小说园

第247部分（第1页）

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　Yans　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　peoples　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　Majestys　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　Liangs　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；　weeping；　he　prostrated　himself　and　made　this　declaration：

〃Thy　servant　Zhuge　Liang　has　made　five　expeditions　to　Qishan　without　gaining　any　extension　of　territory。　His　fault　weighs　heavily　upon　him。　Now　once　again　he　is　about　to　march；　pledged　to　use　every　effort　of　body　and　mind　to　exterminate　the　rebels　against　the　Han　House；　and　to　restore　to　the　dynasty　its　glory　in　the　Middle　Land。　To　achieve　this　end；　he　would　use　the　last　remnant　of　his　strength　and　could　die　content。〃

The　sacrifice　ended；　he　took　leave　of　the　Latter　Ruler　and　set　out　for　Hanzhong　to　make　the　final　arrangements　for　his　march。　While　so　engaged；　he　received　the　unexpected　news　of　the　death　of　Guan　Xing。　He　was　greatly　shocked；　and　fainted。　When　he　had　recovered　consciousness；　his　officers　did　their　utmost　to　console　him。

〃How　pitiful！　Why　does　Heaven　deny　long　life　to　the　loyal　and　good？　I　have　lost　a　most　able　general　just　as　I　am　setting　out　and　need　him　most。〃

As　all　are　born；　so　all　must　die；

People　are　as　gnats　against　the　sky；