This is a story from the novel Three Kingdoms. Jiang Wei was adept¹ with both pen and sword. He was not only a man of intelligence and bravery, but also a man of resources and astuteness² . Zhuge Liang wanted to win Jiang Wei over to be his assistant. When he learned that Jiang Wei was a filial son whose mother was living in Jicheng City, he devised a plan to win him over. He ordered Wei Yan to attack Jicheng City by bluffing³ and blustering⁴. As soon as Jiang Wei heard the news, he immediately led the troops to Jicheng City to save his mother. Zhuge Liang sent captured-general Xiahou Mao to Jicheng City to persuade Jiang Wei to surrender. When Xiahou Mao was only halfway⁵ there, he was told by people that Jiang Wei had already surrendered to the Shu State. Therefore Xiahou Mao had to go to Tianshuiguan. He came to the city of Tianshuiguan about Jiang Wei's surrender. In the middle of the night, Zhuge Liang asked somebody to dress up as Jiang Wei and attack Tianshuiguan. This made the officers and soldiers in the dity really believe that Jiang Wei's surrender to Shu State was true.

守卫天水郡的魏国大将姜维，文武双全智有勇有谋。诸葛亮想收姜维为自己的助手。他得知姜维是个孝子，其母住在冀城，便想出一条计策：命魏延虚张声势打冀城，姜维得知消息，便请兵杀回冀城救母。诸葛亮又派俘将夏侯杼木带兵前往冀城劝姜维投降。夏侯懋走到半路，听老百姓说姜维已献城降蜀，他只好往天水郡来。夏侯懋进城，把姜维已投降蜀兵的消息告诉了天水郡守城官兵。深夜，诸葛亮让人假扮姜维打天水郡。守城官兵更认定姜维降蜀是事实了。

Jiang Wei tried every possible means to protect Jicheng City, although he lacked the necessary army provisions. One day Jiang Wei led his soldiers to seize army provisions . The soldiers of the Shu State took advantage of this and seized the city. Since Jiang Wei had lost the city, he could only run to Tianshuiguan. The generals and soldiers wouldn't let him into the city, because they mistakenly believed that he surrendered to the enemy. Jiang Wei had to go off into the wilderness⁶. He went less than a few kilometers before Zhuge Liang came along in a carriage and his troops encircled Jiang Wei. Realizing he was trapped, he surrendered to Zhuge Liang.

姜维苦守冀城，粮草缺乏。一日带兵劫粮，蜀兵乘虚取冀城。姜维失城只好向天水郡逃去。天水郡众将，误认姜维已经投降，不准他进城。姜维无奈落荒而去。走不到数里，诸葛亮乘车而出，姜维见自己陷入重重包围之中，便下马投降了诸葛亮。