三国演义英文版-第278章

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


and　troops　and　hide　in　the　high　road　to　the　mountain。　When　the　troops　of　Wei　e；　let　them　pass　and　then　march　along　the　road　they　came　by　to　their　camp　that　they　have　just　left。〃
These　two　having　left；　Zhuge　Liang　placed　Ma　Dai；　Wang　Ping；　Zhang　Ni；　and　Zhang　Yi　in　ambush　about　the　camp。
Within　the　camp　the　tents　and　shelters　were　left　standing　as　if　the　camp　was　occupied；　while　wood　and　straw　were　heaped　up　ready　to　give　the　signal。　This　done；　Zhuge　Liang　and　his　officers　retired　to　the　rear　of　the　camp　to　watch　the　proceedings。
On　the　side　of　Wei　the　two　Van　Leaders；　Cao　Zun　and　Zhu　Zan；　left　at　dusk　and　hastened　toward　the　camp　of　Shu。　About　the　second　watch　they　saw　troops　busily　moving　about　in　front　of　the　hill。
Cao　Zun　thought　to　himself；　〃General　Guo　Huai　is　an　excellent　strategist　and　of　wonderful　prevision。〃
Then　he　hastened　the　march；　and　in　the　third　watch　reached　the　camp　of　Shu。　He　at　once　dashed　into　the　enclosure；　but　only　to　find　it　totally　deserted。　Not　a　man　was　visible。　At　once　he　knew　he　had　stumbled　into　a　trap；　and　began　to　withdraw。　Then　the　flames　sprang　up。　Zhu　Zan　arrived　already　to　fight；　and　the　two　bodies　of　troops；　thrown　into　confusion；　fought　with　each　other　till　the　two　leaders　met；　when　they　found　out　they　were　fighting　their　own　men。
As　they　were　restoring　order；　on　came　the　four　bodies　of　troops　of　Shu　under　Ma　Dai；　Wang　Ping；　Zhang　Ni；　and　Zhang　Yi　who　had　lain　in　ambush　ready　for　them。　Cao　Zun　and　Zhu　Zan；　with　more　than　a　hundred　of　those　nearest　to　them；　ran　away　to　get　to　the　high　road。　But　before　long　the　rolling　drums　announced　another　body　of　their　enemy；　and　their　flight　was　stopped　by　Zhao　Yun。
〃Whither　go　ye；　O　rebel　leaders？〃　cried　Zhao　Yun。　〃Stop；　for　here　is　death！〃
But　Cao　Zun　and　Zhu　Zan　still　fled。　Then　came　up　a　force　led　by　Wei　Yan　and　pleted　the　defeat。　The　soldiers　of　Wei　were　wholly　beaten　and　ran　away　to　their　own　camp。　But　the　guard　left　in　the　camp　thought　they　were　the　enemy　who　e　to　raid；　so　they　lit　the　fires；　and　at　this　signal　Cao　Zhen　rushed　up　from　one　side　and　Guo　Huai　from　the　other；　and　a　fierce　fight　with　their　own　troops　began。
While　this　was　going　on；　three　cohorts　under　Wei　Yan；　Guan　Xing；　and　Zhang　Bao　arrived　from　three　points；　and　a　great　and　confused　battle　began。　The　soldiers　of　Wei　were　driven　off　and　chased　for　three　miles。
In　the　fight　Wei　lost　many　leaders；　and　Zhuge　Liang　gained　a　great　success。　Cao　Zhen　and　Guo　Huai　got　together　their　beaten　troops　and　went　back　to　their　own　camp。
When　they　discussed　the　fight；　Cao　Zhen　said；　〃The　enemy　are　too　strong　for　us。　Have　you　any　plan　to　drive　them　away？〃
Replied　Guo　Huai；　〃Our　defeat　is　one　of　the　ordinary　events　of　war。　Let　us　not　be　cast　down。　I　have　a　plan　to　suggest　that　will　disorder　them　so　that　one　body　cannot　help　the　other；　and　they　will　all　be　pelled　to　flee。〃
Wei　leaders　fail　and　sadly　send
To　pray　tribespeople　help　to　lend。

The　plan　will　be　unfolded　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　94　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　94
　Chapter　94
Zhuge　Liang　Defeats　The　Qiangs　In　A　Snowstorm；
Sima　Yi　Quickly　Captures　Meng　Da。
Guo　Huai　laid　before　his　colleague　the　scheme　to　overe　the　army　of　Shu；　saying；　〃The　Qiang　tribes　have　paid　tribute　regularly　since　the　days　of　the　Founder　of　Wei。　Emperor　Pi　regarded　them　with　favor。　Now　let　us　hold　such　points　of　vantage　as　we　may；　while　we　send　secret　emissaries　to　engage　their　help　in　exchange　for　kindly　treatment。　We　may　get　the　Qiangs　to　attack　Shu　and　engage　their　attention；　while　we　gather　a　large　army　to　smite　them　at　another　place。　Thus　attacking；　how　can　we　help　gaining　a　great　victory？〃
A　messenger　was　sent　forthwith　bearing　letters　to　the　Qiang　tribespeople。
The　King　of　the　western　Qiangs　was　named　Cheli　Ji。　He　had　rendered　yearly　tribute　since　the　days　of　Cao　Cao。　He　had　two　ministers；　one　for　civil　and　the　other　for　military　affairs；　named；　respectively；　Prime　Minister　Ya　Dan　and　Chief　Leader　Yue　Ji。
The　letter　was　acpanied　by　presents　of　gold　and　pearls；　and　when　the　messenger　arrived；　he　first　sought　Prime　Minister　Ya　Dan；　to　whom　he　gave　gifts　and　whose　help　he　begged。　Thus　he　gained　an　interview　with　the　King；　to　whom　he　presented　the　letter　and　the　gifts。　The　King　accepted　both　and　called　his　counselors　to　consider　the　letter。
Ya　Dan　said；　〃We　have　had　regular　intercourse　with　the　Wei　kingdom。　Now　that　Cao　Zhen　asks　our　aid　and　promises　an　alliance；　we　ought　to　accede　to　his　request。〃
Cheli　Ji　agreed　that　it　was　so；　and　he　ordered　his　two　chief　ministers　to　raise　an　army　of　two　hundred　fifty　thousand　of　trained　soldiers；　archers　and　crossbowmen；　spearmen　and　swordsmen；　warriors　who　flung　maces　and　hurled　hammers。　Beside　these　various　weapons；　the　tribesmen　used　chariots　covered　with　iron　plates　nailed　on。　They　prepared　much　grain　and　fodder　and　many　spare　weapons；　all　of　which　they　loaded　upon　these　iron…clad　chariots。　The　chariots　were　drawn　by　camels　or　teams　of　horses。　The　carts　or　chariots　were　known　as　〃iron　chariots〃。
The　two　leaders　took　leave　of　their　King　and　went　straightway　to　Xiping　Pass。
The　mander　in　charge　of　the　Pass；　Han　Zhen；　at　once　sent　intelligence　to　Zhuge　Liang；　who　asked；　〃Who　will　go　to　attack　the　Qiangs？〃
Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　said　they　would　go。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃You　shall　be　sent。　But　as　you　are　ignorant　of　the　road　and　the　people；　Ma　Dai　shall　acpany　you。〃
To　Ma　Dai　he　said；　〃You　know　the　disposition　of　the　Qiangs　from　your　long　residence　there。　You　shall　go　as　guide。〃
They　chose　out　fifty　thousand　of　veterans　for　the　expedition。　When　they　had　marched　a　few　days　and　drew　near　their　enemy；　Guan　Xing　went　in　advance　with　a　hundred　horsemen　and　got　first　sight　of　them　from　a　hill。　The　Qiangs　were　marching；　the　long　line　of　iron　chariots　one　behind　another　in　close　order。　Then　they　halted　and　camped；　their　weapons　piled　all　along　the　line　of　chariots　like　the　ramparts　of　a　moated　city。　Guan　Xing　studied　them　for　a　long　time　quite　at　a　loss　to　think　how　to　overe　them。　He　came　back　to　camp　and　consulted　with　his　two　colleagues。
Ma　Dai　said；　〃We　will　see　tomorrow　what　they　will　do　when　we　make　our　array；　and　discuss　our　plans　when　we　know　more。〃
So　the　next　day　they　drew　up　their　army　in　three　divisions；　Guan　Xing's　division　being　in　the　center；　Zhang　Bao's　in　the　left；　and　Ma　Dai's　in　the　right。　Thus　they　advanced。
The　enemy　also　drew　up　in　battle　order。　Their　Chief　Leader；　Yue　Ji；　had　an　iron　mace　in　his　hand　and　a　graven　bow　hung　at　his　waist。　He　rode　forward　on　a　curvetting　steed　boldly　enough。　Guan　Xing　gave　the　order　for　all　three　divisions　to　go　forward。　Then　the　enemy's　ranks　opened　in　the　center　and　out　rolled　the　iron　chariots　like　a　great　wave。　At　the　same　time　the　Qiangs　shot　arrows　and　bolts；　and　the　men　of　Shu　could　not　stand　against　them。
The　wing　divisions　under　Ma　Dai　and　Zhang　Bao　retired；　and　the　Qiangs　were　thus　enabled　to　surround　the　center。　In　spite　of　every　effort；　Guan　Xing　could　not　get　free；　for　the　iron　chariots　were　like　a　city　wall　and　no　opening　could　be　found。　The　troops　of　Shu　were　absolutely　helpless；　and　Guan　Xing　made　for　the　mountains　in　hope　of　finding　a　road　through。
As　it　grew　dark　a　Qiang　leader　with　a　black　flag　approached；　his　warriors　like　a　swarm　of　wasps　about　him。
Presently　the　leader　cried　out　to　him；　〃Youthful　general；　flee　not。　I　am　Yue　Ji！〃
But　Guan　Xing　only　hastened　forward；　plying　his　whip　to　urge　his　steed。　Then　he　suddenly　came　on　a　deep　gully；　and　there　seemed　nothing　but　to　turn　and　fight。　Yue　Ji　e　close　and　struck　at　him　with　the　mace。　Guan　Xing　evaded　the　blow；　but　it　fell　upon　his　steed　and　knocked　it　over　into　water。　Guan　Xing　went　into　the　water　too。
Presently　he　heard　a　great　noise　again　behind　him。　Yue　Ji　and　his　troops　had　found　a　way　down　into　the　gully　and　were　ing　at　him　down　the　stream。　Guan　Xing　braced　himself　for　a　struggle　in　the　water。
Then　he　saw　Zhang　Bao　and　Ma　Dai　ing　up　on　the　bank　fighting　with；　and　driving　off；　the　Qiangs。　Yue　Ji　was　struck　by　Zhang　Bao；　and　he　too　fell　into　the　gully。　Guan　Xing　gripped　his　sword　and　was　about　to　launch　a　stroke　at　Yue　Ji　as　he　came　up；　when　Yue　Ji　jumped　out　of　the　water　and　ran　away。
At　once　Guan　Xing　caught　the　steed　Yue　Ji　had　left；　led　it　up　the　bank　and　soon　had　it　ready　to　mount。　Then　he　girded　on　his　sword；　got　on　the　horse；　and　joined　the　battle　with　his　colleagues。
After　driving　off　the　Qiangs；　Guan　Xing；　Zhang　Bao；　and　Ma　Dai　gathered　together　and　rode　back。　They　quickly　gained　the　camp。
〃I　do　not　know　how　to　overe　these　men；〃　said　Ma　Dai。　〃Let　me　protect　the　camp　while　you　go　back　and　ask　the　Prime　Minister　what　we　should　do。〃
Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　started　at　once　and　made　the　best　of　their　way　back。　They　told　Zhuge　Liang　what　had　happened。　He　at　once　sent　off　Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan　to　go　into　ambush。　After　this　he　went　himself　with　thirty　thousand　troops　and　Jiang　Wei；　Zhang　Yi；　Guan　Xing；　and　Zhang　Bao　and　soon　came　to　Ma　Dai's　camp。　The　day　after；　from　the　summit　of　a　hill；　Zhuge　Liang　surveyed　the　country　and　the　enemy；　who　were　ing　on　in　a　ceaseless　stream。
〃It　is　not　difficult；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
He　called　up　Ma　Dai　and　Zhang　Yi　and　gave　them　certain　orders。
They　having　gone；　he　turned　to　Jiang　Wei；　saying；