople　are　but　an　irritation；　not　a　disease；　and　an　ordinary　leader　would　be　enough　to　send　against　them。　He　would　not　fail。〃

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃This　country　of　the　Mangs　is　distant　and　mostly　tribal。　To　pacify　them　will　be　difficult；　and　I　feel　I　ought　to　go。　When　to　be　harsh　and　when　to　show　leniency　are　matters　to　be　decided　on　at　the　moment；　and　instructions　cannot　be　easily　given　to　another。〃

Zhuge　Liang　steadily　opposed　all　Wang　Lian's　efforts　to　bring　about　a　change　of　intention；　and　he　soon　took　leave　of　the　Latter　Ruler　and　made　ready　to　start。

Jiang　Wan　was　Army　Counselor　of　the　expedition；　Fei　Yi；　Secretary；　Dong　Jue　and　Fan　Jian；　Army　Inspectors；　Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan；　manders；　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Yi；　Deputy　mande