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“My gorge rises at the thought; I could not.”

“I saw Zhuge Liang just now, and he says he could heal you. He is just outside, and I will call him if you like.”

“Ask him to come in.”

Zhou Yu bade his servants help him to a sitting position, and Zhuge Liang entered.

“I have not seen you for days,” said Zhuge Liang. “How could I guess that you were unwell?”

“How can any one feel secure? We are constantly the playthings of luck, good or bad.”

“Yes; Heaven's winds and clouds are not to be measured. No one can reckon their comings and goings, can they?”

Zhou Yu turned pale and a low groan escaped him, while his visitor went on, “You feel depressed, do you not? As though troubles were piling up in your heart?”

“That is exactly how I feel.”

“You need cooling medicine to dissipate this sense of oppression.”

“I have taken a cooling draught, but it has done no good.”

“You must get the humors into good order before the drugs will have any effect.”

Zhou Yu began to think Zhuge Liang knew what was really the matter and resolved to test him.

“What should be taken to produce a favorable temper?” said Zhou Yu.

“I know one means of producing a favorable temper,” replied Zhuge Liang.

“I wish you would tell me.”

Zhuge Liang got out writing materials, sent away the servants, and then wrote a few words:

“To burn out the fleet

Of Cao Cao;

All are in your wish,

Except winds from the east.”

This he gave to the sick general, saying, “That is the origin of your illness.”

Zhou Yu read the words with great surprise, and it confirmed his secret opinion that Zhuge Liang really was rather more than human. He decided that the only course was to be open and tell him all.

So he said, “Since you know the cause of the disease, what do you recommend as treatment? The need of a remedy is very urgent.”

“I have no great talent,” said Zhuge Liang, “but I have had to do with humans of no ordinary gifts from whom I have received certain magical books called Concealing Method. I can call the winds and summon the rains. Since you need a southeast breeze, General, you must build an altar on the Nanping Mountains, the Altar of the Seven Stars. It must be nine spans high, with three steps, surrounded by a guard of one hundred and twenty humans bearing flags. On this altar I will work a spell to procure a strong southeast gale for three days and three nights. Do you approve?”

“Never mind three whole days;” said Zhou Yu, “one day of strong wind will serve my purpose. But it must be done at once and without delay.”

“I will sacrifice for a wind for three days from the twentieth day of the moon; will that suit you?”

Zhou Yu was delighted and hastily rose from his couch to give the necessary orders. He commanded that five hundred men should be sent to the mountains to build the altar, and he told off the guard of one hundred and twenty to bear the flags and be at the orders of Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang took his leave, went forth, and rode off with Lu Su to the mountains where they measured out the ground. He bade the soldiers build the altar of red earth from the southeast quarter. It was two hundred and forty spans in circuit, square in shape, and of three tiers, each of three spans, in all nine spans high. On the lowest tier he placed the flags of the twenty-eight “houses” of the heavens and four constellations; on the east seven, with blue flags; on the north seven, with black flags; on the west seven, with white flags; and on the south seven, with red flags. Around the second tier he placed sixty-four yellow flags, corresponding to the number of the diagrams of the Book of Divination, in eight groups of eight. Four men were stationed on the highest platform, each wearing a Taoist headdress and a black silk robe embroidered with the phoenix and confined with wide sashes. They wore scarlet boots and square-cut skirts. On the left front stood a man supporting a tall pole bearing at its top a plume of light feathers to show by their least movement the wind's first breathing. On the right front was a man holding a tall pole whereon was a flag with the symbol of the seven stars to show the direction and force of the wind. On the left rear stood a man with a sword, and on the right rear a man with a censer. Below the altar were forty-four men holding flags, umbrellas, spears, lances, yellow banners, white axes, red banderoles, and black ensigns. And these were spaced about the altar.

On the appointed day Zhuge Liang, having chosen a propitious moment, bathed his body and purified himself. Then he robed himself as a Taoist, loosened his locks, and approached the altar.

He bade Lu Su retire, saying, “Return to the camp and assist the General in setting out his forces. Should my prayers avail not, do not wonder.”

So Lu Su left him. Then Zhuge Liang commanded the guards on no account to absent themselves, to maintain strict silence, and to be reverent; death would be the penalty of disobedience.