〃Rebel； stay！〃 cried they both as they came up。
Realizing that they had been false； he turned and galloped toward the city； but a flight of arrows met him； and the two who had betrayed him； Li Gu and Deng Xian； began to revile him。
〃We have already yielded the city！〃 they cried。
Then Meng Da fled。 But he was pursued； and as he and his horse were both exhausted； he was speedily overtaken and slain。 They exposed his head； and his soldiers submitted。 Sima Yi was weled at the open gates。 The people were pacified； the soldiers were rewarded and； this done； a report of their success was sent to Cao Rui。
Cao Rui ordered the body of Meng Da to be exposed in the market place of Luoyang； and he promoted Shen Yi and Shen Dan and gave them posts in the army of Sima Yi。 He gave Li Gu and Deng Xian mand of the cities of Xincheng and Shangyong。
Then Sima Yi marched to Changan and camped。 The leader entered the city to have audience with his master； by whom he was most graciously received。
〃Once I doubted you；〃 said Cao Rui； 〃but then I did not understand； and I listened to mischief…makers。 I regret it。 Had you not suppressed Meng Da； both capitals would have gone wrong。〃
Sima Yi replied； 〃Shen Yi gave the information of the intended revolt and thought to memorialize Your Majesty。 But there would have been a long delay； and so I did not await orders； but set forth at once。 Delay would have played into Zhuge Liang's hands。〃
Then Sima Yi handed in Zhuge Liang's letter to Meng Da。
＇e＇ Wu Qi； aka Wu Zi； a famous general in the Warring States period。 He first served Lu； then went to Wei； his native； and led Wei army against Qin。 He made enemies in Wei； so he fled to Chu； where King Dao made him prime minister。 Wu Qi made Chu a powerful state； expanded her territory； defended her against Wei； Zhao； and Han； and attacked Qin。 But right after King Dao died； Wu Qi was put to death by his enemies at court。 Wu Qi is the author of a military treatise named 〃Wu Qi's Art of War〃。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Sun Zi （aka Sun Wu； Sunzi； Suntzu； Sun…tzu； Sun tzu） the author of the famed treatise The Art of War。 A general of Wu in the Spring and Autumn period； Sun Zi made her the mightiest state during his lifetime by defeating Chu and conquering Yue。 His treatise the Art of War is still avidly read today by many。 。。。。。
When the Emperor had read that； he said； 〃You are wiser than both the great strategists of old………Wu Qi* and Sun Zi*。〃
The Ruler of Wei conferred upon the successful leader a pair of golden axes and the privilege of taking action in important matters without first obtaining his master's sanction。 Then Sima Yi was ordered to lead the army to the pass against the enemy。
Sima Yi said； 〃May I name the Leader of the Van？〃
〃Whom do you nominate？〃
〃Zhang He； General of the Right Army； can shoulder this task。〃
〃Just the man I wished to send；〃 said Cao Rui； smiling。 And Zhang He was appointed。
Sima Yi took his army off Changan and marched it to the camp of the Shu army。
By strategy the leader shows his skill；
He needs bold fighting men to work his will。
The result of the campaign will appear in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 95 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 95
Chapter 95
Ma Su's Disobedience Causes The Loss Of Jieting；
Zhuge Liang's Lute Repulses Sima Yi。
Beside sending Zhang He as Van Leader of Sima Yi； Cao Rui appointed two other generals； Xin Pi and Sun Li； to assist Cao Zhen。 Xin Pi and Sun Li led fifty thousand troops。
Sima Yi's army was two hundred thousand strong。 They marched out through the pass and made a camp。
When encamped； Sima Yi summoned Zhang He to his tent and admonished him； saying； 〃A characteristic of Zhuge Liang is his most diligent carefulness； he is never hasty。 If I were in his place； I should advance through the Ziwu Valley to capture Changan and so save much time。 It is not that he is unskillful； but he fears lest that plan might miscarry； and he will not sport with risk。 Therefore he will certainly e through the Xie Valley； taking Meicheng on the way。 That place captured； he will divide his force into two； one part to take Gu Valley。 I have sent Cao Zhen orders to guard Meicheng strictly and on no account to let its garrison go out to battle。 The generals Sun Li and Xin Pi are to mand the Gu Valley entrance； and should the enemy e； they are to make a sudden attack。〃
〃By what road will you advance？〃 asked Zhang He。
〃I know a road west of Qinling Mountains called Jieting； on which stands the city Liliu。 These two places are the throat of Hanzhong。 Zhuge Liang will take advantage of the unpreparedness of Cao Zhen and will certainly e in by this way。 You and I will go to Jieting； whence it is a short distance to Yangping Pass。 When Zhuge Liang hears that the road through Jieting is blocked and his supplies cut off； he will know that all the lands of West Valley Land is impossible to keep； and will retire without losing a moment into Hanzhong。 I shall smite him on the march； and I ought to gain a plete victory。 If he should not retire； then I shall block all the smaller roads and so stop his supplies。 A month's starvation will kill off the soldiers of Shu； and Zhuge Liang will be my prisoner。〃
Zhang He took in the scheme and expressed his admiration； saying； 〃O mander； your calculation exceeds human！〃
Sima Yi continued； 〃However； it is not to be forgotten that Zhuge Liang is quite different from Meng Da。 You； as Leader of the Van； will have to advance with the utmost care。 You must impress upon your generals the importance of reconnoitering a long way ahead and only advancing when they are sure there is no ambush。 The least remissness will make you the victim of some ruse of the enemy。〃
Zhang He； having received his instructions； marched away。
Meanwhile spies had e to Zhuge Liang in Qishan with news of the destruction of Meng Da and the failure of his conspiracy。
They said； 〃Sima Yi marched rapidly in eight days to Xincheng。 He had Shen Yi； Shen Dan； Li Gu； and Deng Xian plot against Meng Da from within。 Meng Da had not been able to do anything and was killed。 Now Sima Yi has gone to Changan； when he has marched through the pass with Zhang He。〃
Zhuge Liang was distressed。
〃Meng Da's destruction was certain；〃 said he。 〃Such a scheme could not remain secret。 Now Sima Yi will try for Jieting and block the one road essential to us。〃
So Jieting had to be defended； and Zhuge Liang asked who would go。 Ma Su offered himself instantly。
Zhuge Liang urged upon him the importance of his task。
〃The place is small； but of very great importance； for its loss would involve the loss of the whole army。 You are deeply read in all the rules of strategy； but the defense of this place is difficult； since it has no wall and no natural defenses。〃
〃I have studied the books of war since I was a boy； and I may say I know a little of the art of war；〃 Ma Su replied。 〃Why alone is Jieting so difficult to hold？〃
〃Because Sima Yi is an exceptional man； and also he has a famous second in Zhang He as Leader of the Van。 I fear you may not be a match for him。〃
Ma Su replied； 〃To say nothing of these two； I would not mind if Cao Rui himself came against me。 If I fail； then I beg you to behead my whole family。〃
〃There is no jesting in war；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃I will give a written pledge。〃
Zhuge Liang agreed； and a written pledge was given and placed on record。
Zhuge Liang continued； 〃I shall give you twenty…five thousand veterans and also send an officer of rank to assist you。〃
Next he summoned Wang Ping and said to him； 〃As you are a careful and cautious man； I am giving you a very responsible position。 You are to hold Jieting with the utmost tenacity。 Camp there in the most manding position so that the enemy cannot steal by。 When your arrangements are plete； draw a plan of them and a map of the local topography； and let me see it。 All my dispositions have been carefully thought out and are not to be changed。 If you can hold this successfully； it will be of the first service in the capture of Changan。 So be very； very careful。〃
After Ma Su and Wang Ping had gone and Zhuge Liang had reflected for a long time； it occurred to him that there might be some slip between his two leaders。
So he called Gao Xiang to him and said； 〃Northeast of Jieting is a city named Liliu； and near it an unfrequented hill path。 There you are to camp and make a stockade。 I will give you ten thousand troops for this task。 If Jieting should be threatened； you may go to the rescue。〃
After Gao Xiang had left； and as Zhuge Liang thought Gao Xiang was not a match for his opponent Zhang He； he decided there ought to be additional strength on the west in order to make Jieting safe。 So he summoned Wei Yan and bade him lead his army to the rear of Jieting and camp there。
But Wei Yan thought this rather a slight； and said； 〃As Leader of the Van； I should go first against the enemy。 Why am I sent to a place where there is nothing to do？〃
〃The leadership of the van is really a second…rate task。 Now I am sending you to support Jieting and take post on the most dangerous road to Yangping Pass。 You are the chief keeper of the throat of Hanzhong。 It is a very responsible post and not at all an idle one。 Do not so regard it and spoil my whole plan。 Be particularly careful。〃
Wei Yan； satisfied now that he was not being slighted； went his way。
Zhuge Liang's mind was at rest； and he called up Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi； to whom he said； 〃Now that Sima Yi is in mand of the army； the whole outlook is different。 Each of you will lead a force out to Gu Valley and move about so as to mislead the enemy。 Whether you meet and engage them or not； you will certainly cause them uneasiness。 I am going to lead the main army through the Xie Valley to Meicheng。 If I can capture that； Changan will fall。〃
Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi took the orders and went off。
Zhuge Liang appointed Jiang Wei as Leader of the Van； and they marched to the Xie Valley。
When Ma Su and Wang Ping had reached Jieting and saw what manner of place it was； Ma Su smiled； saying； 〃Why was the Prime Minister so extremely anxious？ How would the Wei armies dare to e to such a hilly place as this？〃
Wang Ping replied； 〃Though they might not dare to e； we should set our camp at this meeting of many roads