〃His ings and goings are not human；〃 said Sima Yi sadly。
Then Guo Huai came； and he was called to a council。
Said Guo Huai； 〃I hear the soldiers of Shu in Lucheng are very few； and they are occupied with gathering the grain。 Why not smite them？〃
Sima Yi told him his last experience of his opponent's wiles。
〃He threw dust in your eyes that time；〃 said Guo Huai with a smile。 〃However； now you know。 What is the good of more talk？ Let me attack the rear； while you lead against the front； and we shall take the city and Zhuge Liang too。〃
An attack was decided upon。
In Lucheng； while the soldiers were still busy with the wheat； Zhuge Liang called up his generals； and said； 〃The enemy will attack tonight。 There is a suitable place for an ambush in the newly reaped fields； but who will lead for me？〃
Four generals………Jiang Wei； Wei Yan； Ma Dai； and Ma Zheng………offered themselves； and he posted them； each with two thousand troops； outside the four corners of the city。 They were to await the signal and then converge。 When these had gone； Zhuge Liang led out a small party of one hundred soldiers and hid in the newly reaped fields。
In the meantime Sima Yi was drawing near。 It was dusk when he stood beneath the walls of Lucheng。
Said he to his officers； 〃If we attacked by daylight； we should find the city well prepared。 So we will take advantage of the darkness。 The moat is shallow here； and there shall be no difficulty in crossing it。〃
The troops bivouacked till the time should e to attack。 About the middle of the first watch Guo Huai arrived； and his force joined up with the others。 This done； the drums began to beat； and the city was quickly surrounded。 However； the defenders maintained such a heavy discharge