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t　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　enemy's　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　Zhen's　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　heaven's　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。〃
Cao　Zhen's　wrath　rose　as　he　read。　At　the　end　it　filled　his　breast。　And　he　died　that　evening。　Sima　Yi　sent　his　coffin　to　Luoyang　on　a　wagon。
When　the　Ruler　of　Wei　heard　of　the　death　of　Cao　Zhen；　he　issued　an　edict　urging　Sima　Yi　to　prosecute　the　war；　to　raise　a　great　army；　and　to　fight　with　Zhuge　Liang。
Sima　Yi　sent　a　declaration　of　war　one　day　in　advance；　and　Zhuge　Liang　replied　that　he　would　fight　on　the　morrow。
After　the　envoy　had　left；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Cao　Zhen　must　have　died！〃
He　called　Jiang　Wei　by　night　to　receive　secret　orders。　He　also　summoned　Guan　Xing　and　told　him　what　to　do。
Next　morning　the　whole　force　marched　to　the　bank　of　River　Wei　and　took　up　a　position　in　a　wide　plain　with　the　river　on　one　flank　and　hills　on　the　other。　The　two　armies　saluted　each　other's　appearance　with　heavy　flights　of　arrows。　After　the　drums　had　rolled　thrice　the　Wei　center　opened　at　the　great　standard　and　Sima　Yi　appeared；　followed　by　his　officers。　Opposite　was　Zhuge　Liang；　in　a　four…horse　chariot；　waving　his　feather　fan。
Sima　Yi　addressed　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Our　master's　ascension　of　the　Throne　was　after　the　manner　of　King　Yao；　who　abdicated　in　favor　of　King　Shun。　Two　emperors　have　succeeded　and　have　their　seat　in　the　Middle　Land。　Because　of　his　liberality　and　graciousness；　my　lord　has　suffered　the　rule　of　Shu　and　Wu　lest　the　people　should　suffer　in　a　struggle。　You；　who　are　but　a　plowman　from　Nanyang；　ignorant　of　the　ways　of　Heaven；　wish　to　invade　us；　and　you　should　be　destroyed。　But　if　you　will　examine　your　heart　and　repent　of　your　fault　and　retire；　then　each　may　maintain　his　own　borders；　and　a　settled　state　of　three　kingdoms　will　be　attained。　Thus　the　people　may　be　spared　distress；　and　you　will　save　your　life。〃
Zhuge　Liang　smiled　and　replied；　〃Our　First　Ruler　entrusted　to　me　the　custody　of　his　orphan　son：　Think　you　that　I　shall　fail　to　exert　myself　to　the　uttermost　to　destroy　rebels　against　his　authority？　Your　soldiers　of　the　Cao　family　will　soon　be　exterminated　by　Han。　Your　ancestors　were　servants　of　Han　and　for　generations　ate　of　their　bounty。　Yet；　instead　of　giving　grateful　service；　you　assist　usurpers。　Are　you　not　ashamed？〃
The　flush　of　shame　spread　over　Sima　Yi's　face；　but　he　replied；　〃We　will　try　the　test　of　battle。　If　you　can　conquer；　I　pledge　myself　to　be　no　longer　a　leader　of　armies。　But　if　you　are　defeated；　then　you　will　retire　at　once　to　your　own　village　and　I　will　not　harm　you。〃
〃Do　you　desire　a　contest　of　generals；　or　of　weapons；　or　of　battle　array？〃　asked　Zhuge　Liang。
〃Let　us　try　a　contest　of　battle　array；〃　replied　Sima　Yi。
〃Then　draw　up　your　array　that　I　may　see；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
Sima　Yi　withdrew　within　the　line　and　signaled　to　his　officers　with　a　yellow　flag　to　draw　up　their　troops。
When　he　had　finished；　he　rode　again　to　the　front；　saying；　〃Do　you　recognize　my　formation？〃
〃The　least　of　my　generals　can　do　as　well；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　smiling。　〃This　is　called　the　'Disorder…in…Order'　formation。〃
〃Now　you　try　while　I　look　on；〃　said　Sima　Yi。
Zhuge　Liang　entered　the　lines　and　waved　his　fan。　Then　he　came　out　and　said；　〃Do　you　recognize　that？〃
〃Of　course。　This　is　the　'Eight　Arrays'。〃
〃Yes；　you　seem　to　know　it。　But　dare　you　attack？〃
〃Why　not；　since　I　know　it？〃　replied　Sima　Yi。
〃Then　you　need　only　try。〃
Sima　Yi　entered　the　ranks　and　called　to　him　three　generals………Dai　Ling；　Zhang　Hu；　and　Yue　Chen………to　whom　he　said；　〃That　formation　consists　of　eight　gates………Birth；　Exit；　Expanse；　Wound；　Fear；　Annihilation；　Obstacle；　and　Death。　You　will　go　in　from　the　east　at　the　Gate　of　Birth；　turn　to　the　southwest　and　make　your　way　out　by　the　Gate　of　Annihilation。　Then　enter　at　the　north；　at　the　Exit　Gate；　and　the　formation　will　be　broken　up。　But　be　cautious。〃
They　started　with　Zhang　Hu　leading；　Dai　Ling　next；　and　Yue　Chen　in　rear；　each　with　thirty　horsemen。　They　made　their　way　in　at　the　Gate　of　Birth　amid　the　applause　of　both　sides。　But　when　they　had　got　within　they　found　themselves　facing　a　wall　of　troops　and　could　not　find　a　way　out。　They　hastily　led　their　men　round　by　the　base　of　the　line　toward　the　southwest　to　rush　out　there。　But　they　were　stopped　by　a　flight　of　arrows。　They　became　confused　and　saw　many　gates；　but　they　had　lost　their　bearings。　Nor　could　they　aid　each　other。　They　dashed　hither　and　thither　in　disorder；　but　the　formation　was　as　if　gathering　clouds　and　rolling　mists。　Then　a　shout　arose；　and　each　one　was　seized　and　bound。
They　were　taken　to　the　center；　where　Zhuge　Liang　sat　in　his　tent；　and　the　three　leaders　with　their　ninety　men　were　ranged　in　front。
〃Indeed　you　are　prisoners。　Are　you　surprised？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　smiling。　〃But　I　will　set　you　free　to　return　to　your　leader；　and　tell　him　to　read　his　books　again；　and　study　his　tactics；　before　he　es　to　try　conclusions　with　me。　You　are　pardoned；　but　leave　your　weapons　and　horses　here。〃
So　they　were　stripped　of　their　arms　and　armors　and　their　faces　inked。　Thus　were　they　led　on　foot　out　of　the　array。　Sima　Yi　lost　his　temper　at　sight　of　his　people　thus　put　to　shame。
Said　he；　〃After　this　disgrace；　how　can　I　face　the　other　officers　in　the　Middle　Land？〃
He　gave　the　signal　for　the　army　to　fall　on　and　attack　the　enemy；　and；　grasping　his　sword；　led　his　brave　generals　into　the　fray　and　manded　the　attack。　But　just　as　the　two　armies　came　to　blows；　Guan　Xing　came　up　fromt　the　southwest；　his　drums　rolling　and　troops　shouting；　and　attacked。　Sima　Yi　told　off　a　division　from　the　rear　to　oppose　Guan　Xing；　and　again　turned　to　urge　on　his　main　body。
Then　the　army　of　Wei　was　thrown　into　confusion　by　another　attack　from　Jiang　Wei；　who　came　up　silently　and　joined　in　the　battle。　Thus　three　sides　of　the　Wei　army　were　attacked　by　three　different　divisions　of　the　enemy；　and　Sima　Yi　decided　to　retire。　However；　this　was　difficult。　The　soldiers　of　Shu　hemmed　him　in　and　came　closer　every　moment。　At　last；　by　a　desperate　push；　he　cut　an　alley　toward　the　south　and　freed　his　army。　But　he　had　lost　six　or　seven　out　of　every　ten　of　his　soldiers。
The　Wei　army　withdrew　to　the　south　bank　of　River　Wei　and　camped。　They　strengthened　their　position　and　remained　entirely　on　the　defensive。
Zhuge　Liang　mustered　his　victorious　army　and　returned　to　Qishan。
Now　Li　Yan　sent　an　officer；　General　Gou　An；　from　Baidicheng　with　a　convoy　of　grain。　Gou　An　was　a　drunkard　and　loitered　on　the　road　so　that　he　arrived　ten　days　late。
Zhuge　Liang；　angry　at　the　delay；　upbraided　him；　saying；　〃This　grain　is　of　the　utmost　importance　to　the　army　and　you　delay　it。　Three　days'　delay　ought　to　mean　the　death　penalty。　What　can　you　say　to　this　delay　of　ten？〃
Gou　An　was　sentenced　to　death　and　hustled　out。
But　Yang　Yi　ventured　to　intervene；　saying；　〃Gou　An　is　a　servant　of　Li　Yan；　and　Li　Yan　has　sent　large　supplies　of　all　sorts　from　the　West　River　Land。　The　road　is　long　and　difficult。　If　you　put　this　man　to　death；　perhaps　others　will　not　undertake　transport　duty。〃
Zhuge　Liang　then　bade　the　executioners　loose　the　offender；　give　him　eighty　blows；　and　let　him　go。
This　punishment　filled　Gou　An's　heart　with　bitter　resentment；　and；　in　the　night；　he　deserted　to　the　enemy；　he　and　his　half　dozen　personal　staff。　He　was　taken　before　Sima　Yi　and　told　the　tale　of　his　wrongs。
〃Your　tale　may　be　true；　but　it　is　hard　to　trust　it；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃Zhuge　Liang　is　full　of　guile。　However；　you　may　render　me　a　service；　and　if　you　do；　I　will　ask　the　Ruler　of　Wei　that　you　may　be　allowed　to　serve　him　and　obtain　a　post　for　you。〃
〃Whatever　you　ask；　I　will　do　the　best　I　can；〃　replied　the　deserter。
〃Then　go　to　Chengdu　and　spread　a　lying　report　that　Zhuge　Liang　is　angry　with　the　powers　there　and　means　to　make　himself　emperor。　This　will　get　him　recalled；　and　that　will　be　a　merit　to　you。〃
Gou　An　accepted　the　treacherous　mission。　In　Chengdu　he　got　hold　of　the　eunuchs；　and　told　them　his　lying　tale　that　the　Prime　Minister　was　too　proud　of　his　services　and　was　about　to　use　his　sweeping　powers　to　usurp　the　Throne。
The　eunuchs　became　alarmed　for　their　own　safety　and　told　the　Emperor　all　these　things。
〃In　such　a　case　what　am　I　to　do？〃　asked　the　Latter　Ruler。
〃Recall　him　to　the　capital；〃　said　the　eunuchs；　〃and　take　away　his　military　powers　so　that　he　cannot　rebel。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　issue