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r　Majesty's　attack；　and　so　he　will　try　to　invade　us　first。　I　shall　be　ready　to　defend　our　frontier。　The　army　is　prepared。〃
Just　then　one　of　the　courtiers　announced　dispatches　from　Cao　Zhen　on　military　affairs；　and　Sima　Yi　closed　his　speech；　saying；　〃Your　Majesty　should　send　someone　especially　to　caution　the　mander　to　be　careful　not　to　be　tricked　by　Zhuge　Liang；　not　to　pursue　rashly；　and　never　to　penetrate　deeply　into　the　enemy　country。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　gave　the　order；　and　he　sent　the　mand　by　the　hand　of　Minister　Han　Ji　and　gave　him　authority　to　warn　Cao　Zhen　against　giving　battle。
Sima　Yi　escorted　the　royal　messenger　out　of　the　city　and；　at　parting；　said；　〃I　am　giving　this　magnificent　opportunity　to　obtain　glory　to　Cao　Zhen；　but　do　not　tell　him　the　suggestion　was　mine；　only　quote　the　royal　mand。　Tell　him　that　defense　is　the　best；　pursuit　is　to　be　most　cautious；　and　he　is　not　to　send　any　impetuous　leader　to　follow　up　the　enemy。〃
Han　Ji　agreed　and　took　leave。
Cao　Zhen　was　deep　in　affairs　connected　with　his　army　when　they　brought　news　of　a　royal　messenger；　but　he　went　forth　to　bid　Han　Ji　wele。　When　the　ceremonial　receipt　of　the　edict　had　e　to　an　end；　he　retired　to　discuss　matters　with　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li。
〃That　is　Sima　Yi's　idea；〃　said　Guo　Huai　with　a　laugh。
〃But　what　of　the　idea？〃　asked　Cao　Zhen。
〃It　means　that　he　perfectly　understands　Zhuge　Liang's　plans；　and　he　will　eventually　have　to　be　called　in　to　defeat　Shu。〃
〃But　if　the　Shu　army　holds　its　ground？〃
〃We　will　send　Wang　Shuang　to　reconnoiter　and　keep　on　the　move　along　the　by…roads　so　that　they　dare　not　attempt　to　bring　up　supplies。　They　must　retreat　when　they　have　no　more　to　eat；　and　we　shall　be　able　to　beat　them。〃
Then　said　Sun　Li；　〃Let　me　go　out　to　Qishan　as　if　to　escort　a　convoy　from　the　West　Valley　Land；　only　the　carts　shall　be　laden　with　bustibles　instead　of　grain。　We　will　sprinkle　sulfur　and　saltpeter　over　wood　and　reeds。　The　troops　of　Shu；　who　lack　supplies；　will　surely　seize　the　convoy　and　take　it　to　their　own　camp；　when　we　will　set　fire　to　the　carts。　When　they　are　blazing；　our　hidden　men　can　attack。〃
〃It　seems　an　excellent　plan；〃　said　Cao　Zhen。
And　he　issued　the　requisite　orders：　Sun　Li　to　pretend　to　escort　a　convoy；　Wang　Shuang　to　prowl　about　the　by…roads；　Guo　Huai　and　various　generals　to　mand　in　the　Gu　Valley；　Jieting；　and　other　strategic　points。　Also　Zhang　Hu；　son　of　Zhang　Liao；　was　made　Leader　of　the　Van；　and　Yue　Chen；　son　of　Yue　Jing；　was　his　second。　These　two　were　to　remain　on　guard　in　the　outermost　camp。
Now　at　Qishan；　Zhuge　Liang　sought　to　bring　on　a　battle；　and　daily　sent　champions　to　provoke　a　bat。　But　the　men　of　Wei　would　not　e　out。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　called　Jiang　Wei　and　certain　others　to　him　and　said；　〃I　do　not　know　what　to　do。　The　enemy　refuse　battle；　because　they　know　we　are　short　of　food。　We　can　get　none　by　way　of　Chencang；　and　all　other　roads　are　very　difficult。　I　reckon　the　grain　we　brought　with　us　will　not　last　a　month。〃
While　thus　perplexed；　they　heard　that　many　carts　of　provisions　for　Wei　were　passing　by　from　the　West　Valley　Land；　and　the　convoy　was　manded　by　Sun　Li。
〃What　is　known　of　this　Sun　Li？〃　asked　Zhuge　Liang。
A　certain　man　of　Wei　replied；　〃He　is　a　bold　man。　Once　he　was　out　hunting　with　the　Ruler　of　Wei　on　Great　Rock　Hill；　and　a　tiger　suddenly　appeared　in　front　of　his　master's　chariot。　He　jumped　off　his　horse　and　dispatched　the　beast　with　his　sword。　He　was　rewarded　with　a　mandership。　He　is　an　intimate　friend　of　Cao　Zhen。〃
〃This　is　a　ruse；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃They　know　we　are　short　of　food；　and　those　carts　are　only　a　temptation。　They　are　laden　with　bustibles。　How　can　they　imagine　that　I　shall　be　deceived　by　this　sort　of　thing；　when　I　have　fought　them　with　fire　so　many　times？　If　we　go　to　seize　the　convoy；　they　will　e　and　raid　our　camp。　But　I　will　meet　ruse　with　ruse。〃
Then　Zhuge　Liang　sent　Ma　Dai　with　order：　〃You　and　three　thousand　troops　are　to　make　your　way　to　the　enemy's　store　camp　and；　when　the　wind　serves；　to　start　a　fire。　When　the　stores　are　burning；　the　soldiers　of　Wei　will　e　to　surround　our　camp。　That　is　how　we　will　provoke　a　battle。〃
He　also　sent　Ma　Zheng　and　Zhang　Ni　with　five　thousand　troops　each　to　halt　near　the　camp　so　that　they　might　attack　from　without。
These　having　gone；　he　called　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao；　and　said；　〃The　outermost　camp　of　Wei　is　on　the　main　road。　This　night；　when　the　enemy　see　a　blaze；　our　camp　will　be　attacked；　so　you　two　are　to　lie　in　wait　on　the　two　sides　of　the　Wei　camp　and　seize　it　when　they　have　left。〃
Calling　Hu　Ban　and　Wu　Yi；　he　said；　〃You　are　to　lie　in　wait　outside　the　camp　to　cut　off　the　retreat　of　the　force　of　Wei。〃
All　these　arrangements　made；　Zhuge　Liang　betook　himself　to　a　summit　of　the　Qishan　Mountains　to　watch　the　results。
The　soldiers　of　Wei　heard　that　their　enemies　were　ing　to　seize　the　grain　convoy　and　ran　to　tell　Sun　Li；　who　sent　on　a　message　to　Cao　Zhen。
Cao　Zhen　sent　to　the　chief　camp　for　Zhang　Hu　and　Yue　Chen　and　told　them；　〃Look　out　for　a　signal　blaze；　that　would　mean　the　ing　of　the　army　of　Shu；　and　then　you　are　to　raid　the　Shu　camp　immediately。〃
Zhang　Hu　and　Yue　Chen　sent　watchers　on　the　tower　to　look　out　for　the　promised　blaze。
Meanwhile　Sun　Li　marched　over　and　hid　in　the　west　hills　to　await　the　ing　of　the　men　of　Shu。　That　night；　at　the　second　watch；　Ma　Dai　came　with　his　three　thousand　troops　all　silent；　the　soldiers　with　gags；　the　horses　with　a　lashing　round　their　muzzles。　They　saw　tier　after　tier　of　carts　on　the　hills；　making　an　enclosure　like　a　walled　camp；　and　on　the　carts　were　planted　many　flags。
They　waited。　Presently　the　southwest　wind　came　up；　and　then　they　launched　the　fire。　Soon　all　the　carts　were　in　a　blaze　that　lit　up　the　sky。　Sun　Li　saw　the　blaze　and　could　only　conclude　that　the　troops　of　Shu　had　arrived　and　his　own　side　were　giving　the　signal；　so　he　dashed　out　to　attack。　But　soon　two　parties　of　soldiers　were　heard　behind　him　closing　in。　These　were　Ma　Zheng　and　Zhang　Ni；　who　soon　had　Sun　Li　as　in　a　net。　Then　he　heard　a　third　ominous　roll　of　drums；　which　heralded　the　approach　of　Ma　Dai　from　the　direction　of　the　blaze。
Under　these　several　attacks；　the　troops　of　Wei　quailed　and　gave　way。　The　fire　grew　more　and　more　fierce。　Soldiers　ran　and　horses　stampeded；　and　the　dead　were　too　many　to　count。　Sun　Li　made　a　dash　through　the　smoke　and　fire　of　the　battle　and　got　away。
When　Zhang　Hu　and　Yue　Chen　saw　the　fire；　they　threw　open　the　gates　of　their　camp　and　sallied　forth　to　help　defeat　the　army　of　Shu　by　seizing　their　camp。　But　when　they　reached　the　Shu　camp；　they　found　it　empty。　So　they　hurried　to　set　out　to　return。　That　was　the　moment　for　Hu　Ban　and　Wu　Yi　to　appear　and　cut　off　their　retreat。　However；　they　fought　bravely　and　got　through。　But　when　at　length　they　reached　their　own　camp；　they　were　met　by　arrows　flying　thick　as　locusts。　For　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　had　taken　possession　in　their　absence。
They　could　only　set　out　for　headquarters　to　report　their　mishap。　As　they　neared　Cao　Zhen's　camp；　they　met　another　remnant　marching　up。　They　were　Sun　Li's　soldiers；　and　the　two　parties　went　into　camp　together　and　told　the　tale　of　their　victimization。　Cao　Zhen　thereafter　looked　to　his　defenses　and　attacked　no　more。
Thus　victorious；　the　soldiers　of　Shu　went　to　Zhuge　Liang；　who　at　once　dispatched　secret　directions　to　Wei　Yan。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　gave　orders　to　break　camp　and　retreat。
This　move　was　not　understood；　and　Yang　Yi　asked　the　leader；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　you　have　just　scored　a　victory；　and　the　enemy　have　lost　their　bravery；　why　retreat？〃
〃Because　we　are　short　of　food；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Our　success　lay　in　swift　victory；　but　the　enemy　will　not　fight；　and　thus　they　weaken　us　day　by　day。　Though　we　have　worsted　them　now；　they　will　soon　be　reinforced；　and　their　light　horse　can　cut　off　our　provisions。　Then　we　could　not　retreat　at　all。　For　a　time　they　will　not　dare　look　at　us；　and　we　must　take　the　occasion　to　do　what　they　do　not　expect；　and　retreat。　But　I　am　solicitous　about　Wei　Yan；　who　is　on　the　Chencang　road　to　keep　off　Wang　Shuang。　I　fear　he　cannot　get　away。　So　I　have　sent　him　certain　orders　to　slay　Wang　Shuang；　and　then　the　force　of　Wei　will　not　dare　to　pursue。〃
Therefore　the　retreat　began；　but　to　deceive　the　enemy　the　watchmen　were　left　in　the　empty　camp　to　beat　the　watches　through　the　night。
Cao　Zhen　was　depressed　at　his　recent　misfortune。　Then　they　told　him　Zhang　He；　General　of　the　Left　Army；　had　e。　Zhang　He　came　up　to　the　gate；　dismounted；　and　entered。
When　he　saw　Cao　Zhen；　he　said；　〃I　have　received　a　royal　mand　to　e　and　to　be　into　your　arrangements。〃
〃Did　you　take　leave　of　friend　Sima　Yi？〃　asked　Cao　Zhen。
Zhang　He　said；　〃His　said　to　me　that　if　you　won　the　field　the　Shu　army　would　stay；　but　if　you　did　not；　the　Shu　army　would　retreat。　It　seems　that　our　side　has　missed　success。　Have　you　since　found　out　what　the　troops　of　Shu　are　doing？〃
〃Not　yet。〃
So　Cao　Zhen　sent　out　some　scouts；　and　they　found　empty　camps。　There　were　flags　flying；　but　the　army　had　been　gone　two　days。　Cao　Zhen　was　disgusted。
When　Wei　Yan　received　his　secret　orders；　he　broke　up　camp　that　night　and　hastened　toward　Hanzhong。　Wang　Shuang's　scouts　heard　this　and　told　their　chief；　who　hurried　in　pursuit。　After　about　seven　miles；　he　came　in　sight　of　Wei　Yan's　ensigns。
As　soon　as　Wang　Shuang　got　within　hailing　distance；　he　shouted；　〃Do　not　flee；　Wei　Yan！〃
But　no　one　looked　back；　so　he　again　pressed　forward。
Then　he　heard　one　of　his　guards　behind　him　shouting；　〃There　is　a　blaze　in　the　camp　outside　the　city　wall。　I　think　it　is　some　wile　of　the　enemy！〃
Wang　Shuang　pulled　up　and；　turning；　saw　the　fire。　He　therefore　tried　to　draw　off　his　troops。　Just　as　he　passed　a　hill；　a　horseman　suddenly　came　out　of　a　wood。
〃Here　is　Wei　Yan！〃　shouted　the　horseman。
Wang　Shuang　was　too　startled　to　defend　himself　and　fell　at　the　first　stroke　of　Wei　Yan's　blade。　Wang　Shuang's　troops　thought　this　was　only　the　beginning　of　an　ambush　and　serious　attack；　so　they　scattered。　But　really　Wei　Yan　only　had　thirty　men　with　him；　and　they　moved　off　leisurely　toward　Hanzhong。

No　man　could　better　Zhuge　Liang's　foresight　keen；
Brilliant　as　a　et　where　it　flashed：
Back　and　forth　at　will　his　soldiers　dashed；
And　Wang　Shuang's　dead　body　marked　where　they　had　been。

The　secret　orders　sent　to　Wei　Yan　was　that　he　was　to　keep　back　thirty　men　and　hide　beside　Wang　Shuang's　camp　till　that　warrior　left。　Then　the　camp　was　to　be　set　on　fire。　After　that　the　thirty　were　to　wait　till　Wang　Shuang's　return　to　fall　upon　him。　The　plan　being　successfully　carried　out；　Wei　Yan　followed　the　retreating　army　into　Hanzhong　and　handed　over　his　mand。
The　Shu　army　having　retreated　safely　to　Hanzhong；　feastings　were　held　in　celebration　of　the　event。
Zhang　He；　who；　failing　to　e　up　with　the　retiring　enemy；　presently　returned　to　camp。　Hao　Zhao　sent　a　letter　to　say　that　Wang　Shuang　had　met　his　end。　This　loss　caused　Cao　Zhen　deep　grief；　so　that　he　became　ill　and　had　to　return　to　Luoyang。　He　left　Zhang　He；　Sun　Li；　and　Guo　Huai　to　guard　the　approaches　to　Changan。
Meanwhile　in　the　South　Land；　at　a　court　held　by　Sun　Quan；　the　Prince　of　Wu；　a　certain　spy　reported：　〃Prime　Minister　Zhuge　Liang　has　invaded　Wei　twice；　and　mander…in…Chief　Cao　Zhen　has　suffered　great　losses。〃
Thereupon　his　ministers　urged　on　Sun　Quan　that　he　should　attack　Wei　and　try　to　gain　the　Middle　Land。
However；　Sun　Quan　could　not　make　up　his　mind；　and　Zhang　Zhao　endeavored　to　prove　to　him　that　his　hour　was　e　by　this　memorial：

＇e＇　King　Yu　was　the　founder　of　Xia　Dynasty；　King　Tang；　Shang　Dynasty；　Kings　Wen　and　Wu；　Zhou　Dynasty。
〃I　have　heard　that　a　phoenix　has　lately　appeared　in　the　hills　east　of　Wuchang　and　bowed；　that　a　yellow　dragon　has　been　seen　in　the　Great　River。　My　lord；　your　virtue　matches　that　of　Kings　Yu*　and　Tang*；　and　your　understanding　is　on　a　level　with　that　of　Kings　Wen*　and　Wu*。　Wherefore　you　should　now　proceed　to　the　imperial　style　and　then　raise　an　army　to　maintain　your　authority。〃
And　many　other　officers　supported　Zhang　Zhao's　proposal。　They　finally　persuaded　Sun　Quan　to　decide　upon　the　'tiger'　day　in　the　forth　month；　in　summer。　They　prepared　an　altar　on　the　south　of　Wuchang；　and　on　that　day　his　courtiers　formally　requested　him　to　ascend　to　the　high　place　and　assume　the　style　of　〃Emperor〃。
〃Yellow　Dragon〃　was　chosen　as　the　style　of　the　reign　（AD　229）。　Sun　Jian；　the　deceased　father