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Deng Ai replied； 〃They are victors on River Yao。 If they enlist the aid of the Qiangs to cause a diversion in the West Valley Land and the Land Within the Passes and also obtain the support of the four counties； it will be a misfortune for us。 If they do not think of that； but try to take Didao； they will only fritter away their energies against a place too strongly fortified for them to capture。 Let us now array our force along the Xiangling Mountain； and then we can advance and smite them。 We shall get a victory。〃
〃That is well said！〃 cried Chen Tai。
Then twenty cohorts of fifty soldiers each were told off to find their way secretly to the southeast of Didao and there hide in the valleys。 They were then to display many ensigns and sound trumpets as if they were a very large force； and make huge fires at night； so as to cause anxiety among the enemy。 And thus they waited for the troops of Shu to e； while Chen Tai and Deng Ai marched with forty thousand troops against the Shu army。
The army of Shu had marched to Didao and begun the siege around the whole circuit of the walls。 At the end of many days the fall of the city seemed no nearer； and Jiang Wei began to fret。 He could think of no plan likely to succeed。
One eventide a horseman came in to report： 〃Two armies are approaching rapidly； and the names on the banners were General Who Conquers the West Chen Tai and Imperial Protector of Yanzhou Deng Ai 。〃
Jiang Wei called in his colleague Xiahou Ba； who said； 〃I have spoken to you of Deng Ai many times。 He is perspicacious； valiant； resourceful； and has always delighted in the study of military topography。 As he is ing； we shall have to put forth all our energies。〃
Jiang Wei replied； 〃We will attack before he can get a foothold and while his soldiers are fatigued with the march。〃
So Zhang Yi was left to carry on the siege while the two leaders went out to meet the new armies。 Jiang Wei went against Deng Ai； and Xiahou Ba against Chen Tai。
Before Jiang Wei had marched far； the stillness was broken by the roar of a bomb； and at once all about the Shu army arose the rolling of drums and the blare of trumpets； soon followed by flames that shot up to the very sky。 Jiang Wei rode to the front and saw the ensigns of Wei all about him。
〃I have fallen into a trap set by Deng Ai！〃 cried he。
He sent orders to Xiahou Ba and Zhang Yi to withdraw immediately while he would cover their retreat。 When they had retired； he followed them into Hanzhong； harassed all along the road by the sounds of marching soldiers and glimpses of enemy banners。 But these enemies never attacked。 It was only after the army had retreated to Saber Pass that Jiang Wei knew all this was make…believe。
He camped in Zhongti。 For his services and success on River Yao； Jiang Wei was rewarded with the rank of Regent Marshal。 As soon as the ceremonies connected with his promotion were ended； he began again to talk of an expedition against Wei。
Remember enough is as good as a feast；
Having sketched a good snake don't add legs to the beast；
And in fighting remember that others are bold；
And tigers have claws though their teeth may be old。
The result of the new expedition will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 111 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 111
Chapter 111
Deng Ai Outwits Jiang Wei；
Zhuge Dan Battles Sima Zhao。
Jiang Wei camped at Zhongti。 The army of Wei camped outside Didao。 Wang Jing weled Chen Tai and Deng Ai and prepared a banquet to celebrate the raising of the siege and also rewarded the army with gifts。 Then Chen Tai sent up a memorial to the Ruler of Wei； Cao Mao； eulogizing the magnificent services of Deng Ai； who was rewarded with the title General Who Pacifies the West。 For the time； Deng Ai was left in the west。 He and Chen Tai placed their men in cantonments in Yongzhou； Liangzhou； and the counties round about。
After Deng Ai had rendered his thanks to the Emperor； Chen Tai spread a great feast in his honor； and in congratulating his guest； said； 〃Jiang Wei slipped off in the night because he was broken； and he will never dare to return。〃
〃I think he will；〃 replied Deng Ai； smiling。 〃I can give five reasons why he should。〃
〃What are they？〃
〃First； although the soldiers of Shu have retired； they have the self…possessed and confident look of holding the victory； our soldiers are really weak and broken。 Second； the soldiers of Shu were trained and inspirited by Zhuge Liang and are easy to mobilize； our generals are all of different periods of service； and our army indifferently trained。 Third； the Shu soldiers often use boats for traveling； and so they move at leisure and the troops arrive fresh； ours do all their journeys on land； and they arrive fatigued with marching。 Fourth； again； Didao； Longxi； Nanan； and Qishan are all places suitable for defense or use as battle fields； and thus the army of Shu can conceal their intentions and strike where they will； we have to remain on guard at many points； thus dividing our forces； when they concentrate； they have only to reckon with a part of our force。 And fifth； if they e out by way of Longxi and Nanan； they have the grain of the Qiangs to depend upon； and if they choose Qishan； they have the wheat there。 These are the five reasons why they should make another expedition。〃
Chen Tai was overe with the clear vision of his new colleague。
〃Sir； your foresight is godlike。 I think we need feel no anxiety about what the enemy can achieve。〃
The two leaders became the best of friends in spite of the difference of age。 Deng Ai spent his time in training the army； and garrisons were placed at all points where surprise attacks seemed possible。
There was feasting also at Zhongti； and the occasion was taken to discuss a new attack on Wei。
But Assistant Fan Jian opposed。 〃General； your expeditions have partly failed many times； you have never scored a plete victory。 But now on River Yao the army of Wei recognize your superiority； and why should you try again？ There is small chance of success； and you risk all you have gained。〃
Jiang Wei replied； 〃You all regard only the largeness and population of Wei and the time necessary for conquest； but you do not see five reasons for victory。〃
The assembly asked what these were。
〃First； the fighting spirit of the soldiers of Wei has been badly broken on River Yao； while that of our soldiers； although we retired； is unimpaired。 If we attack； we shall certainly succeed。 Second； our soldiers can travel in boats and so will not be wearied with marching； their soldiers have to march to meet us。 Third； our soldiers are thoroughly trained； theirs are recruits； a mere flock of crows； quite undisciplined。 Fourth； when we go out by Qishan； we can seize upon the autumn wheat for food。 Finally； they are scattered； having to defend various points； while we can concentrate on any point we wish； and they will find it difficult to bring up reinforcements。 If we miss this chance； can we hope for a better？〃
Xiahou Ba said； 〃Deng Ai is young； but he is deep and crafty。 He has certainly taken great pains to secure the regions under his charge as General Who Pacifies the West。 Victory will not be so easy as it was before。〃
〃Why should I fear him？〃 cried Jiang Wei； angrily。 〃You should not laud the spirit of the enemy and belittle that of our own soldiers。 But in any case I have made up my mind and shall take West Valley Land。〃
No one dared to offer any further opposition。 Jiang Wei himself led the first army； the others followed in due order； and thus the soldiers of Shu marched out of Zhongti to Qishan。
Before they could reach Qishan； the scouts reported the hills already occupied by the armies of Wei。 Jiang Wei rode forward to verify this； and； surely enough； he saw the Wei camps； nine in number； stretching over the hills like a huge serpent； and all arranged to give each other support。
〃Xiahou Ba spoke only too well；〃 said he。 〃The plan of those camps is excellent and only our Zhuge Liang could have laid them out with equal skill。〃
Returning to his own army； he said to his officers； 〃They must have known of my ing； and I think Deng Ai is here too。 Now from this as base you are to send out daily small reconnoitering parties showing my banner； but different flags and uniforms； blue； yellow； red； white； and black； in turns。 While you are thus distracting attention； I will lead the main army by Dongting to attack Nanan。〃
Bao Su was sent to camp at the mouth of the Qishan Mountains Valley while the main army marched。
As soon as Deng Ai had heard that the enemy would e out at Qishan； he had camped there with his colleague Chen Tai。 But when days had passed without anyone ing to fling a challenge； he sent out spies to find out where the Shu army was lurking。 They could find nothing； and so Deng Ai went to the summit of a hill to look around。
He came to the conclusion； saying； 〃Jiang Wei must not be in this camp。 He must be on his way to capture Nanan。 Those soldiers in the Shu camp were nothing but a feint； accentuated by the daily change of uniform。 Going to and fro for days； the horses look tired； and their leaders are certainly none of the ablest。 Therefore； General； I advise an attack here。 If that succeeds； the Dongting road can