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They　congratulated　him　on　his　perspicacity。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　selected　a　certain　persuasive　speaker　from　among　his　officers　and　whispered　certain　instructions　in　his　ear。　The　officer　at　once　left　and　carried　the　letter　just　written　to　the　Wei　camp；　where　he　asked　to　see　the　mander…in…Chief。　He　was　admitted；　and　the　letter　was　read。
〃Who　are　you？〃　said　Sima　Yi。
〃I　am　a　man　from　the　Middle　Land；　a　poor　fellow　stranded　in　Shu。　Zheng　Wen　and　I　are　fellow　villagers。　Zhuge　Liang　has　given　Zheng　Wen　a　Van　Leadership　as　a　reward　for　what　he　has　done；　and　Zheng　Wen　got　me　to　bring　this　letter　to　you　and　to　say　that　he　will　show　a　light　tomorrow　evening　as　a　signal；　and　he　hopes　you　will　lead　the　attack　yourself。　Zheng　Wen　will　work　from　the　inside　in　your　favor。〃
Sima　Yi　took　great　pains　to　test　the　reliability　of　these　statements；　and　he　examined　the　letter　minutely　to　see　if　it　bore　any　signs　of　fabrication；　but　he　found　it　was　Zheng　Wen's　writing。
Presently　he　ordered　in　refreshments　for　the　bearer　of　the　letter；　and　then　he　said；　〃We　will　fix　today　at　the　second　watch　for　the　raid；　and　I　will　lead　in　person。　If　it　succeeds；　I　will　give　you　a　good　appointment　as　a　reward。〃
Taking　leave；　the　soldier　retraced　his　steps　to　his　own　camp　and　reported　the　whole　interview　to　Zhuge　Liang。
Zhuge　Liang　held　his　sword　aloft　toward　the　North　Star；　took　the　proper　paces　for　an　incantation；　and　prayed。
This　done；　he　summoned　Wang　Ping；　Zhang　Ni；　Wei　Yan；　Ma　Dai；　Ma　Zheng；　and　Jiang　Wei；　to　whom　he　gave　certain　instructions。　When　they　had　gone　to　carry　them　out；　he　ascended　a　hill；　taking　with　him　a　few　score　guards　only。
Sima　Yi　had　been　taken　in　by　Zheng　Wen's　letter　and　intended　to　lead　the　night　raid。　But　the　elder　of　his　sons；　Sima　Shi；　expostulated　with　his　father。
〃Father；　you　are　going　on　a　dangerous　expedition　on　the　faith　of　a　mere　scrap　of　paper；〃　said　his　son。　〃I　think　it　imprudent。　What　if　something　goes　unexpectedly　wrong？　Let　some　general　go　in　your　place；　and　you　e　up　in　rear　as　a　reserve。〃
Sima　Yi　saw　there　was　reason　in　this　proposal；　and　he　finally　decided　to　send　Qin　Lang；　with　ten　thousand　troops；　and　Sima　Yi　himself　would　mand　the　reserve。
The　night　was　fine　with　a　bright　moon。　But　about　the　middle　of　the　second　watch　the　sky　clouded　over；　and　it　became　very　black；　so　that　a　man　could　not　see　his　next　neighbor。
〃This　is　providential；〃　chuckled　Sima　Yi。
The　expedition　duly　started；　soldiers　with　gags；　and　horses　with　cords　round　their　muzzles。　They　moved　swiftly　and　silently；　and　Qin　Lang　made　straight　for　the　camp　of　Shu。
But　when　he　reached　it　and　entered；　and　saw　not　a　soldier；　he　knew　he　had　been　tricked。　He　yelled　to　his　troops　to　retire；　but　lights　sprang　up　all　round；　and　attacks　began　from　four　sides。　Fight　as　he　would；　Qin　Lang　could　not　free　himself。
From　behind　the　battle　area　Sima　Yi　saw　flames　rising　from　the　camp　of　Shu　and　heard　continuous　shouting；　but　he　knew　not　whether　it　meant　victory　for　his　own　army　or　to　his　enemy。　He　pressed　forward　toward　the　fire。　Suddenly；　a　shout；　a　roll　of　drums；　and　a　blare　of　trumpets　close　at　hand；　a　bomb　that　seemed　to　rend　the　earth；　and　Wei　Yan　and　Jiang　Wei　bore　down　upon　Sima　Yi；　one　on　each　flank。　This　was　the　final　blow　to　him。　Of　every　ten　soldiers　of　Wei；　eight　or　nine　were　killed　or　wounded；　and　the　few　others　scattered　to　the　four　winds。
Meanwhile　Qin　Lang's　ten　thousand　troops　were　falling　under　arrows　that　came　in　locust…flights；　and　their　leader　was　killed。　Sima　Yi　and　the　remnant　of　his　army　ran　away　to　their　own　camp。
After　the　third　watch　the　sky　cleared。　Zhuge　Liang　from　the　hill…top　sounded　the　gong　of　retreat。　This　obscurity　in　the　third　watch　was　due　to　an　incantation　called　Concealing　Method。　The　sky　became　clear；　because　Zhuge　Liang　performed　another　incantation　to　have　the　Deities　of　Six　Layers　sweep　away　the　few　floating　clouds　that　still　persisted。
The　victory　was　plete。　The　first　order　on　Zhuge　Liang's　return　to　camp　was　to　put　Zheng　Wen　to　death。
Next　he　considered　new　plans　for　capturing　the　south　bank。　Every　day　be　sent　a　party　to　offer　a　challenge　before　the　camps　of　the　enemy；　but　no　one　accepted。
One　day　Zhuge　Liang　rode　in　his　small　chariot　to　the　front　of　the　Qishan　Mountains；　keenly　scanned　the　course　of　River　Wei　and　carefully　surveyed　the　lie　of　the　land。　Presently　he　came　to　a　valley　shaped　like　a　bottle…gourd；　large　enough　to　form　a　hiding　place　for　a　whole　thousand　soldiers　in　the　inner　recess；　while　half　as　many　more　could　hide　in　the　outer。　In　rear　the　mountains　were　so　close　that　they　left　passage　only　for　a　single　horseman。　The　discovery　pleased　the　general　mightily；　and　he　asked　the　guides　what　the　place　was　called。
They　replied；　〃It　is　called　Shangfang　Valley；　and　nicknamed　Gourd　Valley。〃
Returning　to　his　camp；　he　called　up　two　leaders　named　Du　Rui　and　Hu　Zhong　and　whispered　into　their　ears　certain　secret　orders。　Next　he　called　up　a　thousand　craftspeople　and　sent　them　into　the　Gourd　Valley　to　construct　〃wooden　oxen　and　running　horses〃　for　the　use　of　the　troops。　Finally　he　set　Ma　Dai　with　five　hundred　troops　to　guard　the　mouth　of　the　Gourd　Valley　and　prevent　all　entrance　and　exit。
Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃People　from　outside　cannot　enter；　from　inside　cannot　exit。　I　will　visit　the　valley　at　irregular　intervals　to　inspect　the　work。　A　plan　for　the　defeat　of　Sima　Yi　is　being　prepared　here　and　must　be　kept　a　profound　secret。〃
Ma　Dai　left　to　take　up　the　position。　The　two　generals；　Du　Rui　and　Hu　Zhong；　were　superintendents　of　the　work　in　the　Gourd　Valley。　Zhuge　Liang　came　every　day　to　give　instructions。
One　day　Yang　Yi　went　to　Zhuge　Liang　and　said；　〃The　stores　of　grain　are　all　at　Saber　Pass；　and　the　labor　of　transport　is　very　heavy。　What　can　be　done？〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　smiling；　〃I　have　had　a　scheme　ready　for　a　long　time。　The　timber　that　I　collected　and　bought　in　the　River　Lands　was　for　the　construction　of　wooden　transport　animals　to　convey　grain。　It　will　be　very　advantageous；　as　they　will　require　neither　food　nor　water　and　they　can　keep　on　the　move　day　and　night　without　resting。〃
All　those　within　hearing　said；　〃From　old　days　till　now　no　one　has　ever　heard　of　such　a　device。　What　excellent　plan　have　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　to　make　such　marvelous　creatures？〃
〃They　are　being　made　now　after　my　plans；　but　they　are　not　yet　ready。　Here　I　have　the　sketches　for　these　mechanical　oxen　and　horses；　with　all　their　dimensions　written　out　in　full。　You　may　see　the　details。〃
Zhuge　Liang　then　produced　a　paper；　and　all　the　generals　crowded　round　to　look　at　it。　They　were　all　greatly　astonished　and　lauded；　〃The　Prime　Minister　is　superhuman！〃
A　few　days　later　the　new　mechanical　animals　were　plete　and　began　work。　They　were　quite　life…like　and　went　over　the　hills　in　any　desired　direction。　The　whole　army　saw　them　with　delight。　They　were　but　in　charge　of　Right　General　Gao　Xiang　and　a　thousand　soldiers　to　guide　them。　They　kept　going　constantly　between　Saber　Pass　and　the　front　carrying　grain　for　the　use　of　the　soldiers。

Along　the　Saber　Pass　mountain　roads
The　running　horses　bore　their　loads；
And　through　Xie　Valley's　narrow　way
The　wooden　oxen　paced　each　day。
O　generals；　use　these　means　today；
And　transport　troubles　take　away。

Sima　Yi　was　already　sad　enough　at　his　defeat；　when　the　spies　told　him　of　these　wooden　bullocks　and　horses　of　new　design　which　the　soldiers　of　Shu　were　using　to　convey　their　grain。
This　troubled　him　still　more；　and　he　said　to　his　generals；　〃I　knew　the　transportation　from　the　River　Lands　was　difficult；　therefore；　I　shut　the　gates　and　remained　on　the　defensive　waiting　for　the　enemy　to　be　starved。　With　this　device；　they　may　never　be　pelled　to　retreat　for　want　of　food。〃
Then　he　called　up　Zhang　Hu　and　Yue　Chen　and　gave　orders：　〃Each　of　you　with　five　hundred　troops　will　goes　to　the　Xie　Valley　by　by…roads。　When　you　see　the　Shu　soldiers　transport　their　grain　by；　you　are　to　let　them　through；　but　only　to　attack　at　the　end　and　capture　four　or　five　of　the　wooden　horses　and　bullocks。〃
So　a　thousand　soldiers　went　on　this　service　disguised　as　soldiers　of　Shu。　They　made　their　way　along　the　by…ways　by　night　and　hid。　Presently　the　wooden　convoy　came　along　under　the　escort　of　Gao　Xiang。　Just　as　the　end　of　it　was　passing；　they　made　a　sudden　rush；　and　captured　a　few　of　the　〃animals〃　which　the　soldiers　of　Shu　abandoned。　In　high　glee　they　took　them　to　their　own　camp。
When　Sima　Yi　saw　them；　he　had　to　confess　they　were　very　life…like。　But　what　pleased　him　most　was　that　he　could　imitate　them　now　that　he　had　models。
〃If　Zhuge　Liang　can　use　this　sort　of　thing；　it　would　be　strange　if　I　could　not；〃　said　he。
He　called　to　him　many　clever　craftspeople　and　made　them　then　and　there　take　the　machines　to　pieces　and　make　some　exactly　like　them。　In　less　than　half　a　month；　they　had　pleted　a　couple　of　thousand　after　Zhuge　Liang's　models；　and　the　new　mechanical　animals　could　move。　Then　Sima　Yi　placed　Cen　Wei；　General　Who　Guards　the　Frontiers；　in　charge　of　this　new　means　of　transport；　and　the　〃animals〃　began　to　ply　between　the　camp　and　the　West　Valley　Land。　The　Wei　soldiers　were　filled　with　joys。
Gao　Xiang　returned　to　camp　and　reported　the　loss　of　a　few　of　his　wooden　oxen　and　horses。
〃I　wished　him　to　capture　some　of　them；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　much　pleased。　〃I　am　just　laying　out　these　few；　and　before　long　I　shall　get　some　very　solid　help　in　exchange。〃
〃How　do　you　know；　O　Prime　Minister？〃　said　his　officers。
〃Because　Sima　Yi　will　certainly　copy　them；　and　when　he　has　done　that；　I　have　another　plan　ready　to　play　on　him。〃
Some　days　later　Zhuge　Liang　received　a　report　that　the　enemy　were　using　the　same　sort　of　wooden　bullocks　and　horses　to　bring　up　supplies　from　Xizhou。
〃Exactly　as　I　thought；〃　said　be。
Calling　Wang　Ping；　he　said；　〃Dress　up　a　thousand　soldiers　as　those　of　Wei；　and　find　your　way　quickly　and　secretly　to　Beiyuan。　Tell　them　that　you　are　escort　for　the　convoy；　and　mingle　with　the　real　escort。　Then　suddenly　turn　on　them　so　that　they　scatter。　Next　you　will　turn　the　herd　this　way。　By　and　by　you　will　be　pursued。　When　that　occurs；　you　will　give　a　turn　to　the　tongues　of　the　wooden　animals；　and　they　will　be　locked　from　movement。　Leave　them　where　they　are　and　run　away。　When　the　soldiers　of　Wei　e　up；　they　will　be　unable　to　drag　the　creatures　and　equally　unable　to　carry　them。　I　shall　have　soldiers　ready；　and　you　will　go　back　with　them；　give　the　tongues　a　backward　turn　and　bring　the　convoy　here；　The　enemy　will　be　greatly　astonished。〃
Next　he　called　Zhang　Ni　and　said；　〃Dress　up　five　hundred　soldiers　in　the　costume　of　the　Deities　of　the　Six　Layers　so　that　they　appear　supernatural。　Fit　them　with　demon　heads　and　wild　beast　shapes；　and　let　them　stain　their　faces　various　colors　so　as　to　look　as　strange　as　possible。　Give　them　flags　and　swords　and　bottle…gourds　with　smoke　issuing　from　bustibles　inside。　Let　these　soldiers　hide　among　the　hills　till　the　convoy　approaches；　when　they　will　start　the　smoke；　rush　out　suddenly　and　drive　off　the　wooden　animals。　No　one　will　dare　pursue　such　uncanny　pany。〃
When　Zhang　Ni　had　left；　Wei　Yan　and　Jiang　Wei　were　called。
〃You　will　take　ten　thousand　troops；　go　to　the　border　of　Beiyuan　to　receive　the　wooden　transport　creatures　and　defend　them　against　attack。〃
Then　another　five　thousand　under　Zhang　Yi　and　Liao　Hua　was　sent　to　check　Sima　Yi　if　he　should　e；　while　a　small　force　under　Ma　Dai　and　Ma　Zheng　was　sent　to　bid　defiance　to　the　enemy　near　their　camp　on　the　south　bank。
So　one　day　when　a　convoy　was　on　its　way　from　the　West　Valley　Land；　the　scouts　in　front　suddenly　reported　some　soldiers　ahead　who　said　they　were　escort　for　the　grain。　mander　Cen　Wei　halted　and　sent　to　inquire。　It　appeared　the　newers　were　really　the　soldiers　of　Wei；　however；　and　so　he　started　once　more。
The　newers　joined　up　with　his　own　troops。　But　before　they　had　gone　much　farther；　there　was　a　yell；　and　the　men　of　Shu　began　to　kill；　while　a　voice　shouted；　〃Wang　Ping　is　here！〃
The　convoy　guard　were　taken　aback。　Many　were　killed；　but　the　others　rallied　round　Cen　Wei　and　made　some　defense。　However；　Wang　Ping　slew　Cen　Wei；　and　the　others　ran　this　way　and　that；　while　the　convoy　was　turned　toward　the　Shu　camp。
The　fugitives　ran　off　to　Beiyuan　and　reported　the　mishap　to　Guo　Huai；　who　set　out　hot　foot　to　rescue　the　convoy。　When　he　appeared；　Wang　Ping　gave　the　order　to　turn　tongues；　left　t