destroyed。'

〃Now　the　armies　of　Wei　are　countless　legions；　and　their　able　leaders　are　beyond　number。　Can　the　glowworm　in　the　parched　stubble　rival　the　glorious　moon　in　the　sky？　If　you　will　turn　down　your　weapons　and　throw　aside　your　armors　and　dutifully　yield；　you　shall　not　lose　your　rank。　The　state　will　have　tranquillity　and　the　people　rejoice。　Is　not　that　a　desirable　consummation？〃

Zhuge　Liang　laughed。

Said　he；　〃I　regarded　you　as　an　old　and　tried　servant　of　the　Han　Dynasty　and　thought　you　would　hold　some　noble　discourse。　Could　I　imagine　you　would　talk　so　foully？　I　have　a　word　to　say　that　all　the　armies　may　hear。　In　the　days　of　Emperors　Huan　and　Ling　the　rule　of　Han　declined；　the　officers　of　state　were　the　authors　of　evil；　the　government　fell　into　confusion；　and　misfortune　settled　on　the　country。　Trouble　was　rife　in　every　quarter。　The　Yellow　Scaves；　Dong　Zhuo；　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si；　and　other　rebels　arose　one　after　another；　deposing　the　emperor　and　afflicting　the　people。　Because　the　household　officers　were　corrupt　and　foolish；　and　the　court　officials　were　as　brute　beasts；　living　only　that　they　might　feed；　because　high　people；　wolfishly　cruel　in　their　hearts；　savagely　mean　in　their　conduct；　were　in　office　one　after　another；　and　slavish　flatterers　bending　slavish　knees　confounded　the　administration；　therefore　the　Throne　became　as　a　waste　heap；　and　the　people　were　trodden　into　the　mire。

〃I　know　all　about　you。　You　came　from　the　eastern　seashore。　You　got　into　office　with　a　remendation　of　filial　piety　and　integrity；　you　properly　aided　your　sovereign　and　supported　the　state；　cared　for　the　tranquillity　of　Han　and　magnified　the　Lius。　But　could　one　have　imagined　that　you　would　turn　and　assist　rebels　and　enter　into　a　plot　to　usurp　the　Throne？　Indeed　your　cr