So the transport wooden cattle were sent forth to play their part in the scheme, and the remainder of the Qishan soldiers were sent to work in the fields, with orders to join in the battle only if Sima Yi came in person. In that case they were to attack the south bank of the river and cut off the retreat. Then Zhuge Liang led his army away to camp next to the Gourd Valley.
Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He went to their chief, Sima Yi, and said, “The enemy have set out camps and are engaged in field work as though they intended to remain. If they are not destroyed now, but are allowed to consolidate their position, they will be hard to dislodge.”
“This certainly is one of Zhuge Liang's ruses,” said the chief.
“You seem very afraid of him, General,” retorted they. “When do you think you can destroy him? At least let us two brothers fight one battle that we may prove our gratitude for the Emperor's kindness.”
“If it must be so, then you may go in two divisions,” said Sima Yi.
As the two divisions, five thousand troops each, were marching along, they saw coming toward them a number of the transport wooden animals of the enemy. They attacked at once, drove off the escort, captured them, and sent them back to camp. Next day they captured more, with soldiers and horses as well, and sent them also to camp.
Sima Yi called up the prisoners and questioned them.
They told him, saying, “The Prime Minister understood that you would not fight, and so had told off the soldiers to various places to work in the fields and thus provide for future needs. We had been unwittingly captured.”
Sima Yi set them free and bade them begone.
“Why spare them?” asked Xiahou He.
“There is nothing to be gained by the slaughter of a few common soldiers. Let them go back to their own and praise the kindliness of the Wei leaders. That will slacken the desire of their comrades to fight against us. That was the plan by which Lu Meng captured Jingzhou.”
Then he issued general orders that all Shu prisoners should be well treated and sent away free, and he rewarded those of his army who had done well.
As has been said, Gao Xiang was ordered to keep pretended convoys on the move, and the soldiers of Wei attacked and captured them whenever they saw them. In half a month they had scored many successes of this sort, and Sima Yi's heart was cheered. One day, when he had made new captures of soldiers, he sent for them and questioned them again.
“Where is Zhuge Liang now?”
“He is no longer at Qishan, but in camp about three miles from the Gourd Valley. He is gathering a great store of grain there.”
After he had questioned them fully, he set the prisoners free.
Calling together his officers, he said, “Zhuge Liang is not camped on Qishan, but near the Gourd Valley. Tomorrow you shall attack the Qishan camp, and I will command the reserve.”
The promise cheered them, and they went away to prepare.
“Father, why do you intend to attack the enemy's rear?” asked Sima Shi.
“Qishan is their main position, and they will certainly hasten to its rescue. Then I shall make for the valley and burn the stores. That will render them helpless and will be a victory.”
The son dutifully agreed with his father.
Sima Yi began to march out, with Zhang Hu and Yue Chen following as the reserves.
From the top of a hill Zhuge Liang watched the Wei soldiers march and noticed that they moved in companies from three to five thousand, observing the front and the rear carefully as they marched. He guessed that their object was the Qishan camp, and sent strict orders to his generals that if Sima Yi led in person, they were to go off and capture the camp on the south bank.
When the troops of Wei had got near and made their rush toward the camp of Shu, the troops of Shu ran up also, yelling and pretending to reinforce the defenders. Sima Yi, seeing this, suddenly marched his center army with his two sons, changed his direction, and turned off for the Gourd Valley. Here Wei Yan was expecting him; and as soon as he appeared, Wei Yan galloped up and soon recognized Sima Yi as the leader.
“Sima Yi, stay!” shouted Wei Yan as he came near.
He flourished his sword, and Sima Yi set his spear. The two warriors exchanged a few passes, and then Wei Yan suddenly turned his steed and bolted. As he had been ordered, he made direct for the seven-starred flag, and Sima Yi followed, the more readily as he saw the fugitive had but a small force. The two sons of Sima Yi rode with him, Sima Shi on the left, Sima Zhao on the right.
Presently Wei Yan and his troops entered the mouth of the valley. Sima Yi halted a time while he sent forward a few scouts, but when they returned and reported: “Not a single Shu soldier is seen but a many straw houses on the hills.”
Sima Yi rode in, saying, “This must be the store valley!”
But when he had got well within, Sima Yi noticed that kindling wood was piled over the straw huts, and as he saw no sign of Wei Yan he began to feel uneasy.
“Supposing soldiers seize the entrance; what then?” said he to his sons.
