第一小说网

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第240部分（第2页）

〃However；　that　was　a　glorious　exploit　last　year　when　Wang　Shuang　was　slain。　This　year；　Guo　Huai　has　been　driven　back　and　the　Qiangs　have　been　reduced；　the　two　counties　of　Wudu　and　Yinping　have　been　captured；　you　have　driven　fear　into　the　hearts　of　all　evil　doers　and　thus　rendered　magnificent　services。

〃But　the　world　is　in　confusion；　and　the　original　evil　has　not　been　destroyed。　You　fill　a　great　office；　for　you　direct　the　affairs　of　the　state。　It　is　not　well　for　you　to　remain　under　a　cloud　for　any　length　of　time　and　cloak　your　grand　virtue；　wherefore　I　restore　you　to　the　rank　of　Prime　Minister　and　pray　you　not　to　decline　the　honor。〃

Zhuge　Liang　heard　the　edict　to　the　end　and　then　said；　〃My　task　is　not　yet　acplished。　How　can　I　return　to　my　duties　as　Prime　Minister？　I　must　really　decline　to　accept　this。〃

Fei　Yi　said；　〃If　you　decline　this；　you　flout　the　desires　of　the　Emperor　and　also　show　contempt　for　the　feelings　of　the　army。　At　any　rate　accept　for　the　moment。〃

Then　Zhuge　Liang　humbly　bowed　acquiescence。

Fei　Yi　took　leave　and　returned。

Seeing　that　Sima　Yi　remained　obstinately　on　the　defensive；　Zhuge　Liang　thought　of　a　plan　by　which　to　draw　him。　He　gave　orders　to　break　camp　and　retire。

When　the　scouts　told　Sima　Yi；　he　said；　〃We　may　not　move。　Certainly　there　is　some　deep　craftiness　in　this　move。〃

Zhang　He　said；　〃It　must　mean　that　their　food　is　exhausted。　Why　not　pursue？〃

〃I　reckon　that　Zhuge　Liang　laid　up　ample　supplies　last　year。　Now　the　wheat　is　ripe；　and　he　has　plenty　of　every　sort。　Transport　might　be　difficult；　but　yet　he　could　hold　out　half　a　year。　Why　should　he　run　away？　He　sees　that　we　resolutely　refuse　battle；　and　he　is　trying　some　ruse　to　inveigle　us　into　fighting。　Send　out　spies　to　a　distance　to　see　what　is　going　on。〃

They　reconnoitered　a　long　way　round；　and　the　scouts　returned　to　say　that　a　camp　had　been　formed　ten　miles　away。

〃Ah；　then　he　is　not　running　away；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃Remain　on　the　defensive　still　more　strictly　and　do　not　advance。〃

Ten　days　passed　without　further　news；　nor　did　the　soldiers　of　Shu　offer　the　usual　challenge。　Again　spies　were　sent　far　afield；　and　they　reported　a　further　retreat　of　ten　miles　and　a　new　encampment。

〃Zhuge　Liang　is　certainly　working　some　scheme；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃Do　not　pursue。〃

Another　ten　days　passed　and　spies　went　out。　The　enemy　had　gone　ten　miles　farther　and　encamped。

Zhang　He　said；　〃What　makes　you　so　over…suspicious？　I　can　see　that　Zhuge　Liang　is　retreating　into　Hanzhong；　only　he　is　doing　it　gradually　and　arousing　our　suspicion。　Why　not　pursue　before　it　is　too　late。　Let　me　go　and　fight　one　battle。〃

〃No；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃A　defeat　would　destroy　the　morale　of　our　soldiers；　and　I　will　not　risk　it。　Zhuge　Liangs　vile　tricks　are　innumerable。〃

〃If　I　go　and　get　beaten；　I　will　stand　the　full　rigor　of　military　punishment；〃　said　Zhang　He。

〃Well；　if　you　are　set　on　going；　we　will　divide　the　army。　You　take　your　wing　and　go；　but　you　will　have　to　fight　your　best。　I　will　follow　to　help　in　case　of　need。　Tomorrow　you　should　march　only　halfway　and　rest　your　troops　for　the　battle。〃

So　Zhang　He　got　independent　mand　of　thirty　thousand　troops　and　took　Dai　Ling　as　his　second　in　mand；　and　he　had　a　few　score　of　generals　as　assistants。　Halfway　they　camped。　Then　Sima　Yi；　leaving　a　substantial　guard　for　his　camp；　set　out　along　the　same　road　with　fifty　thousand　troops。

Zhuge　Liang　knew　the　movements　of　the　army　of　Wei　and　when　Zhang　Hes　army　camped　to　rest。　In　the　night　he　summoned　his　generals　and　told　them。

〃The　enemy　are　ing　in　pursuit　and　will　fight　desperately。　You　will　have　to　fight　everyone　of　you　like　ten；　but　I　will　set　an　ambush　to　attack　their　rear。　Only　a　wise　and　bold　leader　is　fit　for　this　task。〃

Wang　Ping　stepped　forth　and　said　he　was　willing　to　go　on　this　expedition。

〃But　if　you　fail；　what　then？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃Then　there　is　the　military　rule。〃

Zhuge　Liang　sighed。　〃Wang　Ping　is　most　loyal。　He　is　willing　to　risk　wounds　and　death　in　his　countrys　service。　However；　the　enemy　are　in　two　divisions；　one　ing　in　front；　the　other　trying　to　get　round　to　the　rear。　Wang　Ping　is　crafty　and　bold；　but　he　cannot　be　in　two　places　at　once；　so　I　must　have　yet　another　general。　Is　it　that　among　you　there　is　no　other　willing　to　devote　himself　to　death？〃

He　did　not　wait　long　for　a　reply。　Zhang　Yi　stepped　to　the　front。

〃Zhang　He　is　a　most　famous　leader　in　Wei　and　valorous　beyond　all　pare。　You　are　not　a　match　for　him；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃If　I　fail；　may　my　head　fall　at　the　tent　door；〃　said　Zhang　Yi。

〃Since　you　wish　to　go；　I　accept　you。　Each　of　you　shall　have　ten　thousand　veterans。　You　will　hide　in　the　valleys　till　the　enemy　e　up；　and　you　will　let　them　pass。　Then　you　will　fall　upon　their　rear。　If　Sima　Yi　es；　you　must　divide　the　army；　Zhang　Yi　to　hold　the　rear　and　Wang　Ping　to　check　the　advance。　But　they　will　fight　desperately；　and　I　must　find　a　way　to　aid　you。〃

When　they　had　gone；　Jiang　Wei　and　Liao　Hua　were　called；　and　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃I　am　going　to　give　you　a　silken　bag。　You　are　to　proceed　s