But when Hao Zhao saw the ladders being brought up； he made his soldiers shoot fire…arrows at them。 Zhuge Liang did not expect this。 He knew the city was not well prepared for defense； and he had had the great ladders brought up and bade the soldiers take the wall with a rush。 He was greatly chagrined when the fire arrows set his ladders on fire and so many of his soldiers were burned。 And as the arrows and stones rained down from the wall； the soldiers of Shu were forced to retire。
Zhuge Liang angrily said； 〃So you burn my ladders！ Then I will use battering rams。〃
So the rams were brought and placed against the walls and again the signal given for assault。 But the defenders brought up great stones suspended by ropes； which they swung down at the battering rams and so broke them to pieces。
Next the besiegers set to work to bring up earth and fill the moat； and Liao Hua led three thousand soldiers to excavate a tunnel under the ramparts。 But Hao Zhao cut a counter…trench within the city and turned that device。
So the struggle went on for near a month； and still the city was not taken。 Zhuge Liang was very depressed。
That was not all。 The scouts reported： 〃From the east there is ing a relief force of Wei； the flags of which bears the name Wei Van Leader； General Wang Shuang 。〃
Zhuge Liang asked； 〃Who wants to go out and oppose this force？〃
Wei Yan offered himself。
〃No；〃 said Zhuge Liang； 〃you are too valuable as Leader of the Van。〃
General Xie Xiong offered his services。 They were accepted； and Xie Xiong was given three thousand troops。 After he had gone； Zhuge Liang decided to send a second force； and for mand of this General Gong Qi volunteered and was accepted。 Gong Qi also had three thousand troops。
Then Zhuge Liang feared lest there would be a sortie from the city to aid the relief force just arriving； so he led off the army seven miles and made a camp。
The first body sent against Wang Shuang had no success： Xie Xiong fell almost immediately under Wang Shuang's great sword。 The men fled and Wang Shuang pursued； and so came upon Gong Qi； who had e to support his colleague。 Gong Qi met a similar fate； being slain in the third bout。
When the defeated parties returned； Zhuge Liang was anxious and called up Liao Hua； Wang Ping； and Zhang Ni to go out to check this Wang Shuang； They went and drew up in formal array； and then Zhang Ni rode to the front。 Wang Shuang rode to meet him； and they two fought several bouts。 Then Wang Shuang ran away and Zhang Ni followed。
His colleague； Wang Ping； suspected this flight was but a ruse； so he called to Zhang Ni； 〃Do not follow the fleeing general！〃
Zhang Ni then turned； but Wang Shuang turned also and hurled one of his meteor hammers； which hit Zhang Ni in the back； so that he fell forward and lay over the saddle。 Wang Shuang rode on to follow up this advantage； but Liao Hua and Wang Ping poured out and checked him。 Wang Shuang's whole force then came on and slew many of the troops of Shu。
Zhang Ni was hurt internally and vomited blood at times。 He came back and told Zhuge Liang； saying； 〃Wang Shuang is very terrible and no one can stand up to him。 He camps outside Chencang； building a strong stockade； and so making the city with double walls and a deep moat。〃
Having lost two generals； and a third being wounded； Zhuge Liang called up Jiang Wei and said； 〃We are stopped this way。 Can you suggest another road？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃Chencang is too well protected and； with Hao Zhao as defender and Wang Shuang as supporter； cannot be taken。 I would propose to check Chencang by leaving a general here； who shall make a strong camp with the support of the hills。 Then try to hold the roads so that the attack from Jieting may be prevented。 Then if you will send a strong force against Qishan； I can do something which will capture Cao Zhen。〃
Zhuge Liang agreed。 He sent Wang Ping and Li Hui to hold the narrow road to Jieting； and Wei Yan was sent to guard the way from Chencang。 And then the army marched out of the Xie Valley by a small road and made for Qishan。
Now Cao Zhen still remembered bitterly that in the last campaign Sima Yi had filched from him the credit he hoped to obtain。 So when he received the mission of defending the capitals against the invading forces； he detached Guo Huai and Sun Li and sent them to hold positions east and west。 Then he had heard that Chencang was threatened； so had sent Wang Shuang to its relief； and now to his joy he heard of his henchman's success。 He placed Grand mander Fei Yao in mand of the van and stationed other generals at strategic and manding points。
Then they caught a spy。 He was taken into the presence of the mander…in…Chief to be questioned。
The man knelt down and said； 〃I am not really a spy in the bad sense。 I was bringing a secret munication for you； Sir； but I was captured by one of the parties in ambush。 Pray send away your attendants。〃
The man's bonds were loosed and the tent cleared。
The captive said； 〃I am a confidant of Jiang Wei； who has entrusted me with a secret letter。〃
〃Where is the letter？〃
The man took it from among his garments and presented it to Cao Zhen； who read：
〃I； Jiang Wei； your guilty general； make a hundred prostrations to the great leader Cao Zhen； now in the field。 I have never forgotten that I was in the employment of Wei and disgraced myself； having enjoyed favors； I never repaid them。 Lately I have been an unhappy victim of Zhuge Liang's wiles and so fell into the depths。 But I never forgot my old allegiance。 How could I forget？
〃Now happily the army of Shu has gone west； and Zhuge Liang trusts me。 I rely upon your leading an army this way。 If resistance be met； then you may simulate defeat and retire； but I shall be behind and will make a blaze as signal。 Then I shall set fire to their stores； whereupon you will face about and attack。 Zhuge Liang ought to fall into your hands。 If it be that I cannot render service and repay my debt to the state； then punish me for my former crime。
〃If this should be deemed worthy of your attention； then without delay municate your mands。〃
The letter pleased Cao Zhen； and he said； 〃This is heaven…sent help to aid me in an achievement。〃
Cao Zhen rewarded the messenger and bade him return to say that it was accepted。
Then he called Fei Yao to his councils and said； 〃I have just had a secret letter from Jiang Wei telling me to act in a certain fashion。〃
But Fei Yao replied； 〃Zhuge Liang is very crafty； and Jiang Wei is very knowing。 If by chance Zhuge Liang has planned all this and sent this man； we may fall into a snare。〃
〃But Jiang Wei is really a man of Wei。 He was forced into surrender。 Why are you suspicious？〃
〃My advice is not to go； but to remain here on guard。 Let me go to meet this man； and any service I can acplish will redound to your credit。 And if there be any craft； I can meet it for you。〃
Cao Zhen approved this and bade Fei Yao take fifty thousand troops by way of the Xie Valley。
Fei Yao marched away and halted after the second or third stage and send out scouts。 This was done； and the scouts reported that the Shu army was ing through the valley。 Fei Yao at once advanced； but before the troops of Shu got into contact with him； they retired。 Fei Yao pursued。 Then the troops of Shu came on again。 Just as Fei Yao was forming up for battle； the Shu army retreated again。 And these maneuvers were repeated thrice； and a day and a night passed without any repose for the Wei army。
At length rest was imperative； and they were on the point of entrenching themselves to prepare food when a great hubbub arose all around； and with beating of drums and blaring of trumpets； the whole country was filled with the soldiers of Shu。 Suddenly there was a stir near by the great standard； and out came a small four…wheeled chariot in which sat Zhuge Liang。 He bade a herald call the leader of the Wei army to a parley。
Fei Yao rode out and； seeing Zhuge Liang； he secretly rejoiced。
Turning to those about him； Fei Yao said； 〃If the soldiers of Shu e on； you are to retire and look out for a signal。 If you see a blaze； you are to turn and attack； for you will be reinforced by Jiang Wei。〃
Then Fei Yao rode to the front and shouted； 〃You rebel leader in front there。 How dare