the　expedition。

Cao　Zhen　had　said；　〃We　have　had　rain　for　a　whole　month；　and　the　soldiers　are　downhearted　and　think　only　of　getting　home　again。　How　can　we　stop　them？〃

Sima　Yi　replied；　〃Return　is　best。〃

〃If　Zhuge　Liang　pursue；　how　shall　we　repulse　him？〃

〃We　can　leave　an　ambush。〃

While　they　were　discussing　this　matter；　the　Emperor's　mand　arrived。　Whereupon　they　faced　about　and　marched　homeward。

Now　Zhuge　Liang　had　reckoned　upon　this　month　of　rain　and　so　had　had　his　troops　camped　in　a　safe　place。　Then　he　ordered　the　main　army　to　assemble　at　Red　Slope　and　camp　there。

He　summoned　his　officers　to　his　tent　and　said；　〃In　my　opinion　the　enemy　must　retire；　for　the　Ruler　of　Wei　will　issue　such　an　order。　To　retreat　needs　preparation；　and　if　we　pursue；　we　will　fall　in　their　trap。　So　we　will　let　them　retire　without　molestation。　Some　other　plan　must　be　evolved。〃

So　when　Wang　Ping　sent　news　of　the　retreat　of　the　enemy；　the　messenger　carried　back　the　order　not　to　pursue。

It　is　only　lost　labor　to　cover　retreat

When　your　enemy　does　not　pursue。

By　what　means　Zhuge　Liang　intended　to　defeat　Wei　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　100　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　100

Chapter　100

Raiding　A　Camp；　The　Shu　Soldiers　Defeat　Cao　Zhen；

Contesting　Array　Battles；　Zhuge　Liang　Shames　Sima　Yi。

When　the　Shu　officers　got　to　know　that　the　Wei　army　had　gone　but　they　were　not　to　pursue；　they　were　inclined　to　discontent　and　went　in　a　body　to　the　Prime　Minister's　tent　and　said；　〃The　rain　has　driven　the　enemy　away。　Surely　it　is　the　moment　to　pursue。〃

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Sima　Yi　is　an　able　leader　who　would　not　retreat　without　leaving　an　ambus