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〃It is not difficult；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
He called up Ma Dai and Zhang Yi and gave them certain orders。
They having gone； he turned to Jiang Wei； saying； 〃My friend； do you know how to overe them？〃
〃The enemy only depend upon force and courage。 They shall not expect this fine strategy；〃 was the reply。
〃You know；〃 said Zhuge Liang； smiling。 〃Those dark clouds and the strong north wind mean snow。 Then I can do what I wish。〃
The two leaders； Guan Xing and Zhang Bao； were sent into ambush； and Jiang Wei went out to offer battle。 But he was to retire before the iron chariots。 At the entrance to the camp were displayed many flags； but the soldiers that should serve under them were not there。
It was now full winter； the twelfth month； and the snow had e。 The army of Shu went out to offer battle。 When the iron chariots came forward； they retired and thus led the Qiangs to the gate of the camp； Jiang Wei going to its rear。 The Qiangs came to the gate and stopped to look。 They heard the strumming of a lute； but there were no soldiers there； the flags meant nothing。 They told Yue Ji； and he suspected some ruse。 Instead of entering； he went back to Prime Minister Ya Dan and told him。
〃It is a ruse；〃 said Ya Dan。 〃Zhuge Liang's base trick is the pretense of a pretense； and you had better attack。〃
So Yue Ji led his troops again to the camp gate； and there he saw Zhuge Liang with a lute just getting into his chariot。 With a small escort； he went toward the back of the camp。 The tribesmen rushed into the camp and caught sight of the light chariot again just as it disappeared into a wood。
Then said Ya Dan； 〃There may be an ambush； but I think we need not be afraid of these soldiers。〃
Hence they decided to pursue。 Ahead of them they saw the division under Jiang Wei hastening off through the snow。 Yue Ji's rage boiled up at this sight； and he urged his men to go faster。 The snow had filled in the roads among the hills； making every part look like a level plain。
As they marched； one reported that some of the enemy were appearing from the rear of the hills。 Some thought this meant an ambush； but Ya Dan said it did not matter； and they need not fear。 He urged them to hasten。
Shortly after this they heard a roaring as if the hills were rending asunder and the earth falling in； and the pursuers on foot fell one atop of the other into great pits that were invisible in the snow。 The iron chariots； being close behind and hurrying along； could not stop； and they went into the pits also。 Those still farther in the rear halted； but just as they were facing about； Guan Xing and Zhang Bao came up； one on either side； and attacked。 Myriads of bolts flew through the air。 Then three other divisions under Jiang Wei； Ma Dai； and Zhang Yi arrived and confusion was worse than ever。
The Qiang leader； Yue Ji； fled to the rear and was making for the mountains when he met Guan Xing； who slew him in the first encounter。 Prime Minister Ya Dan was captured by Ma Dai and taken to the main camp。 The soldiers scattered。
Hearing of the capture of one leader； Zhuge Liang took his seat in his tent and bade them bring the prisoner。 He told the guards to loose his bonds； and he had wine brought to refresh him and soothed him with kindly words。
Ya Dan was grateful for this kindness； and felt more so when Zhuge Liang said； 〃My master； the Emperor of the Great Han； sent me to destroy those who are in revolt。 Why are you helping them？ But I will release you； and you will return to your master and say that we are neighbors and we will swear an oath of everlasting friendship； and tell him to listen no more to the words of those rebels。〃
Ya Dan was released and so were all the soldiers that had been captured； and all their stuff was given back to them。 They left for their own country。
The Qiangs being thus disposed of； Zhuge Liang quickly marched again to Qishan。 He sent letters to Capital Chengdu announcing his success。
Meanwhile Cao Zhen anxiously waited for news of his expected allies。 Then a scout came in with the news that the army of Shu had broken camp and were marching away。
〃That is because the Qiangs have attacked；〃 said Guo Huai gleefully； and the two made ready to pursue。
They saw ahead of them the army of Shu seemed to be in confusion。 The Van Leader Cao Zun led the pursuit。
Suddenly； as he pressed on； there came a roll of drums； followed by the appearance of a cohort led by Wei Yan； who cried； 〃Stop！ You rebels！〃
But Cao Zun did not obey the summons。 He dashed forward to meet the attack。 He was killed in the third encounter。 His colleague Zhu Zan in similar fashion fell in with a cohort under Zhao Yun； to whose long spear he soon fell victim。 The loss of these two made Cao Zhen and Guo Huai hesitate； and they made to retire。
But before they could face about； they heard the drums of an army in their rear； and Guan Xing and Zhang Bao came out and surrounded them。 Cao Zhen and Guo Huai made a stand for a time； but were soon worsted and fled。 The army of Shu pursued the beaten enemy to the bank of River Wei； where they took possession of the Wei camp。
Cao Zhen was greatly chagrined at his defeat and sad at the loss of his generals。 He send a report of his misfortune to his master and asked for reinforcements。
At the court of Wei one of the ministers told the story； saying； 〃Cao Zhen has been defeated repeatedly； and his two Van Leaders were slain。 Further； his Qiang allies have suffered great loss。 Cao Zhen is sending for help； and the case is very urgent。〃
Cao Rui was alarmed and asked for someone to say how to drive off the victorious foe。
Thereupon Hua Xin said； 〃It will be necessary for Your Majesty to go in person。 You should call together all the nobles； and each will have to exert himself。 Unless this is done； Capital Changan will be lost and the whole Land Within the Passes be in danger。〃
But Imperial Guardian Zhong Yao opposed him。
Said he； 〃The knowledge of every leader must exceed that of those led； then only will he be able to control them。 Sun Zi the Strategist sums it up very briefly： 'Know the enemy； know thyself； and every battle is a victory。' I know Cao Zhen has had great experience in the field； but he is no match for Zhuge Liang。 Still there is such a match； and I will pledge my whole family that he will succeed。 But Your Majesty may be unwilling to listen to me。〃
The Ruler of Wei replied； 〃You are a minister of high rank and old。 If you know any wise person able to repel these soldiers of Shu； call him without delay and ease my mind。〃
Then said Zhong Yao； 〃When Zhuge Liang decided to invade us； he was afraid of the one man I will name。 Wherefore he spread calumnies concerning him； raising suspicion in Your Majesty's mind that you might dismiss him。 That done； Zhuge Liang invaded。 Now employ this man again； and the enemy will retire。〃
〃Who is it？〃 asked the Ruler of Wei。
〃I mean the Imperial mander of the Flying Cavalry； Sima Yi。〃
〃I have long regretted my action；〃 said Cao Rui。 〃Where now is friend Sima Yi？〃
〃He is at the city of Wancheng； idle。〃
An edict was prepared recalling Sima Yi and restoring him to his rank and titles； and conferring upon him the new title mander…in…Chief of the Western Forces and General Who Pacifies the West。 All troops of Nanyang were set in motion； and Cao Rui led them to Changan。 At the same time Cao Rui ordered Sima Yi to be there to meet him on a certain day。 And the orders were sent by a swift messenger to the city of Wancheng。
At this time Zhuge Liang greatly rejoiced at the success he had had。 He was at Qishan； busy with plans for other victories； when Li Yan； who was in mand at the Palace of Eternal Peace； sent his son Li Teng to the camp。 Zhuge Liang concluded that such a visit could only mean that Wu had invaded them； and he was in consequence cast down。 However； he summoned Li Teng to his tent； and when asked the object of his mission； Li Teng replied that he had joyful news to impart。
〃What is your joyful news？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃Formerly Meng Da deserted to Wei； but only because he could do nothing else。 Cao Pi thought much of his capabilities； treated him most generously； kept him at his side； gave him titles of General Who Establishes Strong Arms and Lord of Pingyang； and appointed him to the posts of Governor of Xincheng and mander of Shangyong and Jincheng； and so on。 But when Cao Pi died； all was changed。 In Cao Rui's court were many who were jealous of Meng Da's influence and power； so that he enjoyed no peace。
〃He used to talk about being originally one of the Shu leaders； and he was forced to do so…and…so。 Lately he has sent several confidants with letters to my father asking that he would state his case to you as to the happenings。 When the five armies came upon Shu； he wanted to rejoin the River Lands。 Now he is at Xincheng； and； hearing you are attacking Wei； he proposes to lead the army of the three counties about Xincheng； Jincheng； and Shangyong to attack Luoyang while you attack Changan； whereby both capitals will be taken。 I have brought with me his messenger and his letters。〃
This was good news； and the bearer was fittingly rewarded。 But at that moment came the news that Cao Rui was leading an army to Changan and had recalled the banished Sima Yi to office。 This piece o