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〃What do you mean talking thus after writing me a letter telling me to surrender？ You want to secure your own safety by involving me。 But I have surrendered； and as I am a superior general in their service now； I see no sense in returning to Wei。〃
So saying； he urged the soldiers on to the attack。 The assault continued till dawn； when the besiegers drew off。
Now the appearance of Jiang Wei in this fashion was but a ruse。 Zhuge Liang had found among his men one who resembled Jiang Wei and had disguised him so that Jiang Wei appeared to be leading the attack on the ramparts。 In the smoke and fire during the night no one could penetrate the disguise。
Zhuge Liang then led the army to attack Jicheng。 The grain in the city was insufficient to feed the people。 From the wall Jiang Wei saw wagons of grain and forage being driven into the Shu camp； and he determined to try to secure some。 So he led three thousand troops out of the city to attack the train of wagons。 As soon as he appeared； the convoy abandoned the carts and fled。 Jiang Wei seized them； and was taking them into the city； when he was met by a cohort under the mand of Zhang Yi。 They plunged into battle。 After a short time Wang Ping came to reinforce Zhang Yi； so that Jiang Wei was attacked on two sides。 All Jiang Wei's efforts were vain； and he had to abandon the spoil and try to reenter the city。
But as he drew near； he saw the walls were decorated with Shu ensigns； for Wei Yan had captured the place and was in possession。 By desperate fighting Jiang Wei got clear and set off for Tianshui。 But he only had a few score horsemen left。 Presently the small force fell in with Zhang Bao； and at the end of this engagement Jiang Wei found himself alone； a single horseman。 He reached Tianshui and hailed the gate。 The watchers above the gate knew him and went to tell the Governor。
〃This fellow has came to beguile me into opening the gate；〃 said Ma Zun。
So Ma Zun ordered the defenders to shoot at the fugitive。 Jiang Wei turned back； but there were the army of Shu close at hand。 He set off as fast as he could for Shanggui。 But when he got there Liang Qian hurled a volley of abuse at him。
〃You traitor！〃 cried Liang Qian。 〃Dare you e to try to cajole me out of my city？ I know you have surrendered to Shu。〃
Liang Qian's soldiers also began to shoot at the hapless fugitive。
Jiang Wei was helpless。 He could not explain the real truth to those who doubted him。 Lifting his eyes to heaven； while tears rolled down his cheeks； he whipped up his steed and rode off toward Changan。
Before he had got very far； he came to a spot where were many heavy foliaged trees。 From among these appeared a pany of soldiers； led by Guan Xing。 Weary as were both horse and rider； there was no chance of successful resistance； and Jiang Wei turned back。 But soon appeared a small chariot in which sat Zhuge Liang； dressed simply as usual in a white robe and carrying his feather fan。
〃Friend Jiang Wei；〃 said Zhuge Liang； 〃is it not time to yield？〃
Jiang Wei stopped and pondered。 There was Zhuge Liang； and Guan Xing's troops were behind him。 There was no way out。 So he dismounted and bowed his head in submission。
Zhuge Liang at once got out of the chariot and bade him wele； taking him by the hand and saying； 〃Ever since I left my humble cottage； I have been seeking some worthy person to whom I might impart the knowledge that my life has been spent in acquiring。 I have found no one till this moment； and now my desire is attained。 You are the one。〃
Jiang Wei bowed and thanked him； and they two returned to camp。
Soon after their arrival； the new recruit and Zhuge Liang consulted how to capture Tianshui and Shanggui。 Jiang Wei had a scheme。
〃The two civil officers in charge of the city； Yin Shang and Liang Xu； are excellent friends of mine；〃 said he； 〃and I will write a letter to each； shoot it over the wall tied to an arrow； and ask them to help by raising a revolt within the city。〃
They decided upon this； and two secret letters were duly written and sent flying over the ramparts； where they were found and taken to the Governor。 Ma Zun was doubtful what action to take and consulted with Xiahou Mao； asking him to decide。
Said Ma Zun； 〃Yin Shang and Liang Xu are in league with Jiang Wei； and they plot to aid the enemy from within。 What should be done？〃
〃Put both the men to death；〃 Xiahou Mao replied。
But Yin Shang heard what was toward and said to Liang Xu； 〃The best course for us is to yield the city to Shu and trust to them to treat us well as our repense。〃
That evening Xiahou Mao sent many times to summon the two officers to him； but they thought it too great a risk to answer the call。 Instead； they armed themselves and rode at the head of their own soldiers to the gates； opened them and let in the troops of Shu。 Ma Zun and Xiahou Mao fled by the west gate with a hundred faithful followers and sought refuge with the Qiang tribespeople。
Liang Xu and Yin Shang weled Zhuge Liang； who entered the city； restored order； and calmed the people。
This done； Zhuge Liang asked how he might capture Shanggui。
Liang Xu said； 〃My brother； Liang Qian； holds that city； and I will call upon him to yield it。〃
Thereupon Liang Xu rode over to Shanggui and called out his brother to submit。 Zhuge Liang rewarded the two brothers and then made Liang Xu Governor of Tianshui； Yin Shang； Magistrate of Jicheng； and Liang Qian； Magistrate of Shanggui。 Next the army prepared to advance。
His officers asked； 〃O Prime Minister； why do you not pursue and capture Xiahou Mao？〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃I let him go as I would release a duck。 In my friend Jiang Wei I recognized a phoenix。〃
Such awe and fear seized upon the country around when these exploits of Zhuge Liang were heard of that many other cities simply opened their gates without making any resistance。 Zhuge Liang brought all soldiers from Hanzhong； horse and foot； and marched on to Qishan。
When the Shu army reached the west bank of River Wei； the scouts reported their movements in Luoyang； and； at a court held in the first year of the era of Calm Peace （AD 227）； the ministers told the Ruler of Wei of the threatened invasion。
They said； 〃Xiahou Mao； the Imperial Son…in…Law； has lost the three counties and fled to the Qiangs。 The enemy has reached Qishan； and their advanced columns are on the west bank of River Wei。 I pray that an army be sent to repulse them。〃
The Emperor； Cao Rui； was alarmed and asked； 〃Who shall go out and drive off the enemy for me？〃
Minister Wang Lang stepped forward and said； 〃I observed that whenever General Cao Zhen was sent by the late Emperor on any expedition he succeeded。 Why not send him to drive off these soldiers of Shu？〃
Cao Rui approved of the suggestion。
Whereupon he called up Cao Zhen and said to him； 〃The late Emperor confided me to your guardianship。 You cannot sit by while the enemy ravages the country。〃
Cao Zhen replied； 〃Your Majesty； my talents are but poor and unequal to the task you propose。〃
〃You are a trusted minister of state； and you may not really refuse this task。 Old and worn as I am； I will use the little strength left me to acpany you；〃 said Wang Lang。
〃After the bounties I have received； I cannot refuse；〃 replied Cao Zhen。 〃But I must ask for an assistant。〃
〃You have only to name him； O Noble One；〃 said the Emperor。
So Cao Zhen named Guo Huai； a man of Yangqu； whose official rank was Lord of Sheting； he was also Imperial Protector of Yongzhou。
Thereupon Cao Zhen was appointed mander…in…Chief； and the ensigns of rank were conferred upon him。 Guo Huai was appointed his second； and Wang Lang was created Instructor of the Army。 Wang Lang was then already old； seventy…six。
The army of Cao Zhen consisted of two hundred thousand troops； the best from both capitals。 His brother； Cao Zun； was made Leader of the Van with an assistant； Zhu Zan； General Who Opposes Brigands。 The army moved out in the eleventh month of that year； and the Ruler of Wei went with it to the outside of the west gate。
Cao Zhen marched by way of Changan and camped on the west bank of the River Wei。 At a council； which the mander…in…Chief called to consider the best mode of attack； Wang Lang asked that he might be allowed to parley with the enemy。
Said Wang Lang； 〃Let the army be drawn up in plete battle order and unfurl all the banners。 I will go out and call a parley with Zhuge Liang； at which I will make him yield to us without a blow； and the army of Shu shall march home again。〃
Cao Zhen agreed to the plan。 So orders were given to take the early meal at the fourth watch and have the men fall in with their panies and files at daylight； all in review order。 Everything was to be grand and imposing； the flags fluttering and the drums rolling； every soldier in his place。 Just before this display； a messenger was to deliver a declaration of war。
Next day； when the armies were drawn up facing each other in front of the Qishan Mountains； the soldiers of Shu saw that their enemies were fine； bold warriors； very different from those that Xiahou Mao had brought against them。 Then after three rolls of the drums； Minister of the Interior Wang Lang mounted his horse and rode out； next to him rode mander…in…Chief Cao Zhen； and followed behind was Deputy mander Guo Hu