an。　Meng　Da　is　no　match　for　him。　He　will　he　captured；　and；　if　he　should　be；　the　Middle　Land　will　be　hard　to　conquer。〃

〃Why　not　put　Meng　Da　on　his　guard　then？〃　said　Ma　Su。

Zhuge　Liang　decided　to　write；　and　the　letter　was　dispatched　immediately。

Meng　Da　was　then　at　Xincheng；　anxiously　expecting　the　return　of　his　last　confidential　messenger；　when；　one　day；　the　man　returned　and　gave　him　this　letter　from　Zhuge　Liang　himself：

〃Your　last　letter　has　convinced　me　of　your　loyal　rectitude；　and　I　still　remember　with　joy　our　old　friendship。　If　your　plan　succeeds；　you　will　certainly　stand　in　the　first　rank　of　most　worthy　ministers。　But　I　scarcely　need　impress　upon　you　the　extreme　necessity　for　most　perfect　secrecy。　Be　very　careful　whom　you　trust。　Fear　everyone；　guard　against　everyone。　This　news　of　the　recall　of　Sima　Yi　and　the　proposed　junction　of　armies　at　Changan　is　very　serious。　If　a　word　reaches　Sima　Yi；　he　will　e　to　you　first。　Therefore　take　every　precaution　and　do　not　regard　this　as　a　matter　of　unimportance。〃

〃They　say　Zhuge　Liang　leaves　nothing　to　chance；〃　said　Meng　Da；　smiling　as　he　read。　〃This　proves　it。〃

He　lost　no　time　in　preparing　a　reply；　which　he　sent　also　by　a　trusty　messenger。　This　letter　was　like　this：

〃I　acknowledge　your　most　valuable　advice；　but　is　it　possible　that　I　should　be　remiss？　For　my　part　I　do　not　think　the　Sima　Yi's　affair　need　cause　anxiety；　for　Wancheng　is　three　hundred　miles　from　Luoyang　and　four　hundred　miles　from　Xincheng。　Should　he　hear　anything；　it　would　take　a　month　to　send　a　memorial　to　the　capital　and　get　a　reply。　My　ramparts　here　are　strong　and　my　forces　posted　in　the　best　positions。　Let　him　e！　I　am　not　afraid　of　the　result；　so　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　need　feel　no　anxiety。　You　have　only　to　wait　for