the　edict　to　the　end　and　then　said；　〃My　task　is　not　yet　acplished。　How　can　I　return　to　my　duties　as　Prime　Minister？　I　must　really　decline　to　accept　this。〃

Fei　Yi　said；　〃If　you　decline　this；　you　flout　the　desires　of　the　Emperor　and　also　show　contempt　for　the　feelings　of　the　army。　At　any　rate　accept　for　the　moment。〃

Then　Zhuge　Liang　humbly　bowed　acquiescence。

Fei　Yi　took　leave　and　returned。

Seeing　that　Sima　Yi　remained　obstinately　on　the　defensive；　Zhuge　Liang　thought　of　a　plan　by　which　to　draw　him。　He　gave　orders　to　break　camp　and　retire。

When　the　scouts　told　Sima　Yi；　he　said；　〃We　may　not　move。　Certainly　there　is　some　deep　craftiness　in　this　move。〃

Zhang　He　said；　〃It　must　mean　that　their　food　is　exhausted。　Why　not　pursue？〃

〃I　reckon　that　Zhuge　Liang　laid　up　ample　supplies　last　year。　Now　the　wheat　is　ripe；　and　he　has　plenty　of　every　sort。　Transport　might　be　difficult；　but　yet　he　could　hold　out　half　a　year。　Why　should　he　run　away？　He　sees　that　we　resolutely　refuse　battle；　and　he　is　trying　some　ruse　to　inveigle　us　into　fighting。　Send　out　spies　to　a　distance　to　see　what　is　going　on。〃

They　reconnoitered　a　long　way　round；　and　the　scouts　returned　to　say　that　a　camp　had　been　formed　ten　miles　away。

〃Ah；　then　he　is　not　running　away；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃Remain　on　the　defensive　still　more　strictly　and　do　not　advance。〃

Ten　days　passed　without　further　news；　nor　did　the　soldiers　of　Shu　offer　the　usual　challenge。　Again　spies　were　sent　far　afield；　and　they　reported　a　further　retreat　of　ten　miles　and　a　new　encampment。

〃Zhuge　Liang　is　certainly　working　some　scheme；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃Do　not　pursue。〃

Another　ten　days　passed　and　spies　went　out。　The　enemy　had　gone　ten　miles　farther　and　encamped。

Zhang　He　said