Yong　Kai　challenged；　but　the　soldiers　of　Shu　refused　to　fight；　and　remained　within　their　lines　for　three　days。　On　the　fourth　day　Yong　Kai　and　Gao　Ding　divided　their　troops　into　two　parts　and　came　to　attack　the　camp。　Now　Zhuge　Liang　had　told　Wei　Yan　to　wait　for　this　double　attack；　and　so　when　it　came　to　pass；　both　divisions　fell　into　an　ambush　and　suffered　great　loss；　many　being　killed　and　more　captured。

The　prisoners　were　taken　to　the　camp；　and　the　soldiers　belonging　to　the　two　leaders………Yong　Kai　and　Gao　Ding………were　confined　separately。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　told　the　soldiers　to　let　it　be　known　that　only　those　belonging　to　Gao　Ding　would　be　spared；　the　others　would　be　put　to　death。　When　time　had　been　given　for　this　story　to　spread　among　the　prisoners；　Yong　Kai's　troops　were　brought　up　to　the　mander's　tent。

〃Whose　soldiers　were　you？〃　asked　Zhuge　Liang。

〃Gao　Ding's；〃　cried　they　all；　falsely。

Then　they　were　all　pardoned；　and；　after　being　given　wine　and　food；　they　were　taken　to　the　frontier　and　set　free。

Next　the　real　Gao　Ding's　soldiers　were　brought　forward；　and　the　same　question　was　put　to　them。

〃We　all　really　belong　to　Gao　Ding's　mand；〃　said　they。

In　like　manner　they　were　pardoned　and　refreshed　with　wine　and　food。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　addressed　them；　saying；　〃Yong　Kai　has　just　sent　a　messenger　to　ask　that　he　may　surrender；　and　he　offers　to　bring　with　him　the　heads　of　Gao　Ding　and　Zhu　Bao　as　a　proof　of　merit。　But　I　will　not　receive　him；　and　you；　since　you　are　Gao　Ding's　soldiers；　shall　be　released　and　allowed　to　return　to　him。　But　let　there　be　no　ingratitude　and　fighting　again；　for　if　there　is；　I　certainly　will　not　pardon　you　next　time。〃

So　they　thanked　their　liberator　and　went　away。　As　soon　as　they　reached　their　own　c