三国演义英文版-第240部分

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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！　Did　you　think　that　your　leader's　ruse　would　take　me　in？　Sima　Yi　sent　a　challenge　to　fight　every　day；　indeed；　while　you　were　to　slip　round　behind　my　army　and　attack！　I　have　the　two　cities………Wudu　and　Yinping。　If　you　have　not　e　to　surrender；　then　hurry　up　and　fight　a　battle　with　me。〃
By　now　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li　were　really　frightened。　Then　behind　them　there　rose　a　shout　as　of　battle；　and　Wang　Ping　and　Jiang　Wei　began　to　smite　them　in　the　rear；　while　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　bore　down　upon　them　in　front。　They　were　soon　utterly　broken；　and　the　two　leaders　escaped　by　scrambling　up　the　hillside。
Zhang　Bao　saw　them；　and　was　urging　his　steed　forward　to　catch　them；　when　unhappily　he　and　his　horse　went　over　together　into　a　gully。　When　they　picked　him　up；　they　found　that　he　had　been　kicked　in　the　head　and　was　badly　hurt。
Zhuge　Liang　sent　him　back　to　Chengdu。
It　has　been　said　that　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li　escaped。　They　got　back　to　Sima　Yi's　camp　and　said；　〃Wudu　and　Yinping　were　both　in　the　enemy's　possession；　and　Zhuge　Liang　had　prepared　an　ambush；　so　that　we　were　attacked　front　and　rear。　We　lost　the　day　and　only　escaped　on　foot。〃
〃It　is　no　fault　of　yours；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃The　fact　is　he　is　sharper　than　I。　Now　go　to　defend　Yongcheng　and　Meicheng　and　remain　on　the　defensive。　Do　not　go　out　to　give　battle。　I　have　a　plan　to　defeat　them。〃
These　two　having　left；　Sima　Yi　called　in　Zhang　He　and　Dai　Ling　and　said；　〃Zhuge　Liang　has　captured　Wudu　and　Yinping。　He　must　restore　order　and　confidence　among　the　people　of　these　places　and　so　will　be　absent　from　his　camp。　You　two　will　take　ten　thousand　troops　each；　start　tonight　and　make　your　way　quietly　to　the　rear　of　the　Shu　army。　Then　you　will　attack　vigorously。　When　you　have　done　that；　I　shall　lead　out　the　army　in　front　of　them　and　array　ready　for　battle。　While　they　are　in　disorder；　I　shall　make　my　attack。　Their　camp　ought　to　be　captured。　If　I　can　win　the　advantage　of　these　hills；　their　defeat　will　be　easy。〃
These　two　left；　Dai　Ling　marching　on　the　left　and　Zhang　He　on　the　right。　They　took　by…roads　and　got　well　to　the　rear　of　the　Shu　army。　In　the　third　watch　they　struck　the　high　road　and　joined　forces。　Then　they　marched　toward　the　enemy。　After　about　ten　miles　there　was　a　halt　in　front。　The　two　leaders　galloped　up　to　see　what　had　caused　it；　and　found　many　straw…carts　drawn　across　the　road。
〃The　enemy　has　been　prepared；〃　said　Zhang　He。　〃We　should　return。〃
Just　as　they　ordered　the　troops　to　turn　about；　torches　broke　into　flame　all　over　the　hills；　the　drums　rolled；　trumpets　blared；　and　soldiers　sprang　out　on　every　side。
At　the　same　time　Zhuge　Liang　shouted　from　the　hill…top；　〃Dai　Ling　and　Zhang　He；　listen　to　my　words！　Your　master　reckoned　that　I　should　be　busy　restoring　order　in　the　two　cities　and　so　should　not　be　in　my　camp。　Wherefore　he　sent　you　to　take　the　camp；　and　you　have　just　fallen　into　my　snare。　As　you　are　leaders　of　no　great　importance；　I　shall　not　harm　you。　Dismount　and　yield。〃
Zhang　He's　wrath　blazed　forth　at　this；　and　he　pointed　at　Zhuge　Liang；　crying；　〃You　peasant　out　of　the　woods；　invader　of　our　great　country！　How　dare　you　use　such　words　to　me？　Wait　till　I　catch　you：　I　will　tear　you　to　shreds！〃
He　galloped　forward　to　ascend　the　hill；　his　spear　ready　for　the　thrust。　But　the　arrows　and　stones　pelted　too　quickly。　Then　he　turned　and　dashed　in　among　the　Shu　soldiers；　scattering　them　right　and　left。　He　got　clear；　but　he　saw　Dai　Ling　was　not　with　him。　At　once　he　turned　back；　fought　his　way　to　his　rade　and　brought　Dai　Ling　out　safely。
Zhuge　Liang　on　the　hill…top　watched　this　warrior　and　saw　he　was　a　right　doughty　fighting　man。
〃I　have　heard　that　soldiers　stood　aghast　when　Zhang　Fei　fought　his　great　fight　with　Zhang　He。　Now　I　can　judge　Zhang　He's　valor　for　myself。　He　will　do　harm　to　Shu　one　day　if　I　spare　him。　He　will　have　to　be　removed。〃
Then　Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　his　camp。
By　this　time　Sima　Yi　had　pleted　his　battle　line　and　was　waiting　the　moment　of　disorder　in　the　Shu　army　to　attack。　Then　he　saw　Zhang　He　and　Dai　Ling　e　limping　back　dejected　and　crestfallen。
They　said；　〃Zhuge　Liang　forestalled　us。　He　was　well　prepared；　and　so　we　were　quite　defeated。〃
〃He　is　more　than　human！〃　exclaimed　Sima　Yi。　〃We　must　retreat。〃
So　the　whole　army　retired　into　the　fortified　camps　and　would　not　e　out。
Thus　a　great　victory　fell　to　Shu；　and　their　booty　was　immense：　Weapons　and　horses　innumerable。　Zhuge　Liang　led　his　army　back　to　camp。　Thereafter　he　sent　parties　to　offer　a　challenge　at　the　gate　of　the　Wei　camp　every　day；　but　the　soldiers　remained　obstinately　behind　their　shelters　and　would　not　appear。　When　this　had　continued　half　a　month　Zhuge　Liang　grew　sad。
Then　came　Fei　Yi　from　Capital　Chengdu　with　an　edict　of　the　Emperor。　Fei　Yi　was　received　with　all　respect；　and　incense　was　burnt　as　propriety　demanded。　This　done；　the　mand　was　unsealed；　and　Zhuge　Liang　read：
〃The　failure　at　Jieting　was　really　due　to　the　fault　of　Ma　Su。　However；　you　held　yourself　responsible　and　blamed　yourself　very　severely。　It　would　have　been　a　serious　matter　for　me　to　have　withstood　your　intentions；　and　so　I　did　what　you　insisted　on。
〃However；　that　was　a　glorious　exploit　last　year　when　Wang　Shuang　was　slain。　This　year；　Guo　Huai　has　been　driven　back　and　the　Qiangs　have　been　reduced；　the　two　counties　of　Wudu　and　Yinping　have　been　captured；　you　have　driven　fear　into　the　hearts　of　all　evil　doers　and　thus　rendered　magnificent　services。
〃But　the　world　is　in　confusion；　and　the　original　evil　has　not　been　destroyed。　You　fill　a　great　office；　for　you　direct　the　affairs　of　the　state。　It　is　not　well　for　you　to　remain　under　a　cloud　for　any　length　of　time　and　cloak　your　grand　virtue；　wherefore　I　restore　you　to　the　rank　of　Prime　Minister　and　pray　you　not　to　decline　the　honor。〃
Zhuge　Liang　heard　the　edict　to　the　end　and　then　said；　〃My　task　is　not　yet　acplished。　How　can　I　return　to　my　duties　as　Prime　Minister？　I　must　really　decline　to　accept　this。〃
Fei　Yi　said；　〃If　you　decline　this；　you　flout　the　desires　of　the　Emperor　and　also　show　contempt　for　the　feelings　of　the　army。　At　any　rate　accept　for　the　moment。〃
Then　Zhuge　Liang　humbly　bowed　acquiescence。
Fei　Yi　took　leave　and　returned。
Seeing　that　Sima　Yi　remained　obstinately　on　the　defensive；　Zhuge　Liang　thought　of　a　plan　by　which　to　draw　him。　He　gave　orders　to　break　camp　and　retire。
When　the　scouts　told　Sima　Yi；　he　said；　〃We　may　not　move。　Certainly　there　is　some　deep　craftiness　in　this　move。〃
Zhang　He　said；　〃It　must　mean　that　their　food　is　exhausted。　Why　not　pursue？〃
〃I　reckon　that　Zhuge　Liang　laid　up　ample　supplies　last　year。　Now　the　wheat　is　ripe；　and　he　has　plenty　of　every　sort。　Transport　might　be　difficult；　but　yet　he　could　hold　out　half　a　year。　Why　should　he　run　away？　He　sees　that　we　resolutely　refuse　battle；　and　he　is　trying　some　ruse　to　inveigle　us　into　fighting。　Send　out　spies　to　a　distance　to　see　what　is　going　on。〃
They　reconnoitered　a　long　way　round；　and　the　scouts　returned　to　say　that　a　camp　had　been　formed　ten　miles　away。
〃Ah；　then　he　is　not　running　away；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃Remain　on　the　defensive　still　more　strictly　and　do　not　advance。〃
Ten　days　passed　without　further　news；　nor　did　the　soldiers　of　Shu　offer　the　usual　challenge。　Again　spies　were　sent　far　afield；　and　they　reported　a　further　retreat　of　ten　miles　and　a　new　encampment。
〃Zhuge　Liang　is　certainly　working　some　scheme；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃Do　not　pursue。〃
Another　ten　days　passed　and　spies　went　out。　The　enemy　had　gone　ten　miles　farther　and　encamped。
Zhang　He　said；　〃What　makes　you　so　over…suspicious？　I　can　see　that　Zhuge　Liang　is　retreating　into　Hanzhong；　only　he　is　doing　it　gradually　and　arousing　our　suspicion。　Why　not　pursue　before　it　is　too　late。　Let　me　go　and　fight　one　battle。〃
〃No；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃A　defeat　would　destroy　the　morale　of　our　soldiers；　and　I　will　not　risk　it。　Zhuge　Liang's　vile　tricks　are　innumerable。〃
〃If　I　go　and　get　beaten；　I　will　stand　the　full　rigor　of　military　punishment；〃　said　Zhang　He。
〃Well；　if　you　are　set　on　going；　we　will　divide　the　army。　You　take　your　wing　and　go；　but　you　will　have　to　fight　your　best。　I　will　follow　to　help　in　case　of　need。　Tomorrow　you　should　march　only　halfway　and　rest　your　troops　for　the　battle。〃
So　Zhang　He　got　independent　mand　of　thirty　thousand　troops　and　took　Dai　Ling　as　his　second　in　mand；　and　he　had　a　few　score　of　generals　as　assistants。　Halfway　they　camped。　Then　Sima　Yi；　leaving　a　substantial　guard　for　his　camp；　set　out　along　the　same　road　with　fifty　thousand　troops。
Zhuge　Liang　knew　the　movements　of　the　army　of　Wei　and　when　Zhang　He's　army　camped　to　rest。　In　the　night　he　summoned　his　generals　and　told　them。
〃The　enemy　are　ing　in　pursuit　and　will　fight　desperately。　You　will　have　to　fight　everyone　of　you　like　ten；　but　I　will　set　an　ambush　to　attack　their　rear。　Only　a　wise　and　bold　leader　is　fit　for　this　task。〃
Wang　Ping　stepped　forth　and　said　he　was　willing　to　go　on　this　expedition。
〃But　if　you　fail；　what　then？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃Then　there　is　the　military　rule。〃
Zhuge　Liang　sighed。　〃Wang　Ping　is　most　loyal。　He　is　willing　to　risk　wounds　and　death　in　his　country's　service。　However；　the　enemy　are　in　two　divisions；　one　ing　in　front；　the　other　trying　to　get　round　to　the　rear。　Wang　Ping　is　crafty　and　bold；　but　he　cannot　be　in　two　places　at　once；　so　I　must　have　yet　another　general。　Is　it　that　among　you　there　is　no　other　willing　to　devote　himself　to　death？〃
He　did　not　wait　long　for　a　reply。　Zhang　Yi　stepped　to　the　front。
〃Zhang　He　is　a　most　famous　leader　in　Wei　and　valorous　beyond　all　pare。　You　are　not　a　match　for　him；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃If　I　fail；　may　my　head　fall　at　the　tent　door；〃　said　Zhang　Yi。
〃Since　you　wish　to　go；　I　accept　you。　Each　of　you　shall　have　ten　thousand　veterans。　You　will　hide　in　the　valleys　till　the　enemy　e　up；　and　you　will　let　them　pass。　Then　you　will　fall　upon　their　rear。　If　Sima　Yi　es；　you　must　divide　the　army；　Zhang　Yi　to　hold　the　rear　and　Wang　Ping　to　check　the　advance。　But　they　will　fight　desperately；　and　I　must　find　a　way　to　aid　you。〃
When　they　had　gone；　Jiang　Wei　and　Liao　Hua　were　called；　and　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃I　am　going　to　give　you　a　silken　bag。　You　are　to　proceed　s