三国演义英文版-第234部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

This　remark　also　angered　Zhuge　Liang；　who　replied；　〃It　is　my　fault　that　a　defeated　army　has　returned　without　any　gain　of　territory。　What　injury　to　Wei　was　the　loss　of　Jiang　Wei？〃
Fei　Yi　tried　again；　saying；　〃But　with　an　army　of　one　hundred　thousand　bold　veterans；　you　can　attack　Wei　again。〃
Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃When　we　were　at　Qishan　and　Gu　Valley；　we　outnumbered　the　enemy；　but　we　could　not　conquer　them。　On　the　contrary；　they　beat　us。　The　defect　was　not　in　the　number　of　soldiers；　but　in　the　leadership。　Now　we　must　reduce　the　army；　discover　our　faults；　reflect　on　our　errors；　and　mend　our　ways　against　the　future。　Unless　this　is　so；　what　is　the　use　of　a　numerous　army？　Hereafter　everyone　will　have　to　look　to　the　future　of　his　country。　But　most　diligently　each　of　you　must　fight　against　my　shortings　and　blame　my　inefficiencies。　Then　we　may　succeed；　rebellion　can　be　exterminated；　and　merit　can　be　set　up。〃
Fei　Yi　and　the　officers　acknowledged　the　aptness　of　these　remarks。　Fei　Yi　went　back　to　the　capital；　leaving　Zhuge　Liang　in　Hanzhong　resting　his　soldiers　and　doing　what　he　could　for　the　people；　training　and　heartening　his　troops　and　turning　special　attention　to　the　construction　of　apparatus　for　assaults　on　cities　and　crossing　rivers。　He　also　collected　grain　and　fodder　and　built　battle　rafts；　all　for　future　use。
The　spies　of　Wei　got　to　know　of　these　doings　in　the　River　Lands　and　reported　to　Luoyang。　The　Ruler　of　Wei　called　Sima　Yi　to　council　and　asked　how　Shu　might　be　annexed。
〃Shu　cannot　be　attacked；〃　was　the　reply。　〃In　this　present　hot　weather　they　will　not　e　out；　but；　if　we　invade；　they　will　only　garrison　and　defend　their　strategic　points；　which　we　should　find　it　hard　to　overe。〃
〃What　shall　we　do　if　they　invade　us　again？〃
〃I　have　prepared　for　that。　Just　now　Zhuge　Liang　shall　imitate　Han　Xin　who　secretly　crossed　the　river　into　Chencang。　I　can　remend　a　man　to　guard　the　place　by　building　a　rampart　there　and　rendering　it　absolutely　secure。　He　is　a　nine…span　man；　round　shouldered　and　powerful；　a　good　archer　and　prudent　strategist。　He　would　be　quite　equal　to　dealing　with　an　invasion。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　was　very　pleased　and　asked　for　his　name。
〃His　name　is　Hao　Zhao；　and　he　is　in　mand　at　Hexi。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　accepted　the　remendation；　and　an　edict　went　forth　promoting　Hao　Zhao　to　General　Who　Guards　the　West；　and　sending　him　to　mand　in　the　county　of　Chencang。
Soon　after　this　edict　was　issued；　a　memorial　was　received　from　Cao　Xiu；　Minister　of　War　and　mander　of　Yangzhou；　saying　that　Zhou　Fang；　the　Wu　Governor　of　Poyang；　wished　to　tender　his　submission　and　transfer　his　allegiance；　and　had　sent　a　man　to　present　a　memorandum　under　seven　headings　showing　how　the　power　of　the　South　Land　could　be　broken　and　to　ask　that　an　army　be　dispatched　soon。
Cao　Rui　spread　the　document　out　on　the　couch　that　he　and　Sima　Yi　might　read　it。
〃It　seems　very　reasonable；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃Wu　could　be　quite　destroyed。　Let　me　go　with　an　army　to　help　Cao　Xiu。〃
But　from　among　the　courtiers　stepped　out　Jia　Kui；　who　said；　〃What　this　man　of　Wu　says　may　be　understood　in　two　ways。　Do　not　trust　it。　Zhou　Fang　is　a　wise　and　crafty　man　and　very　unlikely　to　desert。　In　this　is　some　ruse　to　decoy　our　soldiers　into　danger。〃
〃Such　words　must　also　be　listened　to；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃Yet　such　a　chance　must　not　be　missed。〃
〃You　and　Jia　Kui　might　both　go　to　the　help　of　Cao　Xiu；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。
Sima　Yi　and　Jia　Kui　went。
A　large　army；　led　by　Cao　Xiu；　moved　to　Huancheng。　Jia　Kui；　assisted　by　General　Man　Chong　and　Governor　Hu　Zhi　of　Dongwan；　marched　to　capture　Yangcheng；　and　facing　the　East　Pass。　Sima　Yi　led　the　third　army　to　Jiangling。
Now　the　Prince　of　Wu；　Sun　Quan；　was　at　the　East　Pass　in　Wuchang；　and　there　he　assembled　his　officers　and　said；　〃The　Governor　of　Poyang；　Zhou　Fang；　has　sent　up　a　secret　memorial　saying　that　Cao　Xiu　intends　to　invade。　Zhou　Fang　has　therefore　set　out　a　trap　for　Cao　Xiu　and　has　drawn　up　a　document　giving　seven　plausible　circumstances；　hoping　thereby　to　cajole　the　Wei　army　into　his　power。　The　armies　of　Wei　are　on　the　move　in　three　divisions；　and　I　need　your　advice。〃
Gu　Yong　stood　forth；　saying；　〃There　is　only　one　man　fit　to　cope　with　the　present　need：　He　is　Lu　Xun。〃
So　Lu　Xun　was　summoned　and　made　Grand　mander；　General　Who　Pacifies　the　North；　mander…in…Chief　of　all　the　State　Armies；　including　the　Imperial　Guards；　and　Assistant　in　the　Royal　Duties。　He　was　given　the　White　Banners　and　the　Golden　Axes；　which　denoted　imperial　rank。　All　officers；　civil　and　military；　were　placed　under　his　orders。　Moreover；　Sun　Quan　personally　stood　beside　him　and　held　his　whip　while　he　mounted　his　steed。
Having　received　all　these　marks　of　confidence　and　favor；　Lu　Xun　wanted　two　persons　to　be　his　assistants。
Sun　Quan　asked　their　names；　and　Lu　Xun　said；　〃They　are　Zhu　Huan；　General　Who　Fortifies　Prowess；　and　Quan　Zong；　General　Who　Calms　the　South。　These　two　should　be　in　mand。〃
Sun　Quan　approved　and　appointed　Zhu　Huan　and　Quan　Zong　as　Left　mander　and　Right　mander　respectively。
Then　the　grand　army；　prising　all　the　forces　of　the　eighty…one　counties　of　the　South　Land　and　the　levies　of　Jingzhou；　seven　hundred　thousand　troops　in　total；　was　assembled　and　marched　out　in　three　divisions；　Lu　Xun　in　the　center；　with　Zhu　Huan　and　Quan　Zong　supporting　him　left　and　right　with　the　other　two　columns。
Then　said　Zhu　Huan；　〃Cao　Xiu　is　neither　able　nor　bold。　He　holds　office　because　he　is　of　the　blood。　He　has　fallen　into　the　trap　laid　by　Zhou　Fang　and　marched　too　far　to　be　able　to　withdraw。　If　the　mander…in…Chief　will　smite；　Cao　Xiu　must　be　defeated。　Defeated；　he　must　flee　along　two　roads；　one　Jiashi　on　the　left；　the　other　Guichi　on　the　right；　both　of　which　are　precipitous　and　narrow。　Let　me　and　my　colleague　go　to　prepare　an　ambush　in　these　roads。　We　will　block　them　and　so　cut　off　their　escape。　If　this　Cao　Xiu　could　be　captured；　and　a　hasty　advance　made；　success　would　be　easy　and　sure。　We　should　get　Shouchun；　whence　Xuchang　and　Luoyang　can　be　seen。　This　is　the　one　chance　in　the　thousand。〃
〃I　do　not　think　the　plan　good；〃　said　Lu　Xun。　〃I　have　a　better　one。〃
Zhu　Huan　resented　the　rejection　of　his　scheme　and　went　away。　Lu　Xun　ordered　Zhuge　Jin　and　certain　others　to　garrison　Jiangling　and　oppose　Sima　Yi　and　made　all　other　dispositions　of　forces。
Cao　Xiu　neared　Huancheng；　and　Zhou　Fang　came　out　of　the　city　to　wele　him　and　went　to　the　general's　tent。
Cao　Xiu　said；　〃I　received　your　letter　and　the　memorandum；　which　was　most　logical；　and　sent　it　to　His　Majesty。　He　has　set　in　motion　accordingly　three　armies。　It　will　be　a　great　merit　for　you；　Sir；　if　the　South　Land　can　be　added　to　His　Majesty's　dominions。　People　say　you　are　abundant　in　craft；　but　I　do　not　believe　what　they　say；　for　I　think　you　will　be　true　to　me　and　not　fail。〃
Zhou　Fang　wept。　He　seized　a　sword　from　one　of　his　escort　and　was　about　to　kill　himself；　but　Cao　Xiu　stopped　him。
Still　leaning　on　the　sword；　Zhou　Fang　said；　〃As　to　the　seven　things　I　mentioned；　my　regret　is　that　I　cannot　show　you　all。　You　doubt　me　because　some　persons　from　Wu　and　Wei　have　been　poisoning　your　mind　against　me。　If　you　heed　them；　the　only　course　for　me　is　to　die。　Heaven　only　can　make　manifest　my　loyal　heart。〃
Again　he　made　to　slay　himself。
But　Cao　Xiu　in　trepidation　threw　his　arms　about　him；　saying；　〃I　did　not　mean　it。　The　words　were　uttered　in　jest。　Why　do　you　act　thus？〃
Upon　this；　Zhou　Fang；　with　his　sword；　cut　off　his　hair　and　threw　it　on　the　ground；　saying；　〃I　have　dealt　with　you　with　sincerity；　Sir；　and　you　joke　about　it。　Now　I　have　cut　off　the　hair；　which　I　inherited　from　my　parents；　in　order　to　prove　my　sincerity。〃
Then　Cao　Xiu　doubted　no　more；　but　trusted　him　fully　and　prepared　a　banquet　for　him；　and　when　the　feast　was　over　Zhou　Fang　returned　to　his　own。
General　Jia　Kui　came　to　Cao　Xiu；　and　when　asked　whether　there　was　any　special　reason　for　the　visit；　he　said；　〃I　have　e　to　warn　you；　mander；　to　be　cautious　and　wait　till　you　and　I　can　attack　the　enemy　together。　The　whole　army　of　Wu　is　encamped　at　Huancheng。〃
〃You　mean　you　want　to　share　in　my　victory；〃　sneered　Cao　Xiu。
〃It　is　said　Zhou　Fang　cut　off　his　hair　as　a　pledge　of　sincerity。　That　is　only　another　bit　of　deceit。　According　to　the　Spring　and　Autumn　Annals；　Yao　Li　cut　off　his　arm　as　a　pledge　of　loyalty　before　he　assassinated　King　Qing　Ji。　Mutilation　is　no　guarantee。　Do　not　trust　Zhou　Fang。〃
〃Why　do　you　e　to　utter　ill…omened　words　just　as　I　am　opening　the　campaign？　You　destroy　the　spirit　of　the　army；〃　said　Cao　Xiu。
In　his　wrath　he　told　the　lictors　to　put　Jia　Kui　to　death。
However；　the　officers　interceded；　saying；　〃Before　the　march；　killing　our　general　is　not　favorable　to　the　army。　O　mander；　spare　him　until　after　the　expedition。〃
And　Jia　Kui　was　reprieved。　But　he　was　not　assigned　any　part　in　the　campaign；　and　his　troops　were　left　in　reserve。　Cao　Xiu　himself　went　away　to　the　East　Pass。
When　Zhou　Fang　heard　that　Jia　Kui　had　been　broken；　he　rejoiced　in　his　heart；　saying；　〃If　Cao　Xiu　had　attended　to　his　words；　then　Wu　would　have　lost。　Heaven　is　good　to　me　and　is　giving　me　the　means　of　achieving　great　things。〃
Then　he　sent　a　secret　messenger　to　Huancheng；　and　Lu　Xun　knew　that　the　time　had　e。　He　assembled　the　officers　for　orders。
Lu　Xun　said；　〃Shiding；　lying　over　against　us；　is　a　hilly　country　fit　for　preparing　an　ambush。　It　will　be　occupied　as　suitable　to　array　our　army　and　await　the　ing　of　Wei。　Xu　Sheng　is　to　be　Leader　of　the　Van；　and　the　army　will　move　there。〃
Now　Cao　Xiu　told　Zhou　Fang　to　lead　the　way　for　his　attack。　While　on　march；　Cao　Xiu　asked；　〃What　is　the　place　lying　ahead？〃
Zhou　Fang　replied；　〃Shiding；　a　suitable　place　to　camp　in。〃
So　a　great　camp　was　made　there。
But　soon　after　the　scouts　reported；　〃Wu　soldiers；　unknown　in　number；　have　camped　among　the　hills。〃
Cao　Xiu　began　to　feel　alarmed；　saying；　〃Zhou　Fang　said　there　were　no　soldiers。　Why　these　preparations？〃
Cao　Xiu　hastily　sought　Zhou　Fang　to　ask　him；　but　was　told；　〃Zhou　Fan　has　gone　away　with　a　few　dozen　riders。　No　one　knows　whither。〃
〃I　have　been　deceived　and　am　in　a　trap；〃　said　Cao　Xiu；　now　very　repentant　of　his　easy　confidence。　〃However；　there　is　nothing　to　fear。〃
Then　he　made　his　arrangements　to　march　against　the　enemy；　and　when　they　were　plete　and　the　array　drawn　up；　Zhang　Pu；　the　Leader　of　the　Van；　rode　out　and　began　to　rail　at　the　men　of　Wu。
〃Rebel　leader；　e　and　surrender！〃　cried　Zhang　Pu。
Then　rode　out　Xu　Sheng　and　fought　with　him。　But　Zhang　Pu　was　no　match　for　Xu　Sheng；　as　was　soon　evident；　wherefore　he　led　his　troops　to　retire。
〃Xu　Sheng　is　too　strong；〃　said　Zhang　Pu　when　he　saw　Cao　Xiu。
〃Then　will　we　defeat　him　by　a　surprise；〃　said　Cao　Xiu。
He　sent　Zhang　Pu　with　twenty　thousand　troops　to　hide　in　the　south　of　Shiding；　while　another　equal　party　under　Xue　Qiao　was　sent　north。
And　Cao　Xiu　arranged；　saying；　〃Tomorrow　I　will　lead　a　thousand　soldiers　to　provoke　the　troops　of　Wu　into　battle；　then　I　will　feign　defeat　and　lead　them　to　the　hills　in　the　north；　when　a　bomb　will　explode　and　a　three…pronged　ambush　will　bring　us　victory。〃
On　the　other　side　Lu　Xun　called　his　two　generals；　Zhu　Huan　and　Quan　Zong；　and　said；　〃Each　of　you　is　to　lead　thirty　thousand　troops　and　take　a　cross　cut　from　Shiding　to　the　enemy's　camp。　Give　a　fire　signal　behind　the　camp　on　arrival；　and　then　the　main　army　will　advance　to　the　camp's　front　for　a　double　at