第一小说网

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ad　been　destroyed。　Next　Yuan　Shu　usurped　the　imperial　style；　and　his　brother　Yuan　Shao　played　the　man　of　might　and　valor　in　the　land　of　Yejun。　Liu　Biao　occupied　Jingzhou；　and　Lu　Bu　seized　and　held　Xuzhou。　Thus　rebels　have　arisen　in　the　land　like　swarm　of　wasps　and　bold　spirits　have　followed　their　own　will；　to　the　danger　of　the　supreme　dignity　and　the　peril　of　the　people。

〃Then　the　Founder　of　Wei；　Emperor　Cao；　swept　away　rebellion　in　eight　directions；　purged　the　land；　and　restored　order。　All　hearts　turned　to　him　in　gratitude；　and　the　people　of　the　four　quarters　admired　his　virtue。　He　gained　his　position　by　no　manifestation　of　force：　It　was　simply　the　will　of　Heaven。　His　son　and　successor；　Emperor　Pi；　was　wise　and　warlike；　adequate　to　the　great　heritage　and　fitted　to　wield　supreme　power。　Wherefore；　in　accordance　with　the　will　of　Heaven　and　the　desires　of　humans；　and　following　the　example　of　the　earliest　emperors；　he　took　his　place　as　arbiter　of　the　Central　Government；　whereby　the　myriad　countries　are　ordered　and　governed。　Can　any　maintain　that　it　was　not　the　desire　of　Heaven　and　the　wish　of　the　people？

＇e＇　Guan　Zhong　was　priminister　of　Duke　Huan　of　Qi。　Guan　Zhong　made　Qi　a　powerful　state　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Yue　Yi　was　a　great　general　of　Yan。　Yue　Yi　helped　Yan　overe　Qi；　which　was　a　dominant　state　during　the　Warring　States　period。　。。。。。

〃Noble　Sir；　you　are　a　man　of　natural　talent　and　acquired　attainments；　worthy；　you　say　yourself；　to　be　pared　with　Guan　Zhong*　and　Yue　Yi*。　Why　then　place　yourself　in　opposition　to　the　decree　of　Heaven　and　turn　away　from　the　desire　of　humankind　to　do　this　thing？　You　cannot　be　ignorant　of　the　wise　old　saying：　He　who　accords　with　the　Heaven　shall　flourish；　while　he　who　opposes　shall　be　destroyed。

〃Now　the　armies　of　Wei　are　countless　legions；　and　their　able　leaders　are　beyond　number。　Can　the　glowworm　in　the　parched　stubble　rival　the　glorious　moon　in　the　sky？　If　you　will　turn　down　your　weapons　and　throw　aside　your　armors　and　dutifully　yield；　you　shall　not　lose　your　rank。　The　state　will　have　tranquillity　and　the　people　rejoice。　Is　not　that　a　desirable　consummation？〃

Zhuge　Liang　laughed。

Said　he；　〃I　regarded　you　as　an　old　and　tried　servant　of　the　Han　Dynasty　and　thought　you　would　hold　some　noble　discourse。　Could　I　imagine　you　would　talk　so　foully？　I　have　a　word　to　say　that　all　the　armies　may　hear。　In　the　days　of　Emperors　Huan　and　Ling　the　rule　of　Han　declined；　the　officers　of　state　were　the　authors　of　evil；　the　government　fell　into　confusion；　and　misfortune　settled　on　the　country。　Trouble　was　rife　in　every　quarter。　The　Yellow　Scaves；　Dong　Zhuo；　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si；　and　other　rebels　arose　one　after　another；　deposing　the　emperor　and　afflicting　the　people。　Because　the　household　officers　were　corrupt　and　foolish；　and　the　court　officials　were　as　brute　beasts；　living　only　that　they　might　feed；　because　high　people；　wolfishly　cruel　in　their　hearts；　savagely　mean　in　their　conduct；　were　in　office　one　after　another；　and　slavish　flatterers　bending　slavish　knees　confounded　the　administration；　therefore　the　Throne　became　as　a　waste　heap；　and　the　people　were　trodden　into　the　mire。

〃I　know　all　about　you。　You　came　from　the　eastern　seashore。　You　got　into　office　with　a　remendation　of　filial　piety　and　integrity；　you　properly　aided　your　sovereign　and　supported　the　state；　cared　for　the　tranquillity　of　Han　and　magnified　the　Lius。　But　could　one　have　imagined　that　you　would　turn　and　assist　rebels　and　enter　into　a　plot　to　usurp　the　Throne？　Indeed　your　crime　is　great　and　your　guilt　heavy。　Heaven　and　earth　will　not　suffer　you。　The　inhabitants　of　this　land　would　devour　you。

〃But　happily　the　design　of　Heaven　is　to　retain　the　glorious　dynasty。　The　late　Emperor　Bei　continued　the　line　in　the　River　Lands；　and　I　have　been　entrusted　by　the　present　Emperor　with　the　task　of　destroying　you　rebels。

〃Since　you　are　such　a　false　and　specious　minister；　you　have　but　to　hide　your　body　and　cover　your　head；　concern　yourself　about　your　belly　and　your　back。　Do　not　e　out　before　the　armies　to　rave　about　the　decrees　of　Heaven。　You　fool　and　rebel！　Mark　you；　today　is　your　last　day。　This　day　even　you　descend　to　the　Nine　Golden　Springs。　How　will　you　stand　before　the　twenty…four　emperors　of　Latter　Han　that　you　will　meet　there？　Retire；　you　rebel！　Go　tell　your　rebellious　panions　to　e　and　fight　one　battle　with　me　that　shall　decide　the　victory。〃

Fierce　wrath　filled　the　old　mans　breast。　With　one　despairing　cry　Wang　Lang　fell　to　the　earth　dead。

This　exploit　of　Zhuge　Liangs　has　been　lauded　in　verse：

In　west　Qin；　when　the　armies　met　in　the　field；

He；　the　bold　one；　singly　faced　a　myriad　warriors；

And　with　a　simple　weapon；　just　his　tongue；

He　did　to　death　a　wicked　minister。

After　Wang　Lang　had　fallen；　Zhuge　Liang　waved　the　fan　toward　Cao　Zhen　and　said；　〃As　for　you；　I　leave　you　alone　for　this　occasion。　Go　and　get　your　army　in　order　for　tomorrows　battle。〃

The　chariot　turned　and　left　the　ground。　Both　armies　retired　for　that　day。　To　Cao　Zhen　fell　the　melancholy　duty　of　rendering　the　last　services　to　the　aged　Minister　and　setting　his　coffin　on　its　journey　to　Changan。

Then　said　General　Guo　Huai；　〃Zhuge　Liang　will　certainly　think　the　army　occupied　with　mourning　and　make　a　night　attack。　Let　us　anticipate　him　and　set　out　an　ambush　about　our　camp。　Let　two　bodies　of　our　troops　be　hidden　outside　and　two　others　take　the　occasion　to　raid　the　camp　of　the　enemy。〃

〃I　thought　of　such　a　scheme　myself；〃　said　Cao　Zhen。　〃It　exactly　suits　my　plans。〃

So　Cao　Zhen　gave　order　to　Cao　Zun　and　Zhu　Zan：　〃You　are　to　take　ten　thousand　troops　each；　get　away　by　the　rear　of　the　mountain；　and　look　out　for　the　passing　of　the　soldiers　of　Shu。　When　they　have　gone　by；　you　are　to　make　for　their　camp。　But　you　are　only　to　attempt　a　raid　if　they　have　left。〃

Cao　Zun　and　Zhu　Zan　took　the　order　and　left。　Then　the　mander…in…Chief　arranged　with　Guo　Huai　each　to　lead　a　force　and　hide　outside　the　camp　to　wait　for　the　raid　of　Shu。　Only　a　few　soldiers　were　to　be　left　within　to　make　a　fire　if　the　enemy　were　seen　to　be　ing。　And　all　generals　set　about　the　necessary　preparations。

When　Zhuge　Liang　reached　his　tent；　he　called　to　him　Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan；　and　said　to　them；　〃You　two　are　to　make　a　night　attack。〃

〃Cao　Zhen　is　a　man　of　experience　and　will　be　on　the　lookout；〃　ventured　Wei　Yan。

〃But　that　is　just　what　I　want：　I　want　him　to　know　we　shall　attack　tonight。　He　will　then　put　some　troops　in　hiding　in　rear　of　the　Qishan　Mountains；　who　will　make　for　our　camp　as　soon　as　they　see　us　pass　toward　theirs。　I　am　sending　you　to　let　yourselves　be　seen　passing　the　hill。　but　you　are　to　camp　behind　it　and　at　a　distance。　When　the　soldiers　of　Wei　attack　this　camp；　you　will　see　a　signal。　Then　Wei　Yan　will　hold　the　approach　to　the　hill；　and　Zhao　Yun　will　make　his　way　back　in　fighting　order。　He　will　meet　the　army　of　Wei　returning　and　will　let　them　pass。　The　enemy　will　assuredly　fall　to　fighting　among　themselves；　and　we　shall　finish　the　battle。〃