n West Valley Land for his supply。 You get sufficient troops to hold Qishan； while Guo Huai and I go to Tianshui and foil the enemy's plan to gather the wheat。〃
So Zhang He took forty thousand troops to hold Qishan； and Sima Yi set out westwards to the West Valley Land。
When Zhuge Liang reached Qishan and had settled his army in camp； he saw that the bank of River Wei had been fortified by his enemy。
〃That must be the work of Sima Yi；〃 remarked Zhuge Liang to his generals。 〃But we have not enough food in camp。 I have written to Li Yan to send grain； but it has not yet arrived。 The wheat in West Valley Land is now just ripe； and we will go and reap it。〃
Leaving Wang Ping； Zhang Ni； Hu Ban； and Wu Yi to guard for the camps； Zhuge Liang； with Wei Yan； Jiang Wei； and several other generals； went over to Lucheng。 The Governor of that city knew he could not offer any real defense； so he opened the gates and yielded。
After calming the people； Zhuge Liang asked； 〃Where is the ripe wheat to be found？〃
The Governor replied； 〃Longshang is the place。〃
So Zhang Yi and Ma Zheng were left to guard the city； and the remainder of the army went to Longshang。
But soon the leading body returned to say； 〃Sima Yi has already occupied that city。〃
〃He guessed what I intended to do！〃 said Zhuge Liang； taken aback。
Zhuge Liang then retired； bathed and put on another dress。 Next he bade them bring out three four…wheeled chariots； all exactly alike； that were among the impedimenta of the army。 They had been built in Shu some time before。
Jiang Wei was told off to lead a thousand troops as escort for one chariot； and five hundred drummers were appointed to acpany it。 The chariot with its escort and drummers was sent away behind the city。 In like manner two other chariots were equipped and sent east and west of the city under Ma Dai and Wei Yan。 Each chariot was propelled by a team of twenty…four men； all dressed in black； barefooted and with loosened hair。 Each one of the team also had in hand a sword and a black seven…starred flag。
While the chariots were taking up their positions； thirty thousand soldiers were ordered to prepare wagons and sickles to cut and carry away the grain。
Next Zhuge Liang selected twenty…four good soldiers； whom he dressed and armed like those sent away with the three chariots。 These were to push his own chariot。 Guan Xing was told to dress up as the God of Clouds and to walk in front of Zhuge Liang's chariot holding a black seven…starred flag。 These preparations plete； Zhuge Liang mounted； and the chariot took the road toward the Wei camp。
The appearance of a chariot with such attendants more than startled the enemy's scouts； who did not know whether the apparition was that of a human or a demon。 They hastened to their mander and told him。
Sima Yi came out himself and saw the cavalcade； and its central figure being Zhuge Liang； dressed as a Taoist mystic； with headdress； white robe； and a feather fan。 Around the chariot were twenty…four hair…loosened beings； each with a sword in hand； and leading was a being as a heaven…sent god with the seven…starred flag。
〃Some of Zhuge Liang's odd doings；〃 said he。
And Sima Yi ordered two thousand troops； saying； 〃Chase as fast as you can； and bring in the chariot； escort； and the seated figure。〃
The soldiers went out to do their bidding。 But as soon as they appeared； the chariot retired and took a road leading to the Shu camp。 Although the Wei soldiers were mounted； they could not e up with the cavalcade。 What they did meet with was a chilly breeze and a cold mist that rolled about them。
They found it uncanny and halted； saying one to another； 〃How extraordinary it is that we have been pressing on and yet we got no nearer。 What does it mean？〃
When Zhuge Liang saw that the pursuit had ceased； he had his chariot pushed out again to the front and passed within sight of the halted troops。 At first they hesitated； but presently took up the pursuit once more。 Whereupon the chariot again retired； proceeding slowly； but always keeping out of reach。 And thus more than seven miles were covered and the chariot was still not captured。
Again the soldiers halted； puzzled and perplexed at this inprehensible chase。 But as soon as they stopped； the chariot came again toward them and they retook pursuit。
Sima Yi now came up with a strong force。 But he also halted； and said to his generals； 〃This Zhuge Liang is a master in the arts of necromancy and juggling and Eight Gates and knows how to call up the Deities of Six Layers to his aid。 I know this trick of his： It is the 'Ground Rolling' in the 'Book of Six Layers Deities'； and it is vain to pursue。〃
So they ceased following。 But then a roll of drums came from the left side as if a body of troops were approaching。 Sima Yi told off some panies to repel them； but there only came into view a small force； and in their midst was a party of men dressed in black； the exact counterpart of the cavalcade he had first sent to pursue。 In the chariot sat another Zhuge Liang just like the one that had just disappeared。
〃But just now he was sitting in that other chariot； which we chased for fifteen miles。 How can he be here？〃 said Sima Yi。
Shortly after they heard another roll of the drums； and as the sound died away there appeared another body of men； with a chariot in the midst； exactly like the last and also carrying a sitting figure of Zhuge Liang。
〃They must be heaven…sent soldiers；〃 said Sima Yi。
The soldiers were now feeling the strain of these weird appearances and began to get out of hand。 They dared not stay to fight such beings； and some ran away。 But before they had gone far； lo！ another roll of drums； another cohort and another chariot with a similar figure seated therein。
The soldiers of Wei were now thoroughly frightened； and even Sima Yi himself began to feel doubtful whether these appearances should be ascribed to humans or devils。 He realized； however； that he was in the midst of dangers as he did not know the number of the Shu soldiers； and he and his troops ran away helter…skelter； never stopping till they reached Shanggui。 They entered the city and closed the gates。
Having thus driven off the Wei soldiers； Zhuge Liang proceeded to reap and gather the wheat in Longshang； which was carried into Lucheng and laid out to dry。
Sima Yi remained shut up within the walls for three days。 Then； as he saw his enemies retiring； he sent out some scouts； who presently returned with a Shu soldier they had captured。 The prisoner was questioned。
〃I was of the reaping party；〃 said the man。 〃They caught me when I was looking for some horses that had strayed。〃
〃What wonderful soldiers were they of yours that one saw here lately？〃 asked Sima Yi。
The man replied； 〃Zhuge Liang was with one party of them； the others were led by Jiang Wei； Ma Dai； and Wei Yan。 There was a thousand of fighting soldiers with each chariot and five hundred drummers。 Zhuge Liang was with the first party。〃
〃His ings and goings are not human；〃 said Sima Yi sadly。
Then Guo Huai came； and he was called to a council。
Said Guo Huai； 〃I hear the soldiers of Shu in Lucheng are very few； and they are occupied with gathering the grain。 Why not smite them？〃
Sima Yi told him his last experience of his opponent's wiles。
〃He threw dust in your eyes that time；〃 said Guo Huai with a smile。 〃However； now you know。 What is the good of more talk？ Let me attack the rear； while you lead against the front； and we shall take the city and Zhuge Liang too。〃
An attack was decided upon。
In Lucheng； while the soldiers were still busy with the wheat； Zhuge Liang called up his generals； and said； 〃The enemy will attack tonight。 There is a suitable place for an ambush in the newly reaped fields； but who will lead for me？〃
Four generals………Jiang Wei； Wei Yan； Ma Dai； and Ma Zheng………offered themselves； and he posted them； each with two thousand troops； outside the four corners of the city。 They were to await the signal and then converge。 When these had gone； Zhuge Liang led out a small party of one hundred soldiers and hid in the newly reaped fields。
In the meantime Sima Yi was drawing near。 It was dusk when he stood beneath the walls of Lucheng。
Said he to his officers； 〃If we attacked by daylight； we should find the city well prepared。 So we will take advantage of the darkness。 The moat is shallow here； and there shall be no difficulty in crossing it。〃
The troops bivouacked till the time should e to attack。 About the middle of the first watch Guo Huai arrived； and his force joined up with the others。 This done； the drums began to beat； and the city was quickly surrounded。 However； the defenders maintained such a heavy discharge of arrows； bolts and stones from the walls that the besiegers dared not close in。
Suddenly from the midst of the Wei army came the roar of a bomb； soon followed by others from different places。 The soldiers were startled； but no one could say whence the sounds had proceeded。 Guo Huai went to search the wheat fields； and then the four armies from the corners of the city converged upon the Wei army。 At the same time the defenders burst out of the city gates； and a great battle began。 Wei lost many troops。
After heavy fighting Sima Yi extricated his army from the battle and made his way to a hill； which he set about holding and fortifying； while Guo Huai got round to the rear of the city and called a halt。
Zhuge Liang entered the city and sent his troops to camp again at the four corners of the walls。
Guo Huai went to see his chief； and said； 〃We have long been at grips with these soldiers and are unable to drive them off。 We have now lost another fight。 Unless something is done； we shall not get away at all。〃
〃What can we do？〃 asked Sima Yi。
〃You might write to Yongzhou and Liangzhou to send their forces to our help。 I will try my fortune against Saber Pass and cut off Zhuge Liang's retreat and supplies。 That should bring about discontent and mutiny； and we can attack when we see the enemy in confusion。〃
The letters were sent； and soon Sun Li came leading the troops of Yongzhou and Liangzhou； foot and horse； of two hundred thousand。 The new arrivals were sent to help Guo Huai in the attack on Saber Pass。
After many days had passed without sight of the enemy； Zhuge Liang thought it was time to make another move。
Calling up Jiang Wei and Ma Dai； he said； 〃The soldiers of Wei are well posted on the hills and refuse battle because； firstly； they think that we are short of food； and； secondly； they have sent an army against Saber Pass to cut off our supplies。 Now each of you will take ten thousand troops and garrison the important points about here to show them that we are well prepared to defend ourselves。 Then they will retire。〃
After these two had gone； Yang Yi came to see Zhuge Liang about the change of troops then due。
Yang Yi said； 〃O Prime Minister； you have ordered the troops to be alternated every one hundred days。 Now the time is due； and the replacing troops have already left Hanzhong and that dispatches from the leading divisions have e in。 Here we have eighty thousand troops； of which forty will be due for relief。〃
〃There is the order； carry it out；〃 replied Zhuge Liang。
So the forty thousand home…going soldiers prepared to withdraw。
Just then came the news： 〃Sun L