三国演义英文版-第314章

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ant　an　ambush；　but　Ya　Dan　said　it　did　not　matter；　and　they　need　not　fear。　He　urged　them　to　hasten。
Shortly　after　this　they　heard　a　roaring　as　if　the　hills　were　rending　asunder　and　the　earth　falling　in；　and　the　pursuers　on　foot　fell　one　atop　of　the　other　into　great　pits　that　were　invisible　in　the　snow。　The　iron　chariots；　being　close　behind　and　hurrying　along；　could　not　stop；　and　they　went　into　the　pits　also。　Those　still　farther　in　the　rear　halted；　but　just　as　they　were　facing　about；　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　came　up；　one　on　either　side；　and　attacked。　Myriads　of　bolts　flew　through　the　air。　Then　three　other　divisions　under　Jiang　Wei；　Ma　Dai；　and　Zhang　Yi　arrived　and　confusion　was　worse　than　ever。
The　Qiang　leader；　Yue　Ji；　fled　to　the　rear　and　was　making　for　the　mountains　when　he　met　Guan　Xing；　who　slew　him　in　the　first　encounter。　Prime　Minister　Ya　Dan　was　captured　by　Ma　Dai　and　taken　to　the　main　camp。　The　soldiers　scattered。
Hearing　of　the　capture　of　one　leader；　Zhuge　Liang　took　his　seat　in　his　tent　and　bade　them　bring　the　prisoner。　He　told　the　guards　to　loose　his　bonds；　and　he　had　wine　brought　to　refresh　him　and　soothed　him　with　kindly　words。
Ya　Dan　was　grateful　for　this　kindness；　and　felt　more　so　when　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃My　master；　the　Emperor　of　the　Great　Han；　sent　me　to　destroy　those　who　are　in　revolt。　Why　are　you　helping　them？　But　I　will　release　you；　and　you　will　return　to　your　master　and　say　that　we　are　neighbors　and　we　will　swear　an　oath　of　everlasting　friendship；　and　tell　him　to　listen　no　more　to　the　words　of　those　rebels。〃
Ya　Dan　was　released　and　so　were　all　the　soldiers　that　had　been　captured；　and　all　their　stuff　was　given　back　to　them。　They　left　for　their　own　country。
The　Qiangs　being　thus　disposed　of；　Zhuge　Liang　quickly　marched　again　to　Qishan。　He　sent　letters　to　Capital　Chengdu　announcing　his　success。
Meanwhile　Cao　Zhen　anxiously　waited　for　news　of　his　expected　allies。　Then　a　scout　came　in　with　the　news　that　the　army　of　Shu　had　broken　camp　and　were　marching　away。
〃That　is　because　the　Qiangs　have　attacked；〃　said　Guo　Huai　gleefully；　and　the　two　made　ready　to　pursue。
They　saw　ahead　of　them　the　army　of　Shu　seemed　to　be　in　confusion。　The　Van　Leader　Cao　Zun　led　the　pursuit。
Suddenly；　as　he　pressed　on；　there　came　a　roll　of　drums；　followed　by　the　appearance　of　a　cohort　led　by　Wei　Yan；　who　cried；　〃Stop！　You　rebels！〃
But　Cao　Zun　did　not　obey　the　summons。　He　dashed　forward　to　meet　the　attack。　He　was　killed　in　the　third　encounter。　His　colleague　Zhu　Zan　in　similar　fashion　fell　in　with　a　cohort　under　Zhao　Yun；　to　whose　long　spear　he　soon　fell　victim。　The　loss　of　these　two　made　Cao　Zhen　and　Guo　Huai　hesitate；　and　they　made　to　retire。
But　before　they　could　face　about；　they　heard　the　drums　of　an　army　in　their　rear；　and　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　came　out　and　surrounded　them。　Cao　Zhen　and　Guo　Huai　made　a　stand　for　a　time；　but　were　soon　worsted　and　fled。　The　army　of　Shu　pursued　the　beaten　enemy　to　the　bank　of　River　Wei；　where　they　took　possession　of　the　Wei　camp。
Cao　Zhen　was　greatly　chagrined　at　his　defeat　and　sad　at　the　loss　of　his　generals。　He　send　a　report　of　his　misfortune　to　his　master　and　asked　for　reinforcements。
At　the　court　of　Wei　one　of　the　ministers　told　the　story；　saying；　〃Cao　Zhen　has　been　defeated　repeatedly；　and　his　two　Van　Leaders　were　slain。　Further；　his　Qiang　allies　have　suffered　great　loss。　Cao　Zhen　is　sending　for　help；　and　the　case　is　very　urgent。〃
Cao　Rui　was　alarmed　and　asked　for　someone　to　say　how　to　drive　off　the　victorious　foe。
Thereupon　Hua　Xin　said；　〃It　will　be　necessary　for　Your　Majesty　to　go　in　person。　You　should　call　together　all　the　nobles；　and　each　will　have　to　exert　himself。　Unless　this　is　done；　Capital　Changan　will　be　lost　and　the　whole　Land　Within　the　Passes　be　in　danger。〃
But　Imperial　Guardian　Zhong　Yao　opposed　him。
Said　he；　〃The　knowledge　of　every　leader　must　exceed　that　of　those　led；　then　only　will　he　be　able　to　control　them。　Sun　Zi　the　Strategist　sums　it　up　very　briefly：　'Know　the　enemy；　know　thyself；　and　every　battle　is　a　victory。'　I　know　Cao　Zhen　has　had　great　experience　in　the　field；　but　he　is　no　match　for　Zhuge　Liang。　Still　there　is　such　a　match；　and　I　will　pledge　my　whole　family　that　he　will　succeed。　But　Your　Majesty　may　be　unwilling　to　listen　to　me。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　replied；　〃You　are　a　minister　of　high　rank　and　old。　If　you　know　any　wise　person　able　to　repel　these　soldiers　of　Shu；　call　him　without　delay　and　ease　my　mind。〃
Then　said　Zhong　Yao；　〃When　Zhuge　Liang　decided　to　invade　us；　he　was　afraid　of　the　one　man　I　will　name。　Wherefore　he　spread　calumnies　concerning　him；　raising　suspicion　in　Your　Majesty's　mind　that　you　might　dismiss　him。　That　done；　Zhuge　Liang　invaded。　Now　employ　this　man　again；　and　the　enemy　will　retire。〃
〃Who　is　it？〃　asked　the　Ruler　of　Wei。
〃I　mean　the　Imperial　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　Sima　Yi。〃
〃I　have　long　regretted　my　action；〃　said　Cao　Rui。　〃Where　now　is　friend　Sima　Yi？〃
〃He　is　at　the　city　of　Wancheng；　idle。〃
An　edict　was　prepared　recalling　Sima　Yi　and　restoring　him　to　his　rank　and　titles；　and　conferring　upon　him　the　new　title　mander…in…Chief　of　the　Western　Forces　and　General　Who　Pacifies　the　West。　All　troops　of　Nanyang　were　set　in　motion；　and　Cao　Rui　led　them　to　Changan。　At　the　same　time　Cao　Rui　ordered　Sima　Yi　to　be　there　to　meet　him　on　a　certain　day。　And　the　orders　were　sent　by　a　swift　messenger　to　the　city　of　Wancheng。
At　this　time　Zhuge　Liang　greatly　rejoiced　at　the　success　he　had　had。　He　was　at　Qishan；　busy　with　plans　for　other　victories；　when　Li　Yan；　who　was　in　mand　at　the　Palace　of　Eternal　Peace；　sent　his　son　Li　Teng　to　the　camp。　Zhuge　Liang　concluded　that　such　a　visit　could　only　mean　that　Wu　had　invaded　them；　and　he　was　in　consequence　cast　down。　However；　he　summoned　Li　Teng　to　his　tent；　and　when　asked　the　object　of　his　mission；　Li　Teng　replied　that　he　had　joyful　news　to　impart。
〃What　is　your　joyful　news？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃Formerly　Meng　Da　deserted　to　Wei；　but　only　because　he　could　do　nothing　else。　Cao　Pi　thought　much　of　his　capabilities；　treated　him　most　generously；　kept　him　at　his　side；　gave　him　titles　of　General　Who　Establishes　Strong　Arms　and　Lord　of　Pingyang；　and　appointed　him　to　the　posts　of　Governor　of　Xincheng　and　mander　of　Shangyong　and　Jincheng；　and　so　on。　But　when　Cao　Pi　died；　all　was　changed。　In　Cao　Rui's　court　were　many　who　were　jealous　of　Meng　Da's　influence　and　power；　so　that　he　enjoyed　no　peace。
〃He　used　to　talk　about　being　originally　one　of　the　Shu　leaders；　and　he　was　forced　to　do　so…and…so。　Lately　he　has　sent　several　confidants　with　letters　to　my　father　asking　that　he　would　state　his　case　to　you　as　to　the　happenings。　When　the　five　armies　came　upon　Shu；　he　wanted　to　rejoin　the　River　Lands。　Now　he　is　at　Xincheng；　and；　hearing　you　are　attacking　Wei；　he　proposes　to　lead　the　army　of　the　three　counties　about　Xincheng；　Jincheng；　and　Shangyong　to　attack　Luoyang　while　you　attack　Changan；　whereby　both　capitals　will　be　taken。　I　have　brought　with　me　his　messenger　and　his　letters。〃
This　was　good　news；　and　the　bearer　was　fittingly　rewarded。　But　at　that　moment　came　the　news　that　Cao　Rui　was　leading　an　army　to　Changan　and　had　recalled　the　banished　Sima　Yi　to　office。　This　piece　of　bad　news　saddened　Zhuge　Liang　not　a　little。
He　told　Ma　Su；　who　said；　〃Cao　Rui　should　not　be　your　worry。　If　he　goes　to　Changan；　we　will　march　there　and　capture　him　on　the　road；　and　there　will　be　an　end　of　him。〃
〃Do　you　think　I　fear　him？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　bitterly。　〃But　the　recall　of　Sima　Yi　is　another　matter；　that　troubles　me。　And　Meng　Da's　proposal　will　avail　nothing　if　he　es　across　this　man。　Meng　Da　is　no　match　for　him。　He　will　he　captured；　and；　if　he　should　be；　the　Middle　Land　will　be　hard　to　conquer。〃
〃Why　not　put　Meng　Da　on　his　guard　then？〃　said　Ma　Su。
Zhuge　Liang　decided　to　write；　and　the　letter　was　dispatched　immediately。
Meng　Da　was　then　at　Xincheng；　anxiously　expecting　the　return　of　his　last　confidential　messenger；　when；　one　day；　the　man　returned　and　gave　him　this　letter　from　Zhuge　Liang　himself：
〃Your　last　letter　has　convinced　me　of　your　loyal　rectitude；　and　I　still　remember　with　joy　our　old　friendship。　If　your　plan　succeeds；　you　will　certainly　stand　in　the　first　rank　of　most　worthy　ministers。　But　I　scarcely　need　impress　upon　you　the　extreme　neces