they saw them。 In half a month they had scored many successes of this sort； and Sima Yi's heart was cheered。 One day； when he had made new captures of soldiers； he sent for them and questioned them again。
〃Where is Zhuge Liang now？〃
〃He is no longer at Qishan； but in camp about three miles from the Gourd Valley。 He is gathering a great store of grain there。〃
After he had questioned them fully； he set the prisoners free。
Calling together his officers； he said； 〃Zhuge Liang is not camped on Qishan； but near the Gourd Valley。 Tomorrow you shall attack the Qishan camp； and I will mand the reserve。〃
The promise cheered them； and they went away to prepare。
〃Father； why do you intend to attack the enemy's rear？〃 asked Sima Shi。
〃Qishan is their main position； and they will certainly hasten to its rescue。 Then I shall make for the valley and burn the stores。 That will render them helpless and will be a victory。〃
The son exclaimed his admiration for the plan。
Sima Yi began to march out； with Zhang Hu and Yue Chen following as the reserves。
From the top of a hill Zhuge Liang watched the Wei soldiers march and noticed that they moved in panies from three to five thousand； observing the front and the rear carefully as they marched。 He guessed that their object was the Qishan camp。
So he sent strict orders to his generals： 〃If Sima Yi leads in person； you are to go off and capture the Wei camp and the south bank of River Wei。〃
They received and obeyed his orders。
When the troops of Wei had got near and made their rush toward the camp of Shu in Qishan； the troops of Shu ran up also； yelling and pretending to reinforce the defenders。 Sima Yi； seeing the Shu troops rushing to rescure Qishan； suddenly marched his center army's guards with his two sons； changed his direction； and turned off for the Gourd Valley。 Here Wei Yan was expecting him； and as soon as he appeared； Wei Yan galloped up and soon recognized Sima Yi as the leader。
〃Sima Yi； stay！〃 shouted Wei Yan as he came near。
He flourished his sword； and Sima Yi set his spear。 The two warriors exchanged a few passes； and then Wei Yan suddenly turned his steed and bolted。 As he had been ordered； he made direct for the seven star flags； and Sima Yi followed； the more readily as he saw the fugitive had but a small force。 The two sons of Sima Yi rode with him； Sima Shi on the left； Sima Zhao on the right。
Presently Wei Yan and his troops entered the mouth of the valley。 Sima Yi halted a time while he sent forward a few scouts。
They returned and reported： 〃Not a single Shu soldier is seen； but a many straw houses are on the hills。〃
Sima Yi said； 〃This must be the store valley！〃
He led his army in eagerly。 But when he had got well within； Sima Yi noticed that kindling wood was piled over the straw huts； and as he saw no sign of Wei Yan； he began to feel uneasy。
〃Supposing soldiers seize the entrance。 What then？〃 said he to his sons。
As he spoke there arose a great shout； and from the hillside came many torches； which fell all around them and set fire to the straw； so that soon the entrance to the valley was lost in smoke and flame。 They tried to get away from the fire； but no road led up the hillside。 Then fire…arrows came shooting down； and the earth…mines exploded； and the straw and firewood blazed high as the heavens。 The fire caused strong winds； and the winds aided the fire； and the valley became a fiery stove。
Sima Yi； scared and helpless； dismounted； clasped his arms about his two sons； and wept； saying； 〃My sons； we three are doomed！〃
As they stood weeping； a fierce gale suddenly sprang up； black clouds gathered； a peal of thunder followed； and rain poured down in torrents； speedily extinguishing the fire all through the valley。 The mines no longer exploded； and all the fiery contrivances ceased to work mischief。
〃If we do not break out now； what better chance shall we have？〃 cried Sima Yi； and he led the soldiers to make a dash for the outlet。
As they broke out of the valley； they came upon reinforcements under Zhang Hu and Yue Chen； and so were once more safe。 Ma Dai was not strong enough to pursue； and the soldiers of Wei got safely to the river。
But there they found their camp in the possession of the enemy； while Guo Huai and Sun Li were on the floating bridge struggling with the troops of Shu。 Sima Yi charged up hastily； and the troops of Shu retreated； whereupon Sima Yi crossed the river and ordered the bridges burned。 He then occupied the north bank。
The Wei army attacking the Qishan camp were greatly disturbed when they heard of the defeat of their mander…in…Chief and the loss of the camp on River Wei。 The troops of Shu took the occasion to strike with greater vigor； and so gained a great victory。 The beaten army suffered heavy loss。 Those who escaped fled across the river。
When Zhuge Liang from the hill…top saw that Sima Yi had been inveigled into the trap by Wei Yan； he rejoiced exceedingly； and when he saw the flames burst forth； he thought surely his rival was done for。 Then； unhappily for him； Heaven thought it well to send down torrents of rain； which quenched the fire and upset all his calculations。
Soon after； the scouts reported the escape of his victims。
Zhuge Liang sighed； saying； 〃Human proposes； God disposes。 We cannot wrest events to our will。〃
Fierce fires roared in the valley；
But the rain quenched them。
Had Zhuge Liang's plan but succeeded；
Where had been the Jins？
From the new camp on the north bank of the river； Sima Yi issued an order： 〃The south shore has been lost。 If any of you proposes going out to battle again； he shall be put to death！〃
Accordingly no one spoke of attacking； but all turned their energies toward defense。
Guo Huai went to the general to talk over plans。
He said； 〃The enemy have been carefully spying out the country。 They are certainly selecting a new position for a camp。〃
Sima Yi said； 〃If Zhuge Liang goes out to Wugong Hills； and thence eastward along the hills； we shall be in grave danger。 If he goes westward along River Wei； and halts on the Wuzhang Hills； we need feel no anxiety。〃
They decided to send scouts to find out the movements of their enemy。 Presently the scouts returned to say that Zhuge Liang had chosen the Wuzhang Hills。
〃Our great Emperor of Wei has remarkable fortune；〃 said Sima Yi； clapping his hand to his forehead。
Then he confirmed the order to remain strictly on the defensive till some change of circumstances on the part of the enemy should promise advantage。
After his army had settled into camp on the Wuzhang Hills； Zhuge Liang continued his attempts to provoke a battle。 Day after day； parties went to challenge the army of Wei； but they resisted all provocation。
One day Zhuge Liang put a dress made of deer hide in a box； which he sent； with a letter； to his rival。 The insult could not be concealed； so the generals led the bearer of the box to their chief。 Sima Yi opened the box and saw the deer hide dress。 Then he opened the letter； which read something like this：
〃Friend Sima Yi； although you are a mander…in…Chief and lead the armies of the Middle Land； you seem but little disposed to display the firmness and valor that would render a contest decisive。 Instead； you have prepared a fortable lair where you are safe from the keen edge of the sword。 Are you not very like a deer？ Wherefore I send the bearer with a suitable gift； and you will humbly accept it and the humiliation； unless； indeed； you finally decide to e out and fight like a warrior。 If you are not entirely indifferent to shame； if you retain any of the feelings of a tiger； you will send this back to me and e out and give battle。〃
Sima Yi； although inwardly raging； pretended to take it all as a joke and smiled。
〃So he regards me as a deer；〃 said he。
He accepted the gift and treated the messenger well。 Before the messenger left； Sima Yi asked him a few questions about his master's eating and sleeping and hours of labor。
〃The Prime Minister works very hard；〃 said the messenger。 〃He rises early and retires to bed late。 He attends personally to all cases requiring punishment of over twenty of strokes。 As for food； he does not eat more than a few pints of grain daily。〃
〃Indeed； Zhuge Liang eats little and works much；〃 remarked Sima Yi to his generals。 〃Can he last long？〃
The messenger returned to his own side and reported to Zhuge Liang； saying； 〃Sima Yi took the whole episode in good part and shown no sign of anger。 He only asked about the Prime Minister's hours of rest； and food； and such things。 He said no word about military matters。 I told him that you ate little and worked long hours； and then he said； 'Can he last long？' That was all。〃
〃He knows me；〃 said Zhuge Liang； pensively。
First Secretary Yang Yong presently ventured to remonstrate with his chief。
〃I notice；〃 said Yang Yong； 〃that you check the books personally。 I think that is needless labor for a Prime Minister to undertake。 In every administration the higher and subordinate ranks have their especial fields of activity； and each should confine his labors to his own field。 In a household； for example； the male plows and the female cooks； and thus operations are carried on without waste of energy； and all needs are supplied。 If one individual strives to attend personally to every matter； he only wearies himself and fails to acplish his end。 How can he possibly hope to perform all the various tasks well？
＇e＇ Bing Ji was a prime minister of Western Han。 One day； while riding in his cart with attendants； they came across brawling people by the road。 He continued without concern。 They then came across a man with an water buffalo panting。 He immediately stopped to ask how long they had been traveling。 His attendants were puzzled as to why he was more concerned about an ox than injured people。 He replied that fighting was a matter for local officials； but an ox panting in early spring （if not traveling for long） suggested unusual heat； which could have disastrous results for all。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Chen Ping （BC ？…178） a master strategist of Liu Bang。 He first served Xiang Yu but then became a follower in Liu Bang's camp。 Served as Liu Bang's prime minister and Empress Lu's left minister。 After the death of Empress Lu； Chen Ping played an important role in returning royal authority to the Liu clan。 。。。。。
〃And； indeed； the ancients held this same opinion； for they said that the high officers should attend to the discussion of ways and means； and the lower should carry out details。 Of old； Bing Ji* was moved to deep thought by the panting of an ox； but inquired not about the corpses of certain brawlers which lay about the road； for this matter concerned the magistrate。 Chen Ping* was ignorant of the figures relating to taxes； for he said these were the concern of the tax controllers。 O Prime Minister； you weary yourself with minor details and sweat yourself everyday。 You are wearing yourself out； and Sima Yi has good reason for what he said。〃
〃I know………I cannot but know；〃 replied Zhuge Liang with tears in his eyes。 〃But this heavy responsibility was laid upon me； and I fear no other will be so devoted as I am。〃
Those who heard him wept。 Thereafter Zhuge Liang appeared more and more harassed； and military operations did not speed。
On the other side the officers of Wei r