e leaders Ma Su； Wang Ping； Wei Yan； and Gao Xiang to render account。 Wang Ping was called to the mander…in…Chief's tent and rebuked。
〃I ordered you and Ma Su to guard Jieting。 Why did you not remonstrate with him and prevent this great loss？〃
〃I did remonstrate many times。 I wished to build a rampart down in the road and construct a solid camp； but the Counselor would not agree and showed ill temper。 So I led five thousand troops and camped some three miles off。 When the army of Wei came in crowds and surrounded my colleague； I led my army to attack them a score of times。 But I could not penetrate； and the catastrophe came quickly。 Many of our troops surrendered； and mine were too few to stand。 Wherefore I went to friend Wei Yan for help。 Then we were intercepted and imprisoned in a valley and only got out by fighting most desperately。 We got back to my camp to find the enemy in possession； and so we set out for Liliu。 On the road I met Gao Xiang； and we three tried to raid the enemy's camp； hoping to recover Jieting。 But as there was no one soldier there； I grew suspicious。 From a hill I saw Wei Yan and Gao Xiang had been hemmed in by the soldiers of Wei； so I went to rescue them。 Thence we hastened to Yangping Pass to try to prevent that from falling。 It was not that I failed to remonstrate。 And you； O Prime Minister； can get confirmation of my words from any of the officers。〃
Zhuge Liang bade him retire； and sent for Ma Su。 He came； bound himself； and threw himself on the earth at the tent door。
Zhuge Liang got angry； saying； 〃You have filled yourself with the study of the books on war ever since you were a boy。 You know them thoroughly。 I enjoined upon you that Jieting was most important； and you pledged yourself and all your family to d