第一小说网

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第234部分（第2页）

Zhou　Fang　wept。　He　seized　a　sword　from　one　of　his　escort　and　was　about　to　kill　himself；　but　Cao　Xiu　stopped　him。

Still　leaning　on　the　sword；　Zhou　Fang　said；　〃As　to　the　seven　things　I　mentioned；　my　regret　is　that　I　cannot　show　you　all。　You　doubt　me　because　some　persons　from　Wu　and　Wei　have　been　poisoning　your　mind　against　me。　If　you　heed　them；　the　only　course　for　me　is　to　die。　Heaven　only　can　make　manifest　my　loyal　heart。〃

Again　he　made　to　slay　himself。

But　Cao　Xiu　in　trepidation　threw　his　arms　about　him；　saying；　〃I　did　not　mean　it。　The　words　were　uttered　in　jest。　Why　do　you　act　thus？〃

Upon　this；　Zhou　Fang；　with　his　sword；　cut　off　his　hair　and　threw　it　on　the　ground；　saying；　〃I　have　dealt　with　you　with　sincerity；　Sir；　and　you　joke　about　it。　Now　I　have　cut　off　the　hair；　which　I　inherited　from　my　parents；　in　order　to　prove　my　sincerity。〃

Then　Cao　Xiu　doubted　no　more；　but　trusted　him　fully　and　prepared　a　banquet　for　him；　and　when　the　feast　was　over　Zhou　Fang　returned　to　his　own。

General　Jia　Kui　came　to　Cao　Xiu；　and　when　asked　whether　there　was　any　special　reason　for　the　visit；　he　said；　〃I　have　e　to　warn　you；　mander；　to　be　cautious　and　wait　till　you　and　I　can　attack　the　enemy　together。　The　whole　army　of　Wu　is　encamped　at　Huancheng。〃

〃You　mean　you　want　to　share　in　my　victory；〃　sneered　Cao　Xiu。

〃It　is　said　Zhou　Fang　cut　off　his　hair　as　a　pledge　of　sincerity。　That　is　only　another　bit　of　deceit。　According　to　the　Spring　and　Autumn　Annals；　Yao　Li　cut　off　his　arm　as　a　pledge　of　loyalty　before　he　assassinated　King　Qing　Ji。　Mutilation　is　no　guarantee。　Do　not　trust　Zhou　Fang。〃

〃Why　do　you　e　to　utter　ill…omened　words　just　as　I　am　opening　the　campaign？　You　destroy　the　spirit　of　the　army；〃　said　Cao　Xiu。

In　his　wrath　he　told　the　lictors　to　put　Jia　Kui　to　death。

However；　the　officers　interceded；　saying；　〃Before　the　march；　killing　our　general　is　not　favorable　to　the　army。　O　mander；　spare　him　until　after　the　expedition。〃

And　Jia　Kui　was　reprieved。　But　he　was　not　assigned　any　part　in　the　campaign；　and　his　troops　were　left　in　reserve。　Cao　Xiu　himself　went　away　to　the　East　Pass。

When　Zhou　Fang　heard　that　Jia　Kui　had　been　broken；　he　rejoiced　in　his　heart；　saying；　〃If　Cao　Xiu　had　attended　to　his　words；　then　Wu　would　have　lost。　Heaven　is　good　to　me　and　is　giving　me　the　means　of　achieving　great　things。〃

Then　he　sent　a　secret　messenger　to　Huancheng；　and　Lu　Xun　knew　that　the　time　had　e。　He　assembled　the　officers　for　orders。

Lu　Xun　said；　〃Shiding；　lying　over　against　us；　is　a　hilly　country　fit　for　preparing　an　ambush。　It　will　be　occupied　as　suitable　to　array　our　army　and　await　the　ing　of　Wei。　Xu　Sheng　is　to　be　Leader　of　the　Van；　and　the　army　will　move　there。〃

Now　Cao　Xiu　told　Zhou　Fang　to　lead　the　way　for　his　attack。　While　on　march；　Cao　Xiu　asked；　〃What　is　the　place　lying　ahead？〃

Zhou　Fang　replied；　〃Shiding；　a　suitable　place　to　camp　in。〃

So　a　great　camp　was　made　there。

But　soon　after　the　scouts　reported；　〃Wu　soldiers；　unknown　in　number；　have　camped　among　the　hills。〃

Cao　Xiu　began　to　feel　alarmed；　saying；　〃Zhou　Fang　said　there　were　no　soldiers。　Why　these　preparations？〃

Cao　Xiu　hastily　sought　Zhou　Fang　to　ask　him；　but　was　told；　〃Zhou　Fan　has　gone　away　with　a　few　dozen　riders。　No　one　knows　whither。〃

〃I　have　been　deceived　and　am　in　a　trap；〃　said　Cao　Xiu；　now　very　repentant　of　his　easy　confidence。　〃However；　there　is　nothing　to　fear。〃

Then　he　made　his　arrangements　to　march　against　the　enemy；　and　when　they　were　plete　and　the　array　drawn　up；　Zhang　Pu；　the　Leader　of　the　Van；　rode　out　and　began　to　rail　at　the　men　of　Wu。

〃Rebel　leader；　e　and　surrender！〃　cried　Zhang　Pu。

Then　rode　out　Xu　Sheng　and　fought　with　him。　But　Zhang　Pu　was　no　match　for　Xu　Sheng；　as　was　soon　evident；　wherefore　he　led　his　troops　to　retire。

〃Xu　Sheng　is　too　strong；〃　said　Zhang　Pu　when　he　saw　Cao　Xiu。

〃Then　will　we　defeat　him　by　a　surprise；〃　said　Cao　Xiu。

He　sent　Zhang　Pu　with　twenty　thousand　troops　to　hide　in　the　south　of　Shiding；　while　another　equal　party　under　Xue　Qiao　was　sent　north。

And　Cao　Xiu　arranged；　saying；　〃Tomorrow　I　will　lead　a　thousand　soldiers　to　provoke　the　troops　of　Wu　into　battle；　then　I　will　feign　defeat　and　lead　them　to　the　hills　in　the　north；　when　a　bomb　will　explode　and　a　three…pronged　ambush　will　bring　us　victory。〃

On　the　other　side　Lu　Xun　called　his　two　generals；　Zhu　Huan　and　Quan　Zong；　and　said；　〃Each　of　you　is　to　lead　thirty　thousand　troops　and　take　a　cross　cut　from　Shiding　to　the　enemys　camp。　Give　a　fire　signal　behind　the　camp　on　arrival；　and　then　the　main　army　will　advance　to　the　camps　front　for　a　double　at