he　portent　meant。　He　sent　at　once　to　ask　Zhuge　Liang　to　tell　him。

Zhuge　Liang　sent　back　the　reply：　〃This　means　the　loss　of　a　great　leader；　and　there　will　be　bad　news　in　a　few　days。〃

So　the　army　was　halted　and　did　not　march。　Then　the　arrival　of　a　message　from　Hu　Ban　of　Langzhong　was　announced。

The　First　Ruler's　foreboding　increased；　and　he　stamped　his　foot；　saying；　〃Alas！　My　other　brother　is　gone！〃

Opening　the　letter　he　found　it　was　indeed　so。　As　he　read　the　news　of　the　assassination；　he　uttered　a　loud　cry　and　fell　in　a　swoon。　He　was　raised；　and　presently　they　brought　him　back　to　life。

Next　day　they　reported　a　body　of　horsemen　ing。　The　First　Ruler　went　out　of　the　camp　to　look　at　them　and　presently　saw　a　young　general；　dressed　all　in　white　armor；　sweeping　forth　in　quite　a　terror。　The　First　Ruler　recognized　that　was　Zhang　Bao。

As　soon　as　Zhang　Bao　reached　the　First　Ruler's　presence；　he　dismounted　and　bowed　to　the　earth；　weeping；　〃My　father　has　been　killed　by　Fan　Jiang　and　Zhang　Da。　They　have　gone　over　to　Wu；　taking　my　father's　head　with　them！〃

The　news　was　very　grievous；　and　the　First　Ruler　burst　into　tears　and　even　refused　food。

His　officers　remonstrated；　saying；　〃Now　Your　Majesty　has　the　loss　of　two　brothers　to　avenge；　and　you　must　not　destroy　yourself。〃

So　after　a　time　he　began　to　eat　and　drink；　and　he　then　offered　the　leadership　of　the　van　to　Zhang　Bao；　saying；　〃Are　you　and　Hu　Ban　willing　to　lead　your　troops　to　attack　Wu　and　to　avenge　your　father？〃

〃For　my　country　or　for　my　father；　I　would　shrink　from　no　sacrifice；〃　said　the　young　man。

Just　as　the　force　for　the　young　man's　leadership　was　being　organized；　another　party　of　horsemen　approached；　also　dressed　in　white　armors。　This　was　a　small　force