三国演义英文版-第323章

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and　both　sides　encamped。
〃Xu　Zi　is　very　formidable。　How　can　we　overe　him？〃　asked　Jiang　Wei。
〃Tomorrow　make　pretense　of　defeat　and　so　draw　them　into　an　ambush；〃　replied　Xiahou　Ba。
〃But　remember　whose　son　this　Sima　Zhao　is；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。　〃Sima　Zhao　cannot　be　a　novice　in　war。　If　he　sees　a　likely　spot　for　an　ambush；　he　will　halt。　Now　the　troops　of　Wei　have　cut　our　transportation　many　times。　Let　us　do　the　same　to　them；　and　we　may　slay　this　Xu　Zi。〃
He　called　in　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　and　gave　them　secret　orders；　sending　them　in　different　directions。　Then　he　laid　iron　thorns　along　all　the　approaches　and　planted　thorny　barriers　as　if　making　a　permanent　defense。　When　the　troops　of　Wei　came　up　and　challenged；　the　troops　of　Shu　refused　battle。
The　scouts　reported　to　Sima　Zhao：　〃The　Shu　supplies　are　ing　up　along　the　rear　of　Iron　Cage　Mountain；　and　they　are　using　the　wooden　oxen　and　running　horses　as　transport。　The　Shu　army　are　building　permanent　defenses　and　are　awaiting　the　arrival　of　their　allies　the　Qiang　tribes。〃
Then　said　Sima　Zhao　to　Xu　Zi；　〃We　formerly　defeated　the　army　of　Shu　by　cutting　off　supplies；　and　we　can　do　that　again。　Let　five　thousand　troops　go　out　tonight　and　occupy　the　road。〃
About　the　middle　of　the　first　watch　Xu　Zi　marched　across　the　hills。　When　he　came　to　the　other　side；　he　saw　a　couple　of　hundred　soldiers　driving　a　hundred　or　so　heads　of　mechanical　animals　laden　with　grain　and　forage。　His　army　rushed　down　upon　them　with　shouts；　and　the　troops　of　Shu；　seeing　that　their　road　was　impassable；　abandoned　their　supplies　and　ran　away。　Xu　Zi　took　possession　of　the　supply　train；　which　he　sent　back　to　his　own　camp　under　the　escort　of　half　his　troops。　With　the　other　half　he　set　out　in　pursuit。
About　three　miles　away；　the　road　was　found　blocked　with　carts　set　across　the　track。　Some　of　his　soldiers　dismounted　to　clear　the　way。　But　as　they　did　so；　the　brushwood　on　both　sides　burst　into　a　blaze。　Xu　Zi　at　once　drew　off　his　force　and　turned　to　retire；　but　ing　to　a　defile　he　found　the　road　again　blocked　with　wagons；　and　again　the　brushwood　began　to　burn。　He　made　a　dash　to　escape；　but　before　he　could　get　clear　a　bomb　roared；　and　he　saw　the　troops　of　Shu　ing　down　on　him　from　two　directions。　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　from　left　and　right　fell　on　Xu　Zi　with　great　fury；　and　the　troops　of　Wei　were　wholly　defeated。　Xu　Zi　himself　got　clear；　but　without　any　following。
He　struggled　on　till　he　and　his　steed　were　almost　spent　with　fatigue。　Presently　he　saw　another　pany　of　the　enemy　in　his　way；　and　the　leader　was　Jiang　Wei。　Before　he　could　make　any　resistance；　Jiang　Wei's　spear　thrust　him　down；　and　as　Xu　Zi　lay　on　the　ground　he　was　cut　to　pieces。
Meanwhile　those　troops　of　Wei　who　had　been　sent　to　escort　to　camp　the　convoy　of　supplies　which　they　had　seized　were　captured　by　Xiahou　Ba。　They　surrendered。　Xiahou　Ba　then　stripped　them　of　their　weapons　and　clothing　and　therein　disguised　some　of　his　own　soldiers。　Holding　aloft　banners　of　Wei；　these　disguised　soldiers　made　for　the　Wei　camp。　When　they　arrived；　they　were　mistaken　by　those　in　the　camp　for　rades；　and　the　gates　were　thrown　open。　They　rushed　in　and　began　to　slay。　Taken　wholly　by　surprise；　Sima　Zhao　leaped　upon　his　steed　and　fled。　But　Liao　Hua　met　him　and　drove　him　back。　Then　appeared　Jiang　Wei　in　the　path　of　retreat；　so　that　no　road　lay　open。　Sima　Zhao　made　off　for　the　hills；　hoping　to　be　able　to　hold　out　on　the　Iron　Cage　Mountain。
Now　there　was　only　one　road　up　the　hill；　which　rose　steeply　on　all　sides。　And　the　hill　had　but　one　small　spring　of　water；　enough　to　serve　a　hundred　people　or　so；　while　Sima　Zhao's　force　numbered　six　thousand。　Their　enemies　had　blocked　the　only　road　of　escape。　This　one　fountain　was　unequal　to　supplying　the　needs　of　the　beleaguered　army；　and　soon　they　were　tormented　with　thirst。
In　despair；　Sima　Zhao　looked　up　to　heaven　and　sighed；　saying；　〃Death　will　surely　e　to　me　here！〃

The　host　of　Wei　on　Iron　Cage　Mountain
Were　once　fast　held　by　Jiang　Wei's　skill；
When　Pang　Juan　first　crossed　the　Maling　Hills；
His　strategy　was　reckoned　fine
As　Xiang　Yu　at　the　Nine　Mountains；
Both　bent　opponents　to　their　will。

In　this　critical　situation　Secretary　Wang　Tao　reminded　his　leader　of　what　Geng　Gong　had　done　in　ancient　time；　saying；　〃O　General；　why　do　you　not　imitate　Geng　Gong；　who；　being　in　great　need；　prostrated　himself　and　prayed　at　a　well；　wherefrom　he　afterwards　was　supplied　with　sweet　water？〃
So　the　leader　went　to　the　summit　of　the　hill　and　knelt　beside　the　spring　and　grayed　thus：
〃The　humble　Sima　Zhao　received　a　mand　to　repulse　the　army　of　Shu。　If　he　is　to　die　here；　then　may　this　spring　cease　its　flow；　when　he　will　end　his　own　life　and　let　his　soldiers　yield　to　the　enemy。　But　if　his　allotted　span　of　life　be　not　reached；　then；　O　Blue　Vault；　increase　the　flow　of　water　and　save　the　lives　of　this　multitude。〃
Thus　he　prayed；　and　the　waters　gushed　forth　in　plenty；　so　that　they　all　quenched　their　thirst　and　lived。
Jiang　Wei　had　surrounded　the　hill；　holding　the　army　thereon　as　in　a　prison。
He　said　to　his　officers；　〃I　have　always　regretted　that　our　great　Prime　Minister　was　unable　to　capture　Sima　Yi　in　the　Gourd　Valley；　but　now　I　think　his　son　is　doomed　to　fall　into　our　hands！〃
However；　news　of　the　dangerous　position　of　Sima　Zhao　had　e　to　Guo　Huai；　who　set　about　a　rescue。
Chen　Tai　said　to　him；　〃Jiang　Wei　has　made　a　league　with　the　Qiangs；　and　they　have　arrived　to　help　him。　If　you　go　away　to　rescue　Sima　Zhao；　the　Qiangs　will　attack　from　the　rear。　Therefore　I　would　propose　to　send　someone　to　the　tribespeople　to　try　to　create　a　diversion　and　get　them　to　retire。　If　they　are　disposed　of；　you　may　go　to　the　rescue　of　Sima　Zhao。〃
Guo　Huai　saw　there　was　much　reason　in　this；　and　told　Chen　Tai　to　take　a　force　of　five　thousand　troops　and　go　to　the　camp　of　the　King　of　the　Qiangs。　When　Chen　Tai　reached　the　camp；　he　threw　off　his　armor　and　entered　weeping　and　crying　that　he　was　in　danger　of　death。
He　said；　〃Guo　Huai　sets　himself　up　as　superior　to　everyone　and　is　trying　to　slay　me。　Therefore　I　have　e　to　offer　my　services　to　you。　I　know　all　the　secrets　of　the　Wei　army；　and；　if　you　will；　this　very　night　I　can　lead　you　to　their　camp。　I　have　friends　in　the　camp　to　help；　and　you　can　destroy　it。〃
King　Mi　Dang　was　taken　with　the　scheme；　and　sent　his　General　Ehe　Shaoge　to　go　with　Chen　Tai。　The　deserters　from　Wei　were　placed　in　the　rear；　but　Chen　Tai　himself　rode　with　the　leading　body　of　the　Qiangs。　They　set　out　at　the　second　watch　and　soon　arrived。　They　found　the　gates　open；　and　Chen　Tai　rode　in　boldly。　But　when　Ehe　Shaoge　and　his　troops　galloped　in；　there　suddenly　arose　a　great　cry　as　soldiers　and　horses　went　tumbling　into　great　pits。　At　the　same　time　Chen　Tai　came　round　in　the　rear　and　attacked；　while　Guo　Huai　appeared　on　the　flank。　The　Qiangs　trampled　each　other　down；　and　many　were　killed。　Those　who　escaped　death　surrendered；　and　the　leader；　Ehe　Shaoge；　mitted　suicide　in　a　pit。
Guo　Huai　and　Chen　Tai　then　hastened　back　into　the　camp　of　the　Qiangs。　Mi　Dang；　taken　unprepared；　rushed　out　of　his　tent　to　get　to　horse；　but　was　made　prisoner。　He　was　taken　before　Guo　Huai；　who　hastily　dismounted；　loosed　the　prisoner's　bonds；　and　soothed　him　with　kindly　words。
〃Our　government　has　always　regarded　you　as　a　loyal　and　true　friend；〃　said　Guo　Huai。　〃Why　then　are　you　helping　our　enemies？〃
Mi　Dang　sank　to　the　ground　in　confusion；　while　Guo　Huai　continued；　〃If　you　will　now　raise　the　siege　of　Iron　Cage　Mountain　and　drive　off　the　troops　of　Shu；　I　will　memorialize　the　Throne　and　obtain　a　substantial　reward　for　you。〃
Mi　Dang　agreed。　He　set　out　forthwith；　his　own　army　leading　and　the　army　of　Wei　in　the　rear。　At　the　third　watch　he　sent　on　a　messenger　to　tell　Jiang　Wei　of　his　ing。　And　the　Shu　leader　was　glad。　Mi　Dang　was　invited　to　e。　On　the　march　the　soldiers　of　Wei　had　mingled　with　the　Qiangs；　and　many　of　them　were　in　the　forefront　of　the　army。
As　they　drew　near　the　camp；　Jiang　Wei　gave　order：　〃The　army　are　to　camp　outside。　Only　the　King　can　enter　the　gate。〃
Mi　Dang　went　up　toward　the　gate　with　a　hundred　or　more　followers；　and　Jiang　Wei　with　Xiahou　Ba　went　to　wele　him。　Just　as　they　met；　before　Mi　Dang　could　say　a　word；　the　Wei　generals　dashed　on　past　him　and　set　on　to　slay。　Jiang　Wei　was　taken　aback；　leaped　on　his　steed　and　fled；　while　the　mixed　force　of　troops　of　Wei　and　Qiangs　drove　the　camp　defenders　before　them　and　sent　them　flying。
When　Jiang　Wei　leaped　upon　his　steed　at　the　gate；　he　had　no　weapon　in　his　hand；　only　his　bow　and　quiver　hung　at　his　shoulder。　In　his　hasty　flight　the　arrows　fell　out　and　the　quiver　was　empty；　so　when　he　set　off　for　the　hills　with　Guo　Huai　in　pursuit；　Jiang　Wei　had　nothing　to　oppose　to　the　spears　of　his　pursuers。　As　they　came　near　he　laid　hands　upon　his　bow　and　made　as　if　to　shoot。　The　string　twanged　and　Guo　Huai　blenched。　But　as　no　arrow　went　flying　by；　Guo　Huai　knew　Jiang　Wei　had　none　to　shoot。　Guo　Huai　therefore　hung　his　spear；　took　his　bow　and　shot。　Jiang　Wei　caught　the　arrow　as　it　flew　by　and　fitted　it　to　his　bowstring。　He　waited　till　Guo　Huai　came　quite　near；　when　he　pulled　the　string　with　all　his　force　and　sent　the　arrow　flying　straight　at　Guo　Huai's　face。　Guo　Huai　fell　even　as　the　bowstring　sang。
Jiang　Wei　pulled　up　and　turned　to　finish　his　fallen　enemy；　but　the　soldiers　o