t go out to battle。 If you do； you will lose。 Impress that upon your officers and soldiers and make them understand the strategy； while you follow the enemy's moves。 They are hastening into the wide open space； and I do not wish to hinder them。 Nor will I accept any challenge to battle； but wait till they have moved their camps into the forest and among the trees。 Then I shall have a scheme ready。〃
Han Dang agreed so far as words went； but in his heart he was still ill…conditioned。 When the Shu army drew near； a small force came to challenge。 They shouted all sorts of abuse and hurled reproaches to put their opponents to shame； but Lu Xun took no notice and bade his troops stop their ears。 He would not allow them to go out to battle； but he went from fort to redoubt； encouraging the soldiers to remain carefully on the defensive。
The First Ruler's heart burned within him at this refusal to e out to battle。
Said Ma Liang； 〃Lu Xun is a deep and crafty fellow。 He recognizes the disadvantages of Your Majesty's troops in being far from their base； and from spring to autumn he will not e out to fight till some move occurs that he may profit by。〃
〃What ruse can he be contemplating？〃 said the First Ruler。 〃The real fact is that he is afraid。 Their army has suffered nothing but defeat times and again。 They dare not meet us。〃
One day the leader of the van； Feng Xi； memorialized the First Ruler； saying； 〃The weather is scorching； and the troops are camped in the full glare of sun。 Beside； water is scarce and hard to get。〃
Thereupon orders were given to move the camps into the shade of the forest close by and near the streams till the summer heats should have passed。 This order given； Feng Xi moved the camp to a retired and shady spot for his troops。
Ma Liang said； 〃If our soldiers move； the enemy will rush out on us and we shall be hard set。〃
〃I will provide for that；〃 said the First Ruler。 〃I will send Hu Ban with ten thousand of our inferior troops to camp near their lines。 But I will choose eight thousand of veterans and place them in ambush。 Hu Ban will have orders to flee before the soldiers of Wu and lead them into my ambush if they e out； and I will cut off their retreat。 We ought to capture this precocious youth。〃
〃A genius in plans； a marvel of prevision！〃 cried all those about him as this plan was unfolded。 〃None of us can approach you in cleverness。〃
So they felicitated their ruler。
But Ma Liang said； 〃They say the Prime Minister is on a tour of inspection of the defenses in the eastern portion of Shu； seeing that they are in good order against any attack on the part of Wei。 Why not send him a sketch of your present dispositions of troops and ask his opinion？〃
〃I also am not entirely ignorant of the art of war； and I see no reason to seek advice；〃 was the cold reply。
〃There is an old saying about hearing both sides；〃 said Ma Liang。
〃Well； then you go round to all the camps and make a map and take it to the Prime Minister。 If he finds any fault； you may e and tell me。〃
So Ma Liang went； while the First Ruler busied himself with getting his army into shelter from the fierce heat of summer。
His move was no secret； and the scouts soon told Han Dang and Zhou Tai； who rejoiced at the news and soon went to tell Lu Xun。
〃All the enemies' forty camps had been moved into the shade。 Now； Sir； you can attack！〃 said they。
That was not a bad plan； an ambush to set；
Thus thought he his chiefest opponent to get。
Whether Lu Xun acted upon the suggestion of his subordinates will be seen in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 84 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Lu Xun Burns All Consecutive Camps；
Zhuge Liang Plans The Eight…Array Maze。
The last chapter closed with the report that the First Ruler had shifted camp in search of cool shade； and the news was very wele to Lu Xun。 He went forthwith to assure himself of the truth of the report and observe the new position。 A level plain lay at his feet； whereon he saw something short of ten thousand Shu troops； the greater part of whom appeared invalids。 On the banner of their leader he read the name Van Leader Hu Ban 。
〃We consider these troops children；〃 said Zhou Tai。 〃Let me and General Han Dang go out and smite them。 I will give the formal guarantee of victory。〃
The mander…in…Chief made no reply； but remained gazing out before him。
Presently he said； 〃It seems to me that an air of slaughter is rising over there from that valley。 Surely there is an ambush there。 These poor troops in the foreground are nothing but a bait。 No； Gentlemen； do not leave your positions。〃
Those who heard this took it only as another proof of the imbecility of their pedant mander。
Next day Hu Ban's soldiers approached closer and challenged to battle； swaggering about and brandishing their weapons and shouting volleys of abuse without end。 They manifested contempt by throwing off their armor and clothing and moving to and fro with the utmost carelessness； bare bodies and naked forms； blatantly unready to fight。 Some even sat or lay asleep。
Xu Sheng and Ding Feng came to the mander's tent to plain； saying； 〃Those Shu soldiers despise us so much。 Let us go out and punish them！〃
＇e＇ Sun Zi （aka Sun Wu； Sunzi； Suntzu； Sun…tzu； Sun tzu） the author of the famed treatise The Art of War。 A general of Wu in the Spring and Autumn period； Sun Zi made her the mightiest state during his lifetime by defeating Chu and conquering Yue。 His treatise the Art of War is still avidly read today by many。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Wu Qi； aka Wu Zi； a famous general in the Warring States period。 He first served Lu； then went to Wei； his native； and led Wei army against Qin。 He made enemies in Wei； so he fled to Chu； where King Dao made him prime minister。 Wu Qi made Chu a powerful state； expanded her territory； defended her against Wei； Zhao； and Han； and attacked Qin。 Wu Qi is the author of a military treatise named 〃Wu Qi's Art of War〃。 。。。。。
But Lu Xun only smiled； saying； 〃You see things from the view point of brute courage。 You seem not to know the principles of war laid down by Sun Zi* and Wu Qi*。 This display is only meant to entice us into fight。 You will see the pretense yourselves in about three days。〃
〃In three days the change of camp will be plete； and the enemy will be too strongly posted for our success；〃 said they。
〃I am just letting them move their camp。〃
Xu Sheng and Ding Feng left the tent also sniggering。
But on the third day the officers were assembled at a look…out point； whence they saw that the army under Hu Ban had left。
〃There is still a deadly look over the valley；〃 said Lu Xun； pointing to the hills。 〃Liu Bei will soon appear。〃
Very soon they saw a whole army all well accoutered pass across the field escorting the First Ruler。 And the sight took away all their courage。
〃That is why I would not listen to those of you who wanted to fight Hu Ban；〃 said Lu Xun。 〃Now that the ambush has been withdrawn； we can settle them in about ten days。〃
〃The proper time to attack was when they began to transfer their camp。 Now they are fully established with encampments stretching two hundred miles。 Having spent seven or eight months in strengthening where they might be attacked； will it not be difficult to destroy them？〃 said they。
〃I see you do not understand how to carry on war。 This man Liu Bei is a capable and crafty man。 When he first started on this expedition his methods were of the best； and he kept them so for a long time； so we have to avoid him。 When his troops are worn out and his thoughts cease to be clear； that will be our day to attack。〃
At last they agreed with their chief。
The general discoursed on war；
According to the book；
Right craftily the bait for whales
Was put upon the hook。
When kingdoms three were carved out；
Though famous men were many；
Lu Xun the hero of Wu
At least stands high as any。
Lu Xun had already had the plan whereby the Shu army was to be crushed； and at this stage he wrote to the Prince of Wu in full details； even naming a day for the victory。
〃We have found another remarkably able leader；〃 said the Prince； 〃and I have no further anxiety。 They all said he was a useless pedant； and only I knew better。 Reading this