t　defeat　and　suffer　death。　And　I；　by　virtue　of　Your　Majesty's　good　fortune；　am　to　be　the　instrument　of　destruction。　I　request　to　name　four　leaders　to　go　with　me。〃

〃Who　are　they？　Name　them；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

〃They　are　the　four　sons　of　Xiahou　Yuan：　Xiahou　Ba；　Xiahou　Wei；　Xiahou　Hui；　and　Xiahou　He。　Xiahou　Ba　and　Xiahou　Wei　are　trained　archers　and　cavaliers；　Xiahou　Hui　and　Xiahou　He　are　deep　strategists。　All　four　desire　to　avenge　the　death　of　their　father。　Xiahou　Ba　and　Xiahou　Wei　should　be　Leaders　of　the　Van；　Xiahou　Hui　and　Xiahou　He　should　be　Marching　Generals；　to　discuss　and　arrange　plans　for　the　repulse　of　our　enemy。〃

〃You　remember　the　evil　results　of　employing　the　Dynastic　Son…in…Law　Xiahou　Mao：　He　lost　his　army　and　is　still　too　ashamed　to　return　to　court。　Are　you　sure　these　are　not　of　the　same　kidney？〃

〃They　are　not　like　Xiahou　Mao　in　the　least。〃

The　Ruler　of　Wei　granted　the　request　and　named　Sima　Yi　as　mander…in…Chief　with　the　fullest　authority。　When　Sima　Yi　took　leave　of　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　he　received　a　mand　in　Cao　Rui's　own　writing：

〃When　you；　Noble　Sir；　reach　the　banks　of　River　Wei　and　have　well　fortified　that　position；　you　are　not　to　give　battle。　The　army　of　Shu；　disappointed　of　their　desire；　will　pretend　to　retire　and　so　entice　you　on；　but　you　will　not　pursue。　You　will　wait　till　their　supplies　are　consumed　and　they　are　pelled　to　retreat；　when　you　may　smite　them。　Then　you　will　obtain　the　victory　without　distressing　the　army　unduly。　This　is　the　best　plan　of　campaign。〃

Sima　Yi　took　it　with　bowed　head。　He　proceeded　forthwith　to　Changan。　When　he　had　mustered　the　forces　assembled　from　all　western　counties；　they　numbered　four　hundred　thousand；　and　they　were　all　camped　on　River　Wei。　In　addition；　fifty　thousand　troops