lose your rank。 The state will have tranquillity and the people rejoice。 Is not that a desirable consummation？〃
Zhuge Liang laughed。
Said he； 〃I regarded you as an old and tried servant of the Han Dynasty and thought you would hold some noble discourse。 Could I imagine you would talk so foully？ I have a word to say that all the armies may hear。 In the days of Emperors Huan and Ling the rule of Han declined； the officers of state were the authors of evil； the government fell into confusion； and misfortune settled on the country。 Trouble was rife in every quarter。 The Yellow Scaves； Dong Zhuo； Li Jue and Guo Si； and other rebels arose one after another； deposing the emperor and afflicting the people。 Because the household officers were corrupt and foolish； and the court officials were as brute beasts； living only that they might feed； because high people； wolfishly cruel in their hearts； savagely mean in their conduct； were in office one after another； and slavish flatterers bending slavish knees confounded the administration； therefore the Throne became as a waste heap； and the people were trodden into the mire。
〃I know all about you。 You came from the eastern seashore。 You got into office with a remendation of filial piety and integrity； you properly aided your sovereign and supported the state； cared for the tranquillity of Han and magnified the Lius。 But could one have imagined that you would turn and assist rebels and enter into a plot to usurp the Throne？ Indeed your crime is great and your guilt heavy。 Heaven and earth will not suffer you。 The inhabitants of this land would devour you。
〃But happily the design of Heaven is to retain the glorious dynasty。 The late Emperor Bei continued the line in the River Lands； and I have been entrusted by the present Emperor with the task of destroying you rebels。
〃Since you are such a false and specious minister； you have but to hide your body and cover your head； concern yourself about your belly and your back。 Do not e out before the armies to rave about the decrees of Heaven。 You fool and rebel！ Mark you； today is your last day。 This day even you descend to the Nine Golden Springs。 How will you stand before the twenty…four emperors of Latter Han that you will meet there？ Retire； you rebel！ Go tell your rebellious panions to e and fight one battle with me that shall decide the victory。〃
Fierce wrath filled the old man's breast。 With one despairing cry Wang Lang fell to the earth dead。
This exploit of Zhuge Liang's has been lauded in verse：
In west Qin； when the armies met in the field；
He； the bold one； singly faced a myriad warriors；
And with a simple weapon； just his tongue；
He did to death a wicked minister。
After Wang Lang had fallen； Zhuge Liang waved the fan toward Cao Zhen and said； 〃As for you； I leave you alone for this occasion。 Go and get your army in order for tomorrow's battle。〃
The chariot turned and left the ground。 Both armies retired for that day。 To Cao Zhen fell the melancholy duty of rendering the last services to the aged Minister and setting his coffin on its journey to Changan。
Then said General Guo Huai； 〃Zhuge Liang will certainly think the army occupied with mourning and make a night attack。 Let us anticipate him and set out an ambush about our camp。 Let two bodies of our troops be hidden outside and two others take the occasion to raid the camp of the enemy。〃
〃I thought of such a scheme myself；〃 said Cao Zhen。 〃It exactly suits my plans。〃
So Cao Zhen gave order to Cao Zun and Zhu Zan： 〃You are to take ten thousand troops each； get away by the rear of the mountain； and look out for the passing of the soldiers of Shu。 When they have gone by； you are to make for their camp。 But you are only to attempt a raid if they have left。〃
Cao Zun and Zhu Zan took the order and left。 Then the mander…in…Chief arranged with Guo Huai each to lead a force and hide outside the camp to wait for the raid of Shu。 Only a few soldiers were to be left within to make a fire if the enemy were seen to be ing。 And all generals set about the necessary preparations。
When Zhuge Liang reached his tent； he called to him Zhao Yun and Wei Yan； and said to them； 〃You two are to make a night attack。〃
〃Cao Zhen is a man of experience and will be on the lookout；〃 ventured Wei Yan。
〃But that is just what I want： I want him to know we shall attack tonight。 He will then put some troops in hiding in rear of the Qishan Mountains； who will make for our camp as soon as they see us pass toward theirs。 I am sending you to let yourselves be seen passing the hill。 but you are to camp behind it and at a distance。 When the soldiers of Wei attack this camp； you will see a signal。 Then Wei Yan will hold the approach to the hill； and Zhao Yun will make his way back in fighting order。 He will meet the army of Wei returning and will let them pass。 The enemy will assuredly fall to fighting among themselves； and we shall finish the battle。〃
These two having gone away to carry out their portions of the plan； Zhuge Liang next called up Guan Xing and Zhang Bao： 〃You are to take each ten thousand troops and hide in the high road to the mountain。 When the troops of Wei e； let them pass and then march along the road they came by to their camp that they have just left。〃
These two having left； Zhuge Liang placed Ma Dai； Wang Ping； Zhang Ni； and Zhang Yi in ambush about the camp。
Within the camp the tents and shelters were left standing as if the camp was occupied； while wood and straw were heaped up ready to give the signal。 This done； Zhuge Liang and his officers retired to the rear of the camp to watch the proceedings。
On the side of Wei the two Van Leaders； Cao Zun and Zhu Zan； left at dusk and hastened toward the camp of Shu。 About the second watch they saw troops busily moving about in front of the hill。
Cao Zun thought to himself； 〃General Guo Huai is an excellent strategist and of wonderful prevision。〃
Then he hastened the march； and in the third watch reached the camp of Shu。 He at once dashed into the enclosure； but only to find it totally deserted。 Not a man was visible。 At once he knew he had stumbled into a trap； and began to withdraw。 Then the flames sprang up。 Zhu Zan arrived already to fight； and the two bodies of troops； thrown into confusion； fought with each other till the two leaders met； when they found out they were fighting their own men。
As they were restoring order； on came the four bodies of troops of Shu under Ma Dai； Wang Ping； Zhang Ni； and Zhang Yi who had lain in ambush ready for them。 Cao Zun and Zhu Zan； with more than a hundred of those nearest to them； ran away to get to the high road。 But before long the rolling drums announced another body of their enemy； and their flight was stopped by Zhao Yun。
〃Whither go ye； O rebel leaders？〃 cried Zhao Yun。 〃Stop； for here is death！〃
But Cao Zun and Zhu Zan still fled。 Then came up a force led by Wei Yan and pleted the defeat。 The soldiers of Wei were wholly beaten and ran away to their own camp。 But the guard left in the camp thought they were the enemy who e to raid； so they lit the fires； and at this signal Cao Zhen rushed up from one side and Guo Huai from the other； and a fierce fight with their own troops began。
While this was going on； three cohorts under Wei Yan； Guan Xing； and Zhang Bao arrived from three points； and a great and confused battle began。 The soldiers of Wei were driven off and chased for three miles。
In the fight Wei lost many leaders； and Zhuge Liang gained a great success。 Cao Zhen and Guo Huai got together their beaten troops and went back to their own camp。
When they discussed the fight； Cao Zhen said； 〃The enemy are too strong for us。 Have you any plan to drive them away？〃
Replied Guo Huai； 〃Our defeat is one of the ordinary events of war。 Let us not be cast down。 I have a plan to suggest that will disorder them so that one body cannot help the other； and they will all be pelled to flee。〃
Wei leaders fail and sadly send
To pray tribespeople help to lend。
The plan will be unfolded in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 94 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 94
Chapter 94
Zhuge Liang Defeats The Qiangs In A Snowstorm；
Sima Yi Quickly Captures Meng Da。
Gu