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！
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃I think my recall was not on your own initiative。 Some slanderous persons has hinted that I cherished ulterior objects。〃
The Latter Ruler； who indeed felt guilty and ill at ease； made no reply。
Zhuge Liang continued； 〃Your late father laid me under an obligation which I am pledged to fulfill to the death。 But if vile influences are permitted to work at home； how can I destroy the rebels without？〃
〃The fact is I recalled you because of the talk of the eunuchs。 But I understand now and am unutterably sorry；〃 said the Latter Ruler。
Zhuge Liang interrogated the eunuchs and thus found out the base rumors that had been spread abroad by Gou An。 He sent to arrest this man； but Gou An had already fled and gone over to Wei。 The eunuchs who had influenced the Emperor were put to death； and all the other eunuchs who were involved were expelled from the Palace。
The Prime Minister also upbraided Jiang Wan and Fei Yi for not having looked into the matter and set the Son of God right。 The two Ministers bowed their heads and admitted their fault。
Zhuge Liang then took leave of the Latter Ruler and returned to the army。 He wrote to Li Yan to see to the necessary supplies and began preparations for a new expedition。
Yang Yi said； 〃The soldiers are wearied by the many expeditions； and the supplies are not regular。 I think a better plan would be to send half the army to Qishan for three months； and at the end of that time exchange them for the other half； and so on alternately。 For example； if you have two hundred thousand troops； let one hundred thousand go into the field and one hundred thousand remain。 In this way； using ten legions and ten legions； their energies will be conserved and you can gradually work toward the Middle Land。〃
〃I agree with you；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Our attack is not a matter to be achieved in haste。 The suggestion for an extended campaign is excellent！〃
Wherefore the army was divided； and each half went out for one hundred days' service at a time； when it was relieved by the other half。 Full penalties were provided for any laxity and failure to maintain the periods of active service。
In the spring of the ninth year of Beginning Prosperity； the Shu army once more took the held against Wei。 In Wei it was the fifth year of Calm Peace （AD 231）。
When the Ruler of Wei heard of this new expedition； he called Sima Yi and asked his advice。
〃Now that my friend Cao Zhen is no more； I am willing to do all that one man can to destroy the rebels against Your Majesty's authority；〃 said Sima Yi。
Cao Rui was gratified by this ready offer； and honored Sima Yi with a banquet。 Next day an edict was issued for the army to move。 The Ruler of Wei； riding in his state chariot； escorted Sima Yi out of the city； and； after the farewells； the mander took the road to Changan； where the force was gathering。 There was assembled a council of war。
Zhang He offered his services； saying； 〃I volunteer to guard Yongcheng and Meicheng against the Shu army。〃
But Sima Yi said； 〃Our vanguard army is not strong enough to face the enemy's whole force。 Moreover； to divide an army is not generally a successful scheme。 The better plan will be to leave a guard in Shanggui and send all the others to Qishan。 Will you undertake the Leadership of the Van？〃
Zhang He consented； saying； 〃I have always been most loyal and will devote my energies entirely to the service of the state。 So far I have not had an adequate opportunity to prove my sincerity。 But now that you confer upon me a post of such responsibility； I can only say that no sacrifice can be too great for me； and I will do my utmost。〃
So Zhang He was appointed Van Leader； and then Guo Huai was set over the defense of the counties of West Valley Land。 Other generals were distributed to other posts； and the march began toward Qishan。
The spies reported： 〃The main force of Shu is directed toward Qishan； and the Leaders of the Van are Wang Ping and Zhang Ni。 The route chosen for their march is from Chencang across San Pass and to the Xie Valley。〃
Hearing this； Sima Yi said to Zhang He； 〃Zhuge Liang is advancing in great force and certainly intends to reap the wheat in West Valley Land for his supply。 You get sufficient troops to hold Qishan； while Guo Huai and I go to Tianshui and foil the enemy's plan to gather the wheat。〃
So Zhang He took forty thousand troops to hold Qishan； and Sima Yi set out westwards to the West Valley Land。
When Zhuge Liang reached Qishan and had settled his army in camp； he saw that the bank of River Wei had been fortified by his enemy。
〃That must be the work of Sima Yi；〃 remarked Zhuge Liang to his generals。 〃But we have not enough food in camp。 I have written to Li Yan to send grain； but it has not yet arrived。 The wheat in West Valley Land is now just ripe； and we will go and reap it。〃
Leaving Wang Ping； Zhang Ni； Hu Ban； and Wu Yi to guard for the camps； Zhuge Liang； with Wei Yan； Jiang Wei； and several other generals； went over to Lucheng。 The Governor of that city knew he could not offer any real defense； so he opened the gates and yielded。
After calming the people； Zhuge Liang asked； 〃Where is the ripe wheat to be found？〃
The Governor replied； 〃Longshang is the place。〃
So Zhang Yi and Ma Zheng were left to guard the city； and the remainder of the army went to Longshang。
But soon the leading body returned to say； 〃Sima Yi has already occupied that city。〃
〃He guessed what I intended to do！〃 said Zhuge Liang； taken aback。
Zhuge Liang then retired； bathed and put on another dress。 Next he bade them bring out three four…wheeled chariots； all exactly alike； that were among the impedimenta of the army。 They had been built in Shu some time before。
Jiang Wei was told off to lead a thousand troops as escort for one chariot； and five hundred drummers were appointed to acpany it。 The chariot with its escort and drummers was sent away behind the city。 In like manner two other chariots were equipped and sent east and west of the city under Ma Dai and Wei Yan。 Each chariot was propelled by a team of twenty…four men； all dressed in black； barefooted and with loosened hair。 Each one of the team also had in hand a sword and a black seven…starred flag。
While the chariots were taking up their positions； thirty thousand soldiers were ordered to prepare wagons and sickles to cut and carry away the grain。
Next Zhuge Liang selected twenty…four good soldiers； whom he dressed and armed like those sent away with the three chariots。 These were to push his own chariot。 Guan Xing was told to dress up as the God of Clouds and to walk in front of Zhuge Liang's chariot holding a black seven…starred flag。 These preparations plete； Zhuge Liang mounted； and the chariot took the road toward the Wei camp。
The appearance of a chariot with such attendants more than startled the enemy's scouts； who did not know whether the apparition was that of a human or a demon。 They hastened to their mander and told him。
Sima Yi came out himself and saw the cavalcade； and its central figure being Zhuge Liang； dressed as a Taoist mystic； with headdress； white robe； and a feather fan。 Around the chariot were twenty…four hair…loosened beings； each with a sword in hand； and leading was a being as a heaven…sent god with the seven…starred flag。
〃Some of Zhuge Liang's odd doings；〃 said he。
And Sima Yi ordered two thousand troops； saying； 〃Chase as fast as you can； and bring in the chariot； escort； and the seated figure。〃
The soldiers went out to do their bidding。 But as soon as they appeared； the chariot retired and took a road leading to the Shu camp。 Although the Wei soldiers were mounted； they could not e up with the cavalcade。 What they did meet with was a chilly breeze and a cold mist that rolled about them。
They found it uncanny and halted； saying one to another； 〃How extraordinary it is that we have been pressing on and yet we got no nearer。 What does it mean？〃
When Zhuge Liang saw that the pursuit had ceased； he had his chariot pushed out again to the front and passed within sight of the halted troops。 At first they hesitated； but presently took up the pursuit once more。 Whereupon the chariot again retired； proceeding slowly； but always keeping out of reach。 And thus more than seven mil