三国演义英文版-第263部分

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a　measure　support　them。　When　Zhuge　Liang　has　actually　attacked　Wei；　we　will　make　for　the　Middle　Land　ourselves。〃
Orders　went　forth　for　enlisting　and　training　Jingzhou　soldiers　ready　for　an　expedition　to　start　presently。
When　Chen　Zhen　returned　to　Hanzhong　and　reported　to　the　Prime　Minister；　Zhuge　Liang　was　still　worried　that　he　could　not　advanced　hastily　by　the　road　through　Chencang。　So　he　sent　scouts　out　first。
Soon　the　scouts　brought　the　news　back：　〃The　defender　of　the　city；　Hao　Zhao；　is　being　very　ill。〃
〃That　means　success　for　me；〃　cried　he；　cheering。
He　called　in　Wei　Yan　and　Jiang　Wei；　and　said；　〃Take　five　thousand　troops　and　hasten　to　Chencang。　If　you　see　a　blaze；　then　attack。〃
They　could　hardly　believe　what　the　order　was　meant；　and　came　again　to　see　their　chief　and　asked　the　exact　date　of　departure。
Replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃In　three　days　you　should　be　ready　to　march。　Do　not　e　to　take　leave　of　me；　but　set　out　as　soon　as　possible。〃
After　they　had　left　his　tent；　he　summoned　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　and　gave　them　secret　instructions。
Now　when　Guo　Huai　heard　that　mander　Hao　Zhao　of　Chencang　was　ill；　he　and　Zhang　He　talked　over　the　matter。
Guo　Huai　said；　〃Hao　Zhao　is　very　ill。　You　had　better　go　and　relieve　him。　I　will　report　to　the　capital　what　we　have　done　that　they　may　arrange。〃
So　Zhang　He　started　with　his　three　thousand　troops　to　relieve　the　sick　man。
Hao　Zhao　was　indeed　at　the　point　of　death；　and　suddenly　they　told　him　that　the　army　of　Shu　had　reached　the　walls。　Hao　Zhao　roused　himself　and　bade　them　go　on　the　ramparts。　But　then　fire　broke　out　at　each　gate；　a　panic　spread　in　the　city；　and　the　noise　of　the　confusion　startled　the　dying　man　so　that　he　passed　away　just　as　the　troops　of　Shu　were　bursting　in。
When　Wei　Yan　and　Jiang　Wei　reached　the　walls；　they　were　perplexed　to　find　no　sign　of　life。　No　flags　were　flying　and　no　watchmen　struck　the　hours。　They　delayed　their　attack　for　a　time。　Then　they　heard　a　bomb；　and　suddenly　the　wall　was　thick　with　flags；　and　there　appeared　the　well…known　figure　of　the　minister。
〃You　have　e　too　late；〃　cried　Zhuge　Liang。
Both　dropped　out　of　the　saddle　and　prostrated　themselves。
〃Really；　you　are　supernatural；　O　Prime　Minister！〃　they　cried。
They　entered　the　city；　and　then　he　explained　to　them；　saying；　〃I　heard　the　news　that　Hao　Zhao　was　seriously　sick；　so　I　sent　you　with　the　deadline　of　three　days　as　a　decoy　to　calm　the　people　of　this　city。　Then　I　hid　myself　in　the　ranks　of　another　force　under　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao；　which　came　to　Chencang　by　double　marches。　Also；　I　had　sent　spies　into　the　city　to　start　the　fires　and　throw　the　defenders　into　confusion。　An　army　without　a　leader　could　never　fight；　and　I　could　take　the　city　easily。　This　is　an　instance　of　the　rule　of　war：　'Do　the　unexpected；　attack　the　unprepared。'〃
They　bowed。　In　miseration　Zhuge　Liang　sent　all　the　family　of　Hao　Zhao；　and　his　coffin；　over　to　Wei；　thus　showing　his　sense　of　the　dead　man's　loyalty。
Turning　once　more　to　Wei　Yan　and　Jiang　Wei；　he　said；　〃But　do　not　divest　yourself　of　your　armor。　Go　and　attack　San　Pass　and　drive　away　the　guards　while　they　are　in　a　state　of　surprise。　If　you　delay；　Wei　will　have　sent　reinforcements。〃
They　went。　Surely　enough　the　capture　of　San　Pass　was　easy　as　the　Wei　soldiers　scattered。　But　when　they　went　up　to　look　around；　they　saw　a　great　cloud　of　dust　moving　toward　them。　The　Wei　reinforcements　were　already　near。
They　remarked　to　each　other；　〃The　Prime　Minister's　foresight　was　superhuman。〃
When　they　had　looked　a　little　longer；　they　saw　the　leader　of　the　Wei　army　then　approaching　was　Zhang　He。
They　then　divided　their　soldiers　to　hold　the　approaches。　When　Zhang　He　saw　that　all　was　prepared；　he　retired。　Wei　Yan　followed　and　fought　a　battle；　defeating　Zhang　He　heavily。
Wei　Yan　sent　to　report　his　success；　but　Zhuge　Liang　had　already　left　Chencang　and　had　gone　into　the　Xie　Valley　to　capture　the　county　of　Jianwei。　Other　armies　from　Shu　followed。　Moreover；　the　Latter　Ruler　sent　Chen　Shi　to　assist　in　the　campaign。　Zhuge　Liang　then　marched　his　main　force　to　Qishan　and　there　made　a　camp。　Then　he　called　an　assembly　of　officers。
〃Twice　have　I　gone　out　by　Qishan　without　success；　but　at　last　I　am　here。　I　think　Wei　will　resume　the　former　battle　ground　and　oppose　us。　If　so；　they　will　assume　that　I　shall　attack　Yongcheng　and　Meicheng　and　send　armies　to　defend　them。　But　I　see　Yinping　and　Wudu　are　connected　with　Hanzhong。　If　I　can　win　these；　I　can　drive　a　wedge　into　the　Wei　force。　Who　will　go　to　take　these　places？〃
Jiang　Wei　and　Wang　Ping　offered　themselves。　The　former　was　sent　with　ten　thousand　troops　to　capture　Wudu；　the　latter；　with　an　equal　force；　went　to　Yinping。
Zhang　He　went　back　to　Changan　and　saw　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li；　to　whom　he　said；　〃Chencang　is　lost；　Hao　Zhao　is　dead；　and　San　Pass　is　taken。　Zhuge　Liang　is　again　at　Qishan；　and　thence　has　sent　out　two　armies。〃
Guo　Huai　was　frightened；　saying；　〃In　that　case；　Yongcheng　and　Meicheng　are　in　danger。〃
Leaving　Zhang　He　to　guard　Changan；　Guo　Huai　sent　Sun　Li　to　Yongcheng；　and　he　himself　set　out　at　once　for　Meicheng。　He　sent　an　urgent　report　to　Luoyang。
At　Wei's　next　court　the　Emperor　was　informed　of　all　the　misfortunes　in　the　west：　〃Chencange　has　fallen；　and　Hao　Zhao　has　died。　Zhuge　Liang　has　captured　San　Pass。　He　is　camping　at　Qishan　and　is　planning　to　invade　Wei。〃
Cao　Rui　was　alarmed。
Just　then　Man　Chong　reported；　〃Sun　Quan　has　declared　himself　Emperor；　and　Lu　Xun　is　drilling　his　army　in　Wuchang。　An　invasion　from　the　east　can　be　expected　soon。〃
Cao　Rui　was　embarrassed　and　frightened。　Cao　Zhen；　being　ill；　could　not　be　consulted；　and　Sima　Yi　was　called。　He　was　ready　with　a　proposal。
〃In　my　humble　opinion；　Wu　will　not　attack　us；〃　said　Sima　Yi。
〃What　makes　you　think　so？〃　asked　the　Ruler　of　Wei。
〃Because　Zhuge　Liang　still　resents；　and　wishes　to　avenge；　the　event　at　Xiaoting。　He　never　ceases　to　desire　to　absorb　Wu。　His　only　fear　is　that　we　may　swoop　down　upon　Shu。　That　is　why　there　is　an　alliance　with　Wu。　Lu　Xun　knows　it　also　quite　well；　and　he　is　only　making　a　show　of　raising　an　army　as　they　arranged。　The　truth　is　he　is　sitting　on　the　fence。　Hence　Your　Majesty　may　disregard　the　menace　on　the　east；　and　only　protect　yourself　against　Shu。〃
〃Your　insight　is　very　profound；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。
Sima　Yi　was　created　mander…in…Chief　of　all　the　forces　in　the　west；　and　the　Ruler　of　Wei　directed　a　courtier　to　go　to　Cao　Zhen　for　the　seal。
〃I　would　rather　go　myself；〃　said　Sima　Yi。
So　Sima　Yi　left　the　audience　and　went　to　the　palace　of　Cao　Zhen；　where　presently　he　saw　the　invalid。　First　he　asked　after　his　health　and　then　gradually　opened　his　errand。
〃Shu　and　Wu　have　made　an　alliance　to　invade　Wei　and　share　its　domains；　and　Zhuge　Liang　is　at　Qishan　the　third　time。　Have　you　heard；　Illustrious　Sir？〃
〃My　people　have　kept　back　all　news　as　I　am　ill；〃　said　he；　startled。　〃But　if　this　is　true；　the　country　is　in　danger。　Why　have　they　not　made　you　mander…in…Chief　to　stop　this　invasion？〃
〃I　am　unequal　to　the　post；〃　said　Sima　Yi。
〃Bring　the　seal　and　give　it　to　him；〃　said　Cao　Zhen　to　his　attendants。
〃You　are　anxious　on　my　account。　Really　I　am　only　e　to　lend　you　an　arm。　I　dare　not　accept　the　seal。〃
Cao　Zhen　started　up；　saying；　〃If　you　do　not　take　it；　I　shall　have　to　go　to　see　the　Emperor；　ill　as　I　am。　The　Middle　Land　is　in　danger。〃
〃Really　the　Emperor　has　already　shown　his　kindness；　but　I　dare　not　accept　his　offer。〃
〃If　you　have　been　appointed；　then　Shu　will　be　driven　off。〃
Thrice　Sima　Yi　declined　the　seal；　but　eventually　he　received　it　into　his　hands　as　he　knew　Cao　Zhen　was　sincere。　Then　he　took　leave　of　the　Ruler　of　Wei　and　marched　to　Changan。

The　seal　of　office　changes　hands；
Two　armies　now　one　force　bee。

Sima　Yi's　success　or　failure　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　99　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　99
　Chapter　99
Zhuge　Liang　Defeats　The　Wei　Army；
Sima　Yi　Invades　The　West　River　Land。
The　fourth　month　of　Beginning　Prosperity；　seventh　year　（AD　229）；　found　Zhuge　Liang　camped　at　Qishan　in　three　camps；　waiting　to　attack　Wei。
When　Sima　Yi　reached　Changan；　the　officer　in　mand；　Zhang　He；　told　him　all　that　had　happened。　He　gave　Zhang　He　the　post　of　Leader　of　the　Van；　with　Dai　Ling　as　his　Assistant　General　and　a　hundred　thousand　troops；　and　then　marched　out　toward　the　enemy；　camping　on　River　Wei's　south　bank。
When　the　local　manders　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li　went　to　see　the　new　mander…in…Chief；　he　asked；　〃Have　you　fought　any　battle　with　Shu？〃
〃Not　yet；〃　said　they。
Sima　Yi　said；　〃The　enemy　had　a　long　march；　their　chance　lay　in　attacking　quickly。　As　they　have　not　attacked；　they　have　some　deep　laid　scheme　to　work　out。　What　news　have　you　from　the　counties　of　West　Valley　Land？〃
Guo　Huai　replied；　〃The　scouts　say　that　the　greatest　care　is　being　taken　in　every　county。　But　there　is　no　news　from　Wudu　and　Yinping。〃
〃I　must　send　someone　to　fight　a　decisive　battle　with　them　there。　You　get　away　as　quickly　and　privily　as　you　can　to　the　rescue　of　those　two　cities；　and　then　attack　the　rear　of　the　Shu　army　so　as　to　throw　them　into　disorder。〃
They　set　out　to　obey　these　orders；　and　on　the　way　they　fell　to　discussing　Sima　Yi。
〃How　does　Sima　Yi　pare　with　Zhuge　Liang？〃　said　Guo　Huai。
〃Zhuge　Liang　is　by　far　the　better；〃　replied　Sun　Li。
〃Though　Zhuge　Liang　may　be　the　cleverer；　yet　this　scheme　of　our　leader's　shows　him　to　be　superior　to　most　people。　The　enemy　may　have　got　those　two　cities。　Yet　when　we　unexpectedly　fall　upon　their　rear；　they　will　certainly　be　disordered。〃
Soon　after　this　a　scout　came　in　to　report：　〃Wang　Ping　has　captured　Yinping；　and　Wudu　is　in　possession　of　Jiang　Wei。　Furthermore；　the　Shu　army　is　not　far　in　front。〃
Said　Sun　Li；　〃There　is　some　crafty　scheme　afoot。　Why　are　they　prepared　for　battle　in　the　open　when　they　hold　two　cities？　We　had　better　retire。〃
Guo　Huai　agreed；　and　they　issued　orders　to　face　about　and　retreat。　Just　then　a　bomb　exploded；　and；　at　the　same　time；　there　suddenly　appeared　from　the　cover　of　some　hills　a　small　body　of　troops。　On　the　flag　that　came　forward　they　read　Han　Prime　Minister　Zhuge　Liang　；　and　in　the　midst　of　the　pany　they　saw　him；　seated　in　a　small　chariot。　On　his　left　was　Guan　Xing；　and　on　his　right　Zhang　Bao。
They　were　quite　taken　aback。
Zhuge　Liang　laughed　and　said；　〃Do　not　run　away！