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and troops and hide in the high road to the mountain。 When the troops of Wei e； let them pass and then march along the road they came by to their camp that they have just left。〃
These two having left； Zhuge Liang placed Ma Dai； Wang Ping； Zhang Ni； and Zhang Yi in ambush about the camp。
Within the camp the tents and shelters were left standing as if the camp was occupied； while wood and straw were heaped up ready to give the signal。 This done； Zhuge Liang and his officers retired to the rear of the camp to watch the proceedings。
On the side of Wei the two Van Leaders； Cao Zun and Zhu Zan； left at dusk and hastened toward the camp of Shu。 About the second watch they saw troops busily moving about in front of the hill。
Cao Zun thought to himself； 〃General Guo Huai is an excellent strategist and of wonderful prevision。〃
Then he hastened the march； and in the third watch reached the camp of Shu。 He at once dashed into the enclosure； but only to find it totally deserted。 Not a man was visible。 At once he knew he had stumbled into a trap； and began to withdraw。 Then the flames sprang up。 Zhu Zan arrived already to fight； and the two bodies of troops； thrown into confusion； fought with each other till the two leaders met； when they found out they were fighting their own men。
As they were restoring order； on came the four bodies of troops of Shu under Ma Dai； Wang Ping； Zhang Ni； and Zhang Yi who had lain in ambush ready for them。 Cao Zun and Zhu Zan； with more than a hundred of those nearest to them； ran away to get to the high road。 But before long the rolling drums announced another body of their enemy； and their flight was stopped by Zhao Yun。
〃Whither go ye； O rebel leaders？〃 cried Zhao Yun。 〃Stop； for here is death！〃
But Cao Zun and Zhu Zan still fled。 Then came up a force led by Wei Yan and pleted the defeat。 The soldiers of Wei were wholly beaten and ran away to their own camp。 But the guard left in the camp thought they were the enemy who e to raid； so they lit the fires； and at this signal Cao Zhen rushed up from one side and Guo Huai from the other； and a fierce fight with their own troops began。
While this was going on； three cohorts under Wei Yan； Guan Xing； and Zhang Bao arrived from three points； and a great and confused battle began。 The soldiers of Wei were driven off and chased for three miles。
In the fight Wei lost many leaders； and Zhuge Liang gained a great success。 Cao Zhen and Guo Huai got together their beaten troops and went back to their own camp。
When they discussed the fight； Cao Zhen said； 〃The enemy are too strong for us。 Have you any plan to drive them away？〃
Replied Guo Huai； 〃Our defeat is one of the ordinary events of war。 Let us not be cast down。 I have a plan to suggest that will disorder them so that one body cannot help the other； and they will all be pelled to flee。〃
Wei leaders fail and sadly send
To pray tribespeople help to lend。
The plan will be unfolded in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 94 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 94
Chapter 94
Zhuge Liang Defeats The Qiangs In A Snowstorm；
Sima Yi Quickly Captures Meng Da。
Guo Huai laid before his colleague the scheme to overe the army of Shu； saying； 〃The Qiang tribes have paid tribute regularly since the days of the Founder of Wei。 Emperor Pi regarded them with favor。 Now let us hold such points of vantage as we may； while we send secret emissaries to engage their help in exchange for kindly treatment。 We may get the Qiangs to attack Shu and engage their attention； while we gather a large army to smite them at another place。 Thus attacking； how can we help gaining a great victory？〃
A messenger was sent forthwith bearing letters to the Qiang tribespeople。
The King of the western Qiangs was named Cheli Ji。 He had rendered yearly tribute since the days of Cao Cao。 He had two ministers； one for civil and the other for military affairs； named； respectively； Prime Minister Ya Dan and Chief Leader Yue Ji。
The letter was acpanied by presents of gold and pearls； and when the messenger arrived； he first sought Prime Minister Ya Dan； to whom he gave gifts and whose help he begged。 Thus he gained an interview with the King； to whom he presented the letter and the gifts。 The King accepted both and called his counselors to consider the letter。
Ya Dan said； 〃We have had regular intercourse with the Wei kingdom。 Now that Cao Zhen asks our aid and promises an alliance； we ought to accede to his request。〃
Cheli Ji agreed that it was so； and he ordered his two chief ministers to raise an army of two hundred fifty thousand of trained soldiers； archers and crossbowmen； spearmen and swordsmen； warriors who flung maces and hurled hammers。 Beside these various weapons； the tribesmen used chariots covered with iron plates nailed on。 They prepared much grain and fodder and many spare weapons； all of which they loaded upon these iron…clad chariots。 The chariots were drawn by camels or teams of horses。 The carts or chariots were known as 〃iron chariots〃。
The two leaders took leave of their King and went straightway to Xiping Pass。
The mander in charge of the Pass； Han Zhen； at once sent intelligence to Zhuge Liang； who asked； 〃Who will go to attack the Qiangs？〃
Guan Xing and Zhang Bao said they would go。
Then Zhuge Liang said； 〃You shall be sent。 But as you are ignorant of the road and the people； Ma Dai shall acpany you。〃
To Ma Dai he said； 〃You know the disposition of the Qiangs from your long residence there。 You shall go as guide。〃
They chose out fifty thousand of veterans for the expedition。 When they had marched a few days and drew near their enemy； Guan Xing went in advance with a hundred horsemen and got first sight of them from a hill。 The Qiangs were marching； the long line of iron chariots one behind another in close order。 Then they halted and camped； their weapons piled all along the line of chariots like the ramparts of a moated city。 Guan Xing studied them for a long time quite at a loss to think how to overe them。 He came back to camp and consulted with his two colleagues。
Ma Dai said； 〃We will see tomorrow what they will do when we make our array； and discuss our plans when we know more。〃
So the next day they drew up their army in three divisions； Guan Xing's division being in the center； Zhang Bao's in the left； and Ma Dai's in the right。 Thus they advanced。
The enemy also drew up in battle order。 Their Chief Leader； Yue Ji； had an iron mace in his hand and a graven bow hung at his waist。 He rode forward on a curvetting steed boldly enough。 Guan Xing gave the order for all three divisions to go forward。 Then the enemy's ranks opened in the center and out rolled the iron chariots like a great wave。 At the same time the Qiangs shot arrows and bolts； and the men of Shu could not stand against them。
The wing divisions under Ma Dai and Zhang Bao retired； and the Qiangs were thus enabled to surround the center。 In spite of every effort； Guan Xing could not get free； for the iron chariots were like a city wall and no opening could be found。 The troops of Shu were absolutely helpless； and Guan Xing made for the mountains in hope of finding a road through。
As it grew dark a Qiang leader with a black flag approached； his warriors like a swarm of wasps about him。
Presently the leader cried out to him； 〃Youthful general； flee not。 I am Yue Ji！〃
But Guan Xing only hastened forward； plying his whip to urge his steed。 Then he suddenly came on a deep gully； and there seemed nothing but to turn and fight。 Yue Ji e close and struck at him with the mace。 Guan Xing evaded the blow； but it fell upon his steed and knocked it over into water。 Guan Xing went into the water too。
Presently he heard a great noise again behind him。 Yue Ji and his troops had found a way down into the gully and were ing at him down the stream。 Guan Xing braced himself for a struggle in the water。
Then he saw Zhang Bao and Ma Dai ing up on the bank fighting with； and driving off； the Qiangs。 Yue Ji was struck by Zhang Bao； and he too fell into the gully。 Guan Xing gripped his sword and was about to launch a stroke at Yue Ji as he came up； when Yue Ji jumped out of the water and ran away。
At once Guan Xing caught the steed Yue Ji had left； led it up the bank and soon had it ready to mount。 Then he girded on his sword； got on the horse； and joined the battle with his colleagues。
After driving off the Qiangs； Guan Xing； Zhang Bao； and Ma Dai gathered together and rode back。 They quickly gained the camp。
〃I do not know how to overe these men；〃 said Ma Dai。 〃Let me protect the camp while you go back and ask the Prime Minister what we should do。〃
Guan Xing and Zhang Bao started at once and made the best of their way back。 They told Zhuge Liang what had happened。 He at once sent off Zhao Yun and Wei Yan to go into ambush。 After this he went himself with thirty thousand troops and Jiang Wei； Zhang Yi； Guan Xing； and Zhang Bao and soon came to Ma Dai's camp。 The day after； from the summit of a hill； Zhuge Liang surveyed the country and the enemy； who were ing on in a ceaseless stream。
〃It is not difficult；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
He called up Ma Dai and Zhang Yi and gave them certain orders。
They having gone； he turned to Jiang Wei； saying；