快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

ndred　thousand　troops　in　total；　was　assembled　and　marched　out　in　three　divisions；　Lu　Xun　in　the　center；　with　Zhu　Huan　and　Quan　Zong　supporting　him　left　and　right　with　the　other　two　columns。
Then　said　Zhu　Huan；　〃Cao　Xiu　is　neither　able　nor　bold。　He　holds　office　because　he　is　of　the　blood。　He　has　fallen　into　the　trap　laid　by　Zhou　Fang　and　marched　too　far　to　be　able　to　withdraw。　If　the　mander…in…Chief　will　smite；　Cao　Xiu　must　be　defeated。　Defeated；　he　must　flee　along　two　roads；　one　Jiashi　on　the　left；　the　other　Guichi　on　the　right；　both　of　which　are　precipitous　and　narrow。　Let　me　and　my　colleague　go　to　prepare　an　ambush　in　these　roads。　We　will　block　them　and　so　cut　off　their　escape。　If　this　Cao　Xiu　could　be　captured；　and　a　hasty　advance　made；　success　would　be　easy　and　sure。　We　should　get　Shouchun；　whence　Xuchang　and　Luoyang　can　be　seen。　This　is　the　one　chance　in　the　thousand。〃
〃I　do　not　think　the　plan　good；〃　said　Lu　Xun。　〃I　have　a　better　one。〃
Zhu　Huan　resented　the　rejection　of　his　scheme　and　went　away。　Lu　Xun　ordered　Zhuge　Jin　and　certain　others　to　garrison　Jiangling　and　oppose　Sima　Yi　and　made　all　other　dispositions　of　forces。
Cao　Xiu　neared　Huancheng；　and　Zhou　Fang　came　out　of　the　city　to　wele　him　and　went　to　the　general's　tent。
Cao　Xiu　said；　〃I　received　your　letter　and　the　memorandum；　which　was　most　logical；　and　sent　it　to　His　Majesty。　He　has　set　in　motion　accordingly　three　armies。　It　will　be　a　great　merit　for　you；　Sir；　if　the　South　Land　can　be　added　to　His　Majesty's　dominions。　People　say　you　are　abundant　in　craft；　but　I　do　not　believe　what　they　say；　for　I　think　you　will　be　true　to　me　and　not　fail。〃
Zhou　Fang　wept。　He　seized　a　sword　from　one　of　his　escort　and　was　about　to　kill　himself；　but　Cao　Xiu　stopped　him。
Still　leaning　on　the　sword；　Zhou　Fang　said；　〃As　to　the　seven　things　I　mentioned；　my　regret　is　that　I　cannot　show　you　all。　You　doubt　me　because　some　persons　from　Wu　and　Wei　have　been　poisoning　your　mind　against　me。　If　you　heed　them；　the　only　course　for　me　is　to　die。　Heaven　only　can　make　manifest　my　loyal　heart。〃
Again　he　made　to　slay　himself。
But　Cao　Xiu　in　trepidation　threw　his　arms　about　him；　saying；　〃I　did　not　mean　it。　The　words　were　uttered　in　jest。　Why　do　you　act　thus？〃
Upon　this；　Zhou　Fang；　with　his　sword；　cut　off　his　hair　and　threw　it　on　the　ground；　saying；　〃I　have　dealt　with　you　with　sincerity；　Sir；　and　you　joke　about　it。　Now　I　have　cut　off　the　hair；　which　I　inherited　from　my　parents；　in　order　to　prove　my　sincerity。〃
Then　Cao　Xiu　doubted　no　more；　but　trusted　him　fully　and　prepared　a　banquet　for　him；　and　when　the　feast　was　over　Zhou　Fang　returned　to　his　own。
General　Jia　Kui　came　to　Cao　Xiu；　and　when　asked　whether　there　was　any　special　reason　for　the　visit；　he　said；　〃I　have　e　to　warn　you；　mander；　to　be　cautious　and　wait　till　you　and　I　can　attack　the　enemy　together。　The　whole　army　of　Wu　is　encamped　at　Huancheng。〃
〃You　mean　you　want　to　share　in　my　victory；〃　sneered　Cao　Xiu。
〃It　is　said　Zhou　Fang　cut　off　his　hair　as　a　pledge　of　sincerity。　That　is　only　another　bit　of　deceit。　According　to　the　Spring　and　Autumn　Annals；　Yao　Li　cut　off　his　arm　as　a　pledge　of　loyalty　before　he　assassinated　King　Qing　Ji。　Mutilation　is　no　guarantee。　Do　not　trust　Zhou　Fang。〃
〃Why　do　you　e　to　utter　ill…omened　words　just　as　I　am　opening　the　campaign？　You　destroy　the　spirit　of　the　army；〃　said　Cao　Xiu。
In　his　wrath　he　told　the　lictors　to　put　Jia　Kui　to　death。
However；　the　officers　interceded；　saying；　〃Before　the　march；　killing　our　general　is　not　favorable　to　the　army。　O　mander；　spare　him　until　after　the　expedition。〃
And　Jia　Kui　was　reprieved。　But　he　was　not　assigned　any　part　in　the　campaign；　and　his　troops　were　left　in　reserve。　Cao　Xiu　himself　went　away　to　the　East　Pass。
When　Zhou　Fang　heard　that　Jia　Kui　had　been　broken；　he　rejoiced　in　his　heart；　saying；　〃If　Cao　Xiu　had　attended　to　his　words；　then　Wu　would　have　lost。　Heaven　is　good　to　me　and　is　giving　me　the　means　of　achieving　great　things。〃
Then　he　sent　a　secret　messenger　to　Huancheng；　and　Lu　Xun　knew　that　the　time　had　e。　He　assembled　the　officers　for　orders。
Lu　Xun　said；　〃Shiding；　lying　over　against　us；　is　a　hilly　country　fit　for　preparing　an　ambush。　It　will　be　occupied　as　suitable　to　array　our　army　and　await　the　ing　of　Wei。　Xu　Sheng　is　to　be　Leader　of　the　Van；　and　the　army　will　move　there。〃
Now　Cao　Xiu　told　Zhou　Fang　to　lead　the　way　for　his　attack。　While　on　march；　Cao　Xiu　asked；　〃What　is　the　place　lying　ahead？〃
Zhou　Fang　replied；　〃Shiding；　a　suitable　place　to　camp　in。〃
So　a　great　camp　was　made　there。
But　soon　after　the　scouts　reported；　〃Wu　soldiers；　unknown　in　number；　have　camped　among　the　hills。〃
Cao　Xiu　began　to　feel　alarmed；　saying；　〃Zhou　Fang　said　there　were　no　soldiers。　Why　these　preparations？〃
Cao　Xiu　hastily　sought　Zhou　Fang　to　ask　him；　but　was　told；　〃Zhou　Fan　has　gone　away　with　a　few　dozen　riders。　No　one　knows　whither。〃
〃I　have　been　deceived　and　am　in　a　trap；〃　said　Cao　Xiu；　now　very　repentant　of　his　easy　confidence。　〃However；　there　is　nothing　to　fear。〃
Then　he　made　his　arrangements　to　march　against　the　enemy；　and　when　they　were　plete　and　the　array　drawn　up；　Zhang　Pu；　the　Leader　of　the　Van；　rode　out　and　began　to　rail　at　the　men　of　Wu。
〃Rebel　leader；　e　and　surrender！〃　cried　Zhang　Pu。
Then　rode　out　Xu　Sheng　and　fought　with　him。　But　Zhang　Pu　was　no　match　for　Xu　Sheng；　as　was　soon　evident；　wherefore　he　led　his　troops　to　retire。
〃Xu　Sheng　is　too　strong；〃　said　Zhang　Pu　when　he　saw　Cao　Xiu。
〃Then　will　we　defeat　him　by　a　surprise；〃　said　Cao　Xiu。
He　sent　Zhang　Pu　with　twenty　thousand　troops　to　hide　in　the　south　of　Shiding；　while　another　equal　party　under　Xue　Qiao　was　sent　north。
And　Cao　Xiu　arranged；　saying；　〃Tomorrow　I　will　lead　a　thousand　soldiers　to　provoke　the　troops　of　Wu　into　battle；　then　I　will　feign　defeat　and　lead　them　to　the　hills　in　the　north；　when　a　bomb　will　explode　and　a　three…pronged　ambush　will　bring　us　victory。〃
On　the　other　side　Lu　Xun　called　his　two　generals；　Zhu　Huan　and　Quan　Zong；　and　said；　〃Each　of　you　is　to　lead　thirty　thousand　troops　and　take　a　cross　cut　from　Shiding　to　the　enemy's　camp。　Give　a　fire　signal　behind　the　camp　on　arrival；　and　then　the　main　army　will　advance　to　the　camp's　front　for　a　double　attack。〃
As　evening　fell　these　two　moved　out　their　troops；　and　by　the　middle　of　the　second　watch　both　had　got　behind　the　camp　of　Wei。　Due　to　darkness；　Zhang　Pu；　Cao　Xiu's　general；　who　was　there　in　ambush；　did　not　recognize　that　the　troops　who　approached　him　were　enemies；　but　went　as　to　meet　friends　and　was　at　once　slain　by　the　blade　of　Zhu　Huan。　The　soldiers　of　Wei　then　fled；　and　Zhu　Huan　lit　his　signal　fires。
Quan　Zong；　marching　up；　came　across　the　northern　ambush　under　Xue　Qiao。　Quan　Zong　began　a　battle　at　once；　and　the　troops　of　Wei　were　soon　put　to　flight。　Both　the　armies　of　Wu　pursued；　and　confusion　reigned　in　Cao　Xiu's　camp；　troops　fighting　with　others　of　their　own　side　and　slaying　each　other。
Cao　Xiu　despaired　and　fled　toward　Jiashi。　Xu　Sheng；　with　a　strong　force；　came　along　the　high　road　and　attacked。　And　the　soldiers　of　Wei　killed　were　very　many。　Those　who　escaped　did　so　by　abandoning　all　their　armors。
Cao　Xiu　was　in　straits；　but　he　struggled　along　the　Jiashi　Road。　Here　came　a　cohort　into　the　road　from　the　side。　It　was　led　by　Jia　Kui。　Cao　Xiu's　alarm　gave　place　to　shame　on　meeting　Jia　Kui。
〃I　took　no　notice　of　what　you　said；　and　so　this　evil　came　upon　me；〃　said　he。
Jia　Kui　replied；　〃mander；　you　should　quickly　get　out　of　this　road。　For　if　the　troops　of　Wu　block　it；　we　shall　be　in　grave　danger。〃
So　Cao　Xiu　hastened；　while　Jia　Kui　protected　his　retreat。　And　Jia　Kui　ordered　his　soldiers　to　set　flags　and　banners　up　among　trees　and　in　thickets　and　along　by…paths；　so　as　to　give　an　impression　of　having　many　men　posted　all　round。　Wherefore　when　Xu　Sheng　came　in　pursuit；　he　thought　the　country　was　full　of　ambushing　men　and　dared　not　proceed　far。　So　he　gave　up　the　pursuit　and　retired。
By　these　means　Cao　Xiu　was　rescued；　and　finally　Sima　Yi　withdrew　his　army　upon　the　news　of　Cao　Xiu's　defeat。
In　the　meantime；　Lu　Xun　was　awaiting　news　of　victory。　Soon　Xu　Sheng；　Zhu　Huan；　and　Quan　Zong　came　and　reported　their　successes；　and　they　brought　great　spoil　of　carts　and　bullocks；　horses　and　mules；　and　military　material　and　weapons。　And　they　had　also　ten　thousand　prisoners。　There　was　great　rejoicing；　and　Lu　Xun　with　Zhou　Fang　led　the　army　home　into　Wu。
On　their　return　Sun　Quan；　the　Prince　of　Wu；　came　out　with　a　numerous　cortege　of　officers　to　wele　the　victors；　and　an　imperial　umbrella　was　borne　over　the　head　of　Lu　Xun　as　they　wended　their　way　homeward。
When　the　officers　presented　their　felicitations；　Sun　Quan　noticed　that　Zhou　Fang　had　no　hair。
Sun　Quan　was　very　gracious　to　him；　saying；　〃This　deed　of　yours；　and　the　sacrifice　you　made　to　attain　it；　will　surely　be　written　in　the　histories。〃
He　made　Zhou　Fang　the　Lord　of　the　Gate　Within。　Then　there　were　great　feastings　and　greetings　and　much　revelry。
Lu　Xun　said；　〃Cao　Xiu　has　been　thoroughly　beaten；　and　the　soldiers　of　Wei　are　cowed。　I　think　now　is　an　occasion　to　send　letters　into　Shu　to　advise　Zhuge　Liang　to　attack　Wei。〃
Sun　Quan　agreed；　and　letters　were　sent　to　the　River　Lands。

The　east；　successful　in　one　fight；
Would　unto　war　the　west　incite。

The　next　chapter　will　say　if　Zhuge　Liang　once　more　tried　to　overe　Wei。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　97　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　97
　Chapter　97
Sending　A　Second　Memorial；　Zhuge　Liang　Renews　The　Attack　On　Wei；
Forging　A　Letter；　Jiang　Wei　Defeats　The　Northern　Army。
It　was　in　the　autumn　of　the　sixth　year　of　Beginning　Prosperity　（AD　229）　that　the　Wei　army　was　defeated；　with　very　great　loss；　by　Lu　Xun　of　Wu。　Cao　Xiu's　mortification　brought　on　an　illness　from　which　he　died　in　Luoyang。　By　mand　of　Cao　Rui；　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　Cao　Xiu　received　most　honorable　burial。
Then　Sima　Yi　brought　the　army　home　again。
The　other　officers　went　to　wele　him　and　asked；　〃The　defeat　of　mander　Cao　Xiu　is　also　partly　yours。　Why；　O　General；　did　you　hurry　home？〃
Sima　Yi　replied；　〃I　came　for　reasons　of　strategy；　because　of　Zhuge　Liang's　probable　intentions。　If　he　knows　I　have　suffered　a　defeat；　he　may　try　to　attack　Changan。　The　whole　West　Valley　Land　would　be　helpless　if　I　did　not　return。〃
They　listened　and　smiled；　for　they　thought　he　was　afraid。
Letters　from　Wu　came　to　Shu　proposing　a　joint　attack　on　Wei　and　detailing　their　recent　victory。　In　these　letters　two　feelings　were　gratified………that　of　telling　the　story　of　their　own　grandeur　and　prowess；　and　that　of　furthering　the　design　of　a　treaty　of　peace。　The　Latter　Ruler　was　pleased　and　sent　the　letters　to　Zhuge　Liang　in　Hanzhong。
At　that　time　the　army　was　in　excellent　state；　the　soldiers　hardy；　the　horses　strong。　There　were　plentiful　supplies　of　all　kinds。　Zhuge　Liang　was　just　going　to　propose　a　new　war。
On　receipt　of　the　letter　he　made　a　great　banquet　to　discuss　an　expedition。　A　severe　gale　came　on　from　the　northeast　and　brought　down　a　fir　tree　in　front　of　the　general's　shelter。　It　was　an　inauspicious　omen　to　all　the　officers；　and　they　were　troubled。
Zhuge　Liang　cast　lots　to　know　what　portent　was　intended；　and　announced；　〃That　gale　signals　the　loss　of　a　great　leader。〃
They　hardly　believed　him。　But　before　the　banquet　ended；　two　sons　of　Zhao　Yun；　Zhao　Tong　and　Zhao　Guang；　came　and　wished　to　see　the　Prime　Minister。
Zhuge　Liang；　deeply　affected；　threw　aside　his　wine　cup　and　cried；　〃That　is　it。　Zhao　Yun　is　gone！〃
When　the　two　young　men　came　in；　they　prostrated　themselves　and　wept；　saying；　〃Our　father　died　the　night　before　at　the　third　watch。〃
Zhuge　Liang　staggered　and　burst　into　lamentation。
〃My　friend　is　gone。　The　country　has　lost　it　great　beam；　and　I　my　right　arm！〃
Those　about　him　joined　in；　wiping　away　their　tears。　Zhuge　Liang　bade　the　two　young　men　go　in　person　to　Chengdu　to　bear　the　sad　tidings　to　the　Emperor。
And　the　Latter　Ruler　wept　bitterly。

＇e＇　Evan；　a　reader：　〃Zhao　Yun　is　my　favorite。　I　don't　think　that　any　other　character　in　the　novel　can　quite　pare　to　his　nobility　and　virtue；　and　few　enough　could　pare　with　him　on　any　grounds。　From　Wei；　I　would　say　Zhang　Liao；　and　from　Wu；　Taishi　Ci　and　Lu　Meng。〃　。。。。。
〃Zhao　Yun　was　my　savior　and　friend。　He　saved　my　life　when　I　was　a　child　in　the　time　of　great　confusion！〃　cried　the　Latter　Ruler。
An　edict　was　issued　creating　Zhao　Yun　Regent　Marshal　and　Lord　o