第一小说网

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第231部分（第1页）

Wang　Ping　replied；　〃Though　they　might　not　dare　to　e；　we　should　set　our　camp　at　this　meeting　of　many　roads。〃

So　Wang　Ping　ordered　his　soldiers　to　fell　trees　and　build　a　strong　stockade　as　for　a　permanent　stay。

But　Ma　Su　had　a　different　idea。

〃What　sort　of　a　place　is　a　road　to　make　a　camp　in？　Here　is　a　hill　standing　solitary　and　well　wooded。　It　is　a　heaven…created　point　of　vantage；　and　we　will　camp　on　it。〃

〃You　are　wrong；　Counselor；〃　replied　Wang　Ping。　〃If　we　camp　on　the　road　and　build　a　strong　wall；　the　enemy　cannot　possibly　get　past。　If　we　abandon　this　for　the　hill；　and　the　troops　of　Wei　e　in　force；　we　shall　be　surrounded；　and　how　then　be　safe？〃

〃You　look　at　the　thing　like　a　child；〃　said　Ma　Su；　laughing。　〃The　rules　of　war　say　that　when　one　looks　down　from　a　superior　position；　one　can　overe　the　enemy　as　easily　as　cleaving　bamboo。　If　they　e；　I　will　see　to　it　that　not　a　breastplate　ever　goes　back　again。〃

〃I　have　followed　our　mander…in…Chief　in　many　campaigns；　and　always　has　he　explained　in　details　about　the　topography　and　given　out　well…thought　orders。　Now　I　have　studied　this　hill　carefully；　and　it　is　a　critical　spot。　If　we　camp　thereon　and　the　enemy　cut　off　our　water　supply；　we　shall　have　a　mutiny。〃

〃No　such　thing！〃　said　Ma　Su。　〃Sun　Zi　says　that　victory　lies　in　desperate　positions。　If　they　cut　off　our　water；　will　not　our　soldiers　be　desperate　and　fight　to　the　death？　Then　everyone　of　them　will　be　worth　a　hundred。　I　have　studied　the　books；　and　the　Prime　Minister　has　always　asked　my　advice。　Why　do　you　presume　to　oppose　me？〃

〃If　you　are　determined　to　camp　on　the　hill；　then　give　me　part　of　the　force　to　camp　there　on　the　west　so　that　I　can　support　you　in　case　the　enemy　e。〃

But　Ma　Su　refused。　Just　then　a　lot　of　the　inhabitants　of　the　hills　came　running　along　saying　that　the　Wei　soldiers　had　e。

Wang　Ping　was　still　bent　on　going　his　own　way；　and　so　Ma　Su　said　to　him；　〃Since　you　will　not　obey　me；　I　will　give　you　five　thousand　troops　and　you　can　go　and　make　your　own　camp。　But　when　I　report　my　success　to　the　Prime　Minister；　you　shall　have　no　share　of　the　merit。〃

Wang　Ping　marched　about　three　miles　from　the　hill　and　made　his　camp。　He　drew　a　plan　of　the　place　and　sent　it　quickly　to　Zhuge　Liang　with　a　report　that　Ma　Su　had　camped　on　the　hill。

While　Sima　Yi　was　marching　toward　Jieting；　he　sent　his　younger　son　to　reconnoiter　the　road　and　to　find　out　whether　it　had　a　garrison。

Said　Sima　Yi；　〃If　there　is　a　garrison；　do　not　advance　further。〃

Sima　Zhao　returned　to　report：　〃Jieting　has　already　been　occupied　by　Shu。〃

〃Zhuge　Liang　is　rather　more　than　human；〃　said　his　father　regretfully　when　Sima　Zhao　gave　in　his　report。　〃He　is　too　much　for　me。〃

〃Why　are　you　despondent；　Father？　I　think　Jieting　is　not　so　difficult　to　take。〃

〃How　dare　you　utter　such　bold　words？〃

〃Because　I　have　seen。　There　is　no　camp　on　the　road；　but　the　enemy　are　camped　on　the　hill。〃

This　was　glad　news。

〃If　they　are　on　the　hill；　then　Heaven　means　a　victory　for　me；〃　said　his　father。

At　night　Sima　Yi　changed　into　another　dress；　took　a　small　escort；　and　rode　out　to　see　for　himself。　The　moon　shone　brilliantly；　and　he　rode　to　the　hill　whereon　was　the　camp　and　looked　all　round　it；　thoroughly　reconnoitering　the　neighborhood。　Ma　Su　saw　him；　but　only　laughed。

〃If　Sima　Yi　has　any　luck；　he　will　not　try　to　surround　this　hill；〃　said　he。

Ma　Su　issued　an　order　to　his　generals：　〃In　case　the　enemy　e；　you　are　to　look　to　the　summit　for　a　signal　with　a　red　flag；　when　you　shall　rush　down　on　all　sides。〃

Sima　Yi　returned　to　his　camp　and　sent　out　to　inquire　who　manded　in　Jieting。

They　told　him；　〃He　is　Ma　Su；　brother　of　Ma　Liang。〃

〃A　man　of　false　reputation　and　very　ordinary　ability；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃If　Zhuge　Liang　uses　such　as　Ma　Su；　he　will　fail。〃

Then　he　asked；　〃Are　there　any　other　camps　near　the　place？〃

And　they　reported；　〃Wang　Pings　camp　is　about　three　miles　off。〃

Wherefore　Zhang　He　was　ordered　to　go　and　check　Wang　Ping　from　ing　to　rescue。　Zhang　He　marched　out　and　placed　himself　between　Wang　Ping　and　the　hill。

This　done；　Sima　Yi　ordered　Shen　Yi　and　Shen　Dan　to　surround　the　hill　and　to　block　the　road　to　the　water　supply。　Lack　of　water　would　cause　a　mutiny；　and　when　that　occurred；　it　would　be　time　to　attack。