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〃I have been Leader of the Van from the first day of this expedition。 Why not use me today； when there is work to be done and glory to be gained？〃
〃Because the utmost caution is necessary。 They are retreating； and they will leave an ambush at every possible point。〃
〃I know that； and you need not be afraid。〃
〃Well； you wish to go and may； but whatever happens you must be prepared for。〃
〃A really noble man is prepared to sacrifice self for country。 Never mind what happens。〃
〃Then take five thousand troops and start。 Wei Ping shall follow with twenty thousand of horse and foot to deal with any ambush that may discover itself。 I will follow later with three thousand to help where need be。〃
So Zhang He set out and advanced quickly。
Ten miles out he heard a roll of drums； and suddenly appeared from a wood a cohort led by Wei Yan； who galloped to the front； crying； 〃Whither would you go； O rebel leader？〃
Zhang He swiftly turned and engaged Wei Yan； but after some ten passes Wei Yan fled。 Zhang He rode after Wei Yan along the road for ten miles and then stopped to observe。 As he saw no ambush； he turned again and resumed the pursuit。 All went well till he came to a slope； when there arose shouts and yells and another body of soldiers came out。
〃Zhang He； do not run away！〃 cried this leader； who was Guan Xing。
Guan Xing galloped close； and Zhang He did not flee。 They fought； and after half a score of passes Guan Xing seemed to have the worst of the encounter and fled。 Zhang He followed。 Presently they neared a dense wood。 Zhang He was fearful of entering in； so he sent forward scouts to search the thickets。 They could find no danger； and Zhang He again pursued。
But quite unexpectedly Wei Yan； who had formerly fled； got round ahead of Zhang He and now appeared again。 The two fought a half score bouts and again Wei Yan ran。 Zhang He followed； but Guan Xing also got round to the front by a side road and so stopped the pursuit of Zhang He。 Zhang He attacked furiously as soon as he was checked； this time so successfully that the troops of Shu threw away their war…gear and ran。 The road was thus littered with spoil； and the Wei soldiers could not resist the temptation to gather it。 They slipped from their horses and began to collect the arms。
The maneuvers just described continued； Wei Yan and Guan Xing one after the other engaging Zhang He； and Zhang He pressing on after each one； but achieving nothing。 And as evening fell the running fight had led both sides close to the Wooden Path。
Then suddenly Wei Yan made a real stand； and he rode to the front； yelling； 〃Rebel！ I have despised fighting you； but you have kept pursuing me。 Now we will fight to the death！〃
Zhang He was furious and nothing loath； so he came on with his spear to meet Wei Yan； who was flourishing his sword。 They met； yet again； after some ten bouts； Wei Yan threw aside weapons； armor； helmet and all his gear； and led his defeated pany sway along the Wooden Path。
Zhang He was filled with the lust to kill； and he could not let Wei Yan escape。 So he set out after Wei Yan； although it was already dark。 But suddenly lights appeared； and the sky became aglow； and at the same time huge boulders and great bulks of timber came rolling down the slopes and blocked the way。
Fear gripped Zhang He； and he cried； 〃I have blundered into an ambush！〃
The road was blocked in front and behind and bordered by craggy precipices。 Then； rat…tat…tat！ came the sound of a rattle； and therewith flew clouds of arrows and showers of bolts。 Zhang He； his more than one hundred generals； and his whole pursuing army perished in the Wooden Path。
With myriad shining bolts the air was filled；
The road was littered with brave soldiers killed；
The force to Saber Pass faring perished here；
The tale of valor grows from year to year。
Soon the second army of Wei under Wei Ping came up； but too late to help。 From the signs they knew that their rades had been victims of a cruel trick； and they turned back。
But as they faced about； a shout was heard； and from the hilltops came； 〃I； Zhuge Liang； am here！〃
Looking up they saw his figure silhouetted against a fire。
Pointing to the slain； Zhuge Liang cried； 〃I have gone hunting in this wood。 Only instead of slaying a horse； I have killed a deer。 But you may go in peace； and when you see your mander； tell him that he will be my quarry one day！〃
The soldiers told this to Sima Yi when they returned。
Sima Yi was deeply mortified； saying； 〃Letting friend Zhang He die is my fault！〃
And when he returned to Luoyang； the Ruler of Wei wept at the death of his brave leader and had his body searched and honorably buried。
Zhuge Liang had no sooner reached Hanzhong than he prepared to go on to Capital Chengdu and see his lord。
But Li Yan； who was in the capital； said to the Latter Ruler； 〃Why does the Prime Minister return； for I have kept him fully supplied with all things needed for the army？〃
Then the Latter Ruler sent Fei Yi into Hanzhong to inquire why the army had retired。
When Fei Yi had arrived and showed the cause of his ing； Zhuge Liang was greatly surprised。
Zhuge Liang showed the letter from Li Yan； saying； 〃Li Yan wrote to warn that East Wu was about to invade the country。〃
Fei Yi said； 〃Li Yan memorialized to the Throne； saying he had sent you supplies and knew not why Your Excellency returned。〃
So Zhuge Liang inquired carefully； and then it came out that Li Yan had failed to find sufficient grain to keep the army supplied； and so had sent the first lying letter to the army that it might retire before the shortage showed itself。 His memorial to the Throne was designed to cover the former fault。
〃The fool has ruined the great design of the state just to save his own skin！〃 cried Zhuge Liang bitterly。
He summoned the offender and sentenced him to death。
But Fei Yi interceded； saying； 〃O Prime Minister； the First Ruler had loved and trusted Li Yan with his son。 Please forgive him this time。〃
And so Li Yan's life was spared。
However； when Fei Yi made his report in Chengdu； the Latter Ruler was wroth and ordered Li Yan to suffer death。
But this time Jiang Wan intervened； saying； 〃Your late father named Li Yan as one of the guardians of your youth。〃
And the Latter Ruler relented。 However； Li Yan was stripped of all ranks and relegated to Zitong。
Zhuge Liang went to Chengdu and appointed Li Teng； Li Yan's son； as High Counselor。
Preparations then began for another expedition。 Plans were discussed； provisions were accumulated； weapons put in order； and officers and soldiers kept fit and trained。 By his kindness to the people； Zhuge Liang waited for three years before beginning marching； and in the two River Lands people's hearts filled with joys。
And the time passed quickly。
In the second month of the twelfth year （AD 234）； Zhuge Liang presented a memorial； saying； 〃I have been training the army for three years。 Supplies are ample； and all is in order for an expedition。 We may now attack Wei。 If I cannot destroy these rebels； sweep away the evil hordes； and bring about a glorious entry into the capital； then may I never again enter Your Majesty's presence。〃
The Latter Ruler replied； 〃The empire has settled on a tripod； and Wu and Wei trouble us not at all。 Why not enjoy the present tranquillity； O Father Minister？〃
〃Because of the mission left me by your father。 I am ever scheming to destroy Wei； even in my dreams。 I must strive my best and do my utmost to regain you the Middle Land and restore the glory of the Hans。〃
As Zhuge Liang said this； a voice cried； 〃An army may not go forth； O Prime Minister！〃
Qiao Zhou had raised a last protest。
Zhuge Liang's sole thought was service；
Himself he would not spare；
But Qiao Zhou had watched the starry sky；
And read misfortune there。
The next chapter will give the arguments against fighting。
Main Next to Chapter 102 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 102
Chapter 102
Sima Yi Occupies The Banks Of River Wei；
Zhuge Liang Constructs Mechanical Bullocks And Horses。
Qiao Zhou； who protested against the war； was Grand Historian。 He was also an astrologer。
He opposed the war； saying； 〃My present office involves the direction of the observations on the Astrological Terrace； and I am bound to report whether the aspect forebodes misfortune or promises happiness。 Not long since； several flights of thousands of birds came from the south； plunged into River Han and were drowned。 This is an evil augury。 Moreover； I have studied the aspect of the sky； and the 'Wolf' constellation is influencing the aspect of the planet Venus。 An aura of prosperity pervades the north。 To attack Wei will not be to our profit。 Again； the people in Chengdu say that the cypress trees moan in the night。 With so many evil omens； I wish that the Prime Minister should not go forth to war； but remain at home to guard what we have。〃
〃How can I？〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃His Late Majesty laid upon me a heavy responsibility； and I must exert myself to the utmost in the endeavor to destroy these rebels。 The policy of a state cannot be changed because of inauspicious signs。〃
Zhuge Liang was not to be deterred。 He instructed the officials to prepare the Great Bovine Sacrifice in the Dynastic Temple。 Then；