news　of　all　these　doings　reached　Zhuge　Liang　and　perturbed　him　not　a　little。

He　was　anxious；　saying；　〃Cao　Pi　is　dead；　and　his　son　Cao　Rui　has　succeeded　him。　But　that　is　not　my　concern。　Only　I　am　worried　about　Sima　Yi；　who　is　very　crafty　and　skillful　in　the　art　of　war；　and　who；　in　mand　of　all　western　forces　of　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou；　may　prove　a　serious　danger　to　Shu。　This　Sima　Yi　ought　to　be　attacked　at　once。〃

Counselor　Ma　Su　spoke　of　this　matter。　〃You；　O　Prime　Minister；　have　just　returned　from　an　arduous　and　exhausting　expedition；　and　you　should　take　time　to　recuperate　before　you　undertake　such　another。　However；　I　have　a　scheme　by　which　Cao　Rui　may　be　brought　to　work　the　destruction　of　Sima　Yi。　May　I　lay　it　before　you？〃

〃What　plan　have　you？〃　said　he。

〃The　young　emperor　has　no　confidence　in　Sima　Yi　although　Sima　Yi　is　a　high　minister　of　state。　Now　send　someone　secretly　to　Luoyang　and　Yejun　to　disseminate　reports　that　Sima　Yi　is　about　to　rebel。　Further；　prepare　a　proclamation　in　his　name　and　post　it　up　so　as　to　cause　Cao　Rui　to　mistrust　him　and　put　him　to　death。〃

Zhuge　Liang　adopted　the　suggestion。

Whence　it　came　about　that　many　notices　suddenly　appeared；　and　one　found　its　way　to　the　city　gate　of　Yejun。　The　wardens　of　the　gate　took　it　down　and　sent　it　to　Cao　Rui。　This　is　what　it　said：

〃I；　Sima　Yi；　Imperial　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　mander　of　the　Forces　of　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou；　confident　in　the　universal　principles　of　right；　now　inform　the　empire；　saying：

〃The　Founder　of　this　Dynasty；　Emperor　Cao；　established　himself　with　the　design　of　recurring　the　empire　to　the　Lord　of　Linzi；　Cao　Zhi。　Unfortunately；　calumny　spread　abroad；　and　the　Dragon　Ruler　could　not　manifest　himself　for　many　years。　Emperor　Cao's　grandson；