三国演义英文版-第280部分

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ad　enemies　within　our　borders。　As　a　precaution；　and　to　hinder　his　progress；　I　have　burned　the　Plank　Trail　and　now　report　these　matters。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　said；　〃Wei　Yan　is　a　valiant　warrior　and　could　easily　have　overe　Yang　Yi。　Why　then　did　he　destroy　the　Plank　Trail？〃
Empress　Wu　said；　〃The　First　Ruler　used　to　say　that　Zhuge　Liang　knew　that　treachery　lurked　in　the　heart　of　Wei　Yan；　and　he　wished　to　put　Wei　Yan　to　death；　he　only　spared　Wei　Yan　because　of　his　valor。　We　should　not　believe　too　readily　this　tale　of　his　that　Yang　Yi　has　rebelled。　Yang　Yi　is　a　scholar　and　a　civil　officer；　and　the　late　Prime　Minister　placed　him　in　a　position　of　great　responsibility；　thereby　proving　that　he　trusted　and　valued　Yang　Yi。　If　we　believe　this　statement；　surely　Yang　Yi　will　be　forced　to　go　over　to　Wei。　Nothing　should　be　done　without　due　meditation。〃
As　they　were　discussing　this　matter；　an　urgent　memorial　came　from　Yang　Yi；　and　opening　it；　they　read：
〃I；　Yang　Yi；　leader　of　the　retreating　army；　humbly　and　with　trepidation；　present　this　memorial。　In　his　last　moments　the　late　Prime　Minister　made　over　to　me　the　charge　of　the　great　enterprise；　and　bade　me　carry　out　his　plan　without　change。　I　have　respected　his　charge。　I　ordered　Wei　Yan　to　mand　the　rearguard　with　Jiang　Wei　as　his　second。　But　Wei　Yan　refused　obedience　and　led　away　his　own　army　into　Hanzhong。　Then　he　burned　the　Plank　Trail；　tried　to　steal　away　the　body　of　the　late　mander…in…Chief；　and　behaved　altogether　unseemly。　His　rebellion　came　upon　me　suddenly　and　unexpectedly。　I　send　this　memorial　in　haste。〃
The　Empress　Dowager　listened　to　the　end。
Then；　turning　to　the　officers；　she　said；　〃What　is　your　opinion　now？〃
Jiang　Wan　replied；　〃Yang　Yi　is　hasty　and　intolerant；　but　he　has　rendered　great　services　in　supplying　the　army。　He　has　long　been　a　trusted　colleague　of　the　late　Prime　Minister；　who；　being　near　his　end；　entrusted　to　him　the　conduct　of　affairs。　Certainly　he　is　no　rebel。　On　the　other　hand；　Wei　Yan　is　bold　and　ambitious　and　thinks　himself　everybody's　superior。　Yang　Yi　is　the　only　one　who　has　openly　been　of　different　opinion；　and　hence　Wei　Yan　hates　him。　When　he　saw　Yang　Yi　placed　over　his　head　in　mand　of　the　army；　Wei　Yan　refused　his　support。　Then　Wei　Yan　burned　the　Plank　Trail　in　order　to　cut　off　Yang　Yi's　retreat；　and　maligned　him；　hoping　to　bring　about　his　fall。　I　am　ready　to　guarantee　Yang　Yi's　fealty　to　the　extent　of　my　whole　house；　but　I　would　not　answer　for　Wei　Yan。〃
Dong　Yun　followed；　〃Wei　Yan　has　always　been　conceited　and　discontented。　His　mouth　was　full　of　hate　and　resentment；　and　only　fear　of　the　late　Prime　Minister　held　him　in　check。　The　Prime　Minister's　death　gave　him　his　opportunity；　and　he　turned　traitor。　This　is　certainly　the　true　state　of　the　case。　Yang　Yi　is　able；　and　his　employment　by　the　late　Prime　Minister　is　proof　of　his　loyalty。〃
〃If　this　is　true　and　Wei　Yan　is　really　a　rebel；　what　should　be　done？〃　asked　the　Latter　Ruler。
Jiang　Wan　said；　〃I　think　the　late　Prime　Minister　has　framed　some　scheme　by　which　to　get　rid　of　Wei　Yan。　If　Yang　Yi　had　not　felt　secure；　he　would　scarcely　have　set　out　to　return　through　the　valleys。　Your　Majesty　may　feel　sure　that　Wei　Yan　will　fall　into　some　trap。　We　have　received；　almost　at　the　same　time；　two　memorials　from　two　men；　each　bringing　against　the　other　a　charge　of　rebellion。　Let　us　wait。〃
In　a　short　time　another　memorial　arrived　from　Wei　Yan；　who　accused　Yang　Yi　of　rebellion。　The　Latter　Ruler　was　reading　it；　when　a　messenger　from　Yang　Yi　was　announced　with　yet　another　memorial　labeling　Wei　Yan　a　rebel。　The　court　received　several　more　memorials　from　both　sides　blaming　each　other；　and　the　officials　did　not　know　what　to　do。
Just　then　Fei　Yi　arrived。　He　was　summoned　into　the　royal　presence　and　told　the　story　of　Wei　Yan's　revolt。
The　Latter　Ruler　replied；　〃In　that　case　I　should　do　well　to　send　Dong　Yun　with　the　ensigns　of　authority　to　mediate　the　situation　and　attempt　to　persuade　Wei　Yan　with　kind　words。〃
So　Dong　Yun　left　on　this　mission。
At　this　time　Wei　Yan　was　camped　at　Nangu　Valley；　which　was　a　manding　position。　He　thought　his　plan　was　succeeding　well。　It　had　not　occurred　to　him　that　Yang　Yi　and　Jiang　Wei　could　get　past　him　by　any　by…way。
On　the　other　hand；　Yang　Yi；　thinking　that　Hanzhong　was　lost；　sent　He　Ping　with　three　thousand　troops　on　in　front　while　he　followed　with　the　coffin。
When　He　Ping　had　got　to　the　rear　of　Nangu　Valley；　they　announced　their　presence　with　rolling　drums。　The　scouts　quickly　told　Wei　Yan；　who　at　once　armed　himself；　took　his　sword；　and　rode　out　to　confront　He　Ping。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed；　He　Ping　rode　to　the　front　and　began　to　revile　his　opponent。
〃Where　is　that　rebel　Wei　Yan？〃　cried　He　Ping。
〃You　aided　that　traitor　Yang　Yi！〃　cried　Wei　Yan；　no　way　backward　with　his　tongue。　〃How　dare　you　abuse　me？〃
He　Ping　waxed　more　indignant。
〃You　rebelled　immediately　after　the　late　chief's　death；　before　even　his　body　was　cold。　How　could　you？〃
Then　shaking　his　whip　at　the　followers　of　Wei　Yan；　He　Ping　cried；　〃And　you　soldiers　are　Shu　people。　Your　fathers　and　mothers；　wives　and　children；　and　your　friends　are　still　in　the　land。　Were　you　treated　unkindly　that　you　have　joined　a　traitor　and　aid　his　wicked　schemes？　You　ought　to　have　returned　home　and　waited　quietly　the　rewards　that　would　have　been　yours。〃
The　soldiers　were　touched　by　his　words。　They　cheered；　and　more　than　a　half　ran　away。
Wei　Yan　was　now　raging。　He　whirled　up　his　sword　and　galloped　forward　straight　for　He　Ping；　who　went　to　meet　him　with　his　spear　ready。　They　fought　several　bouts；　and　then　He　Ping　rode　away　as　if　defeated。　Wei　Yan　followed；　but　He　Ping's　troops　began　to　shoot　and　Wei　Yan　was　driven　backward。　As　he　got　near　his　own　ranks；　Wei　Yan　saw　many　generals　leaving　their　panies　and　going　away。　He　rode　after　them　and　cut　some　of　them　down。　But　this　did　not　stay　the　movement；　they　continued　to　go。　The　only　steady　portion　of　his　own　army　was　that　manded　by　Ma　Dai。　They　stood　their　ground。
〃Will　you　really　help　me？〃　said　Wei　Yan。　〃I　will　surely　remember　you　in　the　day　of　success。〃
The　two　then　went　in　pursuit　of　He　Ping；　who　fled　before　them。　However；　it　was　soon　evident　that　He　Ping　was　not　to　be　overtaken；　and　the　pursuers　halted。　Wei　Yan　mustered　his　now　small　force。
〃What　if　we　go　over　to　Wei？〃　said　Wei　Yan。
〃I　think　your　words　unwise；〃　said　Ma　Dai。　〃Why　should　we　join　anyone？　A　really　strong　person　would　try　to　carve　out　his　own　fortune　and　not　be　ready　to　crook　the　knee　to　another。　You　are　far　more　able　and　brave　than　any　leader　in　the　River　Lands。　No　one　would　dare　to　stand　up　to　you。　I　pledge　myself　to　go　with　you　to　the　seizure　of　Hanzhong；　and　thence　we　will　attack　the　West　River　Land。〃
So　they　marched　together　toward　Nanzheng；　where　Jiang　Wei　stationed。　From　the　city　wall　Jiang　Wei　saw　their　approach　and　marked　their　proud；　martial　look。　He　ordered　the　drawbridge　to　be　raised　and　sent　to　tell　his　colleague；　Yang　Yi。
As　they　drew　near；　both　Wei　Yan　and　Ma　Dai　shouted　out；　〃Surrender！〃
In　spite　of　the　smallness　of　their　following；　Jiang　Wei　felt　that　Ma　Dai　acting　with　Wei　Yan　was　a　dangerous　bination；　and　he　wanted　the　advice　of　Yang　Yi。
〃Wei　Yan　is　valorous；　and　he　is　having　the　help　of　Ma　Dai。　How　shall　we　repel　them？〃　asked　Jiang　Wei。
Yang　Yi　replied；　〃Just　before　his　death；　the　Prime　Minister　gave　me　a　silken　bag；　which　he　said　I　was　to　open　when　Wei　Yan's　mutiny　reached　a　critical　point。　It　contains　a　plan　to　rid　ourselves　of　this　traitor；　and　it　seems　that　now　is　the　moment　to　see　what　should　be　done。〃
So　Yang　Yi　opened　the　bag　and　drew　forth　the　letter　it　held。　On　the　cover　he　read；　〃To　be　opened　when　Wei　Yan　is　actually　arrayed　opposite　you。〃
Said　Jiang　Wei；　〃As　this　has　all　been　arranged　for；　I　had　better　go　out；　and　when　his　line　is　formed　then　you　can　e　forth。〃
Jiang　Wei　donned　his　armor；　took　his　spear；　and　rode　out；　with　three　thousand　troops。　They　marched　out　of　the　city　gates　with　the　drums　beating。　The　array　pleted；　Jiang　Wei　took　his　place　under　the　great　standard　and　opened　with　a　volley　of　abuse。
〃Rebel　Wei　Yan；　the　late　Prime　Minister　never　harmed　you。　Why　have　you　turned　traitor？〃
Wei　Yan　reined　up；　lowered　his　sword　and　replied；　〃Friend　Jiang　Wei；　this　is　no　concern　of　yours。　Tell　Yang　Yi　to　e。〃
Now　Yang　Yi　was　also　beneath　the　standard；　but　hidden。　He　opened　the　letter；　and　the　words　therein　seemed　to　please　him；　for　he　rode　forward　blithely。
Presently　he　reined　in；　pointed　to　Wei　Yan　and　said；　〃The　Prime　Minister　foresaw　your　mutiny　and　bade　me　be　on　my　guard。　Now　if　you　are　able　thrice　to　shout；　'Who　dares　kill　me？'；　then　you　will　be　a　real　hero；　and　I　will　yield　to　you　the　whole　of　Hanzhong。〃
Wei　Yan　laughed。
〃Listen；　you　old　fool！　While　Zhuge　Liang　lived　I　feared　him　somewhat。　But　he　is　dead　and　no　one　dares　stand　before　me。　I　will　not　only　shout　the　words　thrice；　but　a　myriad　times。　Why　not？〃
Wei　Yan　raised　his　sword；　shook　his　bridle；　and　shouted；　〃Who　dares　kill　me？〃
He　never　finished。　Behind　him　someone　shouted　savagely；　〃I　dare！〃　and　at　the　same　moment　Wei　Yan　fell　dead；　cut　down　by　Ma　Dai。
This　was　the　denouement；　and　was　the　secret　entrusted　to　Ma　Dai　just　before　Zhuge　Liang's　death。　Wei　Yan　was　to　be　made　to　shout　these　words　and　slain　when　he　least　expected　it。　Yang　Yi　knew　what　was　to　happen；　as　it　was　written　in　the　letter　in　the　silken　bag。　A　poem　says：

Zhuge　Liang　foresaw　when　freed　from　his　restraint
Wei　Yan　would　traitor　prove。　The　silken　bag
Contained　the　plan　for　his　undoing。　We　see
How　it　succeeded　when　the　moment　came。

So　before　Dong　Yun　had　reached　Nanzheng；　Wei　Yan　was　dead。　Ma　Dai　joined　his　army　to　Jiang　Wei's；　and　Yang　Yi　wrote　another　memorial；　which　he　sent　to　the　Latter　Ruler。
The　Latter　Ruler　issued　an　edict：　〃Wei　Yan　had　paid　the　penalty　of　his　crime。　He　should　be　honorably　buried　in　consideration　of　his　former　services。〃
Then　Yang　Yi　continued　his　journey　and　in　due　time　arrived　at　Chengdu　with　the　coffin　of　the　late　Prime　Minister。　The　Latter　Ruler　led　out　a　large　cavalcade　of　officers　to　meet　the　body　at　a　point　seven　miles　from　the　walls；　and　he　lifted　up　his　voice　and　wailed　for　the　dead；　and　with　him　wailed　all　the　officers　and　the　mon　people；　so　that　the　sound　of　mourning　filled　the　whole　earth。
By　royal　mand　the　body　was　borne　into　the　city　to　the　p