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In this way you will be able to find out the state of affairs in

the enemy's country, ascertain the plans that are being formed

against you, and moreover disturb the harmony and create a breach

between the sovereign and his ministers." The necessity for

extreme caution, however, in dealing with "inward spies," appears

from an historical incident related by Ho Shih: "Lo Shang,

Governor of I-Chou, sent his general Wei Po to attack the rebel

Li Hsiung of Shu in his stronghold at P'i. After each side had

experienced a number of victories and defeats, Li Hsiung had

recourse to the services of a certain P'o-t'ai, a native of

Wu-tu. He began to have him whipped until the blood came, and

then sent him off to Lo Shang, whom he was to delude by offering

to cooperate with him from inside the city, and to give a fire

signal at the right moment for making a general assault.