So　they　hurried　to　set　out　to　return。　That　was　the　moment　for　Hu　Ban　and　Wu　Yi　to　appear　and　cut　off　their　retreat。　However；　they　fought　bravely　and　got　through。　But　when　at　length　they　reached　their　own　camp；　they　were　met　by　arrows　flying　thick　as　locusts。　For　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　had　taken　possession　in　their　absence。

They　could　only　set　out　for　headquarters　to　report　their　mishap。　As　they　neared　Cao　Zhen's　camp；　they　met　another　remnant　marching　up。　They　were　Sun　Li's　soldiers；　and　the　two　parties　went　into　camp　together　and　told　the　tale　of　their　victimization。　Cao　Zhen　thereafter　looked　to　his　defenses　and　attacked　no　more。

Thus　victorious；　the　soldiers　of　Shu　went　to　Zhuge　Liang；　who　at　once　dispatched　secret　directions　to　Wei　Yan。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　gave　orders　to　break　camp　and　retreat。

This　move　was　not　understood；　and　Yang　Yi　asked　the　leader；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　you　have　just　scored　a　victory；　and　the　enemy　have　lost　their　bravery；　why　retreat？〃

〃Because　we　are　short　of　food；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Our　success　lay　in　swift　victory；　but　the　enemy　will　not　fight；　and　thus　they　weaken　us　day　by　day。　Though　we　have　worsted　them　now；　they　will　soon　be　reinforced；　and　their　light　horse　can　cut　off　our　provisions。　Then　we　could　not　retreat　at　all。　For　a　time　they　will　not　dare　look　at　us；　and　we　must　take　the　occasion　to　do　what　they　do　not　expect；　and　retreat。　But　I　am　solicitous　about　Wei　Yan；　who　is　on　the　Chencang　road　to　keep　off　Wang　Shuang。　I　fear　he　cannot　get　away。　So　I　have　sent　him　certain　orders　to　slay　Wang　Shuang；　and　then　the　force　of　Wei　will　not　dare　to　pursue。〃

Therefore　the　retreat　began；　but　to　deceive　the　enemy　the　watchmen　were　left　in　the　empty　camp　to　beat　the　watches　through　the　night。

Cao　Zhen　was　dep