ly　capable　man；　so　that　you　must　exert　yourself　to　the　very　utmost。〃

Jiang　Wei　was　annoyed。　Said　he；　〃The　late　Prime　Minister　made　six　attempts；　all　for　the　state。　I　have　attacked　eight　times。　Was　anyone　of　those　attacks　to　serve　my　private　ends？　This　time　I　go　to　attack　Taoyang；　and　no　one　shall　say　me　nay。　I　will　punish　opposition　with　death。〃

Jiang　Wei　left　Liao　Hua　in　charge　of　the　base　in　Hanzhong　and　marched　with　three　hundred　thousand　troops　to　Taoyang。　His　movements　were　reported　in　the　Qishan　camps；　and　Deng　Ai's　spies　confirmed　the　news。

It　happened　that　Sima　Wang　was　with　Deng　Ai　discussing　military　matters；　and　the　former；　when　he　heard　it；　said；　〃That　move　is　a　decoy：　He　does　not　mean　it。　What　he　really　intends　is　an　attack　on　Qishan。〃

〃However；　he　has　really　gone　to　Taoyang；〃　said　Deng　Ai。

〃How　can　you　know？〃

〃Formerly　Jiang　Wei　has　always　opened　with　a　march　to　those　parts　of　the　country　where　we　have　stored　supplies。　Taoyang　has　no　stores；　so　he　thinks　we　shall　not　have　taken　care　for　its　defense　as　we　shall　concentrate　our　efforts　on　Qishan。　But；　if　he　can　take　that　place；　he　can　collect　stores　there；　and　get　into　touch　with　the　Qiang　tribespeople　and　finally　work　out　some　grand　plan。〃

〃Supposing　this　true；　what　should　we　do？〃

〃I　advise　the　abandonment　of　this　place　and　a　march　in　two　bodies　toward　Taoyang。　I　know　a　small　town　called　Houxia；　eight　miles　from　Taoyang；　which　is　the　throat　of　the　place。　You　go　to　Taoyang；　hide　your　force；　and　open　the　gates。　Then　act　as　I　shall　tell　you　presently。　I　will　lie　in　wait　at　Houxia。　We　shall　score　a　victory。〃

Deng　Ai　gave　Shi　Zuan　the　mand　of　the　camps　in　Qishan　when　the　main　body　left。

Meanwhile　Xiahou　Ba　led　the　van　of　the　Shu　army　towar