proceed secretly into those mountains in front。 When you see that Zhang Yi and Wang Ping are in great straits with the enemy； then open the bag and you will find a plan of escape。〃
After this he gave secret instructions to four other generals………Hu Ban； Wu Yi； Ma Zheng； and Zhang Ni………to observe the enemy and； if the enemy seemed confident of victory； to retire； fighting at intervals； till they saw Guan Xing e up； when they could turn and fight their best。
Then calling Guan Xing； he said to them； 〃Hide in the valleys with five thousand troops till you see a red flag flutter out； and then fall on the enemy。〃
Zhang He and Dai Ling hurried along like a rain squall till they were suddenly confronted by Ma Zheng； Zhang Ni； Wu Yi； and Hu Ban。 Zhang He dashed toward his enemy； and then they retired； stopping at intervals to fight。 The Wei army pursued for about seven miles。
It was the sixth moon and very hot； so that soldiers and horses sweated profusely。 When they had gone ten miles farther； the soldiers and horses were panting and nearly spent。 Then Zhuge Liang； who had watched the fighting from a hill； gave the signal for Guan Xing to emerge and join battle。 Ma Zheng； Zhang Ni； Hu Ban； and Wu Yi all led on their troops。 Zhang He and Dai Ling fought well； but they could not extricate themselves and retire。
Presently； with a roll of drums； Wang Ping and Zhang Yi came out and made for the rear to cut the retreat。
〃Why do you not fight to death？〃 shouted Zhang He to his generals when he saw the new dangers。
The soldiers of Wei dashed this way and that； but were stayed at every attempt。 Then there was heard another roll of drums； and Sima Yi came up in the rear。 He at once signaled to his generals to surround Wang Ping and Zhang Yi。
〃Our minister is truly wonderful。 The battle goes just as he foretold；〃 cried Zhang Yi。 〃He will surely send help now； and we will fight to the death。〃
Thereupon the Shu force were divided into two parties。 Wang Ping led one army to hold up Zhang He and Dai Ling； Zhang Yi led the other division to oppose Sima Yi。 On both sides the fighting was keen and continued all the day。
From their station on a hill； Jiang Wei and Liao Hua watched the battle。 They saw that the Wei force was very strong and their side was in danger and slowly giving way。
〃Now surely is the moment to open the bag；〃 said Jiang Wei。
So the bag was opened； and they read the letter。 It said：
〃If Sima Yi es and Wang Ping and Zhang Yi seem hard pressed； you are to divide forces and go off to attack Sima Yi's camp； which will cause him to retire； and then you can attack him as his army is in disorder。 The actual capture of the camp is not of great moment。〃
So Jiang Wei and Liao Hua divided the force and started for the enemy's camp。
Now Sima Yi had really feared that he would fall victim to some ruse of Zhuge Liang； so he had arranged for messengers and news to meet him at intervals along the road。
Sima Yi was pressing his troops to fight when a messenger galloped up to report： 〃The soldiers of Shu are making for the main camp by two directions。〃
Sima Yi was frightened and changed color。 He turned on his generals； saying； 〃I knew Zhuge Liang would plan some trick； but you did not believe me。 You forced me to pursue； and now the whole scheme has gone astray。〃
Thereupon he gathered in his army and turned to retire。 The troops went hurriedly and got into disorder。 Zhang Yi came up behind； causing huge damage to the Wei army。 Zhang He and Dai Ling； having but few troops left； sought refuge among the hills。 The victory was to Shu； and Guan Xing came up helping in the rout wherever there appeared a chance to strike。
Sima Yi； defeated； hurried to the camp。 But when he reached it； the army of Shu had already left。 He gathered in his broken army and abused his generals as the cause of his failure。
〃You are all ignorant of the proper way to wage war； and think it simply a matter of valor and rude strength。 This is the result of your unbridled desire to go out and give battle。 For the future no one of you will move without definite orders； and I will apply strict military law to any who disobey。〃
They were all greatly ashamed and retired to their quarters。 In this fight the losses of Wei were very heavy； not only in soldiers； but in horses and weapons。
Zhuge Liang led his victorious army to their camp。 He intended to advance again； when a messenger arrived from Capital Chengdu with the sad news that Zhang Bao had died。 When they told Zhuge Liang he uttered a great cry； blood gushed from his mouth and he fell in a swoon。 He was raised and taken to his tent； but he was too ill to march and had to keep his bed。 His generals were much grieved。
A later poet sang：
Fierce and valiant was Zhang Bao；
Striving hard to make a name；
Sad the gods should interfere
And withhold a hero's fame！
Zhuge Liang wept his end
In the western winds blowing。
For he knew the warrior gone；
This grieving is beyond knowing。
Zhuge Liang's illness continued。 Ten days later he summoned to his tent Dong Jue and Fan Jian； and said； 〃I feel void and am too ill to carry on； and the best thing for me is to return into Hanzhong and get well。 You are to keep my absence perfectly secret； for Sima Yi will certainly attack if he hears。〃
Zhuge Liang issued orders to break up the camp that night； and the army retired into Hanzhong forthwith。 Sima Yi only heard of it five days later； and he knew that again he had been outwitted。
〃The man appears like a god and disappears like a demon。 He is too much for me；〃 sighed Sima Yi。
Sima Yi set certain generals over the camp and placed others to guard the manding positions； and he also marched homeward。
As soon as the Shu army was settled in Hanzhong； Zhuge Liang went to Chengdu for treatment。 The officials of all ranks came to greet him and escort him to his palace。 The Latter Ruler also came to inquire after his condition and sent his own physicians to treat him。 So gradually he recovered。
In Beginning Prosperity； eighth year and seventh month （AD 230）； Cao Zhen； the Grand mander in Wei； had recovered； and he sent a memorial to his master； saying；
〃Shu has invaded more than once and threatened Changan。 If this state be not destroyed； it will ultimately be our ruin。 The autumn coolness is now here。 The army is in good form； and it is the time most favorable for an attack on Shu。 I desire to take Sima Yi as colleague and march into Hanzhong to exterminate this wretched horde and free the borders from trouble。〃
Personally； the Ruler of Wei approved； but he consulted Liu Ye； saying； 〃Cao Zhen proposes an attack on Shu。 How about that？〃
Liu Ye replied； 〃The Grand mander speaks well。 If that state be not destroyed； it will be to our hurt。 Your Majesty should give effect to his desire。〃
The Ruler of Wei nodded。
When Liu Ye went home； a crowd of officers flocked to inquire； saying； 〃We heard the Emperor has consulted you about an expedition against Shu： What think you？〃
〃No such thing；〃 said Liu Ye。 〃Shu is too difficult a country to invade。 It would be a mere waste of humans and weapons。〃
They left him。 Then Yang Jin went into the Emperor and said； 〃It is said that yesterday Liu Ye advised Your Majesty to fall upon Shu。 Today when we talked with him； he said Shu could not be attacked。 This is treating Your Majesty with indignity； and you should issue a mand to punish him。〃
Wherefore Cao Rui called in Liu Ye and asked him to explain。
Liu Ye replied； 〃I have studied the details。 Shu cannot be attacked。〃
Cao Rui laughed。
In a short time Yang Jin left。
Then Liu Ye said； 〃Yesterday I advised Your Majesty to attack Shu。 That being a matter of state policy should be divulged to no person。 The essential of a military move is secrecy。〃
Then Cao Rui understood； and thereafter Liu Ye was held in greater consideration。
Ten days later Sima Yi came to court； and Cao Zhen's memorial was shown him。
Sima Yi replied； 〃The moment is opportune。 I do not think there is any danger from Wu。〃
Cao Zhen was created Minister of War； General Who Conquers the West； and mander…in…Chief of the Western Expedition； Sima Yi was made Grand mander； General Who Conquers the West； and was second in mand； and Liu Ye was made Instructor of the Army。 These three then left the court； and the army of four hundred thousand troops marched to Changan； intending to dash to Saber Pass and attack Hanzhong。 The army was joined by Guo Huai and Sun Li。
The defenders of Hanzhong brought the news to Zhuge Liang； then quite recovered and engaged in training his army and elaborating the 〃Eight Arrays〃。 All was in an efficient state and ready for an attack on Changan。
When Zhuge Liang heard of the intended attack； he called up Zhang Ni and Wang Ping and gave orders： 〃You are to lead one thousand troops to Chencang and garrison that road so as to check the Wei army。〃
The two replied； 〃It is said the Wei army numbers four hundred thousand； though they pretend to have eight hundred thousand。 But they are very numerous； and a thousand troops is a very small force to meet them。〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃I would give you more； but I fear to make it hard for the soldiers。 If there be a failure； I shall not hold you responsible。 I send you thus； you may be sure there is a meaning in it。 I observed the stars yesterday； and I see there will be a tremendous rain this month。 The army of Wei may consist of any number of legions； but they will be unable to penetrate into a mountainous country。 So there is no need to send a large force。 You will e to no harm； and I shall lead the main body into Hanzhong and rest for a month while the enemy retreats。 Then I shall smite them。 My strong army needs only one hundred thousand to defeat their worn four hundred thousand。 Do not say any more； but get off quickly。〃
This satisfied Wang Ping and Zhang Ni； and they left； while Zhuge Liang led the main body out toward Hanzhong。 Moreover； every station was ordered to lay in a stock of wood and straw and grain enough for a whole month's use； ready against the autumn rains。 A month's holiday was given； and food and clothing were issued in advance。 The expedition was postponed for the present。
When Cao Zhen and Sima Yi approached Chencang and entered the city； they could not find a single house。
They questioned some of the people near； who said； 〃Zhuge Liang had burned everything before he left。〃
Then Cao Zhen proposed to advance along the road； but Sima Yi opposed； saying that the stars foretold much rain。
〃I have watched the Heaven； and the stars' movement signals long rains。 If we get deep in a difficult country and are always victorious； it is all very well。 But if we lose； we shall not get out again。 Better remain in this city and build what shelter we can against the rains。〃
Cao Zhen followed his advice。 In the middle of the month the rain began； and came down in a deluge so that the surrounding country was three feet under water。 The equipment of the soldiers was soaked； and the soldiers themselves could get no place to sleep。 For a whole month the rain continued。 The horses could not be fed； and the soldiers grumbled incessantly。 They sent to Luoyang； and the Ruler of Wei himself ceremonially prayed for fine weather； but with no effect。
Minister Wang Su sent up a memorial：
〃The histories say that when