第一小说网

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第252部分（第2页）

One　night　as　he　sat　gazing　up　at　the　sky　and　studying　its　aspect；　he　suddenly　turned　to　Xiahou　Ba；　saying；　〃A　leadership　star　has　just　lost　position：　Surely　Zhuge　Liang　is　ill　and　will　soon　die。　Take　a　reconnoitering　party　of　one　thousand　to　the　Wuzhang　Hills　and　find　out。　If　you　see　signs　of　confusion；　it　means　that　Zhuge　Liang　is　ill。　I　shall　take　the　occasion　to　smite　hard。〃

Xiahou　Ba　left　with　an　army。

It　was　the　sixth　night　of　Zhuge　Liangs　prayers；　and　the　lamp　of　his　fate　still　burned　brightly。　He　began　to　feel　a　secret　joy。　Presently　Jiang　Wei　entered　and　watched　the　ceremonies。　He　saw　Zhuge　Liang　was　loosening　his　hair；　his　hand　holding　a　sword；　his　heels　stepping　on　Ursa　Major　and　Ursa　Minor　to　hold　the　leadership　star。

Suddenly　a　great　shouting　was　heard　outside；　and　Wei　Jiang　was　about　to　send　someone　to　inquire　when　Wei　Yan　dashed　in；　crying；　〃The　Wei　soldiers　are　upon　us！〃

In　his　haste　Wei　Yan　had　knocked　over　and　extinguished　the　Lamp　of　Fate。

Zhuge　Liang　threw　down　the　sword　and　sighed；　saying；　〃Life　and　death　are　foreordained。　No　prayers　can　alter　them。〃

Stunned；　Wei　Yan　fell　to　the　earth　and　craved　forgiveness。　Jiang　Wei　got　angry　and　drew　his　sword　to　slay　the　unhappy　general。

Nought　is　under　mans　control；

Nor　can　he　with　fate　contend。

The　next　chapter　will　unfold　what　happened。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　104　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　104

Chapter　104

A　Falling　Star：　The　Prime　Minister　Ascends　To　Heaven；

A　Wooden　Statue：　The　mander…In…Chief　Is　Terrified。

The　unhappy　Wei　Yan　did　not　suffer　the　edge　of　the　sword；　for　Zhuge　Liang　stayed　the　stroke；　saying；　〃It　is　my　fate………not　his　fault。〃

So　Jiang　Wei　put　up　his　sword。

Zhuge　Liang　spat　a　few　mouthfuls　of　blood；　then　sank　wearily　upon　his　couch。

Said　he；　〃Sima　Yi　thinks　I　am　dead；　and　he　sent　these　few　troops　to　make　sure。　Go　and　drive　them　off。〃

Wei　Yan　left　the　tent　and　led　out　a　small　party　to　drive　away　the　troops　of　Wei；　who　fled　as　they　appeared。　He　chased　them　to　more　than　seven　miles　and　returned。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　sent　Wei　Yan　to　his　own　camp　and　bade　him　keep　a　vigilant　lookout。

Presently　Jiang　Wei　came　in；　went　up　to　the　sick　mans　couch；　and　asked　how　he　felt。

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃My　death　is　very　near。　My　chief　desire　has　been　to　spend　myself　to　the　utmost　to　restore　Han　to　its　glory　and　to　regain　the　Middle　Land。　But　Heaven　decrees　it　otherwise。　My　end　is　not　far　away。　I　have　written　a　book　in　twenty…four　chapters；　104；112　words；　treating　the　Eight　Needfuls；　the　Seven　Cautions；　the　Six　Fears；　and　the　Five　Dreads　of　war。　But　among　all　those　about　me　there　is　no　one　fit　to　receive　it　and　carry　on　my　work　save　you。　I　pray　you　not　to　despise　it。〃

He　gave　the　treatise　to　Jiang　Wei；　who　received　it　sobbing。

〃I　have　also　a　plan　for　a　multiple　crossbow；　which　I　have　been　unable　to　execute。　The　weapon　shoots　ten　bolts　of　eight　inches　length　at　every　discharge。　The　sketches　are　quite　ready；　and　the　weapons　can　be　made　according　to　them。〃

Jiang　Wei　took　the　papers　with　a　deep　bow。

The　dying　man　continued；　〃There　is　no　part　of　Shu　that　causes　anxiety；　save　the　Yinping　Mountains。　That　must　be　carefully　guarded。　It　is　protected　naturally　by　its　lofty　precipices；　but　it　will　surely　be　the　cause　of　great　losses。〃

Next　Zhuge　Liang　sent　for　Ma　Dai；　to　whom　he　gave　certain　whispered　instructions；　and　then　said；　〃You　are　to　follow　out　my　instructions　after　my　death。〃

Soon　after；　Yang　Yi　entered　the　tent　and　went　to　the　couch。　He　received　a　silken　bag　containing　certain　secret　orders。

As　Zhuge　Liang　gave　it　to　him；　he　said；　〃After　my　death；　Wei　Yan　will　turn　traitor。　When　that　happens　and　the　army　is　in　danger；　you　will　find　herein　what　to　do。〃

Just　as　these　arrangements　were　finished；　Zhuge　Liang　fell　into　a　swoon；　from　which　he　did　not　revive　till　late　in　the　evening。　Then　he　set　himself　to　pose　a　memorial　to　the　Latter　Ruler。

When　this　reached　the　Latter　Ruler；　he　was　greatly　alarmed　and　at　once　sent　Chief　Secretary　Li　Fu　to　visit　and　confer　with　the　dying　minister。

Li　Fu　traveled　quickly　to　the　Wuzhang　Hills　and　was　led　to　the　tent　of　the　mander…in…Chief。　He　delivered　the　Latter　Rulers　mand　and　inquired　after　the　sick　mans　welfare。

Zhuge　Liang　wept；　and　he　replied；　〃Unhappily　I　am　dying　and　leaving　my　task　inplete。　I　am　injuring　my　countrys　policy　and　am　in　fault　to　the　world。　After　my　death　you　must　aid　the　Emperor　in　perfect　loyalty；　and　see　that　the　old　policy　is　continued；　and　the　rules　of　government　maintained。　Do　not　lightly　cast　out　the　people　I　have　employed。　My　plans　of　campaign　have　been　confided　to　Jiang　Wei；　who　can　continue　my　policy　for　the　service　of　the　state。　But　my　hour　draws　near；　and　I　must　write　my　testament。〃

Li　Fu　listened；　and　then　took　his　leave。

Zhuge　Liang　made　one　final　effort　to　carry　out　his　duties。　He　rose　from　his　couch；　was　helped　into　a　small　carriage；　and　thus　made　a　round　of　inspection　of　all　the　camps　and　posts。　But　the　cold　autumn