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alley was terrifying。 As no one could tell how many men there were bearing down on them； the panic increased。 The Wei army abandoned all the baggage and took to flight。 But having orders not to pursue； Zhang Bao and Guan Xing let their enemies run in peace； while they gathered up the spoils。 Then they returned。
Seeing the valley apparently full of Shu soldiers； Sima Yi dared not marched by the main road。 He hurried back to Jieting。
At this time Cao Zhen； hearing that the army of Shu was retreating； went in pursuit。 But at a certain point he encountered a strong force under Ma Dai and Jiang Wei。 Valleys and hills seemed to swarm with enemies； and Cao Zhen became alarmed。 Then Chen Zao； his Van Leader； was slain by Ma Dai； and the soldiers were panic…stricken and fled in disorder。 And the soldiers of Shu were hastening night and day along the road into Hanzhong。
Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi； who had been lying in ambush in Gu Valley； heard that their rades were retreating。
Then said Zhao Yun； 〃The army of Wei will surely e to smite us while we are retreating。 Wherefore let me first take up a position in their rear； and then you lead off your troops and part of mine； showing my ensigns。 I will follow； keeping at the same distance behind you； and thus I shall be able to protect the retreat。〃
Now Guo Huai was leading his army through the Gu Valley。
He called up his Van Leader； Su Yong； and said to him； 〃Zhao Yun is a warrior whom no one can withstand。 You must keep a most careful guard lest you fall into some trap while they are retreating。〃
Su Yong replied； smiling； 〃If you will help me； O mander； we shall be able to capture this Zhao Yun。〃
So Su Yong； with three thousand troops； hastened on ahead and entered the valley in the wake of the Shu army。 He saw upon a slope in the distance a large red banner bearing the name Zhao Yun of Changshan 。 This frightened him； and he retired。
But before he had gone far a great uproar arose about him； and a mighty warrior came bounding forth on a swift steed； crying； 〃Do you recognize Zhao Yun？〃
Su Yong was terrified。
〃Whence came you？〃 he cried。 〃Is there another Zhao Yun here？〃
But Su Yong could make no stand； and soon fell victim to the spear of the veteran。 His troops scattered； and Zhao Yun marched on after the main body。
But soon another pany came in pursuit； this time led by a general of Guo Huai； named Wan Zheng。 As they came along Zhao Yun halted in the middle of the road to wait for the enemy。 By the time Wan Zheng had e close； the other Shu soldiers had gone about ten miles along the road。 However； when Wan Zheng drew nearer still and saw who it was standing in his path； he hesitated and finally halted。 Zhao Yun guarded the road until the sunset； when he he turned back and retired slowly。
Guo Huai and his army came up and met Wan Zheng； who said； 〃Zhao Yun is as terrible as ever。 He guards the rear carefully； and I dare not be reckless。〃
However； Guo Huai was not content and ordered Wan Zheng to return to the pursuit of the retreating army。 This time Wan Zheng led a pany of several hundred horsemen。
Presently they came to a wood； and； as they entered； a loud shout arose in the rear； 〃Zhao Yun is here！〃
Terror seized upon the pursuers； and many fell from their horses。 The others scattered among the hills。 Wan Zheng braced himself for the encounter and went on。 Zhao Yun shot an arrow which struck the plume on his helmet。 Startled； Wan Zheng tumbled into a water stream。
Then Zhao Yun pointed his spear at him and said； 〃Be off！ I will not kill you。 Go and tell Guo Huai to e quickly； if he is ing。〃
Wan Zheng fled for his life； while Zhao Yun continued his march as rear guard； and the retreat into Hanzhong steadily continued。 There were no other episodes by the way。
Cao Zhen and Guo Huai took to themselves all the credit of having recovered the three counties………Nanan； Tianshui； and Anding。
Before the cautious Sima Yi was ready to pursue the army of Shu； it had already reached Hanzhong。 He took a troop of horse and rode to Xicheng and there heard from the few people who had formerly sought refuge in the hills； and now returned； that Zhuge Liang really had had no men in the city； with the exception of the two thousand five hundred soldiers； that he had not a single military mander； but only a few civil officers。 Sima Yi also heard that Guan Xing and Zhang Bao had had only a few troops whom they led about among the hills making as much noise as they could。
Sima Yi felt sad at having been tricked。
〃Zhuge Liang is a cleverer man than I am；〃 said he with a sigh of resignation。
He set about restoring order； and presently marched back to Changan。
He saw the Ruler of Wei； who was pleased with his success and said； 〃It is by your good service that all counties of West Valley Land is again mine。〃
Sima Yi replied； 〃But the army of Shu is in Hanzhong undestroyed。 Therefore； I pray for authority to go against them that you may recover the West River Land also。〃
Cao Rui rejoiced and approved； and authorized the raising of an army。
But then one of the courtiers suddenly said； 〃Your servant can propose a plan by which Shu will be overe and Wu submits。〃
The generals lead their beaten soldiers home；
The victors plan new deeds for days to e。
Who offered this plan？ Succeeding chapters will tell。
Main Next to Chapter 96 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Shedding Tears； Zhuge Liang Puts Ma Su To Death；
Cutting Hair； Zhou Fang Beguiles Cao Xiu。
The proposer of the great plan that was to conquer the empire was the Chair of the Secretariat； named Sun Zu。
〃Noble Sir； expound your excellent scheme；〃 said the Ruler of Wei。
And Sun Zu said； 〃When your great progenitor； Emperor Cao； first got Zhang Lu； he was at a critical stage in his career； but thenceforward all went well。 He used to say the land of Nanzheng is really a natural hell。 In the Xie Valley there are one hundred fifty miles of rocks and caves； so that it is an impossible country for an army。 If Wei be denuded of soldiers in order to conquer Shu； then for sure we shall be invaded by Wu on the east。 My advice is to divide the army among the various generals and appoint each a place of strategic value to hold； and let them train their forces。 In a few years the Middle Land will be prosperous and wealthy； while the other two Shu and Wu； will have been reduced by mutual quarrels and will fall an easy prey。 I hope Your Majesty will consider whether this is not a superior plan。〃
〃What does the General think？〃 said Cao Rui to Sima Yi。
He replied； 〃Chairman Sun Zu says well。〃
So Cao Rui bade Sima Yi draw up a scheme of defense and station the soldiers； leaving Guo Huai and Zhang He to guard Changan。 And having rewarded the army； the Ruler of Wei returned to Luoyang。
When Zhuge Liang got back to Hanzhong and missed Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi； the only two generals who had not arrived； he was sad at heart and bade Guan Xing and Zhang Bao go back to afford them assistance。 However； before the reinforcing parties could leave； the missing men arrived。 Furthermore； they came with their army in excellent condition and not a man short； nor a horse nor any of their equipment。
As they drew near； Zhuge Liang went out of the city to wele them。
Thereupon Zhao Yun hastily dismounted and bowed to the earth； saying； 〃The Prime Minister should not have e forth to wele a defeated general。〃
But Zhuge Liang lifted him up and took his hand and said； 〃Mine was the fault。 Mine were the ignorance and unwisdom that caused all this。 But how is it that amid all the defeat and loss you have e through unscathed？〃
And Deng Zhi replied； 〃It was because friend Zhao Yun sent me ahead； while he guarded the rear and warded off every attack。 One leader he slew； and this frightened the others。 Thus nothing was lost or left by the way。〃
〃A really great general！〃 said Zhuge Liang。
He sent Zhao Yun a gift of fifty ounces of gold； and to his army ten thousand rolls of silk。
But these were returned as Zhao Yun said； 〃All armies have acplished nothing； and that is also our fault。 The rules for reward and punishment must be strictly kept。 I pray that these things be kept in store till the winter； when they can be distributed among the army。〃
〃When the First Ruler lived； he never tired of extolling Zhao Yun's virtues。 The First Ruler was perfectly right；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
And his respect for the veteran was doubled。
Then came the turn of the four unfortunate leaders Ma Su； Wang Ping； Wei Yan； and Gao Xiang to render account。 Wang Ping was called to the mander…in…Chief's tent and rebuked。
〃I ordered you and Ma Su to guard Jieting。 Why did you not remonstrate with him and prevent this great loss？〃
〃I did remonstrate many times。 I wished to build a rampart down in the road and construct a solid camp； but the Counselor would not agree and showed ill temper。 So I led five thousand troops and camped some three miles off。 When the army of Wei came in crowds and surrounded my colleague； I led my army to attack them a score of times。 But I could not penetrate； and the catastrophe came quickly。 Many of our troops surrendered； and mine were too few to stand。 Wherefore I went to friend Wei Yan for help。 Then we were intercepted and imprisoned