第一小说网

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hen　the　main　army　will　advance　to　the　camps　front　for　a　double　attack。〃

As　evening　fell　these　two　moved　out　their　troops；　and　by　the　middle　of　the　second　watch　both　had　got　behind　the　camp　of　Wei。　Due　to　darkness；　Zhang　Pu；　Cao　Xius　general；　who　was　there　in　ambush；　did　not　recognize　that　the　troops　who　approached　him　were　enemies；　but　went　as　to　meet　friends　and　was　at　once　slain　by　the　blade　of　Zhu　Huan。　The　soldiers　of　Wei　then　fled；　and　Zhu　Huan　lit　his　signal　fires。

Quan　Zong；　marching　up；　came　across　the　northern　ambush　under　Xue　Qiao。　Quan　Zong　began　a　battle　at　once；　and　the　troops　of　Wei　were　soon　put　to　flight。　Both　the　armies　of　Wu　pursued；　and　confusion　reigned　in　Cao　Xius　camp；　troops　fighting　with　others　of　their　own　side　and　slaying　each　other。

Cao　Xiu　despaired　and　fled　toward　Jiashi。　Xu　Sheng；　with　a　strong　force；　came　along　the　high　road　and　attacked。　And　the　soldiers　of　Wei　killed　were　very　many。　Those　who　escaped　did　so　by　abandoning　all　their　armors。

Cao　Xiu　was　in　straits；　but　he　struggled　along　the　Jiashi　Road。　Here　came　a　cohort　into　the　road　from　the　side。　It　was　led　by　Jia　Kui。　Cao　Xius　alarm　gave　place　to　shame　on　meeting　Jia　Kui。

〃I　took　no　notice　of　what　you　said；　and　so　this　evil　came　upon　me；〃　said　he。

Jia　Kui　replied；　〃mander；　you　should　quickly　get　out　of　this　road。　For　if　the　troops　of　Wu　block　it；　we　shall　be　in　grave　danger。〃

So　Cao　Xiu　hastened；　while　Jia　Kui　protected　his　retreat。　And　Jia　Kui　ordered　his　soldiers　to　set　flags　and　banners　up　among　trees　and　in　thickets　and　along　by…paths；　so　as　to　give　an　impression　of　having　many　men　posted　all　round。　Wherefore　when　Xu　Sheng　came　in　pursuit；　he　thought　the　country　was　full　of　ambushing　men　and　dared　not　proceed　far。　So　he　gave　up　the　pursuit　and　retired。

By　these　means　Cao　Xiu　was　rescued；　and　finally　Sima　Yi　withdrew　his　army　upon　the　news　of　Cao　Xius　defeat。

In　the　meantime；　Lu　Xun　was　awaiting　news　of　victory。　Soon　Xu　Sheng；　Zhu　Huan；　and　Quan　Zong　came　and　reported　their　successes；　and　they　brought　great　spoil　of　carts　and　bullocks；　horses　and　mules；　and　military　material　and　weapons。　And　they　had　also　ten　thousand　prisoners。　There　was　great　rejoicing；　and　Lu　Xun　with　Zhou　Fang　led　the　army　home　into　Wu。

On　their　return　Sun　Quan；　the　Prince　of　Wu；　came　out　with　a　numerous　cortege　of　officers　to　wele　the　victors；　and　an　imperial　umbrella　was　borne　over　the　head　of　Lu　Xun　as　they　wended　their　way　homeward。

When　the　officers　presented　their　felicitations；　Sun　Quan　noticed　that　Zhou　Fang　had　no　hair。

Sun　Quan　was　very　gracious　to　him；　saying；　〃This　deed　of　yours；　and　the　sacrifice　you　made　to　attain　it；　will　surely　be　written　in　the　histories。〃

He　made　Zhou　Fang　the　Lord　of　the　Gate　Within。　Then　there　were　great　feastings　and　greetings　and　much　revelry。

Lu　Xun　said；　〃Cao　Xiu　has　been　thoroughly　beaten；　and　the　soldiers　of　Wei　are　cowed。　I　think　now　is　an　occasion　to　send　letters　into　Shu　to　advise　Zhuge　Liang　to　attack　Wei。〃

Sun　Quan　agreed；　and　letters　were　sent　to　the　River　Lands。

The　east；　successful　in　one　fight；

Would　unto　war　the　west　incite。

The　next　chapter　will　say　if　Zhuge　Liang　once　more　tried　to　overe　Wei。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　97　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　97

Chapter　97

Sending　A　Second　Memorial；　Zhuge　Liang　Renews　The　Attack　On　Wei；

Forging　A　Letter；　Jiang　Wei　Defeats　The　Northern　Army。

It　was　in　the　autumn　of　the　sixth　year　of　Beginning　Prosperity　（AD　229）　that　the　Wei　army　was　defeated；　with　very　great　loss；　by　Lu　Xun　of　Wu。　Cao　Xius　mortification　brought　on　an　illness　from　which　he　died　in　Luoyang。　By　mand　of　Cao　Rui；　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　Cao　Xiu　received　most　honorable　burial。

Then　Sima　Yi　brought　the　army　home　again。

The　other　officers　went　to　wele　him　and　asked；　〃The　defeat　of　mander　Cao　Xiu　is　also　partly　yours。　Why；　O　General；　did　you　hurry　home？〃

Sima　Yi　replied；　〃I　came　for　reasons　of　strategy；　because　of　Zhuge　Liangs　probable　intentions。　If　he　knows　I　have　suffered　a　defeat；　he　may　try　to　attack　Changan。　The　whole　West　Valley　Land　would　be　helpless　if　I　did　not　return。〃

They　listened　and　smiled；　for　they　thought　he　was　afraid。

Letters　from　Wu　came　to　Shu　proposing　a　joint　attack　on　Wei　and　detailing　their　recent　victory。　In　these　letters　two　feelings　were　gratified………that　of　telling　the　story　of　their　own　grandeur　and　prowess；　and　that　of　furthering　the　design　of　a　treaty　of　peace。　The　Latter　Ruler　was　pleased　and　sent　the　letters　to　Zhuge　Liang　in　Hanzhong。

At　that　time　the　army　was　in　excellent　state；　the　soldiers　hardy；　the　horses　strong。　There　were　plentiful　supplies　of　all　kinds。　Zhuge　Liang　was　just　going　to　propose　a　new　war。

On　receipt　of　the　letter　he　made　a　great　banquet　to　discuss　an　expedition。　A　severe　gale　came　on　from　the　northeast　and　brought　down　a　fir　tree　in　front　of　the　generals　shelter。　It　was　an　inauspicious　omen　to　all　the　officers；　and　they　were　troubled。