三国演义英文版-第291部分

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gons；　and　again　the　brushwood　began　to　burn。　He　made　a　dash　to　escape；　but　before　he　could　get　clear　a　bomb　roared；　and　he　saw　the　troops　of　Shu　ing　down　on　him　from　two　directions。　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　from　left　and　right　fell　on　Xu　Zi　with　great　fury；　and　the　troops　of　Wei　were　wholly　defeated。　Xu　Zi　himself　got　clear；　but　without　any　following。
He　struggled　on　till　he　and　his　steed　were　almost　spent　with　fatigue。　Presently　he　saw　another　pany　of　the　enemy　in　his　way；　and　the　leader　was　Jiang　Wei。　Before　he　could　make　any　resistance；　Jiang　Wei's　spear　thrust　him　down；　and　as　Xu　Zi　lay　on　the　ground　he　was　cut　to　pieces。
Meanwhile　those　troops　of　Wei　who　had　been　sent　to　escort　to　camp　the　convoy　of　supplies　which　they　had　seized　were　captured　by　Xiahou　Ba。　They　surrendered。　Xiahou　Ba　then　stripped　them　of　their　weapons　and　clothing　and　therein　disguised　some　of　his　own　soldiers。　Holding　aloft　banners　of　Wei；　these　disguised　soldiers　made　for　the　Wei　camp。　When　they　arrived；　they　were　mistaken　by　those　in　the　camp　for　rades；　and　the　gates　were　thrown　open。　They　rushed　in　and　began　to　slay。　Taken　wholly　by　surprise；　Sima　Zhao　leaped　upon　his　steed　and　fled。　But　Liao　Hua　met　him　and　drove　him　back。　Then　appeared　Jiang　Wei　in　the　path　of　retreat；　so　that　no　road　lay　open。　Sima　Zhao　made　off　for　the　hills；　hoping　to　be　able　to　hold　out　on　the　Iron　Cage　Mountain。
Now　there　was　only　one　road　up　the　hill；　which　rose　steeply　on　all　sides。　And　the　hill　had　but　one　small　spring　of　water；　enough　to　serve　a　hundred　people　or　so；　while　Sima　Zhao's　force　numbered　six　thousand。　Their　enemies　had　blocked　the　only　road　of　escape。　This　one　fountain　was　unequal　to　supplying　the　needs　of　the　beleaguered　army；　and　soon　they　were　tormented　with　thirst。
In　despair；　Sima　Zhao　looked　up　to　heaven　and　sighed；　saying；　〃Death　will　surely　e　to　me　here！〃

The　host　of　Wei　on　Iron　Cage　Mountain
Were　once　fast　held　by　Jiang　Wei's　skill；
When　Pang　Juan　first　crossed　the　Maling　Hills；
His　strategy　was　reckoned　fine
As　Xiang　Yu　at　the　Nine　Mountains；
Both　bent　opponents　to　their　will。

In　this　critical　situation　Secretary　Wang　Tao　reminded　his　leader　of　what　Geng　Gong　had　done　in　ancient　time；　saying；　〃O　General；　why　do　you　not　imitate　Geng　Gong；　who；　being　in　great　need；　prostrated　himself　and　prayed　at　a　well；　wherefrom　he　afterwards　was　supplied　with　sweet　water？〃
So　the　leader　went　to　the　summit　of　the　hill　and　knelt　beside　the　spring　and　grayed　thus：
〃The　humble　Sima　Zhao　received　a　mand　to　repulse　the　army　of　Shu。　If　he　is　to　die　here；　then　may　this　spring　cease　its　flow；　when　he　will　end　his　own　life　and　let　his　soldiers　yield　to　the　enemy。　But　if　his　allotted　span　of　life　be　not　reached；　then；　O　Blue　Vault；　increase　the　flow　of　water　and　save　the　lives　of　this　multitude。〃
Thus　he　prayed；　and　the　waters　gushed　forth　in　plenty；　so　that　they　all　quenched　their　thirst　and　lived。
Jiang　Wei　had　surrounded　the　hill；　holding　the　army　thereon　as　in　a　prison。
He　said　to　his　officers；　〃I　have　always　regretted　that　our　great　Prime　Minister　was　unable　to　capture　Sima　Yi　in　the　Gourd　Valley；　but　now　I　think　his　son　is　doomed　to　fall　into　our　hands！〃
However；　news　of　the　dangerous　position　of　Sima　Zhao　had　e　to　Guo　Huai；　who　set　about　a　rescue。
Chen　Tai　said　to　him；　〃Jiang　Wei　has　made　a　league　with　the　Qiangs；　and　they　have　arrived　to　help　him。　If　you　go　away　to　rescue　Sima　Zhao；　the　Qiangs　will　attack　from　the　rear。　Therefore　I　would　propose　to　send　someone　to　the　tribespeople　to　try　to　create　a　diversion　and　get　them　to　retire。　If　they　are　disposed　of；　you　may　go　to　the　rescue　of　Sima　Zhao。〃
Guo　Huai　saw　there　was　much　reason　in　this；　and　told　Chen　Tai　to　take　a　force　of　five　thousand　troops　and　go　to　the　camp　of　the　King　of　the　Qiangs。　When　Chen　Tai　reached　the　camp；　he　threw　off　his　armor　and　entered　weeping　and　crying　that　he　was　in　danger　of　death。
He　said；　〃Guo　Huai　sets　himself　up　as　superior　to　everyone　and　is　trying　to　slay　me。　Therefore　I　have　e　to　offer　my　services　to　you。　I　know　all　the　secrets　of　the　Wei　army；　and；　if　you　will；　this　very　night　I　can　lead　you　to　their　camp。　I　have　friends　in　the　camp　to　help；　and　you　can　destroy　it。〃
King　Mi　Dang　was　taken　with　the　scheme；　and　sent　his　General　Ehe　Shaoge　to　go　with　Chen　Tai。　The　deserters　from　Wei　were　placed　in　the　rear；　but　Chen　Tai　himself　rode　with　the　leading　body　of　the　Qiangs。　They　set　out　at　the　second　watch　and　soon　arrived。　They　found　the　gates　open；　and　Chen　Tai　rode　in　boldly。　But　when　Ehe　Shaoge　and　his　troops　galloped　in；　there　suddenly　arose　a　great　cry　as　soldiers　and　horses　went　tumbling　into　great　pits。　At　the　same　time　Chen　Tai　came　round　in　the　rear　and　attacked；　while　Guo　Huai　appeared　on　the　flank。　The　Qiangs　trampled　each　other　down；　and　many　were　killed。　Those　who　escaped　death　surrendered；　and　the　leader；　Ehe　Shaoge；　mitted　suicide　in　a　pit。
Guo　Huai　and　Chen　Tai　then　hastened　back　into　the　camp　of　the　Qiangs。　Mi　Dang；　taken　unprepared；　rushed　out　of　his　tent　to　get　to　horse；　but　was　made　prisoner。　He　was　taken　before　Guo　Huai；　who　hastily　dismounted；　loosed　the　prisoner's　bonds；　and　soothed　him　with　kindly　words。
〃Our　government　has　always　regarded　you　as　a　loyal　and　true　friend；〃　said　Guo　Huai。　〃Why　then　are　you　helping　our　enemies？〃
Mi　Dang　sank　to　the　ground　in　confusion；　while　Guo　Huai　continued；　〃If　you　will　now　raise　the　siege　of　Iron　Cage　Mountain　and　drive　off　the　troops　of　Shu；　I　will　memorialize　the　Throne　and　obtain　a　substantial　reward　for　you。〃
Mi　Dang　agreed。　He　set　out　forthwith；　his　own　army　leading　and　the　army　of　Wei　in　the　rear。　At　the　third　watch　he　sent　on　a　messenger　to　tell　Jiang　Wei　of　his　ing。　And　the　Shu　leader　was　glad。　Mi　Dang　was　invited　to　e。　On　the　march　the　soldiers　of　Wei　had　mingled　with　the　Qiangs；　and　many　of　them　were　in　the　forefront　of　the　army。
As　they　drew　near　the　camp；　Jiang　Wei　gave　order：　〃The　army　are　to　camp　outside。　Only　the　King　can　enter　the　gate。〃
Mi　Dang　went　up　toward　the　gate　with　a　hundred　or　more　followers；　and　Jiang　Wei　with　Xiahou　Ba　went　to　wele　him。　Just　as　they　met；　before　Mi　Dang　could　say　a　word；　the　Wei　generals　dashed　on　past　him　and　set　on　to　slay。　Jiang　Wei　was　taken　aback；　leaped　on　his　steed　and　fled；　while　the　mixed　force　of　troops　of　Wei　and　Qiangs　drove　the　camp　defenders　before　them　and　sent　them　flying。
When　Jiang　Wei　leaped　upon　his　steed　at　the　gate；　he　had　no　weapon　in　his　hand；　only　his　bow　and　quiver　hung　at　his　shoulder。　In　his　hasty　flight　the　arrows　fell　out　and　the　quiver　was　empty；　so　when　he　set　off　for　the　hills　with　Guo　Huai　in　pursuit；　Jiang　Wei　had　nothing　to　oppose　to　the　spears　of　his　pursuers。　As　they　came　near　he　laid　hands　upon　his　bow　and　made　as　if　to　shoot。　The　string　twanged　and　Guo　Huai　blenched。　But　as　no　arrow　went　flying　by；　Guo　Huai　knew　Jiang　Wei　had　none　to　shoot。　Guo　Huai　therefore　hung　his　spear；　took　his　bow　and　shot。　Jiang　Wei　caught　the　arrow　as　it　flew　by　and　fitted　it　to　his　bowstring。　He　waited　till　Guo　Huai　came　quite　near；　when　he　pulled　the　string　with　all　his　force　and　sent　the　arrow　flying　straight　at　Guo　Huai's　face。　Guo　Huai　fell　even　as　the　bowstring　sang。
Jiang　Wei　pulled　up　and　turned　to　finish　his　fallen　enemy；　but　the　soldiers　of　Wei　were　nearly　upon　him；　and　he　had　only　time　to　snatch　up　Guo　Huai's　spear　and　ride　off。　Now　that　Jiang　Wei　was　armed　and　their　own　leader　wounded；　the　soldiers　of　Wei　had　no　more　desire　to　fight。　They　picked　up　their　general　and　carried　him　to　camp。　There　the　arrow…head　was　pulled　out；　but　the　flow　of　blood　could　not　be　stanched；　and　Guo　Huai　died。
Sima　Zhao　descended　from　the　hill　as　soon　as　Jiang　Wei　moved　away；　and　pursued　some　distance　before　returning。
Xiahou　Ba　forced　his　way　out　and　rejoined　Jiang　Wei　as　soon　as　he　could；　and　they　marched　away　together。　The　losses　of　Shu　in　this　defeat　were　very　heavy。　On　the　road　they　dared　not　halt　to　muster　or　reform；　but　went　helter…skelter　into　Hanzhong。　In　that　campaign；　though　the　Shu　army　were　defeated；　they　had　killed　Xu　Zi　and　Guo　Huai　on　the　other　side　and　had　damaged　the　prestige　of　Wei。　Thus　Jiang　Wei's　achievement　made　up　for　his　offense。
After　rewarding　the　Qiangs　for　their　help；　Sima　Zhao　led　his　army　back　to　Capital　Luoyang；　where　he　joined　his　brother　Sima　Shi　in　administering　the　government。　They　were　too　strong　for　any　of　the　officers　to　dare　opposition；　and　they　terrorized　Cao　Fang；　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　so　that　he　shook　with　fright　whenever　he　saw　Sima　Shi　at　court；　and　felt　as　if　needles　were　being　stuck　into　his　back。
One　day；　when　the　Ruler　of　Wei　was　holding　a　court；　Sima　Shi　came　into　the　hall　wearing　his　sword。　Cao　Fang　hastily　left　his　Dragon　Throne　to　receive　him。
〃What　does　this　mean？　Is　this　the　correct　etiquette　for　a　prince　when　his　minister　approaches？〃　said　Sima　Shi；　smiling。　〃I　pray　Your　Majesty　remember　your　dignity　and　listen　while　the　ministers　address　the　Throne。〃
Court　business　then　proceeded。　Sima　Shi　decided　every　question　without　reference　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　and　when　Sima　Shi　retired；　he　stalked　haughtily　down　the　hall　and　went　home；　followed　by　his　escort；　which　numbered　thousands　of　horse　and　foot。
When　the　Ruler　of　Wei　left　the　court；　only　three　followed　him　to　the　private　apartments。　They　were　Minister　Xiahou　Xuan；　Secretary　Li　Feng；　and　High　Minister　Zhang　Qi。　Zhang　Qi　was　the　father　of　his　consort；　Empress　Zhang。　Sending　away　the　servants；　Cao　Fang　and　these　three　went　into　a　private　chamber。
Seizing　his　father…in…law's　hand；　Cao　Fang　began　to　weep；　saying；　〃That　man　Sima　Shi　treats　me　as　a　child　and　regards　the　officers　of　state　as　if　they　were　so　many　straws。　I　am　sure　the　throne　will　be　his　one　day。〃
And　he　wept　bitterly。
Said　Li　Feng；　〃Do　not　be　so　sad；　Sire。　I　am　but　a　poor　sort　of　person。　But　if　Your　Majesty　will　give　me　authority；　I　will　call　together　all　the　bold　people　in　the　country　and　slay　this　man。〃
〃It　was　from　fear　of　this　man　that　my　brother　Xiahou　Ba　was　forced　to　go　over　to　Shu；〃　said　Xiahou　Xuan。　〃If　Sima　Shi　were　destroyed；　my　brother　could　return。　I　belong　to　a　family　related　to　the　rulers　of　the　state　for　many　generations；　and　I　cannot　sit　still　while　a　wretch　ruins　the　government。　Put　my　name　in　the　mand　as　well；　and　we　will　work　together　to　remove　him。〃
〃But　I　am　afraid　we　can　not　overe　h