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Zhuge Liang received him and, after the ceremonies were over, said, “I would trouble you, Sir, to carry a letter for me into East Wu; will you undertake the mission?”

“Could I possibly decline any task you laid upon me?” said Fei Yi.

So Zhuge Liang wrote a letter and sent it to Sun Quan. Fei Yi took it and hastened to Jianye, where he saw Sun Quan, the Ruler of Wu, and presented this letter:

“The Hans have been unfortunate, and the line of rulers has been broken. The Cao party have usurped the seat of

government and still hold the command. My late master, Emperor Bei, confided a great task to me, and I must exhaust every effort to achieve it. Now my army is at Qishan, and the rebels are on the verge of destruction on River Wei. I hope Your Majesty, in accordance with your oath of alliance, will send a leader against the north to assist by taking the Middle Land, and the empire can be shared. The full circumstances cannot be told, but I hope you will understand and act.”

Sun Quan was pleased at the news and said to the envoy, “I have long desired to set my arm in motion, but have not been able to arrange with Zhuge Liang. After this letter I will lead an expedition myself and go to Juchao and capture Xincheng of Wei. Moreover, I will send Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin to camp at Miankou and Jiangxia, and take Xiangyang. I will also send an army under Sun Shao into Guangling to capture Huaiyang. The total number will be three hundred thousand troops, and they shall start at once.”

Fei Yi thanked him and said, “In such a case the Middle Land will fall forthwith.”

A banquet was prepared. At this, Sun Quan said, “Whom did the Prime Minister send to lead the battle?”

Fei Yi replied, “Wei Yan was the chief leader.”

“A man brave enough, but crooked. One day he will work a mischief unless Zhuge Liang is very wary. But surely he knows.”

“Your Majesty's words are to the point;” said the envoy, “I will return at once and lay them before Zhuge Liang.”

Fei Yi quickly took leave and hastened to Qishan with his news of the intended expedition of Wu.

“Did the Ruler of Wu say nothing else?” asked Zhuge Liang.

Then Fei Yi told him what had been said about Wei Yan.

“Truly a comprehending ruler,” said Zhuge Liang, appreciatively. “But I could not be ignorant of this. However, I use Wei Yan because he is very bold.”

“Then Sir, you ought to decide soon what to do with him.”

“I have a scheme of my own.”

Fei Yi returned to Chengdu, and Zhuge Liang resumed the ordinary camp duties of a leader.

When Zhuge Liang was in a council with his commanders, suddenly a certain Wei leader came and begged to be allowed to surrender. Zhuge Liang had the man brought in and questioned him.

“I am a leader, Zheng Wen by name. General Qin Lang and I are old colleagues. Recently Sima Yi transferred us and, showing great partiality for my colleague, appointed him Leader of the Van and threw me out like a weed. I was disgusted and left, and I wish to join your ranks if you will accept my service.”

Just at that moment a soldier came in to say that Qin Lang with a company had appeared in front of the tents and was challenging Zheng Wen.

Said Zhuge Liang, “How does this man stand with you in fighting skill?”

“I should just kill him,” said Zheng Wen.

“If you were to slay him, that would remove my doubts.”

Zheng Wen accepted the proposer with alacrity, mounted his horse, and away he went. Zhuge Liang went out to see the fight. There was the challenger shaking his spear and reviling his late friend as rebel and brigand and horse-thief.

“Give me back my horse you stole!” cried Qin Lang, galloping toward Zheng Wen as soon as he appeared.

Zheng Wen whipped up his horse, waved his sword, and went to meet the attack. In the first bout he cut down Qin Lang. The Wei soldiers then ran away; the victor hacked off the head of his victim and returned to lay it at Zhuge Liang's feet.

Seated in his tent, Zhuge Liang summoned Zheng Wen and burst out: “Take him away and behead him!”

“I have done nothing wrong!” cried Zheng Wen.

“As if I do not know Qin Lang! The man you have just killed was not Qin Lang. How dare? you try to deceive me?”

Zheng Wen said, “I will own up; but this was his brother Qin Ming.”

Zhuge Liang smiled.

“Sima Yi sent you to try this on for some reason of his own, but he could not throw dust in my eyes. If you do not tell the truth, I will put you to death.”

Thus caught, the false deserter confessed and begged his life.