Zhuge　Liang　sentenced　Chen　Shi　to　death；　and　he　was　led　away。　Soon　they　brought　his　head　into　the　presence　of　the　assembled　generals。　Zhuge　Liang　spared　Wei　Yan　as　there　was　yet　work　for　him　to　acplish。

After　this；　Zhuge　Liang　prepared　to　advance。　The　scouts　reported　that　Cao　Zhen　was　ill；　but　was　being　treated　by　doctors　in　his　tent。

The　news　pleased　Zhuge　Liang；　and　he　said　to　his　officers；　〃If　Cao　Zhen's　illness　is　slight；　they　will　surely　return　to　Changan。　They　must　be　delayed　by　his　serious　sickness。　He　stays　on　so　that　his　soldiers　may　not　lose　heart。　Now　I　will　write　him　such　a　letter　that　he　will　die。〃

Then　he　called　up　the　soldiers　of　Wei　who　had　yielded；　and　said　to　them；　〃You　are　Wei　troops；　and　your　families　are　all　over　there：　It　is　wrong　for　you　to　serve　me。　Suppose　I　let　you　go　home？〃

They　thanked　him；　falling　prostrate　and　weeping。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　continued；　〃Friend　Cao　Zhen　and　I　have　a　pact；　and　I　have　a　letter　for　him　which　you　shall　take。　The　bearer　will　be　well　rewarded。〃

They　received　the　letter　and　ran　home　to　their　own　tents；　where　they　gave　their　mander…in…Chief　the　letter。　Cao　Zhen　was　too　ill　to　rise；　but　he　opened　the　cover　and　read：

〃The　Prime　Minister　of　Han；　Zhuge　Liang；　to　the　Minister　of　War；　Cao　Zhen：

〃You　will　permit　me　to　say　that　a　leader　of　an　army　should　be　able　to　go　and　e；　to　be　facile　and　obdurate；　to　advance　and　retire；　to　show　himself　weak　or　strong；　to　be　immovable　as　mountains；　to　be　inscrutable　as　the　operations　of　nature；　to　be　infinite　as　the　universe；　to　be　everlasting　as　the　blue　void；　to　be　vast　as　the　ocean；　to　be　dazzling　as　the　lights　of　heaven；　to　foresee　droughts　and　floods；　to　know　the　nature　of　the　ground；　to　understand　the　possibilities　of　battle　arra