the West。 Victory will not be so easy as it was before。〃
〃Why should I fear him？〃 cried Jiang Wei； angrily。 〃You should not laud the spirit of the enemy and belittle that of our own soldiers。 But in any case I have made up my mind and shall take West Valley Land。〃
No one dared to offer any further opposition。 Jiang Wei himself led the first army； the others followed in due order； and thus the soldiers of Shu marched out of Zhongti to Qishan。
Before they could reach Qishan； the scouts reported the hills already occupied by the armies of Wei。 Jiang Wei rode forward to verify this； and； surely enough； he saw the Wei camps； nine in number； stretching over the hills like a huge serpent； and all arranged to give each other support。
〃Xiahou Ba spoke only too well；〃 said he。 〃The plan of those camps is excellent and only our Zhuge Liang could have laid them out with equal skill。〃
Returning to his own army； he said to his officers； 〃They must have known of my ing； and I think Deng Ai is here too。 Now from this as base you are to send out daily small reconnoitering parties showing my banner； but different flags and uniforms； blue； yellow； red； white； and black； in turns。 While you are thus distracting attention； I will lead the main army by Dongting to attack Nanan。〃
Bao Su was sent to camp at the mouth of the Qishan Mountains Valley while the main army marched。
As soon as Deng Ai had heard that the enemy would e out at Qishan； he had camped there with his colleague Chen Tai。 But when days had passed without anyone ing to fling a challenge； he sent out spies to find out where the Shu army was lurking。 They could find nothing； and so Deng Ai went to the summit of a hill to look around。
He came to the conclusion； saying； 〃Jiang Wei must not be in this camp。 He must be on his way to capture Nanan。 Those soldiers in the Shu camp were nothing but a feint； accentuated by the daily change of uniform。 Going to and fro for days； the horses look tired； and their leaders are certainly none of the ablest。 Therefore； General； I advise an attack here。 If that succeeds； the Dongting road can be occupied； and Jiang Wei will be unable to retreat。 I think I ought to try to relieve Nanan。 I will go by the Wucheng Mountain； and if I occupy that； the enemy will try to take Shanggui。 Near that place is a narrow and precipitous valley called Block Valley； just the place for an ambush； where I shall lie in wait till Jiang Wei es to take the Wucheng Mountain。〃
Chen Tai replied； 〃I have been here over twenty years and have never known so much of the military possibilities of the place。 You are very wonderful and must carry out your plan。〃
So Deng Ai marched toward Nanan by double marches。 Soon they came to the Wucheng Mountain； where they camped without opposition。 He sent his son Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan； each leading five thousand troops； to lie in wait in the Block Valley and not to betray their presence。
In the meantime Jiang Wei was marching between Dongting and Nanan。
Near the Wucheng Mountain； he turned to Xiahou Ba and said； 〃That hill is our point； and Nanan is close。 I fear lest the artful Deng Ai may seize and fortify it。〃
They hastened； anxious to reach the hill before the enemy。 But it was not to be。 Presently they heard the roar of bombs and the beating of drums； and then flags and banners appeared； all of Wei。 And among them fluttered the leader's standard； bearing two words Deng Ai 。
This was a sad disappointment。 The army of Shu halted； and veteran soldiers of Wei came rushing down from various points on the hill； too many for the troops of Shu to drive back。 So the advance guard was defeated。 Jiang Wei went to their help with his central body； but when he got near； the soldiers of Wei had retreated up to the hill。
Jiang Wei went on to the foot of the hill and challenged； but no one came out to accept。 The soldiers of Shu began to shout abuse； and kept it up till late in the day； but they failed to provoke a fight。 As the army of Shu began to retire； the Wei drums beat furiously； yet no one appeared。 Jiang Wei turned about to ascend the hill； but its defenders prevented that by stones thrown from above。 He hung on till the third watch； when he tried again。 But he failed。 Thereupon he went down the hill and halted； bidding his soldiers build a barricade of wood and boulders。 The troops of Wei came on again； and the Shu troops scrambled to run to the old camp。
Next day Jiang Wei brought up many transport wagons and placed them on the slope as the nucleus of a camp。 But in the night a number of Wei troops came down with torches and set fire to them。 A fight ensued； which lasted till dawn。
Seeing that a camp could not be made there； Jiang Wei retired to consider new plans with Xiahou Ba。
〃Since we cannot take Nanan； our next best plan is to try for Shanggui； which is the storehouse of Nanan。〃
Leaving Xiahou Ba on the hill； Jiang Wei led a force of veteran soldiers and bold officers along the road toward Shanggui。 They marched all night； and dawn found them in a deep valley； which the guides said was Block Valley。
〃That sounds too much like 'Cut…off Valley'；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃And if a force held the mouth； we should be in sorry straits。〃
While hesitating whether to advance farther or not； the leading troops came back to say： 〃We have seen a cloud of dust beyond the hills； which seems to indicate a body of soldiers in hiding。〃
So the order was given to retire。 At that moment the armies under Shi Zuan and Deng Zhong came out and attacked。 Jiang Wei； alternately fighting and retreating； tried to get away。 Then Deng Ai himself appeared； and the Shu army had enemies on three sides。 They were in grave danger； but Xiahou Ba came to their rescue； and so Jiang Wei escaped。
Jiang Wei proposed to return to Qishan； but Xiahou Ba said； 〃We cannot go thither； for Chen Tai has destroyed the force under Bao Su； and he himself was killed。 All that was left of that army has gone back into Hanzhong。〃
It was no longer a question of taking the Dongting road。 Jiang Wei sought out by…roads to march along。 Deng Ai came in pursuit； and as he pressed hard on the rear； Jiang Wei sent the others on ahead while he covered the retreat。
Soon Chen Tai came out from the hills； and Jiang Wei was surrounded by a shouting body of the enemy。 He fought all directions； but could not clear the way。 He and his horse were very weary when Zhang Ni； who had heard of his straits； came to his rescue with a body of cavalry。 Zhang Ni cut his way in； and Jiang Wei immediately broke the siege and got out。 Zhang Ni saved his general； but lost his own life in the melee。 Finally Jiang Wei got back into Hanzhong。
From Hanzhong the death of Zhang Ni in battle was reported to the Latter Ruler； who bestowed suitable honors upon his family。
The Shu people blamed Jiang Wei for the serious loss of life of their relatives in the military operations that had just failed； and Jiang Wei； following the precedent in Jieting of the late Lord of Wuxiang； asked that he himself should be degraded in rank； retaining； however； the mand。 He was put back to General of the Rear Army。
The country being now cleared of the enemy； Chen Tai and Deng Ai prepared a banquet in honor of victory and gave rewards to the soldiers who had fought。 Chen Tai sent a memorial to the capital upon the services of Deng Ai； and a special mission of Sima Zhao brought Deng Ai higher rank； the title of lordship was given to his son； Deng Zhong。
At this time the style of the reign in Wei was changed from Right Origin； the third year； to Gentle Dew Era； the first year （AD 256）。 Sima Zhao manded all the military forces and made himself Empire mander…in…Chief。 He assumed great pomp； and whenever he moved outside his palace； he was escorted by three thousand mail…clad guards； beside squadrons of cavalry。 All power lay in his hands； and he decided all questions so that the court was rather in his palace than in that of the Emperor。
Plans for taking the final step constantly occupied his thoughts。 The question of mounting the throne was openly mooted by Jia Chong； a confidant； who was a son of mander Jia Kui。 Jia Chong was holding the High Counselor office in the Prime Minister's palace。
Jia Chong said； 〃Sir； all real authority is in your hands； and the country is not tranquil。 The only remedy is for you to bee actual ruler； and you should find out who are your supporters。〃
Sima Zhao replied； 〃This has been in my thoughts a long time。 You might be my emissary to the east to find out the feeling there。 You can pretend you go to thank the soldiers who took part in the late campaign。 That would be a good pretext。〃
Accordingly Jia Chong traveled into the South of River Huai； where he saw Zhuge Dan； General Who Guards the East。 This officer was from Nanyang and a cousin of the late Lord of Wuxiang； Zhuge Liang。 Zhuge Dan had gone to Wei for employment； but had received no significant office while Zhuge Liang was the Prime minister of Shu。 After Zhuge Liang's death； Zhuge Dan's promotion was rapid。 He was now Lord of Gaoping and mander of the south and east of River Huai。
Jia Chong went to Zhuge Dan to ask him to convey to the army the appreciation of the soldiers' services。 Jia Chong was received courteously； and at a banquet； when host and guest were both mellow with wine； Jia Chong set himself to discover Zhuge Dan's feelings。
Jia Chong said； 〃Lately in Luoyang there has been much talk of the weakness and lack of ability of the Emperor and his unfitness to rule。 Now General Sima Zhao es of a family noted for state service for three generations。 His own services and virtues are high as the heavens； and he is the man best fitted to take the rulership of Wei。 Is this not your opinion？〃
But Zhuge Dan did not favor the suggestion。 On the contrary； he broke out angrily； 〃You are a son of Jia Kui of Yuzhou； and your family have received the bounty of Wei。 Yet you dare speak of rebellion！〃
Jia Chong said； 〃I only repeat what people have said。〃
Zhuge Dan said； 〃If the state is in difficulty； then one ought to stand up for it even to the death！〃
Jia Chong said no more。 He soon returned and told Sima Zhao what had been said。
〃The rat！〃 cried Sima Zhao； angrily。
〃Zhuge Dan is exceedingly popular there in the South of River Huai； and if he is left