〃Shu　and　Wu　have　made　an　alliance　to　invade　Wei　and　share　its　domains；　and　Zhuge　Liang　is　at　Qishan　the　third　time。　Have　you　heard；　Illustrious　Sir？〃

〃My　people　have　kept　back　all　news　as　I　am　ill；〃　said　he；　startled。　〃But　if　this　is　true；　the　country　is　in　danger。　Why　have　they　not　made　you　mander…in…Chief　to　stop　this　invasion？〃

〃I　am　unequal　to　the　post；〃　said　Sima　Yi。

〃Bring　the　seal　and　give　it　to　him；〃　said　Cao　Zhen　to　his　attendants。

〃You　are　anxious　on　my　account。　Really　I　am　only　e　to　lend　you　an　arm。　I　dare　not　accept　the　seal。〃

Cao　Zhen　started　up；　saying；　〃If　you　do　not　take　it；　I　shall　have　to　go　to　see　the　Emperor；　ill　as　I　am。　The　Middle　Land　is　in　danger。〃

〃Really　the　Emperor　has　already　shown　his　kindness；　but　I　dare　not　accept　his　offer。〃

〃If　you　have　been　appointed；　then　Shu　will　be　driven　off。〃

Thrice　Sima　Yi　declined　the　seal；　but　eventually　he　received　it　into　his　hands　as　he　knew　Cao　Zhen　was　sincere。　Then　he　took　leave　of　the　Ruler　of　Wei　and　marched　to　Changan。

The　seal　of　office　changes　hands；

Two　armies　now　one　force　bee。

Sima　Yi's　success　or　failure　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　99　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　99

Chapter　99

Zhuge　Liang　Defeats　The　Wei　Army；

Sima　Yi　Invades　The　West　River　Land。

The　fourth　month　of　Beginning　Prosperity；　seventh　year　（AD　229）；　found　Zhuge　Liang　camped　at　Qishan　in　three　camps；　waiting　to　attack　Wei。

When　Sima　Yi　reached　Changan；　the　officer　in　mand；　Zhang　He；　told　him　all　that　had　happened。　He　gave　Zhang　He　the　post　of　Leader　of　the　Van；　with　Dai　Ling　as　his　Assistant　General　and　a　hundred　thousand　troops；　and　then　marched　out