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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 Li has arrived with reinforcements of two hundred thousand troops from Yongzhou and Liangzhou。 Guo Huai and Sun Li have gone to attack Saber Pass； and Sima Yi is leading an army against Lucheng。〃
In the face of such important news； Yang Yi went to discuss with Zhuge Liang。
Said Yang Yi； 〃The Wei army are advancing against our critical points。 Should you； O Prime Minister； postpone for a time the withdrawal of the field troops in order to strengthen our defense？ You can wait for the new troops to arrive first。〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃I must keep faith with the soldiers。 Since the order for the periodical exchange of troops has been issued； it must be carried out。 Beside； the soldiers due for relief are all prepared to start； their expectations have been roused and their relatives await them。 In the face of yet greater difficulties I would still let them go。〃
So orders were given for the time…expired soldiers to march that day。 But when the legionaries heard it； a sudden movement of generosity spread among them。
And they said； 〃Since the Prime Minister cares for us so much； we do not wish to go； but will prefer to remain to fight the Wei army to death。〃
〃But you are due for home。 You cannot stay here；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
They reiterated that they all wished to stay instead of going home。
Zhuge Liang was glad and said； 〃Since you wish to stay and fight with me； you can go out of the city and camp ready to encounter the army of Wei as soon as they arrive。 Do not give them time to rest or recover breath； but attack vigorously at once。 You will be fresh and fit； waiting for those fagged with a long march。〃
So they gripped their weapons and joyfully went out of the city to array themselves in readiness。
Now the Yongzhou and Liangzhou troops had traveled by double marches； and so were worn out and needed rest。 But while they were pitching their tents； the troops of Shu fell upon them lustily； leaders full of spirit； soldiers full of energy。 The weary soldiers could make no proper stand； and retired。 The troops of Shu followed； pressing on them till corpses littered the whole plain and blood flowed in runnels。
It was a victory for Zhuge Liang； and he came out to wele the victors and led them into the city and distributed rewards。
Just then arrived an urgent letter from Li Yan； then at Baidicheng； and when Zhuge Liang had torn it open he read：
〃News has just e that Wu has sent an envoy to Luoyang and entered into an alliance with Wei whereby Wu is to attack us。 The army of Wu has not yet set out； but I am anxiously awaiting your plans。〃
Doubts and fears crowded in upon Zhuge Liang's mind as he read。 He summoned his officers。
〃As Wu is ing to invade our land； we shall have to retire quickly；〃 said he。 〃If I issue orders for the Qishan force to withdraw； Sima Yi will not dare to pursue while we are camped here。〃
The Qishan force broke camp and marched in two divisions under Wang Ping； Zhang Ni； Hu Ban； and Wu Yi。 Zhang He watched them go； but was too fearful of the movement being some ruse to attempt to follow。 He went to see Sima Yi。
〃The enemy have retired； but I know not for what reason。〃
〃Zhuge Liang is very crafty； and you will do well to remain where you are and keep a careful lookout。 Do nothing till their grain has given out； when they must retire for good；〃 said Sima Yi。
Here General Wei Ping stepped forward； saying； 〃But they are retreating from Qishan。 We should seize the occasion of their retreat to smite them。 Are they tigers that you fear to move？ How the world will laugh at us？〃
But Sima Yi was obstinate and ignored the protest。
When Zhuge Liang knew that the Qishan troops had got away safely； he called Yang Yi and Ma Zheng and gave them secret orders to lead ten thousand of bowmen and crossbowmen out by the Wooden Path of Saber Pass and place them in ambush on both sides of the road。
Said he； 〃If the soldiers of Wei pursue； wait till you hear a bomb。 When you hear the bomb； at once barricade the road with timber and stones so as to impede them。 When they halt； shoot at them with the bows and the crossbows。〃
Wei Yan and Guan Xing were told to attack the rear of the enemy。
These orders given； the walls of Lucheng were decorated lavishly with flags； and at various points within the city were piled straw and kindling wood ready to make some smoke as though there were cooking activities in the city。 The soldiers were sent out along the road toward Saber Pass。
The spies of Wei returned to headquarters to report： 〃A large number of Shu soldiers have left； but we do not know how many remain within the city。〃
In doubt； Sima Yi went himself to look； and when he saw the smoke rising from within the walls and the fluttering flags； he said； 〃The city is deserted！〃
He sent men in to confirm this； and they said the place was empty。
〃Then Zhuge Liang is really gone。 Who will pursue？〃
〃Let me；〃 replied Zhang He。
〃You are too impulsive；〃 said Sima Yi。
〃I have been Leader of the Van from the first day of this expedition。 Why not use me today； when there