that　he　had　joyful　news　to　impart。

〃What　is　your　joyful　news？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃Formerly　Meng　Da　deserted　to　Wei；　but　only　because　he　could　do　nothing　else。　Cao　Pi　thought　much　of　his　capabilities；　treated　him　most　generously；　kept　him　at　his　side；　gave　him　titles　of　General　Who　Establishes　Strong　Arms　and　Lord　of　Pingyang；　and　appointed　him　to　the　posts　of　Governor　of　Xincheng　and　mander　of　Shangyong　and　Jincheng；　and　so　on。　But　when　Cao　Pi　died；　all　was　changed。　In　Cao　Rui's　court　were　many　who　were　jealous　of　Meng　Da's　influence　and　power；　so　that　he　enjoyed　no　peace。

〃He　used　to　talk　about　being　originally　one　of　the　Shu　leaders；　and　he　was　forced　to　do　so…and…so。　Lately　he　has　sent　several　confidants　with　letters　to　my　father　asking　that　he　would　state　his　case　to　you　as　to　the　happenings。　When　the　five　armies　came　upon　Shu；　he　wanted　to　rejoin　the　River　Lands。　Now　he　is　at　Xincheng；　and；　hearing　you　are　attacking　Wei；　he　proposes　to　lead　the　army　of　the　three　counties　about　Xincheng；　Jincheng；　and　Shangyong　to　attack　Luoyang　while　you　attack　Changan；　whereby　both　capitals　will　be　taken。　I　have　brought　with　me　his　messenger　and　his　letters。〃

This　was　good　news；　and　the　bearer　was　fittingly　rewarded。　But　at　that　moment　came　the　news　that　Cao　Rui　was　leading　an　army　to　Changan　and　had　recalled　the　banished　Sima　Yi　to　office。　This　piece　of　bad　news　saddened　Zhuge　Liang　not　a　little。

He　told　Ma　Su；　who　said；　〃Cao　Rui　should　not　be　your　worry。　If　he　goes　to　Changan；　we　will　march　there　and　capture　him　on　the　road；　and　there　will　be　an　end　of　him。〃

〃Do　you　think　I　fear　him？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　bitterly。　〃But　the　recall　of　Sima　Yi　is　another　matter；　that　troubles　me。　And　Meng　Da's　proposal　will　avail　nothing　if　he　es　across　this　m