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〃Ah； then he is not running away；〃 said Sima Yi。 〃Remain on the defensive still more strictly and do not advance。〃
Ten days passed without further news； nor did the soldiers of Shu offer the usual challenge。 Again spies were sent far afield； and they reported a further retreat of ten miles and a new encampment。
〃Zhuge Liang is certainly working some scheme；〃 said Sima Yi。 〃Do not pursue。〃
Another ten days passed and spies went out。 The enemy had gone ten miles farther and encamped。
Zhang He said； 〃What makes you so over…suspicious？ I can see that Zhuge Liang is retreating into Hanzhong； only he is doing it gradually and arousing our suspicion。 Why not pursue before it is too late。 Let me go and fight one battle。〃
〃No；〃 said Sima Yi。 〃A defeat would destroy the morale of our soldiers； and I will not risk it。 Zhuge Liang's vile tricks are innumerable。〃
〃If I go and get beaten； I will stand the full rigor of military punishment；〃 said Zhang He。
〃Well； if you are set on going； we will divide the army。 You take your wing and go； but you will have to fight your best。 I will follow to help in case of need。 Tomorrow you should march only halfway and rest your troops for the battle。〃
So Zhang He got independent mand of thirty thousand troops and took Dai Ling as his second in mand； and he had a few score of generals as assistants。 Halfway they camped。 Then Sima Yi； leaving a substantial guard for his camp； set out along the same road with fifty thousand troops。
Zhuge Liang knew the movements of the army of Wei and when Zhang He's army camped to rest。 In the night he summoned his generals and told them。
〃The enemy are ing in pursuit and will fight desperately。 You will have to fight everyone of you like ten； but I will set an ambush to attack their rear。 Only a wise and bold leader is fit for this task。〃
Wang Ping stepped forth and said he was willing to go on this expedition。
〃But if you fail； what then？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃Then there is the military rule。〃
Zhuge Liang sighed。 〃Wang Ping is most loyal。 He is willing to risk wounds and death in his country's service。 However； the enemy are in two divisions； one ing in front； the other trying to get round to the rear。 Wang Ping is crafty and bold； but he cannot be in two places at once； so I must have yet another general。 Is it that among you there is no other willing to devote himself to death？〃
He did not wait long for a reply。 Zhang Yi stepped to the front。
〃Zhang He is a most famous leader in Wei and valorous beyond all pare。 You are not a match for him；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃If I fail； may my head fall at the tent door；〃 said Zhang Yi。
〃Since you wish to go； I accept you。 Each of you shall have ten thousand veterans。 You will hide in the valleys till the enemy e up； and you will let them pass。 Then you will fall upon their rear。 If Sima Yi es； you must divide the army； Zhang Yi to hold the rear and Wang Ping to check the advance。 But they will fight desperately； and I must find a way to aid you。〃
When they had gone； Jiang Wei and Liao Hua were called； and Zhuge Liang said； 〃I am going to give you a silken bag。 You are to 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