小说园

第231部分（第2页）

Then　Sima　Yi　led　the　main　body　to　attack　the　hill　on　all　sides。

From　the　summit　of　his　hill；　Ma　Su　could　see　the　banners　of　his　enemy　all　round；　and　the　country　about　was　full　of　soldiers。　Presently　the　hemming　in　was　plete；　and　the　soldiers　of　Shu　became　dejected。　They　dared　not　descend　to　attack　although　Ma　Su　hoisted　the　red　flag　signaling　for　them　to　move。　The　generals　stood　huddled　together；　no　one　daring　to　go　first。　Ma　Su　was　furious。　He　cut　down　two　generals；　which　frightened　the　others　to　the　point　of　descending　and　making　one　desperate　rush。　But　the　troops　of　Wei　would　stand　firm　against　their　attack；　and　they　reascended　the　hill。

Ma　Su　saw　that　matters　were　going　ill；　so　he　issued　orders　to　bar　the　gates　and　defend　till　help　should　e　from　outside。

When　Wang　Ping　saw　the　hill　surrounded；　he　started　to　go　to　the　rescue；　but　Zhang　He　checked　him；　and　after　exchanging　some　ten　encounters　Wang　Ping　was　pelled　to　retire　whence　he　had　e。

The　Wei　troops　kept　a　close　siege。　The　Shu　soldiers　in　the　hill　camp；　having　no　water；　were　unable　to　prepare　food；　and　disorder　broke　out。　The　shouting　was　audible　at　the　foot　of　the　hill　and　went　on　far　into　the　night。　The　soldiers　on　the　south　side　got　out　of　hand；　opened　the　gates　and　surrendered。　The　men　of　Wei　went　round　the　hill　setting　fire　to　the　wood；　which　led　to　still　greater　confusion　in　the　beleaguered　garrison。　At　last　Ma　Su　decided　to　make　a　dash　for　safety　toward　the　west。

Sima　Yi　allowed　him　to　pass；　but　Zhang　He　was　sent　to　pursue　and　chased　him　for　ten　miles。　But　then　there　came　an　unexpected　roll　of　drums。　Zhang　He　was　stopped　by　Wei　Yan　while　Ma　Su　got　past。　Whirling　up　his　sword；　Wei　Yan　dashed　toward　Zhang　He；　who　retired　within　his　ranks　and　fled。　Wei　Yan　followed　and　drove　Zhang　He　backward　toward　Jieting。

The　pursuit　continued　for　fifteen　miles；　and　then　Wei　Yan　found　himself　in　an　ambush；　Sima　Yi　on　one　side　and　Sima　Zhao　on　the　other。　They　went　around　the　hill　and　closed　in　behind　Wei　Yan；　and　he　was　surrounded。　Zhang　He　then　turned　back；　and　the　attack　was　now　on　three　sides。　Wei　Yan　lost　many　troops；　and　all　his　efforts　failed　to　get　him　clear　of　the　press。　Then　help　appeared　in　the　person　of　Wang　Ping。

〃This　is　life　for　me；〃　said　Wei　Yan　as　he　saw　Wang　Ping　ing　up；　and　the　two　forces　joined　in　a　new　attack　on　the　force　of　Wei。　So　the　troops　of　Wei　drew　off；　while　Wei　Yan　and　Wang　Ping　made　all　haste　back　to　their　own　camp　in　Jieting………only　to　find　them　in　the　hands　of　the　enemy。

Shen　Yi　and　Shen　Dan　then　rushed　out　and　drove　Wei　Yan　and　Wang　Ping　to　Liliu。

About　that　time　Gao　Xiang　got　news　of　the　attack　on　Jieting；　and　he　marched　out　his　army　from　Liliu　to　the　rescue。　But　halfway　he　fell　in　with　Wei　Yan　and　Wang　Ping。

When　Gao　Xiang　heard　their　story；　he　at　once　proposed　a　night　attack　on　the　Wei　camp　and　the　recovery　of　Jieting。　They　talked　this　over　on　the　hillside　and　arranged　their　plans；　after　which　they　set　themselves　to　wait　till　it　was　dark　enough　to　start。

They　set　out　along　three　roads。　Wei　Yan　was　the　first　to　reach　Jieting。　Not　a　soldier　was　visible；　which　looked　suspicious。　He　decided　to　await　the　arrival　of　Gao　Xiang；　and　they　both　speculated　as　to　the　whereabouts　of　their　enemy。　They　could　find　no　trace；　and　the　third　army　under　Wang　Ping　had　not　yet　e　up。

Suddenly　a　bomb　exploded；　and　a　brilliant　flash　lit　up　the　sky；　drums　rolled　as　though　the　earth　was　rending；　and　the　enemy　appeared。　In　a　trice　the　armies　of　Shu　found　themselves　hemmed　in。　Both　Wei　Yan　and　Gao　Xiang　pushed　here　and　shoved　there；　but　could　find　no　way　out。　Then　most　opportunely　from　behind　a　hill　rolled　out　a　thunder　of　drums；　and　there　was　Wang　Ping　ing　to　their　rescue。　Then　the　three　forced　their　way　to　Liliu。　But　just　as　they　drew　near　to　the　city；　another　body　of　soldiers　came　up；　which；　from　the　writing　on　their　flags；　they　read　Wei　mander　Guo　Huai　。

Now　Guo　Huai　had　talked　over　Sima　Yis　recall　with　his　colleague　Cao　Zhen；　and；　fearing　lest　the　recalled　general　should　acquire　too　great　glory；　Guo　Huai　had　set　out　to　anticipate　him　in　the　capture　of　Jieting。　Disappointed　when　he　heard　of　Sima　Yis　success　there；　he　had　decided　to　try　a　similar　exploit　at　Liliu。　So　he　had　diverted　his　march　thither。

He　engaged　the　three　Shu　armies　at　once　and　slew　many　of　them。　Wei　Yan　feared　the　Wei　army　might　pour　into　Hanzhong；　so　Wang　Ping；　Gao　Xiang；　and　Wei　Yan　rushed　to　Yangping　Pass　and　mustered　its　defense。

Guo　Huai；　pleased　with　his　success；　gathered　in　his　army　after　the　victory　and　said　to　his　officers；　〃I　was　disappointed　at　Jieting；　but　we　have　taken　this　place；　and　that　is　merit　of　high　order。〃

Thereupon　he　proceeded　to　the　city　gates。　Just　as　he　arrived；　a　bomb　exploded　on　the　wall；　and；　looking　up；　he　saw　the　rampart　bedecked　with　flags。　On　the　largest　banner　he　read　the　characters　Sima　Yi；　General　Who　Pacifies　the　West　。　At　that　moment　Sima　Yi　himself　lifted　a　board　that　hung　in　front　of　him　and　looked　over　the　breast…high　rail。

He　looked　down　and　smiled；　saying；　〃How　late　you　are；　friend　Guo　Huai！〃

Guo　Huai　was　amazed。　〃He　is　too　much　for　me；〃　said　he。

So　Guo　Huai　resignedly　entered　the　city　and　went　to　pay　his　respects　to　his　successful　rival。

Sima　Yi　was　gracious；　and　said；　〃Zhuge　Liang　must　retire　now　that　Jieting　is　lost。　You　join　forces　with　Cao　Zhen　and　follow　up　quickly。〃

Guo　Huai　agreed　and　took　his　leave。

Sima　Yi　called　to　him　Zhang　He；　and　said；　〃Cao　Zhen　and　Guo　Huai　thought　we　should　win　too　great　merit；　so　they　tried　to　get　ahead　of　us　here。　We　are　not　the　only　ones　who　desire　to　achieve　good　service　and　acquire　merit；　but　we　had　the　good　fortune　to　succeed。　I　thought　Wei　Yan；　Ma　Su；　Wang　Ping；　and　Gao　Xiang　would　first　try　to　occupy　Yangping　Pass。　If　I　went　to　take　it；　then　Zhuge　Liang　would　fall　on　our　rear。　It　says　in　the　books　on　war　that　one　should　crush　a　retreating　enemy；　not　pursue　broken　rebels。　So　you　may　go　along　the　by…roads　and　smite　those　withdrawing　down　the　Gu　Valley；　while　I　oppose　the　Xie　Valley　army。　If　they　flee；　do　not　press　them　too　much；　but　just　hold　them　up　on　the　road　and　capture　the　baggage　train。〃

Zhang　He　marched　away　with　half　the　force　to　carry　out　his　part　of　this　plan。

Then　Sima　Yi　gave　orders：　〃We　are　going　to　the　Xie　Valley　by　way　of　Xicheng。　Though　Xicheng　is　a　small　place；　it　is　important　as　a　depot　of　stores　for　the　Shu　army；　beside　manding　the　road　to　the　three　counties　of　Nanan；　Tianshui；　and　Anding。　If　this　place　can　be　captured；　the　other　three　can　be　recaptured。〃

Sima　Yi　left　Shen　Yi　and　Shen　Dan　to　guard　Liliu　and　marched　his　army　toward　the　Xie　Valley。

After　Zhuge　Liang　had　sent　Ma　Su　to　guard　Jieting；　his　mind　was　constantly　disturbed。　Then　arrived　the　messenger　with　the　topography　and　plan　prepared　by　Wang　Ping。　Zhuge　Liang　went　over　to　his　table　and　opened　the　letter。　As　he　read　it　he　smote　the　table　in　wrath。

〃Ma　Sus　foolishness　has　destroyed　the　army！〃　he　cried。

〃Why　are　you　so　disturbed；　O　Prime　Minister？〃　asked　those　near。

〃By　this　plan　I　see　that　we　have　lost　mand　of　an　important　road。　The　camp　has　been　made　on　the　hill。　If　the　Wei　army　e　i