小说园

第176部分（第1页）

w　in　the　upper　course　of　the　stream　a　hill　which　might　well　screen　a　thousand　soldiers。

So　Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　camp；　called　in　Zhao　Yun　and　said；　〃General；　you　lead　five　hundred　troops；　with　drums　and　horns；　and　place　them　in　ambush　behind　the　hill；　to　await　certain　orders　which　will　e　some　time　during　the　night　or　at　dawn。　When　you　hear　a　detonation；　you　are　not　to　appear；　only　give　a　long　roll　of　the　drums　at　every　report。〃

Zhao　Yun　departed　to　play　his　part　in　the　drama；　while　Zhuge　Liang　went　to　a　hill　whence　he　could　overlook　the　scene。

When　next　the　army　of　Cao　Cao　approached　the　camp　of　Shu　and　offered　battle；　not　a　man　came　out；　nor　was　an　arrow　or　a　bolt　shot。　They　retired　without　any　result。　But　in　the　depths　of　the　night；　when　all　the　lights　in　the　camp　were　extinguished　and　all　appeared　tranquil　and　restful；　Zhuge　Liang　exploded　a　bomb；　and　at　once　Zhao　Yun　beat　his　drums　and　blared　his　trumpets。　Cao　Caos　soldiers　awoke　in　alarm；　thinking　it　was　a　night　raid。　They　rushed　out；　but　there　was　no　enemy；　and　as　the　hubbub　ceased　they　went　back　to　sleep。　Soon　after　there　was　another　bomb；　and　again　the　drums　and　the　trumpets　seeming　to　shake　the　earth　itself；　and　the　fearsome　roar　echoing　along　the　valleys　and　from　the　hills　again　scared　Cao　Caos　soldiers。　Thus　the　night　passed　in　constant　alarms。　The　next　night　was　the　same；　and　the　next。　On　the　fourth　day　Cao　Cao　broke　up　his　camp；　marched　his　troops　ten　miles　to　the　rear　and　pitched　his　camp　in　a　clear；　wide　space　among　the　hills。

Zhuge　Liang　was　pleased　at　the　result　of　his　ruse。　Said　he；　smiling；　〃Cao　Cao　is　skilled　in　war；　but　still　he　is　not　proof　against　all　deceitful　tricks。〃

The　troops　of　Shu　then　crossed　the　river　and　camped　with　the　stream　behind　them。　When　Liu　Bei　asked　the　next　move；　he　was　told；　but　also　told　to　keep　the　plan　a　secret。

Seeing　Liu　Bei　thus　encamped；　Cao　Cao　became　doubtful　and　anxious；　and；　to　bring　things　to　a　decision；　he　sent　a　written　declaration　of　war；　to　which　Zhuge　Liang　replied　that　they　would　fight　a　battle　on　the　morrow。

On　the　morrow　the　armies　faced　each　other　half　way　between　the　two　camps　in　front　of　the　Mountain　of　Five　Borders；　and　there　they　arrayed。　Cao　Cao　presently　rode　up　stood　beside　his　banner；　with　his　officers　right　and　left　and　the　dragon　and　phoenix　banners　fluttering　in　the　wind。　His　drums　rolled　thrice；　and　then　he　summoned　Liu　Bei　to　a　parley。　Liu　Bei　rode　out　supported　by　Liu　Feng；　Meng　Da；　and　other　leaders。　Then　Cao　Cao　insolently　flourizshed　his　whip　and　vilified　his　opponent。

〃Liu　Bei；　you　have　forgotten　kindness　and　lost　the　sense　of　right。　You　are　a　rebel　against　the　government。〃

Liu　Bei　answered；　〃I　am　related　to　the　imperial　family；　and　I　hold　an　edict　authorizing　me　to　seize　all　rebels。　You　have　dared　to　lift　up　your　hand　against　Empress　Fu；　made　yourself　a　king；　and　arrogantly　presume　to　an　imperial　chariot。　If　you　are　not　a　rebel；　what　are　you？〃

Then　Cao　Cao　ordered　Xu　Huang　out　to　give　battle；　and　Liu　Feng　went　to　meet　him。　As　the　bat　began；　Liu　Bei　retired　within　the　ranks　of　his　array。　Liu　Feng　was　no　match　for　his　opponent；　and　fled。

Cao　Cao　issued　an　order　to　capture　Liu　Bei；　saying；　〃He　who　captures　Liu　Bei　will　be　made　Prince　of　Hanzhong！〃

At　this　the　army　of　Wei　uttered　one　great　roar　of　rage；　then　they　came　surging　on。　The　troops　of　Shu　fled　toward　the　river　abandoning　everything；　even　throwing　aside　their　weapons；　which　littered　the　road。　But　as　Cao　Caos　army　pressed　forward；　he　suddenly　clanged　the　gongs；　called　a　halt　and　drew　off。

〃Why　did　you　call　us　off；　O　Prince；　just　as　we　were　on　the　point　of　success？〃　said　his　manders。

〃Because　I　saw　the　enemy　had　encamped　with　the　river　in　their　rear；　which　was　very　suspicious。　They　also　abandoned　their　steeds　and　weapons；　which　made　me　doubt。　Wherefore　I　could　only　retire。　But　retain　your　armor。　Let　not　a　person　take　off　his　harness　on　pain　of　death。　Now　retire　as　quickly　as　you　can　march。〃

As　Cao　Cao　turned　about　to　retire；　Zhuge　Liang　hoisted　the　signal　to　attack；　and　the　retreating　soldiers　were　harassed　on　every　side　both　night　and　day　till　they　were　all　disordered。　Cao　Cao　ordered　his　army　to　retire　to　Nanzheng。

Presently　they　saw　flames　rising　all　around；　and　soon　it　was　known　that　their　city　of　refuge　was　in　the　hands　Zhang　Fei　and　Wei　Yan；　who；　after　Yan　Yan　had　taken　the　mand　of　Langzhong；　had　launched　a　double　attack　and　captured　Nanzheng。　Disappointed　and　saddened；　Cao　Cao　bade　them　march　to　Yangping　Pass。　Liu　Bei　with　the　main　army　followed　them　to　Baozhou　and　Nanzheng　and　there　pacified　the　people　and　restored　confidence。

〃Cao　Cao　was　exceedingly　quickly　overe　this　time；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃How　was　that？〃

〃He　has　always　been　of　a　suspicious　nature；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃and　that　has　led　to　many　failures　although　he　is　a　good　leader　of　armies。　I　have　defeated　him　by　playing　upon　his　doubts。〃

〃He　is　rather　weakened　now；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Can　you　not　devise　a　plan　to　drive　him　away　finally？〃

〃That　is　all　thought　out。〃

Next　Zhang　Fei　and　Wei　Yan　were　sent　along　two　different　roads　to　cut　off　Cao　Caos　supplies。　Two　other　cohorts　led　by　Huang　Zhong　and　Zhao　Yun　were　bidden　to　go　and　fire　the　hills　and　forests。　All　these　four　armies　had　natives　of　the　place　to　act　as　guides　and　show　the　way。

Cao　Caos　scouts　sent　out　from　Yangping　Pass　returned　to　report：　〃The　roads　far　and　near　are　blocked　by　the　troops　of　Shu；　and　every　place　seems　to　be　burning。　No　soldier　is　seen。〃

Cao　Cao　knew　not　what　to　do。　Then　other　scouts　told　him；　〃Our　stores　are　being　plundered　by　Zhang　Fei　and　Wei　Yan。〃

At　this；　Cao　Cao　called　for　a　volunteer　to　drive　off　the　plunderers；　and　Xu　Chu　offered。　He　was　given　a　thousand　veterans；　and　went　down　the　Pass　to　act　as　escort　of　the　grain　wagons。