tores； whereupon you will face about and attack。 Zhuge Liang ought to fall into your hands。 If it be that I cannot render service and repay my debt to the state； then punish me for my former crime。
〃If this should be deemed worthy of your attention； then without delay municate your mands。〃
The letter pleased Cao Zhen； and he said； 〃This is heaven…sent help to aid me in an achievement。〃
Cao Zhen rewarded the messenger and bade him return to say that it was accepted。
Then he called Fei Yao to his councils and said； 〃I have just had a secret letter from Jiang Wei telling me to act in a certain fashion。〃
But Fei Yao replied； 〃Zhuge Liang is very crafty； and Jiang Wei is very knowing。 If by chance Zhuge Liang has planned all this and sent this man； we may fall into a snare。〃
〃But Jiang Wei is really a man of Wei。 He was forced into surrender。 Why are you suspicious？〃
〃My advice is not to go； but to remain here on guard。 Let me go to meet this man； and any service I can acplish will redound to your credit。 And if there be any craft； I can meet it for you。〃
Cao Zhen approved this and bade Fei Yao take fifty thousand troops by way of the Xie Valley。
Fei Yao marched away and halted after the second or third stage and send out scouts。 This was done； and the scouts reported that the Shu army was ing through the valley。 Fei Yao at once advanced； but before the troops of Shu got into contact with him； they retired。 Fei Yao pursued。 Then the troops of Shu came on again。 Just as Fei Yao was forming up for battle； the Shu army retreated again。 And these maneuvers were repeated thrice； and a day and a night passed without any repose for the Wei army。
At length rest was imperative； and they were on the point of entrenc