It was the autumn of the sixteenth year of Long Enjoyment （AD 253）； and Jiang Wei's army of two hundred thousand was ready to march against the north。 Liao Hua and Zhang Yi were Leaders of the Van； Xiahou Ba was Army Strategist； Zhang Ni was in mand of the missariat。 The army marched out by the Yangping Pass。
Discussing the plan of campaign with Xiahou Ba； Jiang Wei said； 〃Our former attack on Yongzhou failed； so this time they will doubtless be even better prepared to resist。 What do you suggest？〃
Xiahou Ba replied； 〃Nanan is the only well…provided place in all Longshang。 If we take that； it will serve as an excellent base。 Our former ill…success was due to the non…arrival of the Qiangs。 Let us therefore send early to tell them to assemble at Longyou； after which we will move out at Shiying and march to Nanan by way of Dongting。〃
〃You spoke well；〃 said Jiang Wei。
He at once sent Xi Zheng as his envoy； bearing gifts of gold and pearls and silk to win the help of the King of the Qiangs； whose name was Mi Dang。 The mission was successful： King Mi Dang accepted the presents and sent fifty thousand troops to Nanan under the Qiang General Ehe Shaoge。
When Guo Huai heard of the threatened attack； he sent a hasty memorial to Capital Luoyang。
Sima Shi at once asked his leaders； 〃Who will go out to meet the army from the west？〃
Xu Zi volunteered； and as Sima Shi had a high opinion of his capacity； he appointed Xu Zi as Leader of the Van。 The brother of the Prime Minister； Sima Zhao； went as mander…in…Chief。
The Wei army set out for West Valley Land； reached Dongting； and there fell in with Jiang Wei。 When both sides were arrayed Xu Zi； who wielded a mighty splitter…of…mountains ax as his weapon； rode out and challenged。 Liao Hua went forth to accept； but after a few bouts he took advantage of a feint and fled。
Then Zhang Yi set his spear and rode forth to continue the fight。 He also soon fled and returned within his own ranks。 Thereupon Xu Zi gave the signal to fall on in force； and the army of Shu lost the day。 They retired ten miles； Sima Zhao also drew off his troops； and both sides encamped。
〃Xu Zi is very formidable。 How can we overe him？〃 asked Jiang Wei。
〃Tomorrow make pretense of defeat and so draw them into an ambush；〃 replied Xiahou Ba。
〃But remember whose son this Sima Zhao is；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃Sima Zhao cannot be a novice in war。 If he sees a likely spot for an ambush； he will halt。 Now the troops of Wei have cut our transportation many times。 Let us do the same to them； and we may slay this Xu Zi。〃
He called in Liao Hua and Zhang Yi and gave them secret orders； sending them in different directions。 Then he laid iron thorns along all the approaches and planted thorny barriers as if making a permanent defense。 When the troops of Wei came up and challenged； the troops of Shu refused battle。
The scouts reported to Sima Zhao： 〃The Shu supplies are ing up along the rear of Iron Cage Mountain； and they are using the wooden oxen and running horses as transport。 The Shu army are building permanent defenses and are awaiting the arrival of their allies the Qiang tribes。〃
Then said Sima Zhao to Xu Zi； 〃We formerly defeated the army of Shu by cutting off supplies； and we can do that again。 Let five thousand troops go out tonight and occupy the road。〃
About the middle of the first watch Xu Zi marched across the hills。 When he came to the other side； he saw a couple of hundred soldiers driving a hundred or so heads of mechanical animals laden with grain and forage。 His army rushed down upon them with shouts； and the troops of Shu； seeing that their road was impassable； abandoned their supplies and ran away。 Xu Zi took possession of the supply train； which he sent back to his own camp under the escort of half his troops。 With the other half he set out in pursuit。
About three miles away； the road was found blocked with carts set across the track。 Some of his soldiers dismounted to clear the way。 But as they did so； the brushwood on both sides burst into a blaze。 Xu Zi at once drew off his force and turned to retire； but ing to a defile he found the road again blocked with wagons； and again the brushwood began to burn。 He made a dash to escape； but before he could get clear a bomb roared； and he saw the troops of Shu ing down on him from two directions。 Liao Hua and Zhang Yi from left and right fell on Xu Zi with great fury； and the troops of Wei were wholly defeated。 Xu Zi himself got clear； but without any following。
He struggled on till he and his steed were almost spent with fatigue。 Presently he saw another pany of the enemy in his way； and the leader was Jiang Wei。 Before he could make any resistance； Jiang Wei's spear thrust him down； and as Xu Zi lay on the ground he was cut to pieces。
Meanwhile those troops of Wei who had been sent to escort to camp the convoy of supplies which they had seized were captured by Xiahou Ba。 They surrendered。 Xiahou Ba then stripped them of their weapons and clothing and therein disguised some of his own soldiers。 Holding aloft banners of Wei； these disguised soldiers made for the Wei camp。 When they arrived； they were mistaken by those in the camp for rades； and the gates were thrown open。 They rushed in and began to slay。 Taken wholly by surprise； Sima Zhao leaped upon his steed and fled。 But Liao Hua met him and drove him back。 Then appeared Jiang Wei in the path of retreat； so that no road lay open。 Sima Zhao made off for the hills； hoping to be able to hold out on the Iron Cage Mountain。
Now there was only one road up the hill； which rose steeply on all sides。 And the hill had but one small spring of water； enough to serve a hundred people or so； while Sima Zhao's force numbered six thousand。 Their enemies had blocked the only road of escape。 This one fountain was unequal to supplying the needs of the beleaguered army； and soon they were tormented with thirst。
In despair； Sima Zhao looked up to heaven and sighed； saying； 〃Death will surely e to me here！〃
The host of Wei on Iron Cage Mountain
Were once fast held by Jiang Wei's skill；
When Pang Juan first crossed the Maling Hills；
His strategy was reckoned fine
As Xiang Yu at the Nine Mountains；
Both bent opponents to their will。
In this critical situation Secretary Wang Tao reminded his leader of what Geng Gong had done in ancient time； saying； 〃O General； why do you not imitate Geng Gong； who； being in great need； prostrated himself and prayed at a well； wherefrom he afterwards was supplied with sweet water？〃
So the leader went to the summit of the hill and knelt beside the spring and grayed thus：
〃The humble Sima Zhao received a mand to repulse the army of Shu。 If he is to die here； then may this spring cease its flow； when he will end his own life and let his soldiers yield to the enemy。 But if his allotted span of life be not reached； then； O Blue Vault； increase the flow of water and save the lives of this multitude。〃
Thus he prayed； and the waters gushed forth in plenty； so that they all quenched their thirst and lived。
Jiang Wei had surrounded the hill； holding the army thereon as in a prison。
He said to his officers； 〃I have always regretted that our great Prime Minister was unable to capture Sima Yi in the Gourd Valley； but now I think his son is doomed to fall into our hands！〃
However； news of the dangerous position of Sima Zhao had e to Guo Huai； who set about a rescue。
Chen Tai said to him； 〃Jiang Wei has made a league with the Qiangs； and they have arrived to help him。 If you go away to rescue Sima Zhao； the Qiangs will attack from the rear。 Therefore I would propose to send someone to the tribespeople to try to create a diversion and get them to retire。 If they are disposed of； you may go to the rescue of Sima Zhao。〃
Guo Huai saw there was much reason in this； and told Chen Tai to take a force of five thousand troops and go to the camp of the King of the Qiangs。 When Chen Tai reached the camp； he threw off his armor and entered weeping and crying that he was in danger of death。
He said； 〃Guo Huai sets himself up as superior to everyone and is trying to slay me。 Therefore I have e to offer my services to you。 I know all the secrets of the Wei army； and； if you will； this very night I can lead you to th