ne enemy； then is victory sure。' We are not the equals of the late Prime Minister； and where he failed； are we likely to succeed？〃
Jiang Wei said； 〃I would enlist the aid of the Qiangs。 I have lived near them in Longshang and know them well。 With their help； even if we do not gain the whole empire； we can at least conquer and hold all west of Changan。〃
The Latter Ruler here closed the discussion； saying； 〃Sir； as you desire to conquer Wei； do your best。 I will not damp your enthusiasm。〃
Thus the Latter Ruler's consent was given。 Then Jiang Wei left the court and betook himself； with Xiahou Ba； into Hanzhong to prepare for a new expedition。
〃We will first send an envoy to the Qiangs to make a league with them；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃Then we will march out by the Xiping Pass to Yongzhou； where we will build up two ramparts in Qushan in Qushan Mountains and garrison them。 The position is a point of vantage。 Then we will send supplies beyond the pass by land and waterways； and advance gradually； according to the plan devised by the late Prime Minister。〃
In the autumn of the year （AD 249） they sent the two Shu generals； Li Xin and Gou Ai； with fifteen thousand troops； to construct the two ramparts in Qushan in Qushan Mountains； of which Gou Ai was to hold the eastern and Li Xin the western。
When the news reached Yongzhou； the Imperial Protector； Guo Huai； sent a report to Luoyang and also dispatched Chen Tai with a force of fifty thousand troops to oppose the troops of Shu。 When that army arrived； Li Xin and Gou Ai led their troops to meet it。 But their armies were too weak to stand such a large force； and they once more retired into the city。 Chen Tai ordered his army to lay siege and occupy the road that led to Hanzhong； so that supplie