三国演义英文版-第255部分

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At　this　time　Wei　Yan　was　camped　at　Nangu　Valley；　which　was　a　manding　position。　He　thought　his　plan　was　succeeding　well。　It　had　not　occurred　to　him　that　Yang　Yi　and　Jiang　Wei　could　get　past　him　by　any　by…way。
On　the　other　hand；　Yang　Yi；　thinking　that　Hanzhong　was　lost；　sent　He　Ping　with　three　thousand　troops　on　in　front　while　he　followed　with　the　coffin。
When　He　Ping　had　got　to　the　rear　of　Nangu　Valley；　they　announced　their　presence　with　rolling　drums。　The　scouts　quickly　told　Wei　Yan；　who　at　once　armed　himself；　took　his　sword；　and　rode　out　to　confront　He　Ping。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed；　He　Ping　rode　to　the　front　and　began　to　revile　his　opponent。
〃Where　is　that　rebel　Wei　Yan？〃　cried　He　Ping。
〃You　aided　that　traitor　Yang　Yi！〃　cried　Wei　Yan；　no　way　backward　with　his　tongue。　〃How　dare　you　abuse　me？〃
He　Ping　waxed　more　indignant。
〃You　rebelled　immediately　after　the　late　chief's　death；　before　even　his　body　was　cold。　How　could　you？〃
Then　shaking　his　whip　at　the　followers　of　Wei　Yan；　He　Ping　cried；　〃And　you　soldiers　are　Shu　people。　Your　fathers　and　mothers；　wives　and　children；　and　your　friends　are　still　in　the　land。　Were　you　treated　unkindly　that　you　have　joined　a　traitor　and　aid　his　wicked　schemes？　You　ought　to　have　returned　home　and　waited　quietly　the　rewards　that　would　have　been　yours。〃
The　soldiers　were　touched　by　his　words。　They　cheered；　and　more　than　a　half　ran　away。
Wei　Yan　was　now　raging。　He　whirled　up　his　sword　and　galloped　forward　straight　for　He　Ping；　who　went　to　meet　him　with　his　spear　ready。　They　fought　several　bouts；　and　then　He　Ping　rode　away　as　if　defeated。　Wei　Yan　followed；　but　He　Ping's　troops　began　to　shoot　and　Wei　Yan　was　driven　backward。　As　he　got　near　his　own　ranks；　Wei　Yan　saw　many　generals　leaving　their　panies　and　going　away。　He　rode　after　them　and　cut　some　of　them　down。　But　this　did　not　stay　the　movement；　they　continued　to　go。　The　only　steady　portion　of　his　own　army　was　that　manded　by　Ma　Dai。　They　stood　their　ground。
〃Will　you　really　help　me？〃　said　Wei　Yan。　〃I　will　surely　remember　you　in　the　day　of　success。〃
The　two　then　went　in　pursuit　of　He　Ping；　who　fled　before　them。　However；　it　was　soon　evident　that　He　Ping　was　not　to　be　overtaken；　and　the　pursuers　halted。　Wei　Yan　mustered　his　now　small　force。
〃What　if　we　go　over　to　Wei？〃　said　Wei　Yan。
〃I　think　your　words　unwise；〃　said　Ma　Dai。　〃Why　should　we　join　anyone？　A　really　strong　person　would　try　to　carve　out　his　own　fortune　and　not　be　ready　to　crook　the　knee　to　another。　You　are　far　more　able　and　brave　than　any　leader　in　the　River　Lands。　No　one　would　dare　to　stand　up　to　you。　I　pledge　myself　to　go　with　you　to　the　seizure　of　Hanzhong；　and　thence　we　will　attack　the　West　River　Land。〃
So　they　marched　together　toward　Nanzheng；　where　Jiang　Wei　stationed。　From　the　city　wall　Jiang　Wei　saw　their　approach　and　marked　their　proud；　martial　look。　He　ordered　the　drawbridge　to　be　raised　and　sent　to　tell　his　colleague；　Yang　Yi。
As　they　drew　near；　both　Wei　Yan　and　Ma　Dai　shouted　out；　〃Surrender！〃
In　spite　of　the　smallness　of　their　following；　Jiang　Wei　felt　that　Ma　Dai　acting　with　Wei　Yan　was　a　dangerous　bination；　and　he　wanted　the　advice　of　Yang　Yi。
〃Wei　Yan　is　valorous；　and　he　is　having　the　help　of　Ma　Dai。　How　shall　we　repel　them？〃　asked　Jiang　Wei。
Yang　Yi　replied；　〃Just　before　his　death；　the　Prime　Minister　gave　me　a　silken　bag；　which　he　said　I　was　to　open　when　Wei　Yan's　mutiny　reached　a　critical　point。　It　contains　a　plan　to　rid　ourselves　of　this　traitor；　and　it　seems　that　now　is　the　moment　to　see　what　should　be　done。〃
So　Yang　Yi　opened　the　bag　and　drew　forth　the　letter　it　held。　On　the　cover　he　read；　〃To　be　opened　when　Wei　Yan　is　actually　arrayed　opposite　you。〃
Said　Jiang　Wei；　〃As　this　has　all　been　arranged　for；　I　had　better　go　out；　and　when　his　line　is　formed　then　you　can　e　forth。〃
Jiang　Wei　donned　his　armor；　took　his　spear；　and　rode　out；　with　three　thousand　troops。　They　marched　out　of　the　city　gates　with　the　drums　beating。　The　array　pleted；　Jiang　Wei　took　his　place　under　the　great　standard　and　opened　with　a　volley　of　abuse。
〃Rebel　Wei　Yan；　the　late　Prime　Minister　never　harmed　you。　Why　have　you　turned　traitor？〃
Wei　Yan　reined　up；　lowered　his　sword　and　replied；　〃Friend　Jiang　Wei；　this　is　no　concern　of　yours。　Tell　Yang　Yi　to　e。〃
Now　Yang　Yi　was　also　beneath　the　standard；　but　hidden。　He　opened　the　letter；　and　the　words　therein　seemed　to　please　him；　for　he　rode　forward　blithely。
Presently　he　reined　in；　pointed　to　Wei　Yan　and　said；　〃The　Prime　Minister　foresaw　your　mutiny　and　bade　me　be　on　my　guard。　Now　if　you　are　able　thrice　to　shout；　'Who　dares　kill　me？'；　then　you　will　be　a　real　hero；　and　I　will　yield　to　you　the　whole　of　Hanzhong。〃
Wei　Yan　laughed。
〃Listen；　you　old　fool！　While　Zhuge　Liang　lived　I　feared　him　somewhat。　But　he　is　dead　and　no　one　dares　stand　before　me。　I　will　not　only　shout　the　words　thrice；　but　a　myriad　times。　Why　not？〃
Wei　Yan　raised　his　sword；　shook　his　bridle；　and　shouted；　〃Who　dares　kill　me？〃
He　never　finished。　Behind　him　someone　shouted　savagely；　〃I　dare！〃　and　at　the　same　moment　Wei　Yan　fell　dead；　cut　down　by　Ma　Dai。
This　was　the　denouement；　and　was　the　secret　entrusted　to　Ma　Dai　just　before　Zhuge　Liang's　death。　Wei　Yan　was　to　be　made　to　shout　these　words　and　slain　when　he　least　expected　it。　Yang　Yi　knew　what　was　to　happen；　as　it　was　written　in　the　letter　in　the　silken　bag。　A　poem　says：

Zhuge　Liang　foresaw　when　freed　from　his　restraint
Wei　Yan　would　traitor　prove。　The　silken　bag
Contained　the　plan　for　his　undoing。　We　see
How　it　succeeded　when　the　moment　came。

So　before　Dong　Yun　had　reached　Nanzheng；　Wei　Yan　was　dead。　Ma　Dai　joined　his　army　to　Jiang　Wei's；　and　Yang　Yi　wrote　another　memorial；　which　he　sent　to　the　Latter　Ruler。
The　Latter　Ruler　issued　an　edict：　〃Wei　Yan　had　paid　the　penalty　of　his　crime。　He　should　be　honorably　buried　in　consideration　of　his　former　services。〃
Then　Yang　Yi　continued　his　journey　and　in　due　time　arrived　at　Chengdu　with　the　coffin　of　the　late　Prime　Minister。　The　Latter　Ruler　led　out　a　large　cavalcade　of　officers　to　meet　the　body　at　a　point　seven　miles　from　the　walls；　and　he　lifted　up　his　voice　and　wailed　for　the　dead；　and　with　him　wailed　all　the　officers　and　the　mon　people；　so　that　the　sound　of　mourning　filled　the　whole　earth。
By　royal　mand　the　body　was　borne　into　the　city　to　the　palace　of　the　Prime　Minister；　and　his　son　Zhuge　Zhan　was　chief　mourner。
When　next　the　Latter　Ruler　held　a　court；　Yang　Yi　bound　himself；　and　confessed　he　had　been　in　fault。
The　Latter　Ruler　bade　them　loose　his　bonds　and　said；　〃Noble　Sir；　the　coffin　would　never　have　reached　home　but　for　you。　You　carried　out　the　orders　of　the　late　Prime　Minister；　whereby　Wei　Yan　was　destroyed　and　all　was　made　secure。　This　was　all　your　doing。〃
Yang　Yi　was　promoted　to　be　the　Instructor　of　the　Center　Army；　and　Ma　Dai　was　rewarded　with　the　rank　that　Wei　Yan　had　forfeited。
Yang　Yi　presented　Zhuge　Liang's　testament；　which　the　Latter　Ruler　read；　weeping。　By　a　special　edict　it　was　manded　that　soothsayers　should　cast　lots　and　select　the　site　for　the　tomb　of　the　great　servant　of　the　state。
Then　Fei　Yi　said　to　the　Latter　Ruler；　〃When　nearing　his　end；　the　Prime　Minister　manded　that　he　should　be　buried　on　Dingjun　Mountain；　in　open　ground；　without　sacrifice　or　monument。〃
This　wish　was　respected；　and　they　chose　a　propitious　day　in　the　tenth　month　for　the　interment；　and　the　Latter　Ruler　followed　in　the　funeral　procession　to　the　grave　on　the　Dingjun　Mountain。　The　posthumous　title　conferred　upon　the　late　Prime　Minister　was　Zhuge　Liang　the　Loyally　Martial；　and　a　temple　was　built　in　Mianyang　wherein　were　offered　sacrifices　at　the　four　seasons。
The　poet　Du　Fu　wrote　a　poem：

To　Zhuge　Liang　stands　a　great　memorial　hall；
In　cypress　shade；　outside　the　Chengdu　Wall；
The　steps　thereto　are　bright　with　new　grass　springing；
Hiding　among　the　branches　orioles　are　singing。
The　people　and　army　asked　for　his　wisdoms；
Upon　the　throne；　built　for　the　father；　sat　the　son。
But　ere　was　passed　all　his　plans　conceived
He　died；　and　heroes　since　for　him　have　ever　grieved。

Another　poem　by　the　same　author　says：

Zhuge　Liang's　fair　fame　stands　clear　to　all　the　world；
Among　king's　ministers　he　surely　takes
Exalted　rank；　for　when　the　empire　cleft
In　three；　a　kingdom　for　his　lord　he　won
By　subtle　craft。　Throughout　all　time　he　stands
A　shining　figure；　clear　against　the　sky。
Akin　was　he　to　famous　Yi　Yin；　Lu　Wang；
Yet　stands　with　chiefs；　like　Xiao　He；　Cao　Shen；
The　fates　forbade　that　Han　should　be　restored；
War…worn　and　weary；　yet　he　steadfast　stood。

Evil　tidings　came　to　the　Latter　Ruler　on　his　return　to　his　capital。　He　heard　that　Quan　Zong　had　marched　out　with　a　large　army　from　Wu　and　camped　at　the　entrance　to　Baqiu。　No　one　knew　the　object　of　this　expedition。
〃Here　is　Wu　breaking　their　oath　just　as　the　Prime　Minister　has　died；〃　cried　the　Latter　Ruler。　〃What　can　we　do？〃
Then　said　Jiang　Wan；　〃My　advice　is　to　send　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Ni　to　camp　at　Baidicheng　as　a　measure　of　precaution；　while　you　send　an　envoy　to　Wu　to　announce　the　death　and　period　of　mourning。　He　can　there　observe　the　signs　of　the　times。〃
〃The　envoy　must　have　a　ready　tongue；〃　said　the　Latter　Ruler。
One　stepped　from　the　ranks　of　courtiers　and　offered　himself。　He　was　Zong　Yu；　a　man　of　Nanyang；　a　Military　Adviser。　So　he　was　appointed　as　envoy　with　the　missions　of　announcing　the　death　of　the　Prime　Minister　and　observing　the　conditions。
Zong　Yu　set　out　for　Capital　Jianye；　arrived　and　was　taken　in　to　the　Emperor's　presence。　When　the　ceremony　of　introduction　was　over　and　the　envoy　looked　about　him；　he　saw　that　all　were　dressed　in　mourning。
But　Sun　Quan's　countenance　wore　a　look　of　anger；　and　he　said；　〃Wu　and　Shu　are　one　house。　Why　has　your　master　increased　the　guard　at　Baidicheng？〃
Zong　Yu　replied；　〃It　seemed　as　necessary　for　the　west　to　increase　the　garrison　there　as　for　the　east　to　have　a　force　at　Baqiu。　Neither　is　worth　asking　about。〃
〃As　an　envoy　you　seem　no　way　inferior　to　Deng　Zhi；〃　said　Sun　Quan；　smiling。
Sun　Quan　continued；　〃When　I　heard　that　your　Prime　Minister　Zhuge　Liang　had　gone　to　heaven；　I　wept　daily　and　ordered　my　officers　to　wear　mourning。　I　feared　that　Wei　might　take　the　occasion　to　attack　Shu；　and　so　I　increased　the　garrison　at　Baqiu　by　ten　thousand　troops　that　I　might　be　able　to　help　you　in　case　of　need。　That　was　my　sole　reason。〃
Zong　Yu　bowed　and　thanked　the　Ruler　of　Wu。
〃I　would　not　go　back　upon　the　pledge　between　us；〃　said　Sun　Quan。
Zong　Yu　said；　〃I　have　been　sent　to　inform　you　of　the　mourning　for　the　late　Prime　Minister。〃
Sun　Quan　took　up　a　gold…tipped　arrow　and　snapped　it　in　twain；　saying；　〃If　I　betray　my　oath；　may　my　posterity　be　cut　off！〃
Then　the　Ruler　of　Wu　dispatched　an　envoy　with　incense　and　silk　and　other　gifts　to　be　offered　in　sacrifice　to　the　dead　in　the　land　of　Shu。
Zong　Yu　and　the　envoy　took　leave　of　the　Ruler　of　Wu　and　journeyed　to　Chengdu；　where　they　went　to　the　Latter　Ruler。
Zong　Yu　made　a　memorial；　saying；　〃The　Ruler　of　Wu　has　wept　for　our　Prime　Minister　and　put　his　court　into　mourning。　The　increased　garrison　at　Baqiu　is　intended　to　safeguard　us　from　Wei；　lest　they　take　the　occasion　of　a　public　sorrow　to　attack。　And　in　token　of　his　pledge；　the　Ruler　of　Wu　broke　an　arrow　in　twain。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　was　pleased　and　rewarded　Zong　Yu。　Moreover；　the　envoy　of　Wu　was　generously