Then¡¡Fei¡¡Yao¡¡rode¡¡to¡¡the¡¡front¡¡and¡¡shouted£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡rebel¡¡leader¡¡in¡¡front¡¡there¡£¡¡How¡¡dare¡¡you¡¡e¡¡here¡¡again¡¡after¡¡the¡¡last¡¡defeat£¿¡¨
Zhuge¡¡Liang¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨Go¡¡and¡¡call¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen¡¡to¡¡a¡¡parley¡£¡¨
¡¨My¡¡chief£»¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen£»¡¡is¡¡of¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡stock¡£¡¡Think¡¡you¡¡that¡¡he¡¡will¡¡e¡¡to¡¡parley¡¡with¡¡rebels£¿¡¨
Zhuge¡¡Liang¡¡angrily¡¡waved¡¡his¡¡fan£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡came¡¡forth¡¡Ma¡¡Dai¡¡and¡¡Zhang¡¡Ni¡¡and¡¡their¡¡troops¡¡with¡¡a¡¡rush¡£¡¡The¡¡Wei¡¡army¡¡retired¡£¡¡But¡¡ere¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡far£»¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡blaze¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡advancing¡¡host¡¡of¡¡Shu¡¡and¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡great¡¡shouting¡£¡¡Fei¡¡Yao¡¡could¡¡only¡¡conclude¡¡that¡¡this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡signal¡¡of¡¡Jiang¡¡Wei¡¡he¡¡was¡¡looking¡¡for£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡he¡¡faced¡¡about¡¡to¡¡attack¡£
But¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡also¡¡turned¡¡about¡¡and¡¡retired¡£¡¡Fei¡¡Yao¡¡led¡¡the¡¡pursuit£»¡¡sword¡¡in¡¡hand£»¡¡hastening¡¡to¡¡the¡¡point¡¡whence¡¡the¡¡shouting¡¡came¡£¡¡Nearing¡¡the¡¡signal¡¡fire£»¡¡the¡¡drums¡¡beat¡¡louder¡¡than¡¡ever£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡out¡¡came¡¡two¡¡armies£»¡¡one¡¡under¡¡Guan¡¡Xing¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡under¡¡Zhang¡¡Bao£»¡¡while¡¡arrows¡¡and¡¡stones¡¡rained¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hill¡tops¡£¡¡The¡¡Wei¡¡troops¡¡could¡¡not¡¡stand¡¡it¡¡and¡¡knew¡¡not¡¡only¡¡they¡¡were¡¡beaten£»¡¡but¡¡beaten¡¡by¡¡a¡¡ruse¡£¡¡Fei¡¡Yao¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡withdraw¡¡his¡¡force¡¡into¡¡the¡¡shelter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡to¡¡rest£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡pressed¡¡on¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡army¡¡of¡¡Wei¡¡fell¡¡into¡¡confusion¡£¡¡Pressing¡¡upon¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡many¡¡fell¡¡into¡¡the¡¡streams¡¡and¡¡were¡¡drowned¡£
Fei¡¡Yao¡¡could¡¡do¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡flee¡¡for¡¡his¡¡life¡£¡¡Just¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡passing¡¡by¡¡a¡¡steep¡¡hill¡¡there¡¡appeared¡¡a¡¡cohort£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡was¡¡Jiang¡¡Wei¡£
Fei¡¡Yao¡¡began¡¡to¡¡upbraid¡¡him£»¡¡crying£»¡¡¡¨Faithless¡¡ingrate£¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡haplessly¡¡fallen¡¡in¡¡your¡¡treachery¡¡and¡¡craftiness£¡¡¨
Jiang¡¡Wei¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡the¡¡wrong¡¡victim¡£¡¡We¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡capture¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen¡¡not¡¡you¡£¡¡You¡¡would¡¡do¡¡well¡¡to¡¡yield£¡¡¨
But¡¡Fei¡¡Yao¡¡only¡¡galloped¡¡away¡¡toward¡¡a¡¡ravine¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡the¡¡ravine¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡flame¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡lost¡¡all¡¡hope¡£¡¡The¡¡pursuers¡¡were¡¡close¡¡behind£»¡¡so¡¡Fei¡¡Yao¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sword¡¡put¡¡an¡¡end¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡life¡£
Of¡¡the¡¡army¡¡of¡¡Wei¡¡many¡¡surrendered¡£¡¡The¡¡Shu¡¡army¡¡pressed¡¡home¡¡their¡¡advantage¡¡and£»¡¡hastening¡¡forward£»¡¡reached¡¡Qishan¡¡and¡¡made¡¡a¡¡camp¡£¡¡There¡¡the¡¡army¡¡was¡¡mustered¡¡and¡¡put¡¡in¡¡order¡£
Jiang¡¡Wei¡¡received¡¡a¡¡reward£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡chagrined¡¡that¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡taken¡£
¡¨My¡¡regret¡¡is¡¡that¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡slay¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡£
¡¨Indeed£»¡¡yes£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡pity¡¡that¡¡a¡¡great¡¡scheme¡¡should¡¡have¡¡had¡¡so¡¡small¡¡a¡¡result¡£¡¨
Cao¡¡Zhen¡¡was¡¡very¡¡sad¡¡when¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡Fei¡¡Yao¡£¡¡He¡¡consulted¡¡Guo¡¡Huai¡¡as¡¡to¡¡a¡¡new¡¡plan¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡back¡¡the¡¡enemy¡£
Meanwhile£»¡¡flying¡¡messengers¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡capital¡¡with¡¡news¡¡of¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang's¡¡arrival¡¡at¡¡Qishan¡¡and¡¡the¡¡defeat¡£¡¡Cao¡¡Rui¡¡called¡¡Sima¡¡Yi¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡for¡¡a¡¡plan¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡these¡¡new¡¡conditions¡£
¡¨I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡scheme¡¡all¡¡ready£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡back¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡¡without¡¡any¡¡exertion¡¡on¡¡our¡¡part¡£¡¡They¡¡will¡¡retire¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡will¡£¡¨
Cao¡¡Zhen's¡¡wits¡¡are¡¡dull£»¡¡so¡¡he
Fights¡¡on¡¡Sima¡¡Yi's¡¡strategy¡£
The¡¡strategy¡¡will¡¡appear¡¡in¡¡the¡¡next¡¡chapter¡£
¡¡Main¡¡Next¡¡to¡¡Chapter¡¡98¡¡¡·¡·
¡¡¡¡¡¡Romance¡¡of¡¡Three¡¡Kingdoms¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡Luo¡¡Guanzhong¡¡¡¡¡Chapter¡¡98
¡¡Chapter¡¡98
Pursuing¡¡The¡¡Shu¡¡Army£»¡¡Wang¡¡Shuang¡¡Meets¡¡His¡¡Death£»
Raiding¡¡Chencang£»¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang¡¡Scores¡¡A¡¡Victory¡£
Now¡¡Sima¡¡Yi¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Ruler¡¡of¡¡Wei£»¡¡saying£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡said¡¡repeatedly¡¡that¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang¡¡would¡¡e¡¡against¡¡us¡¡by¡¡way¡¡of¡¡Chencang£»¡¡wherefore¡¡I¡¡set¡¡Hao¡¡Zhao¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡it¡£¡¡If¡¡an¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang¡¡did¡¡invade£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡easily¡¡obtain¡¡his¡¡supplies¡¡by¡¡that¡¡road¡£¡¡But¡¡with¡¡Hao¡¡Zhao¡¡and¡¡Wang¡¡Shuang¡¡on¡¡guard¡¡there£»¡¡he¡¡will¡¡not¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡e¡¡that¡¡way¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡very¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡get¡¡supplies¡¡any¡¡other¡¡way¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡I¡¡can¡¡give¡¡the¡¡invaders¡¡a¡¡month¡¡to¡¡exhaust¡¡their¡¡food¡£¡¡Hence¡¡their¡¡advantage¡¡lies¡¡in¡¡forcing¡¡a¡¡battle£»¡¡ours¡¡is¡¡postponing¡¡it¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡possible¡£¡¡Wherefore¡¡I¡¡pray¡¡Your¡¡Majesty¡¡order¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡passes¡¡and¡¡positions¡¡tenaciously¡¡and¡¡on¡¡no¡¡account¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡battle¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡month¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡will¡¡have¡¡to¡¡retreat£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡will¡¡be¡¡our¡¡opportunity¡£¡¨
Cao¡¡Rui¡¡was¡¡pleased¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡so¡¡succinct¡¡a¡¡statement£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Since£»¡¡Noble¡¡Sir£»¡¡you¡¡foresaw¡¡all¡¡this¡¡so¡¡plainly£»¡¡why¡¡did¡¡you¡¡not¡¡lead¡¡an¡¡army¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¨It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡because¡¡I¡¡grudged¡¡the¡¡effort£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡army¡¡here¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡against¡¡Lu¡¡Xun¡¡of¡¡Wu¡£¡¡Sun¡¡Quan¡¡will¡¡declare¡¡himself¡¡'Emperor'¡¡before¡¡long¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡does£»¡¡he¡¡will¡¡be¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡Your¡¡Majesty's¡¡attack£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡he¡¡will¡¡try¡¡to¡¡invade¡¡us¡¡first¡£¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡defend¡¡our¡¡frontier¡£¡¡The¡¡army¡¡is¡¡prepared¡£¡¨
Just¡¡then¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡courtiers¡¡announced¡¡dispatches¡¡from¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen¡¡on¡¡military¡¡affairs£»¡¡and¡¡Sima¡¡Yi¡¡closed¡¡his¡¡speech£»¡¡saying£»¡¡¡¨Your¡¡Majesty¡¡should¡¡send¡¡someone¡¡especially¡¡to¡¡caution¡¡the¡¡mander¡¡to¡¡be¡¡careful¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡tricked¡¡by¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang£»¡¡not¡¡to¡¡pursue¡¡rashly£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡to¡¡penetrate¡¡deeply¡¡into¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡country¡£¡¨
The¡¡Ruler¡¡of¡¡Wei¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡order£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡sent¡¡the¡¡mand¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡Minister¡¡Han¡¡Ji¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡authority¡¡to¡¡warn¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen¡¡against¡¡giving¡¡battle¡£
Sima¡¡Yi¡¡escorted¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡messenger¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡¡and£»¡¡at¡¡parting£»¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡giving¡¡this¡¡magnificent¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡glory¡¡to¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen£»¡¡but¡¡do¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡the¡¡suggestion¡¡was¡¡mine£»¡¡only¡¡quote¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡mand¡£¡¡Tell¡¡him¡¡that¡¡defense¡¡is¡¡the¡¡best£»¡¡pursuit¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡most¡¡cautious£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡send¡¡any¡¡impetuous¡¡leader¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡up¡¡the¡¡enemy¡£¡¨
Han¡¡Ji¡¡agreed¡¡and¡¡took¡¡leave¡£
Cao¡¡Zhen¡¡was¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡affairs¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡his¡¡army¡¡when¡¡they¡¡brought¡¡news¡¡of¡¡a¡¡royal¡¡messenger£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡went¡¡forth¡¡to¡¡bid¡¡Han¡¡Ji¡¡wele¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡ceremonial¡¡receipt¡¡of¡¡the¡¡edict¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡an¡¡end£»¡¡he¡¡retired¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡matters¡¡with¡¡Guo¡¡Huai¡¡and¡¡Sun¡¡Li¡£
¡¨That¡¡is¡¡Sima¡¡Yi's¡¡idea£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Guo¡¡Huai¡¡with¡¡a¡¡laugh¡£
¡¨But¡¡what¡¡of¡¡the¡¡idea£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen¡£
¡¨It¡¡means¡¡that¡¡he¡¡perfectly¡¡understands¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang's¡¡plans£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡will¡¡eventually¡¡have¡¡to¡¡be¡¡called¡¡in¡¡to¡¡defeat¡¡Shu¡£¡¨
¡¨But¡¡if¡¡the¡¡Shu¡¡army¡¡holds¡¡its¡¡ground£¿¡¨
¡¨We¡¡will¡¡send¡¡Wang¡¡Shuang¡¡to¡¡reconnoiter¡¡and¡¡keep¡¡on¡¡the¡¡move¡¡along¡¡the¡¡by¡roads¡¡so¡¡that¡¡they¡¡dare¡¡not¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡up¡¡supplies¡£¡¡They¡¡must¡¡retreat¡¡when¡¡they¡¡have¡¡no¡¡more¡¡to¡¡eat£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡beat¡¡them¡£¡¨
Then¡¡said¡¡Sun¡¡Li£»¡¡¡¨Let¡¡me¡¡go¡¡out¡¡to¡¡Qishan¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡escort¡¡a¡¡convoy¡¡from¡¡the¡¡West¡¡Valley¡¡Land£»¡¡only¡¡the¡¡carts¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡laden¡¡with¡¡bustibles¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡grain¡£¡¡We¡¡will¡¡sprinkle¡¡sulfur¡¡and¡¡saltpeter¡¡over¡¡wood¡¡and¡¡reeds¡£¡¡The¡¡troops¡¡of¡¡Shu£»¡¡who¡¡lack¡¡supplies£»¡¡will¡¡surely¡¡seize¡¡the¡¡convoy¡¡and¡¡take¡¡it¡¡to¡¡their¡¡own¡¡camp£»¡¡when¡¡we¡¡will¡¡set¡¡fire¡¡to¡¡the¡¡carts¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡are¡¡blazing£»¡¡our¡¡hidden¡¡men¡¡can¡¡attack¡£¡¨
¡¨It¡¡seems¡¡an¡¡excellent¡¡plan£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen¡£
And¡¡he¡¡issued¡¡the¡¡requisite¡¡orders£º¡¡Sun¡¡Li¡¡to¡¡pretend¡¡to¡¡escort¡¡a¡¡convoy£»¡¡Wang¡¡Shuang¡¡to¡¡prowl¡¡about¡¡the¡¡by¡roads£»¡¡Guo¡¡Huai¡¡and¡¡various¡¡generals¡¡to¡¡mand¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Gu¡¡Valley£»¡¡Jieting£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡strategic¡¡points¡£¡¡Also¡¡Zhang¡¡Hu£»¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Zhang¡¡Liao£»¡¡was¡¡made¡¡Leader¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Van£»¡¡and¡¡Yue¡¡Chen£»¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Yue¡¡Jing£»¡¡was¡¡his¡¡second¡£¡¡These¡¡two¡¡were¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡on¡¡guard¡¡in¡¡the¡¡outermost¡¡camp¡£
Now¡¡at¡¡Qishan£»¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡on¡¡a¡¡battle£»¡¡and¡¡daily¡¡sent¡¡champions¡¡to¡¡provoke¡¡a¡¡bat¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡Wei¡¡would¡¡not¡¡e¡¡out¡£
Then¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang¡¡called¡¡Jiang¡¡Wei¡¡and¡¡certain¡¡others¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡The¡¡enemy¡¡refuse¡¡battle£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡know¡¡we¡¡are¡¡short¡¡of¡¡food¡£¡¡We¡¡can¡¡get¡¡none¡¡by¡¡way¡¡of¡¡Chencang£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡other¡¡roads¡¡are¡¡very¡¡difficult¡£¡¡I¡¡reckon¡¡the¡¡grain¡¡we¡¡brought¡¡with¡¡us¡¡will¡¡not¡¡last¡¡a¡¡month¡£¡¨
While¡¡thus¡¡perplexed£»¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡that¡¡many¡¡carts¡¡of¡¡provisions¡¡for¡¡Wei¡¡were¡¡passing¡¡by¡¡from¡¡the¡¡West¡¡Valley¡¡Land£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡convoy¡¡was¡¡manded¡¡by¡¡Sun¡¡Li¡£
¡¨What¡¡is¡¡known¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Sun¡¡Li£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang¡£
A¡¡certain¡¡man¡¡of¡¡Wei¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨He¡¡is¡¡a¡¡bold¡¡man¡£¡¡Once¡¡he¡¡was¡¡out¡¡hunting¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Ruler¡¡of¡¡Wei¡¡on¡¡Great¡¡Rock¡¡Hill£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡tiger¡¡suddenly¡¡appeared¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡his¡¡master's¡¡chariot¡£¡¡He¡¡jumped¡¡off¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡dispatched¡¡the¡¡beast¡¡with¡¡his¡¡sword¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡rewarded¡¡with¡¡a¡¡mandership¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡an¡¡intimate¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡Cao¡¡Zhen¡£¡¨
¡¨This¡¡is¡¡a¡¡ruse£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang¡£¡¡¡¨They¡¡know¡¡we¡¡are¡¡short¡¡of¡¡food£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡carts¡¡are¡¡only¡¡a¡¡temptation¡£¡¡They¡¡are¡¡laden¡¡with¡¡bustibles¡£¡¡How¡¡can¡¡they¡¡imagine¡¡that¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡deceived¡¡by¡¡this¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡thing£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡have¡¡fought¡¡them¡¡with¡¡fire¡¡so¡¡many¡¡times£¿¡¡If¡¡we¡¡go¡¡to¡¡seize¡¡the¡¡convoy£»¡¡they¡¡will¡¡e¡¡and¡¡raid¡¡our¡¡camp¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡will¡¡meet¡¡ruse¡¡with¡¡ruse¡£¡¨
Then¡¡Zhuge¡¡Liang¡¡sent¡¡Ma¡¡Dai¡¡with¡¡order£º¡¡¡¨You¡¡and¡¡three¡¡thousand¡¡troops¡¡are¡¡to¡¡make¡¡your¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡enemy's¡¡store¡¡camp¡¡and£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡serves£»¡¡to¡¡start¡¡a¡¡fire¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡stores¡¡are¡¡burning£»¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¡of¡¡Wei¡¡will¡¡e¡¡to¡¡surround¡¡our¡¡camp¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡how¡¡we¡¡will¡¡provoke¡¡a¡¡battle¡£¡¨
He¡¡also¡¡sent¡¡Ma¡¡Zhe