第八十四回

第八十四回 陆逊营烧七百里 孔明巧布八阵图

却说韩当、周泰探知先主移营就凉，急来报知陆逊。逊大喜，遂引兵自来观看动静：只见平地一屯，不满万馀人，大半皆是老弱之众，大书“先锋吴班”旗号。周泰曰：“吾视此等兵如儿戏耳。愿同韩将军分两路击之。如其不胜，甘当军令。”陆逊看了良久，以鞭指曰：“前面山谷中，隐隐有杀气起；其下必有伏兵，故于平地设此弱兵，以诱我耳。诸公切不可出。”众将听了，皆以为懦。

次日，吴班引兵到关前搦战，耀武扬威，辱骂不绝，多有解衣卸甲，赤身裸体，或睡或坐。徐盛、丁奉入帐禀陆逊曰：“蜀兵欺我太甚！某等愿出击之！”逊笑曰：“公等但恃血气之勇，未知孙、吴妙法。此彼诱敌之计也，三日后必见其诈矣。”徐盛曰：“三日后，彼移营已定，安能击之乎？”逊曰：“吾正欲令彼移营也。”诸将哂笑而退。过三日后，会诸将于关上观望，见吴班兵已退去。逊指曰：“杀气起矣，刘备必从山谷中出也。”言未毕，只见蜀兵皆全装惯束，拥先主而过。吴兵见了，尽皆胆裂。逊曰：“吾之不听诸公击班者，正为此也。今伏兵已出，旬日之内，必破蜀矣。”诸将皆曰：“破蜀当在初时，今连营五六百里，相守经七八月，其诸要害，皆已固守，安能破乎？”逊曰：“诸公不知兵法。备乃世之枭雄，更多智谋，其兵始集，法度精专。今守之久矣，不得我便，兵疲意阻，取之正在今日。”诸将方才叹服。后人有诗赞曰：

虎帐谈兵按《六韬》，安排香饵钓鲸鳌。三分自是多英俊，又显江南陆逊高。

却说陆逊已定了破蜀之策，遂修笺遣使奏闻孙权，言指日可以破蜀之意。权览毕，大喜曰：“江东复有此异人，孤何忧哉！诸将皆上书言其懦，孤独不信。今观其言，果非懦也。”于是大起吴兵来接应。

却说先主于猇亭尽驱水军，顺流而下，沿江屯扎水寨，深入吴境。黄权谏曰：“水军沿江而下，进则易，退则难。臣愿为前驱。陛下宜在后阵，庶万无一失。”先主曰：“吴贼胆落，朕长驱大进，有何碍乎？”众官苦谏，先主不从。遂分兵两路：命黄权督江北之兵，以防魏寇；先主自督江南诸军，夹江分立营寨，以图进取。细作探知，连夜报知魏主，言“蜀兵伐吴，树栅连营，纵横七百馀里，分四十馀屯，皆傍山林下寨。今黄权督兵在江北岸，每日出哨百馀里，不知何意”。

魏主闻之，仰面笑曰：“刘备将败矣！”群臣请问其故。魏主曰：“刘玄德不晓兵法：岂有连营七百里，而可以拒敌者乎？包原隰险阻屯兵者，此兵法之大忌也[1]。玄德必败于东吴陆逊之手。旬日之内，消息必至矣。”群臣犹未信，皆请拨兵备之。魏主曰：“陆逊若胜，必尽举吴兵去取西川。吴兵远去，国中空虚，朕虚托以兵助战，令三路一齐进兵，东吴唾手可取也。”众皆拜服。魏主下令，使曹仁督一军出濡须，曹休督一军出洞口，曹真督一军出南郡：“三路军马会合日期，暗袭东吴。朕随后自来接应。”调遣已定。

不说魏兵袭吴。且说马良至川，入见孔明，呈上图本而言曰：“今移营夹江，横占七百里，下四十馀屯，皆依溪傍涧，林木茂盛之处。皇上令良将图本来与丞相观之。”孔明看讫，拍案叫苦曰：“是何人教主上如此下寨？可斩此人！”马良曰：“皆主上自为，非他人之谋。”孔明叹曰：“汉朝气数休矣！”良问其故。孔明曰：“包原隰险阻而结营，此兵家之大忌。倘彼用火攻，何以解救？又，岂有连营七百里而可拒敌乎？祸不远矣！陆逊拒守不出，正为此也。汝当速去见天子，改屯诸营，不可如此。”良曰：“倘今吴兵已胜，如之奈何？”孔明曰：“陆逊不敢来追，成都可保无虞。”良曰：“逊何故不追？”孔明曰：“恐魏兵袭其后也。主上若有失，当投白帝城避之。吾入川时，已伏下十万兵在鱼腹浦矣。”良大惊曰：“某于鱼腹浦往来数次，未尝见一卒，丞相何作此诈语？”孔明曰：“后来必见，不劳多问。”马良求了表章，火速投御营来。孔明自回成都，调拨军马救应。

却说陆逊见蜀兵懈怠，不复提防，升帐聚大小将士听令，曰：“吾自受命以来，未尝出战。今观蜀兵，足知动静，故欲先取江南岸一营。谁敢去取？”言未毕，韩当、周泰、凌统等应声而出曰：“某等愿往。”逊教皆退不用，独唤阶下末将淳于丹曰：“吾与汝五千军，去取江南第四营，蜀将傅彤所守，今晚就要成功。吾自提兵接应。”淳于丹引兵去了，又唤徐盛、丁奉曰：“汝等各领兵三千，屯于寨外五里。如淳于丹败回，有兵赶来，当出救之，却不可追去。”二将自引军去了。

却说淳于丹于黄昏时分，领兵前进，到蜀寨时，已三更之后。丹令众军鼓噪而入。蜀营内傅彤引军杀出，挺枪直取淳于丹，丹敌不住，拨马便回。忽然喊声大震，一彪军拦住去路，为首大将赵融。丹夺路而走，折兵大半。正走之间，山后一彪蛮兵拦住，为首番将沙摩柯。丹死战得脱，背后三路军赶来。比及离营五里，吴军徐盛、丁奉二人两下杀来，蜀兵退去，救了淳于丹回营。丹带箭入见陆逊请罪。逊曰：“非汝之过也。吾欲试敌人之虚实耳。破蜀之计，吾已定矣。”徐盛、丁奉曰：“蜀兵势大，难以破之，空自损兵折将耳。”逊笑曰：“吾这条计，但瞒不过诸葛亮耳。天幸此人不在，使我成大功也。”

遂集大小将士听令：使朱然于水路进兵，来日午后东南风大作，用船装载茅草，依计而行。韩当引一军攻江北岸，周泰引一军攻江南岸，每人手执茅草一把，内藏硫黄焰硝，各带火种，各执枪刀，一齐而上，但到蜀营，顺风举火。蜀兵四十屯，只烧二十屯，每间一屯烧一屯。各军预带干粮，不许暂退，昼夜追袭，只擒了刘备方止。众将听了军令，各受计而去。

却说先主正在御营寻思破吴之计，忽见帐前中军旗幡，无风自倒。乃问程畿曰：“此为何兆？”畿曰：“今夜莫非吴兵来劫营？”先主曰：“昨夜杀尽，安敢再来？”畿曰：“倘是陆逊试敌，奈何？”正言间，人报山上远远望见吴兵尽沿山望东去了。先主曰：“此是疑兵。”令众休动，命关兴、张苞各引五百骑出巡。黄昏时分，关兴回奏曰：“江北营中火起。”先主急令关兴往江北、张苞往江南探看虚实：“倘吴兵到时，可急回报。”

二将领命去了。初更时分，东南风骤起。只见御营左屯火发。方欲救时，御营右屯又火起。风紧火急，树木皆着，喊声大震。两屯军马齐出，奔离御营中，御营军自相践踏，死者不知其数。后面吴兵杀到，又不知多少军马。先主急上马，奔冯习营时，习营中火光连天而起。江南、江北，照耀如同白日。冯习慌上马引数十骑而走，正逢吴将徐盛军到，敌住厮杀。先主见了，拨马投西便走。徐盛舍了冯习，引兵追来。先主正慌，前面又一军拦住，乃是吴将丁奉，两下夹攻。先主大惊，四面无路。忽然喊声大震，一彪军杀入重围，乃是张苞，救了先主，引御林军奔走。正行之间，前面一军又到，乃蜀将傅彤也，合兵一处而行。背后吴兵追至。先主前到一山，名马鞍山。张苞、傅彤请先主上的山时，山下喊声又起：陆逊大队人马，将马鞍山围住。张苞、傅彤死据山口。先主遥望遍野火光不绝，死尸重叠，塞江而下。

次日，吴兵又四下放火烧山，军士乱窜，先主惊慌。忽然火光中一将引数骑杀上山来，视之，乃关兴也。兴伏地请曰：“四下火光逼近，不可久停。陛下速奔白帝城，再收军马可也。”先主曰：“谁敢断后？”傅彤奏曰：“臣愿以死当之！”当日黄昏，关兴在前，张苞在中，留傅彤断后，保着先主，杀下山来。吴兵见先主奔走，皆要争功，各引大军，遮天盖地，往西追赶。先主令军士尽脱袍铠，塞道而焚，以断后军。正奔走间，喊声大震，吴将朱然引一军从江岸边杀来，截住去路。先主叫曰：“朕死于此矣！”关兴、张苞纵马冲突，被乱箭射回，各带重伤，不能杀出。背后喊声又起，陆逊引大军从山谷中杀来。

先主正慌急之间，此时天色已微明，只见前面喊声震天，朱然军纷纷落涧，滚滚投岩，一彪军杀入，前来救驾。先主大喜，视之，乃常山赵子龙也。时赵云在川中江州，闻吴、蜀交兵，遂引军出，忽见东南一带火光冲天，云心惊，远远探视，不想先主被困，云奋勇冲杀而来。陆逊闻是赵云，急令军退。云正杀之间，忽遇朱然，便与交锋，不一合，一枪刺朱然于马下，杀散吴兵，救出先主，望白帝城而走。先主曰：“朕虽得脱，诸将士将奈何？”云曰：“敌军在后，不可久迟。陛下且入白帝城歇息，臣再引兵去救应诸将。”此时先主仅存百馀人入白帝城。后人有诗赞陆逊曰：

持矛举火破连营，玄德穷奔白帝城。一旦威名惊蜀魏，吴王宁不敬书生。

却说傅彤断后，被吴军八面围住。丁奉大叫曰：“川兵死者无数，降者极多，汝主刘备已被擒获。今汝力穷势孤，何不早降？”傅彤叱曰：“吾乃汉将，安肯降吴狗乎！”挺枪纵马，率蜀军奋力死战，不下百馀合，往来冲突，不能得脱。彤长叹曰：“吾今休矣！”言讫，口中吐血，死于吴军之中。后人赞傅彤诗曰：

彝陵吴蜀大交兵，陆逊施谋用火焚。至死犹然骂“吴狗”，傅彤不愧汉将军。

蜀祭酒程畿，匹马奔至江边，招呼水军赴敌，吴兵随后追来，水军四散奔逃。畿部将叫曰：“吴兵至矣！程祭酒快走罢！”畿怒曰：“吾自从主上出军，未尝赴敌而逃！”言未毕，吴兵骤至，四下无路，畿拔剑自刎。后人有诗赞曰：

慷慨蜀中程祭酒，身留一剑答君王。临危不改平生志，博得声名万古香。

时吴班、张南久围彝陵城，忽冯习到，言蜀兵败，遂引军来救先主，孙桓方才得脱。张、冯二将正行之间，前面吴兵杀来，背后孙桓从彝陵城杀出，两下夹攻。张南、冯习奋力冲突，不能得脱，死于乱军之中。后人有诗赞曰：

冯习忠无二，张南义少双。沙场甘战死，史册共流芳。吴班杀出重围，又遇吴兵追赶，幸得赵云接着，救回白帝城去了。时有蛮王沙摩柯，匹马奔走，正逢周泰，战二十馀合，被泰所杀。蜀将杜路、刘宁尽皆降吴。蜀营一应粮草器仗，尺寸不存。蜀将川兵，降者无数。时孙夫人在吴，闻猇亭兵败，讹传先主死于军中，遂驱车至江边，望西遥哭，投江而死。后人立庙江滨，号曰枭姬祠。尚论者作诗叹之曰：

先主兵归白帝城，夫人闻难独捐生。至今江畔遗碑在，犹著千秋烈女名。

却说陆逊大获全功，引得胜之兵，往西追袭。前离夔关不远，逊在马上看见前面临山傍江，一阵杀气冲天而起，遂勒马回顾众将曰：“前面必有埋伏，三军不可轻进。”即倒退十馀里，于地势空阔处，排成阵势，以御敌军，即差哨马前去探视。回报并无军屯在此，逊不信，下马登高望之，杀气复起。逊再令人仔细探视，哨马回报，前面并无一人一骑。逊见日将西沉，杀气越加，心中犹豫，令心腹人再往探看。回报江边止有乱石八九十堆，并无人马。逊大疑，令寻土人问之。须臾，有数人到。逊问曰：“何人将乱石作堆？如何乱石堆中有杀气冲起？”土人曰：“此处地名鱼腹浦。诸葛亮入川之时，驱兵到此，取石排成阵势于沙滩之上。自此常常有气如云，从内而起。”

陆逊听罢，上马引数十骑来看石阵，立马于山坡之上，但见四面八方，皆有门有户。逊笑曰：“此乃惑人之术耳，有何益焉！”遂引数骑下山坡来，直入石阵观看。部将曰：“日暮矣，请都督早回。”逊方欲出阵，忽然狂风大作，一霎时，飞沙走石，遮天盖地。但见怪石嵯峨，槎桠似剑，横沙立土，重叠如山，江声浪涌，有如剑鼓之声。逊大惊曰：“吾中诸葛之计也！”急欲回时，无路可出。正惊疑间，忽见一老人立于马前，笑曰：“将军欲出此阵乎？”逊曰：“愿长者引出。”老人策杖徐徐而行，径出石阵，并无所碍，送至山坡之上。逊问曰：“长者何人？”老人答曰：“老夫乃诸葛孔明之岳父黄承彦也。昔小婿入川之时，于此布下石阵，名‘八阵图’。反复八门，按遁甲休、生、伤、杜、景、死、惊、开。每日每时，变化无端，可比十万精兵。临去之时，曾分付老夫道：‘后有东吴大将迷于阵中，莫要引他出来。’老夫适于山岩之上，见将军从‘死门’而入，料想不识此阵，必为所迷。老夫平生好善，不忍将军陷没于此，故特自‘生门’引出也。”逊曰：“公曾学此阵法否？”黄承彦曰：“变化无穷，不能学也。”逊慌忙下马拜谢而回。后杜工部有诗曰：

功盖三分国，名成八阵图。江流石不转，遗恨失吞吴。

陆逊回寨，叹曰：“孔明真‘卧龙’也！吾不能及！”于是下令班师。左右曰：“刘备兵败势穷，困守一城，正好乘势击之，今见石阵而退，何也？”逊曰：“吾非惧石阵而退。吾料魏主曹丕，其奸诈与父无异，今知吾追赶蜀兵，必乘虚来袭。吾若深入西川，急难退矣。”遂令一将断后，逊率大军而回。退兵未及二日，三处人来飞报：“魏兵曹仁出濡须，曹休出洞口，曹真出南郡，三路兵马数十万，星夜至境，未知何意。”逊笑曰：“不出吾之所料。吾已令兵拒之矣。”正是：雄心方欲吞西蜀，胜算还须御北朝。未知如何退兵，且看下文分解。

[1] “包原隰（xí）险阻屯兵者”二句——包，通苞，草木丛生的地方。原，高平之处。隰，低湿的地方。险阻，地势险要的处所。二句的意思是：把大军铺开驻扎在地形过于复杂的大片地方，是完全违反军事学的错误措施。

CHAPTER 84. Lu Xun Burns All Consecutive Camps; Zhuge Liang Plans The Eight-Array Maze.

The last chapter closed with the report that the First Ruler had shifted camp in search of cool shade, and the news was very welcome to Lu Xun. He went forthwith to assure himself of the truth of the report and observe the new position. A level plain lay at his feet, whereon he saw something short of ten thousand Shu troops, the greater part of whom appeared invalids. On the banner of their leader he read the name “Van Leader Wu Ban”.

“We consider these troops children,” said Zhou Tai. “Let me and General Han Dang go out and smite them. I will give the formal guarantee of victory.”

The Commander-in-Chief made no reply, but remained gazing out before him. Presently he said, “It seems to me that an air of slaughter is rising over there from that valley; surely there is an ambush there. These poor troops in the foreground are nothing but a bait. No, Gentlemen; do not leave your positions.”

Those who heard this took it only as another proof of the imbecility of their pedant commander.

Next day Wu Ban's soldiers approached closer and challenged to battle, swaggering about and brandishing their weapons and shouting volleys of abuse without end. They manifested contempt by throwing off their armor and clothing and moving to and fro with the utmost carelessness, bare bodies and naked forms, blatantly unready to fight. Some even sat or lay asleep.

Xu Sheng and Ding Feng came to the commander's tent to complain, saying, “Those Shu soldiers despise us so much. Let us go out and punish them!”

But Lu Xun only smiled, saying, “You see everything from the point of view of brute courage. You seem not to know the principles of war laid down by Sun Zi and Wu Qi. This display is only meant to entice us into fight. You will see the pretense yourselves in about three days.”

“In three days the change of camp will be complete, and the enemy will be too strongly posted for our success,” said they.

“I am just letting them move their camp.”

Xu Sheng and Ding Feng left the tent also sniggering. But on the third day the officers were assembled at a look-out point whence they saw that Wu's army had left.

“There is still a deadly look over the valley,” said Lu Xun. “Liu Bei will soon appear.”

Very soon they saw a whole army all well accoutered pass across the field escorting the First Ruler. And the sight took away all their courage.

“That is why I would not listen to those of you who wanted to fight Wu Ban,” said Lu Xun. “Now that the ambush has been withdrawn, we can settle them in about ten days.”

“The proper time to attack was when they began to transfer their camp. Now they are fully established with encampments stretching two hundred miles. Having spent seven or eight months in strengthening where they might be attacked, will it not be difficult to destroy them?” said they.

“I see you do not understand how to carry on war. This man Liu Bei is a capable and crafty man. When he first started on this expedition his methods were of the best, and he kept to them for a long time, so we gave him no chance against us. When his troops are worn out and his thoughts cease to be clear, that will be our day to attack.”

At last they agreed with their chief.

The general discoursed on war,

According to the book;

Right craftily the bait for whales

Was put upon the hook.

When kingdoms three were carved out,

Though famous men were many,

Lu Xun of Wu

At least stands high as any.

Lu Xun had already had the plan whereby the Shu army was to be crushed, and at this stage he wrote to the Prince of Wu in full details, even naming a day for the victory.

“We have found another remarkably able leader,” said the Prince, “and I have no further anxiety. They all said he was a useless pedant, and only I knew better. Reading this letter shows him nothing at all of a pedant.”

Then the Prince of Wu mustered the remainder of his soldiers to hold in reserve.

Meanwhile the First Ruler had sent orders to hasten the marines down the river and take up stations along the banks deep in the territory of Wu.

However, Huang Quan spoke against this, saying, “It is easy enough for the ships to go a down, but how about returning? Let me make the first advance, and Your Majesty may follow. That will make it more than probable that nothing will go wrong.”

“Those Wu enemy are afraid,” objected the ruler, “and I want to make a dash at them. Where is the difficulty?”

Though many others had spoken against the proposal, the First Ruler did not give up the notion of going into the forefront of the attack. Then dividing the army into two portions, he placed Huang Quan in command on the North of the Great River, to keep a watch on Wei, while he commanded on the South of the Great River. They made encampments and stations along the bank.

The spies of Wei duly reported these doings to the Ruler of Wei: “Shu marches against Wu, erecting forty base camps along two hundred miles of woods and hills. Moreover, the Ruler of Shu places Huang Quan in command of the North of the Great River. Huang Quan's marines patrolled as far as thirty miles daily. We do not know their intention.”

The Ruler of Wei laughed aloud when he heard the details of the long line of camps and the encampments among the trees and all this. “Liu Bei is going to be defeated,” said he.

“How do you know?” asked his courtiers.

“Because Liu Bei does not know how to wage war. How can he beat off an enemy along a front of two hundred miles? The maxims of war forbid to camp in open plains, among marshes, amid precipitous heights and obstacles. He will be defeated at the hand of Lu Xun, and we shall hear of it in about ten days.”

His officers felt more than doubtful and entreated their master to prepare an army.

But the Ruler of Wei replied, “If successful, Lu Xun will lead all his force westward into the Western Land of Rivers, and his country will be defenseless. I shall pretend to send an army to help. I shall send them in three divisions, and I shall overcome Wu easily.”

They all bowed acquiescence and approval. Then orders went out appointing Cao Ren to lead an army out by Ruxu, Cao Xiu to take a second out by Dongkou, and Cao Zhen to command a third to go through Nanjun, and the three armies were to combine on a given date for a sudden attack on Wu. The Ruler of Wei would himself bring up the reinforcement in this southern campaign.

Reaching Chengdu, Ma Liang lost no time in seeing the Prime Minister and presenting the plan of the armies as they were in the field.

“Now the forces are on both sides of the Great River extending along a front of two hundred miles, with forty stations, each beside a mountain stream or in a pleasantly shaded forest. At our lord's command, I prepared this map, and he sent me to ask your opinion.”

“Who advised such an arrangement? He ought to be put to death, whoever it was,” cried Zhuge Liang sorrowfully, tapping the table at his side.

“It is entirely our lord's own work; no other had any hand in it,” said Ma Liang.

“The life and energy of the Hans are done indeed,” said Zhuge Liang. “He has committed those very faults which the rules of the Art of War lay down as to be particularly avoided. The camps are made where free movement is impossible, and nothing can save him if the enemy use fire. Beside, what defense is possible along a two-hundred-mile front? Disaster is at hand, and Lu Xun sees it all, which explains his obstinate refusal to come out into the open. Go back as quickly as you can and tell our lord that this will not do, that it must be changed at once.”

“But if I am too late—if Wu has already attacked and won—, what then?”

“The enemy will not dare to follow up their victory by a march on Chengdu. So this capital is secure.”

“Why will they not?”

“Wei is behind their back; that is why. Our lord will be compelled to shelter in Baidicheng. I have already placed ten thousand troops in hiding at Fishbelly Creek.”

“Have you? I have been up and down that creek three or four times without seeing a soldier. I do not see the reason of telling lies to me,” said Ma Liang.

“You will see; do not ask so many questions.” With the precious instructions which he had persuaded Zhuge Liang to draw up, Ma Liang hastened back to the imperial camp, while Zhuge Liang went to the capital to prepare a relief expedition.

The soldiers of Shu had become slack and idle and no longer maintained adequate defense, wherefore Lu Xun perceived that his moment had arrived, and called his generals to his tent to receive orders.

“There has been no fighting since I received our lord's command. I have spent the time in acquiring a knowledge of the enemy. As a preliminary operation I want to capture a camp on the south bank. Who volunteers?”

Out stepped Han Dang and Zhou Tai and Ling Tong, all three at once, each crying that he wanted to be sent. But they were sent back; the Commander-in-Chief did not want any of them.

Then he called up the junior general, Chunyu Dan, and said, “You will take the fourth camp on the south side; you may have five thousand troops. The commander of the post is Fu Tong. I shall support you.”

When Chunyu Dan had gone, Lu Xun summoned Xu Sheng and Ding Feng and said, “Each of you will take three thousand troops and bivouac two miles from the camp, so that if your colleague is repulsed and pursued, you can rescue him.”

Chunyu Dan marched between the lights and reached the camp he was to capture just after the third watch. His drums rolled, and he attacked at once. The defenders came out led by Fu Tong, who, spear ready to thrust, rode straight toward the leader of the attack and forced him back. Suddenly there arose the roll of other drums, and a cohort under Zhao Rong barred the way. Chunyu Dan turned off along another road, escaping with loss of many troops.

But he was not yet safe. Some distance farther he ran against the Mang tribesmen leader Shamo Ke. However, Chunyu Dan avoided him also and went on his way, pursued now by three parties. Soon he reached the spot two miles from the camp, and here the two leaders of Shu—Xu Sheng and Ding Feng—, who had been placed ready to afford succor, came out and stopped the pursuit. When the enemy had retired, Chunyu Dan was escorted back to camp.

He was wounded, and with the arrow still undrawn he appeared before Lu Xun and apologized for his failure.

“It was no fault of yours;” said the Commander-in-Chief, “I wanted to test the force of our enemy. My plan of attack is quite ready.”

“The enemy is very strong and will not be easily overcome,” said Xu Sheng and Ding Feng. “We have now suffered great loss to no purpose.”

“This plan of mine would not hoodwink Zhuge Liang, but happily he is not here. His absence will allow me to score a great success.”

Then he summoned his generals to receive orders: “Zhu Ran is to lead the marine force. He is to advance next day afternoon, when the southeast wind will serve. His ships are laden with reeds and straw, which are to be used as ordered. Han Dang is to attack the north bank, Zhou Tai the south. Each soldier, in addition to his weapons, is to carry a bundle of straw or reeds, with sulfur and saltpeter hidden therein, and each has a piece of tinder. They are to advance, and, when they reach the Shu camps, they are to start a conflagration. But they are to burn only alternate camps, twenty in all, leaving the others untouched. They are to advance and only stop if they capture Liu Bei.” The leaders received the orders and so set out.

The First Ruler was in his own camp, pondering over a plan to destroy the armies of Wu, when suddenly the staff that bore the great standard in front of his own tent fell over and lay on the ground. There was no wind to account for this, so he turned to Cheng Ji and asked what it might portend.

“It means only one thing, that the troops of Wu will raid the camp tonight,” said Cheng Ji.

“They will not dare after the slaughter of yesterday.”

“But suppose that was only a reconnaissance; what then?”

Just then a report came in that some troops of Wu could be seen, very far off, going along the hills eastward.

“They are soldiers meant to put us in confusion,” said the First Ruler. “Tell the generals not to move, but let Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, with a small mounted force, go out to reconnoiter.”

It was dusk when these two returned, and they then reported: “Fire is seen among the camps on the north bank.”

The Emperor hastily bade Guan Xing go to the north camps and Zhang Bao to the south to find out what was really happening. And they started.

About the middle of the first watch the wind got up and blew strong from the east. Then fire arose from the camp on the left of the First Ruler's own. He was starting to extinguish this flame when another fire began in the camp on his right. With the aid of the strong breeze both fires became fierce, and soon the trees caught. A confused roar showed the gathering strength of the fire. The soldiers of the burning camps were rushing into the First Ruler's own camp to escape the fire, and in their confusion they trampled on each other, so that many died.

Behind them came the troops of Wu bent on slaughter. Ignorant of how many they might be, the First Ruler mounted and dashed for Feng Xi's camp, but that also was in flames, which seemed to rise to the very sky. By this time flames were rising from both sides of the river, so that everything was as visible as by day.

Feng Xi leaped to his horse and fled, followed by a few of his mounted troops. This small force ran against the soldiers of Wu under Xu Sheng. A melee ensued, thereupon the First Ruler turned and galloped west. Xu Sheng then left Feng Xi and went in pursuit. Presently the Emperor saw a party of soldiers in the way and became greatly alarmed.

This was Ding Feng's army, and the First Ruler was between two foes. In his terror he saw no possibility of safety, no road was open. Just at this moment another cohort broke through to his side and rescued him. The leader was Zhang Bao, and he led the Imperial Guards, who fled, taking the First Ruler with them. As they marched along, they fell in with another force of Shu; the leader was Fu Tong, and he joined up with them. The Wu army was still following when the fugitives reached Saddle Hill. The two leaders, Zhang Bao and Fu Tong, were urging their lord to go to the top of this out of immediate danger. Soon Lu Xun arrived with his army and began to surround the hill. Zhang Bao and Fu Tong held the road up the hill and kept the enemy from ascending. From the summit could be seen flames all around, and the First Ruler witnessed the corpses of his soldiers lay about in heaps or floated in the streams.

Next day, the soldiers of Wu set themselves to firing the hill. The First Ruler's remaining escort fled for their lives like rats, and their lord was in despair. Suddenly he saw a general followed by a few horsemen cutting an arterial alley through and coming up the hill. As he drew nearer the Emperor recognized Guan Xing.

Guan Xing quickly leapt down, prostrated himself and said, “Your Majesty, the fire is gaining all round, and this place is not safe. I request you to try to reach Baidicheng, and as many as possible will gather there.”

“Who will dare stay behind to keep off the enemy?” said the First Ruler.

Fu Tong volunteered, saying, “I will fight to death to guard the rear!”

It was dusk when they started. Guan Xing led the way. They got their lord safely down the hill and away. As soon as the troops of Wu noticed the flight, they pressed forward, each anxious to gain kudos by the capture of the Emperor's person. Great armies of Wu, blotting out the sky and hiding the earth, went westward in pursuit.

The First Ruler ordered his soldiers to make fires of their clothing and other things in the road so as to hinder pursuit.

Zhu Ran marched up from the river to try to intercept the flight, and the noise of his drums was terrifying. The First Ruler thought there was no possibility of escape from this force, and cried, “This is the end!”

His two nephews dashed to the front to try to cut a way through, but returned wounded and bleeding. And the noise of the pursuers came constantly nearer as they found their way along the valleys. About the first glimpse of dawn the case seemed quite desperate. But just at the worst they saw Zhu Ran's soldiers suddenly begin to break up and scatter, tumbling into streams and rolling down precipices. Soon the reason was evident: a fearsome general leading a cohort came to their relief.

Once again the First Ruler was rescued from pressing danger, and this time the rescuer was Zhao Yun. He had been in Jiangzhou, and news of the straits of his lord had reached him there. He had set out forthwith. Then he had seen the glow of the burnings and had marched toward it. And thus he had arrived just at the moment to save his master when danger was most imminent.

As soon as Lu Xun heard that Zhao Yun had appeared, he ordered his troops to stop pursuit and retire. Zhao Yun happening upon Zhu Ran, engaged him forthwith and in the first encounter slew Zhu Ran with a spear thrust. And so the army of Wu were dispersed and retired, and the First Ruler got safely to the wall of Baidicheng.

But on the way thither his thoughts went back to his companions in misfortune, and he inquired after them anxiously.

“Though I am safe, how about the other generals and soldiers?” asked the First Ruler.

“The pursuers are close upon us, and we cannot wait for anything,” said Zhao Yun. “I wish Your Majesty to get into the city as quickly as possible; and while you are reposing yourself, we may try to rescue some of the leaders.”

When the First Ruler entered Baidicheng, he was in sore straits, only having about a hundred men left.

A poet wrote concerning this victory of Lu Xun:

He grips the spear, he kindles fire, the camps are swept away.

Liu Bei to White Emperor City flees, lonely and sad today.

But Lu Xun's meteoric fame now shoots through Shu and Wei,

For bookish people the Prince of Wu has naught but good to say.

But Fu Tong, who commanded the rearguard, was surrounded by the enemy in all eight directions.

Ding Feng shouted to him, “You would better surrender. Many of the soldiers of Shu have fallen, more have surrendered, and your lord is a prisoner. You have no hope against us with your scanty force.”

But Fu Tong replied, “Shall I, a servant of Han, give in to the cure of Wu?”

Undaunted, he rode at his opponents and fought many bouts. But his strength and valor availed naught; struggle as he would, he could not make his way out. And so he fell among his enemies.

A poem celebrates his valiancy:

Wu, at Yiling, strove with Shu,

Flames, not swords, used crafty Lu Xun.

Worthy of a place among

Han's bold generals is Fu Tong.

The Minister Cheng Ji, having got clear of the battle, rode swiftly to the river bank and called to the marines to join in the battle. They landed, but were soon scattered.

One of Cheng Ji's generals shouted to him: “The soldiers of Wu are upon us; let find a way to escape.”

But Cheng Ji shouted back, “Since I first followed my lord, I have never yet turned my back upon the foe.”

The enemy surrounded Cheng Ji, and, as he could do no more, he took his sword and slew himself.

Noble among the warriors of Shu was Cheng Ji,

He kept his sword for the service of his prince.

When danger pressed near he wavered not,

Wherefore his fame remains forever bright.

Now Wu Ban and Zhang Nan had been besieging Yiling. Then came Feng Xi and told of the need of their lord, and they led off their army to rescue him. Whereupon Sun Huan was set free as Lu Xun had foretold would happen.

As soon as Sun Huan was free, he set off in pursuit of Feng Xi and Zhang Nan. These two marched until they met an army of Wu face to face, and so were between two forces. A desperate battle was fought, and both these generals perished therein.

Feng Xi was loyal without peer.

Zhang Nan was righteous, few have equaled him.

In battle on the flaming shore they died,

And the histories record their deeds.

Wu Ban broke through. He was pursued, but he luckily fell in with Zhao Yun and got safely to Baidicheng.

The Mang tribesmen King Shamo Ke was flying from the battle field when he met Zhou Tai, who slew him after a short fight. The two Shu generals Du Lu and Liu Ning surrendered to Wu, as did many soldiers. Of the stores and weapons in the camps of Shu nothing was saved.

When the story of the disaster to Shu reached the Southern Land, and with it the report that the First Ruler had been killed in battle, Lady Sun gave way to wild grief. She rode down to the river bank and, gazing westward, wept and lamented. Then she threw herself into the stream and was drowned. Posterity erected a temple on the shore called “The Shrine of the Bold Beauty,” and one who described it wrote a poem:

The Ruler, defeated, fled to Baidicheng,

Through thunderous tiding, Lady Sun committed suicide.

Today the water still flows by the carved stone

To show where and why this heroine died.

There could be no question that this exploit brought tremendous glory to Lu Xun. Anxious to push his advantage as far as possible, he led his exultant army westward. But as he drew near to Kui Pass, he suddenly pulled up his horse, remarking that he saw an aura of death about the mountain side in front.

“We may not yet advance farther; I suspect an ambush.”

So they retreated three miles and camped in a wide open space. And the army was arrayed ready against any sudden attack. Meanwhile, scouts were sent out. They returned reporting no soldiers. Lu Xun doubted and went up to the summit of a hill whence he could see over the country. The aura was still visible to him, and so he dispatched other people to spy. But he received the same report; not a soldier, not a horse.

Still, as the sun got lower and lower in the west, he saw the same appearance accentuated, and he began to feel grave doubts. He sent a confidant to look once more. This man came back, saying, “There is not a single soldier, but I have noticed on the river bank nearly a hundred heaps of boulders.”

The Commander-in-Chief, still doubting, called in several of the natives and questioned them about the stones.

“Who put them there? Why did they look so ghastly?” asked Lu Xun.

“We do not know. This place is called Fishbelly Creek. When Zhuge Liang was going west into the Lands of Rivers, he came along here with a lot of soldiers and heaped up the boulders like that above the Sandy Rapid. We have seen vapors rising from the boulders; they seemed to come from inside them.”

Lu Xun decided to go and look at these boulders himself. So he rode off, with a small escort. Looked down from a declivity, the stones were evidently arranged with a design related to the eight points of the compass. There were doors and door-sills and lintels.

“This looks likely to drive a person out of his senses;” he said, “I wonder whether it is any good.”

They rode down with intent to examine the mysterious arrangement more closely and went in among the stones.

Presently one of the escort called attention to the increasing darkness and said, “The sun is setting; we ought to be returning to camp.”

But as Lu Xun glanced round to look for an exit, a sudden squall came on and the dust whirled up, obscuring both sky and earth. And in the swirl the stones reared themselves up like steep mountains, pointed like swords, and the dust and sand shaped themselves into waves and hillocks one behind the other. The roar of the boiling river was as the drums before a battle.

“This is some trick of Zhuge Liang,” said Lu Xun in a scared voice, “and I have been caught.”

He would go out, but he had quite lost his way and could find no exit. As he stopped to consider what he should do, an old man suddenly appeared, who said, “Does the General wish to go out?”

“I greatly desire that you would pilot me out, O Elder,” replied he.

Leaning on his staff, the old man led the way and with quiet dignity conducted Lu Xun outside. He had no difficulty in finding his way and paused not a single instant. When they were once again on the slope, Lu Xun asked his aged guide who he was.

“I am Zhuge Liang's father-in-law; my name is Huang Chenyan. My son-in-law placed these boulders here as you see them, and he said they represented the Eight-Array Maze. They are like eight doors, and according to the scheme are named: Gate of Rest, Gate of Life, Gate of Injury, Gate of Obstruction, Gate of Prospect, Gate of Death, Gate of Surprise, and Gate of Openings.

“They are capable of infinite mutations and would be equal to a hundred thousand soldiers. As he was leaving, he told me that if any leader of Wu became mazed in them, I was not to conduct him outside. From a precipice near by I saw you, General, enter in at the Gate of Death; and as I guessed you were ignorant of the scheme, I knew you would be entangled. But I am of a good disposition and could not bear that you should be entrapped without possibility of escape, so I came to guide you to the Gate of Life.”

“Have you studied this matter, Sir?” asked Lu Xun.

“The variations are inexhaustible, and I could not learn them all.”

Lu Xun dismounted, bowed low before the old man and then rode away.

The famous poet Du Fu wrote some verses which run something like this:

Planner of three kingdoms; no small praise

Is his—Inventor of the Eight Arrays.

And for that famous boulders, on the river's brim,

Firm was set the denouncement of Wu's whim.

Lu Xun took his way to his camp in deep thought.

“This Zhuge Liang is well named Sleeping-Dragon,” said he, “I am not his equal.”

Then, to the amazement of all, he gave orders to retire. The officers ventured to remonstrate, seeing that they had been so successful.

“General, you have utterly broken the enemy, and Liu Bei is shut up in one small city; it seems the time to smite, and yet you retire because you have come across a mysterious arrangement of stones.”

“I am not afraid of the stones, and it is not on their account that I retire. But I fear Cao Pi. He is no less resourceful than his father, and when he hears I am marching into Shu, he will certainly attack us. How could I return then?” The homeward march began. On the second day the scouts brought a report: “Three Wei generals with three armies are debouching at three different points and moving toward the borders of Wu—Cao Ren from Ruxu, Cao Xiu from Dongkou, and Cao Zhen from Nanjun. Their intentions are unclear.”

“Just as I thought,” said Lu Xun. “But I am ready for them.”

“And now the west is mine,” the victor thought,

But danger from the north discretion taught.

The story of the retreat will be told in the next chapter.