；　〃I　have　always　been　most　loyal　and　will　devote　my　energies　entirely　to　the　service　of　the　state。　So　far　I　have　not　had　an　adequate　opportunity　to　prove　my　sincerity。　But　now　that　you　confer　upon　me　a　post　of　such　responsibility；　I　can　only　say　that　no　sacrifice　can　be　too　great　for　me；　and　I　will　do　my　utmost。〃

So　Zhang　He　was　appointed　Van　Leader；　and　then　Guo　Huai　was　set　over　the　defense　of　the　counties　of　West　Valley　Land。　Other　generals　were　distributed　to　other　posts；　and　the　march　began　toward　Qishan。

The　spies　reported：　〃The　main　force　of　Shu　is　directed　toward　Qishan；　and　the　Leaders　of　the　Van　are　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Ni。　The　route　chosen　for　their　march　is　from　Chencang　across　San　Pass　and　to　the　Xie　Valley。〃

Hearing　this；　Sima　Yi　said　to　Zhang　He；　〃Zhuge　Liang　is　advancing　in　great　force　and　certainly　intends　to　reap　the　wheat　in　West　Valley　Land　for　his　supply。　You　get　sufficient　troops　to　hold　Qishan；　while　Guo　Hu