go　into　the　field　and　one　hundred　thousand　remain。　In　this　way；　using　ten　legions　and　ten　legions；　their　energies　will　be　conserved　and　you　can　gradually　work　toward　the　Middle　Land。〃

〃I　agree　with　you；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Our　attack　is　not　a　matter　to　be　achieved　in　haste。　The　suggestion　for　an　extended　campaign　is　excellent！〃

Wherefore　the　army　was　divided；　and　each　half　went　out　for　one　hundred　days'　service　at　a　time；　when　it　was　relieved　by　the　other　half。　Full　penalties　were　provided　for　any　laxity　and　failure　to　maintain　the　periods　of　active　service。

In　the　spring　of　the　ninth　year　of　Beginning　Prosperity；　the　Shu　army　once　more　took　the　held　against　Wei。　In　Wei　it　was　the　fifth　year　of　Calm　Peace　（AD　231）。

When　the　Ruler　of　Wei　heard　of　this　new　expedition；　he　called　Sima　Yi　and　asked　his　advice。

〃Now　that　my　friend　Cao　Zhen　is　no　more；　I　am　willing　to　do　all　that　one　man　can　to　destroy　the　rebels　against　Your　Majesty's　authority；〃　said　Sima　Yi。

Cao　Rui　was　gratified　by　this　ready　offer；　and　honored　Sima　Yi　with　a　banquet。　Next　day　an　edict　was　issued　for　the　army　to　move。　The　Ruler　of　Wei；　riding　in　his　state　chariot；　escorted　Sima　Yi　out　of　the　city；　and；　after　the　farewells；　the　mander　took　the　road　to　Changan；　where　the　force　was　gathering。　There　was　assembled　a　council　of　war。

Zhang　He　offered　his　services；　saying；　〃I　volunteer　to　guard　Yongcheng　and　Meicheng　against　the　Shu　army。〃

But　Sima　Yi　said；　〃Our　vanguard　army　is　not　strong　enough　to　face　the　enemy's　whole　force。　Moreover；　to　divide　an　army　is　not　generally　a　successful　scheme。　The　better　plan　will　be　to　leave　a　guard　in　Shanggui　and　send　all　the　others　to　Qishan。　Will　you　undertake　the　Leadership　of　the　Van？〃

Zhang　He　consented；　saying