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too great glory； Guo Huai had set out to anticipate him in the capture of Jieting。 Disappointed when he heard of Sima Yi's success there； he had decided to try a similar exploit at Liliu。 So he had diverted his march thither。
He engaged the three Shu armies at once and slew many of them。 Wei Yan feared the Wei army might pour into Hanzhong； so Wang Ping； Gao Xiang； and Wei Yan rushed to Yangping Pass and mustered its defense。
Guo Huai； pleased with his success； gathered in his army after the victory and said to his officers； 〃I was disappointed at Jieting； but we have taken this place； and that is merit of high order。〃
Thereupon he proceeded to the city gates。 Just as he arrived； a bomb exploded on the wall； and； looking up； he saw the rampart bedecked with flags。 On the largest banner he read the characters Sima Yi； General Who Pacifies the West 。 At that moment Sima Yi himself lifted a board that hung in front of him and looked over the breast…high rail。
He looked down and smiled； saying； 〃How late you are； friend Guo Huai！〃
Guo Huai was amazed。 〃He is too much for me；〃 said he。
So Guo Huai resignedly entered the city and went to pay his respects to his successful rival。
Sima Yi was gracious； and said； 〃Zhuge Liang must retire now that Jieting is lost。 You join forces with Cao Zhen and follow up quickly。〃
Guo Huai agreed and took his leave。
Sima Yi called to him Zhang He； and said； 〃Cao Zhen and Guo Huai thought we should win too great merit； so they tried to get ahead of us here。 We are not the only ones who desire to achieve good service and acquire merit； but we had the good fortune to succeed。 I thought Wei Yan； Ma Su； Wang Ping； and Gao Xiang would first try to occupy Yangping Pass。 If I went to take it； then Zhuge Liang would fall on our rear。 It says in the books on war that one should crush a retreating enemy； not pursue broken rebels。 So you may go along the by…roads and smite those withdrawing down the Gu Valley； while I oppose the Xie Valley army。 If they flee； do not press them too much； but just hold them up on the road and capture the baggage train。〃
Zhang He marched away with half the force to carry out his part of this plan。
Then Sima Yi gave orders： 〃We are going to the Xie Valley by way of Xicheng。 Though Xicheng is a small place； it is important as a depot of stores for the Shu army； beside manding the road to the three counties of Nanan； Tianshui； and Anding。 If this place can be captured； the other three can be recaptured。〃
Sima Yi left Shen Yi and Shen Dan to guard Liliu and marched his army toward the Xie Valley。
After Zhuge Liang had sent Ma Su to guard Jieting； his mind was constantly disturbed。 Then arrived the messenger with the topography and plan prepared by Wang Ping。 Zhuge Liang went over to his table and opened the letter。 As he read it he smote the table in wrath。
〃Ma Su's foolishness has destroyed the army！〃 he cried。
〃Why are you so disturbed； O Prime Minister？〃 asked those near。
〃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 i