it suicide before your face and so justify the post I have as an envoy。〃
As Deng Zhi spoke these last words； he gathered up his robes and marched down the hall as though he was just going to jump into the cauldron。
〃Stop him！〃 cried Sun Quan； and they did so。
Then he requested Deng Zhi to go into an inner apartment； where he treated the envoy as a guest of the highest honor。
〃O Master；〃 said Sun Quan； 〃your words exactly express my thoughts； and I desire to make a league of peace with your country。 Are you willing to be the intermediary？〃
〃Just now it was you； O Prince； who wished to boil this poor servant。 Now it is also you who wishes to use him。 How can such a doubtful person be trusted？〃
〃My mind is made up；〃 replied Sun Quan。 〃Do not doubt me； Master。〃
Deng Zhi was detained； and a conclave of officers gathered。
Said Sun Quan to the assembly； 〃Under my hand are all eighty…one counties of the southeast； and I have the lands of Jingzhou to boot； yet I am not so well off as that little country of Shu； for Shu has Deng Zhi for an envoy； and he glorifies his lord。 I have no one to send to declare my wishes to Shu。〃
Then one stepped forth and said he would go。 The speaker was Zhang Wen of Wucheng； who held the office of Imperial mander。
〃Sir； I fear that when you reach Shu and are in the presence of Zhuge Liang； you will not explain my real sentiments；〃 said Sun Quan。
Zhang Wen replied； 〃Think you that I shall fear him？ He also is but a man。〃
Sun Quan conferred great gifts on Zhang Wen； and sent him on the return mission to Shu to negotiate the league of peace。
While Deng Zhi was absent； Zhuge Liang said to his lord； 〃This mission to Wu will succeed； and of the many wise people in the east one will e as return envoy。 Your Majesty should treat him with courtesy； and let him return to Wu to plete the league。 For if we have an alliance with Wu； Wei will not dare to send an army against us。 And if we are safe from those quarters； I will lead an expedition to subdue the Mangs in the south country。 After that we can deal with Wei。 If Wei is reduced； Wu will not last long； and the whole empire will again be under one ruler。〃
Presently the report reached the capital that Deng Zhi and Zhang Wen； as envoy of Wu； would soon arrive。 The Latter Ruler assembled the courtiers to receive them honorably。 The envoy of Wu carried himself as one who had attained his desires； and advanced boldly。 Having made his salute； the Latter Ruler gave him to sit on a brocaded stool on his left hand。 A banquet followed at which Zhang Wen was treated with much honor。 At the end of the banquet； the whole court escorted the envoy to the guest…house where he was to lodge。
On the second day there was a banquet at the Prime Minister's palace； and Zhuge Liang broached the real business。
He said； 〃Our First Ruler was not on friendly terms with Wu。 But that is all changed； as is demonstrated by these banquets； and our present Emperor is disposed to be very friendly。 It is hoped that the former enmity may be entirely forgotten and the two countries swear eternal friendship and alliance in their mon end………the destruction of Wei。 I look to you； Sir； to speak in favor of this league。〃
Zhang Wen said that he would support the plan。 The wine went merrily round； and as the envoy became mellow； he laughed freely and swaggered and put on a proud demeanor。
Next day the Latter Ruler gave Zhang Wen rich presents of gold and studs and prepared a parting banquet for him in the south guest…chamber； and all the court assembled to take leave of him。 The Prime Minister paid him assiduous attention and pressed him to drink。 While this banquet was in progress； a man suddenly came in as if he were already drunk； made a proud sort of salutation to the pany and at once took a seat。
His conduct seemed strange to Zhang Wen； who asked； 〃Who is the new er； Sir Prime Minister？〃
〃He is a man named Qin Mi； a Doctorate Academician of Yizhou；〃 replied Zhuge Liang。
〃He may be that；〃 said Zhang Wen with a laugh； 〃but I wonder if he has any learning at all inside him。〃
Qin Mi listened without changing countenance； and said； 〃Since our children are all learned； of course I am more so。〃
〃What may have been your special studies； Sir？〃 said Zhang Wen。
〃Many things： Astronomy on one hand； geography on the other； the three teachings and the nine systems； many philosophers； history all through； and many sacred books and traditions。〃
〃Since you talk so big；〃 said Zhang Wen； 〃I should like to ask you a few questions on celestial matters。 Now has the sky a head？〃
〃Yes； it has a head。〃
〃Where is it？〃
〃In the western quarter。 The Odes say； 'God turns his head kindly toward the west；' and further it follows from this that the head is in the west。〃
〃Well； has the sky ears？〃
〃Oh； yes。 The sky is above and listens to all things below。 The Odes say； 'The crane calls from the midst of the marsh； its cry is heard by the sky。' How could the sky hear without ears？〃
〃Has the sky feet？〃
〃It has。 The Odes say； 'Heaven treads down difficulties。' If there were no feet； how could it tread？〃
〃Has heaven a name？〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Then what is it？〃
〃Liu。〃
〃How do you know that？〃
〃Because the Emperor's family name is Liu； and he is the Son of Heaven。 That is how I know。〃
〃Does the sun spring from the east？〃
〃Though it does； yet it sets in the west。〃
All this time Qin Mi's repartees had flashed back clear and perfect。 They came so naturally as to astonish all the guests。 Zhang Wen had no word to reply to them。
Then it became Qin Mi's turn； 〃You are a famous scholar in your own land； Sir； and since you have asked so many questions about Heaven； I take it you are I well up in all celestial matters。 When original chaos resolved into its two elements yin and yang； the lighter portion rose and became sky； and the grosser sank and solidified into earth。 When Gong Gong's rebellion was crushed； his head struck the Imperfect Mountain； the pillar； which upholds heaven； was broken and the bonds of earth were destroyed。 Heaven fell over to the northwest； and earth sank into the southeast。 Since heaven was ethereal and had floated to the top； how could it fall over？ Another thing I do not know is what is beyond the ether。 I should be glad if you would explain； Master。〃
Zhang Wen had no reply ready； but he rose from his place and bowed his acknowledgment； saying； 〃I knew not that there was so much ability in this land。 I am happy to have heard such a discourse。 Now all obstructions have disappeared； and I see quite clearly。〃
But Zhuge Liang； fearing lest the guest should feel mortified； soothed him with fair words； saying； 〃This is all play upon words； the sort of puzzles one propounds at a merry feast。 You； honored Sir； know that the tranquillity and safety of states are no matters to joke with。〃
The envoy bowed。 Then Deng Zhi was ordered to return to Wu and thank its ruler for his courtesy； and he was to acpany Zhang Wen。 So both； having taken leave of the Prime Minister； set out on their journey to the east。
In the meantime Sun Quan was beginning to feel perplexed at the long delay of his envoy。 He had summoned a council to discuss this question； when the report came that his own envoy had returned； and Deng