；　〃What　makes　you　so　over…suspicious？　I　can　see　that　Zhuge　Liang　is　retreating　into　Hanzhong；　only　he　is　doing　it　gradually　and　arousing　our　suspicion。　Why　not　pursue　before　it　is　too　late。　Let　me　go　and　fight　one　battle。〃

〃No；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃A　defeat　would　destroy　the　morale　of　our　soldiers；　and　I　will　not　risk　it。　Zhuge　Liang's　vile　tricks　are　innumerable。〃

〃If　I　go　and　get　beaten；　I　will　stand　the　full　rigor　of　military　punishment；〃　said　Zhang　He。

〃Well；　if　you　are　set　on　going；　we　will　divide　the　army。　You　take　your　wing　and　go；　but　you　will　have　to　fight　your　best。　I　will　follow　to　help　in　case　of　need。　Tomorrow　you　should　march　only　halfway　and　rest　your　troops　for　the　battle。〃

So　Zhang　He　got　independent　mand　of　thirty　thousand　troops　and　took　Dai　Ling　as　his　second　in　mand；　and　he　had　a　few　score　of　generals　as　assistants。　Halfway　they　camped。　Then　Sima　Yi；　leaving　a　substantial　guard　for　his　camp；　set　out　along　the　same　road　with　fifty　thousand　troops。

Zhuge　Liang　knew　the　movements　of　the　army　of　Wei　and　when　Zhang　He's　army　camped　to　rest。　In　the　night　he　summoned　his　generals　and　told　them。

〃The　enemy　are　ing　in　pursuit　and　will　fight　desperately。　You　will　have　to　fight　everyone　of　you　like　ten；　but　I　will　set　an　ambush　to　attack　their　rear。　Only　a　wise　and　bold　leader　is　fit　for　this　task。〃

Wang　Ping　stepped　forth　and　said　he　was　willing　to　go　on　this　expedition。

〃But　if　you　fail；　what　then？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃Then　there　is　the　military　rule。〃

Zhuge　Liang　sighed。　〃Wang　Ping　is　most　loyal。　He　is　willing　to　risk　wounds　and　death　in　his　country's　service。　However；　the　enemy　are　in　two　divisions；　one　ing　in　front；　the　other　trying　to　get　round　to　the　rear。　Wang　Ping　is　crafty　and　bold；　but