〃All you must do your utmost to guard against the enemy。 When you hear a bomb explode； rush out on all sides and attack。〃
With this order they retired。
Now Wei Yan； Zhang Ni； Chen Shi； and Du Qiong； with twenty thousand troops； entered the Gu Valley。 As they were marching； Adviser Deng Zhi came。
〃I bear an order from the Prime Minister。 As you go out of the valley； beware of the enemy；〃 said Deng Zhi。
Chen Shi said； 〃Why is the Prime Minister so full of doubts？ We know the soldiers of Wei have suffered severely from the rain and must hasten home。 They will not lay any ambush。 We are doing double marches and shall gain a great victory。 Why are we to delay？〃
Deng Zhi replied； 〃You know the Prime Minister's plans always succeed。 How dare you disobey his orders？〃
Chen Shi smiled； saying； 〃If he was really so resourceful； we should not have lost Jieting。〃
Wei Yan； recalling that Zhuge Liang had rejected his plan； also laughed； and said； 〃If he had listened to me and gone out through Ziwu Valley； not only Changan but Luoyang too would be ours。 Now he is bent on taking Qishan。 What is the good of it？ He gave us the order to advance and now he stops us。 Truly the orders are confusing。〃
Then said Chen Shi； 〃I will tell you what I will do。 I shall take only five thousand troops； get through the Gu Valley； and camp at Qishan。 Then you will see how ashamed the Prime Minister will look。〃
Deng Zhi argued and persuaded； but to no avail： The willful leader hurried on to get out of the valley。 Deng Zhi could only return as quickly as possible and report。
Chen Shi proceeded。 He had gone a few miles when he heard a bomb； and he was in an ambush。 He tried to withdraw； but the valley was full of the enemy and he was surro