ginning　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　t