三国演义英文版-第245部分

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n　West　Valley　Land　for　his　supply。　You　get　sufficient　troops　to　hold　Qishan；　while　Guo　Huai　and　I　go　to　Tianshui　and　foil　the　enemy's　plan　to　gather　the　wheat。〃
So　Zhang　He　took　forty　thousand　troops　to　hold　Qishan；　and　Sima　Yi　set　out　westwards　to　the　West　Valley　Land。
When　Zhuge　Liang　reached　Qishan　and　had　settled　his　army　in　camp；　he　saw　that　the　bank　of　River　Wei　had　been　fortified　by　his　enemy。
〃That　must　be　the　work　of　Sima　Yi；〃　remarked　Zhuge　Liang　to　his　generals。　〃But　we　have　not　enough　food　in　camp。　I　have　written　to　Li　Yan　to　send　grain；　but　it　has　not　yet　arrived。　The　wheat　in　West　Valley　Land　is　now　just　ripe；　and　we　will　go　and　reap　it。〃
Leaving　Wang　Ping；　Zhang　Ni；　Hu　Ban；　and　Wu　Yi　to　guard　for　the　camps；　Zhuge　Liang；　with　Wei　Yan；　Jiang　Wei；　and　several　other　generals；　went　over　to　Lucheng。　The　Governor　of　that　city　knew　he　could　not　offer　any　real　defense；　so　he　opened　the　gates　and　yielded。
After　calming　the　people；　Zhuge　Liang　asked；　〃Where　is　the　ripe　wheat　to　be　found？〃
The　Governor　replied；　〃Longshang　is　the　place。〃
So　Zhang　Yi　and　Ma　Zheng　were　left　to　guard　the　city；　and　the　remainder　of　the　army　went　to　Longshang。
But　soon　the　leading　body　returned　to　say；　〃Sima　Yi　has　already　occupied　that　city。〃
〃He　guessed　what　I　intended　to　do！〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　taken　aback。
Zhuge　Liang　then　retired；　bathed　and　put　on　another　dress。　Next　he　bade　them　bring　out　three　four…wheeled　chariots；　all　exactly　alike；　that　were　among　the　impedimenta　of　the　army。　They　had　been　built　in　Shu　some　time　before。
Jiang　Wei　was　told　off　to　lead　a　thousand　troops　as　escort　for　one　chariot；　and　five　hundred　drummers　were　appointed　to　acpany　it。　The　chariot　with　its　escort　and　drummers　was　sent　away　behind　the　city。　In　like　manner　two　other　chariots　were　equipped　and　sent　east　and　west　of　the　city　under　Ma　Dai　and　Wei　Yan。　Each　chariot　was　propelled　by　a　team　of　twenty…four　men；　all　dressed　in　black；　barefooted　and　with　loosened　hair。　Each　one　of　the　team　also　had　in　hand　a　sword　and　a　black　seven…starred　flag。
While　the　chariots　were　taking　up　their　positions；　thirty　thousand　soldiers　were　ordered　to　prepare　wagons　and　sickles　to　cut　and　carry　away　the　grain。
Next　Zhuge　Liang　selected　twenty…four　good　soldiers；　whom　he　dressed　and　armed　like　those　sent　away　with　the　three　chariots。　These　were　to　push　his　own　chariot。　Guan　Xing　was　told　to　dress　up　as　the　God　of　Clouds　and　to　walk　in　front　of　Zhuge　Liang's　chariot　holding　a　black　seven…starred　flag。　These　preparations　plete；　Zhuge　Liang　mounted；　and　the　chariot　took　the　road　toward　the　Wei　camp。
The　appearance　of　a　chariot　with　such　attendants　more　than　startled　the　enemy's　scouts；　who　did　not　know　whether　the　apparition　was　that　of　a　human　or　a　demon。　They　hastened　to　their　mander　and　told　him。
Sima　Yi　came　out　himself　and　saw　the　cavalcade；　and　its　central　figure　being　Zhuge　Liang；　dressed　as　a　Taoist　mystic；　with　headdress；　white　robe；　and　a　feather　fan。　Around　the　chariot　were　twenty…four　hair…loosened　beings；　each　with　a　sword　in　hand；　and　leading　was　a　being　as　a　heaven…sent　god　with　the　seven…starred　flag。
〃Some　of　Zhuge　Liang's　odd　doings；〃　said　he。
And　Sima　Yi　ordered　two　thousand　troops；　saying；　〃Chase　as　fast　as　you　can；　and　bring　in　the　chariot；　escort；　and　the　seated　figure。〃
The　soldiers　went　out　to　do　their　bidding。　But　as　soon　as　they　appeared；　the　chariot　retired　and　took　a　road　leading　to　the　Shu　camp。　Although　the　Wei　soldiers　were　mounted；　they　could　not　e　up　with　the　cavalcade。　What　they　did　meet　with　was　a　chilly　breeze　and　a　cold　mist　that　rolled　about　them。
They　found　it　uncanny　and　halted；　saying　one　to　another；　〃How　extraordinary　it　is　that　we　have　been　pressing　on　and　yet　we　got　no　nearer。　What　does　it　mean？〃
When　Zhuge　Liang　saw　that　the　pursuit　had　ceased；　he　had　his　chariot　pushed　out　again　to　the　front　and　passed　within　sight　of　the　halted　troops。　At　first　they　hesitated；　but　presently　took　up　the　pursuit　once　more。　Whereupon　the　chariot　again　retired；　proceeding　slowly；　but　always　keeping　out　of　reach。　And　thus　more　than　seven　miles　were　covered　and　the　chariot　was　still　not　captured。
Again　the　soldiers　halted；　puzzled　and　perplexed　at　this　inprehensible　chase。　But　as　soon　as　they　stopped；　the　chariot　came　again　toward　them　and　they　retook　pursuit。
Sima　Yi　now　came　up　with　a　strong　force。　But　he　also　halted；　and　said　to　his　generals；　〃This　Zhuge　Liang　is　a　master　in　the　arts　of　necromancy　and　juggling　and　Eight　Gates　and　knows　how　to　call　up　the　Deities　of　Six　Layers　to　his　aid。　I　know　this　trick　of　his：　It　is　the　'Ground　Rolling'　in　the　'Book　of　Six　Layers　Deities'；　and　it　is　vain　to　pursue。〃
So　they　ceased　following。　But　then　a　roll　of　drums　came　from　the　left　side　as　if　a　body　of　troops　were　approaching。　Sima　Yi　told　off　some　panies　to　repel　them；　but　there　only　came　into　view　a　small　force；　and　in　their　midst　was　a　party　of　men　dressed　in　black；　the　exact　counterpart　of　the　cavalcade　he　had　first　sent　to　pursue。　In　the　chariot　sat　another　Zhuge　Liang　just　like　the　one　that　had　just　disappeared。
〃But　just　now　he　was　sitting　in　that　other　chariot；　which　we　chased　for　fifteen　miles。　How　can　he　be　here？〃　said　Sima　Yi。
Shortly　after　they　heard　another　roll　of　the　drums；　and　as　the　sound　died　away　there　appeared　another　body　of　men；　with　a　chariot　in　the　midst；　exactly　like　the　last　and　also　carrying　a　sitting　figure　of　Zhuge　Liang。
〃They　must　be　heaven…sent　soldiers；〃　said　Sima　Yi。
The　soldiers　were　now　feeling　the　strain　of　these　weird　appearances　and　began　to　get　out　of　hand。　They　dared　not　stay　to　fight　such　beings；　and　some　ran　away。　But　before　they　had　gone　far；　lo！　another　roll　of　drums；　another　cohort　and　another　chariot　with　a　similar　figure　seated　therein。
The　soldiers　of　Wei　were　now　thoroughly　frightened；　and　even　Sima　Yi　himself　began　to　feel　doubtful　whether　these　appearances　should　be　ascribed　to　humans　or　devils。　He　realized；　however；　that　he　was　in　the　midst　of　dangers　as　he　did　not　know　the　number　of　the　Shu　soldiers；　and　he　and　his　troops　ran　away　helter…skelter；　never　stopping　till　they　reached　Shanggui。　They　entered　the　city　and　closed　the　gates。
Having　thus　driven　off　the　Wei　soldiers；　Zhuge　Liang　proceeded　to　reap　and　gather　the　wheat　in　Longshang；　which　was　carried　into　Lucheng　and　laid　out　to　dry。
Sima　Yi　remained　shut　up　within　the　walls　for　three　days。　Then；　as　he　saw　his　enemies　retiring；　he　sent　out　some　scouts；　who　presently　returned　with　a　Shu　soldier　they　had　captured。　The　prisoner　was　questioned。
〃I　was　of　the　reaping　party；〃　said　the　man。　〃They　caught　me　when　I　was　looking　for　some　horses　that　had　strayed。〃
〃What　wonderful　soldiers　were　they　of　yours　that　one　saw　here　lately？〃　asked　Sima　Yi。
The　man　replied；　〃Zhuge　Liang　was　with　one　party　of　them；　the　others　were　led　by　Jiang　Wei；　Ma　Dai；　and　Wei　Yan。　There　was　a　thousand　of　fighting　soldiers　with　each　chariot　and　five　hundred　drummers。　Zhuge　Liang　was　with　the　first　party。〃
〃His　ings　and　goings　are　not　human；〃　said　Sima　Yi　sadly。
Then　Guo　Huai　came；　and　he　was　called　to　a　council。
Said　Guo　Huai；　〃I　hear　the　soldiers　of　Shu　in　Lucheng　are　very　few；　and　they　are　occupied　with　gathering　the　grain。　Why　not　smite　them？〃
Sima　Yi　told　him　his　last　experience　of　his　opponent's　wiles。
〃He　threw　dust　in　your　eyes　that　time；〃　said　Guo　Huai　with　a　smile。　〃However；　now　you　know。　What　is　the　good　of　more　talk？　Let　me　attack　the　rear；　while　you　lead　against　the　front；　and　we　shall　take　the　city　and　Zhuge　Liang　too。〃
An　attack　was　decided　upon。
In　Lucheng；　while　the　soldiers　were　still　busy　with　the　wheat；　Zhuge　Liang　called　up　his　generals；　and　said；　〃The　enemy　will　attack　tonight。　There　is　a　suitable　place　for　an　ambush　in　the　newly　reaped　fields；　but　who　will　lead　for　me？〃
Four　generals………Jiang　Wei；　Wei　Yan；　Ma　Dai；　and　Ma　Zheng………offered　themselves；　and　he　posted　them；　each　with　two　thousand　troops；　outside　the　four　corners　of　the　city。　They　were　to　await　the　signal　and　then　converge。　When　these　had　gone；　Zhuge　Liang　led　out　a　small　party　of　one　hundred　soldiers　and　hid　in　the　newly　reaped　fields。
In　the　meantime　Sima　Yi　was　drawing　near。　It　was　dusk　when　he　stood　beneath　the　walls　of　Lucheng。
Said　he　to　his　officers；　〃If　we　attacked　by　daylight；　we　should　find　the　city　well　prepared。　So　we　will　take　advantage　of　the　darkness。　The　moat　is　shallow　here；　and　there　shall　be　no　difficulty　in　crossing　it。〃
The　troops　bivouacked　till　the　time　should　e　to　attack。　About　the　middle　of　the　first　watch　Guo　Huai　arrived；　and　his　force　joined　up　with　the　others。　This　done；　the　drums　began　to　beat；　and　the　city　was　quickly　surrounded。　However；　the　defenders　maintained　such　a　heavy　discharge　of　arrows；　bolts　and　stones　from　the　walls　that　the　besiegers　dared　not　close　in。
Suddenly　from　the　midst　of　the　Wei　army　came　the　roar　of　a　bomb；　soon　followed　by　others　from　different　places。　The　soldiers　were　startled；　but　no　one　could　say　whence　the　sounds　had　proceeded。　Guo　Huai　went　to　search　the　wheat　fields；　and　then　the　four　armies　from　the　corners　of　the　city　converged　upon　the　Wei　army。　At　the　same　time　the　defenders　burst　out　of　the　city　gates；　and　a　great　battle　began。　Wei　lost　many　troops。
After　heavy　fighting　Sima　Yi　extricated　his　army　from　the　battle　and　made　his　way　to　a　hill；　which　he　set　about　holding　and　fortifying；　while　Guo　Huai　got　round　to　the　rear　of　the　city　and　called　a　halt。
Zhuge　Liang　entered　the　city　and　sent　his　troops　to　camp　again　at　the　four　corners　of　the　walls。
Guo　Huai　went　to　see　his　chief；　and　said；　〃We　have　long　been　at　grips　with　these　soldiers　and　are　unable　to　drive　them　off。　We　have　now　lost　another　fight。　Unless　something　is　done；　we　shall　not　get　away　at　all。〃
〃What　can　we　do？〃　asked　Sima　Yi。
〃You　might　write　to　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou　to　send　their　forces　to　our　help。　I　will　try　my　fortune　against　Saber　Pass　and　cut　off　Zhuge　Liang's　retreat　and　supplies。　That　should　bring　about　discontent　and　mutiny；　and　we　can　attack　when　we　see　the　enemy　in　confusion。〃
The　letters　were　sent；　and　soon　Sun　Li　came　leading　the　troops　of　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou；　foot　and　horse；　of　two　hundred　thousand。　The　new　arrivals　were　sent　to　help　Guo　Huai　in　the　attack　on　Saber　Pass。
After　many　days　had　passed　without　sight　of　the　enemy；　Zhuge　Liang　thought　it　was　time　to　make　another　move。
Calling　up　Jiang　Wei　and　Ma　Dai；　he　said；　〃The　soldiers　of　Wei　are　well　posted　on　the　hills　and　refuse　battle　because；　firstly；　they　think　that　we　are　short　of　food；　and；　secondly；　they　have　sent　an　army　against　Saber　Pass　to　cut　off　our　supplies。　Now　each　of　you　will　take　ten　thousand　troops　and　garrison　the　important　points　about　here　to　show　them　that　we　are　well　prepared　to　defend　ourselves。　Then　they　will　retire。〃
After　these　two　had　gone；　Yang　Yi　came　to　see　Zhuge　Liang　about　the　change　of　troops　then　due。
Yang　Yi　said；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　you　have　ordered　the　troops　to　be　alternated　every　one　hundred　days。　Now　the　time　is　due；　and　the　replacing　troops　have　already　left　Hanzhong　and　that　dispatches　from　the　leading　divisions　have　e　in。　Here　we　have　eighty　thousand　troops；　of　which　forty　will　be　due　for　relief。〃
〃There　is　the　order；　carry　it　out；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。
So　the　forty　thousand　home…going　soldiers　prepared　to　withdraw。
Just　then　came　the　news：　〃Sun　L