By this time Sima Yi had completed his battle line and was waiting the moment of disorder in the Shu army to attack. Then he saw Zhang He and Dai Ling come limping back dejected and crestfallen.
They said, “Zhuge Liang forestalled us; he was well prepared, and so we were quite defeated.”
“He is more than human!” exclaimed Sima Yi. “We must retreat.”
So the whole army retired into the fortified camps and would not come out.
Thus a great victory fell to Shu, and their booty was immense; weapons and horses innumerable. Zhuge Liang led his army back to camp. Thereafter he sent parties to offer a challenge at the gate of the Wei camp every day, but the soldiers remained obstinately behind their shelters and would not appear. When this had continued half a month Zhuge Liang grew sad.
Then came Fei Yi from Capital Chengdu with an edict of the Emperor. Fei Yi was received with all respect, and incense was burnt as propriety demanded. This done, the command was unsealed, and Zhuge Liang read:
“The failure at Jieting was really due to the fault of Ma Su. However, you held yourself responsible and blamed
yourself very severely. It would have been a serious matter for me to have withstood your intentions, and so I did what you insisted on.
“However, that was a glorious exploit last year when Wang Shuang was slain. This year, Guo Huai has been driven back and the Qiangs have been reduced; the two counties of Wudu and Yinping have been captured; you have driven fear into the hearts of all evil doers and thus rendered magnificent services.
“But the world is in confusion, and the original evil has not been destroyed. You fill a great office, for you direct the affairs of the state. It is not well for you to remain under a cloud for any length of time and cloak your grand virtue, wherefore I restore you to the rank of Prime Minister and pray you not to decline the honor.”
Zhuge Liang heard the edict to the end and then said, “My task is not yet accomplished; how can I return to my duties as Prime Minister? I must really decline to accept this.”
Fei Yi said, “If you decline this, you flout the desires of the Emperor and also show contempt for the feelings of the army. At any rate accept for the moment.”
Then Zhuge Liang humbly bowed acquiescence. Fei Yi took leave and returned.
Seeing that Sima Yi remained obstinately on the defensive, Zhuge Liang thought of a plan by which to draw him. He gave orders to break camp and retire.
When the scouts told Sima Yi, he said, “We may not move; certainly there is some deep craftiness in this move.”
Zhang He said, “It must mean that their food is exhausted. Why not pursue?”
“I reckon that Zhuge Liang laid up ample supplies last year. Now the wheat is ripe, and he has plenty of every sort. Transport might be difficult, but yet he could hold out half a year. Why should he run away? He sees that we resolutely refuse battle, and he is trying some ruse to inveigle us into fighting. Send out spies to a distance to see what is going on.”
They reconnoitered a long way round, and the scouts returned to say that a camp had been formed ten miles away.
“Ah; then he is not running away,” said Sima Yi. “Remain on the defensive still more strictly and do not advance.”
Ten days passed without further news; nor did the soldiers of Shu offer the usual challenge. Again spies were sent far afield, and they reported a further retreat of ten miles and a new encampment.
“Zhuge Liang is certainly working some scheme,” said Sima Yi. “Do not pursue.”
Another ten days passed and spies went out. The enemy had gone ten miles farther and encamped.
Zhang He said, “What makes you so over-suspicious? I can see that Zhuge Liang is retreating into Hanzhong, only he is doing it gradually and arousing our suspicion. Why not pursue before it is too late. Let me go and fight one battle.”
“No,” said Sima Yi. “A defeat would destroy the morale of our soldiers, and I will not risk it. Zhuge Liang's vile tricks are innumerable.”
“If I go and get beaten, I will stand the full rigor of military punishment,” said Zhang He.
“Well, if you are set on going, we will divide the army. You take your wing and go, but you will have to fight your best. I will follow to help in case of need. Tomorrow you should march only halfway and rest your troops for the battle.”
So Zhang He got independent command of thirty thousand troops and took Dai Ling as his second in command, and he had a few score of generals as assistants. Halfway they camped. Then Sima Yi, leaving a substantial guard for his camp, set out along the same road with fifty thousand troops.
Zhuge Liang knew the movements of the army of Wei and when Zhang He's army camped to rest. In the night he summoned his generals and told them.
“The enemy are coming in pursuit and will fight desperately. You will have to fight every one of you like ten, but I will set an ambush to attack their rear. Only a wise and bold leader is fit for this task.” Wang Ping stepped forth and said he was willing to go on this expedition.
“But if you fail, what then?” said Zhuge Liang.
“Then there is the military rule.”
Zhuge Liang sighed. “Wang Ping is most loyal. He is willing to risk wounds and death in his country's service. However, the enemy are in two divisions, one coming in front, the other trying to get round to the rear. Wang Ping is crafty and bold, but he cannot be in two places at once, so I must have yet another general. Is it that among you there is no other willing to devote himself to death?”
He did not wait long for a reply; Zhang Yi stepped to the front.
“Zhang He is a most famous leader in Wei and valorous beyond all compare. You are not a match for him,” said Zhuge Liang.
“If I fail, may my head fall at the tent door,” said Zhang Yi.
“Since you wish to go, I accept you. Each of you shall have ten thousand veterans. You will hide in the valleys till the enemy come up, and you will let them pass. Then you will fall upon their rear. If Sima Yi comes, you must divide the army, Zhang Yi to hold the rear and Wang Ping to check the advance. But they will fight desperately, and I must find a way to aid you.”
When they had gone, Jiang Wei and Liao Hua were called, and Zhuge Liang said, “I am going to give you a silken bag. You are to proceed secretly into those mountains in front. When you see that Zhang Yi and Wang Ping are in great straits with the enemy, then open the bag and you will find a plan of escape.”
After this he gave secret instructions to four other generals — Wu Ban, Wu Yi, Ma Zhong, and Zhang Ni — to observe the enemy and, if the enemy seemed confident of victory, to retire, fighting at intervals, till they saw Guan Xing come up, when they could turn and fight their best.
Then calling Guan Xing, he said to them, “Hide in the valleys with five thousand troops till you see a red flag flutter out, and then fall on the enemy.”
Zhang He and Dai Ling hurried along like a rain squall till they were suddenly confronted by Ma Zhong, Zhang Ni, Wu Yi, and Wu Ban. Zhang He dashed toward his enemy, and then they retired, stopping at intervals to fight. The Wei army pursued for about seven miles.
It was the sixth moon and very hot, so that soldiers and horses sweated profusely. When they had gone ten miles farther, the soldiers and horses were panting and nearly spent. Then Zhuge Liang, who had watched the fighting from a hill, gave the signal for Guan Xing to emerge and join battle. Ma Zhong, Zhang Ni, Wu Ban, and Wu Yi all led on their troops. Zhang He and Dai Ling fought well, but they could not extricate themselves and retire.
Presently, with a roll of drums, Wang Ping and Zhang Yi came out and made for the rear to cut the retreat.
“Why do you not fight to death?” shouted Zhang He to his generals when he saw the new dangers.