o my country。 Your Majesty should not listen to the babble of mean persons till distrust grows in your heart。〃
〃I do not distrust you；〃 said the Latter Ruler after a long pause。 〃You may return into Hanzhong and await the next favorable opportunity。〃
Jiang Wei left the court and betook himself into Hanzhong to the army。
Dang Jun went back to the Qishan camp and reported his success。
Deng Ai and Sima Wang rejoiced； saying； 〃In the River Lands； trouble is not far off when the ruler and his servants do not live in harmony。〃
They sent Dang Jun to Luoyang to tell his own story to Sima Zhao； who also rejoiced； for he ardently desired to subdue Shu。
On this matter Sima Zhao consulted Jia Chong； mander of the Center Guard。
〃What do you think of an attack upon Shu？〃
〃Not to be considered；〃 said Jia Chong。 〃The Emperor does not trust you； and your departure would be the beginning of trouble for you。 Last year； when a yellow dragon was seen in the Ningling well and all the officers were felicitating the Emperor upon such a very auspicious occurrence； the Emperor said； 'It is not auspicious； just the reverse。 The dragon symbolizes the ruler。 To be neither in heaven； nor on earth among the people； but to be in a well； is a dark portent and bodes evil。' He wrote some verses； and one stanza undoubtedly points to you； my lord。 It reads：
〃The dragon like a prisoner is；
No longer leaps he in the abyss。
He soars not to the Milky Way
Nor can he in the meadows play；
But coiled within a dismal well；
With slimy creatures he must dwell；
Must close his jaws； his claws retract；
Alas！ Quite like myself in fact。〃
The recital of the poem annoyed Sima Zhao。
〃This fellow is ve