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t another messenger to reinforce the ruse。 I also sent them to Tianshui to repeat the plan； but nothing has happened yet。 I do not know the reason。 We will take this opportunity to capture that place。〃
It was decided to take Tianshui next； and thither they moved。 Wu Yi and Liu Yang were to guard Nanan and Anding。 Wei Yan was ordered to move toward Tianshui。
When Ma Zun； Governor of Tianshui； heard of Xiahou Mao's being besieged in Nanan； he called a council at which one party………headed by Yin Shang and Liang Xu………were strongly of opinion that a rescue should be attempted。
〃If anything sinister happens to the Imperial Son…in…Law； 'golden branch and jade leaf' as he is； we shall be held guilty of having made no attempt to save him。 Wherefore； O Governor； you must march all the forces you have to his rescue；〃 said Yin Shang and Liang Xu。
Ma Zun found decision difficult； and while thinking over what was best to do； the arrival of Pei Xu； a messenger from Xiahou Mao； was announced。 Pei Xu was taken to the Governor's residence and there produced his dispatch and asked for aid。 Soon came another man saying that the Anding troops had set out and calling upon Ma Zun to hasten。 This decided him； and he prepared his army。
Then an outsider came in and said； 〃O Governor； you are the sport of one of Zhuge Liang's wiles。〃
All looked at him with surprise。 He was one Jiang Wei。 His father was Jiang Jiong； a former local official who had died in the court's service while quelling one of the Qiang rebellions。 Jiang Wei was well up in books； seeming to have read everything； and was also skilled in all warlike exercises。 He had studied books on war。 He was a very filial son and much esteemed。 He held military rank of General。
Jiang Wei said to the Governor； 〃I hear Zhuge Liang is attacking Xiahou Mao； who is now in Nanan most closely besieged。 How then can this messenger have got out？ Pei Xu is an unknown officer whom no one has heard of； and the other messenger from Anding bears no dispatch。 The fact is the men are imposters sent to beguile you into leaving your city undefended so that it may be the more easily captured。〃
The Governor began to understand。 He said； 〃Were it not for you； I would fall into a ruse。〃
Then Jiang Wei said； 〃But do not be anxious。 I have a scheme by which we can capture Zhuge Liang and relieve Nanan。〃
The fates all changing bring the man that's needed；
And warlike skill es from a source unheeded。
The next chapter will unfold the ruse proposed by Jiang Wei。
Main Next to Chapter 93 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Jiang Wei Goes Over To Zhuge Liang；
Zhuge Liang's Reviles Kill Wang Lang。
Jiang Wei propounded his scheme of defense； saying； 〃Zhuge Liang will lay an ambush behind the city； induce our soldiers to go out and then take advantage of its undefended state to capture it。 Now give me three thousand good soldiers； and I will place them in ambush at a certain critical place。 Lead your troops out； but go slowly and not further than ten miles； and then turn to retire。 However； look out for a signal； and if you see one； attack； for the attack will be double。 If Zhuge Liang is there himself； we shall capture him。〃
The Governor adopted this plan； gave the needed troops to Jiang Wei； who marched at once； and then Ma Zun went forth himself with Liang Qian。 Only two civil officials………Liang Xu and Yin Shang………were left to guard the city。
Zhao Yun had been sent to lie in ambush in a secret place among the hills till the Tianshui army left the city； when he was to rush in and capture it。 His spies reported the departure of the Governor； and only civil officials remained within the city。 Zhao Yun sent on the news to those who were acting with him； Zhang Yi and Gao Xiang； that they might attack Ma Zun。
Zhao Yun and his five thousand troops then quickly marched to the city wall and called out； 〃I am Zhao Yun of Changshan。 You have fallen into our trap； but if you will surrender quickly； you will save many lives。〃
But instead of being alarmed； Liang Xu looked down from the wall and said； 〃On the contrary； you have fallen into our trap。 Only you do not know it yet！〃
Zhao Yun began his attack on the walls。 Soon there was heard a roar； and fire broke out all round； and forth came a youthful leader armed with a spear； riding a curvetting steed。
〃Look at me； Jiang Wei of Tianshui！〃 cried he。
Zhao Yun made at him； but after a few bouts he found Jiang Wei was getting very eager。
Zhao Yun was surprised； and wondered； 〃No one knows there is such an able man in Tianshui。〃
As the fight went on； along came the two other forces under Ma Zun and Liang Qian； now returning。 As Zhao Yun found he could not prevail； he set to cut an alley through and lead off his defeated troops。 He was pursued； but Zhang Yi and Gao Xiang poured forth to save him； and he got away safely。
Zhuge Liang was surprised when he heard what had happened。
〃Who is this？〃 said he。 〃Who has thus seen into the dark depths of my secret plan？〃
A man of Nanan； who happened to be there； told him； 〃He is Jiang Wei from Jicheng of Tianshui County。 He is very filial to his mother。 Civil skill and military prowess； wisdom and courage； he has all。 Truly； he is a hero of the age。〃
Zhao Yun also praised his skill with the spear； which was superior to any other's。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I want to take Tianshui now。 I did not expect to find such a man as this。〃
The Shu army then advanced in force。
Jiang Wei went back to Ma Zun and said； 〃Zhao Yun's defeat will bring up Zhuge Liang with the main body。 He will conclude that we shall be in the city； wherefore you had better divide your force into four。 I； with one party； will go into hiding on the east so that I may cut off our enemies if they e that way。 You； O Governor； and Liang Qian and Yin Shang will lie in ambush on the other sides of the city。 Let Liang Xu and the mon people go up on the wall to make the defense。〃
Ma Zun agreed to the plan and prepared everything。
Due to Jiang Wei； Zhuge Liang himself led the main army to Tianshui。
When they reached the city； Zhuge Liang gave a general orders： 〃Attacking a city must be proceeded as soon as the army reaches it。 At the rolling of drums； incite and urge the soldiers to advance with a rush。 The keenness of the soldiers will be spoiled by any delay。〃
So this time also the army came straight up to the rampart。 But they hesitated and dared not attack when they saw the flags flying in such good order and apparently such thorough preparation。
About the middle of the night； fires started up all around and a great shouting was beard。 No one could see whence the Wei soldiers were ing； but there were answering shouts from the wall。 The soldiers of Shu grew frightened and ran。 Zhuge Liang mounted a horse and； with Guan Xing and Zhang Bao as escort； got out of danger。 Looking back； they saw many mounted troops with torches winding along like a huge serpent。
Zhuge Liang bade Guan Xing find out what this meant； and Guan Xing report： 〃These are Jiang Wei's troops。〃
Zhuge Liang remarked； 〃An army owes more to its leading than to its numbers。 This Jiang Wei is a true genius。〃
Zhuge Liang led the army back to camp； and then he thought for a long time。 Suddenly he called up one of the Anding men and said； 〃Where is the mother of this Jiang Wei？〃
〃She lives in Jicheng；〃 replied he。
Zhuge Liang called Wei Yan and said to him； 〃March off with a body of troops； giving out that you are going to take Jicheng。 If Jiang Wei es up； let him enter the city。〃
Then Zhuge Liang asked； 〃What is the most important place in connection with this place？〃
The man from Anding replied； 〃The storehouse of Tianshui is at Shanggui。 If that is taken； the supplies are cut off。〃
This was good news； so Zhao Yun was sent to attack Shanggui； while Zhuge Liang made a camp ten miles south of the city。
The spies took the news of the movements of these three forces into Tianshui。
When Jiang Wei heard that one army was to attack his own place； he pleaded with Ma Zun； saying； 〃My mother is in Jicheng； and I am worried about the attacking force。 Let me go to its defense； that I may keep the city and do my duty by my mother at the same time。〃
So Jiang Wei received ma