fail； then I beg you to behead my whole family。〃
〃There is no jesting in war；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃I will give a written pledge。〃
Zhuge Liang agreed； and a written pledge was given and placed on record。
Zhuge Liang continued； 〃I shall give you twenty…five thousand veterans and also send an officer of rank to assist you。〃
Next he summoned Wang Ping and said to him； 〃As you are a careful and cautious man； I am giving you a very responsible position。 You are to hold Jieting with the utmost tenacity。 Camp there in the most manding position so that the enemy cannot steal by。 When your arrangements are plete； draw a plan of them and a map of the local topography； and let me see it。 All my dispositions have been carefully thought out and are not to be changed。 If you can hold this successfully； it will be of the first service in the capture of Changan。 So be very； very careful。〃
After Ma Su and Wang Ping had gone and Zhuge Liang had reflected for a long time； it occurred to him that there might be some slip between his two leaders。
So he called Gao Xiang to him and said； 〃Northeast of Jieting is a city named Liliu； and near it an unfrequented hill path。 There you are to camp and make a stockade。 I will give you ten thousand troops for this task。 If Jieting should be threatened； you may go to the rescue。〃
After Gao Xiang had left； and as Zhuge Liang thought Gao Xiang was not a match for his opponent Zhang He； he decided there ought to be additional strength on the west in order to make Jieting safe。 So he summoned Wei Yan and bade him lead his army to the rear of Jieting and camp there。
But Wei Yan thought this rather a slight； and said； 〃As Leader of the Van； I should go first against the enemy。 Why am I sent to a place where there is nothing to do？〃
〃The leadership of the van is really a second…rate task。 Now I am sending you to support Jieting and take post on the most dangerous road to Yangping Pass。 You are the chief keeper of the throat of Hanzhong。 It is a very responsible post and not at all an idle one。 Do not so regard it and spoil my whole plan。 Be particularly careful。〃
Wei Yan； satisfied now that he was not being slighted； went his way。
Zhuge Liang's mind was at rest； and he called up Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi； to whom he said； 〃Now that Sima Yi is in mand of the army； the whole outlook is different。 Each of you will lead a force out to Gu Valley and move about so as to mislead the enemy。 Whether you meet and engage them or not； you will certainly cause them uneasiness。 I am going to lead the main army through the Xie Valley to Meicheng。 If I can capture that； Changan will fall。〃
Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi took the orders and went off。
Zhuge Liang appointed Jiang Wei as Leader of the Van； and they marched to the Xie Valley。
When Ma Su and Wang Ping had reached Jieting and saw what manner of place it was； Ma Su smiled； saying； 〃Why was the Prime Minister so extremely anxious？ How would the Wei armies dare to e to such a hilly place as this？〃
Wang Ping replied； 〃Though they might not dare to e； we should set our camp at this meeting of many roads。〃
So Wang Ping ordered his soldiers to fell trees and build a strong stockade as for a permanent stay。
But Ma Su had a different idea。
〃What sort of a place is a road to make a camp in？ Here is a hill standing solitary and well wooded。 It is a heaven…created point of vantage； and we will camp on it。〃
〃You are wrong； Counselor；〃 replied Wang Ping。 〃If we camp on the road and build a strong wall； the enemy cannot possibly get past。 If we abandon this for the hill； and the troops of Wei e in force； we shall be surrounded； and how then be safe？〃
〃You look at the thing like a child；〃 said Ma Su； laughing。 〃The rules of war say that when one looks down from a superior position； one can overe the enemy as easily as cleaving bamboo。 If they e； I will see to it that not a breastplate ever goes back again。〃
〃I have followed our mander…in…Chief in many campaigns； and always has he explained in details about the topography and given out well…thought orders。 Now I have studied this hill carefully； and it is a critical spot。 If we camp thereon and the enemy cut off our water supply； we shall have a mutiny。〃
〃No such thing！〃 said Ma Su。 〃Sun Zi says that victory lies in desperate positions。 If they cut off our water； will not our soldiers be desperate and fight to the death？ Then everyone of them will be worth a hundred。 I have studied the books； and the Prime Minister has always asked my advice。 Why do you presume to oppose me？〃
〃If you are determined to camp on the hill； then give me part of the force to camp there on the west so that I can support you in case the enemy e。〃
But Ma Su refused。 Just then a lot of the inhabitants of the hills came running along saying that the Wei soldiers had e。
Wang Ping was still bent on going his own way； and so Ma Su said to him； 〃Since you will not obey me； I will give you five thousand troops and you can go and make your own camp。 But when I report my success to the Prime Minister； you shall have no share of the merit。〃
Wang Ping marched about three miles from the hill and made his camp。 He drew a plan of the place and sent it quickly to Zhuge Liang with a report that Ma Su had camped on the hill。
While Sima Yi was marching toward Jieting； he sent his younger son to reconnoiter the road and to find out whether it had a garrison。
Said Sima Yi； 〃If there is a garrison； do not advance further。〃
Sima Zhao returned to report： 〃Jieting has already been occupied by Shu。〃
〃Zhuge Liang is rather more than human；〃 said his father regretfully when Sima Zhao gave in his report。 〃He is too much for me。〃
〃Why are you despondent； Father？ I think Jieting is not so difficult to take。〃
〃How dare you utter such bold words？〃
〃Because I have seen。 There is no camp on the road； but the enemy are camped on the hill。〃
This was glad news。
〃If they are on the hill； then Heaven means a victory for me；〃 said his father。
At night Sima Yi changed into another dress； took a small escort； and rode out to see for himself。 The moon shone brilliantly； and he rode to the hill whereon was the camp and looked all round it； thoroughly reconnoitering the neighborhood。 Ma Su saw him； but only laughed。
〃If Sima Yi has any luck； he will not try to surround this hill；〃 said he。
Ma Su issued an order to his generals： 〃In case the enemy e； you are to look to the summit for a signal with a red flag； when you shall rush down on all sides。〃
Sima Yi returned to his camp and sent out to inquire who manded in Jieting。
They told him； 〃He is Ma Su； brother of Ma Liang。〃
〃A man of false reputation and very ordinary ability；〃 said Sima Yi。 〃If Zhuge Liang uses such as Ma Su； he will fail。〃
Then he asked； 〃Are there any other camps near the place？〃
And they reported； 〃Wang Ping's camp is about three miles off。〃
Wherefore Zhang He was ordered to go and check Wang Ping from ing to rescue。 Zhang He marched out and placed himself between Wang Ping and the hill。
This done； Sima Yi ordered Shen Yi and Shen Dan to surround the hill and to block the road to the water supply。 Lack of water would cause a mutiny； and when that occurred； it would be time to attack。
Then Sima Yi led the main b