三国演义英文版-第274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！


that　the　building　is　about　to　be　burned。〃
〃Ah　！　If　only　Zhuge　Liang　the　Martial　Lord　was　still　alive………how　different　all　would　be！〃　said　Sun　Xiu；　with　a　sigh。
Letters　were　prepared　saying　that　beyond　doubt　Sima　Zhao　intended　usurpation；　and　when　that　came　about　in　Wei；　both　Wu　and　Shu　would　be　invaded。　Wherefore　both　should　be　ready。
On　the　arrival　of　these　letters；　Jiang　Wei　hastened　to　seek　permission　to　attempt　another　expedition。　Consent　being　given；　a　large　army　marched　into　Hanzhong　in　the　winter　of　the　first　year　of　Wonderful　Sight　（AD　258）。　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　were　appointed　Leaders　of　the　Van；　Wang　Han　and　Jiang　Bin　as　manders　of　the　Left　Army；　and　Jiang　Shu　and　Fu　Qian　as　manders　of　the　Right　Army；　while　Jiang　Wei　and　Xiahou　Ba　led　the　main　column。
Asked　what　he　thought　should　be　the　first　objective；　Xiahou　Ba　replied；　〃There　is　no　better　fighting　ground　than　Qishan；　as　the　tactics　of　the　late　Prime　Minister　made　evident；　and　it　is　the　only　good　exit。〃
So　thither　three　armies　marched；　and　they　made　three　camps　at　the　entrance　to　the　valley。　At　this　time　Deng　Ai　had　a　training　camp　at　Qishan　drilling　the　Longyou　troops。
The　scouts　told　him：　〃The　Shu　army　have　pitched　three　camps　in　the　valley。〃
He　ascended　a　hill　to　see　and　verify　their　reports。　He　seemed　pleased　when　he　saw　the　enemy　camp。
〃They　have　just　done　as　I　foresaw；〃　said　Deng　Ai。
Now　Deng　Ai　had　carefully　considered　the　topography　of　the　countryside；　and　so　had　not　interfered　with　the　Shu　army　when　it　was　on　the　march　or　settling　into　camp。　Moreover；　he　had　excavated　a　subterranean　road　to　the　spot　where　he　had　thought　they　would　halt；　and　their　left　camp　had　been　pitched　just　on　it。　Wang　Han　and　Jiang　Bin　manded　in　that　camp。
Deng　Ai　called　his　son　Deng　Zhong　and　Shi　Zuan　and　sent　them　with　ten　thousand　troops　each　to　attack　the　left　camp；　one　on　each　flank。　Then　he　sent　Zheng　Lun　and　five　hundred　troops　into　the　underground　road；　which　opened　in　rear　of　the　camp　of　Wang　Han　and　Jiang　Bin。
As　the　newly　made　camp　was　not　yet　well　fortified；　Wang　Han　and　Jiang　Bin　exercised　great　care　and　kept　their　troops　under　arms　all　night；　watching　with　vigilance。　So　when　the　alarm　was　given；　they　had　but　to　seize　their　weapons　and　go　out。　But　as　the　two　leaders　were　mounting　their　steeds；　Deng　Zhong　and　Shi　Zuan　had　attacked　from　without；　and　Zheng　Lun　from　within。　Thus　attacked　from　three　sides；　soon　Wang　Han　and　Jiang　Bin　found　the　position　untenable　and　fled。
When　Jiang　Wei　saw　that　his　left　camp　had　been　attacked　on　three　sides；　he　mounted　and　took　his　position　in　front　of　the　center　camp。
〃Let　no　one　move　on　pain　of　death！〃　he　shouted。　〃Stand　still。　When　the　enemy　approaches；　shoot！〃
The　right　camp　was　ordered　to　stand　fast。　His　defense　was　effective。　A　dozen　of　times　the　troops　of　Wei　came　forward；　only　to　be　driven　back　before　the　arrows　and　bolts　of　the　defenders。　Daylight　found　the　Shu　camps　still　firm；　and　the　Wei　troops　drew　off。
〃Jiang　Wei　has　indeed　learned　of　Zhuge　Liang；〃　said　Deng　Ai。　〃His　soldiers　stood　the　night　attack　without　flinching；　and　the　leaders　took　the　chances　of　battle　quite　calmly。　He　is　able。〃
Next　day；　when　Wang　Han　and　Jiang　Bin　went　to　confess　their　fault；　Jiang　Wei　said；　〃It　was　less　your　fault　than　mine；　for　I　did　not　clearly　recognize　the　nature　of　the　terrain。〃
So　no　penalty　was　inflicted。　The　camp　was　made　stronger；　and　the　subterranean　passage　was　filled　with　the　bodies　of　the　slain。
A　challenge　to　battle　for　the　following　day　was　sent　to　Deng　Ai；　who　accepted　it　joyfully。
Next　day　the　two　armies　were　arrayed　in　front　of　the　Qishan　Mountains。　The　troops　of　Shu　arrayed　according　to　the　〃Eight　Formations〃　designed　by　Zhuge　Liang；　which　are　called　Heaven；　Earth；　Wind；　Cloud；　Bird；　Serpent；　Dragon；　and　Tiger。　While　the　maneuver　was　in　progress；　Deng　Ai　recognized　it　as　the　Eight　Gates　Formation　and　placed　his　troops　accordingly。
Jiang　Wei　then　gripped　his　spear　and　rode　out；　saying；　〃You　have　made　a　good　imitation　of　my　eight；　but　can　you　work　variations？〃
〃You　call　these　yours！　Did　you　think　that　you　alone　held　the　secret？　Since　I　have　made　it；　of　course　I　know　the　variations。〃
Deng　Ai　reentered　his　ranks；　gave　the　signal　officers　certain　orders；　and　the　eight　gates　were　evolved　in　rapid　succession　into　sixty…four　gates。　Then　he　rode　to　the　front　again。
〃What　of　my　evolution？〃　asked　Deng　Ai。
〃Not　so　bad。　Would　you　like　to　try　a　surrounding　move　with　me？〃　replied　Jiang　Wei。
〃Why　not？〃
The　two　armies　moved　in　orderly　ranks。　Deng　Ai　stood　in　the　midst　of　his　army　giving　the　necessary　orders。　Then　the　clash　came；　but　his　tactics　did　not　grip。　Then　Jiang　Wei　waved　a　certain　signal　flag；　and　his　force　suddenly　assumed　the　form　of　a　serpent　coiled　on　the　ground　with　Deng　Ai　in　the　center。　Shouts　arose　all　about　him；　and　Deng　Ai　could　not　understand　what　had　happened　and　began　to　feel　afraid。　Gradually　the　troops　of　Shu　closed　in　upon　him；　and　he　saw　no　way　of　escape。
〃Deng　Ai；　you　must　surrender！〃　cried　the　soldiers。
〃Indeed　a　moment　of　pride　had　led　me　into　the　trap　of　Jiang　Wei！〃　he　sighed。
Suddenly　from　the　northwest　a　cohort　dashed　in。　To　Deng　Ai's　great　joy　they　were　soldiers　of　Wei；　and　they　forced　over　the　battle　array　and　released　him。　The　leader　was　Sima　Wang。
But　although　Deng　Ai　had　been　rescued；　his　nine　camps　were　seized　by　his　enemy　and　he　had　to　retire。　He　led　his　army　to　the　south　of　River　Wei　and　made　a　camp。
〃How　did　you　know　exactly　where　to　strike　in　that　maze？〃　asked　Deng　Ai　of　his　rescuer。
Sima　Wang　replied；　〃In　my　youth　I　went　to　study　in　Jingzhou　and　was　friendly　with　Shi　Guangyuan　and　Cui　Zhouping。　They　explained　that　formation　to　me。　Jiang　Wei　used　what　is　known　as　'The　Serpent　Coil'；　and　the　only　way　to　break　it　is　to　attack　the　head；　which　I　saw　was　in　the　northwest。〃
Deng　Ai　replied；　〃Although　I　have　studied　formations；　I　do　not　know　all　the　modifications。　But　since　you　know　about　this；　we　may　be　able　to　recover　our　camps。〃
〃I　fear　the　little　I　have　learned　will　not　be　enough　to　overe　Jiang　Wei。〃
〃Tomorrow　you　shall　contend　with　him；　and　while　his　attention　is　engaged；　I　will　attack　the　rear　of　Qishan；　and　we　will　recover　our　camps。〃
So　a　force　was　prepared　to　attack　on　the　morrow；　and　Deng　Ai　sent　a　letter　of　challenge　to　a　contest　in　tactics　for　the　same　day。　Jiang　Wei　marked　in　to　accept。
Jiang　Wei　said　to　his　officers；　〃In　the　secret　book　that　I　received　from　the　Prime　Minister；　the　variations　of　the　formation　are　three　hundred　and　sixty…five；　corresponding　to　the　circuit　of　the　heavens。　This　challenge　from　them　is　as　one　going　to　teach　hewing　to　the　God　of　Carpenters。　I　think　some　ruse　lies　behind　this。　Can　you　guess　what　it　is？〃
Liao　Hua　replied；　〃While　they　engage　your　attention　in　this　petition；　they　intend　to　attack　our　rear。〃
〃Just　so；　that　is　also　my　opinion；〃　replied　Jiang　Wei。
So　he　prepared　a　counter…stroke　by　sending　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　to　lie　in　wait　at　the　back　of　the　hills　with　ten　thousand　troops。
Next　day　Jiang　Wei　led　all　the　troops　from　the　nine　camps　out　and　drawn　up　in　front　of　the　hills。　Sima　Wang　came　out　on　the　other　side　and　presently　rode　to　the　front　to　parley。
〃You　have　challenged　me　to　a　contest。　Now　draw　up　your　army　for　me　to　see；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。
Sima　Wang　did　so　and　arrayed　the　eight　diagrams。
〃That　is　what　we　know　as　the　Octagon；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。　〃But　it　is　nothing　wonderful；　only　a　sort　of　array　fit　for　a　brigand's　raid。〃
〃You　also　have　only　stolen　another　man's　tactics；〃　replied　his　adversary。
〃How　many　modifications　of　this　are　there？〃　asked　Jiang　Wei。
〃Since　I　have　arranged　this；　naturally　I　know　the　variations；　of　which　there　are　nine　nines；　making　eighty…one。〃
〃Try　them。〃
Sima　Wang　returned　to　his　array　and　evolved　many；　finally　riding　out　and　asking　his　opponent　if　he　recognized　them。
〃My　formation　admits　of　three　hundred　and　sixty…five　variations。　You　are　but　a　frog　in　a　well　and　know　nothing　of　the　deeper　mysteries。〃
Now　Sima　Wang　knew　that　so　many　variations　were　possible；　but　had　not　studied　them。　However；　he　put　on　a　bold　air　and　said　contemptuously；　〃I　do　not　believe　you。　Prove　it！〃
〃Go　and　call　Deng　Ai；〃　replied　Jiang　Wei。　〃I　will　display　them　to　him。〃
〃General　Deng　Ai　has　excellent　plans　and　does　not　think　much　of　such　tactics。〃
〃What　plans？　I　suppose　you　mean　a　plan　to　keep　me　here　while　he　tries　a　surprise　attack　in　the　rear。〃
Sima　Wang　was　aghast。　He　made　a　sudden　dash　forward；　and　a　melee　began。　Jiang　Wei　made　a　signal　with　his　whip；　and　his　force　poured　in　from　both　wings。　The　troops　of　Wei　were　seized　with　sudden　panic；　threw　down　their　weapons　and　fled。
Now　Deng　Ai　had　hurried　on　Zheng　Lun　to　make　the　first　attack。　As　Zheng　Lun　turned　the　corner　of　the　hill；　a　bomb　exploded。　At　once　the　drums　rolled　and　an　ambush　discovered　itself。　Liao　Hua　was　in　mand。　Neither　side　stayed　to　parley；　and　the　leaders　engaged　in　single　bat。　In　the　first　encounter　Liao　Hua　cut　Zheng　Lun　down。
Deng　Ai　had　not　expected　such　preparation；　and　he　hastened　to　withdraw。　Then　Zhang　Yi　came　forth　and　attacked　on　the　other　side。　The　army　of　Wei　was　worsted。　Deng　Ai　fought　his　way　out；　but　he　bore　four　arrow　wounds　upon　his　body。　He　got　to　the　river；　where　he　found　Sima　Wang；　and　they　discussed　how　to　get　away。
But　Sima　Wang　proposed　another　form　of　attack。
〃Recently　the　Ruler　of　Shu　has　had　a　favorite；　Eunuch　Huang　Hao；　in　whom　he　places　all　his　trust　and　with　whom　he　spends　his　time　in　one　round　of　pleasure。　Let　us　use　the　eunuch　to　sow　distrust　between　the　Emperor　and　his　general　and　so　get　Jiang　Wei　recalled。　In　that　way　we　shall　retrieve　our　defeat。〃
So　Deng　Ai　assembled　his　advisers　and　asked　who　could　go　into　Shu　and　get　into　munication　with　Huang　Hao。
Dang　Jun　volunteered　at　once。　Deng　Ai　entrusted　gold　and　pearls　and　precious　things　to　him；　and　sent　him　into　Shu　to　win　the　treacherous　alliance　of　the　eunuch。　As　Dang　Jun　went；　he　also　disseminated　reports　that　Jiang　Wei　was　angry　and　intended　to　go　over　to　Wei。
These　rumors　became　the　mon　talk　in　Chengdu；　and　everyone　believed　them。　Huang　Hao　carried　them　to　the　Emperor；　and　a　messenger　was　sent　to　call　the　general　to　the　capital。
Meanwhile　Jiang　Wei　tried　every　day　to　bring　the　enemy　to　give　battle；　but　they　remained　obstinately　behind　their　defenses。　Jiang　Wei　began　to　think　some　evil　scheme　was　afoot；　when　suddenly　he　was　recalled　by　Imperial　Edict。　Although　ignorant　of　the　reason；　he　could　not　disobey；　and　when　he　began　the　retreat；　Deng　Ai　and　Sima　Wang　knew　that　their　plot　had　succeeded。　They　broke　camp　and　set　out　to　attack　the　retreating　army。

＇e＇　Yue　Yi　was　a　general　of　Yan。　Yue　Yi　helped　Yan　overe　Qi；　which　was　a　dominant　state　during　the　Warring　States　period。　But　he　fell　victim　to　court　slanderers。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Yue　Fei　（AD　1103…1142）　a　great　general　during　the　Song　Dynasty。　During　his　time；　northern　China　was　invaded　by　the　Jin　（northeast）　armies。　Yue　Fei；　as　mander　of　the　northern　expedition；　was　winning　victories；　when　the　emperor　recalled　him　because　the　emperor　feared　Yue　Fei's　growing　power　and　that　Jin　would　release　his　father　and　brother　（both　former　emperors）。　Yue　Fei　was　later　executed　due　to　false　charges。　。。。。。

Because　of　court　intrigues
Yue　Yi*　and　Yue　Fei*　failed。

How　matters　went　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　114　》》