第一小说网

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第237部分（第1页）

Now　Cao　Zhen　still　remembered　bitterly　that　in　the　last　campaign　Sima　Yi　had　filched　from　him　the　credit　he　hoped　to　obtain。　So　when　he　received　the　mission　of　defending　the　capitals　against　the　invading　forces；　he　detached　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li　and　sent　them　to　hold　positions　east　and　west。　Then　he　had　heard　that　Chencang　was　threatened；　so　had　sent　Wang　Shuang　to　its　relief；　and　now　to　his　joy　he　heard　of　his　henchmans　success。　He　placed　Grand　mander　Fei　Yao　in　mand　of　the　van　and　stationed　other　generals　at　strategic　and　manding　points。

Then　they　caught　a　spy。　He　was　taken　into　the　presence　of　the　mander…in…Chief　to　be　questioned。

The　man　knelt　down　and　said；　〃I　am　not　really　a　spy　in　the　bad　sense。　I　was　bringing　a　secret　munication　for　you；　Sir；　but　I　was　captured　by　one　of　the　parties　in　ambush。　Pray　send　away　your　attendants。〃

The　mans　bonds　were　loosed　and　the　tent　cleared。

The　captive　said；　〃I　am　a　confidant　of　Jiang　Wei；　who　has　entrusted　me　with　a　secret　letter。〃

〃Where　is　the　letter？〃

The　man　took　it　from　among　his　garments　and　presented　it　to　Cao　Zhen；　who　read：

〃I；　Jiang　Wei；　your　guilty　general；　make　a　hundred　prostrations　to　the　great　leader　Cao　Zhen；　now　in　the　field。　I　have　never　forgotten　that　I　was　in　the　employment　of　Wei　and　disgraced　myself；　having　enjoyed　favors；　I　never　repaid　them。　Lately　I　have　been　an　unhappy　victim　of　Zhuge　Liangs　wiles　and　so　fell　into　the　depths。　But　I　never　forgot　my　old　allegiance。　How　could　I　forget？

〃Now　happily　the　army　of　Shu　has　gone　west；　and　Zhuge　Liang　trusts　me。　I　rely　upon　your　leading　an　army　this　way。　If　resistance　be　met；　then　you　may　simulate　defeat　and　retire；　but　I　shall　be　behind　and　will　make　a　blaze　as　signal。　Then　I　shall　set　fire　to　their　stores；　whereupon　you　will　face　about　and　attack。　Zhuge　Liang　ought　to　fall　into　your　hands。　If　it　be　that　I　cannot　render　service　and　repay　my　debt　to　the　state；　then　punish　me　for　my　former　crime。

〃If　this　should　be　deemed　worthy　of　your　attention；　then　without　delay　municate　your　mands。〃

The　letter　pleased　Cao　Zhen；　and　he　said；　〃This　is　heaven…sent　help　to　aid　me　in　an　achievement。〃

Cao　Zhen　rewarded　the　messenger　and　bade　him　return　to　say　that　it　was　accepted。

Then　he　called　Fei　Yao　to　his　councils　and　said；　〃I　have　just　had　a　secret　letter　from　Jiang　Wei　telling　me　to　act　in　a　certain　fashion。〃

But　Fei　Yao　replied；　〃Zhuge　Liang　is　very　crafty；　and　Jiang　Wei　is　very　knowing。　If　by　chance　Zhuge　Liang　has　planned　all　this　and　sent　this　man；　we　may　fall　into　a　snare。〃

〃But　Jiang　Wei　is　really　a　man　of　Wei。　He　was　forced　into　surrender。　Why　are　you　suspicious？〃

〃My　advice　is　not　to　go；　but　to　remain　here　on　guard。　Let　me　go　to　meet　this　man；　and　any　service　I　can　acplish　will　redound　to　your　credit。　And　if　there　be　any　craft；　I　can　meet　it　for　you。〃

Cao　Zhen　approved　this　and　bade　Fei　Yao　take　fifty　thousand　troops　by　way　of　the　Xie　Valley。

Fei　Yao　marched　away　and　halted　after　the　second　or　third　stage　and　send　out　scouts。　This　was　done；　and　the　scouts　reported　that　the　Shu　army　was　ing　through　the　valley。　Fei　Yao　at　once　advanced；　but　before　the　troops　of　Shu　got　into　contact　with　him；　they　retired。　Fei　Yao　pursued。　Then　the　troops　of　Shu　came　on　again。　Just　as　Fei　Yao　was　forming　up　for　battle；　the　Shu　army　retreated　again。　And　these　maneuvers　were　repeated　thrice；　and　a　day　and　a　night　passed　without　any　repose　for　the　Wei　army。

At　length　rest　was　imperative；　and　they　were　on　the　point　of　entrenching　themselves　to　prepare　food　when　a　great　hubbub　arose　all　around；　and　with　beating　of　drums　and　blaring　of　trumpets；　the　whole　country　was　filled　with　the　soldiers　of　Shu。　Suddenly　there　was　a　stir　near　by　the　great　standard；　and　out　came　a　small　four…wheeled　chariot　in　which　sat　Zhuge　Liang。　He　bade　a　herald　call　the　leader　of　the　Wei　army　to　a　parley。

Fei　Yao　rode　out　and；　seeing　Zhuge　Liang；　he　secretly　rejoiced。

Turning　to　those　about　him；　Fei　Yao　said；　〃If　the　soldiers　of　Shu　e　on；　you　are　to　retire　and　look　out　for　a　signal。　If　you　see　a　blaze；　you　are　to　turn　and　attack；　for　you　will　be　reinforced　by　Jiang　Wei。〃

Then　Fei　Yao　rode　to　the　front　and　shouted；　〃You　rebel　leader　in　front　there。　How　dare　you　e　here　again　after　the　last　defeat？〃

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Go　and　call　Cao　Zhen　to　a　parley。〃

〃My　chief；　Cao　Zhen；　is　of　the　royal　stock。　Think　you　that　he　will　e　to　parley　with　rebels？〃

Zhuge　Liang　angrily　waved　his　fan；　and　there　came　forth　Ma　Dai　and　Zhang　Ni　and　their　troops　with　a　rush。　The　Wei　army　retired。　But　ere　they　had　gone　far；　they　saw　a　blaze　in　the　rear　of　the　advancing　host　of　Shu　and　heard　a　great　shouting。　Fei　Yao　could　only　conclude　that　this　was　the　signal　of　Jiang　Wei　he　was　looking　for；　and　so　he　faced　about　to　attack。

But　the　enemy　also　turned　about　and　retired。　Fei　Yao　led　the　pursuit；　sword　in　hand；　hastening　to　the　point　whence　the　shouting　came。　Nearing　the　signal　fire；　the　drums　beat　louder　than　ever；　and　then　out　came　two　armies；　one　under　Guan　Xing　and　the　other　under　Zhang　Bao；　while　arrows　and　stones　rained　from　the　hill…tops。　The　Wei　troops　could　not　stand　it　and　knew　not　only　they　were　beaten；　but　beaten　by　a　ruse。　Fei　Yao　tried　to　withdraw　his　force　into　the　shelter　of　the　valley　to　rest；　but　the　enemy　pressed　on　him；　and　the　army　of　Wei　fell　into　confusion。　Pressing　upon　each　other；　many　fell　into　the　streams　and　were　drowned。

Fei　Yao　could　do　nothing　but　flee　for　his　life。　Just　as　he　was　passing　by　a　steep　hill　there　appeared　a　cohort；　and　the　leader　was　Jiang　Wei。

Fei　Yao　began　to　upbraid　him；　crying；　〃Faithless　ingrate！　I　have　haplessly　fallen　in　your　treachery　and　craftiness！〃

Jiang　Wei　replied；　〃You　are　the　wrong　victim。　We　meant　to　capture　Cao　Zhen　not　you。　You　would　do　well　to　yield！〃

But　Fei　Yao　only　galloped　away　toward　a　ravine。　Suddenly　the　ravine　filled　with　flame。　Then　he　lost　all　hope。　The　pursuers　were　close　behind；　so　Fei　Yao　with　a　sword　put　an　end　to　his　own　life。

Of　the　army　of　Wei　many　surrendered。　The　Shu　army　pressed　home　their　advantage　and；　hastening　forward；　reached　Qishan　and　made　a　camp。　There　the　army　was　mustered　and　put　in　order。

Jiang　Wei　received　a　reward；　but　he　was　chagrined　that　Cao　Zhen　had　not　been　taken。