ound　a　stalwart　soldier　for　a　leader；　a　man　who　wields　a　ninety…pound　sword；　rides　a　swift　and　savage　steed；　bends　the　three…hundred…pound　bow；　and　carries　hidden　about　him　when　he　goes　into　battle　three　meteor　maces　with　which　his　aim　is　certain。　So　valorous　is　he　that　none　dare　stand　against　him。　He　es　from　Didao　in　West　Valley　Land　and　is　named　Wang　Shuang。　I　would　remend　him　for　my　leader　of　the　van。〃

Cao　Rui　approved　at　once　and　summoned　this　marvel　to　the　hall。　There　came　a　nine…span　man　with　a　dusky　plexion；　yellowish　eyes；　strong　as　a　bear　in　the　hips　and　with　a　back　supple　as　a　tiger's。

〃No　need　to　fear　anything　with　such　a　man！〃　said　Cao　Rui；　laughing。

He　gave　the　new　hero　rich　presents；　a　silken　robe　and　golden　breastplate；　and　gave　him　the　title　General　Who　Possesses　the　Tiger　Majesty。　And　Wang　Shuang　became　Leader　of　the　Van　of　the　new　army。　Cao　Zhen　was　appointed　mander…in…Chief。

Cao　Zhen　took　leave　of　his　master　and　left　the　court。　He　collected　his　one　hundred　fifty　thousand　veterans　and；　in　consultation　with　Guo　Huai　and　Zhang　He；　decided　upon　the　strategic　points　to　be　guarded。

The　first　panies　of　the　army　of　Shu　sent　out　their　scouts　as　far　as　Chencang。　They　came　back　and　reported：　〃A　rampart　has　been　built　and　behind　it　is　a　general　named　Hao　Zhao　in　mand。　The　rampart　is　very　strong　and　is　further　defended　by　thorny　barriers。　Instead　of　taking　Chencang；　which　seems　difficult；　it　would　be　easier　to　go　out　to　Qishan　by　the　Taibo　Mountains；　where　is　a　practicable；　though　winding；　road。〃

But　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Due　north　of　Chencang　is　Jieting；　so　that　I　must　get　this　city　in　order　to　advance。〃

Wei　Yan　was　sent　to　surround　Chencang　and　take　it。　He　went；　but　days　passed　without　success。　Therefore　he　returned