三国演义英文版-第248部分

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When　they　reached　the　city；　Zhuge　Liang　gave　a　general　orders：　〃Attacking　a　city　must　be　proceeded　as　soon　as　the　army　reaches　it。　At　the　rolling　of　drums；　incite　and　urge　the　soldiers　to　advance　with　a　rush。　The　keenness　of　the　soldiers　will　be　spoiled　by　any　delay。〃
So　this　time　also　the　army　came　straight　up　to　the　rampart。　But　they　hesitated　and　dared　not　attack　when　they　saw　the　flags　flying　in　such　good　order　and　apparently　such　thorough　preparation。
About　the　middle　of　the　night；　fires　started　up　all　around　and　a　great　shouting　was　beard。　No　one　could　see　whence　the　Wei　soldiers　were　ing；　but　there　were　answering　shouts　from　the　wall。　The　soldiers　of　Shu　grew　frightened　and　ran。　Zhuge　Liang　mounted　a　horse　and；　with　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　as　escort；　got　out　of　danger。　Looking　back；　they　saw　many　mounted　troops　with　torches　winding　along　like　a　huge　serpent。
Zhuge　Liang　bade　Guan　Xing　find　out　what　this　meant；　and　Guan　Xing　report：　〃These　are　Jiang　Wei's　troops。〃
Zhuge　Liang　remarked；　〃An　army　owes　more　to　its　leading　than　to　its　numbers。　This　Jiang　Wei　is　a　true　genius。〃
Zhuge　Liang　led　the　army　back　to　camp；　and　then　he　thought　for　a　long　time。　Suddenly　he　called　up　one　of　the　Anding　men　and　said；　〃Where　is　the　mother　of　this　Jiang　Wei？〃
〃She　lives　in　Jicheng；〃　replied　he。
Zhuge　Liang　called　Wei　Yan　and　said　to　him；　〃March　off　with　a　body　of　troops；　giving　out　that　you　are　going　to　take　Jicheng。　If　Jiang　Wei　es　up；　let　him　enter　the　city。〃
Then　Zhuge　Liang　asked；　〃What　is　the　most　important　place　in　connection　with　this　place？〃
The　man　from　Anding　replied；　〃The　storehouse　of　Tianshui　is　at　Shanggui。　If　that　is　taken；　the　supplies　are　cut　off。〃
This　was　good　news；　so　Zhao　Yun　was　sent　to　attack　Shanggui；　while　Zhuge　Liang　made　a　camp　ten　miles　south　of　the　city。
The　spies　took　the　news　of　the　movements　of　these　three　forces　into　Tianshui。
When　Jiang　Wei　heard　that　one　army　was　to　attack　his　own　place；　he　pleaded　with　Ma　Zun；　saying；　〃My　mother　is　in　Jicheng；　and　I　am　worried　about　the　attacking　force。　Let　me　go　to　its　defense；　that　I　may　keep　the　city　and　do　my　duty　by　my　mother　at　the　same　time。〃
So　Jiang　Wei　received　mand　of　three　thousand　troops　and　marched　toward　his　home。
When　Jiang　Wei　came　near　the　walls；　he　saw　a　cohort　under　Wei　Yan。　He　attacked。　After　a　show　of　defense　Wei　Yan　retreated；　and　Jiang　Wei　entered　the　city。　He　closed　the　gates　and　prepared　to　defend　the　wall。　Then　he　went　home　to　see　his　mother。
In　the　same　way　Liang　Qian　was　allowed　to　enter　Shanggui。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　sent　for　his　prisoner；　Xiahou　Mao；　and；　when　he　was　brought　to　his　tent；　Zhuge　Liang　said　suddenly；　〃Are　you　afraid　of　death？〃
Xiahou　Mao　prostrated　himself　and　begged　for　his　life。
〃Well；　Jiang　Wei　of　Tianshui；　who；　is　now　gone　to　guard　Jicheng；　has　sent　a　letter　to　say　that　he　would　surrender　if　only　that　would　secure　your　safety。　Now　I　am　going　to　let　you　go　if　you　will　promise　to　induce　Jiang　Wei　to　e　over　to　me。　Do　you　accept　the　condition？〃
〃I　am　willing　to　induce　him　to　yield　to　you；〃　said　Xiahou　Mao。
Zhuge　Liang　then　gave　his　prisoner　clothing　and　a　horse　and　let　him　ride　away。　Nor　did　he　send　anyone　to　follow　him；　but　let　him　choose　his　own　road。
Having　got　outside；　Xiahou　Mao　wanted　to　get　away；　but　he　was　perfectly　ignorant　of　the　roads　and　knew　not　which　to　take。　Presently　he　came　across　some　people；　apparently　in　flight；　and　he　questioned　them。
〃We　are　Jicheng　people；〃　said　they。　〃Jiang　Wei　has　surrendered　the　city　and　deserted　to　Zhuge　Liang。　The　troops　of　Shu　are　looting　and　burning；　and　we　have　escaped。　We　are　going　to　Shanggui。〃
〃Do　you　know　who　is　holding　Tianshui？〃
〃Governor　Ma　Zun　is　in　there；〃　said　they。
Hearing　this；　Xiahou　Mao　rode　quickly　toward　Tianshui。　Presently　he　met　more　people；　evidently　fugitives；　leading　sons　and　carrying　daughters；　who　told　the　same　story。　By　and　by　he　came　to　the　gate　of　the　city；　and；　as　he　was　recognized；　the　wardens　of　the　gate　admitted　him；　and　the　Governor　came　to　greet　him　and　asked　of　his　adventures。　He　told　all　that　had　happened；　that　Jiang　Wei　had　surrendered　and　related　what　the　fugitives　had　said。
〃I　did　not　think　Jiang　Wei　would　have　gone　over　to　Shu；〃　said　the　Governor　sadly。
〃It　seems　he　thought　by　this　to　save　you；　Sir　mander…in…Chief；〃　said　Liang　Xu。　〃I　am　sure　he　has　made　only　a　pretense　of　surrendering。〃
〃Where　is　the　pretense　when　it　is　a　fact　that　he　has　surrendered？〃　said　Xiahou　Mao。
They　were　all　perplexed。　Then　at　the　third　watch　the　troops　of　Shu　came　to　begin　an　attack。　The　fires　round　the　wall　were　very　bright；　and　there　in　the　glare　was　seen　Jiang　Wei；　armed　and　riding　up　and　down　under　the　ramparts　calling　out　for　Xiahou　Mao。　Xiahou　Mao　and　Ma　Zun　ascended　the　wall；　whence　they　saw　Jiang　Wei　swaggering　to　and　fro。
Seeing　the　chiefs　on　the　wall；　Jiang　Wei　called　out；　〃I　surrendered　for　the　sake　of　you；　O　General。　Why　have　you　gone　back　on　your　word？〃
〃Why　did　you　surrender　to　Shu　after　enjoying　so　much　of　Wei's　bounty？〃　said　Xiahou　Mao。　〃And　why　do　you　talk　thus？〃
〃What　do　you　mean　talking　thus　after　writing　me　a　letter　telling　me　to　surrender？　You　want　to　secure　your　own　safety　by　involving　me。　But　I　have　surrendered；　and　as　I　am　a　superior　general　in　their　service　now；　I　see　no　sense　in　returning　to　Wei。〃
So　saying；　he　urged　the　soldiers　on　to　the　attack。　The　assault　continued　till　dawn；　when　the　besiegers　drew　off。
Now　the　appearance　of　Jiang　Wei　in　this　fashion　was　but　a　ruse。　Zhuge　Liang　had　found　among　his　men　one　who　resembled　Jiang　Wei　and　had　disguised　him　so　that　Jiang　Wei　appeared　to　be　leading　the　attack　on　the　ramparts。　In　the　smoke　and　fire　during　the　night　no　one　could　penetrate　the　disguise。
Zhuge　Liang　then　led　the　army　to　attack　Jicheng。　The　grain　in　the　city　was　insufficient　to　feed　the　people。　From　the　wall　Jiang　Wei　saw　wagons　of　grain　and　forage　being　driven　into　the　Shu　camp；　and　he　determined　to　try　to　secure　some。　So　he　led　three　thousand　troops　out　of　the　city　to　attack　the　train　of　wagons。　As　soon　as　he　appeared；　the　convoy　abandoned　the　carts　and　fled。　Jiang　Wei　seized　them；　and　was　taking　them　into　the　city；　when　he　was　met　by　a　cohort　under　the　mand　of　Zhang　Yi。　They　plunged　into　battle。　After　a　short　time　Wang　Ping　came　to　reinforce　Zhang　Yi；　so　that　Jiang　Wei　was　attacked　on　two　sides。　All　Jiang　Wei's　efforts　were　vain；　and　he　had　to　abandon　the　spoil　and　try　to　reenter　the　city。
But　as　he　drew　near；　he　saw　the　walls　were　decorated　with　Shu　ensigns；　for　Wei　Yan　had　captured　the　place　and　was　in　possession。　By　desperate　fighting　Jiang　Wei　got　clear　and　set　off　for　Tianshui。　But　he　only　had　a　few　score　horsemen　left。　Presently　the　small　force　fell　in　with　Zhang　Bao；　and　at　the　end　of　this　engagement　Jiang　Wei　found　himself　alone；　a　single　horseman。　He　reached　Tianshui　and　hailed　the　gate。　The　watchers　above　the　gate　knew　him　and　went　to　tell　the　Governor。
〃This　fellow　has　came　to　beguile　me　into　opening　the　gate；〃　said　Ma　Zun。
So　Ma　Zun　ordered　the　defenders　to　shoot　at　the　fugitive。　Jiang　Wei　turned　back；　but　there　were　the　army　of　Shu　close　at　hand。　He　set　off　as　fast　as　he　could　for　Shanggui。　But　when　he　got　there　Liang　Qian　hurled　a　volley　of　abuse　at　him。
〃You　traitor！〃　cried　Liang　Qian。　〃Dare　you　e　to　try　to　cajole　me　out　of　my　city？　I　know　you　have　surrendered　to　Shu。〃
Liang　Qian's　soldiers　also　began　to　shoot　at　the　hapless　fugitive。
Jiang　Wei　was　helpless。　He　could　not　explain　the　real　truth　to　those　who　doubted　him。　Lifting　his　eyes　to　heaven；　while　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks；　he　whipped　up　his　steed　and　rode　off　toward　Changan。
Before　he　had　got　very　far；　he　came　to　a　spot　where　were　many　heavy　foliaged　trees。　From　among　these　appeared　a　pany　of　soldiers；　led　by　Guan　Xing。　Weary　as　were　both　horse　and　rider；　there　was　no　chance　of　successful　resistance；　and　Jiang　Wei　turned　back。　But　soon　appeared　a　small　chariot　in　which　sat　Zhuge　Liang；　dressed　simply　as　usual　in　a　white　robe　and　carrying　his　feather　fan。
〃Friend　Jiang　Wei；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃is　it　not　time　to　yield？〃
Jiang　Wei　stopped　and　pondered。　There　was　Zhuge　Liang；　and　Guan　Xing's　troops　were　behind　him。　There　was　no　way　out。　So　he　dismounted　and　bowed　his　head　in　submission。
Zhuge　Liang　at　once　got　out　of　the　chariot　and　bade　him　wele；　taking　him　by　the　hand　and　saying；　〃Ever　since　I　left　my　humble　cottage；　I　have　been　seeking　some　worthy　person　to　whom　I　might　impart　the　knowledge　that　my　life　has　been　spent　in　acquiring。　I　have　found　no　one　till　this　moment；　and　now　my　desire　is　attained。　You　are　the　one。〃
Jiang　Wei　bowed　and　thanked　him；　and　they　two　returned　to　camp。
Soon　after　their　arrival；　the　new　recruit　and　Zhuge　Liang　consulted　how　to　capture　Tianshui　and　Shanggui。　Jiang　Wei　had　a　scheme。
〃The　two　civil　officers　in　charge　of　the　city；　Yin　Shang　and　Liang　Xu；　are　excellent　friends　of　mine；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　will　write　a　letter　to　each；　shoot　it　over　the　wall　tied　to　an　arrow；　and　ask　them　to　help　by　raising　a　revolt　within　the　city。〃
They　decided　upon　this；　and　two　secret　letters　were　duly　written　and　sent　flying　over　the　ramparts；　where　they　were　found　and　taken　to　the　Governor。　Ma　Zun　was　doubtful　what　action　to　take　and　consulted　with　Xiahou　Mao；　asking　him　to　decide。
Said　Ma　Zun；　〃Yin　Shang　and　Liang　Xu　are　in　league　with　Jiang　Wei；　and　they　plot　to　aid　the　enemy　from　within。　What　should　be　done？〃
〃Put　both　the　men　to　death；〃　Xiahou　Mao　replied。
But　Yin　Shang　heard　what　was　toward　and　said　to　Liang　Xu；　〃The　best　course　for　us　is　to　yield　the　city　to　Shu　and　trust　to　them　to　treat　us　well　as　our　repense。〃
That　evening　Xiahou　Mao　sent　many　times　to　summon　the　two　officers　to　him；　but　they　thought　it　too　great　a　risk　to　answer　the　call。　Instead；　they　armed　themselves　and　rode　at　the　head　of　their　own　soldiers　to　the　gates；　opened　them　and　let　in　the　troops　of　Shu。　Ma　Zun　and　Xiahou　Mao　fled　by　the　west　gate　with　a　hundred　faithful　followers　and　sought　refuge　with　the　Qiang　tribespeople。
Liang　Xu　and　Yin　Shang　weled　Zhuge　Liang；　who　entered　the　city；　restored　order；　and　calmed　the　people。
This　done；　Zhuge　Liang　asked　how　he　might　capture　Shanggui。
Liang　Xu　said；　〃My　brother；　Liang　Qian；　holds　that　city；　and　I　will　call　upon　him　to　yield　it。〃
Thereupon　Liang　Xu　rode　over　to　Shanggui　and　called　out　his　bro