called。

〃You　will　take　ten　thousand　troops；　go　to　the　border　of　Beiyuan　to　receive　the　wooden　transport　creatures　and　defend　them　against　attack。〃

Then　another　five　thousand　under　Zhang　Yi　and　Liao　Hua　was　sent　to　check　Sima　Yi　if　he　should　e；　while　a　small　force　under　Ma　Dai　and　Ma　Zheng　was　sent　to　bid　defiance　to　the　enemy　near　their　camp　on　the　south　bank。

So　one　day　when　a　convoy　was　on　its　way　from　the　West　Valley　Land；　the　scouts　in　front　suddenly　reported　some　soldiers　ahead　who　said　they　were　escort　for　the　grain。　mander　Cen　Wei　halted　and　sent　to　inquire。　It　appeared　the　newers　were　really　the　soldiers　of　Wei；　however；　and　so　he　started　once　more。

The　newers　joined　up　with　his　own　troops。　But　before　they　had　gone　much　farther；　there　was　a　yell；　and　the　men　of　Shu　began　to　kill；　while　a　voice　shouted；　〃Wang　Ping　is　here！〃

The　convoy　guard　were　taken　aback。　Many　were　killed；　but　the　others　rallied　round　Cen　Wei　and　made　some　defense。　However；　Wang　Ping　slew　Cen　Wei；　and　the　others　ran　this　way　and　that；　while　the　convoy　was　turned　toward　the　Shu　camp。

The　fugitives　ran　off　to　Beiyuan　and　reported　the　mishap　to　Guo　Huai；　who　set　out　hot　foot　to　rescue　the　convoy。　When　he　appeared；　Wang　Ping　gave　the　order　to　turn　tongues；　left　the　wooden　animals　in　the　road；　and　ran　away。　Guo　Huai　made　no　attempt　to　pursue；　but　tried　to　put　the　wooden　animals　in　motion　toward　their　proper　destination。　But　he　could　not　move　them。

He　was　greatly　perplexed。　Then　suddenly　there　arose　the　roll　of　drums　all　round；　and　out　burst　two　parties　of　soldiers。　These　were　Wei　Yan　and　Jiang　Wei's　troops；　and　when　they　appeared　Wang　Ping's　soldiers　faced　about　and　came　to　the　attack　as　well。　These　three　being　too　much　for　Guo　Huai；　he　retreated　be