第一小说网

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第246部分（第1页）

〃There　is　the　order；　carry　it　out；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。

So　the　forty　thousand　home…going　soldiers　prepared　to　withdraw。

Just　then　came　the　news：　〃Sun　Li　has　arrived　with　reinforcements　of　two　hundred　thousand　troops　from　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou。　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li　have　gone　to　attack　Saber　Pass；　and　Sima　Yi　is　leading　an　army　against　Lucheng。〃

In　the　face　of　such　important　news；　Yang　Yi　went　to　discuss　with　Zhuge　Liang。

Said　Yang　Yi；　〃The　Wei　army　are　advancing　against　our　critical　points。　Should　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　postpone　for　a　time　the　withdrawal　of　the　field　troops　in　order　to　strengthen　our　defense？　You　can　wait　for　the　new　troops　to　arrive　first。〃

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃I　must　keep　faith　with　the　soldiers。　Since　the　order　for　the　periodical　exchange　of　troops　has　been　issued；　it　must　be　carried　out。　Beside；　the　soldiers　due　for　relief　are　all　prepared　to　start；　their　expectations　have　been　roused　and　their　relatives　await　them。　In　the　face　of　yet　greater　difficulties　I　would　still　let　them　go。〃

So　orders　were　given　for　the　time…expired　soldiers　to　march　that　day。　But　when　the　legionaries　heard　it；　a　sudden　movement　of　generosity　spread　among　them。

And　they　said；　〃Since　the　Prime　Minister　cares　for　us　so　much；　we　do　not　wish　to　go；　but　will　prefer　to　remain　to　fight　the　Wei　army　to　death。〃

〃But　you　are　due　for　home。　You　cannot　stay　here；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

They　reiterated　that　they　all　wished　to　stay　instead　of　going　home。

Zhuge　Liang　was　glad　and　said；　〃Since　you　wish　to　stay　and　fight　with　me；　you　can　go　out　of　the　city　and　camp　ready　to　encounter　the　army　of　Wei　as　soon　as　they　arrive。　Do　not　give　them　time　to　rest　or　recover　breath；　but　attack　vigorously　at　once。　You　will　be　fresh　and　fit；　waiting　for　those　fagged　with　a　long　march。〃

So　they　gripped　their　weapons　and　joyfully　went　out　of　the　city　to　array　themselves　in　readiness。

Now　the　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou　troops　had　traveled　by　double　marches；　and　so　were　worn　out　and　needed　rest。　But　while　they　were　pitching　their　tents；　the　troops　of　Shu　fell　upon　them　lustily；　leaders　full　of　spirit；　soldiers　full　of　energy。　The　weary　soldiers　could　make　no　proper　stand；　and　retired。　The　troops　of　Shu　followed；　pressing　on　them　till　corpses　littered　the　whole　plain　and　blood　flowed　in　runnels。

It　was　a　victory　for　Zhuge　Liang；　and　he　came　out　to　wele　the　victors　and　led　them　into　the　city　and　distributed　rewards。

Just　then　arrived　an　urgent　letter　from　Li　Yan；　then　at　Baidicheng；　and　when　Zhuge　Liang　had　torn　it　open　he　read：

〃News　has　just　e　that　Wu　has　sent　an　envoy　to　Luoyang　and　entered　into　an　alliance　with　Wei　whereby　Wu　is　to　attack　us。　The　army　of　Wu　has　not　yet　set　out；　but　I　am　anxiously　awaiting　your　plans。〃

Doubts　and　fears　crowded　in　upon　Zhuge　Liangs　mind　as　he　read。　He　summoned　his　officers。

〃As　Wu　is　ing　to　invade　our　land；　we　shall　have　to　retire　quickly；〃　said　he。　〃If　I　issue　orders　for　the　Qishan　force　to　withdraw；　Sima　Yi　will　not　dare　to　pursue　while　we　are　camped　here。〃

The　Qishan　force　broke　camp　and　marched　in　two　divisions　under　Wang　Ping；　Zhang　Ni；　Hu　Ban；　and　Wu　Yi。　Zhang　He　watched　them　go；　but　was　too　fearful　of　the　movement　being　some　ruse　to　attempt　to　follow。　He　went　to　see　Sima　Yi。

〃The　enemy　have　retired；　but　I　know　not　for　what　reason。〃

〃Zhuge　Liang　is　very　crafty；　and　you　will　do　well　to　remain　where　you　are　and　keep　a　careful　lookout。　Do　nothing　till　their　grain　has　given　out；　when　they　must　retire　for　good；〃　said　Sima　Yi。

Here　General　Wei　Ping　stepped　forward；　saying；　〃But　they　are　retreating　from　Qishan。　We　should　seize　the　occasion　of　their　retreat　to　smite　them。　Are　they　tigers　that　you　fear　to　move？　How　the　world　will　laugh　at　us？〃

But　Sima　Yi　was　obstinate　and　ignored　the　protest。

When　Zhuge　Liang　knew　that　the　Qishan　troops　had　got　away　safely；　he　called　Yang　Yi　and　Ma　Zheng　and　gave　them　secret　orders　to　lead　ten　thousand　of　bowmen　and　crossbowmen　out　by　the　Wooden　Path　of　Saber　Pass　and　place　them　in　ambush　on　both　sides　of　the　road。

Said　he；　〃If　the　soldiers　of　Wei　pursue；　wait　till　you　hear　a　bomb。　When　you　hear　the　bomb；　at　once　barricade　the　road　with　timber　and　stones　so　as　to　impede　them。　When　they　halt；　shoot　at　them　with　the　bows　and　the　crossbows。〃

Wei　Yan　and　Guan　Xing　were　told　to　attack　the　rear　of　the　enemy。

These　orders　given；　the　walls　of　Lucheng　were　decorated　lavishly　with　flags；　and　at　various　points　within　the　city　were　piled　straw　and　kindling　wood　ready　to　make　some　smoke　as　though　there　were　cooking　activities　in　the　city。　The　soldiers　were　sent　out　along　the　road　toward　Saber　Pass。

The　spies　of　Wei　returned　to　headquarters　to　report：　〃A　large　number　of　Shu　soldiers　have　left；　but　we　do　not　know　how　many　remain　within　the　city。〃

In　doubt；　Sima　Yi　went　himself　to　look；　and　when　he　saw　the　smoke　rising　from　within　the　walls　and　the　fluttering　flags；　he　said；　〃The　city　is　deserted！〃

He　sent　men　in　to　confirm　this；　and　they　said　the　place　was　empty。

〃Then　Zhuge　Liang　is　really　gone。　Who　will　pursue？〃

〃Let　me；〃　replied　Zhang　He。

〃You　are　too　impulsive；〃　said　Sima　Yi。

〃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。〃