三国演义英文版-第270部分

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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　and　guest　were　both　mellow　with　wine；　Jia　Chong　set　himself　to　discover　Zhuge　Dan's　feelings。
Jia　Chong　said；　〃Lately　in　Luoyang　there　has　been　much　talk　of　the　weakness　and　lack　of　ability　of　the　Emperor　and　his　unfitness　to　rule。　Now　General　Sima　Zhao　es　of　a　family　noted　for　state　service　for　three　generations。　His　own　services　and　virtues　are　high　as　the　heavens；　and　he　is　the　man　best　fitted　to　take　the　rulership　of　Wei。　Is　this　not　your　opinion？〃
But　Zhuge　Dan　did　not　favor　the　suggestion。　On　the　contrary；　he　broke　out　angrily；　〃You　are　a　son　of　Jia　Kui　of　Yuzhou；　and　your　family　have　received　the　bounty　of　Wei。　Yet　you　dare　speak　of　rebellion！〃
Jia　Chong　said；　〃I　only　repeat　what　people　have　said。〃
Zhuge　Dan　said；　〃If　the　state　is　in　difficulty；　then　one　ought　to　stand　up　for　it　even　to　the　death！〃
Jia　Chong　said　no　more。　He　soon　returned　and　told　Sima　Zhao　what　had　been　said。
〃The　rat！〃　cried　Sima　Zhao；　angrily。
〃Zhuge　Dan　is　exceedingly　popular　there　in　the　South　of　River　Huai；　and　if　he　is　left　too　long；　he　will　do　harm。〃
Sima　Zhao　began　to　take　measures。　He　wrote　privately　to　Yue　Chen；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yangzhou；　and　sent　a　messenger　to　Zhuge　Dan　with　an　edict　making　him　Minister　of　Works。　This　meant　that　Zhuge　Dan　had　to　e　to　the　capital。
But　Zhuge　Dan　knew　that　Jia　Chong　had　done　him　mischief；　and　he　interrogated　the　messenger；　who　told　him　that　Yue　Chen　knew　all　about　the　matter。
〃How　does　he　know？〃
〃General　Sima　Zhao　sent　him　a　private　letter。〃
The　messenger　was　condemned　to　death。　Then　Zhuge　Dan　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　his　personal　guard　and　marched　to　Yangzhou。　The　city　gates　were　closed　and　the　drawbridge　raised。　He　summoned　the　gate；　but　no　one　answered。
〃How　dare　this　fellow　Yue　Chen　treat　me　thus？〃　cried　Zhuge　Dan。
He　ordered　his　troops　to　force　the　gate。　Ten　of　his　bold　generals　dismounted；　crossed　the　moat；　and　climbed　the　ramparts；　where　they　slew　all　who　opposed　them　and　opened　the　gate。　The　others　entered；　set　fire　to　the　houses；　and　began　to　fight　their　way　toward　the　state　residence。
The　Imperial　Protector　sought　refuge　in　a　tower；　but　Zhuge　Dan　made　his　way　up　and　reproached　his　enemy；　crying；　〃Your　father；　Yue　Jing；　enjoyed　the　bounty　of　Wei。　Yet　you　have　not　sought　to　repay　the　kindness　of　the　Ruling　House；　but　you　want　to　help　the　rebel　Sima　Zhao！〃
Before　Yue　Chen　was　able　to　answer；　Zhuge　Dan　slew　him。　Then　he　sent　to　Luoyang　a　memorial　detailing　Sima　Yi's　many　faults；　and　made　preparations　for　war。　He　called　up　all　the　militia　of　the　south　and　east　of　River　Huai；　to　the　total　of　one　hundred　thousand；　and　took　over　the　forty　thousand　troops　who　had　surrendered　on　the　fall　of　Yue　Chen　and　gathered　supplies。　He　also　sent　Adviser　Wu　Gang　to　Wu　for　aid；　offering　his　son　Zhuge　Jing　as　a　hostage　for　his　good　faith。
At　this　time　Sun　Jun　had　died　and　his　brother；　Sun　Chen；　was　Prime　Minister。　Sun　Chen　was　a　man　of　cruel　and　violent　temper　and　had　put　many　officers　to　death　on　his　way　to　power………among　them　were　Grand　mander　Teng　Yin；　General　Lu　Ju；　and　Minister　Wang　Chun。　The　Ruler　of　Wu；　Sun　Liang；　although　intelligent；　was　helpless　in　his　hands。
The　messenger；　Wu　Gang；　conducted　Zhuge　Jing　to　the　residence　of　Sun　Chen　in　Shidou；　who　asked　what　he　had　e　for。
Wu　Gang　explained；　〃Zhuge　Dan　is　a　cousin　of　the　Lord　of　Wuxiang　in　Shu。　Zhuge　Dan　had　been　in　service　of　Wei；　and　seeing　Sima　Zhao　depose　the　his　prince　and　oppress　good　people；　he　wants　to　punish　the　tyrant。　But　his　force　is　not　enough；　and　he　asks　for　your　help。　To　show　his　sincerity；　he　sends　his　son　Zhuge　Jing　as　a　token　of　good　faith。〃
Wu　Gang's　request　was　received　favorably；　and　Sun　Chen　sent　seventy　thousand　troops　with　a　full　plement　of　officers………Quan　Yi　and　Quan　Duan　as　manders；　Yu　Quan　as　Rear　Guard；　Tang　Zi　and　Zhu　Yi　as　Leaders　of　the　Van；　Wen　Qin　as　Military　Guide。　They　marched　in　three　directions　to　attack　Wei。
Wu　Gang　returned　to　Shouchun　report　success。　Zhuge　Dan　thought　all　was　going　well　and　prepared　the　army　for　a　general　attack。
In　Luoyang；　Zhuge　Dan's　memorial　angered　Sima　Zhao；　who　wished　to　set　out　to　revenge　the　attack　at　once；　but　Jia　Chong　preached　caution。
〃My　lord；　you　derived　your　power　from　your　father　and　brother；　and　people　have　not　had　time　to　discover　your　own　virtue。　If　you　leave　the　court　and　there　be　a　revulsion　of　feeling　against　you；　you　will　lose　all。　Rather　request　the　Empress　Dowager　and　the　Son　of　Heaven　to　go　with　you　in　the　expedition；　and　nothing　is　to　be　feared；〃　said　Jia　Chong。
〃That　is　an　excellent　plan。〃
Sima　Zhao　went　into　the　Palace　and　proposed　it　to　Her　Majesty；　saying；　〃Zhuge　Dan　is　in　revolt；　and　my　colleagues　and　I　intend　to　punish　him。　I　beg　that　you　will　acpany　the　expedition　as　the　late　Emperor　would　have　done。〃
The　Empress　was　afraid；　but　dared　not　refuse；　and　the　next　day　was　requested　to　set　out　with　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　Cao　Mao。
Cao　Mao　said；　〃General；　you　mand　all　the　armies　and　dispose　them　as　you　will。　Why　do　you　ask　me　to　go？〃
Sima　Zhao　replied；　〃Your　Majesty　is　wrong　to　hesitate。　Your　ancestors　traveled　over　the　empire　and　wished　to　unite　the　whole　under　one　ruler。　Wherever　there　was　a　worthy　opponent；　they　went　to　face　him。　Your　Majesty　should　follow　their　example　and　sweep　the　land　clean。　Why　fear？〃
Cao　Mao；　fearing　his　minister's　terrible　power；　consented；　and　an　edict　was　issued　for　the　mands　to　mobilize　two　hundred　sixty　thousand　troops　of　two　capitals。　Wang　Ji；　General　Who　Corrects　the　South；　was　in　mand　of　the　van；　and　Chen　Qian；　General　Who　Pacifies　the　East；　was　second　in　mand　of　the　van。　Shi　Bao；　Army　Inspector；　and　Zhou　Cai；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yangzhou；　led　the　Imperial　Escort。　The　army　moved　into　the　South　of　River　Huai　like　a　great　flood。
Zhu　Yi；　the　Leader　of　the　Van　of　Wu；　encountered　them；　and　both　sides　drew　up　for　battle。　Zhu　Yi　rode　out　and　took　the　challenge；　but　was　overe　by　Wang　Ji　in　the　third　bout　and　he　fled。　Tang　Zi　also　rode　out；　but　was　also　beaten　in　the　third　encounter　by　Wang　Ji。　Then　Wang　Ji　ordered　a　full　attack。　The　troops　of　Wu　were　broken　and　retired　fifteen　miles　and　camped。　Thence　they　sent　tidings　of　their　ill…success　to　Shouchun。
Zhuge　Dan　in　Shouchun　led　out　his　bold　and　strong　soldiers　to　join　forces　with　Wen　Qin　and　his　two　sons；　Wen　Yang　and　Wen　Hu。　Then　they　set　out　against　Sima　Zhao。

Now　here　is　a　check　to　the　armies　of　Wu；
And　Wei's　gallant　men　advance。

The　next　chapter　will　tell　how　went　victory。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　112　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　112
　Chapter　112
Rescuing　Shouchun；　Yu　Quan　Dies　Nobly；
Attacking　Changcheng；　Jiang　Wei　Mobilizes。
Hearing　of　this　threatened　attack；　Sima　Zhao　sought　advice　from　two　of　his　officers；　High　Counselor　Pei　Xiu　and　Palace　Assistant　Zhong　Hui。
Zhong　Hui　said；　〃The　Wu　army　is　helping　our　enemies　for　the　sake　of　profit；　and　hence　we　can　seduce　them　with　an　offer　of　greater　profit。〃
Sima　Zhao　agreed　in　this　opinion　and　resolved　accordingly。　As　part　of　his　plan；　he　sent　Shi　Bao　and　Zhou　Cai　to　lay　ambushes　in　different　places　near　Shouchun。
As　ordered　by　Sima　Zhao；　Wang　Ji　and　Chen　Qian　manded　an　army　of　veterans　on　the　rear；　Cheng　Zu　led　thirty　thousand　troops　out　to　bring　on　a　battle；　while　Chen　Jun　got　together　many　wagons；　herds　of　oxen；　droves　of　horses；　donkeys　and　mules；　and　heaps　of　military　supplies；　all　of　which　he　crowded　together　in　the　midst　of　the　army。　This　stuff　was　meant　to　be　abandoned　as　soon　as　the　fight　began；　so　that　the　enemy　might　be　tempted　to　plunder。
That　day；　Zhuge　Dan　led　the　center　army；　while　Zhu　Yi　and　Wen　Qin　manded　the　left　and　right　armies。　The　armies　being　drawn　up；　Zhuge　Dan　looked　across　at　his　opponents　and　saw　that　the　center　of　the　Wei　army　was　taken　up　by　a　disorderly　mass　of　transport。　Presently　he　led　on　his　troops　to　attack；　and　Cheng　Zu；　as　bidden　to　do；　gave　way　and　fled；　leaving　a　large　amount　of　spoil。　When　the　soldiers　of　Wu　saw　such　huge　quantities　of　booty；　theirs　for　the　taking；　they　lost　all　desire　to　fight　and　scattered　to　gather　the　spoil。
While　thus　occupied；　suddenly　a　bomb　exploded　and；　from　left　and　right；　down　came　Shi　Bao　and　Zhou　Cai　and　the　army　of　Wei　upon　the　spoilers。　Zhuge　Dan　attempted　to　draw　off；　but　other　forces　under　Wang　Ji　and　Chen　Qian　appeared；　and　he　was　heavily　smitten。　Then　came　on　Sima　Zhao　with　his　army；　and　Zhuge　Dan　fled　to　Shouchun；　where　he　entered　and　shut　the　gates。　The　army　of　Wei　set　down　to　the　siege　of　the　city；　and　the　army　of　Wu　retired　into　camp　at　Anfeng。　The　Ruler　of　Wei；　Cao　Mao；　was　lodging　at　this　time　in　Xiangcheng。
Then　said　Zhong　Hui；　〃Zhuge　Dan　has　been　worsted；　but　the　city　wherein　he　has　taken　refuge　is　well　supplied；　and　his　allies；　the　troops　of　Wu；　are　not　distant。　His　position　is　strong。　Our　soldiers　are　besieging　the　city　all　round；　which　means　that　those　within　will　hold　out　for　a　long　time；　or　they　will　make　a　desperate　sortie。　Their　allies　also　may　fall　upon　us　at　the　same　time；　and　it　would　go　hard　with　us。　Therefore；　I　advise　that　the　attack　be　made　only　on　three　sides；　leaving　the　south　gate　open　for　them　if　they　wish　to　flee。　If　they　flee；　we　can　fall　on　the　fugitives。　The　troops　of　Wu　cannot　have　supplies　for　very　long。　If　we　sent　some　light　cavalry　round　by　their　rear；　we　might　stay　their　fighting　power　without　a　battle。〃

＇e＇　Zhang　Liang；　aka　Zhang　Zifang；　the　master　strategist　for　Liu　Bang。　His　family　had　served　the　state　of　Han　as　chief　ministers　during　the　Warring　States　period。　It　is　said　that　he　received　the　strategy　book　of　Lu　Wang　from　a　mysterious　old　man。　When　he　was　young；　Zhang　Liang　plotted　to　assasinate　the　First　Emperor；　but　failed。　He　later　rebeled　against　Qin。　Joined　Liu　Bang　（BC　206）　to　fight　against　Qin　and　then　Chu。　Remended　Han　Xin　to　Liu　Bang。　Zhang　Liang's　insights　had　earned　him　the　name　〃The　Teacher　of　Emperor〃。　After　Liu　Bang　won　the　empire；　Zhang　Liang　was　enobled　as　Lord　of　Liu；　but　did　not　take　office；　instead　he　resigned　from　political　life　and　traveled。　。。。。。
〃You　are　my　Zhang　Liang*；〃　said　Sima　Zhao；　stroking　the　back　of　his　adviser。　〃Your　advice　is　excellent！〃
So　Wang　Ji；　who　was　on　the　south　of　the　city；　was　ordered　to　withdraw。
But　in　the　Wu　camp　at　Anfeng　was　much　sadness　at　the　want　of　success。
Sun　Chen　said　to　General　Zhu　Yi；　〃If　we　cannot　succor　Shouchun；　how　can　we　hope　to　overrun　the　Middle　Land？　Now　and　here　you　have　to　win　a　victory　or　die；　for　another　defeat　will　mean　death。〃
Zhu　Yi　went　back　to　his　camp　and　talked　with　Yu　Quan。
Yu　Quan　said；　〃The　south　gate　of　Shouchun　is　free；　and　I　will　lead　therein　some　of　our　troops　to　help　Zhuge　Dan。　Then　you　challenge　the　Wei　army　on　one　side；　and　we　will　e　out　from　the　city　and　attack　on　the　other　side。〃
Zhu　Yi　thought　the　plan　good；　and　Quan　Yi；　Quan　Duan；　and　Wen　Qin　were　willing　to　go　into　the　city　and　share　in　the　attack。　They　were　allowed　to　march　in　without　hindrance　as　the　Wei　generals　had　no　orders　to　stop　them。
When　this　was　reported　to　Sima　Zhao；　he　said；　〃This　is　a　plan　to　defeat　our　army　by　making　a　front　and　rear　attack。〃
So　he　called　Wang　Ji　and　Chen　Qian　and　told　them　to　take　five　thousand　troops　to　keep　the　road　along　which　Zh