ial　Son…in…Law。　As　such　he　enjoyed　great　deference　at　court。　But　although　he　held　a　military　mission；　he　had　never　been　with　the　army。　However；　as　he　requested　the　mand；　he　was　made　mander…in…Chief　of　the　western　armies　and　was　ready　to　march。

But　Minister　of　the　Interior　Wang　Lang　spoke　against　the　appointment；　saying；　〃The　appointment　is　wrong。　Xiahou　Mao；　the　Son…in…Law；　has　never　seen　a　battle　and　is　unsuitable　for　this　post；　especially　when　his　opponent　is　the　clever　and　crafty　Zhuge　Liang；　a　man　thoroughly　versed　in　strategy。〃

〃I　suppose　you　have　arranged　with　Zhuge　Liang　to　be　his　ally；〃　sneered　Xiahou　Mao。　〃Ever　since　I　was　a　boy；　I　have　studied　strategy；　and　I　am　well　acquainted　with　army　matters。　Why　do　you　despise　my　youth？　Unless　I　capture　this　Zhuge　Liang；　I　pledge　myself　never　again　to　see　the　Emperor's　face。〃

Wang　Lang　and　his　supporters　were　silenced。　Xiahou　Mao　took　leave　of　the　Ruler　of　Wei　and　hastened　to　Changan　to　get　his　army　in　order。　He　had　two　hundred　thousand　troops　from　the　western　areas。

He　would　go　to　battle；　take　the　signal　flags　in　grip；

But　could　he　play　the　leader；　he　a　lad　with　callow　lip？

The　next　chapter　will　deal　with　this　campaign。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　92　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　92

Chapter　92

Zhao　Yun　Slays　Five　Generals；

Zhuge　Liang　Takes　Three　Cities。

Zhuge　Liang's　army　marched　northward；　passing　through　Mianyang；　where　stood　Ma　Chao's　tomb。　In　honor　of　the　dead　Tiger　General；　Zhuge　Liang　sacrificed　there　in　person；　Ma　Chao's　cousin………Ma　Dai………being　chief　mourner　for　the　occasion。

After　this　ceremony；　when　the　mander…in…Chief　was　discussing　his　plans；　the　spies　came　in　to　report：　〃The　Ruler　of　Wei；　Cao　R