三国演义英文版-第246部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


〃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　Li　has　arrived　with　reinforcements　of　two　hundred　thousand　troops　from　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou。　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li　have　gone　to　attack　Saber　Pass；　and　Sima　Yi　is　leading　an　army　against　Lucheng。〃
In　the　face　of　such　important　news；　Yang　Yi　went　to　discuss　with　Zhuge　Liang。
Said　Yang　Yi；　〃The　Wei　army　are　advancing　against　our　critical　points。　Should　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　postpone　for　a　time　the　withdrawal　of　the　field　troops　in　order　to　strengthen　our　defense？　You　can　wait　for　the　new　troops　to　arrive　first。〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃I　must　keep　faith　with　the　soldiers。　Since　the　order　for　the　periodical　exchange　of　troops　has　been　issued；　it　must　be　carried　out。　Beside；　the　soldiers　due　for　relief　are　all　prepared　to　start；　their　expectations　have　been　roused　and　their　relatives　await　them。　In　the　face　of　yet　greater　difficulties　I　would　still　let　them　go。〃
So　orders　were　given　for　the　time…expired　soldiers　to　march　that　day。　But　when　the　legionaries　heard　it；　a　sudden　movement　of　generosity　spread　among　them。
And　they　said；　〃Since　the　Prime　Minister　cares　for　us　so　much；　we　do　not　wish　to　go；　but　will　prefer　to　remain　to　fight　the　Wei　army　to　death。〃
〃But　you　are　due　for　home。　You　cannot　stay　here；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
They　reiterated　that　they　all　wished　to　stay　instead　of　going　home。
Zhuge　Liang　was　glad　and　said；　〃Since　you　wish　to　stay　and　fight　with　me；　you　can　go　out　of　the　city　and　camp　ready　to　encounter　the　army　of　Wei　as　soon　as　they　arrive。　Do　not　give　them　time　to　rest　or　recover　breath；　but　attack　vigorously　at　once。　You　will　be　fresh　and　fit；　waiting　for　those　fagged　with　a　long　march。〃
So　they　gripped　their　weapons　and　joyfully　went　out　of　the　city　to　array　themselves　in　readiness。
Now　the　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou　troops　had　traveled　by　double　marches；　and　so　were　worn　out　and　needed　rest。　But　while　they　were　pitching　their　tents；　the　troops　of　Shu　fell　upon　them　lustily；　leaders　full　of　spirit；　soldiers　full　of　energy。　The　weary　soldiers　could　make　no　proper　stand；　and　retired。　The　troops　of　Shu　followed；　pressing　on　them　till　corpses　littered　the　whole　plain　and　blood　flowed　in　runnels。
It　was　a　victory　for　Zhuge　Liang；　and　he　came　out　to　wele　the　victors　and　led　them　into　the　city　and　distributed　rewards。
Just　then　arrived　an　urgent　letter　from　Li　Yan；　then　at　Baidicheng；　and　when　Zhuge　Liang　had　torn　it　open　he　read：
〃News　has　just　e　that　Wu　has　sent　an　envoy　to　Luoyang　and　entered　into　an　alliance　with　Wei　whereby　Wu　is　to　attack　us。　The　army　of　Wu　has　not　yet　set　out；　but　I　am　anxiously　awaiting　your　plans。〃
Doubts　and　fears　crowded　in　upon　Zhuge　Liang's　mind　as　he　read。　He　summoned　his　officers。
〃As　Wu　is　ing　to　invade　our　land；　we　shall　have　to　retire　quickly；〃　said　he。　〃If　I　issue　orders　for　the　Qishan　force　to　withdraw；　Sima　Yi　will　not　dare　to　pursue　while　we　are　camped　here。〃
The　Qishan　force　broke　camp　and　marched　in　two　divisions　under　Wang　Ping；　Zhang　Ni；　Hu　Ban；　and　Wu　Yi。　Zhang　He　watched　them　go；　but　was　too　fearful　of　the　movement　being　some　ruse　to　attempt　to　follow。　He　went　to　see　Sima　Yi。
〃The　enemy　have　retired；　but　I　know　not　for　what　reason。〃
〃Zhuge　Liang　is　very　crafty；　and　you　will　do　well　to　remain　where　you　are　and　keep　a　careful　lookout。　Do　nothing　till　their　grain　has　given　out；　when　they　must　retire　for　good；〃　said　Sima　Yi。
Here　General　Wei　Ping　stepped　forward；　saying；　〃But　they　are　retreating　from　Qishan。　We　should　seize　the　occasion　of　their　retreat　to　smite　them。　Are　they　tigers　that　you　fear　to　move？　How　the　world　will　laugh　at　us？〃
But　Sima　Yi　was　obstinate　and　ignored　the　protest。
When　Zhuge　Liang　knew　that　the　Qishan　troops　had　got　away　safely；　he　called　Yang　Yi　and　Ma　Zheng　and　gave　them　secret　orders　to　lead　ten　thousand　of　bowmen　and　crossbowmen　out　by　the　Wooden　Path　of　Saber　Pass　and　place　them　in　ambush　on　both　sides　of　the　road。
Said　he；　〃If　the　soldiers　of　Wei　pursue；　wait　till　you　hear　a　bomb。　When　you　hear　the　bomb；　at　once　barricade　the　road　with　timber　and　stones　so　as　to　impede　them。　When　they　halt；　shoot　at　them　with　the　bows　and　the　crossbows。〃
Wei　Yan　and　Guan　Xing　were　told　to　attack　the　rear　of　the　enemy。
These　orders　given；　the　walls　of　Lucheng　were　decorated　lavishly　with　flags；　and　at　various　points　within　the　city　were　piled　straw　and　kindling　wood　ready　to　make　some　smoke　as　though　there　were　cooking　activities　in　the　city。　The　soldiers　were　sent　out　along　the　road　toward　Saber　Pass。
The　spies　of　Wei　returned　to　headquarters　to　report：　〃A　large　number　of　Shu　soldiers　have　left；　but　we　do　not　know　how　many　remain　within　the　city。〃
In　doubt；　Sima　Yi　went　himself　to　look；　and　when　he　saw　the　smoke　rising　from　within　the　walls　and　the　fluttering　flags；　he　said；　〃The　city　is　deserted！〃
He　sent　men　in　to　confirm　this；　and　they　said　the　place　was　empty。
〃Then　Zhuge　Liang　is　really　gone。　Who　will　pursue？〃
〃Let　me；〃　replied　Zhang　He。
〃You　are　too　impulsive；〃　said　Sima　Yi。
〃I　have　been　Leader　of　the　Van　from　the　first　day　of　this　expedition。　Why　not　use　me　today；　when　there　is　work　to　be　done　and　glory　to　be　gained？〃
〃Because　the　utmost　caution　is　necessary。　They　are　retreating；　and　they　will　leave　an　ambush　at　every　possible　point。〃
〃I　know　that；　and　you　need　not　be　afraid。〃
〃Well；　you　wish　to　go　and　may；　but　whatever　happens　you　must　be　prepared　for。〃
〃A　really　noble　man　is　prepared　to　sacrifice　self　for　country。　Never　mind　what　happens。〃
〃Then　take　five　thousand　troops　and　start。　Wei　Ping　shall　follow　with　twenty　thousand　of　horse　and　foot　to　deal　with　any　ambush　that　may　discover　itself。　I　will　follow　later　with　three　thousand　to　help　where　need　be。〃
So　Zhang　He　set　out　and　advanced　quickly。
Ten　miles　out　he　heard　a　roll　of　drums；　and　suddenly　appeared　from　a　wood　a　cohort　led　by　Wei　Yan；　who　galloped　to　the　front；　crying；　〃Whither　would　you　go；　O　rebel　leader？〃
Zhang　He　swiftly　turned　and　engaged　Wei　Yan；　but　after　some　ten　passes　Wei　Yan　fled。　Zhang　He　rode　after　Wei　Yan　along　the　road　for　ten　miles　and　then　stopped　to　observe。　As　he　saw　no　ambush；　he　turned　again　and　resumed　the　pursuit。　All　went　well　till　he　came　to　a　slope；　when　there　arose　shouts　and　yells　and　another　body　of　soldiers　came　out。
〃Zhang　He；　do　not　run　away！〃　cried　this　leader；　who　was　Guan　Xing。
Guan　Xing　galloped　close；　and　Zhang　He　did　not　flee。　They　fought；　and　after　half　a　score　of　passes　Guan　Xing　seemed　to　have　the　worst　of　the　encounter　and　fled。　Zhang　He　followed。　Presently　they　neared　a　dense　wood。　Zhang　He　was　fearful　of　entering　in；　so　he　sent　forward　scouts　to　search　the　thickets。　They　could　find　no　danger；　and　Zhang　He　again　pursued。
But　quite　unexpectedly　Wei　Yan；　who　had　formerly　fled；　got　round　ahead　of　Zhang　He　and　now　appeared　again。　The　two　fought　a　half　score　bouts　and　again　Wei　Yan　ran。　Zhang　He　followed；　but　Guan　Xing　also　got　round　to　the　front　by　a　side　road　and　so　stopped　the　pursuit　of　Zhang　He。　Zhang　He　attacked　furiously　as　soon　as　he　was　checked；　this　time　so　successfully　that　the　troops　of　Shu　threw　away　their　war…gear　and　ran。　The　road　was　thus　littered　with　spoil；　and　the　Wei　soldiers　could　not　resist　the　temptation　to　gather　it。　They　slipped　from　their　horses　and　began　to　collect　the　arms。
The　maneuvers　just　described　continued；　Wei　Yan　and　Guan　Xing　one　after　the　other　engaging　Zhang　He；　and　Zhang　He　pressing　on　after　each　one；　but　achieving　nothing。　And　as　evening　fell　the　running　fight　had　led　both　sides　close　to　the　Wooden　Path。
Then　suddenly　Wei　Yan　made　a　real　stand；　and　he　rode　to　the　front；　yelling；　〃Rebel！　I　have　despised　fighting　you；　but　you　have　kept　pursuing　me。　Now　we　will　fight　to　the　death！〃
Zhang　He　was　furious　and　nothing　loath；　so　he　came　on　with　his　spear　to　meet　Wei　Yan；　who　was　flourishing　his　sword。　They　met；　yet　again；　after　some　ten　bouts；　Wei　Yan　threw　aside　weapons；　armor；　helmet　and　all　his　gear；　and　led　his　defeated　pany　sway　along　the　Wooden　Path。
Zhang　He　was　filled　with　the　lust　to　kill；　and　he　could　not　let　Wei　Yan　escape。　So　he　set　out　after　Wei　Yan；　although　it　was　already　dark。　But　suddenly　lights　appeared；　and　the　sky　became　aglow；　and　at　the　same　time　huge　boulders　and　great　bulks　of　timber　came　rolling　down　the　slopes　and　blocked　the　way。
Fear　gripped　Zhang　He；　and　he　cried；　〃I　have　blundered　into　an　ambush！〃
The　road　was　blocked　in　front　and　behind　and　bordered　by　craggy　precipices。　Then；　rat…tat…tat！　came　the　sound　of　a　rattle；　and　therewith　flew　clouds　of　arrows　and　showers　of　bolts。　Zhang　He；　his　more　than　one　hundred　generals；　and　his　whole　pursuing　army　perished　in　the　Wooden　Path。

With　myriad　shining　bolts　the　air　was　filled；
The　road　was　littered　with　brave　soldiers　killed；
The　force　to　Saber　Pass　faring　perished　here；
The　tale　of　valor　grows　from　year　to　year。

Soon　the　second　army　of　Wei　under　Wei　Ping　came　up；　but　too　late　to　help。　From　the　signs　they　knew　that　their　rades　had　been　victims　of　a　cruel　trick；　and　they　turned　back。
But　as　they　faced　about；　a　shout　was　heard；　and　from　the　hilltops　came；　〃I；　Zhuge　Liang；　am　here！〃
Looking　up　they　saw　his　figure　silhouetted　against　a　fire。
Pointing　to　the　slain；　Zhuge　Liang　cried；　〃I　have　gone　hunting　in　this　wood。　Only　instead　of　slaying　a　horse；　I　have　killed　a　deer。　But　you　may　go　in　peace；　and　when　you　see　your　mander；　tell　him　that　he　will　be　my　quarry　one　day！〃
The　soldiers　told　this　to　Sima　Yi　when　they　returned。
Sima　Yi　was　deeply　mortified；　saying；　〃Letting　friend　Zhang　He　die　is　my　fault！〃
And　when　he　returned　to　Luoyang；　the　Ruler　of　Wei　wept　at　the　death　of　his　brave　leader　and　had　his　body　searched　and　honorably　buried。
Zhuge　Liang　had　no　sooner　reached　Hanzhong　than　he　prepared　to　go　on　to　Capital　Chengdu　and　see　his　lord。
But　Li　Yan；　who　was　in　the　capital；　said　to　the　Latter　Ruler；　〃Why　does　the　Prime　Minister　return；　for　I　have　kept　him　fully　supplied　with　all　things　needed　for　the　army？〃
Then　the　Latter　Ruler　sent　Fei　Yi　into　Hanzhong　to　inquire　why　the　army　had　retired。
When　Fei　Yi　had　arrived　and　showed　the　cause　of　his　ing；　Zhuge　Liang　was　greatly　surprised。
Zhuge　Liang　showed　the　letter　from　Li　Yan；　saying；　〃Li　Yan　wrote　to　warn　that　East　Wu　was　about　to　invade　the　country。〃
Fei　Yi　said；　〃Li　Yan　memorialized　to　the　Throne；　saying　he　had　sent　you　supplies　and　knew　not　why　Your　Excellency　returned。〃
So　Zhuge　Liang　inquired　carefully；　and　then　it　came　out　that　Li　Yan　had　failed　to　find　sufficient　grain　to　keep　the　army　supplied；　and　so　had　sent　the　first　lying　letter　to　the　army　that　it　might　retire　before　the　shortage　showed　itself。　His　memorial　to　the　Throne　was　designed　to　cover　the　former　fault。
〃The　fool　has　ruined　the　great　design　of　the　state　just　to　save　his　own　skin！〃　cried　Zhuge　Liang　bitterly。
He　summoned　the　offender　and　sentenced　him　to　death。
But　Fei　Yi　interceded；　saying；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　the　First　Ruler　had　loved　and　trusted　Li　Yan　with　his　son。　Please　forgive　him　this　time。〃
And　so　Li　Yan's　life　was　spared。
However；　when　Fei　Yi　made　his　report　in　Chengdu；　the　Latter　Ruler　was　wroth　and　ordered　Li　Yan　to　suffer　death。
But　this　time　Jiang　Wan　intervened；　saying；　〃Your　late　father　named　Li　Yan　as　one　of　the　guardians　of　your