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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sired victory； we would sit idle； waiting till the empire should bee settled。 This attitude is beyond my prehension。
〃Imperial Protector Liu Yao and Governor Wang Lang each occupied a territory。 They passed their time in talking of tranquillity and discussing plans； quoting the sayings of the sages till they were filled with doubts and obsessed with difficulties。 So this year was not the time to fight； nor next year the season to punish； and； thus talking； it came about that Sun Ce grew powerful and possessed himself of all the South Land。 This sort of behavior I cannot understand。
〃In craft Cao Cao surpassed all humans。 He could wield armies like the great strategists of old； Sun Zi and Wu Qi。 Yet he was surrounded in Nanyang； was in danger at Wuchao； was in difficulties at Qilian； was hard pressed in Liyang； was nearly defeated at Beishan； and nearly killed at Tong Pass。 Yet； after all these experiences； there was a temporary and artificial state of equilibrium。 How much less can I； a man of feeble powers； bring about a decision without running risks？ I fail to understand。
〃Cao Cao failed in five attacks on Changba； and four times crossed Lake Chaohu without success。 He employed Li Zu； who betrayed him； and put his trust in Xiahou Yuan； who was defeated and died。 The First Ruler always regarded Cao Cao as an able man； and yet Cao Cao made such mistakes。 How then can I； in my worn…out condition； avoid any error？ I do not understand why。
〃Only one year has elapsed since I went into Hanzhong； yet we have lost Zhao Yun； Yang Qun； Ma Yun； Yan Zhi； Ding Li； Bo Shou； Liu He； Deng Tong； and others； and leaders of rank and generals of stations； to the number of near eighty； all people unsurpassed in dash and valor； and more than a thousand of the specialized forces of horse and trained cavalry of the Sou and the Tangut tribespeople in the Gobi Desert； whose martial spirit we have fostered these ten years all about us； and not only in one region。 If we delay much longer； two…thirds of this will have dissipated； and how then shall we meet the situation？ I do not understand delay。
〃The people are stretched and the army exhausted indeed； but confusion does not cease。 If confusion does not cease； then； whether we go on or stand still the drain is the same。 Does it seems that attack should not be made yet？ Is it that the rebels are to be allowed to obtain a permanent hold on some territory？ I do not understand the arguments。
〃A stable condition of affairs is indeed difficult to obtain。 Once； when the First Ruler was defeated in Jingzhou； Cao Cao patted himself on the back and said that the empire was settled。 Yet； after that； the First Ruler obtained the support of Wu and Yue on the east； took Ba and Shu on the west； and undertook an expedition to the north； wherein Xiahou Yuan lost his life。 So Cao Cao calculations proved erroneous； and the affairs of Han seemed about to prosper。 But； still later； Wu proved false to pledges； our Guan Yu was defeated； we sustained a check at Zigui………and Cao Pi assumed the imperial style。 Such events prove the difficulty of forecast。 I shall strive on to the end； but the final result； whether success or failure； whether gain or loss； is beyond my powers to foresee。〃
The Latter Ruler was convinced； and by edict directed Zhuge Liang to start on the expedition。
Zhuge Liang marched out with three hundred thousand well…trained soldiers； Wei Yan leading the first division； and made all haste to Chencang。
The news soon reached Luoyang； and Sima Yi informed the Ruler of Wei； who called his council。
Then Cao Zhen stepped forth and said； 〃In the previous campaign I failed to hold West Valley Land； and my disgrace is terrible to bear。 But now I beg to be given another mand that I may capture Zhuge Liang。 Lately I have found a stalwart soldier for a leader； a man who wields a ninety…pound sword； rides a swift and savage steed； bends the three…hundred…pound bow； and carries hidden about him when he goes into battle three meteor maces with which his aim is certain。 So valorous is he that none dare stand against him。 He es from Didao in West Valley Land and is named Wang Shuang。 I would remend him for my leader of the van。〃
Cao Rui approved at once and summoned this marvel to the hall。 There came a nine…span man with a dusky plexion； yellowish eyes； strong as a bear in the hips and with a back supple as a tiger's。
〃No need to fear anything with such a man！〃 said Cao Rui； laughing。
He gave the new hero rich presents； a silken robe and golden breastplate； and gave him the title General Who Possesses the Tiger Majesty。 And Wang Shuang became Leader of the Van of the new army。 Cao Zhen was appointed mander…in…Chief。
Cao Zhen took leave of his master and left the court。 He collected his one hundred fifty thousand veterans and； in consultation with Guo Huai and Zhang He； decided upon the strategic points to be guarded。
The first panies of the army of Shu sent out their scouts as far as Chencang。 They came back and reported： 〃A rampart has been built and behind it is a general named Hao Zhao in mand。 The rampart is very strong and is further defended by thorny barriers。 Instead of taking Chencang； which seems difficult； it would be easier to go out to Qishan by the Taibo Mountains； where is a practicable； though winding； road。〃
But Zhuge Liang said； 〃Due north of Chencang is Jieting； so that I must get this city in order to advance。〃
Wei Yan was sent to surround Chencang and take it。 He went； but days passed without success。 Therefore he returned and told his chief the place was impregnable。 In his anger； Zhuge Liang was going to put Wei Yan to death； but an officer stepped forth。
Said he； 〃I have followed the Prime Minister for a long time； but have not achieved worthy service。 Now I want to go to Chencang and persuade Hao Zhao to yield。 Thus； our army does not need to use a single bow or arrow。〃
Others turned their attention to Counselor Jin Xiang。
〃How do you think you will persuade him？〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃What will you say？〃
〃Hao Zhao and I are both from West Valley Land and pledged friends from boyhood。 If I can get to see him； I will so lay matters before him that he must surrender。〃
Jin Xiang got permission to try； and rode quickly to the wall of Chencang。
Then he called out； 〃Friend Hao Zhao； your old chum Jin Xiang has e to see you！〃
A sentry on the wall told Hao Zhao； who bade them let the visitor enter and bring him up on the wall。
〃Friend； why have you e？〃 asked Hao Zhao。
〃I am in the service of Shu； serving under Zhuge Liang as an assistant in the Tactical Department。 I am created exceedingly well； and my chief has sent me to say something to you。〃
Hao Zhao was rather annoyed； and said； 〃Zhuge Liang is my enemy。 I serve Wei while you serve Shu。 Each serves his own lord。 We were brothers once； but now we are enemies。 So do not say any more。〃
And the visitor was requested to take his leave。 Jin Xiang tried to reopen the conversation； but Hao Zhao left him and went up on the tower。 The Wei soldiers hurried Jin Xiang on to his horse and led him to the gate。 As he passed out； he looked up and saw his friend leaning on the guard rail。
He pulled up his horse； pointed with his whip at Hao Zhao； and said； 〃My friend and worthy brother； why has your friendship bee so thin？〃
〃Brother； you know the laws of Wei；〃 replied Hao Zhao。 〃I have accepted their bounty； and if that leads to death； so be it。 Say no more； but return quickly to your master and tell him to e and attack。 I am not afraid。〃
So Jin Xiang had to return and report failure。
〃He would not let me begin to explain；〃 said he。
〃Try again；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Go and really talk to him。〃
So the go…between soon found himself once more at the foot of the wall。
Hao Zhao presently appeared on the tower； and Jin Xiang shouted to him； 〃My worthy brother； please listen to my words while I explain clearly。 Here you are holding one single city。 How can you think of opposing one hundred thousand troops？ If you do not yield； you will be sorry when it is too late。 Instead of serving the Great Han； you are serving a depraved country called Wei。 Why do you not recognize the decree of Heaven？ Why do you not distinguish between the pure and the foul？ Think over it。〃
Then Hao Zhao began to get really angry。 He fitted an arrow to his bow and he called out； 〃Go！ Or I will shoot。 I meant what I said at first； and I will say no more。〃
Again Jin Xiang returned and reported failure to Zhuge Liang。
〃The fool is very ill…mannered；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Does he think he can beguile me into sparing the city？〃
He called up some of the local people and asked about the forces in the city。 They told him about three thousand。
〃I do not think such a small place can beat me；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Attack quickly before any reinforcements can arrive。〃
Thereupon the assailants brought up scaling ladders； upon the platforms of which ten or more men could stand。 These were surrounded by planks as protection。 The other soldiers had short ladders and ropes； and； at the beat of the drum； they attempted to scale the walls。
But when Hao Zhao saw the ladders being brought up； he made his soldiers shoot fire…arrows at them。 Zhuge Liang did not expect this。 He knew the city was not well prep