In　that　case；　Yongcheng　and　Meicheng　are　in　danger。〃

Leaving　Zhang　He　to　guard　Changan；　Guo　Huai　sent　Sun　Li　to　Yongcheng；　and　he　himself　set　out　at　once　for　Meicheng。　He　sent　an　urgent　report　to　Luoyang。

At　Wei's　next　court　the　Emperor　was　informed　of　all　the　misfortunes　in　the　west：　〃Chencange　has　fallen；　and　Hao　Zhao　has　died。　Zhuge　Liang　has　captured　San　Pass。　He　is　camping　at　Qishan　and　is　planning　to　invade　Wei。〃

Cao　Rui　was　alarmed。

Just　then　Man　Chong　reported；　〃Sun　Quan　has　declared　himself　Emperor；　and　Lu　Xun　is　drilling　his　army　in　Wuchang。　An　invasion　from　the　east　can　be　expected　soon。〃

Cao　Rui　was　embarrassed　and　frightened。　Cao　Zhen；　being　ill；　could　not　be　consulted；　and　Sima　Yi　was　called。　He　was　ready　with　a　proposal。

〃In　my　humble　opinion；　Wu　will　not　attack　us；〃　said　Sima　Yi。

〃What　makes　you　think　so？〃　asked　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

〃Because　Zhuge　Liang　still　resents；　and　wishes　to　avenge；　the　event　at　Xiaoting。　He　never　ceases　to　desire　to　absorb　Wu。　His　only　fear　is　that　we　may　swoop　down　upon　Shu。　That　is　why　there　is　an　alliance　with　Wu。　Lu　Xun　knows　it　also　quite　well；　and　he　is　only　making　a　show　of　raising　an　army　as　they　arranged。　The　truth　is　he　is　sitting　on　the　fence。　Hence　Your　Majesty　may　disregard　the　menace　on　the　east；　and　only　protect　yourself　against　Shu。〃

〃Your　insight　is　very　profound；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

Sima　Yi　was　created　mander…in…Chief　of　all　the　forces　in　the　west；　and　the　Ruler　of　Wei　directed　a　courtier　to　go　to　Cao　Zhen　for　the　seal。

〃I　would　rather　go　myself；〃　said　Sima　Yi。

So　Sima　Yi　left　the　audience　and　went　to　the　palace　of　Cao　Zhen；　where　presently　he　saw　the　invalid。　First　he　asked　after　his　health　and　then　gradually　opened　his　errand。