〃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 in force； our army will be surrounded and their water supply interrupted。 In two days the soldiers will be in a state of mutiny。 If Jieting shall be lost； how shall we be able to retire？〃
Here High Counselor Yang Yi said； 〃I am none too clever I know； but let me go to replace Ma Su。〃
Zhuge Liang explained to Yang Yi how and where to camp； but before he could start； a horseman brought the news of the loss of Jieting and Liliu。
This made Zhuge Liang very sad； and he sighed； saying； 〃The whole scheme has e to nought； and it is my fault。〃
Zhuge Liang sent for Guan Xing and Zhang Bao； and said； 〃Each of you takes three thousand of good soldiers and go along the road to Wugong Hills。 If you fall in with the enemy； do not fight； but beat drums and raise a hubbub and make them hesitate and be doubtful； so that they may retire。 Do not pursue； but when they retire； make for Yangping Pass。〃
He also sent Zhang Yi to put Saber Pass in order for retreat and issued instructions for making ready to march。 Ma Dai and Jiang Wei were told to guard the rear； but they were to go into ambush in the valleys till the whole army would have retreated。 Trusty messengers were sent with the news to Tianshui； Nanan； and Anding that the officers； army； and people might go away into Hanzhong。 He also sent to remove to a place of safety in Hanzhong the aged mother of Jiang Wei。
All these arrangements made； Zhuge Liang took five thousand troops and set out for Xicheng to remove the stores。
But messenger after messenger； more than ten of them； came to report： 〃Sima Yi is advancing rapidly on Xicheng with an army of one hundred fifty thousand troops。〃
No leader of rank was left to Zhuge Liang。 He had only the civil officials and the five thousand soldiers； and as half this force had started to remove the stores； he had only two thousand five hundred left。
His officers were all frightened at the news of near approach of the enemy。 Zhuge Liang himself went up on the rampart to look around。 He saw clouds of dust rising into the sky。 The Wei armies were nearing Xicheng along two roads。
Then he gave orders： 〃All the banners are to be removed and concealed。 If any officer in mand of soldiers in the city moves or makes any noise； he will be instantly put to death。〃
Next he threw open all the gates and set twenty soldiers dressed as ordinary people cleaning the streets at each gate。 He told them not to react at the ing of the Wei army； as he had a plan ready for the city defense。
When all these preparations were plete； he donned the simple Taoist dress and； attended by a couple of lads； sat down on the wall by one of the towers with his lute before him and a stick of incense burning。
Sima Yi's scouts came near the city gate and saw all this。 They did not enter the city； but went back and reported what they had seen。 Sima Yi smiled incredulously。 But he halted his army and rode ahead himself。 Lo！ It was exactly as the scouts had reported： Zhuge Liang sat there； his face with all smiles as he played the lute。 A lad stood on one side of him bearing a treasured sword and on the other a boy with the ordinary symbol of authority； a yak's tail。 Just inside the gates a score of persons with their heads down were sweeping as if no one was about。
Sima Yi hardly believed his eyes and thought this meant some peculiarly subtle ruse。 So he went back to his armies； faced them about and moved toward the hills on the north。
〃I am certain there are no soldiers behind this foolery；〃 said Sima Zhao。 〃What do you retire for； Father？〃
Sima Yi replied； 〃Zhuge Liang is always most careful and runs no risks。 Those open gates undoubtedly mean an ambush。 If our force enter the city； they will fall victims to his guile。 How can you know？ No； our course is to retire。〃
Thus were the two armies turned back from the city； much to the joy of Zhuge Liang； who laughed and clapped his hands as he saw them hastening away。
The officials gasped with astonishment； and they asked； 〃Sima Yi is a famous general of Wei； and he was leading one hundred fifty troops。 By what reason did he march off at the sight of you； O Prime Minister？〃
Zhuge Liang said； 〃He knows my reputation for carefulness and that I play not with danger。 Seeing things as they were made him suspect an ambush； and so he turned away。 I do not run risks； but this time there was no help for it。 Now he will meet with Guan Xing and Zhang Bao； whom I sent away into the hills to wait for him。〃
They were still in the grip of fear； but they praised the depth of insight of their chief and his mysterious schemes and unfathomable plans。
〃We should simply have run away；〃 said they。
〃What could we have done with two thousand five hundred soldiers even if we had run？ We should not have gone far before being caught；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Quite open lay the city to the foe；
But Zhuge Liang's lute of jasper wonders wrought；
It turned aside the legions' onward march
For both the leaders guessed the other's thought。
〃But if I had been in Sima Yi's place； I should not have turned away；〃 said Zhuge Liang； smiling and clapping his hands。
He gave orders that the people of the place should follow the army into Hanzhong； for Sima Yi would assuredly return。
They abandoned Xicheng and returned into Hanzhong。 In due course the officials and soldiers and people out of the three counties also came in。
It has been said that Sima Yi turned aside from the city。 He went to Wugong Hills。 Presently there came the sounds of a Shu army from behind the hills。
Sima Yi turned to his sons； saying； 〃If we do not retire； we shall yet somehow fall victims to this Zhuge Liang。〃
Then appeared a force advancing rapidly； the main banner displaying Tiger General of the Right Guard； Zhang Bao 。 The soldiers of Wei were seized with sudden panic and ran； flinging off their armors and throwing away their weapons。 But before they had fled very far； they heard other terrible sounds in the valley and soon saw another force； with the main banner Dragon General of the Left Guard； Guan Xing 。 The roar of armed troops echoing up and down the valley was terrifying。 As no one could tell how many men there were bearing down on them； the panic increased。 The Wei army abandoned all the baggage and took to flight。 But having orders not to pursue； Zhang Bao and Guan Xing let their enemies run in peace； while they gathered up the spoils。 Then they returned。
Seeing the valley apparently full of Shu soldiers； Sima Yi dared not marched by the main road。 He hurried back to Jieting。
At this time Cao Zhen； hearing that the army of Shu was retreating； went in pursuit。 But at a certain point he encountered a strong force under Ma Dai and Jiang Wei。 Valleys and hills seemed to swarm with enemies； and Cao Zhen became alarmed。 Then Chen Zao； his Van Leader； was slain by Ma Dai； and the soldiers were panic…stricken and fled in disorder。 And the soldiers of Shu were hastening night and day along the road into Hanzhong。
Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi； who had been lying in ambush in Gu Valley； heard that their rades were retreating。
Then said Zhao Yun； 〃The army of Wei will surely e to smite us while we are retreating。 Wherefore let me first take up a position in their rear； and then you lead off your troops and part of mine； showing my ensigns。 I will follow； keeping at the same distance behind you； and thus I shall be able to protect the retreat。〃
Now Guo Huai was leading his army through the Gu Valley。
He called up his Van Leader； Su Yong； and said to him； 〃Zhao Yun is a warrior whom no one can withstand。 You must keep a most careful guard lest you fall into some trap while they are retreating。〃
Su Yong replied； smiling； 〃If you will help me； O mander； we shall be able to capture this Zhao Yun。〃
So Su Yong； with three thousand troops； hastened on ahead and entered the valley in the wake of the Shu army。 He saw upon a slope in the distance a large red banner bearing the name Zhao Yun of Changshan 。 This frightened him； and he retired。
But before he had gone far a great uproar arose about him； and a mighty warrior came bounding forth on a swift steed； crying； 〃Do you recognize Zhao Yun？〃
Su Yong was terrified。
〃Whence came you？〃 he cried。 〃Is there another Zhao Yun here？〃
But Su Yong could make no stand； and soon fell victim to the spear of the veteran。 His troops scattered； and Zhao Yun marched on after the main body。
But soon another pany came in pursuit； this time led by a general of Guo Huai； named Wan Zheng。 As they came along Zhao Yun halted in the middle of the road to wait for the enemy。 By the time Wan Zheng had e close； the other Shu soldiers had gone about ten miles along the road。 However； when Wan Zheng drew nearer still and saw who it was standing in his path； he hesitated and finally halted。 Zhao Yun guarded the road until the sunset； when he he turned back and retired slowly。
Guo Huai and his army came up and met Wan Zheng； who said； 〃Zhao Yun is as terrible as ever。 He guards the rear carefully； and I dare not be reckless。〃
However； Guo Huai was not content and ordered Wan Zheng to return to the pursuit of the retreating army。 This time Wan Zheng led a pany of several hundred horsemen。
Presently they came to a wood； and； as they entered； a loud shout arose in the rear； 〃Zhao Yun is here！〃
Terror seized upon the pursuers； and many fell from their horses。 The others scattered among the hills。 Wan Zheng braced himself for the encounter and went on。 Zhao Yun shot an arrow which struck the plume on his helmet。 Startled； Wan Zheng tumbled into a water stream。
Then Zhao Yun pointed his spear at him and said； 〃Be off！ I will not kill you。 Go and tell Guo Huai to e quickly； if he is ing。〃
Wan Zheng fled for his life； while Zhao Yun continued his march as rear guard； and the retreat into Hanzhong steadily continued。 There were no other episodes by the way。
Cao Zhen and Guo Huai took to themselves all the credit of having recovered the three counties………Nanan； Tianshui； and Anding。
Before the cautious Sima Yi was ready to pursue the army of Shu； it had already reached Hanzhong。 He took a troop of horse and rode to Xicheng and there heard from the few people who had formerly sought refuge in the hills； and now returned； that Zhuge Liang really had had no men in the city； with the exception of the two thousand five hundred soldiers； that he had not a single military mander； but only a few civil officers。 Sima Yi also heard that Guan Xing and Zhang Bao had had only a few troops whom they led about among the hills making as much noise as they could。
Sima Yi felt sad at having been tricked。
〃Zhuge Liang is a cleverer man than I am；〃 said he with a sigh of resignation。
He set about restoring order； and presently marched back to Changan。
He saw the Ruler of Wei； who was pleased with his success and said； 〃It is by your good service that all counties of West Valley Land is again mine。〃
Sima Yi replied； 〃But the army of Shu is in Hanzhong undestroyed。 Therefore； I pray for authority to go against them that you may recover the West River Land also。〃
Cao Rui rejoiced and approved； and authorized the raising of an army。
But then one of the courtiers suddenly said； 〃Your servant can pro