按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
And Guan Suo said to him； 〃After the fall of Jingzhou； I was hidden by the Bao family from where I wanted to go to the River Lands to ask the First Ruler for a revenge for my father。 But I fell in illness； which was long and severe； and I only just recovered。 I was then traveling toward Chengdu to meet with the Latter Ruler； when I met the army in the south expedition。 I know that vengeance has been taken on the murderers of my father。 And now I want to present myself to the Prime Minster。〃
Zhuge Liang was greatly affected to see him。 He sent news of the young man's arrival to the court and gave Guan Suo a post of Van Leader。
The army； foot and horse； marched in the best of order； eating when hungry； drinking when thirsty； camping at night； and moving by day。 No plundering was permitted； and the people suffered not at all。
When Yong Kai and his fellow rebels heard that Zhuge Liang was marching against them； they called their troops together and formed three divisions； Gao Ding in the center； Yong Kai on the left； and Zhu Bao on the right。 They mustered about fifty thousand troops in each army； and they went to oppose the march of the Shu army。
Gao Ding sent E Huan to lead the van。 This E Huan was nine spans tall in stature； and savage of countenance。 His weapon was a two…bladed halberd。 He was very valiant and could face many warriors。 He led his own cohort out in advance of the main body and fell in with the leading bodies of the Shu army immediately after they had got into Yizhou。
The two sides drew up for battle。 The arrays being plete； Wei Yan rode out and vilified the rebels； shouting； 〃O malcontent！ Be quick to surrender！〃
Instead； E Huan galloped out and fought with Wei Yan。 After a few bouts Wei Yan seemed to be bested and fled。 But this was only a ruse。 As E Huan followed； the gongs clanged and from left and right poured out Zhang Yi and Wang Ping。 Wei Yan turned around； and three generals besieged and captured E Huan。
He was taken to the tent of Zhuge Liang； who bade his attendants loose his bonds； gave him wine； and forted him。
Then Zhuge Liang asked； 〃Whom do you belong to？〃
E Huan replied； 〃I am one of the generals under Gao Ding。〃
〃I know Gao Ding as a loyal and good sort； but he has been led away by this Yong Kai。 Now I shall release you； but you are to bring Gao Ding to his senses and see to it that he es to surrender and avoids grave disaster。〃
E Huan thanked him and withdrew。 He went to his own side and soon saw Gao Ding。 He told Gao Ding what Zhuge Liang had said； and Zhuge Liang's kindly feeling deeply affected Gao Ding。
Next day； Yong Kai came over to Gao Ding's camp to visit him。
After the exchange of salutations； Yong Kai asked； 〃How did E Huan manage to return？〃
〃Zhuge Liang released him out of pure kindness；〃 replied Gao Ding。
〃This is a ruse of his to separate you from me： He wishes to make us enemies。〃
Gao Ding almost believed this too； and he was much perplexed。
Just then the watchers reported that the leaders of Shu had e up and were offering battle。 So Yong Kai led out thirty thousand troops to take up the challenge。 But after the third encounter he fled。 Wei Yan pursued him and smote for a distance of seven miles。
Next day Yong Kai challenged； but the soldiers of Shu refused to fight； and remained within their lines for three days。 On the fourth day Yong Kai and Gao Ding divided their troops into two parts and came to attack the camp。 Now Zhuge Liang had told Wei Yan to wait for this double attack； and so when it came to pass； both divisions fell into an ambush and suffered great loss； many being killed and more captured。
The prisoners were taken to the camp； and the soldiers belonging to the two leaders………Yong Kai and Gao Ding………were confined separately。 Then Zhuge Liang told the soldiers to let it be known that only those belonging to Gao Ding would be spared； the others would be put to death。 When time had been given for this story to spread among the prisoners； Yong Kai's troops were brought up to the mander's tent。
〃Whose soldiers were you？〃 asked Zhuge Liang。
〃Gao Ding's；〃 cried they all； falsely。
Then they were all pardoned； and； after being given wine and food； they were taken to the frontier and set free。
Next the real Gao Ding's soldiers were brought forward； and the same question was put to them。
〃We all really belong to Gao Ding's mand；〃 said they。
In like manner they were pardoned and refreshed with wine and food。
Then Zhuge Liang addressed them； saying； 〃Yong Kai has just sent a messenger to ask that he may surrender； and he offers to bring with him the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao as a proof of merit。 But I will not receive him； and you； since you are Gao Ding's soldiers； shall be released and allowed to return to him。 But let there be no ingratitude and fighting again； for if there is； I certainly will not pardon you next time。〃
So they thanked their liberator and went away。 As soon as they reached their own camp； they told the whole story。 Then Gao Ding sent a spy to the camp of Yong Kai to find out what was doing。 There the spy met those who had been released； and they were all talking about Zhuge Liang's kindness； and many of them were inclined to desert their own camp for the other。
Although this seemed very satisfactory； yet Gao Ding did not feel convinced； and he sent another man to Zhuge Liang's camp to try to verify the rumor。 But this man was captured and taken before the mander…in…Chief； who pretended that he thought the spy belonged to Yong Kai。
Zhuge Liang said to him； 〃Why has your leader failed to send me the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao as he promised？ You lot are not very clever； and what are you e to spy out？〃
The soldier muttered and mumbled in confusion。
But Zhuge Liang gave the man wine and food； and then wrote a letter which he handed to the spy； saying； 〃You give this letter to your mander； Yong Kai； and tell him to get the job done quickly。〃
The spy took the letter and got away。 As soon as he reached camp； he gave the letter to Gao Ding and also the message。
Gao Ding read the missive and became very angry。
〃I have ever been true to him； and yet he wants to kill me。 It is hard to be either friendly or reasonable。〃
Then he decided to take E Huan into his confidence； and called him。
E Huan was much prejudiced in favor of Zhuge Liang； and said； 〃Zhuge Liang is a most benevolent man； and it would be ill to turn our backs upon him。 It is Yong Kai's fault that we are now rebels； and our best course would be to slay him and betake ourselves to Zhuge Liang。〃
〃How could it be done？〃 asked Gao Ding。
〃Invite him to a banquet。 If he refuses； it means he is a traitor； and then you can attack him in front while I will lie in wait behind his camp to capture him as he runs away。〃
They agreed to try this plan。 The banquet was prepared； and Yong Kai invited。 But as Yong Kai's mind was full of suspicion from what his returned soldiers had said； he would not e。 That night； as soon as darkness fell； Gao Ding attacked his camp。
Now the soldiers who had been released were imbued with the goodness of Gao Ding all quite ready to help him fight。 On the other hand； Yong Kai's troops mutinied against him； and so Yong Kai mounted his steed and fled。 Before he had gone far； he found his road blocked by the cohort under E Huan； who galloped out with his halberd and confronted the fugitive。 Yong Kai could not defend himself； and was struck down。 E Huan decapitated him。 As soon as they knew he was dead； his troops joined themselves to Gao Ding； who then went and surrendered to Zhuge Liang。
Zhuge Liang received Gao Ding sitting in state in his tent； but at once ordered the lictors to decapitate Gao Ding。
But Gao Ding said； 〃Influenced by your kindness； Sir； I have brought the head of my colleague as a proof of the sincerity of my surrender。 Why should I die？〃
〃You e with false intent。 Do you think you can hoodwink me？〃 said Zhuge Liang； laughing。
〃What proof have you that I am false？〃
Zhuge Liang drew a letter from his box； and said； 〃Zhu Bao sent this secretly to say he wished to surrender； and he said you and Yong Kai were sworn friends to death。 How could you suddenly change your feelings and slay him？ That is how I know your treachery。〃
〃Zhu Bao only tried to make trouble；〃 cried Gao Ding； kneeling。
Zhuge Liang still refused to believe him； and said； 〃I cannot believe you without more solid proof。 If you would slay Zhu Bao； I could take that as proving you were sincere in your surrender。〃
〃Do not doubt me。 What if I go and capture this man？〃
〃If you did that； my doubts would be set at rest。〃
Thereupon Gao Ding and his subordinate； E Huan； led away their troops to the camp of Zhu Bao。 When they were about three miles from his camp； Zhu Bao appeared with a cohort。 As soon as they recognized each other； Zhu Bao hastily came forward to parley。
But Gao Ding cried out to him； 〃Why did you write a letter to the Prime Minister and so intrigue with him to get me killed？〃
Zhu Bao stared open mouthed and could not reply。 Then E Huan rode out from behind his chief and struck Zhu Bao with his halberd so that he fell to the ground。
Thereupon Gao Ding shouted； 〃The soldiers should either yield or be slain！〃
And they yielded in a body。
Gao Ding then went back to Zhuge Liang and offered the head of the man just slain。
Zhuge Liang laughed again。 〃I have made you kill both these as a proof of loyalty。〃
Then he created Gao Ding Governor of Yizhou and chief of three territories； while E Huan was made General。 Thus the three rebel divisions were disposed of and troubled the peace no more。
Governor Wang Kang of Yongchang then came out of the city and weled Zhuge Liang。
When Zhuge Liang had made his entry into that city； he called Wang Kang and asked； 〃Who has aided you in the defense of this city？〃
The Governor said； 〃The safety of this city is due entirely to Lu Kai。〃
So Lu Kai was called。 He came and bowed。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃Long since I heard of you as a remarkable person of this area。 We are greatly indebted to you for its safety。 Now we wish to conquer the Mangs。 Have you any advice to offer？〃
Lu Kai then produced a map of the country and presented it； saying； 〃From the time of my appointment； I have felt certain that the southern tribespeople would rise against you； and so I sent secret agents to map out the country and find the strategic points。 From that information I prepared this map； which I call 'The Plan to Subdue the Mangs。' I beg you； Sir； to accept it； as it may be of use。〃
Zhuge Liang were very glad。 He took Lu Kai into his service as Adviser and Army Guide。 With Lu Kai's help； Zhuge Liang advanced and penetrated deeply into the country。
While the army was advancing； there came a messenger from the court。 When he appeared； Zhuge Liang saw it was Ma Su； and he was clothed in white。 He was in mourning for his brother； Ma Liang； who had just died。
He said； 〃I e by special mand of the Emperor with gifts of wine and silks for the soldiers。〃
When the ceremonies proper on receipt of a mandate from the Emperor had been performed； and the gifts distributed as instructed； Ma Su was asked to remain to talk over matters。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I have His Majesty's mand to conquer these Mangs。 I hear you have some advice to offer； and I should be pleased if you would instruct me。〃
〃Yes； I have one thing to say that may be worth thinking over。 These people refuse to recognize our supremacy； because they think their country is distant and difficult。 If you should overe them today； tomorrow they would revolt。 Wherever your army marches； they are overe and submit； but the day you withdraw the army and attack Cao Pi； they will renew their attack。 In arms even it is best to attack hearts rather than cities； to fight with sentiment is better than to fight with weapons。 It will be well if you can win them over。〃
〃You read my inmost thoughts；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Then Ma Su was retained with the army as Adviser； and the army marched on。
When the King of the Mangs； Meng Huo； heard how cleverly Zhuge Liang had got rid of Yong Kai； he called together the leaders of the 〃Three Ravines〃 to discuss matters。 The chief of the first Ravine was Jinhua Sanjie； of the second Dongtu Na； and of the third Ahui Nan。
These having e to the King's place； he said to them； 〃Zhuge Liang of Shu and his Grand Army has invaded our country； and we must exert our united strength to drive out the invaders。 You three must lead your forces； and whoever conquers the enemy shall be chief of chiefs。〃
It was arranged that Jinhua Sanjie should march in the center division； Dongtu Na on the left； and Ahui Nan on the right。 Each division was fifty thousand tribesmen。
When the scouts made out that the Mang armies were ing； they at once told Zhuge Liang； who called Zhao Yun and Wei Yan to his side； but gave them no orders。
Next he sent for Wang Ping and Ma Zheng； and said to them； 〃I cannot send Zhao Yun and Wei Yan against the Mangs because they do not know the country。 You two are to go； one against each wing； and the two veteran warriors shall support you。 Get your troops ready and start tomorrow at dawn。〃
Wang Ping and Ma Zheng took the orders and went out。
Then Zhang Yi and Zhang Ni were given orders： 〃You two are to march against the center army。 You are to act with Wang Ping and Ma Zheng tomorrow。 I w