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　mand　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　exclaimed　his　admiration　for　the　plan。

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　panies　from　three　to　five　thousand；　observing　the　front　and　the　rear　carefully　as　they　marched。　He　guessed　that　their　object　was　the　Qishan　camp。

So　he　sent　strict　orders　to　his　generals：　〃If　Sima　Yi　leads　in　person；　you　are　to　go　off　and　capture　the　Wei　camp　and　the　south　bank　of　River　Wei。〃

They　received　and　obeyed　his　orders。

When　the　troops　of　Wei　had　got　near　and　made　their　rush　toward　the　camp　of　Shu　in　Qishan；　the　troops　of　Shu　ran　up　also；　yelling　and　pretending　to　reinforce　the　defenders。　Sima　Yi；　seeing　the　Shu　troops　rushing　to　rescure　Qishan；