第一小说网

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第272部分（第1页）

ntatives　of　its　own　power；　and　the　people　were　weak　and　enslaved；　the　empire　was　rived　asunder；　and　there　succeeded　a　time　of　contention；　when　every　bold　soul　strove　with　his　neighbor。

〃But　we　are　now　in　other　times。　Since　there　is　not　the　state　of　confusion　that　waited　on　the　end　of　Qin；　but　a　state　of　things　more　nearly　like　that　of　the　period　of　the　Warring　States；　in　which　six　kingdoms　contended　for　the　mastery；　therefore　one　may　play　the　part　of　King　Wen。　If　one　would　found　a　dynasty；　then　must　that　one　wait　upon　time　and　favorable　destiny。　With　these　in　his　favor；　the　consummation　will　follow　forthwith；　as　the　armies　of　Kings　Tang*　and　Wu*　fought　but　one　battle。　Therefore　have　real　passion　for　the　people　and　wait　on　opportunity。　If　wars　are　constant；　and　a　mishap　e；　even　the　wisest　will　be　unable　to　show　the　way　of　safety。〃

〃An　effusion　from　the　pen　of　a　rotten　pedant？〃　cried　Jiang　Wei　wrathfully　as　he　finished　reading；　and　he　dashed　the　essay　on　the　ground　in　contempt。

The　protest　was　disregarded；　and　the　army　marched。

〃In　your　opinion　where　should　we　begin？〃　asked　he　of　Fu　Qian。

Fu　Qian　replied；　〃The　great　storehouse　of　Wei　is　at　Changcheng；　and　we　ought　to　burn　their　grain　and　forage。　Let　us　go　out　by　the　Luo　Valley　and　cross　the　Shen　Ridge。　After　the　capture　of　Changcheng；　we　can　go　on　to　Qinchuan；　and　the　conquest　of　the　Middle　Land　will　be　near。〃

〃What　you　say　just　fits　in　with　my　secret　plans；〃　replied　Jiang　Wei。

So　the　army　marched　to　the　Luo　Valley　and　crossed　the　Shen　Ridge。

The　mander　in　Changcheng　was　Sima　Wang；　a　cousin　of　Sima　Zhao。　Huge　stores　of　grain　were　in　the　city；　but　its　defenses　were　weak。　So　when　Sima　Wang　heard　of　the　approach　of　the　Shu　army；　he　and　his　two　leaders；　Wang　Zhen　and　Li　Peng；　made　a　camp　seven　miles　from　the　walls　to　keep　any　attack　at　a　distance。

When　the　enemy　came　up；　Sima　Wang　and　his　two　generals　went　forth　from　the　ranks　to　meet　them。

Jiang　Wei　stood　in　the　front　of　his　army　and　said；　〃Sima　Zhao　has　forced　his　prince　to　go　with　him　to　war；　which　plainly　indicates　that　he　intends　to　emulate　the　deeds　of　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si。　My　government　has　manded　me　to　punish　this　fault。　Wherefore　I　say　to　you　yield　at　once。　For　if　you　persist　in　the　way　of　error；　you　and　yours　shall　all　be　put　to　death！〃

Sima　Wang　shouted　back；　〃You　and　yours　are　wholly　strangers　to　any　feeling　of　rectitude。　You　have　repeatedly　invaded　a　superior　states　territory。　If　you　do　not　at　once　retire；　I　will　see　to　it　that　not　even　a　breastplate　returns！〃

With　these　words　General　Wang　Zhen　rode　out；　his　spear　set　ready　to　thrust。　From　the　host　of　Shu　came　Fu　Qian　to　take　the　challenge；　and　the　two　champions　engaged。　After　a　few　encounters　Fu　Qian　tempted　his　opponent　by　feigning　weakness。　Wang　Zhen　thrust　at　the　opening　he　gave。　Fu　Qian　evaded　the　blow；　snatched　Wang　Zhen　out　of　the　saddle；　and　bore　him　off。

Seeing　this；　his　colleague；　Li　Peng　whirled　up　his　sword　and　went　pounding　down　toward　the　captor。　Fu　Qian　went　but　slowly；　thus　luring　Li　Peng　into　rash　pursuit。　When　Li　Peng　was　near　enough；　Fu　Qian　dashed　his　prisoner　with　all　his　strength　to　the　earth；　took　a　firm　grip　on　his　four…edged　brand；　and　smote　Li　Peng　full　in　the　face。　The　blow　knocked　out　an　eye；　and　Li　Peng　fell　dead。　Wang　Zhen　had　been　already　killed　by　the　Shu　troops　as　he　lay　on　the　ground。　Both　generals　being　dead；　the　troops　of　Wei　fled　into　the　city　and　barred　the　gates。

Jiang　Wei　gave　orders　for　the　army　to　rest　that　night　and　take　the　city　on　the　morrow　with　all　vigor。

Next　day；　at　dawn；　the　assault　began。　The　soldiers；　fresh　from　their　rest；　vied　with　each　other　who　should　be　first　on　the　wall。　They　shot　over　the　ramparts　fire…arrows　and　firebombs　and　burned　all　the　buildings　on　the　wall。　They　next　brought　up　brushwood　and　piled　it　against　the　rampart　and　set　it　alight；　so　that　the　flames　rose　high。

When　the　city　seemed　about　to　fall；　the　defenders　set　up　a　howling　and　a　lamentation　that　could　be　heard　all　around。　But　suddenly　a　great　rolling　of　drums　diverted　the　attention　of　the　assailants　from　the　city；　and　they　turned　their　faces　to　see　a　great　host　of　Wei　soldiers　marching　up　in　all　the　glory　of　waving　banners。　Jiang　Wei　faced　about　to　meet　this　attack　and　took　his　place　beneath　the　great　standard。

Presently　Jiang　Wei　made　out　a　youthful…looking　leader　riding　in　advance　with　his　spear　ready　to　thrust。　He　looked　scarcely　more　than　twenty　years　of　age；　his　face　was　smooth　as　if　powdered；　and　his　lips　were　crimson。　But　from　them　came　fierce　words。

〃Do　you　recognize　General　Deng？〃　cried　he。

〃So　this　is　Deng　Ai；〃　thought　Jiang　Wei。

Thereupon　Jiang　Wei　set　his　spear　and　rode　out。　Both　were　adepts　in　arms　and　neither　gave　the　other　an　opening；　so　that　at　the　end　of　near　half　a　hundred　bouts　neither　could　claim　advantage。　The　youth　wielded　his　spear　with　perfect　skill。

〃If　I　cannot　gain　the　advantage　by　some　ruse；　how　shall　I　win？〃　thought　Jiang　Wei。

So　he　turned　aside　his　steed　and　dashed　along　a　certain　road　that　led　to　the　hills。　The　youth　followed。　Presently　Jiang　Wei　slung　his　spear；　laid　hands　upon　his　bow；　chose　with　care　a　feathered　arrow；　and　laid　it　on　the　string。　But　the　youth　was　quick　of　eye；　and　as　the　bowstring　sang；　he　bent　his　head　over　the　saddle　and　the　arrow　passed　harmlessly　by。

The　next　time　Jiang　Wei　turned；　he　saw　his　pursuer　close　upon　him；　and　already　the　spear　was　threatening　his　life。　But　as　the　youth　thrust；　Jiang　Wei　evaded　the　blow　and　caught　the　shaft　under　his　arm。　Thus　deprived　of　his　weapon；　the　young　man　made　for　his　own　array。

〃What　a　pity！　What　a　great　pity！〃　cried　Jiang　Wei；　turning　to　pursue。

He　followed　the　young　general　close　up　to　the　standard。

But　just　as　he　came　near；　a　warrior　came　to　the　front；　shouting；　〃Jiang　Wei；　you　fool；　do　not　pursue　my　son　when　I；　Deng　Ai；　am　here！〃

Jiang　Wei　was　taken　aback；　so　he　had　only　been　contending　with　Deng　Zhong；　the　son　of　his　real　opponent。　Although　he　was　astonished　at　the　skill　and　vigor　of　the　youth；　he　now　knew　that　a　heavier　task　lay　before　him　and　feared　lest　his　steed　was　then　too　far　spent　for　the　contest。

So　he　said　to　Deng　Ai；　〃Seeing　things　are　so；　let　us　both　hold　off　our　troops　till　the　morrow；　when　we　will　fight。〃

Deng　Ai；　glancing　around；　saw　that　the　place　was　ill…suited　for　him；　so　he　agreed　to　wait；　saying；　〃Let　us　lead　off　our　armies　then；　and　whoever　shall　take　any　secret　advantage　is　a　base　fellow。〃

Both　sides　retired　into　camp；　Deng　Ai　on　the　bank　of　River　Wei；　and　Jiang　Wei　on　the　hills。

Deng　Ai　saw　that　the　army　of　Shu　had　the　advantage　of　position；　so　he　wrote　off　at　once　to　Sima　Wang：

〃General；　we　should　not　give　battle；　but　wait　for　reinforcements。　Meanwhile　the　soldiers　of　Shu　will　be　consuming　their　supply　of　grain；　and　we　will　attack　on　three　sides　when　they　begin　to　be　hungry。　I　send　my　son　Deng　Zhong　to　you　for　further　help　in　the　defense　of　the　city。〃