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〃What　ruse　do　you　propose？〃　asked　Xiahou　Mao。
〃Let　us　pretend　to　offer　the　city；　and　let　the　army　of　Shu　in。　Once　they　are　in；　we　can　massacre　them。〃
Xiahou　Mao　agreed　to　plot　the　scheme。
Cui　Liang　went　back　to　Zhuge　Liang's　camp；　where　he　said；　〃Yang　Ling　wants　to　offer　the　Prime　Minister　the　city。　He　also　wants　to　capture　Xiahou　Mao；　but　he　is　so　afraid　of　having　few　soldiers　that　he　has　made　no　hasty　move。〃
〃That　is　simple　enough；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Your　hundred　troops　are　here。　We　can　mix　with　them　some　of　my　generals　dressed　as　your　officers　and　so　let　them　get　into　the　city。　They　can　hide　in　Xiahou　Mao's　dwelling　and　arrange　with　Yang　Ling　to　open　the　gates　in　the　night。　And　my　grand　army　will　e　in　to　make　the　capture　for　you。〃
Cui　Liang　thought　within　himself；　〃If　I　do　not　take　the　Shu　generals；　they　will　arouse　suspicion。　I　would　rather　take　them　and　will　kill　them　as　soon　as　they　get　within　the　walls。　Then；　I　will　give　the　signal　and　beguile　Zhuge　Liang　to　enter；　and　so　dispose　of　him。〃
So　Cui　Liang　consented　to　Zhuge　Liang's　proposal。
Zhuge　Liang　gave　him　instructions；　saying；　〃I　will　send　my　trusty　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　with　you。　You　will　pass　them　off　as　the　rescuers　just　to　set　Xiahou　Mao's　mind　at　rest。　But　when　you　raise　a　fire；　I　shall　take　that　as　my　signal　and　e　in。〃
At　dusk　the　two　trusty　generals；　having　received　their　secret　orders；　put　on　their　armor；　mounted；　took　their　weapons；　and　got　in　among　the　Anding　troops。　Cui　Liang　led　the　small　force　to　the　gate。　Yang　Ling　was　on　the　wall。　The　drawbridge　was　hoisted。　He　leaned　over　the　guard　rail　and　scanned　those　below。
〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　he。
〃We　are　rescuers　from　Anding。〃
Now　Cui　Liang　shot　an　arrow　over　the　wall；　to　which　a　secret　letter　was　bound；　saying：
〃Zhuge　Liang　is　sending　two　generals　into　the　city　that　they　may　help　him　to　get　in；　but　do　nothing　till　we　get　inside　lest　the　ruse　gets　known　and　the　game　be　spoiled。〃
Yang　Ling　went　to　show　this　letter　to　Xiahou　Mao；　who　said；　〃Then　Zhuge　Liang　is　going　to　be　our　victim。　Put　a　pany　of　ax　and　bill　men　in　the　palace；　and　as　soon　as　these　two　generals　get　inside；　shut　the　gates　and　fall　on。　Then　give　the　signal。　As　soon　as　Zhuge　Liang　gets　inside　the　gate；　seize　him。〃
All　arrangements　being　made；　Yang　Ling　went　back　to　the　wall　and　said；　〃Since　you　are　Anding　troops；　you　may　be　allowed　in。〃
The　gate　was　thrown　open　and；　while　Guan　Xing　followed　close　after　Cui　Liang；　Zhang　Bao　was　a　little　way　behind。　Yang　Ling　came　down　to　the　gate　to　wele　them。　As　soon　as　Guan　Xing　got　near；　he　lifted　his　sword　and　smote　Yang　Ling；　who　fell　headless。　Cui　Liang　was　startled　and　lashed　his　steed　to　flee。
But　Zhang　Bao　rushed　forth　and　cried；　〃Scoundrel！　Did　you　think　your　vile　plot　would　be　hidden　from　the　eyes　of　our　Prime　Minister？〃
With　that　Cui　Liang　fell　from　a　spear　thrust　of　Zhang　Bao。　Then　Guan　Xing　went　up　on　the　wall　and　lit　the　fire。　Soon　the　army　of　Shu　filled　the　city。　Xiahou　Mao　could　make　no　defense；　so　he　tried　to　fight　his　way　through　the　south　gate。　There　he　met　Wang　Ping　and　was　captured。　Those　with　him　were　slain。
Zhuge　Liang　entered　the　city　of　Nanan　and　at　once　forbade　all　plunder。　The　various　generals　reported　the　deeds　of　valor。　The　captive　mander…in…Chief　was　placed　in　a　prisoner's　cart。
Then　Deng　Zhi　asked；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　how　did　you　know　the　treachery　of　Cui　Liang？〃
Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃I　knew　the　man　was　unwilling　in　his　heart　to　yield；　so　I　sent　him　into　the　city　that　he　might　have　a　chance　to　weave　a　counter　plot　with　Xiahou　Mao。　I　saw　by　his　manner　he　was　treacherous；　and　so　I　sent　my　two　trusty　generals　with　him　to　give　him　a　feeling　of　security。　Had　he　been　true　to　me；　he　would　have　opposed　this。　But　he　accepted　it　gaily　and　went　with　them　lest　I　should　suspect　him。　He　thought　they　could　slay　the　two　leaders　and　entice　me　in。　But　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　already　had　orders　of　what　to　do。　Everything　turned　out　as　I　thought；　and　as　they　did　not　expect。〃
The　officers　bowed　their　appreciation　of　his　wonderful　insight。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃I　sent　one　of　my　trusty　people　to　pretend　he　was　a　certain　Pei　Xu　of　Wei　and　so　deceive　this　Cui　Liang。　Then　I　sent　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；