e； that I may keep the city and do my duty by my mother at the same time。〃
So Jiang Wei received mand of three thousand troops and marched toward his home。
When Jiang Wei came near the walls； he saw a cohort under Wei Yan。 He attacked。 After a show of defense Wei Yan retreated； and Jiang Wei entered the city。 He closed the gates and prepared to defend the wall。 Then he went home to see his mother。
In the same way Liang Qian was allowed to enter Shanggui。
Then Zhuge Liang sent for his prisoner； Xiahou Mao； and； when he was brought to his tent； Zhuge Liang said suddenly； 〃Are you afraid of death？〃
Xiahou Mao prostrated himself and begged for his life。
〃Well； Jiang Wei of Tianshui； who； is now gone to guard Jicheng； has sent a letter to say that he would surrender if only that would secure your safety。 Now I am going to let you go if you will promise to induce Jiang Wei to e over to me。 Do you accept the condition？〃
〃I am willing to induce him to yield to you；〃 said Xiahou Mao。
Zhuge Liang then gave his prisoner clothing and a horse and let him ride away。 Nor did he send anyone to follow him； but let him choose his own road。
Having got outside； Xiahou Mao wanted to get away； but he was perfectly ignorant of the roads and knew not which to take。 Presently he came across some people； apparently in flight； and he questioned them。
〃We are Jicheng people；〃 said they。 〃Jiang Wei has surrendered the city and deserted to Zhuge Liang。 The troops of Shu are looting and burning； and we have escaped。 We are going to Shanggui。〃
〃Do you know who is holding Tianshui？〃
〃Governor Ma Zun is in there；〃 said they。
Hearing this； Xiahou Mao rode quickly toward Tianshui。 Presently he met more people； evidently fugitives； leading sons and carrying daughters； who told the same story。 By and by he came to the gate of the city； and； as he was recognized； the wardens of the gate admitted him； and the Governor came to greet him and asked of his adventures。 He told all that had happened； that Jiang Wei had surrendered and related what the fugitives had said。
〃I did not think Jiang Wei would have gone over to Shu；〃 said the Governor sadly。
〃It seems he thought by this to save you； Sir mander…in…Chief；〃 said Liang Xu。 〃I am sure he has made only a pretense of surrendering。〃
〃Where is the pretense when it is a fact that he has surrendered？〃 said Xiahou Mao。
They were all perplexed。 Then at the third watch the troops of Shu came to begin an attack。 The fires round the wall were very bright； and there in the glare was seen Jiang Wei； armed and riding up and down under the ramparts calling out for Xiahou Mao。 Xiahou Mao and Ma Zun ascended the wall； whence they saw Jiang Wei swaggering to and fro。
Seeing the chiefs on the wall； Jiang Wei called out； 〃I surrendered for the sake of you； O General。 Why have you gone back on your word？〃
〃Why did you surrender to Shu after enjoying so much of Wei's bounty？〃 said Xiahou Mao。 〃And why do you talk thus？〃
〃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 rewa