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Meanwhile Zhuge Liang was at Qishan； where he intended to make a long sojourn。 He made his soldiers mix with the people in Wei and share in the labor of the fields； and the crops………the soldiers one…third； the people two…third。 He gave strict orders against any encroachment on the property of the farmers； and so they and the soldiers lived together very amicably。
Then Sima Yi's son； Sima Shi； went to his father and said； 〃These soldiers of Shu have despoiled us of much grain； and now they are mingling with the people of Qishan and tilling the fields along the banks of River Wei as if they intended to remain there。 This would be a calamity for us。 Why do you not appoint a time to fight a decisive battle with Zhuge Liang？〃
His father replied； 〃I have the Emperor's orders to act on the defensive and may not do as you suggest。〃
While they were thus talking； one reported that Wei Yan had e near and was insulting the army and reminding them that he had the helmet of their leader。 And he was challenging them。 The generals were greatly incensed and desired to accept the challenge； but the mander…in…Chief was immovable in his decision to obey his orders。
〃The Holy One says： 'If one cannot suffer small things； great matters are imperiled。' Our plan is to defend。〃
So the challenge was not accepted； and there was no battle。 After reviling them for some time； Wei Yan went away。
Seeing that his enemy was not to be provoked into fighting； Zhuge Liang gave orders to Ma Dai to build a strong stockade in the Gourd Valley and therein to excavate pits and to collect large quantities of inflammables。 So on the hill they piled wood and straw in the shape of sheds； and all about they dug pits and buried mines。 When these preparations were plete； Ma Dai received instructions to block the road in rear of Gourd Valley and to lay an ambush at the entrance。
〃If Sima Yi es； let him enter the valley； and then explode the mines and set fire to the straw and the wood；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Also； set up seven star flags at the mouth of the valley and arrange a night signal of seven lamps on the hill。〃
After Ma Dai had gone； Wei Yan was called in； and Zhuge Liang said to him； 〃Go to the camp of Wei with five hundred troops and provoke them to battle。 The important matter is to entice Sima Yi out of his stronghold。 You will be unable to obtain a victory； so retreat that he may pursue。 You are to make for the signal； the seven star flags by day or the seven lamps at night。 Thus you will lead him into the Gourd Valley； where I have a plan prepared for him。〃
When Wei Yan had gone； Gao Xiang was summoned。
〃Take small herds； forty or fifty at a time； of the wooden oxen and running horses； load them up with grain and lead them to and fro on the mountains。 If you can succeed in getting the enemy to capture them； you will render a service。〃
So the transport wooden cattle were sent forth to play their part in the scheme； and the remainder of the Qishan soldiers were sent to work in the fields。
He gave orders to his generals； saying； 〃If the enemy under other leaders e to attack； you are to flee the field。 Only in the case Sima Yi es in person； you are to attack most vigorously the south bank of the river and cut off the retreat。〃
Then Zhuge Liang led his army away to camp next to the Gourd Valley。
Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He went to their chief； Sima Yi； and said； 〃The enemy have set out camps and are engaged in field work as though they intended to remain。 If they are not destroyed now； but are allowed to consolidate their position； they will be hard to dislodge。〃
〃This certainly is one of Zhuge Liang's ruses；〃 said the chief。
〃You seem very afraid of him； mander；〃 retorted they。 〃When do you think you can destroy him？ At least let us two brothers fight one battle that we may prove our gratitude for the Emperor's kindness。〃
〃If it must be so； then you may go in two divisions；〃 said Sima Yi。
As the two divisions； five thousand troops each； were marching along； they saw ing toward them a number of the transport wooden animals of the enemy。 They attacked at once； drove off the escort； captured them； and sent them back to camp。 Next day they captured more； with soldiers and horses as well； and sent them also to camp。
Sima Yi called up the prisoners and questioned them。
They told him； saying； 〃The Prime Minister understood that you would not fight； and so had told off the soldiers to various places to work in the fields； and therefore provide for future needs。 We had been unwittingly captured。〃
Sima Yi set them free and bade them begone。
〃Why spare them？〃 asked Xiahou He。
〃There is nothing to be gained by the slaughter of a few mon soldiers。 Let them go back to their own and praise the kindliness of the Wei leaders。 That will slacken the desire of their rades to fight against us。 That was the plan by which Lu Meng captured Jingzhou。〃
Then he issued general orders that all Shu prisoners should be well treated and sent away free。 However； he kept rewarding those of his army who had done well。
As has been said； Gao Xiang was ordered to keep pretended convoys on the move； and the soldiers of Wei attacked and captured them whenever 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 st