Wang Ping replied； 〃Though they might not dare to e； we should set our camp at this meeting of many roads。〃
So Wang Ping ordered his soldiers to fell trees and build a strong stockade as for a permanent stay。
But Ma Su had a different idea。
〃What sort of a place is a road to make a camp in？ Here is a hill standing solitary and well wooded。 It is a heaven…created point of vantage； and we will camp on it。〃
〃You are wrong； Counselor；〃 replied Wang Ping。 〃If we camp on the road and build a strong wall； the enemy cannot possibly get past。 If we abandon this for the hill； and the troops of Wei e in force； we shall be surrounded； and how then be safe？〃
〃You look at the thing like a child；〃 said Ma Su； laughing。 〃The rules of war say that when one looks down from a superior position； one can overe the enemy as easily as cleaving bamboo。 If they e； I will see to it that not a breastplate ever goes back again。〃
〃I have followed our mander…in…Chief in many campaigns； and always has he explained in details about the topography and given out well…thought orders。 Now I have studied this hill carefully； and it is a critical spot。 If we camp thereon and the enemy cut off our water supply； we shall have a mutiny。〃
〃No such thing！〃 said Ma Su。 〃Sun Zi says that victory lies in desperate positions。 If they cut off our water； will not our soldiers be desperate and fight to the death？ Then everyone of them will be worth a hundred。 I have studied the books； and the Prime Minister has always asked my advice。 Why do you presume to oppose me？〃
〃If you are determined to camp on the hill； then give me part of the force to camp there on the west so that I can support you in case the enemy e。〃
But Ma Su refused。 Just then a lot of the inhabitants of the hills came running along saying that the Wei soldiers had e。
Wang Ping was still bent on going his own way； and so Ma Su said to him； 〃Since you will not obey me； I will give you five thousand troops and you can go and make your own camp。 But when I report my success to the Prime Minister； you shall have no share of the merit。〃
Wang Ping marched about three miles from the hill and made his camp。 He drew a plan of the place and sent it quickly to Zhuge Liang with a report that Ma Su had camped on the hill。
While Sima Yi was marching toward Jieting； he sent his younger son to reconnoiter the road and to find out whether it had a garrison。
Said Sima Yi； 〃If there is a garrison； do not advance further。〃
Sima Zhao returned to report： 〃Jieting has already been occupied by Shu。〃
〃Zhuge Liang is rather more than human；〃 said his father regretfully when Sima Zhao gave in his report。 〃He is too much for me。〃
〃Why are you despondent； Father？ I think Jieting is not so difficult to take。〃
〃How dare you utter such bold words？〃
〃Because I have seen。 There is no camp on the road； but the enemy are camped on the hill。〃
This was glad news。
〃If they are on the hill； then Heaven means a victory for me；〃 said his father。
At night Sima Yi changed into another dress； took a small escort； and rode out to see for himself。 The moon shone brilliantly； and he rode to the hill whereon was the camp and looked all round it； thoroughly reconnoitering the neighborhood。 Ma Su saw him； but only laughed。
〃If Sima Yi has any luck； he will not try to surround this hill；〃 said he。
Ma Su issued an order to his generals： 〃In case the enemy e； you are to look to the summit for a signal with a red flag； when you shall rush down on all sides。〃
Sima Yi returned to his camp and sent out to inquire who manded in Jieting。
They told him； 〃He is Ma Su； brother of Ma Liang。〃
〃A man of false reputation and very ordinary ability；〃 said Sima Yi。 〃If Zhuge Liang uses such as Ma Su； he will fail。〃
Then he asked； 〃Are there any other camps near the place？〃
And they reported； 〃Wang Ping's camp is about three miles off。〃
Wherefore Zhang He was ordered to go and check Wang Ping from ing to rescue。 Zhang He marched out and placed himself between Wang Ping and the hill。
This done； Sima Yi ordered Shen Yi and Shen Dan to surround the hill and to block the road to the water supply。 Lack of water would cause a mutiny； and when that occurred； it would be time to attack。
Then Sima Yi led the main body to attack the hill on all sides。
From the summit of his hill； Ma Su could see the banners of his enemy all round； and the country about was full of soldiers。 Presently the hemming in was plete； and the soldiers of Shu became dejected。 They dared not descend to attack although Ma Su hoisted the red flag signaling for them to move。 The generals stood huddled together； no one daring to go first。 Ma Su was furious。 He cut down two generals； which frightened the others to the point of descending and making one desperate rush。 But the troops of Wei would stand firm against their attack； and they reascended the hill。
Ma Su saw that matters were going ill； so he issued orders to bar the gates and defend till help should e from outside。
When Wang Ping saw the hill surrounded； he started to go to the rescue； but Zhang He checked him； and after exchanging some ten encounters Wang Ping was pelled to retire whence he had e。
The Wei troops kept a close siege。 The Shu soldiers in the hill camp； having no water； were unable to prepare food； and disorder broke out。 The shouting was audible at the foot of the hill and went on far into the night。 The soldiers on the south side got out of hand； opened the gates and surrendered。 The men of Wei went round the hill setting fire to the wood； which led to still greater confusion in the beleaguered garrison。 At last Ma Su decided to make a dash for safety toward the west。
Sima Yi allowed him to pass； but Zhang He was sent to pursue and chased him for ten miles。 But then there came an unexpected roll of drums。 Zhang He was stopped by Wei Yan while Ma Su got past。 Whirling up his sword； Wei Yan dashed toward Zhang He； who retired within his ranks and fled。 Wei Yan followed and drove Zhang He backward toward Jieting。
The pursuit continued for fifteen miles； and then Wei Yan found himself in an ambush； Sima Yi on one side and Sima Zhao on the other。 They went around the hill and closed in behind Wei Yan； and he was surrounded。 Zhang He then turned back； and the attack was now on three sides。 Wei Yan lost many troops； and all his efforts failed to get him clear of the press。 Then help appeared in the person of Wang Ping。
〃This is life for me；〃 said Wei Yan as he saw Wang Ping ing up； and the two forces joined in a new attack on the force of Wei。 So the troops of Wei drew off； while Wei Yan and Wang Ping made all haste back to their own camp in Jieting………only to find them in the hands of the enemy。
Shen Yi and Shen Dan then rushed out and drove Wei Yan and Wang Ping to Liliu。
About that time Gao Xiang got news of the attack on Jieting； and he marched out his army from Liliu to the rescue。 But halfway he fell in with Wei Yan and Wang Ping。
When Gao Xiang heard their story； he at once proposed a night attack on the Wei camp and the recovery of Jieting。 They talked this over on the hillside and arranged their plans； after which they set themselves to wait till it was dark enough to start。
They set out along three roads。 Wei Yan was the first to reach Jieting。 Not a soldier was visible； which looked suspicious。 He decided to await the arrival of Gao Xiang； and they both speculated as to the whereabouts of their enemy。 They could find no trace； and the third army under Wang Ping had not yet e up。
Suddenly a bomb exploded； and a brilliant flash lit up the sky； drums rolled as though the earth was rending； and the enemy appeared。 In a trice the armies of Shu found themselves hemmed in。 Both Wei Yan and Gao Xiang pushed here and shoved there； but could find no way out。 Then most opportunely from behind a hill rolled out a thunder of drums； and there was Wang Ping ing to their rescue。 Then the three forced their way to Liliu。 But just as they drew near to the city； another body of soldiers came up； which； from the writing on their flags； they read Wei mander Guo Huai 。
Now Guo Huai had talked over Sima Yi's recall with his colleague Cao Zhen； and； fearing lest the recalled general should acquire too great glory； Guo Huai had set out to anticipate him in the capture of Jieting。 Disappointed when he heard of Sima Yi's success there； he had decided to try a similar exploit at Liliu。 So he had diverted his march thither。
He engaged the three Shu armies at once and slew many of them。 Wei Yan feared the Wei army might pour into Hanzhong； so Wang Ping； Gao Xiang； and Wei Yan rushed to Yangping Pass and mustered its defense。
Guo Huai； pleased with his success； gathered in his army after the victory and said to his officers； 〃I was disappointed at Jieting； but we have taken this place； and that is merit of high order。〃
Thereupon he proceeded to the city gates。 Just as he arrived； a bomb exploded on the wall； and； looking up； he saw the rampart bedecked with flags。 On the largest banner he read the characters Sima Yi； General Who Pacifies the West 。 At that moment Sima Yi himself lifted a board that hung in front of him and looked over the breast…high rail。
He looked down and smiled； saying； 〃How late you are； friend Guo Huai！〃
Guo Huai was amazed。 〃He is too much for me；〃 said he。
So Guo Huai resignedly entered the city and went to pay his respects to his successful rival。
Sima Yi was gracious； and said； 〃Zhuge Liang must retire now that Jieting is lost。 You join forces with Cao Zhen and follow up quickly。〃
Guo Huai agreed and took his leave。
Sima Yi called to him Zhang He； and said； 〃Cao Zhen and Guo Huai thought we should win too great merit； so they tried to get ahead of us here。 We are not the only ones who desire to achieve good service and acquire merit； but we had the good fortune to succeed。 I thought Wei Yan； Ma Su； Wang Ping； and Gao Xiang would first try to occupy Yangping Pass。 If I went to take it； then Zhuge Liang would fall on our rear。 It says in the books on war that one should crush a retreating enemy； not pursue broken rebels。 So you may go along the by…roads and smite those withdrawing down the Gu Valley； while I oppose the Xie Valley army。 If they flee； do not press them too much； but just hold them up on the road and capture the baggage train。〃
Zhang He marched away with half the force to carry out his part of this plan。
Then Sima Yi gave orders： 〃We are going to the Xie Valley by way of Xicheng。 Though Xicheng is a small place； it is important as a depot of stores for the Shu army； beside manding the road to the three counties of Nanan； Tianshui； and Anding。 If this place can be captured； the other three can be recaptured。〃
Sima Yi left Shen Yi and Shen Dan to guard Liliu and marched his army toward the Xie Valley。
After Zhuge Liang had sent Ma Su to guard Jieting； his mind was constantly disturbed。 Then arrived the messenger with the topography and plan prepared by Wang Ping。 Zhuge Liang went over to his table and opened the letter。 As he read it he smote the table in wrath。
〃Ma Su's foolishness has destroyed the army！〃 he cried。
〃Why are you so disturbed； O Prime Minister？〃 asked those near。
〃By this plan I see that we have lost mand of an important road。 The camp has been made on the hill。 If the Wei army e i