三国演义英文版-第222部分

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The　news　was　soon　reported　to　Shu。　Zhuge　Liang　rejoiced　when　they　told　him　of　the　success　that　had　attended　the　ruse。
〃Sima　Yi　and　the　forces　he　manded　in　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou　have　been　the　obstacles　in　my　long…wished…for　attack　on　Wei。　Now　he　has　fallen；　I　have　no　more　anxiety。〃
At　the　first　great　assembly　of　officers　at　court；　Zhuge　Liang　stepped　forth　and　presented　to　the　Ruler　of　Shu　a　memorial　on　the　expedition　he　contemplated。
〃The　First　Ruler　had　acplished　but　half　his　great　task　at　his　death。　At　this　moment　the　empire　is　in　three　parts；　and　our　country　is　weak；　it　is　a　most　critical　moment　for　us。　Still；　ministers　are　not　remiss　in　the　capital；　and　loyal　and　devoted　soldiers　sacrifice　their　lives　abroad；　for　they　still　remember　the　special　kindness　of　the　First　Ruler　and　wish　to　show　their　gratitude　to　him　by　service　to　Your　Majesty。　Therefore　it　would　be　indeed　fitting　that　you　should　extend　your　holy　virtue　to　glorify　his　virtuous　memory　in　the　stimulation　of　the　will　of　your　purposeful　officers。　Your　Majesty　should　not　lose　yourself　in　the　pursuit　of　mean　things；　quoting　phrases　to　confound　the　eternal　principles　of　rectitude；　and　so　preventing　remonstrance　from　honest　people。　One　rule　applies　to　the　palace　of　the　Emperor　and　the　residence　of　a　courtier；　there　must　be　one　law　rewarding　the　good　and　punishing　the　evil。　Evil…doers　and　law…breakers；　as　also　true　and　good　people；　should　be　dealt　with　according　to　their　deserts　by　the　officers　concerned　in　order　to　manifest　Your　Majesty's　impartial　and　enlightened　administration。　Partiality　is　wrong；　as　is　one　law　for　the　court　and　another　for　the　regions。
〃The　High　Ministers　Fei　Yi；　Guo　Youzhi；　and　Dong　Yun　are　honest　men；　devotedly　anxious　to　be　loyal　to　the　last　degree；　wherefore　His　Late　Majesty　chose　them　in　his　testament。　My　advice　is　to　consult　them　in　all　Palace　matters；　great　or　small；　before　taking　action。　Your　Majesty　will　reap　the　enormous　advantage　of　having　any　failings　corrected。
〃General　Xiang　Chong　is　a　man　of　well…balanced　temperament；　versed　in　military　matters；　to　whom；　after　testing　him；　the　late　Emperor　applied　the　epithet　'capable'。　The　consensus　of　opinion　is　that　Xiang　Chong　should　be　Grand　mander。　My　advice　is　to　consult　him　in　all　military　matters；　great　or　small；　whereby　your　military　forces　will　yield　their　maximum；　each　one　being　employed　to　the　best　advantage。
〃Attract　worthy　people；　repel　mean　ones。　This　policy　achieved　the　glory　of　the　Former　Hans；　while　its　reversal　ruined　the　Latter　Hans。　When　the　late　Emperor　was　with　us；　he　often　discussed　this　with　your　servant；　and　he　took　much　to　heart　the　story　of　Emperors　Huan　and　Ling。
〃The　Chair　of　the　Secretariat　Chen　Zhen；　mander　Zhang　Si；　and　Minister　Jiang　Wan　are　both　incorruptible　and　enlightened　people；　honest　to　the　death。　I　wish　that　Your　Majesty　should　have　them　near　and　hold　them　in　confidence。　If　this　be　done；　then　the　glory　of　the　House　of　Han　will　be　quickly　consummated。
〃I　was　originally　a　private　person；　a　farmer　in　Nanyang；　concerned　only　to　secure　personal　safety　in　a　troubled　age　and　not　seeking　conversation　with　the　contending　nobles。　His　Late　Majesty；　the　First　Ruler；　overlooking　the　monness　of　my　origin；　condescended　to　seek　me　thrice　in　my　humble　cot　and　consult　me　on　the　trend　of　events。　His　magnanimity　affected　me　deeply；　and　I　consented　to　do　my　utmost　for　him。　Then　came　defeat；　and　I　took　office　at　a　moment　of　darkest　outlook　and　at　a　most　difficult　crisis。　This　is　twenty…one　years　ago。　The　First　Ruler　recognized　my　diligent　care；　and　when　dying　he　confided　the　great　task　to　me。　From　that　day　I　have　lived　a　life　of　anxiety　lest　I　should　fail　in　my　trust　and　so　dim　his　glory。
〃That　is　why　I　undertook　the　expedition　to　the　lands　beyond　the　River　Lu。　Now　the　Southern　Mangs　has　been　quelled；　and　our　army　is　in　good　condition。　I　ought　to　lead　it　against　the　north；　where　I　may　meet　with　a　measure　of　success　in　the　removal　of　the　wicked　ones；　the　restoration　of　Han；　and　a　return　to　the　old　capital。　This　is　my　duty　out　of　gratitude　to　the　late　Emperor　and　loyalty　to　Your　Majesty。　As　to　a　discussion　of　the　pros　and　cons　and　giving　a　true　version　of　the　whole　matter；　that　belongs　to　Guo　Youzhi　and　Fei　Yi　and　Dong　Yun。　I　desire　Your　Majesty　to　confide　to　me　the　task　of　slaying　the　rebels　and　restoring　the　Hans。　If　I　fail；　then　punish　me　by　telling　the　spirit　of　the　late　Emperor。　If　you　know　not　what　restoration　implies；　that　is　the　fault　of　your　advisers。
〃Your　Majesty　should　take　pains　to　be　guided　into　the　right　path　and　examine　carefully　what　is　laid　before　you；　carefully　remembering　the　late　Emperor's　testament。
〃I　cannot　express　what　would　be　my　delight　if　you　had　the　goodness　to　accept　and　act　on　my　advice。
〃Now　I　am　about　to　depart　on　a　distant　expedition；　I　write　this　with　tears　and　clearly　know　what　I　have　said。〃
The　Emperor　read　it　through　and　said；　〃My　Father　Minister；　you　have　only　just　returned　from　a　distant　and　fatiguing　expedition　against　the　Southern　Mangs。　You　are　not　yet　refreshed；　and　I　fear　this　march　to　the　north　will　be　almost　too　much　even　for　you。〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃The　heaviest　responsibility　lies　upon　me；　the　well…being　of　Your　Majesty　confided　to　me　by　the　First　Ruler。　My　efforts　may　not　be　relaxed　night　or　day。　The　south　is　at　rest；　at　home　is　no　anxiety。　What　better　time　could　be　hoped　for　to　destroy　the　rebels　and　recover　the　Middle　Land？〃
Forth　from　the　ranks　of　courtiers　stood　Minister　Qiao　Zhou　and　said；　〃I　have　studied　the　aspect　of　the　stars。　The　northern　quarter　is　brilliant　and　strong。　The　scheme　will　not　speed。〃
Then　turning　toward　the　Prime　Minister；　he　continued；　〃You；　O　Prime　Minister；　understand　the　mysteries　of　the　skies。　Why　do　you　oppose　the　stars？〃
〃Because　the　stars　are　in　infinite　changes；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。　〃One　may　rely　on　the　stars　too　much。　Moreover；　I　have　already　sent　the　army　into　Hanzhong；　where　I　shall　act　as　soon　as　I　have　studied　what　is　afoot。〃
Qiao　Zhou　pleaded　in　vain。　Zhuge　Liang　was　too　strongly　set　upon　his　purpose　to　yield。　So　Guo　Youzhi；　Dong　Yun；　and　Fei　Yi　were　ordered　to　attend　to　matters　in　the　Palace；　Xiang　Chong　was　to　control　all　military　affairs　and　became　Grand　mander；　Jiang　Wan　was　made　Military　Adviser；　Chen　Zhen　became　Chair　of　the　Secretariat；　Zhang　Si；　Controller　of　the　Prime　Minister's　palace；　Du　Qiong；　Imperial　Censor；　Du　Wei　and　Yang　Hong；　Ministers；　Meng　Guang　and　Lai　Min；　Libationers；　Yin　Mo　and　Li　Zhuan；　Academicians；　Xi　Zheng　and　Fei　Shi；　General　Secretaries；　Qiao　Zhou；　Chief　Secretary；　and　others　to　the　number　of　over　a　hundred；　all　to　manage　the　administration　of　Shu　in　the　absence　of　Zhuge　Liang。
Having　received　his　Emperor's　mand　to　lead　an　expedition　against　the　north；　Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　his　palace　and　summoned　the　officers　of　the　army　to　listen　to　the　orders。　And　they　came；　and　to　each　was　appointed　a　duty　in　the　great　army：

Front　Army　mander………Wei　Yan
Front　Army　Marching　Generals………Zhang　Yi；　Wang　Ping
Rear　Army　mander………Li　Hui
Rear　Army　Marching　General………Lu　Yin
Left　Army　mander　and　Chief　of　the　missariat………Ma　Dai
Left　Army　Marching　General………Zhang　Ni
Right　Army　mander………Ma　Zheng
Right　Army　Marching　General………Deng　Zhi
Center　Army　Director………Liu　Yang
Center　Army　Marching　Generals………Liao　Hua；　Hu　Ji
Center　Army　Front　Generals………Yuan　Lin；　Liu　Ba；　Xu　Yun
Center　Army　Rear　General………Hu　Ban
Center　Army　Left　Generals………Wu　Yi；　Ding　Xian
Center　Army　Right　Generals………Gao　Xiang；　Guan　Yong；　Liu　Min
Center　Army　Center　Generals………Du　Qi；　Sheng　Bo；　Fan　Qi
Advisers………Ma　Su；　Yang　Yi；　Cuan　Xi；　Du　Yi
Secretaries………Fan　Jian；　Dong　Jue
Left　Guard………Guan　Xing
Right　Guard………Zhang　Bao
Inspector………Yan　Yan

Li　Yan　was　given　the　task　of　guarding　the　passes　against　Wu　from　the　southeast。
Zhuge　Liang　was　the　mander…in…Chief　of　the　Northern　Expedition。
All　being　ready；　a　day　was　chosen　for　the　start：　The　fifth　year；　the　third　month；　on　the　day　of　〃tiger〃。
After　the　appointments　had　all　been　made；　there　came　forward　a　veteran　who　had　listened　in　vain　for　the　duty　assigned　him。

＇e＇　Lian　Po　mander…in…chief　of　Zhao　in　the　Warring　States　period；　who　made　Zhao　a　powerful　state。　Liu　Xiangru；　the　Prime　Minister　of　Zhao；　was　his　good　friend。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Ma　Yuan　（BC　14…AD　49）　a　general　who　first　served　Wang　Mang；　then　join　Liu　Xiu　in　restoring　Han　Dynasty。　In　his　life　of　career；　Ma　Yuan　contributed　much　to　Liu　Xiu's　success　by　putting　down　rebellions　throughout　the　empire　and　abroad。　。。。。。
〃Old　I　may　be；〃　said　he；　〃yet　have　I　still　the　valor　of　Lian　Po*　and　the　heroism　of　Ma　Yuan*。　Why　am　I　thought　useless　any　more　than　these　two　who　refused　to　acknowledge　old　age？〃
It　was　Zhao　Yun。
Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃I　have　lost　my　friend　Ma　Chao　by　illness　since　I　returned　from　the　Southern　Expedition；　and　I　feel　as　I　had　lost　an　arm。　Now；　General；　you　must　own　that　the　years　are　mounting　up。　Any　slight　lapse　would　not　only　shake　the　life…long　reputation　of　yourself；　but　might　have　a　bad　effect　on　the　whole　army。〃
Zhao　Yun　replied　bitterly；　〃I　have　never　quailed　in　the　presence　of　the　enemy　from　the　day　I　first　joined　the　First　Ruler。　I　have　ever　pressed　to　the　front。　It　is　a　happy　ending　for　a　person　of　valor　to　die　on　the　frontier。　Think　you　that　I　should　resent　it？　Let　me　lead　the　van；　I　pray。〃
Zhuge　Liang　used　all　his　skill　to　dissuade　the　veteran；　but　in　vain。
Zhao　Yun　was　set　on　it；　saying；　〃If　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　do　not　let　me　lead　the　van；　I　will　smash　my　head　on　the　floor　and　die　at　your　feet。〃
At　last　Zhuge　Liang　yielded；　saying；　〃General；　you　can　have　the　post　of　Van　Leader；　but　you　must　choose　a　colleague　to　support　you。〃
〃I　will　go　to　help　the　Veteran　Leader！〃　cried　Deng　Zhi；　without　a　moment's　hesitation。　〃I　am　not　worth　much；　but　I　will　help　lead　the　attack　on　the　enemy。〃
Accordingly　five　thousand　of　veterans　were　chosen　for　the　advanced　guard；　and　with　them；　to　assist　Zhao　Yun；　went　Deng　Zhi　and　ten　other　generals。
After　the　vanguard　had　set　out；　the　main　body　marched　by　the　north　gate；　the　Latter　Ruler　himself　going　to　see　his　minister　start。　The　farewell　was　taken　three　miles　from　the　gate；　in　the　face　of　the　grand　army　with　its　banners　and　pennons　flaunting　in　the　wind；　and　spears　and　swords　gleaming　in　the　sun。
Then　they　took　the　road　leading　to　Hanzhong。
Naturally；　this　movement　was　duly　reported　in　Luoyang　at　a　court　held　by　Cao　Rui；　when　a　minister　said；　〃A　report　from　the　border　stations　says　that　Zhuge　Liang　has　marched　three　hundred　thousand　troops　into　Hanzhong。　Zhao　Yun　and　Deng　Zhi　are　leading　the　advanced　guard。〃
The　report　alarmed　Cao　Rui；　and　he　asked；　〃Who　can　lead　an　army　to　repel　the　advance？〃
At　once　out　spoke　one；　saying；　〃My　father　died　in　Hanzhong；　and　to　my　bitter　resentment　his　death　is　unavenged。　Now　I　desire　to　lead　the　army　against　Shu；　and　I　pray　that　the　armies　west　of　the　Pass　may　be　given　me　for　this　purpose。　I　shall　render　a　service　to　the　state；　as　well　as　taking　vengeance　for　my　father。　I　care　not　what　fate　may　befall　me。〃
The　speaker　was　Xiahou　Yuan's　son；　Xiahou　Mao。　He　was　by　nature　very　impulsive　and　also　very　miserly。　When　young　he　had　been　adopted　by　Xiahou　Dun。　When　Xiahou　Yuan　was　killed　by　Huang　Zhong；　Cao　Cao　was　moved　and　married　Xiahou　Mao　to　one　of　his　daughters；　Princess　Qinghe；　so　that　he　was　an　Imperial　Son…in…Law。　As