stockade　and　pranced　about　naked；　shouting　in　derision。

Within　the　stockade　the　Shu　generals　grew　very　angry；　and　they　went　in　a　body　to　see　their　leader。

They　all　said；　〃We　volunteer　to　march　out　and　fight　until　death！〃

But　Zhuge　Liang　would　not　listen。

Presently　he　said；　〃These　men　are　not　submissive　to　the　Imperial　Government　and　are　naturally　fierce　and　turbulent。　In　that　mood　we　are　no　match　for　them。　But　all　we　have　to　do　is　to　remain　on　guard　for　a　few　days　till　their　ferocity　has　spent　itself。　Then　I　have　a　plan　that　will　overe　them。〃

Days　passed；　and　the　army　of　Shu　made　no　move；　they　only　maintained　the　defensive。　Zhuge　Liang　watched　the　besiegers　from　an　eminence；　and　saw　the　first　vigor　of　their　advance　give　way　to　careless　idleness。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　called　together　his　generals　and　asked；　〃Dare　you　give　battle　now？〃

They　all　rejoiced　at　the　suggestion。　So　he　called　them　two　by　two　or　one　by　one　and　gave　them　secret　orders。　Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan　went　in　first。　Wang　Ping　and　Ma　Zheng　followed。

To　Ma　Dai　he　said；　〃I　am　going　to　abandon　these　stockades　and　retire　north　of　the　river。　As　soon　as　we　have　crossed；　you　are　to　cut　loose　the　floating　bridge　and　move　it　down　the　stream　so　that　Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan　may　cross。〃

To　Zhang　Yi　he　said；　〃You　are　to　remain　by　the　camp　and　light　it　up　at　night………as　if　it　is　still　occupied。　When　Meng　Huo　pursues；　then　you　are　to　cut　off　his　retreat。〃

Last　of　all；　Guan　Suo　was　to　escort　Zhuge　Liang's　carriage。

The　soldiers　marched　out　of　the　camp　at　evening；　and　the　lamps　were　hung　up　as　usual。　The　Mangs　saw　this　from　a　distance　and　dared　not　attack。　But　the　next　morning　at　dawn　Meng　Huo　led　his　troops　to　the　stockades　and　found　all　was　quiet。　He　went　cl