for　that。　Your　Majesty　need　have　no　anxiety。〃

The　Ruler　of　Wei　being　thus　reassured；　formally　ordered　Sima　Yi　to　undertake　the　expedition。

Hu　Zun　was　appointed　to　lead　the　van。　Hu　Zun　went　and　camped　in　Liaodong。　The　scouts　hastened　to　tell　Gongsun　Yuan；　who　sent　Bei　Yan　and　Yang　Zuo　to　camp　at　Liaosui　with　eighty　thousand　troops。　They　surrounded　their　camp　with　a　wall　seven　miles　in　circumference　and　placed　thorny　barriers　outside　the　rampart。　It　seemed　very　secure。

Hu　Zun　saw　these　preparations　and　sent　to　tell　his　chief。　Sima　Yi　smiled。

〃So　the　rebel　does　not　want　to　fight；　but　thinks　to　weary　my　soldiers；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃Now　I　am　disposed　to　think　that　most　of　his　army　is　within　that　wall；　so　that　his　stronghold　is　empty　and　undefended。　I　will　make　a　dash　at　Xiangping。　He　will　have　to　go　to　its　rescue；　and　I　will　smite　him　on　the　way。　I　should　score　a　great　success。〃

So　Sima　Yi　hastened　to　Xiangping　along　unfrequented　ways。

Meanwhile　Bei　Yan　and　Yang　Zuo；　the　two　generals　within　the　walled　camp；　discussed　their　plans。

Yang　Zuo　said；　〃When　the　Wei　army　es　near；　we　will　not　fight。　They　will　have　e　a　long　march　and　their　supplies　will　be　short；　so　that　they　cannot　hold　out　long。　When　they　retreat；　we　shall　find　our　opportunity。　These　were　the　tactics　Sima　Yi　used　against　Zhuge　Liang　on　River　Wei；　and　Zhuge　Liang　died　before　the　end　of　the　expedition。　We　will　try　similar　means。〃

Presently　the　scouts　reported　that　the　Wei　army　had　marched　south。

Bei　Yan　at　once　saw　the　danger　and　said；　〃They　are　going　to　attack　Xiangping；　which　they　know　has　few　troops。　If　that　base　be　lost；　this　position　is　useless。〃

So　they　broke　up　their　camp　and　followed　the　enemy。

When　Sima　Yi　heard　it；　he　rejoiced；　saying；