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　proceed　secretly　into　those　mountains　in　front。　When　you　see　that　Zhang　Yi　and　Wang　Ping　are　in　great　straits　with　the　enemy；　then　open　the　bag　and　you　will　find　a　plan　of　escape。〃
After　this　he　gave　secret　instructions　to　four　other　generals………Hu　Ban；　Wu　Yi；　Ma　Zheng；　and　Zhang　Ni………to　observe　the　enemy　and；　if　the　enemy　seemed　confident　of　victory；　to　retire；　fighting　at　intervals；　till　they　saw　Guan　Xing　e　up；　when　they　could　turn　and　fight　their　best。
Then　calling　Guan　Xing；　he　said　to　them；　〃Hide　in　the　valleys　with　five　thousand　troops　till　you　see　a　red　flag　flutter　out；　and　then　fall　on　the　enemy。〃
Zhang　He　and　Dai　Ling　hurried　along　like　a　rain　squall　till　they　were　suddenly　confronted　by　Ma　Zheng；　Zhang　Ni；　Wu　Yi；　and　Hu　Ban。　Zhang　He　dashed　toward　his　enemy；　and　then　they　retired；　stopping　at　intervals　to　fight。　The　Wei　army　pursued　for　about　seven　miles。
It　was　the　sixth　moon　and　very　hot；　so　that　soldiers　and　horses　sweated　profusely。　When　they　had　gone　ten　miles　farther；　the　soldiers　and　horses　were　panting　and　nearly　spent。　Then　Zhuge　Liang；　who　had　watched　the　fighting　from　a　hill；　gave　the　signal　for　Guan　Xing　to　emerge　and　join　battle。　Ma　Zheng；　Zhang　Ni；　Hu　Ban；　and　Wu　Yi　all　led　on　their　troops。　Zhang　He　and　Dai　Ling　fought　well；　but　they　could　not　extricate　themselves　and　retire。
Presently；　with　a　roll　of　drums；　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Yi　came　out　and　made　for　the　rear　to　cut　the　retreat。
〃Why　do　you　not　fight　to　death？〃　shouted　Zhang　He　to　his　generals　when　he　saw　the　new　dangers。
The　soldiers　of　Wei　dashed　this　way　and　that；　but　were　stayed　at　every　attempt。　Then　there　was　heard　another　roll　of　drums；　and　Sima　Yi　came　up　in　the　rear。　He　at　once　signaled　to　his　generals　to　surround　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Yi。
〃Our　minister　is　truly　wonderful。　The　battle　goes　just　as　he　foretold；〃　cried　Zhang　Yi。　〃He　will　surely　send　help　now；　and　we　will　fight　to　the　death。〃
Thereupon　the　Shu　force　were　divided　into　two　parties。　Wang　Ping　led　one　army　to　hold　up　Zhang　He　and　Dai　Ling；　Zhang　Yi　led　the　other　division　to　oppose　Sima　Yi。　On　both　sides　the　fighting　was　keen　and　continued　all　the　day。
From　their　station　on　a　hill；　Jiang　Wei　and　Liao　Hua　watched　the　battle。　They　saw　that　the　Wei　force　was　very　strong　and　their　side　was　in　danger　and　slowly　giving　way。
〃Now　surely　is　the　moment　to　open　the　bag；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。
So　the　bag　was　opened；　and　they　read　the　letter。　It　said：
〃If　Sima　Yi　es　and　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Yi　seem　hard　pressed；　you　are　to　divide　forces　and　go　off　to　attack　Sima　Yi's　camp；　which　will　cause　him　to　retire；　and　then　you　can　attack　him　as　his　army　is　in　disorder。　The　actual　capture　of　the　camp　is　not　of　great　moment。〃
So　Jiang　Wei　and　Liao　Hua　divided　the　force　and　started　for　the　enemy's　camp。
Now　Sima　Yi　had　really　feared　that　he　would　fall　victim　to　some　ruse　of　Zhuge　Liang；　so　he　had　arranged　for　messengers　and　news　to　meet　him　at　intervals　along　the　road。
Sima　Yi　was　pressing　his　troops　to　fight　when　a　messenger　galloped　up　to　report：　〃The　soldiers　of　Shu　are　making　for　the　main　camp　by　two　directions。〃
Sima　Yi　was　frightened　and　changed　color。　He　turned　on　his　generals；　saying；　〃I　knew　Zhuge　Liang　would　plan　some　trick；　but　you　did　not　believe　me。　You　forced　me　to　pursue；　and　now　the　whole　scheme　has　gone　astray。〃
Thereupon　he　gathered　in　his　army　and　turned　to　retire。　The　troops　went　hurriedly　and　got　into　disorder。　Zhang　Yi　came　up　behind；　causing　huge　damage　to　the　Wei　army。　Zhang　He　and　Dai　Ling；　having　but　few　troops　left；　sought　refuge　among　the　hills。　The　victory　was　to　Shu；　and　Guan　Xing　came　up　helping　in　the　rout　wherever　there　appeared　a　chance　to　strike。
Sima　Yi；　defeated；　hurried　to　the　camp。　But　when　he　reached　it；　the　army　of　Shu　had　already　left。　He　gathered　in　his　broken　army　and　abused　his　generals　as　the　cause　of　his　failure。
〃You　are　all　ignorant　of　the　proper　way　to　wage　war；　and　think　it　simply　a　matter　of　valor　and　rude　strength。　This　is　the　result　of　your　unbridled　desire　to　go　out　and　give　battle。　For　the　future　no　one　of　you　will　move　without　definite　orders；　and　I　will　apply　strict　military　law　to　any　who　disobey。〃
They　were　all　greatly　ashamed　and　retired　to　their　quarters。　In　this　fight　the　losses　of　Wei　were　very　heavy；　not　only　in　soldiers；　but　in　horses　and　weapons。
Zhuge　Liang　led　his　victorious　army　to　their　camp。　He　intended　to　advance　again；　when　a　messenger　arrived　from　Capital　Chengdu　with　the　sad　news　that　Zhang　Bao　had　died。　When　they　told　Zhuge　Liang　he　uttered　a　great　cry；　blood　gushed　from　his　mouth　and　he　fell　in　a　swoon。　He　was　raised　and　taken　to　his　tent；　but　he　was　too　ill　to　march　and　had　to　keep　his　bed。　His　generals　were　much　grieved。
A　later　poet　sang：

Fierce　and　valiant　was　Zhang　Bao；
Striving　hard　to　make　a　name；
Sad　the　gods　should　interfere
And　withhold　a　hero's　fame！
Zhuge　Liang　wept　his　end
In　the　western　winds　blowing。
For　he　knew　the　warrior　gone；
This　grieving　is　beyond　knowing。

Zhuge　Liang's　illness　continued。　Ten　days　later　he　summoned　to　his　tent　Dong　Jue　and　Fan　Jian；　and　said；　〃I　feel　void　and　am　too　ill　to　carry　on；　and　the　best　thing　for　me　is　to　return　into　Hanzhong　and　get　well。　You　are　to　keep　my　absence　perfectly　secret；　for　Sima　Yi　will　certainly　attack　if　he　hears。〃
Zhuge　Liang　issued　orders　to　break　up　the　camp　that　night；　and　the　army　retired　into　Hanzhong　forthwith。　Sima　Yi　only　heard　of　it　five　days　later；　and　he　knew　that　again　he　had　been　outwitted。
〃The　man　appears　like　a　god　and　disappears　like　a　demon。　He　is　too　much　for　me；〃　sighed　Sima　Yi。
Sima　Yi　set　certain　generals　over　the　camp　and　placed　others　to　guard　the　manding　positions；　and　he　also　marched　homeward。
As　soon　as　the　Shu　army　was　settled　in　Hanzhong；　Zhuge　Liang　went　to　Chengdu　for　treatment。　The　officials　of　all　ranks　came　to　greet　him　and　escort　him　to　his　palace。　The　Latter　Ruler　also　came　to　inquire　after　his　condition　and　sent　his　own　physicians　to　treat　him。　So　gradually　he　recovered。
In　Beginning　Prosperity；　eighth　year　and　seventh　month　（AD　230）；　Cao　Zhen；　the　Grand　mander　in　Wei；　had　recovered；　and　he　sent　a　memorial　to　his　master；　saying；
〃Shu　has　invaded　more　than　once　and　threatened　Changan。　If　this　state　be　not　destroyed；　it　will　ultimately　be　our　ruin。　The　autumn　coolness　is　now　here。　The　army　is　in　good　form；　and　it　is　the　time　most　favorable　for　an　attack　on　Shu。　I　desire　to　take　Sima　Yi　as　colleague　and　march　into　Hanzhong　to　exterminate　this　wretched　horde　and　free　the　borders　from　trouble。〃
Personally；　the　Ruler　of　Wei　approved；　but　he　consulted　Liu　Ye；　saying；　〃Cao　Zhen　proposes　an　attack　on　Shu。　How　about　that？〃
Liu　Ye　replied；　〃The　Grand　mander　speaks　well。　If　that　state　be　not　destroyed；　it　will　be　to　our　hurt。　Your　Majesty　should　give　effect　to　his　desire。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　nodded。
When　Liu　Ye　went　home；　a　crowd　of　officers　flocked　to　inquire；　saying；　〃We　heard　the　Emperor　has　consulted　you　about　an　expedition　against　Shu：　What　think　you？〃
〃No　such　thing；〃　said　Liu　Ye。　〃Shu　is　too　difficult　a　country　to　invade。　It　would　be　a　mere　waste　of　humans　and　weapons。〃
They　left　him。　Then　Yang　Jin　went　into　the　Emperor　and　said；　〃It　is　said　that　yesterday　Liu　Ye　advised　Your　Majesty　to　fall　upon　Shu。　Today　when　we　talked　with　him；　he　said　Shu　could　not　be　attacked。　This　is　treating　Your　Majesty　with　indignity；　and　you　should　issue　a　mand　to　punish　him。〃
Wherefore　Cao　Rui　called　in　Liu　Ye　and　asked　him　to　explain。
Liu　Ye　replied；　〃I　have　studied　the　details。　Shu　cannot　be　attacked。〃
Cao　Rui　laughed。
In　a　short　time　Yang　Jin　left。
Then　Liu　Ye　said；　〃Yesterday　I　advised　Your　Majesty　to　attack　Shu。　That　being　a　matter　of　state　policy　should　be　divulged　to　no　person。　The　essential　of　a　military　move　is　secrecy。〃
Then　Cao　Rui　understood；　and　thereafter　Liu　Ye　was　held　in　greater　consideration。
Ten　days　later　Sima　Yi　came　to　court；　and　Cao　Zhen's　memorial　was　shown　him。
Sima　Yi　replied；　〃The　moment　is　opportune。　I　do　not　think　there　is　any　danger　from　Wu。〃
Cao　Zhen　was　created　Minister　of　War；　General　Who　Conquers　the　West；　and　mander…in…Chief　of　the　Western　Expedition；　Sima　Yi　was　made　Grand　mander；　General　Who　Conquers　the　West；　and　was　second　in　mand；　and　Liu　Ye　was　made　Instructor　of　the　Army。　These　three　then　left　the　court；　and　the　army　of　four　hundred　thousand　troops　marched　to　Changan；　intending　to　dash　to　Saber　Pass　and　attack　Hanzhong。　The　army　was　joined　by　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li。
The　defenders　of　Hanzhong　brought　the　news　to　Zhuge　Liang；　then　quite　recovered　and　engaged　in　training　his　army　and　elaborating　the　〃Eight　Arrays〃。　All　was　in　an　efficient　state　and　ready　for　an　attack　on　Changan。
When　Zhuge　Liang　heard　of　the　intended　attack；　he　called　up　Zhang　Ni　and　Wang　Ping　and　gave　orders：　〃You　are　to　lead　one　thousand　troops　to　Chencang　and　garrison　that　road　so　as　to　check　the　Wei　army。〃
The　two　replied；　〃It　is　said　the　Wei　army　numbers　four　hundred　thousand；　though　they　pretend　to　have　eight　hundred　thousand。　But　they　are　very　numerous；　and　a　thousand　troops　is　a　very　small　force　to　meet　them。〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃I　would　give　you　more；　but　I　fear　to　make　it　hard　for　the　soldiers。　If　there　be　a　failure；　I　shall　not　hold　you　responsible。　I　send　you　thus；　you　may　be　sure　there　is　a　meaning　in　it。　I　observed　the　stars　yesterday；　and　I　see　there　will　be　a　tremendous　rain　this　month。　The　army　of　Wei　may　consist　of　any　number　of　legions；　but　they　will　be　unable　to　penetrate　into　a　mountainous　country。　So　there　is　no　need　to　send　a　large　force。　You　will　e　to　no　harm；　and　I　shall　lead　the　main　body　into　Hanzhong　and　rest　for　a　month　while　the　enemy　retreats。　Then　I　shall　smite　them。　My　strong　army　needs　only　one　hundred　thousand　to　defeat　their　worn　four　hundred　thousand。　Do　not　say　any　more；　but　get　off　quickly。〃
This　satisfied　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Ni；　and　they　left；　while　Zhuge　Liang　led　the　main　body　out　toward　Hanzhong。　Moreover；　every　station　was　ordered　to　lay　in　a　stock　of　wood　and　straw　and　grain　enough　for　a　whole　month's　use；　ready　against　the　autumn　rains。　A　month's　holiday　was　given；　and　food　and　clothing　were　issued　in　advance。　The　expedition　was　postponed　for　the　present。
When　Cao　Zhen　and　Sima　Yi　approached　Chencang　and　entered　the　city；　they　could　not　find　a　single　house。
They　questioned　some　of　the　people　near；　who　said；　〃Zhuge　Liang　had　burned　everything　before　he　left。〃
Then　Cao　Zhen　proposed　to　advance　along　the　road；　but　Sima　Yi　opposed；　saying　that　the　stars　foretold　much　rain。
〃I　have　watched　the　Heaven；　and　the　stars'　movement　signals　long　rains。　If　we　get　deep　in　a　difficult　country　and　are　always　victorious；　it　is　all　very　well。　But　if　we　lose；　we　shall　not　get　out　again。　Better　remain　in　this　city　and　build　what　shelter　we　can　against　the　rains。〃
Cao　Zhen　followed　his　advice。　In　the　middle　of　the　month　the　rain　began；　and　came　down　in　a　deluge　so　that　the　surrounding　country　was　three　feet　under　water。　The　equipment　of　the　soldiers　was　soaked；　and　the　soldiers　themselves　could　get　no　place　to　sleep。　For　a　whole　month　the　rain　continued。　The　horses　could　not　be　fed；　and　the　soldiers　grumbled　incessantly。　They　sent　to　Luoyang；　and　the　Ruler　of　Wei　himself　ceremonially　prayed　for　fine　weather；　but　with　no　effect。
Minister　Wang　Su　sent　up　a　memorial：
〃The　histories　say　that　when　supplies　have　to　be　conveyed　a　long　distance；　the　soldiers　are　starved；　if　they　have　to　gather　brushwood　before　they　can　cook；　then　the　army　is　not　full　fed。　This　applies　to　ordinary　expeditions　in　an　ordinary　country。　If；　in　addition；　the　army　has　to　march　through　a　difficult　country　and　roads　have　to　be　cut；　the　labor　is　doubled。　Now　this　expedition　is　hindered　by　rain　and　steep　and　slippery　hills；　movement　is　cramped　and　supplies　can　only　be　maintained　with　difficulty。　All　is　most　unpropitious　to　the　army。
〃Cao　Zhen　has　been　gone　over　a　month　and　has　only　got　half　through　the　valley。　Road　making　is　monopolizing　all　energies；　and　the　fighting　soldiers　have　to　work　on　them。　The　state　of　affairs　is　the　opposite　to　ideal；　and　the　fighting　soldiers　dislike　it。

＇e＇　King　Wu；　aka　the　Martial　King；　founded　the　Zhou　Dynasty；　with　the　help　of　the　Duke　of　Zhou；　who　was　his　brother。　。。。。。
〃I　may　quote　certain　parallels。　King　Wu　of　Zhou　attacked　the　last　king　of　Shang　Dynasty；　he　went　through　the　pass；　but　returne