Читаем Three Kingdoms Romance полностью

“In three days you should be ready to march. Do not come to take leave of me, but set out as soon as possible.”

After they had left his tent, he summoned Guan Xing and Zhang Bao and gave them secret instructions.

Now when Guo Huai heard that the commander of Chencang was ill, he and Zhang He talked over the matter.

Guo Huai said, “Hao Zhao is very ill; you would better go and relieve him. I will report to the capital what we have done that they may arrange.”

So Zhang He started with his three thousand troops to relieve the sick man. Hao Zhao was indeed at the point of death, and suddenly they told him that the army of Shu had reached the walls. Hao Zhao roused himself and bade them go on the ramparts. But then fire broke out at each gate, a panic spread in the city and the noise of the confusion startled the dying man so that he passed away just as the troops of Shu were bursting in.

When Wei Yan and Jiang Wei reached the walls, they were perplexed to find no sign of life. No flags were flying and no watchmen struck the hours. They delayed their attack for a time. Then they heard a bomb, and suddenly the wall was thick with flags, and there appeared the well-known figure of the minister.

“You have come too late,” cried Zhuge Liang.

Both dropped out of the saddle and prostrated themselves.

“Really, you are supernatural, O Minister!” they cried.

They entered the city, and then he explained to them, saying, “I heard the news that Hao Zhao was seriously sick, so I sent you with the deadline of three days as a blind to calm the people of this city. Then I hid myself in the ranks of another force under Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, which came to Chencang by double marches. Also, I had sent spies into the city to start the fires and throw the defenders into confusion. An army without a leader could never fight, and I could take the city easily. This is an instance of the rule of war: 'Do the unexpected; attack the unprepared.'“

They bowed. In commiseration Zhuge Liang sent all the family of Hao Zhao, and his coffin, over to Wei, thus showing his sense of the dead man's loyalty.

Turning once more to Wei Yan and Jiang Wei, he said, “But do not divest yourself of your armor. Go and attack San Pass and drive away the guards while they are in a state of surprise. If you delay, Wei will have sent reinforcements.”

They went. Surely enough the capture of San Pass was easy as the Wei soldiers scattered. But when they went up to look around, they saw a great cloud of dust moving toward them; the reinforcements were already near.

They remarked to each other, “The Prime Minister's foresight was superhuman.”

When they had looked a little longer, they saw the leader of the Wei army then approaching was Zhang He.

They then divided their soldiers to hold the approaches. When Zhang He saw that all was prepared, he retired. Wei Yan followed and fought a battle, defeating Zhang He heavily.

Wei Yan sent to report his success, but Zhuge Liang had already left Chencang and had gone into the Xie Valley to capture the county of Jianwei. Other armies from Shu followed. Moreover, the Latter Ruler sent Chen Shi to assist in the campaign. Zhuge Liang then marched his main force to Qishan and there made a camp. Then he called an assembly of officers.

“Twice have I gone out by Qishan without success, but at last I am here. I think Wei will resume the former battle ground and oppose us. If so, they will assume that I shall attack Yongcheng and Meicheng and send armies to defend them. But I see Yinping and Wudu are connected with Hanzhong; and if I can win these, I can drive a wedge into the Wei force. Who will go to take these places?”

Jiang Wei and Wang Ping offered themselves. The former was sent with ten thousand troops to capture Wudu; the latter, with an equal force, went to Yinping.

Zhang He went back to Changan and saw Guo Huai and Sun Li, to whom he said, “Chencang is lost, Hao Zhao is dead, San Pass is taken, and Zhuge Liang is again at Qishan; and thence has sent out two armies.”

Guo Huai was frightened, saying, “In that case, Yongcheng and Meicheng are in danger.”

Leaving Zhang He to guard Changan, he sent Sun Li to Yongcheng, and he himself set out at once for Meicheng. He sent an urgent report to Luoyang.

At Wei's next court the Emperor was informed of all the misfortunes in the west and the threats in the east.

Man Chong said, “Sun Quan has declared himself 'Emperor,' and Lu Xun is drilling his army in Wuchang. An invasion from the east can be expected soon.”

Cao Rui was embarrassed and frightened. Cao Zhen, being ill, could not be consulted, and Sima Yi was called. He was ready with a proposal.

“In my humble opinion, Wu will not attack us,” said Sima Yi.

“What makes you think so?” asked the Ruler of Wei.