〃And who are these two？〃
〃One is named Zhong Hui； a man of Changsha。 He is a son of the former Imperial Guardian Zhong Yao。 As a mere boy he was noted for being bold and smart。 His father used to take him and his brother； Zhong Yu； to court。 Zhong Hui was seven and his brother a year older。 Emperor Pi noticed one day that the elder boy was sweating and asked him the reason。 Zhong Yu replied； 'Whenever I am frightened； the sweat pours out。' Then Emperor Pi said to the other boy； 'You do not seem frightened。' And Zhong Hui replied； 'I am so frightened that the sweat cannot e out。' The Emperor was discerned the extraordinary ability of the boy。 A little later Zhong Hui was always studying books on war and tactics； and became an able strategist； so that he won admiration from both Sima Yi and Jiang Ji。 Zhong Hui is being a secretary in the Palace。
〃The second man is Deng Ai from Yiyang。 He was left an orphan very early； but he was ambitious and enterprising。 If he saw lofty mountains or wide marshes； he always looked for those points where soldiers might be stationed or depots of provisions made or bustibles laid。 People ridiculed him； but Sima Yi saw there was much to admire and employed the young man on his staff。 Deng Ai had an impediment in his speech； so that he called himself 'Deng…eng…eng…Ai'； and Sima Yi used to make fun of him and asked him one day how many there were of him since he called himself 'Deng…eng…eng…Ai'。 Deng Ai at once replied； 'There is only one phoenix when they say 'O Phoenix！ O Phoenix！'' This ready repartee shows the quickness of his intellect； and you may well be on your guard against him and the other； for they are to be feared。〃
〃I do not think them worth even talking about；〃 replied Jiang Wei。
Jiang Wei took Xiahou Ba to Chengdu and presented him to the Latter Ruler。
Jiang Wei said； 〃Sima Yi had slain Cao Shuang； and he wanted to bait Xiahou Ba； who yielded to Shu。 Now the Simas； father and sons； are holding the supreme power； the young Ruler Cao Fang is a weakling； and Wei's fortune is near its end。 For many years in Hanzhong； our troops have been well trained； and our stores and depots filled with ample supplies。 Now I wish to lead an expedition； using Xiahou Ba as guide； to conquer the Middle Land and to reestablish the House of Han in its old capital。 This is how I could show my gratitude to Your Majesty and fulfill the desire of the late Prime Minister。〃
But Fei Yi； Chair of the Secretariat； opposed any expedition； saying； 〃We have lately lost by death two trusty ministers； Jiang Wan and Dong Yun； and there is no one left fit to take care of the government。 The attempt should be postponed； no hasty move should be made。〃
〃Not so；〃 replied Jiang Wei。 〃Life is short。 Our days flash by as the glint of a white horse across a chink in the door。 We are waiting and waiting。 Are we never to try to restore Han to its old glory？〃
〃Remember the saying of the wise Sun Zi： 'Know thyself and know thine enemy； then is victory sure。' We are not the equals of the late Prime Minister； and where he failed； are we likely to succeed？〃
Jiang Wei said； 〃I would enlist the aid of the Qiangs。 I have lived near them in Longshang and know them well。 With their help； even if we do not gain the whole empire； we can at least conquer and hold all west of Changan。〃
The Latter Ruler here closed the discussion； saying； 〃Sir； as you desire to conquer Wei； do your best。 I will not damp your enthusiasm。〃
Thus the Latter Ruler's consent was given。 Then Jiang Wei left the court and betook himself； with Xiahou Ba； into Hanzhong to prepare for a new expedition。
〃We will first send an envoy to the Qiangs to make a league with them；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃Then we will march out by the Xiping Pass to Yongzhou； where we will build up two ramparts in Qushan in Qushan Mountains and garrison them。 The position is a point of vantage。 Then we will send supplies beyond the pass by land and waterways； and advance gradually； according to the plan devised by the late Prime Minister。〃
In the autumn of the year （AD 249） they sent the two Shu generals； Li Xin and Gou Ai； with fifteen thousand troops； to construct the two ramparts in Qushan in Qushan Mountains； of which Gou Ai was to hold the eastern and Li Xin the western。
When the news reached Yongzhou； the Imperial Protector； Guo Huai； sent a report to Luoyang and also dispatched Chen Tai with a force of fifty thousand troops to oppose the troops of Shu。 When that army arrived； Li Xin and Gou Ai led their troops to meet it。 But their armies were too weak to stand such a large force； and they once more retired into the city。 Chen Tai ordered his army to lay siege and occupy the road that led to Hanzhong； so that supplies were cut off。
After some days； and when the soldiers of Shu began to feel the pinch of hunger； Guo Huai came to see what progress his general was making。
At sight of the position he rejoiced exceedingly； and when he returned to camp he said to Chen Tai； 〃In this high country the city must be short of water； which means that the besieged must e out for supplies。 Let us cut off the streams that supply them； and they will perish of thirst。〃
So the Wei soldiers were set to work to divert the streams above the city； and the besieged were soon distressed。 Li Xin led out a strong force to try to seize the water sources and fought stubbornly； but was at length worsted and driven back within the walls。 After that Li Xin and Gou Ai joined their forces and made another attempt to go out and fight。 But the Yongzhou troops surrounded them； and a melee ensured until Li Xin and Gou Ai fought their way back to the city。
Meanwhile the soldiers were parched with thirst。
Gou Ai discussed the circumstance with Li Xin； saying； 〃I do not understand the delay of mander Jiang Wei's reinforcements。〃
Li Xin said； 〃Let me try to fight my way out and get help。〃
So the gates were opened； and Li Xin rode out with some twenty horsemen。 These were opposed and had to fight every inch of the way； but eventually Li Xin won though severely wounded。 All his followers had fallen。
That night a strong north wind brought a heavy fall of snow； and the besieged were thus temporarily relieved from the water famine。 They melted the snow and prepared food。
Li Xin； severely wounded； made his way west along the hill paths。 After two days he fell in with Jiang Wei。
He dismounted； prostrated himself； and told his story： 〃Qushan had been surrounded and cut off water supplies。 By luck it snowed； and our soldiers were partly relieved。 But the situation was very urgent。〃
〃The delay is not due to my slackness。 The Qiang allies we depended upon have not e；〃 said Jiang Wei。
Jiang Wei sent an escort with the wounded Li Xin to conduct him to Chengdu； where his wounds could be treated。
Turning to Xiahou Ba； Jiang Wei asked； 〃The Qiangs do not e； and the Wei army is besieging Qushan。 General； do you have any plan to propose？〃
Xiahou Ba replied； 〃If we wait for the ing of the Qiangs； it looks as if we shall be too late to relieve Qushan。 It is very probable that Yongzhou has been left undefended； wherefore I propose that you go toward Ox Head Hills and work round to the rear of Yongzhou； which will cause the Wei army to fall back to relieve Yongzhou and so relieve our force。〃
〃The plan appears excellent；〃 replied Jiang Wei。 And he set out。
When Chen Tai knew that Li Xin had escaped； he said to his chief； 〃Now that this man has got out； he will tell Jiang Wei of the danger and Jiang Wei will conclude that our efforts are concentrated on the ramparts and will endeavor to attack our rear。 Therefore I suggest； General； that you go to River Yao and stop the supplies of our enemies； while I go to the Ox Head Hills and smite them。 They will retreat as soon as they know their supplies are threatened。〃
So Guo Huai marched secretly to River Yao； while Chen Tai went to the hills。
When the Shu army led by Jiang Wei came near the Ox Head Hills； they heard a great shouting in front； and the scouts came in to report that the road was barred。 Jiang Wei himself rode out to look。
〃So you intended to attack Yongzhou； did you？〃 shouted Chen Tai。 〃But we know it and have been watching for you a long time。〃
Jiang Wei rode forth to attack。 Chen T