Shanggui　and　called　out　his　brother　to　submit。　Zhuge　Liang　rewarded　the　two　brothers　and　then　made　Liang　Xu　Governor　of　Tianshui；　Yin　Shang；　Magistrate　of　Jicheng；　and　Liang　Qian；　Magistrate　of　Shanggui。　Next　the　army　prepared　to　advance。

His　officers　asked；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　why　do　you　not　pursue　and　capture　Xiahou　Mao？〃

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃I　let　him　go　as　I　would　release　a　duck。　In　my　friend　Jiang　Wei　I　recognized　a　phoenix。〃

Such　awe　and　fear　seized　upon　the　country　around　when　these　exploits　of　Zhuge　Liang　were　heard　of　that　many　other　cities　simply　opened　their　gates　without　making　any　resistance。　Zhuge　Liang　brought　all　soldiers　from　Hanzhong；　horse　and　foot；　and　marched　on　to　Qishan。

When　the　Shu　army　reached　the　west　bank　of　River　Wei；　the　scouts　reported　their　movements　in　Luoyang；　and；　at　a　court　held　in　the　first　year　of　the　era　of　Calm　Peace　（AD　227）；　the　ministers　told　the　Ruler　of　Wei　of　the　threatened　invasion。

They　said；　〃Xiahou　Mao；　the　Imperial　Son…in…Law；　has　lost　the　three　counties　and　fled　to　the　Qiangs。　The　enemy　has　reached　Qishan；　and　their　advanced　columns　are　on　the　west　bank　of　River　Wei。　I　pray　that　an　army　be　sent　to　repulse　them。〃

The　Emperor；　Cao　Rui；　was　alarmed　and　asked；　〃Who　shall　go　out　and　drive　off　the　enemy　for　me？〃

Minister　Wang　Lang　stepped　forward　and　said；　〃I　observed　that　whenever　General　Cao　Zhen　was　sent　by　the　late　Emperor　on　any　expedition　he　succeeded。　Why　not　send　him　to　drive　off　these　soldiers　of　Shu？〃

Cao　Rui　approved　of　the　suggestion。

Whereupon　he　called　up　Cao　Zhen　and　said　to　him；　〃The　late　Emperor　confided　me　to　your　guardianship。　You　cannot　sit　by　while　the　enemy　ravages　the　country。〃

Cao　Zhen　replied；　〃Your　Majesty；　my　talents　are　but　poo