三国演义英文版-第269部分

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out　by　way　of　Longxi　and　Nanan；　they　have　the　grain　of　the　Qiangs　to　depend　upon；　and　if　they　choose　Qishan；　they　have　the　wheat　there。　These　are　the　five　reasons　why　they　should　make　another　expedition。〃
Chen　Tai　was　overe　with　the　clear　vision　of　his　new　colleague。
〃Sir；　your　foresight　is　godlike。　I　think　we　need　feel　no　anxiety　about　what　the　enemy　can　achieve。〃
The　two　leaders　became　the　best　of　friends　in　spite　of　the　difference　of　age。　Deng　Ai　spent　his　time　in　training　the　army；　and　garrisons　were　placed　at　all　points　where　surprise　attacks　seemed　possible。
There　was　feasting　also　at　Zhongti；　and　the　occasion　was　taken　to　discuss　a　new　attack　on　Wei。
But　Assistant　Fan　Jian　opposed。　〃General；　your　expeditions　have　partly　failed　many　times；　you　have　never　scored　a　plete　victory。　But　now　on　River　Yao　the　army　of　Wei　recognize　your　superiority；　and　why　should　you　try　again？　There　is　small　chance　of　success；　and　you　risk　all　you　have　gained。〃
Jiang　Wei　replied；　〃You　all　regard　only　the　largeness　and　population　of　Wei　and　the　time　necessary　for　conquest；　but　you　do　not　see　five　reasons　for　victory。〃
The　assembly　asked　what　these　were。
〃First；　the　fighting　spirit　of　the　soldiers　of　Wei　has　been　badly　broken　on　River　Yao；　while　that　of　our　soldiers；　although　we　retired；　is　unimpaired。　If　we　attack；　we　shall　certainly　succeed。　Second；　our　soldiers　can　travel　in　boats　and　so　will　not　be　wearied　with　marching；　their　soldiers　have　to　march　to　meet　us。　Third；　our　soldiers　are　thoroughly　trained；　theirs　are　recruits；　a　mere　flock　of　crows；　quite　undisciplined。　Fourth；　when　we　go　out　by　Qishan；　we　can　seize　upon　the　autumn　wheat　for　food。　Finally；　they　are　scattered；　having　to　defend　various　points；　while　we　can　concentrate　on　any　point　we　wish；　and　they　will　find　it　difficult　to　bring　up　reinforcements。　If　we　miss　this　chance；　can　we　hope　for　a　better？〃
Xiahou　Ba　said；　〃Deng　Ai　is　young；　but　he　is　deep　and　crafty。　He　has　certainly　taken　great　pains　to　secure　the　regions　under　his　charge　as　General　Who　Pacifies　the　West。　Victory　will　not　be　so　easy　as　it　was　before。〃
〃Why　should　I　fear　him？〃　cried　Jiang　Wei；　angrily。　〃You　should　not　laud　the　spirit　of　the　enemy　and　belittle　that　of　our　own　soldiers。　But　in　any　case　I　have　made　up　my　mind　and　shall　take　West　Valley　Land。〃
No　one　dared　to　offer　any　further　opposition。　Jiang　Wei　himself　led　the　first　army；　the　others　followed　in　due　order；　and　thus　the　soldiers　of　Shu　marched　out　of　Zhongti　to　Qishan。
Before　they　could　reach　Qishan；　the　scouts　reported　the　hills　already　occupied　by　the　armies　of　Wei。　Jiang　Wei　rode　forward　to　verify　this；　and；　surely　enough；　he　saw　the　Wei　camps；　nine　in　number；　stretching　over　the　hills　like　a　huge　serpent；　and　all　arranged　to　give　each　other　support。
〃Xiahou　Ba　spoke　only　too　well；〃　said　he。　〃The　plan　of　those　camps　is　excellent　and　only　our　Zhuge　Liang　could　have　laid　them　out　with　equal　skill。〃
Returning　to　his　own　army；　he　said　to　his　officers；　〃They　must　have　known　of　my　ing；　and　I　think　Deng　Ai　is　here　too。　Now　from　this　as　base　you　are　to　send　out　daily　small　reconnoitering　parties　showing　my　banner；　but　different　flags　and　uniforms；　blue；　yellow；　red；　white；　and　black；　in　turns。　While　you　are　thus　distracting　attention；　I　will　lead　the　main　army　by　Dongting　to　attack　Nanan。〃
Bao　Su　was　sent　to　camp　at　the　mouth　of　the　Qishan　Mountains　Valley　while　the　main　army　marched。
As　soon　as　Deng　Ai　had　heard　that　the　enemy　would　e　out　at　Qishan；　he　had　camped　there　with　his　colleague　Chen　Tai。　But　when　days　had　passed　without　anyone　ing　to　fling　a　challenge；　he　sent　out　spies　to　find　out　where　the　Shu　army　was　lurking。　They　could　find　nothing；　and　so　Deng　Ai　went　to　the　summit　of　a　hill　to　look　around。
He　came　to　the　conclusion；　saying；　〃Jiang　Wei　must　not　be　in　this　camp。　He　must　be　on　his　way　to　capture　Nanan。　Those　soldiers　in　the　Shu　camp　were　nothing　but　a　feint；　accentuated　by　the　daily　change　of　uniform。　Going　to　and　fro　for　days；　the　horses　look　tired；　and　their　leaders　are　certainly　none　of　the　ablest。　Therefore；　General；　I　advise　an　attack　here。　If　that　succeeds；　the　Dongting　road　can　be　occupied；　and　Jiang　Wei　will　be　unable　to　retreat。　I　think　I　ought　to　try　to　relieve　Nanan。　I　will　go　by　the　Wucheng　Mountain；　and　if　I　occupy　that；　the　enemy　will　try　to　take　Shanggui。　Near　that　place　is　a　narrow　and　precipitous　valley　called　Block　Valley；　just　the　place　for　an　ambush；　where　I　shall　lie　in　wait　till　Jiang　Wei　es　to　take　the　Wucheng　Mountain。〃
Chen　Tai　replied；　〃I　have　been　here　over　twenty　years　and　have　never　known　so　much　of　the　military　possibilities　of　the　place。　You　are　very　wonderful　and　must　carry　out　your　plan。〃
So　Deng　Ai　marched　toward　Nanan　by　double　marches。　Soon　they　came　to　the　Wucheng　Mountain；　where　they　camped　without　opposition。　He　sent　his　son　Deng　Zhong　and　Shi　Zuan；　each　leading　five　thousand　troops；　to　lie　in　wait　in　the　Block　Valley　and　not　to　betray　their　presence。
In　the　meantime　Jiang　Wei　was　marching　between　Dongting　and　Nanan。
Near　the　Wucheng　Mountain；　he　turned　to　Xiahou　Ba　and　said；　〃That　hill　is　our　point；　and　Nanan　is　close。　I　fear　lest　the　artful　Deng　Ai　may　seize　and　fortify　it。〃
They　hastened；　anxious　to　reach　the　hill　before　the　enemy。　But　it　was　not　to　be。　Presently　they　heard　the　roar　of　bombs　and　the　beating　of　drums；　and　then　flags　and　banners　appeared；　all　of　Wei。　And　among　them　fluttered　the　leader's　standard；　bearing　two　words　Deng　Ai　。
This　was　a　sad　disappointment。　The　army　of　Shu　halted；　and　veteran　soldiers　of　Wei　came　rushing　down　from　various　points　on　the　hill；　too　many　for　the　troops　of　Shu　to　drive　back。　So　the　advance　guard　was　defeated。　Jiang　Wei　went　to　their　help　with　his　central　body；　but　when　he　got　near；　the　soldiers　of　Wei　had　retreated　up　to　the　hill。
Jiang　Wei　went　on　to　the　foot　of　the　hill　and　challenged；　but　no　one　came　out　to　accept。　The　soldiers　of　Shu　began　to　shout　abuse；　and　kept　it　up　till　late　in　the　day；　but　they　failed　to　provoke　a　fight。　As　the　army　of　Shu　began　to　retire；　the　Wei　drums　beat　furiously；　yet　no　one　appeared。　Jiang　Wei　turned　about　to　ascend　the　hill；　but　its　defenders　prevented　that　by　stones　thrown　from　above。　He　hung　on　till　the　third　watch；　when　he　tried　again。　But　he　failed。　Thereupon　he　went　down　the　hill　and　halted；　bidding　his　soldiers　build　a　barricade　of　wood　and　boulders。　The　troops　of　Wei　came　on　again；　and　the　Shu　troops　scrambled　to　run　to　the　old　camp。
Next　day　Jiang　Wei　brought　up　many　transport　wagons　and　placed　them　on　the　slope　as　the　nucleus　of　a　camp。　But　in　the　night　a　number　of　Wei　troops　came　down　with　torches　and　set　fire　to　them。　A　fight　ensued；　which　lasted　till　dawn。
Seeing　that　a　camp　could　not　be　made　there；　Jiang　Wei　retired　to　consider　new　plans　with　Xiahou　Ba。
〃Since　we　cannot　take　Nanan；　our　next　best　plan　is　to　try　for　Shanggui；　which　is　the　storehouse　of　Nanan。〃
Leaving　Xiahou　Ba　on　the　hill；　Jiang　Wei　led　a　force　of　veteran　soldiers　and　bold　officers　along　the　road　toward　Shanggui。　They　marched　all　night；　and　dawn　found　them　in　a　deep　valley；　which　the　guides　said　was　Block　Valley。
〃That　sounds　too　much　like　'Cut…off　Valley'；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。　〃And　if　a　force　held　the　mouth；　we　should　be　in　sorry　straits。〃
While　hesitating　whether　to　advance　farther　or　not；　the　leading　troops　came　back　to　say：　〃We　have　seen　a　cloud　of　dust　beyond　the　hills；　which　seems　to　indicate　a　body　of　soldiers　in　hiding。〃
So　the　order　was　given　to　retire。　At　that　moment　the　armies　under　Shi　Zuan　and　Deng　Zhong　came　out　and　attacked。　Jiang　Wei；　alternately　fighting　and　retreating；　tried　to　get　away。　Then　Deng　Ai　himself　appeared；　and　the　Shu　army　had　enemies　on　three　sides。　They　were　in　grave　danger；　but　Xiahou　Ba　came　to　their　rescue；　and　so　Jiang　Wei　escaped。
Jiang　Wei　proposed　to　return　to　Qishan；　but　Xiahou　Ba　said；　〃We　cannot　go　thither；　for　Chen　Tai　has　destroyed　the　force　under　Bao　Su；　and　he　himself　was　killed。　All　that　was　left　of　that　army　has　gone　back　into　Hanzhong。〃
It　was　no　longer　a　question　of　taking　the　Dongting　road。　Jiang　Wei　sought　out　by…roads　to　march　along。　Deng　Ai　came　in　pursuit；　and　as　he　pressed　hard　on　the　rear；　Jiang　Wei　sent　the　others　on　ahead　while　he　covered　the　retreat。
Soon　Chen　Tai　came　out　from　the　hills；　and　Jiang　Wei　was　surrounded　by　a　shouting　body　of　the　enemy。　He　fought　all　directions；　but　could　not　clear　the　way。　He　and　his　horse　were　very　weary　when　Zhang　Ni；　who　had　heard　of　his　straits；　came　to　his　rescue　with　a　body　of　cavalry。　Zhang　Ni　cut　his　way　in；　and　Jiang　Wei　immediately　broke　the　siege　and　got　out。　Zhang　Ni　saved　his　general；　but　lost　his　own　life　in　the　melee。　Finally　Jiang　Wei　got　back　into　Hanzhong。
From　Hanzhong　the　death　of　Zhang　Ni　in　battle　was　reported　to　the　Latter　Ruler；　who　bestowed　suitable　honors　upon　his　family。
The　Shu　people　blamed　Jiang　Wei　for　the　serious　loss　of　life　of　their　relatives　in　the　military　operations　that　had　just　failed；　and　Jiang　Wei；　following　the　precedent　in　Jieting　of　the　late　Lord　of　Wuxiang；　asked　that　he　himself　should　be　degraded　in　rank；　retaining；　however；　the　mand。　He　was　put　back　to　General　of　the　Rear　Army。
The　country　being　now　cleared　of　the　enemy；　Chen　Tai　and　Deng　Ai　prepared　a　banquet　in　honor　of　victory　and　gave　rewards　to　the　soldiers　who　had　fought。　Chen　Tai　sent　a　memorial　to　the　capital　upon　the　services　of　Deng　Ai；　and　a　special　mission　of　Sima　Zhao　brought　Deng　Ai　higher　rank；　the　title　of　lordship　was　given　to　his　son；　Deng　Zhong。
At　this　time　the　style　of　the　reign　in　Wei　was　changed　from　Right　Origin；　the　third　year；　to　Gentle　Dew　Era；　the　first　year　（AD　256）。　Sima　Zhao　manded　all　the　military　forces　and　made　himself　Empire　mander…in…Chief。　He　assumed　great　pomp；　and　whenever　he　moved　outside　his　palace；　he　was　escorted　by　three　thousand　mail…clad　guards；　beside　squadrons　of　cavalry。　All　power　lay　in　his　hands；　and　he　decided　all　questions　so　that　the　court　was　rather　in　his　palace　than　in　that　of　the　Emperor。
Plans　for　taking　the　final　step　constantly　occupied　his　thoughts。　The　question　of　mounting　the　throne　was　openly　mooted　by　Jia　Chong；　a　confidant；　who　was　a　son　of　mander　Jia　Kui。　Jia　Chong　was　holding　the　High　Counselor　office　in　the　Prime　Minister's　palace。
Jia　Chong　said；　〃Sir；　all　real　authority　is　in　your　hands；　and　the　country　is　not　tranquil。　The　only　remedy　is　for　you　to　bee　actual　ruler；　and　you　should　find　out　who　are　your　supporters。〃
Sima　Zhao　replied；　〃This　has　been　in　my　thoughts　a　long　time。　You　might　be　my　emissary　to　the　east　to　find　out　the　feeling　there。　You　can　pretend　you　go　to　thank　the　soldiers　who　took　part　in　the　late　campaign。　That　would　be　a　good　pretext。〃
Accordingly　Jia　Chong　traveled　into　the　South　of　River　Huai；　where　he　saw　Zhuge　Dan；　General　Who　Guards　the　East。　This　officer　was　from　Nanyang　and　a　cousin　of　the　late　Lord　of　Wuxiang；　Zhuge　Liang。　Zhuge　Dan　had　gone　to　Wei　for　employment；　but　had　received　no　significant　office　while　Zhuge　Liang　was　the　Prime　minister　of　Shu。　After　Zhuge　Liang's　death；　Zhuge　Dan's　promotion　was　rapid。　He　was　now　Lord　of　Gaoping　and　mander　of　the　south　and　east　of　River　Huai。
Jia　Chong　went　to　Zhuge　Dan　to　ask　him　to　convey　to　the　army　the　appreciation　of　the　soldiers'　services。　Jia　Chong　was　received　courteously；　and　at　a　banquet；　when　host　an