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iately； and our General will open the gates to help you。〃
〃Have you a letter from the General？〃 asked Cui Liang。
A letter was produced from inside the man's dress； all moist with perspiration。 After the Governor had read it； the soldier took it back and went on to the direction of Tianshui。
Two days later a mounted messenger came to Anding and said to Cui Liang： 〃Governor Ma Zun of Tianshui with his troops have already started for Nanan。 The troops of Anding should march at once to their aid。〃
Cui Liang took the advice of his officers。 Most of them said； 〃If you do not go； and Nanan is taken； we shall he blamed for giving up the Imperial Son…in…Law。 He must be rescued。〃
Thereupon Cui Liang marched。 The civil officers were left in charge of the city。 The army took the high road to Nanan。 They saw flames shooting up to the sky all the time； and the Governor urged the army to march faster。 When fifteen miles from the city； there was heard the drums of an attacking force； and the scouts came to say that the road ahead was held by Guan Xing； while Zhang Bao was ing up quickly in their rear。
At this news the soldiers scattered in all directions。 Cui Liang had a hundred men left with whom he tried to cut his way out that he might return to his own city。 He got through。
But when he came to his own city； a flight of arrows greeted him from the wall； and Wei Yan shouted to him； saying； 〃I have taken the city。 You had better yield！〃
This was what had happened。 Wei Yan and his soldiers； disguised as an Anding soldiers； in the darkness of the night had beguiled the wardens of the gate into opening it； and the men of Shu had got in。
Cui Liang set off for Tianshui。 But one march away a cohort came out； and beneath the great flag he saw a light chariot。 In the chariot sat a man in Taoist robe with a feather fan in his hand。 Cui Liang at once recognized Zhuge Liang； but as he turned； up came Guan Xing and Zhang Bao； who summoned him to surrender。 As he was entirely surrounded； no other course was open to him； so he gave in。 He went to the great camp with Zhuge Liang； who treated him with courtesy。
After a time Zhuge Liang said； 〃Is the Govenor of Nanan a friend of yours？〃
〃He is one Yang Ling； a cousin of Yang Fu。 Being neighboring counties； we are very good friends。〃
〃I wish to trouble you to persuade him to capture Xiahou Mao。 Can you？〃
〃If you； O Prime Minister； order me to do this； I would ask you to withdraw your troops and let me go into the city to speak with him。〃
Zhuge Liang consented and ordered the besiegers to draw off seven miles and camp。 Cui Liang himself went to the city and hailed the gate。 He entered and went forthwith to his friend's residence。 As soon as he had finished the salutations； he related what had happened。
〃After the kindness we have received from Wei； we cannot be traitors；〃 said Yang Ling。 〃But we will meet ruse with ruse。〃
He led Cui Liang to the mander…in…Chief and told the whole story。
〃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。〃
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