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　Ruler　of　Wei；　he　received　a　mand　in　Cao　Rui's　own　writing：
〃When　you；　Noble　Sir；　reach　the　banks　of　River　Wei　and　have　well　fortified　that　position；　you　are　not　to　give　battle。　The　army　of　Shu；　disappointed　of　their　desire；　will　pretend　to　retire　and　so　entice　you　on；　but　you　will　not　pursue。　You　will　wait　till　their　supplies　are　consumed　and　they　are　pelled　to　retreat；　when　you　may　smite　them。　Then　you　will　obtain　the　victory　without　distressing　the　army　unduly。　This　is　the　best　plan　of　campaign。〃
Sima　Yi　took　it　with　bowed　head。　He　proceeded　forthwith　to　Changan。　When　he　had　mustered　the　forces　assembled　from　all　western　counties；　they　numbered　four　hundred　thousand；　and　they　were　all　camped　on　River　Wei。　In　addition；　fifty　thousand　troops　were　farther　up　the　stream　preparing　nine　floating　bridges。　The　two　Leaders　of　the　Van；　Xiahou　Ba　and　Xiahou　Wei；　were　ordered　to　cross　the　river　and　camp；　and　in　rear　of　the　main　camp　on　the　east　a　solid　earth　rampart　was　raised　to　guard　against　any　surprises　from　the　rear。
While　these　preparations　were　in　progress；　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li　came　to　the　new　camp。
Guo　Huai　said；　〃With　the　troops　of　Shu　at　Qishan；　there　is　a　possibility　of　their　dominating　River　Wei；　going　up　on　the　plain；　and　pushing　out　a　line　to　the　northern　hills　whereby　to　cut　off　all　highways　in　the　West　Valley　Land。〃
〃You　say　well；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃See　to　it。　Take　mand　of　all　the　West　Valley　Land　forces；　occupy　Beiyuan；　and　make　a　fortified　camp　there。　But　adopt　a　defensive　policy。　Wait　till　the　enemy's　food　supplies　get　exhausted　before　you　think　of　attack。〃
So　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li　left　to　carry　out　these　orders。
Meanwhile　Zhuge　Liang　made　five　main　camps　at　Qishan；　and　between　Xie　Valley　and　Saber　Pass　he　established　a　line　of　fourteen　large　camps。　He　distributed　the　troops　among　these　camps　as　for　a　long　campaign。　He　appointed　inspecting　officers　to　make　daily　visits　to　see　that　all　was　in　readiness。
When　he　heard　that　the　army　of　Wei　had　camped　in　Beiyuan；　he　said　to　his　officers；　〃They　camp　there　fearing　that　our　holding　this　area　will　sever　connection　with　West　Valley　Land。　I　am　pretending　to　look　toward　Beiyuan；　but　really　my　objective　is　River　Wei。　I　am　going　to　build　a　hundred　or　more　large　rafts　and　pile　them　with　straw；　and　I　have　five　thousand　of　marines　to　manage　them。　In　the　darkness　of　the　night　I　shall　attack　Beiyuan。　Sima　Yi　will　e　to　the　rescue。　If　he　is　only　a　little　worsted；　I　shall　cross　the　river　with　the　rear　divisions；　then　the　leading　divisions　will　embark　on　the　rafts；　drop　down　the　river；　set　fire　to　the　floating　bridges；　and　attack　the　rear　of　the　enemy。　I　shall　lead　an　army　to　take　the　gates　of　the　first　camp。　If　we　can　get　the　south　bank　of　the　river；　the　campaign　will　bee　simple。〃
Then　the　generals　took　orders　and　went　to　prepare。
The　spies　carried　information　of　the　doings　of　the　troops　of　Shu　to　Sima　Yi；　who　said　to　his　generals；　〃Zhuge　Liang　has　some　crafty　scheme；　but　I　think　I　know　it。　He　proposes　to　make　a　show　of　taking　Beiyuan；　and　then；　dropping　down　the　river；　he　will　try　to　burn　our　bridges；　throw　our　rear　into　confusion；　and　then　attack　our　camps。〃
So　he　gave　Xiahou　Ba　and　Xiahou　Wei　orders：　〃You　are　to　listen　for　the　sounds　of　battle　about　Beiyuan。　If　you　hear　the　shouting；　you　are　to　march　down　to　the　river；　to　the　hills　on　the　south；　and　lay　an　ambush　against　the　troops　of　Shu　as　they　arrive。〃
Zhang　Hu　and　Yue　Chen　were　to　lead　two　other　forces；　of　two　thousand　of　bowmen　each；　and　lie　in　hiding　on　the　north　bank　near　the　bridges　to　keep　off　the　rafts　that　might　e　down　on　the　current　and　keep　them　from　touching　the　bridges。
Then　he　sent　for　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li；　and　said；　〃Zhuge　Liang　is　ing　to　Beiyuan　to　cross　the　river　secretly。　Your　new　force　is　small；　and　you　can　hide　half　way　along　the　road。　If　the　enemy　cross　the　river　in　the　afternoon；　that　will　mean　an　attack　on　us　in　the　evening。　Then　you　are　to　simulate　defeat　and　run。　They　will　pursue。　You　can　shoot　with　all　your　energy；　and　our　marines　and　land　troops　will　attack　at　once。　If　the　attack　is　in　great　force；　look　out　for　orders。〃
All　these　orders　given；　Sima　Yi　sent　his　two　sons　Sima　Shi　and　Sima　Zhao　to　reinforce　the　front　camp；　while　he　led　his　own　army　to　relieve　Beiyuan。
Zhuge　Liang　sent　Wei　Yan　and　Ma　Dai　to　cross　River　Wei　and　attack　Beiyuan；　while　the　attempt　to　set　fire　to　the　bridges　was　confided　to　Hu　Ban　and　Wu　Yi。　The　general　attack　on　the　Wei　camp　by　River　Wei　was　to　be　made　by　three　divisions：　The　front　division　under　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Ni；　the　middle　division　under　Jiang　Wei　and　Ma　Zheng；　the　rear　division　under　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi。　The　various　divisions　started　at　noon　and　crossed　the　river；　where　they　slowly　formed　up　in　battle　order。
Wei　Yan　and　Ma　Dai　arrived　Beiyuan　about　dusk。　The　scouts　having　informed　the　defenders　of　their　approach；　Sun　Li　abandoned　his　camp　and　fled。　This　told　Wei　Yan　that　his　attack　was　expected；　and　he　turned　to　retire。　At　this　moment　a　great　shouting　was　heard；　and　there　appeared　two　bodies　of　the　enemy　under　Sima　Yi　and　Guo　Huai　bearing　down　upon　the　attackers　from　left　and　right。　Wei　Yan　and　Ma　Dai　fought　desperately　to　extricate　themselves；　but　many　of　the　soldiers　of　Shu　fell　into　the　river　and　drowned。　The　others　scattered。　However；　Wu　Yi　came　up　and　rescued　the　force　from　entire　destruction；　and　moved　across　the　river　to　make　camp。
Hu　Ban　set　half　his　troops　to　navigate　the　rafts　down　the　river　to　the　bridges。　But　Zhang　Hu　and　Yue　Chen　stationed　near　the　bridges　shot　clouds　of　arrows　at　them；　and　the　Shu　leader；　Hu　Ban；　was　wounded。　He　fell　into　the　river　and　was　drowned。　The　crews　of　the　rafts　jumped　into　the　water　and　got　away。　The　rafts　fell　into　the　hands　of　the　soldiers　of　Wei。
At　this　time　the　front　division　under　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Ni　were　ignorant　of　the　defeat　of　their　Beiyuan　army；　and　they　went　straight　for　the　camps　of　Wei。　They　arrived　in　the　second　watch。
They　heard　loud　shouting；　and　Wang　Ping　said　to　Zhang　Ni；　〃We　do　not　know　whether　the　cavalry　sent　to　Beiyuan　has　been　successful　or　not。　It　is　strange　that　we　do　not　see　a　single　soldier　of　the　enemy。　Surely　Sima　Yi　has　found　out　the　plan　and　prepared　to　frustrate　the　attack。　Let　us　wait　here　till　the　bridges　have　been　set　on　fire　and　we　see　the　flames。〃
So　they　halted。　Soon　after；　a　mounted　messenger　came　up　with　orders：　〃The　Prime　Minister　bade　you　retire　immediately；　as　the　attack　on　the　bridges　has　failed。〃
Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Ni　attempted　to　withdraw；　but　a　bomb　exploded　and　the　troops　of　Wei；　who　had　taken　a　by…road　to　their　rear；　at　once　attacked。　A　great　fire　started　also。　A　disorderly　battle　ensued；　from　which　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Ni　eventually　forced　their　ways　out；　but　only　with　great　loss。
And　when　Zhuge　Liang　collected　his　army　at　Qishan　once　more　he　found；　to　his　sorrow；　that　he　had　lost　more　than　ten　thousand　troops。
Just　at　this　time　Fei　Yi　arrived　front　Chengdu。
Zhuge　Liang　received　him　and；　after　the　ceremonies　were　over；　said；　〃I　would　trouble　you；　Sir；　to　carry　a　letter　for　me　into　East　Wu。　Will　you　undertake　the　mission？〃
〃Could　I　possibly　decline　any　task　you　laid　upon　me？〃　said　Fei　Yi。
So　Zhuge　Liang　wrote　a　letter　and　sent　it　to　Sun　Quan。　Fei　Yi　took　it　and　hastened　to　Capital　Jianye；　where　he　saw　Sun　Quan；　the　Ruler　of　Wu；　and　presented　this　letter：
〃The　Hans　have　been　unfortunate；　and　the　line　of　rulers　has　been　broken。　The　Cao　party　have　usurped　the　seat　of　government　and　still　hold　the　mand。　My　late　master；　Emperor　Bei；　confided　a　great　task　to　me；　and　I　must　exhaust　every　effort　to　achieve　it。　Now　my　army　is　at　Qishan；　and　the　rebels　are　on　the　verge　of　destruction　on　River　Wei。　I　hope　Your　Majesty；　in　accordance　with　your　oath　of　alliance；　will　send　a　leader　against　the　north　to　assist　by　taking　the　Middle　Land；　and　the　empire　can　be　shared。　The　full　circumstances　cannot　be　told；　but　I　hope　you　will　understand　and　act。〃
Sun　Quan　was　pleased　at　the　news　and　said　to　the　envoy；　〃I　have　long　desired　to　set　my　arm　in　motion；　but　have　not　been　able　to　arrange　with　Zhuge　Liang。　After　this　letter　I　will　lead　an　expedition　myself；　and　go　to　Juchao　and　capture　Xincheng　of　Wei。　Moreover；　I　will　send　Lu　Xun　and　Zhuge　Jin　to　camp　at　Miankou　and　Jiangxia；　and　take　Xiangyang。　I　will　also　send　another　army　under　Sun　Shao　and　Zhang　Cheng　into　Guangling　to　capture　Huaiyang。　The　total　number　will　be　three　hundred　thousand　troops；　and　they　shall　start　at　once。〃
Fei　Yi　thanked　him　and　said；　〃In　such　a　case　the　Middle　Land　will　fall　forthwith。〃
A　banquet　was　prepared。　At　this；　Sun　Quan　said；　〃Whom　did　the　Prime　Minister　send　to　lead　the　battle？〃
Fei　Yi　replied；　〃Wei　Yan　was　the　chief　leader。〃
〃A　man　brave　enough；　but　crooked。　One　day　he　will　work　a　mischief　unless　Zhuge　Liang　is　present。　But　surely　Zhuge　Liang　knows。〃
〃Your　Majesty's　words　are　to　the　point；〃　said　the　envoy。　〃I　will　return　at　once　and　lay　them　before　Zhuge　Liang。〃
Fei　Yi　quickly　took　leave　and　hastened　to　Qishan　with　his　news　of　the　intended　expedition　of　Wu　against　Wei　with　three　hundred　thousand　troops　in　three　directions。
〃Did　the　Ruler　of　Wu　say　nothing　else？〃　asked　Zhuge　Liang。
Then　Fei　Yi　told　him　what　had　been　said　about　Wei　Yan。
〃Truly　a　prehending　ruler；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　appreciatively。　〃But　I　could　not　be　ignorant　of　this。　However；　I　value　Wei　Yan　because　he　is　very　bold。〃
〃Then　Sir；　you　ought　to　decide　soon　what　to　do　with　him。〃
〃I　have　a　scheme　of　my　own。〃
Fei　Yi　returned　to　Chengdu；　and　Zhuge　Liang　resumed　the　ordinary　camp　duties　of　a　leader。
When　Zhuge　Liang　was　in　a　council　with　his　manders；　suddenly　a　certain　Wei　leader　came　and　begged　to　be　allowed　to　surrender。　Zhuge　Liang　had　the　man　brought　in　and　questioned　him。
〃I　am　a　leader；　Zheng　Wen　by　name。　General　Qin　Lang　and　I　are　old　colleagues。　Recently　Sima　Yi　transferred　us　and；　showing　great　partiality　for　my　colleague；　appointed　him　Leader　of　the　Van　and　threw　me　out　like　a　weed。　I　was　disgusted　and　left；　and　I　wish　to　join　your　ranks　if　you　will　accept　my　service。〃
Just　at　that　moment　a　soldier　came　in　to　say　that　Qin　Lang　with　a　pany　had　appeared　in　front　of　the　tents　and　was　challenging　Zheng　Wen。
Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃How　does　this　man　stand　with　you　in　fighting　skill？〃
〃I　should　just　kill　him；〃　said　Zheng　Wen。
〃If　you　were　to　slay　him；　that　would　remove　my　doubts。〃
Zheng　Wen　accepted　the　proposer　with　alacrity；　mounted　his　horse；　and　away　he　went。　Zhuge　Liang　went　out　to　see　the　fight。　There　was　the　challenger　shaking　his　spear　and　reviling　his　late　friend　as　rebel　and　brigand　and　horse…thief。
〃Traitor！　Give　me　back　my　horse　you　stole！〃　cried　Qin　Lang；　galloping　toward　Zheng　Wen　as　soon　as　he　appeared。
Zheng　Wen　whipped　up　his　horse；　waved　his　sword；　and　went　to　meet　the　attack。　In　the　first　bout　he　cut　down　Qin　Lang。　The　Wei　soldiers　then　ran　away。　The　victor　hacked　off　the　head　of　his　victim　and　returned　to　lay　it　at　Zhuge　Liang's　feet。
Seated　in　his　tent；　Zhuge　Liang　summoned　Zheng　Wen　and　burst　out：　〃Take　him　away　and　behead　him！〃
〃I　have　done　nothing　wrong！〃　cried　Zheng　Wen。
〃As　if　I　do　not　know　Qin　Lang！　The　man　you　have　just　killed　was　not　Qin　Lang。　How　dare？　you　try　to　deceive　me？〃
Zheng　Wen　said；　〃I　will　own　up。　But　this　was　his　brother　Qin　Ming。〃
Zhuge　Liang　smiled。
〃Sima　Yi　sent　you　to　try　this　on　for　some　reason　of　his　own；　but　he　could　not　throw　dust　in　my　eyes。　If　you　do　not　tell　the　truth；　I　will　put　you　to　death。〃
Thus　caught；　the　false　deserter　confessed　and　begged　his　life。
Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃You　can　save　your　life　by　writing　a　letter　to　Sima　Yi　telling　him　to　e　to　raid　our　camp。　I　will　spare　you　on　this　condition。　And　if　I　capture　Sima　Yi；　I　will　give　you　all　the　credit　and　reward　you　handsomely。〃
There　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　agree；　and　the　letter　was　written。　Then　Zheng　Wen　was　placed　in　confinement。
But　Fan　Jian　asked；　〃How　did　you　know　this　was　only　a　pretended　desertion？〃
〃Sima　Yi　looks　to　his　people；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。　〃If　he　made　Qin　Lang　a　leading　general；　Qin　Lang　was　certainly　a　man　of　great　military　skill　and　not　the　sort　of　man　to　be　overe　by　this　fellow　Zheng　Wen　in　the　first　encounter。　So　Zheng　Wen's　opponent　certainly　was　not　Qin　Lang。　That　is　how　I　knew。〃
They　congratulated　him　on　his　perspicacity。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　selected　a　certain　persuasive　speaker　from　among　his　officers　and　w