il of carts and bullocks； horses and mules； and military material and weapons。 And they had also ten thousand prisoners。 There was great rejoicing； and Lu Xun with Zhou Fang led the army home into Wu。
On their return Sun Quan； the Prince of Wu； came out with a numerous cortege of officers to wele the victors； and an imperial umbrella was borne over the head of Lu Xun as they wended their way homeward。
When the officers presented their felicitations； Sun Quan noticed that Zhou Fang had no hair。
Sun Quan was very gracious to him； saying； 〃This deed of yours； and the sacrifice you made to attain it； will surely be written in the histories。〃
He made Zhou Fang the Lord of the Gate Within。 Then there were great feastings and greetings and much revelry。
Lu Xun said； 〃Cao Xiu has been thoroughly beaten； and the soldiers of Wei are cowed。 I think now is an occasion to send letters into Shu to advise Zhuge Liang to attack Wei。〃
Sun Quan agreed； and letters were sent to the River Lands。
The east； successful in one fight；
Would unto war the west incite。
The next chapter will say if Zhuge Liang once more tried to overe Wei。
Main Next to Chapter 97 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 97
Chapter 97
Sending A Second Memorial； Zhuge Liang Renews The Attack On Wei；
Forging A Letter； Jiang Wei Defeats The Northern Army。
It was in the autumn of the sixth year of Beginning Prosperity （AD 229） that the Wei army was defeated； with very great loss； by Lu Xun of Wu。 Cao Xiu's mortification brought on an illness from which he died in Luoyang。 By mand of Cao Rui； the Ruler of Wei； Cao Xiu received most honorable burial。
Then Sima Yi brought the army home again。
The other officers went to wele him and asked； 〃The defeat of mander Cao Xiu is also partly yours。 Why； O General； did you hurry home？〃
Sima Yi replied； 〃I came for reasons of strategy； because of Zhuge Liang's probable intentions。 If he knows I have suffered a defeat； he may try to attack Changan。 The whole West Valley Land would be helpless if I did not return。〃
They listened and smiled； for they thought he was afraid。
Letters from Wu came to Shu proposing a joint attack on Wei and detailing their recent victory。 In these letters two feelings were gratified………that of telling the story of their own grandeur and prowess； and that of furthering the design of a treaty of peace。 The Latter Ruler was pleased and sent the letters to Zhuge Liang in Hanzhong。
At that time the army was in excellent state； the soldiers hardy； the horses strong。 There were plentiful supplies of all kinds。 Zhuge Liang was just going to propose a new war。
On receipt of the letter he made a great banquet to discuss an expedition。 A severe gale came on from the northeast and brought down a fir tree in front of the general's shelter。 It was an inauspicious omen to all the officers； and they were troubled。
Zhuge Liang cast lots to know what portent was intended； and announced； 〃That gale signals the loss of a great leader。〃
They hardly believed him。 But before the banquet ended； two sons of Zhao Yun； Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang； came and wished to see the Prime Minister。
Zhuge Liang； deeply affected； threw aside his wine cup and cried； 〃That is it。 Zhao Yun is gone！〃
When the two young men came in； they prostrated themselves and wept； saying； 〃Our father died the night before at the third watch。〃
Zhuge Liang staggered and burst into lamentation。
〃My friend is gone。 The country has lost it great beam； and I my right arm！〃
Those about him joined in； wiping away their tears。 Zhuge Liang bade the two young men go in person to Chengdu to bear the sad tidings to the Emperor。
And the Latter Ruler wept bitterly。
＇e＇ Evan； a reader： 〃Zhao Yun is my favorite。 I don't think that any other character in the novel can quite pare to his nobility and virtue； and few enough could pare with him on any grounds。 From Wei； I would say Zhang Liao； and from Wu； Taishi Ci and Lu Meng。〃 。。。。。
〃Zhao Yun was my savior and friend。 He saved my life when I was a child in the time of great confusion！〃 cried the Latter Ruler。
An edict was issued creating Zhao Yun Regent Marshal and Lord of Shunping and giving burial on the east of Silky Hills near Capital Chengdu。 A temple was ordered to his memory and sacrifices were offered in four seasons。*
From Changshan came a general； tiger bold；
In wit and valor he was fitting mate
For Guan Yu and Zhang Fei； his exploits rivaling
Even theirs。 River Han and Dangyang recall
His name。 Twice in his stalwart arms he bore
The prince； his well…loved leader's son and heir。
In storied page his name stands out； writ large。
Fair record of most brave and loyal deeds。
The Latter Ruler showed his affectionate gratitude to the late leader； not only in according him most honorable burial； but in kindness to his sons。 The elder； Zhao Tong； was made General in the Tiger Army and the younger； Zhao Guang； Station General。 He also set guards over the tomb。
When the two sons had left； the ministers reported to the Latter Ruler： 〃The dispositions of the army are plete； and the Prime Minister proposes to march against Wei without delay。〃
Talking this over with one and another； the Latter Ruler found the courtiers much inclined to a cautious policy and somewhat fearful。 And the doubts entered into the Latter Ruler's mind so that he could not decide。 Then came a memorial from Zhuge Liang； and the messenger； Yang Yi； was called into the presence and gave it to the Latter Ruler。 The Emperor spread it on the table and read：
〃The First Ruler always said： 'Han and rebels cannot coexist； a ruler's domain cannot be confined。' Wherefore he laid upon me； thy minister； to destroy the rebels。 Measuring my powers by his perspicacity； he knew that I should attack and oppose my talents； inadequate as they might be； to their strength； for； if I did not； the royal domain would be destroyed。 It was a question whether to await destruction without effort； or to attack？ Wherefore he assigned me the task confidently。 Thenceforward this task occupied all my thoughts。
〃Considering that the south should be made secure before the north could be attacked； I braved the heat of summer and plunged deep into the wilds of the Mang nations。 Not that I was careless of myself or the soldiers； but urged by the one consideration； that the royal domain should not be restricted to the capital of Shu； I faced dangers in obedience to the First Ruler's behest。 But there were critics who said that I should not do it。
〃Now the rebels have been weakened in the west and have bee defeated in the east。 The rule of war is to take advantage of the enemy's weakness； and so now is the time to attack。 I shall discuss the various circumstances in order。
〃The enlightenment of the Founder of the Hans； Liu Bang； rivaled the glory of the sun and moon； his counselors were profound as the ocean abyss。 Nevertheless； he trod a hazardous path and suffered losses； only attaining repose after passing through great dangers。 Your Majesty does not reach his level； nor do your counselors equal Zhang Liang and Chen Ping。 Yet while we desired victory； we would sit idle； waiting till the empire should bee settled。 This attitude is beyond my prehension。
〃Imperial Protector Liu Yao and Governor Wang Lang each occupied a territory。 They passed their time in talking of tranquillity and discussing plans； quoting the sayings of the sages till they were filled with doubts and obsessed with difficulties。 So this year was not the time to fight； nor next year the season to punish； and； thus talking； it came about that Sun Ce grew powerful and possessed himself of all the South Land。 This sort of behavior I cannot understand。
〃In craft Cao Cao surpassed all humans。 He could wield armies like the great strategists of old； Sun Zi and Wu Qi。 Yet he was surrounded in Nanyang； was in danger at Wuchao； was in difficulties at Qilian； was hard pressed in Liyang； was nearly defeated at Beishan； and nearly killed at Tong Pass。 Yet； after all these experiences； there was a temporary and artificial state of equilibrium。 How much less can I； a man of feeble powers； bring about a decision without running risks？ I fail to understand。
〃Cao Cao failed in five attac