So they proceeded thither, with Zhuge Liang at their head, and he said, “Your Majesty has but lately taken the imperial seat. If the expedition was one to march northward to destroy the rebels against Han and in the interest of rectitude, it would be perfectly correct for the Emperor to lead the army, but an officer of high rank should more properly be sent against Wu. Why should Your Majesty expose yourself to such fatigues?”
The First Ruler was touched by the depth of his minister's concern and the sincerity of his counsel, and was on the point of yielding when the arrival of Zhang Fei was announced. Zhang Fei was immediately summoned and came to the pavilion on the drill ground, where he threw himself on the ground and clasped the First Ruler's feet, weeping bitterly. The First Ruler joined in the lamentation.
“Your Majesty is now ruler and too quickly forgets the oath in the Peach Garden; why is our brother's death not avenged?”
The First Ruler replied, “Many officers dissuade me from such a course; I cannot act rashly.”
“What do others know of our oath? If Your Majesty will not go, then let me sacrifice myself to avenge our brother. If I cannot, then would I rather die and see your face no more.”
“Then will I go with you,” said the First Ruler. “Bring your own troops from Langzhong, and I will bring my veterans to meet you at Jiangzhou. We will both attack Wu and wipe out the reproach.”
As Zhang Fei rose to take leave, the First Ruler said to him, “I know that your weakness for wine leads you astray, and you become very cruel in your cups, and hog your people, and keep the beaten ones near you. They may be dangerous, and it is certainly the road to misfortune. Now you must be more kindly and not give way to passion as before.”
Thus admonished, Zhang Fei said farewell and left.
Soon after, when the First Ruler was preparing to march out, the High Minister Qin Mi memorialized, saying, “That Your Majesty, the Lord of a Myriad Chariots, should risk his person in what is not the way of perfect rectitude is not what the ancients would have done. I pray that this may be reflected upon.”
But the First Ruler replied, “Guan Yu and I were as one body, and the way of perfect rectitude is here. Have you forgotten?”
But the officer remained at his feet and said, “I fear disaster if Your Majesty disregards your servant's words.” The First Ruler replied angrily, “Why do you use such bad words when I desire to march?”
He bade the executioners thrust forth and put to death the bold speaker. Still Qin Mi's face showed no sign of fear.
He only smiled, saying, “I die without regret. It is a pity that this newly established state should be overturned ere it be well begun.”
Other officials interceding, the death punishment was remitted, but the faithful officer was committed to prison.
“Your fate will be decided when the army of vengeance return,” said the First Ruler.
Zhuge Liang sent up a memorial in favor of Qin Mi, saying:
But having listened to the memorial, the First Ruler threw it to the floor, saying, “I have decided, and no remonstrance should be raised!”
