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ettle　that　county。〃
Then　said　Zhang　Yi；　〃Procrastination　and　delay　have　been　hitherto　the　causes　of　our　failure。　We　ought　to　obey　the　precepts　of　the　books　of　war；　strike　where　the　enemy　is　unprepared　and　appear　where　he　does　not　expect　us。　A　rapid　march　and　a　sudden　blow　will　find　Wei　unready；　and　we　shall　succeed。〃
So　Jiang　Wei　led　an　army　of　fifty　thousand　troops　out　by　Baohan。　When　he　reached　River　Yao；　the　spies　reported　his　arrival　to　Wang　Jing；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yongzhou；　who　led　out　seventy　thousand　troops　against　him。　Jiang　Wei　gave　certain　orders　to　Zhang　Yi　and　Xiahou　Ba；　and　after　they　had　marched；　he　drew　up　the　main　body　by　River　Yao。
Wang　Jing　rode　out　to　parley。
〃Wu；　Shu；　and　Wei　are　now　actually　established　as　a　tripod。　Why　then　have　you　invaded　our　borders　these　many　times？〃
Jiang　Wei　replied；　〃Because　Sima　Shi　deposed　his　prince　without　cause；　and　it　behooves　the　neighboring　countries　to　punish　such　a　crime。　Moreover；　your　country　is　a　rival　state。〃
Then　Wang　Jing　turned　and　said　to　four　of　his　generals；　Zhang　Ming；　Hua　Yong；　Liu　Dan；　and　Zhu　Fang；　〃You　see　that　the　enemy　is　drawn　up　with　a　river　at　his　back；　so　that　his　troops　must　conquer　or　drown。　Though　Jiang　Wei　is　bold；　you　four　can　fight　him　at　the　same　time　and　pursue　if　he　retires。〃
The　four　rode　out　two　and　two。　Jiang　Wei　stood　through　a　few　encounters；　but　then　moved　backward　toward　his　camp。　At　this；　Wang　Jing　led　on　his　main　body　to　smite。　Jiang　Wei　fled　toward　the　river。
As　he　drew　near　he　shouted；　〃Danger；　O　Generals！　Now　do　your　utmost！〃
His　generals　turned　on　the　foe　and　fought　with　such　vigor　that　the　Wei　army　was　defeated；　and；　as　they　turned　away；　Zhang　Yi　and　Xiahou　Ba　fell　upon　their　rear。　Soon　the　Wei　army　was　hemmed　in；　and　Jiang　Wei　rushed　in　among　the　host　of　Wei　and　threw　them　into　utter　confusion。　They　trod　each　other　down　in　the　press；　and　many　fell　into　the　river。　Dead　bodies　lay　about　over　several　miles。
Wang　Jing　and　a　hundred　horsemen　forced　their　way　out　and　fled　to　Didao；　where　they　entered　within　the　walls　and　barred　the　gates。
After　Jiang　Wei　had　rewarded　and　feasted　his　army；　he　was　for　attacking　Didao；　but　Zhang　Yi　was　against　this。
〃General；　you　have　won　a　great　victory；　which　will　bring　you　fame。　If　you　attempt　more；　things　may　go　astray；　and　you　will　only　add　legs　to　your　sketch　of　a　serpent。〃
Said　Jiang　Wei；　〃When　our　army　were　defeated　not　long　ago；　they　still　desired　to　overrun　the　whole　north。　Now　our　opponents　have　been　overe；　and　that　has　broken　the　spirit　of　their　army；　and　this　city　can　be　easily　captured。　Do　not　damp　the　spirit　of　the　soldiers。〃
So　it　was　decided　to　attack　Didao　despite　further　remonstrances　of　Zhang　Yi。
Chen　Tai；　General　Who　Conquers　the　West　and　mander　of　Yongzhou；　was　just　about　to　set　out　to　avenge　the　defeat　of　Wang　Jing　when　Deng　Ai；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou；　arrived　with　his　army。　Chen　Tai　weled　him；　and　when　Deng　Ai　had　said　he　had　e　by　imperial　edict　to　assist　to　defeat　the　army　of　Shu；　Chen　Tai　asked　his　plans。
Deng　Ai　replied；　〃They　are　victors　on　River　Yao。　If　they　enlist　the　aid　of　the　Qiangs　to　cause　a　diversion　in　the　West　Valley　Land　and　the　Land　Within　the　Passes　and　also　obtain　the　support　of　the　four　counties；　it　will　be　a　misfortune　for　us。　If　they　do　not　think　of　that；　but　try　to　take　Didao；　they　will　only　fritter　away　their　energies　against　a　place　too　strongly　fortified　for　them　to　capture。　Let　us　now　array　our　force　along　the　Xiangling　Mountain；　and　then　we　can　advance　and　smite　them。　We　shall　get　a　victory。〃
〃That　is　well　said！〃　cried　Chen　Tai。
Then　twenty　cohorts　of　fifty　soldiers　each　were　told　off　to　find　their　way　secretly　to　the　southeast　of　Didao　and　there　hide　in　the　valleys。　They　were　then　to　display　many　ensigns　and　sound　trumpets　as　if　they　were　a　very　large　force；　and　make　huge　fires　at　night；　so　as　to　cause　anxiety　among　the　enemy。　And　thus　they　waited　for　the　troops　of　Shu　to　e；　while　Chen　Tai　and　Deng　Ai　marched　with　forty　thousand　troops　against　the　Shu　army。
The　army　of　Shu　had　marched　to　Didao　and　begun　the　siege　around　the　whole　circuit　of　the　walls。　At　the　end　of　many　days　the　fall　of　the　city　seemed　no　nearer；　and　Jiang　Wei　began　to　fret。　He　could　think　of　no　plan　likely　to　succeed。
One　eventide　a　horseman　came　in　to　report：　〃Two　armies　are　approaching　rapidly；　and　the　names　on　the　banners　were　General　Who　Conquers　the　West　Chen　Tai　and　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou　Deng　Ai　。〃
Jiang　Wei　called　in　his　colleague　Xiahou　Ba；　who　said；　〃I　have　spoken　to　you　of　Deng　Ai　many　times。　He　is　perspicacious；　valiant；　resourceful；　and　has　always　delighted　in　the　study　of　military　topography。　As　he　is　ing；　we　shall　have　to　put　forth　all　our　energies。〃
Jiang　Wei　replied；　〃We　will　attack　before　he　can　get　a　foothold　and　while　his　soldiers　are　fatigued　with　the　march。〃
So　Zhang　Yi　was　left　to　carry　on　the　siege　while　the　two　leaders　went　out　to　meet　the　new　armies。　Jiang　Wei　went　against　Deng　Ai；　and　Xiahou　Ba　against　Chen　Tai。
Before　Jiang　Wei　had　marched　far；　the　stillness　was　broken　by　the　roar　of　a　bomb；　and　at　once　all　about　the　Shu　army　arose　the　rolling　of　drums　and　the　blare　of　trumpets；　soon　followed　by　flames　that　shot　up　to　the　very　sky。　Jiang　Wei　rode　to　the　front　and　saw　the　ensigns　of　Wei　all　about　him。
〃I　have　fallen　into　a　trap　set　by　Deng　Ai！〃　cried　he。
He　sent　orders　to　Xiahou　Ba　and　Zhang　Yi　to　withdraw　immediately　while　he　would　cover　their　retreat。　When　they　had　retired；　he　followed　them　into　Hanzhong；　harassed　all　along　the　road　by　the　sounds　of　marching　soldiers　and　glimpses　of　enemy　banners。　But　these　enemies　never　attacked。　It　was　only　after　the　army　had　retreated　to　Saber　Pass　that　Jiang　Wei　knew　all　this　was　make…believe。
He　camped　in　Zhongti。　For　his　services　and　success　on　River　Yao；　Jiang　Wei　was　rewarded　with　the　rank　of　Regent　Marshal。　As　soon　as　the　ceremonies　connected　with　his　promotion　were　ended；　he　began　again　to　talk　of　an　expedition　against　Wei。

Remember　enough　is　as　good　as　a　feast；
Having　sketched　a　good　snake　don't　add　legs　to　the　beast；
And　in　fighting　remember　that　others　are　bold；
And　tigers　have　claws　though　their　teeth　may　be　old。

The　result　of　the　new　expedition　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　111　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　111
　Chapter　111
Deng　Ai　Outwits　Jiang　Wei；
Zhuge　Dan　Battles　Sima　Zhao。
Jiang　Wei　camped　at　Zhongti。　The　army　of　Wei　camped　outside　Didao。　Wang　Jing　weled　Chen　Tai　and　Deng　Ai　and　prepared　a　banquet　to　celebrate　the　raising　of　the　siege　and　also　rewarded　the　army　with　gifts。　Then　Chen　Tai　sent　up　a　memorial　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　Cao　Mao；　eulogizing　the　magnificent　services　of　Deng　Ai；　who　was　rewarded　with　the　title　General　Who　Pacifies　the　West。　For　the　time；　Deng　Ai　was　left　in　the　west。　He　and　Chen　Tai　placed　their　men　in　cantonments　in　Yongzhou；　Liangzhou；　and　the　counties　round　about。
After　Deng　Ai　had　rendered　his　thanks　to　the　Emperor；　Chen　Tai　spread　a　great　feast　in　his　honor；　and　in　congratulating　his　guest；　said；　〃Jiang　Wei　slipped　off　in　the　night　because　he　was　broken；　and　he　will　never　dare　to　return。〃
〃I　think　he　will；〃　replied　Deng　Ai；　smiling。　〃I　can　give　five　reasons　why　he　should。〃
〃What　are　they？〃
〃First；　although　the　soldiers　of　Shu　have　retired；　they　have　the　self…possessed　and　confident　look　of　holding　the　victory；　our　soldiers　are　really　weak　and　broken。　Second；　the　soldiers　of　Shu　were　trained　and　inspirited　by　Zhuge　Liang　and　are　easy　to　mobilize；　our　generals　are　all　of　different　periods　of　service；　and　our　army　indifferently　trained。　Third；　the　Shu　soldiers　often　use　boats　for　traveling；　and　so　they　move　at　leisure　and　the　troops　arrive　fresh；　ours　do　all　their　journeys　on　land；　and　they　arrive　fatigued　with　marching。　Fourth；　again；　Didao；　Longxi；　Nanan；　and　Qishan　are　all　places　suitable　for　defense　or　use　as　battle　fields；　and　thus　the　army　of　Shu　can　conceal　their　intentions　and　strike　where　they　will；　we　have　to　remain　on　guard　at　many　points；　thus　dividing　our　forces；　when　they　concentrate；　they　have　only　to　reckon　with　a　part　of　our　force。　And　fifth；　if　they　e　out　by　way　of　Longxi　and　Nanan；　they　have　the　grain　of　the　Qiangs　to　depend　upon；　and　if　they　choose　Qishan；　they　have　the　wheat　there。　These　are　the　five　reasons　why　they　should　make　another　expedition。〃
Chen　Tai　was　overe　with　the　clear　vision　of　his　new　colleague。
〃Sir；　your　foresight　is　godlike。　I　think　we　need　feel　no　anxiety　about　what　the　enemy　can　achieve。〃
The　two　leaders　became　the　best　of　friends　in　spite　of　the　difference　of　age。　Deng　Ai　spent　his　time　in　training　the　army；　and　garrisons　were　placed　at　all　points　where　surprise　attacks　seemed　possible。
There　was　feasting　also　at　Zhongti；　and　the　occasion　was　taken　to　discuss　a　new　attack　on　Wei。
But　Assistant　Fan　Jian　opposed。　〃General；　your　expeditions　have　partly　failed　many　times；　you　have　never　scored　a　plete　victory。　But　now　on　River　Yao　the　army　of　Wei　recognize　your　superiority；　and　why　should　you　try　again？　There　is　small　chance　of　success；　and　you　risk　all　you　have　gained。〃
Jiang　Wei　replied；　〃You　all　regard　only　the　largeness　and　population　of　Wei　and　the　time　necessary　for　conquest；　but　you　do　not　see　five　reasons　for　victory。〃
The　assembly　asked　what　these　were。
〃First；　the　fighting　spirit　of　the　soldiers　of　Wei　has　been　badly　broken　on　River　Yao；　while　that　of　our　soldiers；　although　we　retired；　is　unimpaired。　If　we　attack；　we　shall　certainly　succeed。　Second；　our　soldiers　can　travel　in　boats　and　so　will　not　be　wearied　with　marching；　their　soldiers　have　to　march　to　meet　us。　Third；　our　soldiers　are　thoroughly　trained；　theirs　are　recruits；　a　mere　flock　of　crows；　quite　undisciplined。　Fourth；　when　we　go　out　by　Qishan；　we　can　seize　upon　the　autumn　wheat　for　food。　Finally；　they　are　scattered；　having　to　defend　various　points；　while　we　can　concentrate　on　any　point　we　wish；　and　they　will　find　it　difficult　to　bring　up　reinforcements。　If　we　miss　this　chance；　can　we　hope　for　a　better？〃
Xiahou　Ba　said；　〃Deng　Ai　is　young；　but　he　is　deep　and　crafty。　He　has　certainly　taken　great　pains　to　secure　the　regions　under　his　charge　as　General　Who　Pacifies　the　West。　Victory　will　not　be　so　easy　as　it　was　before。〃
〃Why　should　I　fear　him？〃　cried　Jiang　Wei；　angrily。　〃You　should　not　laud　the　spirit　of　the　enemy　and　belittle　that　of　our　own　soldiers。　But　in　any　case　I　have　made　up　my　mind　and　shall　take　West　Valley　Land。〃
No　one　dared　to　offer　any　further　opposition。　Jiang　Wei　himself　led　the　first　army；　the　others　followed　in　due　order；　and　thus　the　soldiers　of　Shu　marched　out　of　Zhongti　to　Qishan。
Before　they　could　reach　Qishan；　the　scouts　reported　the　hills　already　occupied　by　the　armies　of　Wei。　Jiang　Wei　rode　forward　to　verify　this；　and；　surely　enough；　he　saw　the　Wei　camps；　nine　in　number；　stretching　over　the　hills　like　a　huge　serpent；　and　all　arranged　to　give　each　other　support。
〃Xiahou　Ba　spoke　only　too　well；〃　said　he。　〃The　plan　of　those　camps　is　excellent　and　only　our　Zhuge　Liang　could　have　laid　them　out　with　equal　skill。〃
Returning　to　his　own　army；　he　said　to　his　officers；　〃They　must　have　known　of　my　ing；　and　I　think　Deng　Ai　is　here　too。　Now　from　this　as　base　you　are　to　send　out　daily　small　reconnoitering　parties　showing　my　banner；　but　different　flags　and　uniforms；　blue；　yellow；　red；　white；　and　black；　in　turns。　While　you　are　thus　distracting　attention；　I　will　lead　the　main　army　by　Dongting　to　attack　Nanan。〃
Bao　Su　was　sent　to　camp　at　the　mouth　of　the　Qishan　Mountains　Valley　while　the　main　army　marched。
As　soon　as　Deng　Ai　had　heard　that　the　enemy　would　e　out　at　Qishan；　he　had　camped　there　with　his　colleague　Chen　Tai。　But　when　days　had　passed　without　anyone　ing　to　fling　a　challenge；　he　sent　out　spies　to　find　out　where　the　Shu　army　was　lurking。　They　could　find　nothing；　and　so　Deng　Ai　went　to　the　summit　of　a　hill　to　look　around。
He　came　to　the　conclusion；　saying；　〃Jiang　Wei　must　not　be　in　this　camp。　He　must　be　on　his　way　to　capture　Nanan。　Those　soldiers　in　the　Shu　camp　were　nothing　but　a　feint；　accentuated　by　the　daily　change　of　uniform。　Going　to　and　fro　for　days；　the　horses　look　tired；　and　their　leaders　are　certainly　none　of　the　ablest。　Therefore；　General；　I　advise　an　attack　here。　If　that　succeeds；　the　Dongting　road　can　be　occupied；　and　Jiang　Wei　will　be　u