Yang Yi listened to these words intently and without remark. That night Zhuge Liang was carried into the open and gazed up at the sky.
“That is my star,” said he, pointing to one that seemed to be losing its brilliancy and to be tottering in its place. Zhuge Liang's lips moved as if he muttered a spell. Presently he was borne into his tent and for a time was oblivious of all about him.
When the anxiety caused by this state of coma was at its height, Li Fu arrived. He wept when he saw the condition of the great leader, crying, “I have foiled the great designs of the state.”
However, presently Zhuge Liang's eyes reopened and fell upon Li Fu standing near his couch.
“I know your mission,” said Zhuge Liang.
“I came with the royal command to ask also who should control the destinies of the state for the next century,” replied Li Fu. “In my agitation I forgot to ask that.”
“After me, Jiang Wan is the most fitting man to deal with great matters.”
“And after Jiang Wan?”
“After him, Fei Yi.”
“Who is next after Fei Yi?”
No reply came, and when they looked more carefully, they perceived that the soul of the Prime Minister had passed.
Thus died Zhuge Liang, on the twenty-third day of the eighth month in the twelfth year of Beginning Prosperity, at the age of fifty and four (AD 234).
The poet Du Fu wrote some verses on his death.
A bright star last night falling from the sky
This message gave, “The Master is no more.”
No more in camps shall bold men tramp at his command.
At court no statesman ever will fill the place he held.
At home, his clients miss their patron kind.
Calm was his bosom, full of strategy.
But lately fared we to the wood's green shade
To hail him victor; hushed that song for him.
And Bo Juyi also wrote a poem:
Within the forest dim the Master lived obscure,
Till, thrice returning, there the prince his mentor met.
As when a fish the ocean gains, desire was filled
Wholly the dragon freed could soar aloft at will.
As king's son's guardian none more zealous was;
As minister, most loyally he wrought at court.
His war memorials still to us are left
And, reading them, the tears unconscious fall.
Now in past days, Commander Liao Li in Changshui had a high opinion of his own abilities and thought himself perfectly fitted to be Zhuge Liang's second. So he neglected the duties of his proper post, showed discontent and indiscipline, and was constantly slandering the minister. Thereupon Zhuge Liang degraded him and transferred him to Minshan.
When Liao Li heard of Zhuge Liang's death, he shed tears and said, “Then, after all, I am but a barbarian.”
Li Yan also grieved deeply at the sad tidings, for he had always hoped that Zhuge Liang would restore him to office and so give him the opportunity of repairing his former faults. After Zhuge Liang had died, he thought there was no hope of reemployment, and so he died.
Another poet, Yuan Weizhi, also wrote in praise of the great adviser.
He fought disorder, helped a weak king;
Most zealously he kept his master's son.
In state-craft he excelled Guan Zhong, Yue Yi,
In war-craft he overpassed Wu Qi, Sun Zi.
With awe the court his war memorials heard,
With majesty his Eight Arrays were planned.
Virtue and wisdom both filled in his heart,
For thousand autumns, his fame would still stay.
Heaven grieved and earth mourned on the night of Zhuge Liang's death. Even the moon was dimmed, as Zhuge Liang's soul returned to Heaven.
As the late commander had directed, Jiang Wei and Yang Yi forbade the mourning of his death. His body was placed in the coffer as he had wished, and three hundred of his near comrades were appointed to watch it.
Secret orders were given to Wei Yan to command the rearguard, and then, one by one, the camps were broken up and the army began its homeward march.
Sima Yi watched the skies. One night a large red star with bright rays passed from the northeast to the southwest and dropped over the camps of Shu. It dipped thrice and rose again. Sima Yi heard also a low rumbling in the distance.
He was pleased and excited, and said to those about him, “Zhuge Liang is dead.”
At once he ordered pursuit with a strong force. But just as he passed his camp gates, doubts filled his mind and he gave up the plan.
“Zhuge Liang is a master of mysteries; he can get aids from the Deities of the Six Layers; and it may be that this is but a ruse to get us to take the field. We may fall victims to his guile.” So he halted. But he sent Xiahou Ba with a few scouts to reconnoiter the enemy's camps.
One night as Wei Yan lay asleep in his tent, he dreamed a dream. In his vision two horns grew out of his head. When he awoke he was much perplexed to explain his dream.
Marching General Zhao Zhi came to see him, and Wei Yan said, “You are versed in the Book of Changes. I have dreamed that two horns grew upon my head, and would trouble you to expound the dream and tell me its portent.”
Zhao Zhi thought a moment and replied, “It is an auspicious dream. Dragon and Linlion both have horns on the head. It augurs transformation into an ascending creature.”
Wei Yan, much pleased, thanked the interpreter of his dream and promised him gifts when the dream proved true.
Zhao Zhi left and presently met Fei Yi, who asked whence he came.
“From the camp of our friend Wei Yan. He dreamed that he grew horns upon his head, and I have given him an auspicious interpretation. But really it is inauspicious. However, I did not wish to annoy him.”
“How do you know it is inauspicious?”
“The word for horn is composed of two parts, 'knife' above and 'use' below, and so means that there is a knife upon his head. It is a terrible omen.”
“Keep it secret,” said Fei Yi.
Then Fei Yi went to the camp of Wei Yan, and when they were alone, he said, “The Prime Minister died last night in the third watch. He left certain final orders, and among them, that you are to command the rearguard to keep Sima Yi at bay while the army retreats. No mourning is to be worn. Here is your authority, so you can march forthwith.”
“Who is acting in place of the late minister?” asked Wei.
“The chief command has been delegated to Yang Yi, but the secret plans of campaign have been entrusted to Jiang Wei. This authority was issued from Yang Yi.”
Wei Yan replied, “Though the Prime Minister is dead, I am yet alive. The Military Counselor Yang Yi is only a civil officer and unequal to this post. He ought to conduct the coffin home while I lead the army against Sima Yi. I shall achieve success, and it is wrong to abandon a whole plan of campaign because of the death of one man, even if that be the Prime Minister.”
“The Prime Minister's orders were to retire, and these orders are to be obeyed.”
“If the Prime Minister had listened to me, we should now have been at Changan. I am the General Who Conquers the West and Lord of Nanzheng. I am not going to act as rearguard for any civil official,” said Wei Yan, angry.