not anticipate trouble；〃 said the mander…in…Chief； smiling。 〃I have provided against all such dangers。〃
Jiang Wan did not know what the chief meant to do； but he said no more。 Then Ma Dai arrived from the River Lands； and he brought summer medicines and further supplies of grain。 He saw Zhuge Liang； and then proceeded to distribute the supplies he had brought according to orders。
Then Zhuge Liang said； 〃What force have you brought？〃
〃Three thousand；〃 replied Ma Dai。
〃My people are weary and worn out。 I want to use yours。 You have no objections？〃
〃Of course not。 They are equally government troops。 They are ready even to die for you if you wish。〃
〃This Meng Huo is established on the river； and we have no means of crossing。 But I am anxious to intercept his supplies； so that his troops may mutiny。〃
〃How can you do it？〃
〃Some fifty miles lower down River Lu there is a place called Shakou； where the current is slow and shallow because of sand。 You could cross there on rafts。 I wish you and your soldiers to cross and cut the road of supplies。 After that you are to arrange with the two leaders………Dongtu Na and Ahui Nan………whose lives I spared； to be your allies on the inside； and we shall succeed。〃
Ma Dai went off gladly enough； and marched his troops to Shakou； where they set about the crossing at once。 And as the water was shallow； they did not trouble to make rafts； but just tucked up their clothes and waded in。 But half…way across； the men began to fall over； and when they had been rescued and taken to the bank； many of them began to bleed from the nose and mouth and died。 In great alarm； Ma Dai sent hasty messages to Zhuge Liang； who called in the native guides and asked what this meant。
They told him； 〃