en he called an assembly of officers。
〃Twice have I gone out by Qishan without success； but at last I am here。 I think Wei will resume the former battle ground and oppose us。 If so； they will assume that I shall attack Yongcheng and Meicheng and send armies to defend them。 But I see Yinping and Wudu are connected with Hanzhong。 If I can win these； I can drive a wedge into the Wei force。 Who will go to take these places？〃
Jiang Wei and Wang Ping offered themselves。 The former was sent with ten thousand troops to capture Wudu； the latter； with an equal force； went to Yinping。
Zhang He went back to Changan and saw Guo Huai and Sun Li； to whom he said； 〃Chencang is lost； Hao Zhao is dead； and San Pass is taken。 Zhuge Liang is again at Qishan； and thence has sent out two armies。〃
Guo Huai was frightened； saying； 〃In that case； Yongcheng and Meicheng are in danger。〃
Leaving Zhang He to guard Changan； Guo Huai sent Sun Li to Yongcheng； and he himself set out at once for Meicheng。 He sent an urgent report to Luoyang。
At Wei's next court the Emperor was informed of all the misfortunes in the west： 〃Chencange has fallen； and Hao Zhao has died。 Zhuge Liang has captured San Pass。 He is camping at Qishan and is planning to invade Wei。〃
Cao Rui was alarmed。
Just then Man Chong reported； 〃Sun Quan has declared himself Emperor； and Lu Xun is drilling his army in Wuchang。 An invasion from the east can be expected soon。〃
Cao Rui was embarrassed and frightened。 Cao Zhen； being ill； could not be consulted； and Sima Yi was called。 He was ready with a proposal。
〃In my humble opinion； Wu will not attack us；〃 said Sima Yi。
〃What makes you think so？〃 asked the Ruler of Wei。
〃Because Zhuge Liang still resents； and wishes to avenge； the event at Xiaoting。 He never ceases to desire to absorb Wu。 His only fear is that we may swoop down upon Shu。 That is why there is an alliance with Wu。 Lu Xun knows it also quite well； and he is only making a show of raising an army as they arranged。 The truth is he is sitting on the fence。 Hence Your Majesty may disregard the menace on the east； and only protect yourself against Shu。〃
〃Your insight is very profound；〃 said the Ruler of Wei。
Sima Yi was created mander…in…Chief of all the forces in the west； and the Ruler of Wei directed a courtier to go to Cao Zhen for the seal。
〃I would rather go myself；〃 said Sima Yi。
So Sima Yi left the audience and went to the palace of Cao Zhen； where presently he saw the invalid。 First he asked after his health and then gradually opened his errand。
〃Shu and Wu have made an alliance to invade Wei and share its domains； and Zhuge Liang is at Qishan the third time。 Have you heard； Illustrious Sir？〃
〃My people have kept back all news as I am ill；〃 said he； startled。 〃But if this is true； the country is in danger。 Why have they not made you mander…in…Chief to stop this invasion？〃
〃I am unequal to the post；〃 said Sima Yi。
〃Bring the seal and give it to him；〃 said Cao Zhen to his attendants。
〃You are anxious on my account。 Really I am only e to lend you an arm。 I dare not accept the seal。〃
Cao Zhen started up； saying； 〃If you do not take it； I shall have to go to see the Emperor； ill as I am。 The Middle Land is in danger。〃
〃Really the Emperor has already shown his kindness； but I dare not accept his offer。〃
〃If you have been appointed； then Shu will be driven off。〃
Thrice Sima Yi declined the seal； but eventually he received it into his hands as he knew Cao Zhen was sincere。 Then he took leave of the Ruler of Wei and marched to Changan。
The seal of office changes hands；
Two armies now one force bee。
Sima Yi's success or failure will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 99 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Zhuge Liang Defeats The Wei Army；
Sima Yi Invades The West River Land。
The fourth month of Beginning Prosperity； seventh year （AD 229）； found Zhuge Liang camped at Qishan in three camps； waiting to attack Wei。
When Sima Yi reached Changan； the officer in mand； Zhang He； told him all that had happened。 He gave Zhang He the post of Leader of the Van； with Dai Ling as his Assistant General and a hundred thousand troops； and then marched out toward the enemy； camping on River Wei's south bank。
When the local manders Guo Huai and Sun Li went to see the new mander…in…Chief； he asked； 〃Have you fought any battle with Shu？〃
〃Not yet；〃 said they。
Sima Yi said； 〃The enemy had a long march； their chance lay in attacking quickly。 As they have not attacked； they have some deep laid scheme to work out。 What news have you from the counties of West Valley Land？〃
Guo Huai replied； 〃The scouts say that the greatest care is being taken in every county。 But there is no news from Wudu and Yinping。〃
〃I must send someone to fight a decisive battle with them there。 You get away as quickly and privily as you can to the rescue of those two cities； and then attack the rear of the Shu army so as to throw them into disorder。〃
They set out to obey these orders； and on the way they fell to discussing Sima Yi。
〃How does Sima Yi pare with Zhuge Liang？〃 said Guo Huai。
〃Zhuge Liang is by far the better；〃 replied Sun Li。
〃Though Zhuge Liang may be the cleverer； yet this scheme of our leader's shows him to be superior to most people。 The enemy may have got those two cities。 Yet when we unexpectedly fall upon their rear； they will certainly be disordered。〃
Soon after this a scout came in to report： 〃Wang Ping has captured Yinping； and Wudu is in possession of Jiang Wei。 Furthermore； the Shu army is not far in front。〃
Said Sun Li； 〃There is some crafty scheme afoot。 Why are they prepared for battle in the open when they hold two cities？ We had better retire。〃
Guo Huai agreed； and they issued orders to face about and retreat。 Just then a bomb exploded； and； at the same time； there suddenly appeared from the cover of some hills a small body of troops。 On the flag that came forward they read Han Prime Minister Zhuge Liang ； and in the midst of the pany they saw him； seated in a small chariot。 On his left was Guan Xing； and on his right Zhang Bao。
They were quite taken aback。
Zhuge Liang laughed and said； 〃Do not run away！ Did you think that your leader's ruse would take me in？ Sima Yi sent a challenge to fight every day； indeed； while you were to slip round behind my army and attack！ I have the two cities………Wudu and Yinping。 If you have not e to surrender； then hurry up and fight a battle with me。〃
By now Guo Huai and Sun Li were really frightened。 Then behind them there rose a shout as of battle； and Wang Ping and Jiang Wei began to smite them in the rear； while Guan Xing and Zhang Bao bore down upon them in front。 They were soon utterly broken； and the two leaders escaped by scrambling up the hillside。
Zhang Bao saw them； and was urging his steed forward to catch them； when unhappily he and his horse went over together into a gully。 When they picked him up； they found that he had been kicked in the head and was badly hurt。
Zhuge Liang sent him back to Chengdu。
It has been said that Guo Huai and Sun Li escaped。 They got back to Sima Yi's camp and said； 〃Wudu and Yinping were both in the enemy's possession； and Zhuge Liang had prepared an ambush； so that we were attacked front and rear。 We lost the day and only escaped on foot。〃
〃It is no fault of yours；〃 said Sima Yi。 〃The fact is he is sharper than I。 Now go to defend Yongcheng and Meicheng and remain on the defensive。 Do not go out to give battle。 I have a plan to defeat them。〃
These two having left； Sima Yi called in Zhang He and Dai Ling and said； 〃Zhuge Liang has captured Wudu and Yinping。 He must restore order and confidence among the people of these places and so will be absent from his camp。 You two will take ten thousand troops each； start tonight and make your way quietly to the rear of the Shu army。 Then you will attack vigorously。 When you have done that； I shall lead out the army in front of them and array ready for battle。 While they are in disorder； I shall make my attack。 Their camp ought to be captured。 If I can win the advantage of these hills； their defeat will be easy。〃
These two left； Dai Ling marching on the left and Zhang He on the right。 They took