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But　almost　immediately　he　heard　a　shout；　and　ambushing　troops　appeared　in　front　of　him。　He　jumped　on　his　horse　to　look　about　him；　and　saw　a　great　cloud　of　dust　rising　among　the　hills。　He　disposed　his　troops　for　defense；　but　the　shouting　quickly　came　nearer；　and　then　Hu　Ban　and　Wu　Yi　appeared　advancing　towards　him。　Retreat　was　impossible　for　Guan　Xing　and　Liao　Hua　had　blocked　the　road。

The　hills　were　on　both　sides；　and　from　the　hill…tops　came　shouts　of　〃Dismount　and　yield！〃

More　than　half　did　surrender。　Qin　Liang　rode　out　to　fight；　but　he　was　slain　by　Liao　Hua。

Zhuge　Liang　put　the　Wei　soldiers　who　had　e　over　to　his　side　in　one　of　the　rear　divisions。　With　their　dress　and　arms；　he　disguised　five　thousand　of　his　own　troops　so　that　they　looked　like　his　enemies；　and　then　he　sent　this　division………under　Guan　Xing；　Liao　Hua；　Wu　Yi；　and　Hu　Ban………to　raid　Cao　Zhens　camp。　Before　they　reached　the　camp；　they　sent　one　of　their　number　ahead　as　a　galloper　to　tell　Cao　Zhen　that　there　had　been　only　a　few　men　of　Shu　and　they　had　all　been　chased　out　of　sight；　and　so　lull　him　into　security。

This　news　satisfied　Cao　Zhen。

But　just　then　a　trusty　messenger　from　Sima　Yi　came　with　a　message：　〃Our　troops　have　fallen　into　an　ambush；　and　many　have　been　killed。　Do　not　think　any　more　about　the　wager：　That　is　canceled。　But　take　most　careful　precautions。〃

〃But　there　is　not　a　single　soldier　of　Shu　near；〃　said　Cao　Zhen。

He　told　the　messenger　to　go　back。　Just　then　they　told　him　Qin　Liangs　army　had　returned；　and　he　went　out　to　meet　them。　Just　as　he　got　near；　someone　remarked　that　some　torches　had　flared　up　in　the　rear　of　his　camp。　He　hastened　thither　to　see。　As　soon　as　he　was　out　of　sight；　the　four　leaders　waved　on　their　troops　and　dashed　up　to　the　camp。　At　the　same　time　Ma　Dai　and　Wang　Ping　came　up　behind；　and　Ma　Zheng　and　Zhang　Yi　came　out。

The　soldiers　of　Wei　were　trapped　and　helpless。　They　scattered　and　fled　for　life。　Cao　Zhen；　protected　by　his　generals；　fled　away　eastward。　The　enemy　chased　them　closely。　As　Cao　Zhen　fled　there　arose　a　great　shouting；　and　up　came　an　army　at　full　speed。　Cao　Zhen　thought　all　was　lost；　and　his　heart　sank；　but　it　was　Sima　Yi；　who　drove　off　the　pursuers。

Though　Cao　Zhen　was　saved；　he　was　almost　too　ashamed　to　show　his　face。

Then　said　Sima　Yi；　〃Zhuge　Liang　has　seized　Qishan；　and　we　cannot　remain　here。　Let　us　go　to　River　Wei；　whence　we　may　try　to　recover　our　lost　ground。〃

〃How　did　you　know　I　was　in　danger　of　defeat？〃　asked　Cao　Zhen。

〃My　messenger　told　me　that　you　said　there　was　not　a　single　soldier　of　Shu　near；　and　I　knew　Zhuge　Liang　would　try　to　seize　your　camp。　So　I　came　to　your　help。　The　enemys　plan　succeeded；　but　we　will　say　no　more　about　that　wager。　We　must　both　do　our　best　for　the　country。〃

But　the　fright　and　excitement　made　Cao　Zhen　ill；　and　he　took　to　his　bed。　And　while　the　army　were　in　such　a　state　of　disorder；　Sima　Yi　was　afraid　to　advise　a　return。　They　camped　at　River　Wei。

After　this　adventure　Zhuge　Liang　hastened　back　to　Qishan。　After　the　soldiers　had　been　feasted　and　services　recognized；　the　four　discontented　leaders………Wei　Yan；　Chen　Shi；　Du　Qiong；　and　Zhang　Ni………came　to　the　tent　to　apologize。

〃Who　caused　the　loss？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

Wei　Yan　said；　〃Chen　Shi　disobeyed　orders　and　rushed　into　the　valley。〃

〃Wei　Yan　told　me　to；〃　said　Chen　Shi。

〃Would　you　still　try　to　drag　him　down　after　he　rescued　you？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃However；　when　orders　have　been　disobeyed；　it　is　useless　to　try　and　gloze　it　over。〃

Zhuge　Liang　sentenced　Chen　Shi　to　death；　and　he　was　led　away。　Soon　they　brought　his　head　into　the　presence　of　the　assembled　generals。　Zhuge　Liang　spared　Wei　Yan　as　there　was　yet　work　for　him　to　acplish。

After　this；　Zhuge　Liang　prepared　to　advance。　The　scouts　reported　that　Cao　Zhen　was　ill；　but　was　being　treated　by　doctors　in　his　tent。

The　news　pleased　Zhuge　Liang；　and　he　said　to　his　officers；　〃If　Cao　Zhens　illness　is　slight；　they　will　surely　return　to　Changan。　They　must　be　delayed　by　his　serious　sickness。　He　stays　on　so　that　his　soldiers　may　not　lose　heart。　Now　I　will　write　him　such　a　letter　that　he　will　die。〃

Then　he　called　up　the　soldiers　of　Wei　who　had　yielded；　and　said　to　them；　〃You　are　Wei　troops；　and　your　families　are　all　over　there：　It　is　wrong　for　you　to　serve　me。　Suppose　I　let　you　go　home？〃

They　thanked　him；　falling　prostrate　and　weeping。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　continued；　〃Friend　Cao　Zhen　and　I　have　a　pact；　and　I　have　a　letter　for　him　which　you　shall　take。　The　bearer　will　be　well　rewarded。〃

They　received　the　letter　and　ran　home　to　their　own　tents；　where　they　gave　their　mander…in…Chief　the　letter。　Cao　Zhen　was　too　ill　to　rise；　but　he　opened　the　cover　and　read：

〃The　Prime　Minister　of　Han；　Zhuge　Liang；　to　the　Minister　of　War；　Cao　Zhen：

〃You　will　permit　me　to　say　that　a　leader　of　an　army　should　be　able　to　go　and　e；　to　be　facile　and　obdurate；　to　advance　and　retire；　to　show　himself　weak　or　strong；　to　be　immovable　as　mountains；　to　be　inscrutable　as　the　operations　of　nature；　to　be　infinite　as　the　universe；　to　be　everlasting　as　the　blue　void；　to　be　vast　as　the　ocean；　to　be　dazzling　as　the　lights　of　heaven；　to　foresee　droughts　and　floods；　to　know　the　nature　of　the　ground；　to　understand　the　possibilities　of　battle　arrays；　to　conjecture　the　excellencies　and　defects　of　the　enemy。

〃Alas！　One　of　your　sort；　ignorant　and　inferior；　rising　impudently　in　heavens　vault；　has　had　the　presumption　to　assist　a　rebel　to　assume　the　imperial　style　and　state　at　Luoyang；　to　send　some　miserable　soldiers　into　Xie　Valley。　There　they　happened　upon　drenching　rain。　The　difficult　roads　wearied　both　soldiers　and　horses；　driving　them　frantic。　Weapons　and　armors　littered　the　countryside；　swords　and　spears　covered　the　ground。　You；　the　mander…in…Chief；　were　heart…broken　and　cowed；　your　generals　fled　like　rats。　You　dare　not　show　your　faces　at　home；　nor　can　you　enter　the　halls　of　state。　The　historians　pens　will　record　your　defeats；　the　people　will　recount　your　infamies：　Sima　Yi　is　frightened　when　he　hears　of　battle　fronts；　Cao　Zhen　is　alarmed　at　mere　rumors。　My　soldiers　are　fierce　and　their　steeds　strong；　my　great　generals　are　eager　as　tigers　and　majestic　as　dragons。　I　shall　sweep　the　Middle　Land　bare　and　make　Wei　desolate。〃