三国演义英文版-第236部分

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ow　then　shall　we　meet　the　situation？　I　do　not　understand　delay。
〃The　people　are　stretched　and　the　army　exhausted　indeed；　but　confusion　does　not　cease。　If　confusion　does　not　cease；　then；　whether　we　go　on　or　stand　still　the　drain　is　the　same。　Does　it　seems　that　attack　should　not　be　made　yet？　Is　it　that　the　rebels　are　to　be　allowed　to　obtain　a　permanent　hold　on　some　territory？　I　do　not　understand　the　arguments。
〃A　stable　condition　of　affairs　is　indeed　difficult　to　obtain。　Once；　when　the　First　Ruler　was　defeated　in　Jingzhou；　Cao　Cao　patted　himself　on　the　back　and　said　that　the　empire　was　settled。　Yet；　after　that；　the　First　Ruler　obtained　the　support　of　Wu　and　Yue　on　the　east；　took　Ba　and　Shu　on　the　west；　and　undertook　an　expedition　to　the　north；　wherein　Xiahou　Yuan　lost　his　life。　So　Cao　Cao　calculations　proved　erroneous；　and　the　affairs　of　Han　seemed　about　to　prosper。　But；　still　later；　Wu　proved　false　to　pledges；　our　Guan　Yu　was　defeated；　we　sustained　a　check　at　Zigui………and　Cao　Pi　assumed　the　imperial　style。　Such　events　prove　the　difficulty　of　forecast。　I　shall　strive　on　to　the　end；　but　the　final　result；　whether　success　or　failure；　whether　gain　or　loss；　is　beyond　my　powers　to　foresee。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　was　convinced；　and　by　edict　directed　Zhuge　Liang　to　start　on　the　expedition。
Zhuge　Liang　marched　out　with　three　hundred　thousand　well…trained　soldiers；　Wei　Yan　leading　the　first　division；　and　made　all　haste　to　Chencang。
The　news　soon　reached　Luoyang；　and　Sima　Yi　informed　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　who　called　his　council。
Then　Cao　Zhen　stepped　forth　and　said；　〃In　the　previous　campaign　I　failed　to　hold　West　Valley　Land；　and　my　disgrace　is　terrible　to　bear。　But　now　I　beg　to　be　given　another　mand　that　I　may　capture　Zhuge　Liang。　Lately　I　have　found　a　stalwart　soldier　for　a　leader；　a　man　who　wields　a　ninety…pound　sword；　rides　a　swift　and　savage　steed；　bends　the　three…hundred…pound　bow；　and　carries　hidden　about　him　when　he　goes　into　battle　three　meteor　maces　with　which　his　aim　is　certain。　So　valorous　is　he　that　none　dare　stand　against　him。　He　es　from　Didao　in　West　Valley　Land　and　is　named　Wang　Shuang。　I　would　remend　him　for　my　leader　of　the　van。〃
Cao　Rui　approved　at　once　and　summoned　this　marvel　to　the　hall。　There　came　a　nine…span　man　with　a　dusky　plexion；　yellowish　eyes；　strong　as　a　bear　in　the　hips　and　with　a　back　supple　as　a　tiger's。
〃No　need　to　fear　anything　with　such　a　man！〃　said　Cao　Rui；　laughing。
He　gave　the　new　hero　rich　presents；　a　silken　robe　and　golden　breastplate；　and　gave　him　the　title　General　Who　Possesses　the　Tiger　Majesty。　And　Wang　Shuang　became　Leader　of　the　Van　of　the　new　army。　Cao　Zhen　was　appointed　mander…in…Chief。
Cao　Zhen　took　leave　of　his　master　and　left　the　court。　He　collected　his　one　hundred　fifty　thousand　veterans　and；　in　consultation　with　Guo　Huai　and　Zhang　He；　decided　upon　the　strategic　points　to　be　guarded。
The　first　panies　of　the　army　of　Shu　sent　out　their　scouts　as　far　as　Chencang。　They　came　back　and　reported：　〃A　rampart　has　been　built　and　behind　it　is　a　general　named　Hao　Zhao　in　mand。　The　rampart　is　very　strong　and　is　further　defended　by　thorny　barriers。　Instead　of　taking　Chencang；　which　seems　difficult；　it　would　be　easier　to　go　out　to　Qishan　by　the　Taibo　Mountains；　where　is　a　practicable；　though　winding；　road。〃
But　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Due　north　of　Chencang　is　Jieting；　so　that　I　must　get　this　city　in　order　to　advance。〃
Wei　Yan　was　sent　to　surround　Chencang　and　take　it。　He　went；　but　days　passed　without　success。　Therefore　he　returned　and　told　his　chief　the　place　was　impregnable。　In　his　anger；　Zhuge　Liang　was　going　to　put　Wei　Yan　to　death；　but　an　officer　stepped　forth。
Said　he；　〃I　have　followed　the　Prime　Minister　for　a　long　time；　but　have　not　achieved　worthy　service。　Now　I　want　to　go　to　Chencang　and　persuade　Hao　Zhao　to　yield。　Thus；　our　army　does　not　need　to　use　a　single　bow　or　arrow。〃
Others　turned　their　attention　to　Counselor　Jin　Xiang。
〃How　do　you　think　you　will　persuade　him？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃What　will　you　say？〃
〃Hao　Zhao　and　I　are　both　from　West　Valley　Land　and　pledged　friends　from　boyhood。　If　I　can　get　to　see　him；　I　will　so　lay　matters　before　him　that　he　must　surrender。〃
Jin　Xiang　got　permission　to　try；　and　rode　quickly　to　the　wall　of　Chencang。
Then　he　called　out；　〃Friend　Hao　Zhao；　your　old　chum　Jin　Xiang　has　e　to　see　you！〃
A　sentry　on　the　wall　told　Hao　Zhao；　who　bade　them　let　the　visitor　enter　and　bring　him　up　on　the　wall。
〃Friend；　why　have　you　e？〃　asked　Hao　Zhao。
〃I　am　in　the　service　of　Shu；　serving　under　Zhuge　Liang　as　an　assistant　in　the　Tactical　Department。　I　am　created　exceedingly　well；　and　my　chief　has　sent　me　to　say　something　to　you。〃
Hao　Zhao　was　rather　annoyed；　and　said；　〃Zhuge　Liang　is　my　enemy。　I　serve　Wei　while　you　serve　Shu。　Each　serves　his　own　lord。　We　were　brothers　once；　but　now　we　are　enemies。　So　do　not　say　any　more。〃
And　the　visitor　was　requested　to　take　his　leave。　Jin　Xiang　tried　to　reopen　the　conversation；　but　Hao　Zhao　left　him　and　went　up　on　the　tower。　The　Wei　soldiers　hurried　Jin　Xiang　on　to　his　horse　and　led　him　to　the　gate。　As　he　passed　out；　he　looked　up　and　saw　his　friend　leaning　on　the　guard　rail。
He　pulled　up　his　horse；　pointed　with　his　whip　at　Hao　Zhao；　and　said；　〃My　friend　and　worthy　brother；　why　has　your　friendship　bee　so　thin？〃
〃Brother；　you　know　the　laws　of　Wei；〃　replied　Hao　Zhao。　〃I　have　accepted　their　bounty；　and　if　that　leads　to　death；　so　be　it。　Say　no　more；　but　return　quickly　to　your　master　and　tell　him　to　e　and　attack。　I　am　not　afraid。〃
So　Jin　Xiang　had　to　return　and　report　failure。
〃He　would　not　let　me　begin　to　explain；〃　said　he。
〃Try　again；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Go　and　really　talk　to　him。〃
So　the　go…between　soon　found　himself　once　more　at　the　foot　of　the　wall。
Hao　Zhao　presently　appeared　on　the　tower；　and　Jin　Xiang　shouted　to　him；　〃My　worthy　brother；　please　listen　to　my　words　while　I　explain　clearly。　Here　you　are　holding　one　single　city。　How　can　you　think　of　opposing　one　hundred　thousand　troops？　If　you　do　not　yield；　you　will　be　sorry　when　it　is　too　late。　Instead　of　serving　the　Great　Han；　you　are　serving　a　depraved　country　called　Wei。　Why　do　you　not　recognize　the　decree　of　Heaven？　Why　do　you　not　distinguish　between　the　pure　and　the　foul？　Think　over　it。〃
Then　Hao　Zhao　began　to　get　really　angry。　He　fitted　an　arrow　to　his　bow　and　he　called　out；　〃Go！　Or　I　will　shoot。　I　meant　what　I　said　at　first；　and　I　will　say　no　more。〃
Again　Jin　Xiang　returned　and　reported　failure　to　Zhuge　Liang。
〃The　fool　is　very　ill…mannered；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Does　he　think　he　can　beguile　me　into　sparing　the　city？〃
He　called　up　some　of　the　local　people　and　asked　about　the　forces　in　the　city。　They　told　him　about　three　thousand。
〃I　do　not　think　such　a　small　place　can　beat　me；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Attack　quickly　before　any　reinforcements　can　arrive。〃
Thereupon　the　assailants　brought　up　scaling　ladders；　upon　the　platforms　of　which　ten　or　more　men　could　stand。　These　were　surrounded　by　planks　as　protection。　The　other　soldiers　had　short　ladders　and　ropes；　and；　at　the　beat　of　the　drum；　they　attempted　to　scale　the　walls。
But　when　Hao　Zhao　saw　the　ladders　being　brought　up；　he　made　his　soldiers　shoot　fire…arrows　at　them。　Zhuge　Liang　did　not　expect　this。　He　knew　the　city　was　not　well　prepared　for　defense；　and　he　had　had　the　great　ladders　brought　up　and　bade　the　soldiers　take　the　wall　with　a　rush。　He　was　greatly　chagrined　when　the　fire　arrows　set　his　ladders　on　fire　and　so　many　of　his　soldiers　were　burned。　And　as　the　arrows　and　stones　rained　down　from　the　wall；　the　soldiers　of　Shu　were　forced　to　retire。
Zhuge　Liang　angrily　said；　〃So　you　burn　my　ladders！　Then　I　will　use　battering　rams。〃
So　the　rams　were　brought　and　placed　against　the　walls　and　again　the　signal　given　for　assault。　But　the　defenders　brought　up　great　stones　suspended　by　ropes；　which　they　swung　down　at　the　battering　rams　and　so　broke　them　to　pieces。
Next　the　besiegers　set　to　work　to　bring　up　earth　and　fill　the　moat；　and　Liao　Hua　led　three　thousand　soldiers　to　excavate　a　tunnel　under　the　ramparts。　But　Hao　Zhao　cut　a　counter…trench　within　the　city　and　turned　that　device。
So　the　struggle　went　on　for　near　a　month；　and　still　the　city　was　not　taken。　Zhuge　Liang　was　very　depressed。
That　was　not　all。　The　scouts　reported：　〃From　the　east　there　is　ing　a　relief　force　of　Wei；　the　flags　of　which　bears　the　name　Wei　Van　Leader；　General　Wang　Shuang　。〃
Zhuge　Liang　asked；　〃Who　wants　to　go　out　and　oppose　this　force？〃
Wei　Yan　offered　himself。
〃No；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃you　are　too　valuable　as　Leader　of　the　Van。〃
General　Xie　Xiong　offered　his　services。　They　were　accepted；　and　Xie　Xiong　was　given　three　thousand　troops。　After　he　had　gone；　Zhuge　Liang　decided　to　send　a　second　force；　and　for　mand　of　this　General　Gong　Qi　volunteered　and　was　accepted。　Gong　Qi　also　had　three　thousand　troops。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　feared　lest　there　would　be　a　sortie　from　the　city　to　aid　the　relief　force　just　arriving；　so　he　led　off　the　army　seven　miles　and　made　a　camp。
The　first　body　sent　against　Wang　Shuang　had　no　success：　Xie　Xiong　fell　almost　immediately　under　Wang　Shuang's　great　sword。　The　men　fled　and　Wang　Shuang　pursued；　and　so　came　upon　Gong　Qi；　who　had　e　to　support　his　colleague。　Gong　Qi　met　a　similar　fate；　being　slain　in　the　third　bout。
When　the　defeated　parties　returned；　Zhuge　Liang　was　anxious　and　called　up　Liao　Hua；　Wang　Ping；　and　Zhang　Ni　to　go　out　to　check　this　Wang　Shuang；　They　went　and　drew　up　in　formal　array；　and　then　Zhang　Ni　rode　to　the　front。　Wang　Shuang　rode　to　meet　him；　and　they　two　fought　several　bouts。　Then　Wang　Shuang　ran　away　and　Zhang　Ni　followed。
His　colleague；　Wang　Ping；　suspected　this　flight　was　but　a　ruse；　so　he　called　to　Zhang　Ni；　〃Do　not　follow　the　fleeing　general！〃
Zhang　Ni　then　turned；　but　Wang　Shuang　turned　also　and　hurled　one　of　his　meteor　hammers；　which　hit　Zhang　Ni　in　the　back；　so　that　he　fell　forward　and　lay　over　the　saddle。　Wang　Shuang　rode　on　to　follow　up　this　advantage；　but　Liao　Hua　and　Wang　Ping　poured　out　and　checked　him。　Wang　Shuang's　whole　force　then　came　on　and　slew　many　of　the　troops　of　Shu。
Zhang　Ni　was　hurt　internally　and　vomited　blood　at　times。　He　came　back　and　told　Zhuge　Liang；　saying；　〃Wang　Shuang　is　very　terrible　and　no　one　can　stand　up　to　him。　He　camps　outside　Chencang；　building　a　strong　stockade；　and　so　making　the　city　with　double　walls　and　a　deep　moat。〃
Having　lost　two　generals；　and　a　third　being　wounded；　Zhuge　Liang　called　up　Jiang　Wei　and　said；　〃We　are　stopped　this　way。　Can　you　suggest　another　road？〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。　〃Chencang　is　too　well　protected　and；　with　Hao　Zhao　as　defender　and　Wang　Shuang　as　supporter；　cannot　be　taken。　I　would　propose　to　check　Chencang　by　leaving　a　general　here；　who　shall　make　a　strong　camp　with　the　support　of　the　hills。　Then　try　to　hold　the　roads　so　that　the　attack　from　Jieting　may　be　prevented。　Then　if　you　will　send　a　strong　force　against　Qishan；　I　can　do　something　which　will　capture　Cao　Zhen。〃
Zhuge　Liang　agreed。　He　sent　Wang　Ping　and　Li　Hui　to　hold　the　narrow　road　to　Jieting；　and　Wei　Yan　was　sent　to　guard　the　way　from　Chencang。　And　then　the　army　marched　out　of　the　Xie　Valley　by　a　small　road　and　made　for　Qishan。
Now　Cao　Zhen　still　remembered　bitterly　that　in　the　last　campaign　Sima　Yi　had　filched　from　him　the　credit　he　hoped　to　obtain。　So　when　he　received　the　mission　of　defending　the　capit