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nvoy。　When　he　appeared；　Wang　Ping　gave　the　order　to　turn　tongues；　left　the　wooden　animals　in　the　road；　and　ran　away。　Guo　Huai　made　no　attempt　to　pursue；　but　tried　to　put　the　wooden　animals　in　motion　toward　their　proper　destination。　But　he　could　not　move　them。
He　was　greatly　perplexed。　Then　suddenly　there　arose　the　roll　of　drums　all　round；　and　out　burst　two　parties　of　soldiers。　These　were　Wei　Yan　and　Jiang　Wei's　troops；　and　when　they　appeared　Wang　Ping's　soldiers　faced　about　and　came　to　the　attack　as　well。　These　three　being　too　much　for　Guo　Huai；　he　retreated　before　them。　Thereupon　the　tongues　were　turned　back　again　and　the　wooden　herd　set　in　motion。
Seeing　this；　Guo　Huai　came　on　again。　But　just　then　he　saw　smoke　curling　up　among　the　hills　and　a　lot　of　extraordinary　creatures　burst　out　upon　him。　Some　held　swords　and　some　flags；　and　all　were　terrible　to　look　at。　They　rushed　at　the　wooden　animals　and　urged　them　away。
〃Truly　these　are　supernatural　helpers；〃　cried　Guo　Huai；　quite　frightened。
The　soldiers　also　were　terror…stricken　and　stood　still。
Hearing　that　his　Beiyuan　troops　had　been　driven　off；　Sima　Yi　came　out　to　the　rescue。　Midway　along　the　road；　just　where　it　was　most　precipitous；　a　cohort　burst　out　upon　him　with　fierce　yells　and　bursting　bombs。　Upon　the　leading　banners　he　read　Han　General　Zhang　Yi　and　Han　General　Liao　Hua　。
Panic　seized　upon　his　army；　and　they　ran　like　winds。

In　the　field　the　craftier　leader　on　the　convoy　makes　a　raid；
And　his　rival's　life　endangers　by　an　ambush　subtly　laid。

If　you　would　know　the　upshot；　read　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　103　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　103
　Chapter　103
In　Gourd　Valley；　Sima　Yi　Is　Trapped；
In　Wuzhang　Hills；　Zhuge　Liang　Invokes　The　Stars。
Heavily　smitten　in　the　battle；　Sima　Yi　fled　from　the　field　a　lonely　horseman。　Seeing　a　thick　wood　in　the　distance；　he　made　for　its　shelter。
Zhang　Yi　halted　the　rear　division　while　Liao　Hua　pressed　forward　after　the　fugitive；　whom　he　could　see　threading　his　way　among　the　trees。　And　Sima　Yi　indeed　was　soon　in　fear　of　his　life；　dodging　from　tree　to　tree　as　his　pursuer　neared。　Once　Liao　Hua　was　actually　close　enough　to　slash　at　his　enemy；　but　Liao　Hua　missed　the　blow　and　his　sword　struck　a　tree；　and　before　he　could　pull　his　sword　out　of　the　wood；　Sima　Yi　had　got　clear　away。　When　Liao　Hua　got　through　into　the　open　country；　he　did　not　know　which　way　to　go。　Presently　he　noticed　a　golden　helmet　lying　on　the　ground　to　the　east；　just　lately　thrown　aside。　He　picked　it　up；　hung　it　on　his　saddle；　and　went　away　eastward。
But　the　crafty　fugitive；　having　flung　away　his　helmet　thus　on　the　east　side　of　the　wood；　had　gone　away　west；　so　that　Liao　Hua　was　going　away　from　his　quarry。　After　some　time　Liao　Hua　fell　in　with　Jiang　Wei；　when　he　abandoned　the　pursuit　and　rode　with　Jiang　Wei　back　to　camp。
The　wooden　oxen　and　running　horses　having　been　driven　into　camp；　their　loads　were　put　into　the　storehouse。　The　grain　that　fell　to　the　victors　amounted　to　ten　thousand　carts　or　more。
Liao　Hua　presented　the　enemy's　helmet　as　proof　of　his　prowess　in　the　field；　and　received　a　reward　of　the　first　grade　of　merit。　Wei　Yan　went　away　angry　and　discontented；　Zhuge　Liang　noticed　this；　but　he　said　nothing。
Very　sadly　Sima　Yi　returned　to　his　own　camp。　Bad　news　followed；　for　a　messenger　brought　letters　telling　of　an　invasion　by　three　armies　of　Wu。　The　letters　said　that　forces　had　been　sent　against　them；　and　the　Ruler　of　Wei　again　enjoined　upon　his　mander…in…Chief　a　waiting　and　defensive　policy。　So　Sima　Yi　deepened　his　moats　and　raised　his　ramparts。
Meanwhile；　when　the　South　Land　marched　against　the　Middle　Land；　Cao　Rui　sent　three　armies　against　the　invaders：　Liu　Shao　led　that　to　save　Jiangxia；　Tian　Du　led　the　Xiangyang　force；　Cao　Rui　himself；　with　Man　Chong；　went　into　Hefei。　This　last　was　the　main　army。
Man　Chong　led　the　leading　division　toward　Lake　Chaohu。　Thence；　looking　across　to　the　eastern　shore；　he　saw　a　forest　of　battleships；　and　flags　and　banners　crowded　the　sky。　So　he　returned　to　the　main　army　and　proposed　an　attack　without　loss　of　time。
〃The　enemy　think　we　shall　be　fatigued　after　a　long　march；　and　so　they　have　not　troubled　to　prepare　any　defense。　We　should　attack　this　night；　and　we　shall　overe　them。〃
〃What　you　say　accords　with　my　own　ideas；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。
Then　the　Ruler　of　Wei　told　off　the　cavalry　leader；　Zhang　Qiu；　to　take　five　thousand　troops　and　try　to　burn　out　the　enemy　with　bustibles。　Man　Chong　was　also　to　attack　from　the　eastern　bank。
In　the　second　watch　of　that　night；　the　two　forces　set　out　and　gradually　approached　the　entrance　to　the　lake。　They　reached　the　marine　camp　unobserved；　burst　upon　it　with　a　yell；　and　the　soldiers　of　Wu　fled　without　striking　a　blow。　The　troops　of　Wei　set　fires　going　in　every　direction　and　thus　destroyed　all　the　ships　together　with　much　grain　and　many　weapons。
Zhuge　Jin；　who　was　in　mand；　led　his　beaten　troops　to　Miankou；　and　the　attackers　returned　to　their　camp　much　elated。
When　the　report　came　to　Lu　Xun；　he　called　together　his　officers　and　said；　〃I　must　write　to　the　Emperor　to　abandon　the　siege　of　Xincheng；　that　the　army　may　be　employed　to　cut　off　the　retreat　of　the　Wei　army　while　I　will　attack　them　in　front。　They　will　be　harassed　by　the　double　danger；　and　we　shall　break　them。〃
All　agreed　that　this　was　a　good　plan；　and　the　memorial　was　drafted。　It　was　sent　by　the　hand　of　a　junior　officer；　who　was　told　to　convey　it　secretly。　But　this　messenger　was　captured　at　the　ferry　and　taken　before　the　Ruler　of　Wei。
Cao　Rui　read　the　dispatch；　then　said　with　a　sigh；　〃This　Lu　Xun　of　Wu　is　really　very　resourceful。〃
The　captive　was　put　into　prison；　and　Liu　Shao　was　told　off　to　defend　the　rear　and　keep　off　Sun　Quan's　army。
Now　Zhuge　Jin's　defeated　soldiers　were　suffering　from　hot　weather　illnesses；　and　at　length　he　was　pelled　to　write　and　tell　Lu　Xun；　and　ask　that　his　army　be　relieved　and　sent　home。
Having　read　this　dispatch；　Lu　Xun　said　to　the　messenger；　〃Make　my　obeisance　to　the　General；　and　say　that　I　will　decide。〃
When　the　messenger　returned　with　this　reply；　Zhuge　Jin　asked　what　was　doing　in　the　mander…in…Chief's　camp。
The　messenger　replied；　〃The　soldiers　were　all　outside　planting　beans；　and　the　officers　were　amusing　themselves　at　the　gates。　They　were　playing　a　game　of　skill；　throwing　arrows　into　narrow…necked　vases。〃
Alarmed；　Zhuge　Jin　himself　went　to　his　chief's　camp。
Said　he；　〃Cao　Rui　himself　leads　the　expedition；　and　the　enemy　is　very　strong。　How　do　you；　O　mander；　meet　this　pressing　danger？〃
Lu　Xun　replied；　〃My　messenger　to　the　Emperor　was　captured；　and　thus　my　plans　were　discovered。　Now　it　is　useless　to　prepare　to　fight；　and　so　we　had　better　retreat。　I　have　sent　in　a　memorial　to　engage　the　Emperor　to　retire　gradually。〃
Zhuge　Jin　replied；　〃Why　delay？　If　you　think　it　best　to　retire；　it　had　better　be　done　quickly。〃
〃My　army　must　retreat　slowly；　or　the　enemy　will　e　in　pursuit；　which　will　mean　defeat　and　loss。　Now　you　must　first　prepare　your　ships　as　if　you　meant　to　resist；　while　I　make　a　semblance　of　an　attack　toward　Xiangyang。　Under　cover　of　these　operations　we　shall　withdraw　into　the　South　Land；　and　the　enemy　will　not　dare　to　follow。〃
So　Zhuge　Jin　returned　to　his　own　camp　and　began　to　fit　out　his　ships　as　if　for　an　immediate　expedition；　while　Lu　Xun　made　all　preparations　to　march；　giving　out　that　he　intended　to　advance　upon　Xiangyang。
The　news　of　these　movements　were　duly　reported　in　the　Wei　camps。　When　the　leaders　heard　it；　they　wished　to　go　out　and　fight。　But　the　Ruler　of　Wei　knew　his　opponent　better　than　they　and　would　not　bring　about　a　battle。
So　he　called　his　officers　together　and　said　to　them；　〃This　Lu　Xun　is　very　crafty。　Keep　careful　guard；　but　do　not　risk　a　battle。〃
The　officers　obeyed。
A　few　days　later　the　scouts　brought　in　news：　〃The　three　armies　of　Wu　have　retired！〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　doubted　and　sent　out　some　of　his　own　spies；　who　confirmed　the　report。

＇e＇　Sun　Zi　（aka　Sun　Wu；　Sunzi；　Suntzu；　Sun…tzu；　Sun　tzu）　the　author　of　the　famed　treatise　The　Art　of　War。　A　general　of　Wu　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period；　Sun　Zi　made　her　the　mightiest　state　during　his　lifetime　by　defeating　Chu　and　conquering　Yue。　His　treatise　the　Art　of　War　is　still　avidly　read　today　by　many。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Wu　Qi；　aka　Wu　Zi；　a　famous　general　in　the　Warring　States　period。　He　first　served　Lu；　then　went　to　Wei；　his　native；　and　led　Wei　army　against　Qin。　He　made　enemies　in　Wei；　so　he　fled　to　Chu；　where　King　Dao　made　him　prime　minister。　Wu　Qi　made　Chu　a　powerful　state；　expanded　her　territory；　defended　her　against　Wei；　Zhao；　and　Han；　and　attacked　Qin。　Wu　Qi　is　the　author　of　a　military　treatise　named　〃Wu　Qi's　Art　of　War〃。　。。。。。
When　he　thus　knew　it　was　true；　he　consoled　himself　with　the　words；　〃Lu　Xun　knows　the　art　of　war　even　as　did　Sun　Zi*　and　Wu　Qi*。　The　subjugation　of　the　southeast　is　not　for　me　this　time。〃
Thereupon　Cao　Rui　distributed　his　generals　among　the　various　vantage　points　and　led　the　main　army　back　into　Hefei；　where　he　camped　ready　to　take　advantage　of　any　change　of　conditions　that　might　promise　success。
Meanwhile　Zhuge　Liang　was　at　Qishan；　where　he　intended　to　make　a　long　sojourn。　He　made　his　soldiers　mix　with　the　people　in　Wei　and　share　in　the　labor　of　the　fields；　and　the　crops………the　soldiers　one…third；　the　people　two…third。　He　gave　strict　orders　against　any　encroachment　on　the　property　of　the　farmers；　and　so　they　and　the　soldiers　lived　together　very　amicably。
Then　Sima　Yi's　son；　Sima　Shi；　went　to　his　father　and　said；　〃These　soldiers　of　Shu　have　despoiled　us　of　much　grain；　and　now　they　are　mingling　with　the　people　of　Qishan　and　tilling　the　fields　along　the　banks　of　River　Wei　as　if　they　intended　to　remain　there。　This　would　be　a　calamity　for　us。　Why　do　you　not　appoint　a　time　to　fight　a　decisive　battle　with　Zhuge　Liang？〃
His　father　replied；　〃I　have　the　Emperor's　orders　to　act　on　the　defensive　and　may　not　do　as　you　suggest。〃
While　they　were　thus　talking；　one　reported　that　Wei　Yan　had　e　near　and　was　insulting　the　army　and　reminding　them　that　he　had　the　helmet　of　their　leader。　And　he　was　challenging　them。　The　generals　were　greatly　incensed　and　desired　to　accept　the　challenge；　but　the　mander…in…Chief　was　immovable　in　his　decision　to　obey　his　orders。
〃The　Holy　One　says：　'If　one　cannot　suffer　small　things；　great　matters　are　imperiled。'　Our　plan　is　to　defend。〃
So　the　challenge　was　not　accepted；　and　there　was　no　battle。　After　reviling　them　for　some　time；　Wei　Yan　went　away。
Seeing　that　his　enemy　was　not　to　be　provoked　into　fighting；　Zhuge　Liang　gave　orders　to　Ma　Dai　to　build　a　strong　stockade　in　the　Gourd　Valley　and　therein　to　excavate　pits　and　to　collect　large　quantities　of　inflammables。　So　on　the　hill　they　piled　wood　and　straw　in　the　shape　of　sheds；　and　all　about　they　dug　pits　and　buried　mines。　When　these　preparations　were　plete；　Ma　Dai　received　instructions　to　block　the　road　in　rear　of　Gourd　Valley　and　to　lay　an　ambush　at　the　entrance。
〃If　Sima　Yi　es；　let　him　enter　the　valley；　and　then　explode　the　mines　and　set　fire　to　the　straw　and　the　wood；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Also；　set　up　seven　star　flags　at　the　mouth　of　the　valley　and　arrange　a　night　signal　of　seven　lamps　on　the　hill。〃
After　Ma　Dai　had　gone；　Wei　Yan　was　called　in；　and　Zhuge　Liang　said　to　him；　〃Go　to　the　camp　of　Wei　with　five　hundred　troops　and　provoke　them　to　battle。　The　important　matter　is　to　entice　Sima　Yi　out　of　his　stronghold。　You　will　be　unable　to　obtain　a　victory；　so　retreat　that　he　may　pursue。　You　are　to　make　for　the　signal；　the　seven　star　flags　by　day　or　the　seven　lamps　at　night。　Thus　you　will　lead　him　into　the　Gourd　Valley；　where　I　have　a　plan　prepared　for　him。〃
When　Wei　Yan　had　gone；　Gao　Xiang　was　summoned。
〃Take　small　herds；　forty　or　fifty　at　a　time；　of　the　wooden　oxen　and　running　horses；　load　them　up　with　grain　and　lead　them　to　and　fro　on　the　mountains。　If　you　can　succeed　in　getting　the　enemy　to　capture　them；　you　will　render　a　service。〃
So　the　transport　wooden　cattle　were　sent　forth　to　play　their　part　in　the　scheme；　and　the　remainder　of　the　Qishan　soldiers　were　sent　to　work　in　the　fields。
He　gave　orders　to　his　generals；　saying；　〃If　the　enemy　under　other　leaders　e　to　attack；　you　are　to　flee　the　field。　Only　in　the　case　Sima　Yi　es　in　person；　you　are　to　attack　most　vigorously　the　south　bank　of　the　river　and　cut　off　the　re