〃If Zhuge Liang pursue； how shall we repulse him？〃
〃We can leave an ambush。〃
While they were discussing this matter； the Emperor's mand arrived。 Whereupon they faced about and marched homeward。
Now Zhuge Liang had reckoned upon this month of rain and so had had his troops camped in a safe place。 Then he ordered the main army to assemble at Red Slope and camp there。
He summoned his officers to his tent and said； 〃In my opinion the enemy must retire； for the Ruler of Wei will issue such an order。 To retreat needs preparation； and if we pursue； we will fall in their trap。 So we will let them retire without molestation。 Some other plan must be evolved。〃
So when Wang Ping sent news of the retreat of the enemy； the messenger carried back the order not to pursue。
It is only lost labor to cover retreat
When your enemy does not pursue。
By what means Zhuge Liang intended to defeat Wei will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 100 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Raiding A Camp； The Shu Soldiers Defeat Cao Zhen；
Contesting Array Battles； Zhuge Liang Shames Sima Yi。
When the Shu officers got to know that the Wei army had gone but they were not to pursue； they were inclined to discontent and went in a body to the Prime Minister's tent and said； 〃The rain has driven the enemy away。 Surely it is the moment to pursue。〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Sima Yi is an able leader who would not retreat without leaving an ambush to cover it。 If we pursue we shall fall victims。 Let him go in peace； and I shall then get through the Xie Valley and take Qishan； making use of the enemy's lack of defense。〃
〃But there are other ways of taking Changan；〃 said they。 〃Why only take Qishan？〃
〃Because Qishan is the first step to Changan； and I want to gain the advantage of position。 And every transportation from the West Valley Land must e this way。 It rests on River Wei in front and is backed by the Xie Valley。 It gives the greatest freedom of movement and is a natural maneuvering ground。 That is why I want it。〃
They bowed to his wisdom。
Then Zhuge Liang dispatched Wei Yan； Zhang Ni； Du Qiong； and Chen Shi for Gu Valley； and he sent Ma Dai； Wang Ping； Zhang Yi； and Ma Zheng for the Xie Valley； all were to meet at the Qishan Mountains。 He led the main army himself； with Guan Xing and Liao Hua in the van。
When the Wei army retreated； Cao Zhen and Sima Yi remained in the rear superintending the movement。 They sent a reconnoitering party along the old road to Chencang； and they returned saying no enemy was to be seen。 Ten days later the leaders； who had manded in the ambush； joined the main body saying that they had seen no sign of the enemy。
＇e＇ The mountainous roads to Shu were very difficult。 People had to lay planks on the earth to make roads。
Cao Zhen said； 〃This continuous autumn rain has rendered all the plank trails* impassable。 How could the soldiers of Shu know of our retreat？〃
〃They will appear later；〃 said Sima Yi。
〃How can you know？〃
〃These late five dry days they have not pursued； because they think we shall have left a rearguard in ambush。 Therefore they have let us get well away。 But after we have gone； they will try to occupy Qishan。〃
Cao Zhen was not convinced。
〃Why do you doubt？〃 asked Sima Yi。 〃I think Zhuge Liang will certainly advance by way of the two valleys； and you and I should guard the entrances。 I give them ten days； and if they do not appear； I will e to your camp painted in the face to own my mistake。〃
〃If the army of Shu do appear； I will give you the girdle and the steed that the Emperor gave me；〃 replied Cao Zhen。
And they split their force； Cao Zhen taking up his station on the west of Qishan in the Xie Valley； and Sima Yi going to the east in the Gu Valley。
As soon as the camp was settled； Sima Yi led a cohort into hiding in the valley。 The remainder of the force was placed in detachments on the chief roads。
Sima Yi disguised himself as a soldier and went among the soldiers to get a private survey of all the camps。
In one of them he happened upon a junior officer who was plaining； saying； 〃The rain has drenched us for days； and they would not retire。 Now they have camped here for a wager。 They have no pity for us soldiers。〃
Sima Yi returned to his tent and assembled his officers。
Hauling out the grumbler； Sima Yi said to him； angrily； 〃The state feeds and trains soldiers a thousand days for one hour's service。 How dare you give vent to your spleen to the detriment of discipline？〃
The man would not confess； so his rades were called to bear witness。 Still he would not own up。
〃I am not here for a wager； but to overe Shu；〃 said Sima Yi。 〃Now you all have done well and are going home； but only this fellow plains and is guilty of mutinous conduct。〃
Sima Yi ordered the lictors to put him to death； and in a short time they produced his head。
The others were terrified； but Sima Yi said； 〃All you must do your utmost to guard against the enemy。 When you hear a bomb explode； rush out on all sides and attack。〃
With this order they retired。
Now Wei Yan； Zhang Ni； Chen Shi； and Du Qiong； with twenty thousand troops； entered the Gu Valley。 As they were marching； Adviser Deng Zhi came。
〃I bear an order from the Prime Minister。 As you go out of the valley； beware of the enemy；〃 said Deng Zhi。
Chen Shi said； 〃Why is the Prime Minister so full of doubts？ We know the soldiers of Wei have suffered severely from the rain and must hasten home。 They will not lay any ambush。 We are doing double marches and shall gain a great victory。 Why are we to delay？〃
Deng Zhi replied； 〃You know the Prime Minister's plans always succeed。 How dare you disobey his orders？〃
Chen Shi smiled； saying； 〃If he was really so resourceful； we should not have lost Jieting。〃
Wei Yan； recalling that Zhuge Liang had rejected his plan； also laughed； and said； 〃If he had listened to me and gone out through Ziwu Valley； not only Changan but Luoyang too would be ours。 Now he is bent on taking Qishan。 What is the good of it？ He gave us the order to advance and now he stops us。 Truly the orders are confusing。〃
Then said Chen Shi； 〃I will tell you what I will do。 I shall take only five thousand troops； get through the Gu Valley； and camp at Qishan。 Then you will see how ashamed the Prime Minister will look。〃
Deng Zhi argued and persuaded； but to no avail： The willful leader hurried on to get out of the valley。 Deng Zhi could only return as quickly as possible and report。
Chen Shi proceeded。 He had gone a few miles when he heard a bomb； and he was in an ambush。 He tried to withdraw； but the valley was full of the enemy and he was surrounded as in an iron cask。 All his efforts to get out failed。 Then there was a shout； and Wei Yan came to the rescue。 Wei Yan saved his rade； but Chen Shi's five thousand troops was reduced to about five hundred； and these wounded。 The Wei soldiers pursued； but two other divisions of Zhang Ni and Du Qiong prevented the pursuit； and finally the army of Wei retired。
Chen Shi and Wei Yan who had criticized Zhuge Liang's powers of prevision no longer doubted that he saw very clearly。 They regretted their own shortsightedness。
When Deng Zhi told his chief of the