about and moved toward the hills on the north。
〃I am certain there are no soldiers behind this foolery；〃 said Sima Zhao。 〃What do you retire for； Father？〃
Sima Yi replied； 〃Zhuge Liang is always most careful and runs no risks。 Those open gates undoubtedly mean an ambush。 If our force enter the city； they will fall victims to his guile。 How can you know？ No； our course is to retire。〃
Thus were the two armies turned back from the city； much to the joy of Zhuge Liang； who laughed and clapped his hands as he saw them hastening away。
The officials gasped with astonishment； and they asked； 〃Sima Yi is a famous general of Wei； and he was leading one hundred fifty troops。 By what reason did he march off at the sight of you； O Prime Minister？〃
Zhuge Liang said； 〃He knows my reputation for carefulness and that I play not with danger。 Seeing things as they were made him suspect an ambush； and so he turned away。 I do not run risks； but this time there was no help for it。 Now he will meet with Guan Xing and Zhang Bao； whom I sent away into the hills to wait for him。〃
They were still in the grip of fear； but they praised the depth of insight of their chief and his mysterious schemes and unfathomable plans。
〃We should simply have run away；〃 said they。
〃What could we have done with two thousand five hundred soldiers even if we had run？ We should not have gone far before being caught；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Quite open lay the city to the foe；
But Zhuge Liang's lute of jasper wonders wrought；
It turned aside the legions' onward march
For both the leaders guessed the other's thought。
〃But if I had been in Sima Yi's place； I should not have turned away；〃 said Zhuge Liang； smiling and clapping his hands。