第一小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第250部分（第1页）

Liao　Hua　presented　the　enemys　helmet　as　proof　of　his　prowess　in　the　field；　and　received　a　reward　of　the　first　grade　of　merit。　Wei　Yan　went　away　angry　and　discontented；　Zhuge　Liang　noticed　this；　but　he　said　nothing。

Very　sadly　Sima　Yi　returned　to　his　own　camp。　Bad　news　followed；　for　a　messenger　brought　letters　telling　of　an　invasion　by　three　armies　of　Wu。　The　letters　said　that　forces　had　been　sent　against　them；　and　the　Ruler　of　Wei　again　enjoined　upon　his　mander…in…Chief　a　waiting　and　defensive　policy。　So　Sima　Yi　deepened　his　moats　and　raised　his　ramparts。

Meanwhile；　when　the　South　Land　marched　against　the　Middle　Land；　Cao　Rui　sent　three　armies　against　the　invaders：　Liu　Shao　led　that　to　save　Jiangxia；　Tian　Du　led　the　Xiangyang　force；　Cao　Rui　himself；　with　Man　Chong；　went　into　Hefei。　This　last　was　the　main　army。

Man　Chong　led　the　leading　division　toward　Lake　Chaohu。　Thence；　looking　across　to　the　eastern　shore；　he　saw　a　forest　of　battleships；　and　flags　and　banners　crowded　the　sky。　So　he　returned　to　the　main　army　and　proposed　an　attack　without　loss　of　time。

〃The　enemy　think　we　shall　be　fatigued　after　a　long　march；　and　so　they　have　not　troubled　to　prepare　any　defense。　We　should　attack　this　night；　and　we　shall　overe　them。〃

〃What　you　say　accords　with　my　own　ideas；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

Then　the　Ruler　of　Wei　told　off　the　cavalry　leader；　Zhang　Qiu；　to　take　five　thousand　troops　and　try　to　burn　out　the　enemy　with　bustibles。　Man　Chong　was　also　to　attack　from　the　eastern　bank。

In　the　second　watch　of　that　night；　the　two　forces　set　out　and　gradually　approached　the　entrance　to　the　lake。　They　reached　the　marine　camp　unobserved；　burst　upon　it　with　a　yell；　and　the　soldiers　of　Wu　fled　without　striking　a　blow。　The　troops　of　Wei　set　fires　going　in　every　direction　and　thus　destroyed　all　the　ships　together　with　much　grain　and　many　weapons。

Zhuge　Jin；　who　was　in　mand；　led　his　beaten　troops　to　Miankou；　and　the　attackers　returned　to　their　camp　much　elated。

When　the　report　came　to　Lu　Xun；　he　called　together　his　officers　and　said；　〃I　must　write　to　the　Emperor　to　abandon　the　siege　of　Xincheng；　that　the　army　may　be　employed　to　cut　off　the　retreat　of　the　Wei　army　while　I　will　attack　them　in　front。　They　will　be　harassed　by　the　double　danger；　and　we　shall　break　them。〃

All　agreed　that　this　was　a　good　plan；　and　the　memorial　was　drafted。　It　was　sent　by　the　hand　of　a　junior　officer；　who　was　told　to　convey　it　secretly。　But　this　messenger　was　captured　at　the　ferry　and　taken　before　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

Cao　Rui　read　the　dispatch；　then　said　with　a　sigh；　〃This　Lu　Xun　of　Wu　is　really　very　resourceful。〃

The　captive　was　put　into　prison；　and　Liu　Shao　was　told　off　to　defend　the　rear　and　keep　off　Sun　Quans　army。

Now　Zhuge　Jins　defeated　soldiers　were　suffering　from　hot　weather　illnesses；　and　at　length　he　was　pelled　to　write　and　tell　Lu　Xun；　and　ask　that　his　army　be　relieved　and　sent　home。

Having　read　this　dispatch；　Lu　Xun　said　to　the　messenger；　〃Make　my　obeisance　to　the　General；　and　say　that　I　will　decide。〃

When　the　messenger　returned　with　this　reply；　Zhuge　Jin　asked　what　was　doing　in　the　mander…in…Chiefs　camp。

The　messenger　replied；　〃The　soldiers　were　all　outside　planting　beans；　and　the　officers　were　amusing　themselves　at　the　gates。　They　were　playing　a　game　of　skill；　throwing　arrows　into　narrow…necked　vases。〃

Alarmed；　Zhuge　Jin　himself　went　to　his　chiefs　camp。

Said　he；　〃Cao　Rui　himself　leads　the　expedition；　and　the　enemy　is　very　strong。　How　do　you；　O　mander；　meet　this　pressing　danger？〃

Lu　Xun　replied；　〃My　messenger　to　the　Emperor　was　captured；　and　thus　my　plans　were　discovered。　Now　it　is　useless　to　prepare　to　fight；　and　so　we　had　better　retreat。　I　have　sent　in　a　memorial　to　engage　the　Emperor　to　retire　gradually。〃

Zhuge　Jin　replied；　〃Why　delay？　If　you　think　it　best　to　retire；　it　had　better　be　done　quickly。〃

〃My　army　must　retreat　slowly；　or　the　enemy　will　e　in　pursuit；　which　will　mean　defeat　and　loss。　Now　you　must　first　prepare　your　ships　as　if　you　meant　to　resist；　while　I　make　a　semblance　of　an　attack　toward　Xiangyang。　Under　cover　of　these　operations　we　shall　withdraw　into　the　South　Land；　and　the　enemy　will　not　dare　to　follow。〃

So　Zhuge　Jin　returned　to　his　own　camp　and　began　to　fit　out　his　ships　as　if　for　an　immediate　expedition；　while　Lu　Xun　made　all　preparations　to　march；　giving　out　that　he　intended　to　advance　upon　Xiangyang。

The　news　of　these　movements　were　duly　reported　in　the　Wei　camps。　When　the　leaders　heard　it；　they　wished　to　go　out　and　fight。　But　the　Ruler　of　Wei　knew　his　opponent　better　than　they　and　would　not　bring　about　a　battle。

So　he　called　his　officers　together　and　said　to　them；　〃This　Lu　Xun　is　very　crafty。　Keep　careful　guard；　but　do　not　risk　a　battle。〃

The　officers　obeyed。

A　few　days　later　the　scouts　brought　in　news：　〃The　three　armies　of　Wu　have　retired！〃

The　Ruler　of　Wei　doubted　and　sent　out　some　of　his　own　spies；　who　confirmed　the　report。

＇e＇　Sun　Zi　（aka　Sun　Wu；　Sunzi；　Suntzu；　Sun…tzu；　Sun　tzu）　the　author　of　the　famed　treatise　The　Art　of　War。　A　general　of　Wu　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period；　Sun　Zi　made　her　the　mightiest　state　during　his　lifetime　by　defeating　Chu　and　conquering　Yue。　His　treatise　the　Art　of　War　is　still　avidly　read　today　by　many。　。。。。。