zhou；　which　will　cause　the　Wei　army　to　fall　back　to　relieve　Yongzhou　and　so　relieve　our　force。〃

〃The　plan　appears　excellent；〃　replied　Jiang　Wei。　And　he　set　out。

When　Chen　Tai　knew　that　Li　Xin　had　escaped；　he　said　to　his　chief；　〃Now　that　this　man　has　got　out；　he　will　tell　Jiang　Wei　of　the　danger　and　Jiang　Wei　will　conclude　that　our　efforts　are　concentrated　on　the　ramparts　and　will　endeavor　to　attack　our　rear。　Therefore　I　suggest；　General；　that　you　go　to　River　Yao　and　stop　the　supplies　of　our　enemies；　while　I　go　to　the　Ox　Head　Hills　and　smite　them。　They　will　retreat　as　soon　as　they　know　their　supplies　are　threatened。〃

So　Guo　Huai　marched　secretly　to　River　Yao；　while　Chen　Tai　went　to　the　hills。

When　the　Shu　army　led　by　Jiang　Wei　came　near　the　Ox　Head　Hills；　they　heard　a　great　shouting　in　front；　and　the　scouts　came　in　to　report　that　the　road　was　barred。　Jiang　Wei　himself　rode　out　to　look。

〃So　you　intended　to　attack　Yongzhou；　did　you？〃　shouted　Chen　Tai。　〃But　we　know　it　and　have　been　watching　for　you　a　long　time。〃

Jiang　Wei　rode　forth　to　attack。　Chen　Tai　advanced　with　a　flourish　of　his　sword；　and　they　engaged。　Chen　Tai　soon　ran　away。　Then　the　soldiers　of　Shu　came　forward　and　fell　on；　driving　the　soldiers　of　Wei　back　to　the　summit　of　the　hills。　But　they　halted　there；　and　Jiang　Wei　encamped　at　the　foot　of　the　hills；　whence　he　challenged　the　enemy　every　day。　But　he　could　gain　no　victory。

Seeing　no　result　after　some　days　of　this；　Xiahou　Ba　said；　〃This　is　no　place　to　remain　in。　We　can　get　no　victory　and　are　tempting　fate　by　remaining　open　to　a　surprise。　I　think　we　should　retire　till　some　better　plan　can　be　tried。〃

Just　then　it　was　reported：　〃The　supplies　road　by　River　Yao　has　fallen　into　the　hands　of　Guo　Huai！〃

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