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。
Guo Huai laid before his colleague the scheme to overe the army of Shu； saying； 〃The Qiang tribes have paid tribute regularly since the days of the Founder of Wei。 Emperor Pi regarded them with favor。 Now let us hold such points of vantage as we may； while we send secret emissaries to engage their help in exchange for kindly treatment。 We may get the Qiangs to attack Shu and engage their attention； while we gather a large army to smite them at another place。 Thus attacking； how can we help gaining a great victory？〃
A messenger was sent forthwith bearing letters to the Qiang tribespeople。
The King of the western Qiangs was named Cheli Ji。 He had rendered yearly tribute since the days of Cao Cao。 He had two ministers； one for civil and the other for military affairs； named； respectively； Prime Minister Ya Dan and Chief Leader Yue Ji。
The letter was acpanied by presents of gold and pearls； and when the messenger arrived； he first sought Prime Minister Ya Dan； to whom he gave gifts and whose help he begged。 Thus he gained an interview with the King； to whom he presented the letter and the gifts。 The King accepted both and called his counselors to consider the letter。
Ya Dan said； 〃We have had regular intercourse with the Wei kingdom。 Now that Cao Zhen asks our aid and promises an alliance； we ought to accede to his request。〃
Cheli Ji agreed that it was so； and he ordered his two chief ministers to raise an army of two hundred fifty thousand of trained soldiers； archers and crossbowmen； spearmen and swordsmen； warriors who flung maces and hurled hammers。 Beside these various weapons； the tribesmen used chariots covered with iron plates nailed on。 They prepared much grain and fodder and many spare weapons； all of which they loaded upon these iron…clad chariots。 The chariots were drawn by camels or teams of horses。 The carts or chariots were known as 〃iron chariots〃。
The two leaders took leave of their King and went straightway to Xiping Pass。
The mander in charge of the Pass； Han Zhen； at once sent intelligence to Zhuge Liang； who asked； 〃Who will go to attack the Qiangs？〃
Guan Xing and Zhang Bao said they would go。
Then Zhuge Liang said； 〃You shall be sent。 But as you are ignorant of the road and the people； Ma Dai shall acpany you。〃
To Ma Dai he said； 〃You know the disposition of the Qiangs from your long residence there。 You shall go as guide。〃
They chose out fifty thousand of veterans for the expedition。 When they had marched a few days and drew near their enemy； Guan Xing went in advance with a hundred horsemen and got first sight of them from a hill。 The Qiangs were marching； the long line of iron chariots one behind another in close order。 Then they halted and camped； their weapons piled all along the line of chariots like the ramparts of a moated city。 Guan Xing studied them for a long time quite at a loss to think how to overe them。 He came back to camp and consulted with his two colleagues。
Ma Dai said； 〃We will see tomorrow what they will do when we make our array； and discuss our plans when we know more。〃
So the next day they drew up their army in three divisions； Guan Xing's division being in the center； Zhang Bao's in the left； and Ma Dai's in the right。 Thus they advanced。
The enemy also drew up in battle order。 Their Chief Leader； Yue Ji； had an iron mace in his hand and a graven bow hung at his waist。 He rode forward on a curvetting steed boldly enough。 Guan Xing gave the order for all three divisions to go forward。 Then the enemy's ranks opened in the center and out rolled the iron chariots like a great wave。 At the same time the Qiangs shot arrows and bolts； and the men of Shu could not stand against them。
The wing divisions under Ma Dai and Zhang Bao retired； and the Qiangs were thus enabled to surround the center。 In spite of every effort； Guan Xing could not get free； for the iron chariots were like a city wall and no opening could be found。 The troops of Shu were absolutely helpless； and Guan Xing made for the mountains in hope of finding a road through。
As it grew dark a Qiang leader with a black flag approached； his warriors like a swarm of wasps about him。
Presently the leader cried out to him； 〃Youthful general； flee not。 I am Yue Ji！〃
But Guan Xing only hastened forward； plying his whip to urge his steed。 Then he suddenly came on a deep gully； and there seemed nothing but to turn and fight。 Yue Ji e close and struck at him with the mace。 Guan Xing evaded the blow； but it fell upon his steed and knocked it over into water。 Guan Xing went into the water too。
Presently he heard a great noise again behind him。 Yue Ji and his troops had found a way down into the gully and were ing at him down the stream。 Guan Xing braced himself for a struggle in the water。
Then he saw Zhang Bao and Ma Dai ing up on the bank fighting with； and driving off； the Qiangs。 Yue Ji was struck by Zhang Bao； and he too fell into the gully。 Guan Xing gripped his sword and was about to launch a stroke at Yue Ji as he came up； when Yue Ji jumped out of the water and ran away。
At once Guan Xing caught the steed Yue Ji had left； led it up the bank and soon had it ready to mount。 Then he girded on his sword； got on the horse； and joined the battle with his colleagues。
After driving off the Qiangs； Guan Xing； Zhang Bao； and Ma Dai gathered together and rode back。 They quickly gained the camp。
〃I do not know how to overe these men；〃 said Ma Dai。 〃Let me protect the camp while you go back and ask the Prime Minister what we should do。〃
Guan Xing and Zhang Bao started at once and made the best of their way back。 They told Zhuge Liang what had happened。 He at once sent off Zhao Yun and Wei Yan to go into ambush。 After this he went himself with thirty thousand troops and Jiang Wei； Zhang Yi； Guan Xing； and Zhang Bao and soon came to Ma Dai's camp。 The day after； from the summit of a hill； Zhuge Liang surveyed the country and the enemy； who were ing on in a ceaseless stream。
〃It is not difficult；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
He called up Ma Dai and Zhang Yi and gave them certain orders。
They having gone； he turned to Jiang Wei； saying； 〃My friend； do you know how to overe them？〃
〃The enemy only depend upon force and courage。 They shall not expect this fine strategy；〃 was the reply。
〃You know；〃 said Zhuge Liang； smiling。 〃Those dark clouds and the strong north wind mean snow。 Then I can do what I wish。〃
The two leaders； Guan Xing and Zhang Bao； were sent into ambush； and Jiang Wei went out to offer battle。 But he was to retire before the iron chariots。 At the entrance to the camp were displayed many flags； but the soldiers that should serve under them were not there。
It was now full winter； the twelfth month； and the snow had e。 The army of Shu went out to offer battle。 When the iron chariots came forward； they retired and thus led the Qiangs to the gate of the camp； Jiang Wei going to its rear。 The Qiangs came to the gate and stopped to look。 They heard the strumming of a lute； but there were no soldiers there； the flags meant nothing。 They told Yue Ji； and he suspected some ruse。 Instead of entering； he went back to Prime Minister Ya Dan and told him。
〃It is a ruse；〃 said Ya Dan。 〃Zhuge Liang's base trick is the pretense of a pretense； and you had better attack。〃
So Yue Ji led his troops again to the camp gate； and there he saw Zhuge Liang with a lute just getting into his chariot。 With a small escort； he went toward the back of the camp。 The tribesmen rushed into the camp and caught sight of the light chariot again just as it disappeared into a wood。
Then said Ya Dan； 〃There may be an ambush； but I think we need not be afraid of these soldiers。〃
Hence they decided to pursue。 Ahead of them they saw the division under Jiang Wei hastening off through the snow。 Yue Ji's rage boiled up at this sight； and he urged his men to go faster。 The snow had filled in the roads among the hills； making every part look like a level plain。
As they marched； one reported that some of the enemy were appearing from the rear of the hills。 Some thought this meant an am