morialized to the Throne； saying he had sent you supplies and knew not why Your Excellency returned。〃
So Zhuge Liang inquired carefully； and then it came out that Li Yan had failed to find sufficient grain to keep the army supplied； and so had sent the first lying letter to the army that it might retire before the shortage showed itself。 His memorial to the Throne was designed to cover the former fault。
〃The fool has ruined the great design of the state just to save his own skin！〃 cried Zhuge Liang bitterly。
He summoned the offender and sentenced him to death。
But Fei Yi interceded； saying； 〃O Prime Minister； the First Ruler had loved and trusted Li Yan with his son。 Please forgive him this time。〃
And so Li Yan's life was spared。
However； when Fei Yi made his report in Chengdu； the Latter Ruler was wroth and ordered Li Yan to suffer death。
But this time Jiang Wan intervened； saying； 〃Your late father named Li Yan as one of the guardians of your