第一小说网

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第225部分（第2页）

Ma　Zun　agreed　to　the　plan　and　prepared　everything。

Due　to　Jiang　Wei；　Zhuge　Liang　himself　led　the　main　army　to　Tianshui。

When　they　reached　the　city；　Zhuge　Liang　gave　a　general　orders：　〃Attacking　a　city　must　be　proceeded　as　soon　as　the　army　reaches　it。　At　the　rolling　of　drums；　incite　and　urge　the　soldiers　to　advance　with　a　rush。　The　keenness　of　the　soldiers　will　be　spoiled　by　any　delay。〃

So　this　time　also　the　army　came　straight　up　to　the　rampart。　But　they　hesitated　and　dared　not　attack　when　they　saw　the　flags　flying　in　such　good　order　and　apparently　such　thorough　preparation。

About　the　middle　of　the　night；　fires　started　up　all　around　and　a　great　shouting　was　beard。　No　one　could　see　whence　the　Wei　soldiers　were　ing；　but　there　were　answering　shouts　from　the　wall。　The　soldiers　of　Shu　grew　frightened　and　ran。　Zhuge　Liang　mounted　a　horse　and；　with　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　as　escort；　got　out　of　danger。　Looking　back；　they　saw　many　mounted　troops　with　torches　winding　along　like　a　huge　serpent。

Zhuge　Liang　bade　Guan　Xing　find　out　what　this　meant；　and　Guan　Xing　report：　〃These　are　Jiang　Weis　troops。〃

Zhuge　Liang　remarked；　〃An　army　owes　more　to　its　leading　than　to　its　numbers。　This　Jiang　Wei　is　a　true　genius。〃

Zhuge　Liang　led　the　army　back　to　camp；　and　then　he　thought　for　a　long　time。　Suddenly　he　called　up　one　of　the　Anding　men　and　said；　〃Where　is　the　mother　of　this　Jiang　Wei？〃

〃She　lives　in　Jicheng；〃　replied　he。

Zhuge　Liang　called　Wei　Yan　and　said　to　him；　〃March　off　with　a　body　of　troops；　giving　out　that　you　are　going　to　take　Jicheng。　If　Jiang　Wei　es　up；　let　him　enter　the　city。〃

Then　Zhuge　Liang　asked；　〃What　is　the　most　important　place　in　connection　with　this　place？〃

The　man　from　Anding　replied；　〃The　storehouse　of　Tianshui　is　at　Shanggui。　If　that　is　taken；　the　supplies　are　cut　off。〃

This　was　good　news；　so　Zhao　Yun　was　sent　to　attack　Shanggui；　while　Zhuge　Liang　made　a　camp　ten　miles　south　of　the　city。

The　spies　took　the　news　of　the　movements　of　these　three　forces　into　Tianshui。

When　Jiang　Wei　heard　that　one　army　was　to　attack　his　own　place；　he　pleaded　with　Ma　Zun；　saying；　〃My　mother　is　in　Jicheng；　and　I　am　worried　about　the　attacking　force。　Let　me　go　to　its　defense；　that　I　may　keep　the　city　and　do　my　duty　by　my　mother　at　the　same　time。〃

So　Jiang　Wei　received　mand　of　three　thousand　troops　and　marched　toward　his　home。

When　Jiang　Wei　came　near　the　walls；　he　saw　a　cohort　under　Wei　Yan。　He　attacked。　After　a　show　of　defense　Wei　Yan　retreated；　and　Jiang　Wei　entered　the　city。　He　closed　the　gates　and　prepared　to　defend　the　wall。　Then　he　went　home　to　see　his　mother。

In　the　same　way　Liang　Qian　was　allowed　to　enter　Shanggui。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　sent　for　his　prisoner；　Xiahou　Mao；　and；　when　he　was　brought　to　his　tent；　Zhuge　Liang　said　suddenly；　〃Are　you　afraid　of　death？〃

Xiahou　Mao　prostrated　himself　and　begged　for　his　life。

〃Well；　Jiang　Wei　of　Tianshui；　who；　is　now　gone　to　guard　Jicheng；　has　sent　a　letter　to　say　that　he　would　surrender　if　only　that　would　secure　your　safety。　Now　I　am　going　to　let　you　go　if　you　will　promise　to　induce　Jiang　Wei　to　e　over　to　me。　Do　you　accept　the　condition？〃

〃I　am　willing　to　induce　him　to　yield　to　you；〃　said　Xiahou　Mao。

Zhuge　Liang　then　gave　his　prisoner　clothing　and　a　horse　and　let　him　ride　away。　Nor　did　he　send　anyone　to　follow　him；　but　let　him　choose　his　own　road。

Having　got　outside；　Xiahou　Mao　wanted　to　get　away；　but　he　was　perfectly　ignorant　of　the　roads　and　knew　not　which　to　take。　Presently　he　came　across　some　people；　apparently　in　flight；　and　he　questioned　them。

〃We　are　Jicheng　people；〃　said　they。　〃Jiang　Wei　has　surrendered　the　city　and　deserted　to　Zhuge　Liang。　The　troops　of　Shu　are　looting　and　burning；　and　we　have　escaped。　We　are　going　to　Shanggui。〃

〃Do　you　know　who　is　holding　Tianshui？〃

〃Governor　Ma　Zun　is　in　there；〃　said　they。

Hearing　this；　Xiahou　Mao　rode　quickly　toward　Tianshui。　Presently　he　met　more　people；　evidently　fugitives；　leading　sons　and　carrying　daughters；　who　told　the　same　story。　By　and　by　he　came　to　the　gate　of　the　city；　and；　as　he　was　recognized；　the　wardens　of　the　gate　admitted　him；　and　the　Governor　came　to　greet　him　and　asked　of　his　adventures。　He　told　all　that　had　happened；　that　Jiang　Wei　had　surrendered　and　related　what　the　fugitives　had　said。

〃I　did　not　think　Jiang　Wei　would　have　gone　over　to　Shu；〃　said　the　Governor　sadly。

〃It　seems　he　thought　by　this　to　save　you；　Sir　mander…in…Chief；〃　said　Liang　Xu。　〃I　am　sure　he　has　made　only　a　pretense　of　surrendering。〃

〃Where　is　the　pretense　when　it　is　a　fact　that　he　has　surrendered？〃　said　Xiahou　Mao。

They　were　all　perplexed。　Then　at　the　third　watch　the　troops　of　Shu　came　to　begin　an　attack。　The　fires　round　the　wall　were　very　bright；　and　there　in　the　glare　was　seen　Jiang　Wei；　armed　and　riding　up　and　down　under　the　ramparts　calling　out　for　Xiahou　Mao。　Xiahou　Mao　and　Ma　Zun　ascended　the　wall；　whence　they　saw　Jiang　Wei　swaggering　to　and　fro。

Seeing　the　chiefs　on　the　wall；　Jiang　Wei　called　out；　〃I　surrendered　for　the　sake　of　you；　O　General。　Why　have　you　gone　back　on　your　word？〃

〃Why　did　you　surrender　to　Shu　after　enjoying　so　much　of　Weis　bounty？〃　said　Xiahou　Mao。　〃And　why　do　you　talk　thus？〃

〃What　do　you　mean　talking　thus　after　writing　me　a　letter　telling　me　to　surrender？　You　want　to　secure　your　own　safety　by　involving　me。　But　I　have　surrendered；　and　as　I　am　a　superior　general　i