d in behind Wei Yan； and he was surrounded。 Zhang He then turned back； and the attack was now on three sides。 Wei Yan lost many troops； and all his efforts failed to get him clear of the press。 Then help appeared in the person of Wang Ping。
〃This is life for me；〃 said Wei Yan as he saw Wang Ping ing up； and the two forces joined in a new attack on the force of Wei。 So the troops of Wei drew off； while Wei Yan and Wang Ping made all haste back to their own camp in Jieting………only to find them in the hands of the enemy。
Shen Yi and Shen Dan then rushed out and drove Wei Yan and Wang Ping to Liliu。
About that time Gao Xiang got news of the attack on Jieting； and he marched out his army from Liliu to the rescue。 But halfway he fell in with Wei Yan and Wang Ping。
When Gao Xiang heard their story； he at once proposed a night attack on the Wei camp and the recovery of Jieting。 They talked this over on the hillside and arranged their plans； after which they set themselves to wait till it was dark enough to start。
They set out along three roads。 Wei Yan was the first to reach Jieting。 Not a soldier was visible； which looked suspicious。 He decided to await the arrival of Gao Xiang； and they both speculated as to the whereabouts of their enemy。 They could find no trace； and the third army under Wang Ping had not yet e up。
Suddenly a bomb exploded； and a brilliant flash lit up the sky； drums rolled as though the earth was rending； and the enemy appeared。 In a trice the armies of Shu found themselves hemmed in。 Both Wei Yan and Gao Xiang pushed here and shoved there； but could find no way out。 Then most opportunely from behind a hill rolled out a thunder of drums； and there was Wang Ping ing to their rescue。 Then the three forced their way to Liliu。 But just as they drew near to the city； another body of soldiers came up； which； from the writing on their flags； they read Wei mander Guo Huai 。
Now Guo Huai had talked over Sima Yi's recall with his colleague Cao Zhen； and； fearing lest the recalled general should acquire 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