e；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃I　do　not　think　so。　I　think　his　words　exceed　his　deeds。　Do　not　make　much　use　of　him。　Watch　him　carefully。〃

Having　said　this；　he　bade　them　summon　the　high　officers　of　state　to　the　chamber。　Taking　paper　and　pen；　the　First　Ruler　wrote　his　testament。

He　handed　it　to　the　Prime　Minister　with　a　sigh　and　said；　〃I　am　no　great　scholar；　and　I　only　know　the　rough　outlines　of　what　should　be　known。　But　the　Teacher　has　said：　'A　bird's　song　is　sad　when　death　is　near；　and　a　dying　person's　words　are　good。'　I　was　waiting　that　we　might　aid　each　other　in　the　destruction　of　the　Caos　and　the　restoration　of　the　Hans；　but　ere　the　work　is　plete　I　am　called　away；　and　this　last　mand　of　mine　I　confide　to　you　as　Prime　Minister　to　be　handed　to　my　son　and　heir；　Liu　Shan。　My　words　are　to　be　taken　seriously。　I　trust　that　you　will　instruct　and　guide　my　son。〃

Zhuge　Liang　and　all　those　present　wept　and　prostrated　themselves；　saying；　〃We　pray　Your　Majesty　repose　yourself。　We　will　do　our　utmost　whereby　to　prove　our　gratitude　for　the　kindness　we　have　received。〃

At　the　First　Ruler's　mand　the　attendants　raised　Zhuge　Liang　from　the　earth。　With　one　hand　the　dying　man　brushed　away　the　falling　tears；　while　with　the　other　he　grasped　Zhuge　Liang's　hand。

And　he　said；　〃The　end　is　near。　I　have　something　more　to　say　as　to　a　close　general。〃

〃What　holy　mand　has　Your　Majesty　to　give？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

The　First　Ruler　said；　〃You　are　many　times　more　clever　than　Cao　Pi；　and　you　must　safeguard　the　kingdom　and　plete　the　great　work。　If　my　son　can　be　helped；　help　him。　But　if　he　proves　a　fool；　then　take　the　throne　yourself　and　be　a　ruler。〃

Such　a　speech　almost　startled　Zhuge　Liang　out　of　his　senses。　A　cold　sweat　broke　out　all　over　his　body；　and　hi