ke a huge serpent。
Zhuge Liang bade Guan Xing find out what this meant； and Guan Xing report： 〃These are Jiang Wei's troops。〃
Zhuge Liang remarked； 〃An army owes more to its leading than to its numbers。 This Jiang Wei is a true genius。〃
Zhuge Liang led the army back to camp； and then he thought for a long time。 Suddenly he called up one of the Anding men and said； 〃Where is the mother of this Jiang Wei？〃
〃She lives in Jicheng；〃 replied he。
Zhuge Liang called Wei Yan and said to him； 〃March off with a body of troops； giving out that you are going to take Jicheng。 If Jiang Wei es up； let him enter the city。〃
Then Zhuge Liang asked； 〃What is the most important place in connection with this place？〃
The man from Anding replied； 〃The storehouse of Tianshui is at Shanggui。 If that is taken； the supplies are cut off。〃
This was good news； so Zhao Yun was sent to attack Shanggui； while Zhuge Liang made a camp ten miles south of the city。
The spies took the news of the movements of these three forces into Tianshui。
When Jiang Wei heard that one army was to attack his own place； he pleaded with Ma Zun； saying； 〃My mother is in Jicheng； and I am worried about the attacking force。 Let me go to its defense； that I may keep the city and do my duty by my mother at the same time。〃
So Jiang Wei received mand of three thousand troops and marched toward his home。
When Jiang Wei came near the walls； he saw a cohort under Wei Yan。 He attacked。 After a show of defense Wei Yan retreated； and Jiang Wei entered the city。 He closed the gates and prepared to defend the wall。 Then he went home to see his mother。
In the same way Liang Qian was allowed to enter Shanggui。
Then Zhuge Liang sent for his pris