第一百回

第一百回 汉兵劫寨破曹真 武侯斗阵辱仲达

却说众将闻孔明不追魏兵，俱入帐告曰：“魏兵苦雨，不能屯扎，因此回去，正好乘势追之。丞相如何不追？”孔明曰：“司马懿善能用兵，今军退必有埋伏。吾若追之，正中其计。不如纵他远去，吾却分兵径出斜谷而取祁山，使魏人不提防也。”众将曰：“取长安之地，别有路途，丞相只取祁山何也？”孔明曰：“祁山乃长安之首也。陇西诸郡，倘有兵来，必经由此地，更兼前临渭滨，后靠斜谷，左出右入，可以伏兵，乃用武之地。吾故欲先取此，得地利也。”众将皆拜服。孔明令魏延、张嶷、杜琼、陈式出箕谷，马岱、王平、张翼、马忠出斜谷，俱会于祁山。调拨已定，孔明自提大军，令关兴、廖化为先锋，随后进发。

却说曹真、司马懿二人，在后监督人马，令一军入陈仓古道探视，回报说蜀兵不来。又行旬日，后面埋伏众将皆回，说蜀兵全无音耗。真曰：“连绵秋雨，栈道断绝，蜀人岂知吾等退军耶？”懿曰：“蜀兵随后出矣。”真曰：“何以知之？”懿曰：“连日晴明，蜀兵不赶，料吾有伏兵也，故纵我兵远去，待我兵过尽，他却夺祁山矣。”曹真不信。懿曰：“子丹如何不信？吾料孔明必从两谷而来。吾与子丹各守一谷口，十日为期。若无蜀兵来，我面涂红粉，身穿女衣，来营中伏罪。”真曰：“若有蜀兵来，我愿将天子所赐玉带一条、御马一匹与你。”即分兵两路：真引兵屯于祁山之西，斜谷口；懿引军屯于祁山之东，箕谷口。各下寨已毕，懿先引一枝兵伏于山谷中，其馀军马，各于要路安营。懿更换衣装，杂在众军之内，遍观各营。忽到一营，有一偏将仰天而怨曰：“大雨淋了许多时，不肯回去，今又在这里顿住，强要赌赛，却不苦了官军！”懿闻言，归寨升帐，聚众将皆到帐下，挨出那将来。懿叱之曰：“朝廷养军千日，用在一时。汝安敢出怨言，以慢军心！”其人不招。懿叫出同伴之人对证，那将不能抵赖。懿曰：“吾非赌赛，欲胜蜀兵，令汝各人有功回朝。汝乃妄出怨言，自取罪戾！”喝令武士推出斩之。须臾，献首帐下。众将悚然。懿曰：“汝等诸将皆要尽心以防蜀兵。听吾中军炮响，四面皆进。”众将受令而退。

却说魏延、张嶷、陈式、杜琼四将，引二万兵，取箕谷而进。正行之间，忽报参谋邓芝到来。四将问其故，芝曰：“丞相有令：如出箕谷，提防魏兵埋伏，不可轻进。”陈式曰：“丞相用兵何多疑耶？吾料魏兵连遭大雨，衣甲皆毁，必然急归，安得又有埋伏？今吾兵倍道而进，可获大胜，如何又教休进？”芝曰：“丞相计无不中，谋无不成，汝安敢违令？”式笑曰：“丞相若果多谋，不致街亭之失！”魏延想起孔明向日不听其计，亦笑曰：“丞相若听吾言，径出子午谷，此时休说长安，连洛阳皆得矣！今执定要出祁山，有何益耶？既令进兵，今又教休进，何其号令不明！”式曰：“吾自有五千兵，径出箕谷，先到祁山下寨，看丞相羞也不羞！”芝再三阻当，式只不听，径自引五千兵出箕谷去了。邓芝只得飞报孔明。

却说陈式引兵行不数里，忽听的一声炮响，四面伏兵皆出。式急退时，魏兵塞满谷口，围得铁桶相似。式左冲右突，不能得脱。忽闻喊声大震，一彪军杀入，乃是魏延，救了陈式，回到谷中，五千兵只剩得四五百带伤人马。背后魏兵赶来，却得杜琼、张嶷引兵接应，魏兵方退。陈、魏二人方信孔明先见如神，懊悔不及。

且说邓芝回见孔明，言魏延、陈式如此无礼。孔明笑曰：“魏延素有反相，吾知彼常有不平之意，因怜其勇而用之。久后必生患害。”正言间，忽流星马报到，说陈式折了四千馀人，止有四五百带伤人马，屯在谷中。孔明令邓芝再来箕谷抚慰陈式，防其生变，一面唤马岱、王平分付曰：“斜谷若有魏兵守把，汝二人引本部军越山岭，夜行昼伏，速出祁山之左，举火为号。”又唤马忠、张翼分付曰：“汝等亦从山僻小路，昼伏夜行，径出祁山之右，举火为号，与马岱、王平会合，共劫曹真营寨。吾自从谷中三面攻之，魏兵可破也。”四人领命分头引兵去了。孔明又唤关兴、廖化分付曰：如此如此。二人受了密计，引兵而去。孔明自领精兵倍道而行。正行间，又唤吴班、吴懿授与密计，亦引兵先行。

却说曹真心中不信蜀兵来，以此怠慢，纵令军士歇息，只等十日无事，要羞司马懿。不觉守了七日，忽有人报谷中有些小蜀兵出来。真令副将秦良引五千兵哨探，不许纵令蜀兵近界。秦良领命，引兵刚到谷口，哨见蜀兵退去。良急引兵赶来，行到五六十里，不见蜀兵，心下疑惑，教军士下马歇息。忽哨马报说：“前面有蜀兵埋伏。”良上马看时，只见山中尘土大起，急令军士提防。不一时，四壁厢喊声大震，前面吴班、吴懿引兵杀出，背后关兴、廖化引兵杀来。左右是山，皆无走路。山上蜀兵大叫：“下马投降者免死！”魏兵大半多降。秦良死战，被廖化一刀斩于马下。孔明把降兵拘于后军，却将魏兵衣甲与蜀兵五千人穿了，扮作魏兵，令关兴、廖化、吴班、吴懿四将引着，径奔曹真寨来，先令报马入寨说：“只有些小蜀兵，尽赶去了。”真大喜。忽报司马都督差心腹人至。真唤入问之，其人告曰：“今都督用埋伏计，杀蜀兵四千馀人。司马都督致意将军，教休将赌赛为念，务要用心提备。”真曰：“吾这里并无一个蜀兵。”遂打发来人回去。忽又报秦良引兵回来了，真自出帐迎之。比及到寨，人报前后两把火起。真急回寨后看时，关兴、廖化、吴班、吴懿四将，指麾蜀军，就营前杀将进来。马岱、王平从后面杀来，马忠、张翼亦引兵杀到。魏军措手不及，各自逃生。众将保曹真望东而走，背后蜀兵赶来。曹真正奔走，忽然喊声大震，一彪军杀到。真胆战心惊，视之，乃司马懿也。懿大战一场，蜀兵方退。真得脱，羞惭无地。懿曰：“诸葛亮夺了祁山地势，吾等不可久居此处，宜去渭滨安营，再作良图。”真曰：“仲达何以知吾遭此大败也？”懿曰：“见来人报称子丹说并无一个蜀兵，吾料孔明暗来劫寨，因此知之，故相接应。今果中计。切莫言赌赛之事，只同心报国。”曹真甚是惶恐，气成疾病，卧床不起。兵屯渭滨，懿恐军心有乱，不敢教真引兵。

却说孔明大驱士马，复出祁山。劳军已毕，魏延、陈式、杜琼、张嶷入帐拜伏请罪。孔明曰：“是谁失陷了军来？”延曰：“陈式不听号令，潜入谷口，以此大败。”式曰：“此事魏延教我行来。”孔明曰：“他倒救你，你反攀他！将令已违，不必巧说！”即叱武士推出陈式斩之。须臾，悬首于帐前，以示诸将。此时孔明不杀魏延，欲留之以为后用也。孔明既斩了陈式，正议进兵，忽有细作报说曹真卧病不起，现在营中治疗。孔明大喜，谓诸将曰：“若曹真病轻，必便回长安。今魏兵不退，必为病重，故留于军中，以安众人之心。吾写下一书，教秦良的降兵持与曹真，真若见之，必然死矣！”遂唤降兵至帐下，问曰：“汝等皆是魏军，父母妻子多在中原，不宜久居蜀中。今放汝等回家，若何？”众军泣泪拜谢。孔明曰：“曹子丹与吾有约。吾有一书，汝等带回，送与子丹，必有重赏。”魏军领了书，奔回本寨，将孔明书呈与曹真。真扶病而起，拆封视之，其书曰：

汉丞相、武乡侯诸葛亮，致书于大司马曹子丹之前：窃谓夫为将者，能去能就，能柔能刚，能进能退，能弱能强。不动如山岳，难测如阴阳；无穷如天地，充实如太仓；浩渺如四海，眩曜如三光。预知天文之旱涝，先识地理之平康；察阵势之期会，揣敌人之短长。嗟尔无学后辈，上逆穹苍；助篡国之反贼，称帝号于洛阳；走残兵于斜谷，遭霖雨于陈仓；水陆困乏，人马猖狂；抛盈郊之戈甲，弃满地之刀枪；都督心崩而胆裂，将军鼠窜而狼忙！无面见关中之父老，何颜入相府之厅堂！史官秉笔而记录，百姓众口而传扬：仲达闻阵而惕惕，子丹望风而遑遑！吾军兵强而马壮，大将虎奋以龙骧；扫秦川为平壤，荡魏国作丘荒！

曹真看毕，恨气填胸，至晚，死于军中。司马懿用兵车装载，差人送赴洛阳安葬。魏主闻知曹真已死，即下诏催司马懿出战。懿提大军来与孔明交锋，隔日先下战书。

孔明谓诸将曰：“曹真必死矣。”遂批回“来日交锋”，使者去了。孔明当夜教姜维受了密计如此而行，又唤关兴分付如此如此。次日，孔明尽起祁山之兵前到渭滨：一边是河，一边是山，中央平川旷野，好片战场！两军相迎，以弓箭射住阵角。三通鼓罢，魏阵中门旗开处，司马懿出马，众将随后而出。只见孔明端坐于四轮车上，手摇羽扇。懿曰：“吾主上法尧禅舜，相传二帝，坐镇中原，容汝蜀、吴二国者，乃吾主宽慈仁厚，恐伤百姓也。汝乃南阳一耕夫，不识天数，强要相侵，理宜殄灭！如省心改过，宜即早回，各守疆界，以成鼎足之势，免致生灵涂炭，汝等皆得全生！”孔明笑曰：“吾受先帝托孤之重，安肯不倾心竭力以讨贼乎！汝曹氏不久为汉所灭。汝祖父皆为汉臣，世食汉禄，不思报效，反助篡逆，岂不自耻？”懿羞惭满面曰：“吾与汝决一雌雄！汝若能胜，吾誓不为大将！汝若败时，早归故里，吾并不加害。”

孔明曰：“汝欲斗将？斗兵？斗阵法？”懿曰：“先斗阵法。”孔明曰：“先布阵我看。”懿入中军帐下，手执黄旗招，左右军动，排成一阵。复上马出阵，问曰：“汝识吾阵否？”孔明笑曰：“吾军中末将，亦能布之。此乃‘混元一气阵’也。”懿曰：“汝布阵我看。”孔明入阵，把羽扇一摇，复出阵前，问曰：“汝识我阵否？”懿曰：“量此‘八卦阵’，如何不识！”孔明曰：“识便识了，敢打我阵否？”懿曰：“既识之，如何不敢打！”孔明曰：“汝只管打来。”司马懿回到本阵中，唤戴陵、张虎、乐三将，分付曰：“今孔明所布之阵，按休、生、伤、杜、景、死、惊、开八门。汝三人可从正东‘生门’打入，往西南‘休门’杀出，复从正北‘开门’杀入，此阵可破。汝等小心在意！”于是戴陵在中，张虎在前，乐在后，各引三十骑，从生门打入。两军呐喊相助。三人杀入蜀阵，只见阵如连城，冲突不出。三人慌引骑转过阵脚，往西南冲去，却被蜀兵射住，冲突不出。阵中重重叠叠，都有门户，那里分东西南北？三将不能相顾，只管乱撞，但见愁云漠漠，惨雾蒙蒙。喊声起处，魏军一个个皆被缚了，送到中军。孔明坐于帐中，左右将张虎、戴陵、乐并九十个军，皆缚在帐下。孔明笑曰：“吾纵然捉得汝等，何足为奇！吾放汝等回见司马懿，教他再读兵书，重观战策，那时来决雌雄，未为迟也。汝等性命既饶，当留下军器战马。”遂将众人衣服脱了，以墨涂面，步行出阵。司马懿见之大怒，回顾诸将曰：“如此挫败锐气，有何面目回见中原大臣耶！”即指挥三军，奋死掠阵。懿自拔剑在手，引百馀骁将，催督冲杀。两军恰才相会，忽然阵后鼓角齐鸣，喊声大震，一彪军从西南上杀来，乃关兴也。懿分后军当之，复催军向前厮杀。忽然魏兵大乱，原来姜维引一彪军悄地杀来，蜀兵三路夹攻。懿大惊，急忙退军。蜀兵周围杀到，懿引三军望南死命冲出。魏兵十伤六七。司马懿退在渭滨南岸下寨，坚守不出。

孔明收得胜之兵，回到祁山时，永安城李严遣都尉苟安解送粮米，至军中交割。苟安好酒，于路怠慢，违限十日。孔明大怒曰：“吾军中专以粮为大事，误了三日，便该处斩！汝今误了十日，有何理说？”喝令推出斩之。长史杨仪曰：“苟安乃李严用人，又兼钱粮多出于西川，若杀此人，后无人敢送粮也。”孔明乃叱武士去其缚，杖八十放之。苟安被责，心中怀恨，连夜引亲随五六骑，径奔魏寨投降。懿唤入，苟安拜告前事。懿曰：“虽然如此，孔明多谋，汝言难信。汝能为我干一件大功，吾那时奏准天子，保汝为上将。”安曰：“但有甚事，即当效力。”懿曰：“汝可回成都布散流言，说孔明有怨上之意，早晚欲称为帝，使汝主召回孔明，即是汝之功矣。”苟安允诺，径回成都，见了宦官，布散流言，说孔明自倚大功，早晚必将篡国。宦官闻知大惊，即入内奏帝，细言前事。后主惊讶曰：“似此如之奈何？”宦官曰：“可诏还成都，削其兵权，免生叛逆。”后主下诏，宣孔明班师回朝。蒋琬出班奏曰：“丞相自出师以来，累建大功，何故宣回？”后主曰：“朕有机密事，必须与丞相面议。”即遣使赍诏星夜宣孔明回。使命径到祁山大寨，孔明接入，受诏已毕，仰天叹曰：“主上年幼，必有佞臣在侧！吾正欲建功，何故取回？我如不回，是欺主矣。若奉命而退，日后再难得此机会也。”姜维问曰：“若大军退，司马懿乘势掩杀，当复如何？”孔明曰：“吾今退军，可分五路而退。今日先退此营，假如营内一千兵，却掘二千灶，明日掘三千灶，后日掘四千灶。每日退军，添灶而行。”杨仪曰：“昔孙膑擒庞涓，用添兵减灶之法而取胜，今丞相退兵，何故增灶？”孔明曰：“司马懿善能用兵，知吾兵退，必然追赶。心中疑吾有伏兵，定于旧营内数灶，见每日增灶，兵又不知退与不退，则疑而不敢追。吾徐徐而退，自无损兵之患。”遂传令退军。

却说司马懿料苟安行计停当，只待蜀兵退时，一齐掩杀。正踌躇间，忽报蜀寨空虚，人马皆去。懿因孔明多谋，不敢轻追，自引百馀骑前来蜀营内踏看，教军士数灶，仍回本寨。次日，又教军士赶到那个营内，查点灶数。回报说：“这营内之灶，比前又增一分。”司马懿谓诸将曰：“吾料孔明多谋，今果添兵增灶，吾若追之，必中其计，不如且退，再作良图。”于是回军不追。孔明不折一人，望成都而去。次后，川口土人来报司马懿，说孔明退兵之时，未见添兵，只见增灶。懿仰天长叹曰：“孔明效虞诩[1]之法，瞒过吾也！其谋略吾不如之！”遂引大军还洛阳。正是：棋逢敌手难相胜，将遇良才不敢骄。未知孔明退回成都，竟是如何，且看下文分解。

[1] 虞诩——东汉武都太守。羌兵曾在陈仓、崤谷拦截虞诩；虞诩用每天“增灶”的计策，迷惑对方，使之不敢追击，最后打败了羌兵。

CHAPTER 100. Raiding A Camp, The Shu Soldiers Defeat Cao Zhen; Contesting Array Battles, Zhuge Liang Shames Sima Yi.

When the Shu officers got to know that the Wei army had gone but they were not to pursue, they were inclined to discontent and went in a body to the Prime Minister's tent and said, “The rain has driven the enemy away; surely it is the moment to pursue.”

Zhuge Liang replied, “Sima Yi is an able leader who would not retreat without leaving an ambush to cover it. If we pursue we shall fall victims. Let him go in peace, and I shall then get through the Xie Valley and take Qishan, making use of the enemy's lack of defense.”

“But there are other ways of taking Changan;” said they, “why only take Qishan?”

“Because Qishan is the first step to Changan, and I want to gain the advantage of position. And every transportation from Xizhou must come this way. It rests on River Wei in front and is backed by the Xie Valley. It gives the greatest freedom of movement and is a natural maneuvering ground. That is why I want it.”

They bowed to his wisdom. Then he dispatched Wei Yan, Zhang Ni, Du Qiong, and Chen Shi for Chi Valley; and he sent Ma Dai, Wang Ping, Zhang Yi, and Ma Zhong for the Xie Valley; all were to meet at the Qishan Mountains. He led the main army himself, with Guan Xing and Liao Hua in the van.

When the Wei army retreated, Cao Zhen and Sima Yi remained in the rear superintending the movement. They sent a reconnoitering party along the old road to Chencang, and they returned saying no enemy was to be seen. Ten days later the leaders, who had commanded in the ambush, joined the main body saying that they had seen no sign of the enemy.

Cao Zhen said, “This continuous autumn rain has rendered all the ways impassable; how could the soldiers of Shu know of our retreat?”

“They will appear later,” said Sima Yi.

“How can you know?”

“These late five dry days they have not pursued, because they think we shall have left a rearguard in ambush. Therefore they have let us get well away. But after we have gone, they will try to occupy Qishan.”

Cao Zhen was not convinced.

“Why do you doubt?” asked Sima Yi. “I think Zhuge Liang will certainly advance by way of the two valleys, and you and I should guard the entrances. I give them ten days, and if they do not appear, I will come to your camp painted in the face to own my mistake.”

“If the army of Shu do appear, I will give you the girdle and the steed that the Emperor gave me,” replied Cao Zhen.

And they split their force, Cao Zhen taking up his station on the west of Qishan in the Xie Valley, and Sima Yi going to the east in the Chi Valley.

As soon as the camp was settled, Sima Yi led a cohort into hiding in the valley. The remainder of the force was placed in detachments on the chief roads.

Sima Yi disguised himself as a soldier and went among the soldiers to get a private survey of all the camps. In one of them he happened upon a junior officer who was complaining, saying, “The rain has drenched us for days, and they would not retire. Now they have camped here for a wager. They have no pity for us soldiers.”

Sima Yi returned to his tent and assembled his officers. Hauling out the grumbler, Sima Yi said to him, angrily, “The state feeds and trains soldiers a thousand days for one hour's service. How dare you give vent to your spleen to the detriment of discipline?”

The man would not confess, so his comrades were called to bear witness. Still he would not own up.

“I am not here for a wager, but to overcome Shu,” said Sima Yi. “Now you all have done well and are going home, but only this fellow complains and is guilty of mutinous conduct.”

Sima Yi ordered the lictors to put him to death, and in a short time they produced his head.

The others were terrified, but Sima Yi said, “All you must do your utmost to guard against the enemy. When you hear a bomb explode, rush out on all sides and attack.”

With this order they retired.

Now Wei Yan, Zhang Ni, Chen Shi, and Du Qiong, with twenty thousand troops, entered the Chi Valley. As they were marching, Adviser Deng Zhi came.

“I bear an order from the Prime Minister. As you go out of the valley, beware of the enemy,” said Deng Zhi.

Chen Shi said, “Why is the Prime Minister so full of doubts? We know the soldiers of Wei have suffered severely from the rain and must hasten home. They will not lay any ambush. We are doing double marches and shall gain a great victory. Why are we to delay?”

Deng Zhi replied, “You know the Prime Minister's plans always succeed. How dare you disobey his orders?”

Chen Shi smiled, saying, “If he was really so resourceful, we should not have lost Jieting.”

Wei Yan, recalling that Zhuge Liang had rejected his plan, also laughed, and said, “If he had listened to me and gone out through Ziwu Valley, not only Changan but Luoyang too would be ours. Now he is bent on taking Qishan; what is the good of it? He gave us the order to advance and now he stops us. Truly the orders are confusing.”

Then said Chen Shi, “I will tell you what I will do. I shall take only five thousand troops, get through the Chi Valley, and camp at Qishan. Then you will see how ashamed the Prime Minister will look.” Deng Zhi argued and persuaded, but to no avail; the willful leader hurried on to get out of the valley. Deng Zhi could only return as quickly as possible and report.

Chen Shi proceeded. He had gone a few miles when he heard a bomb, and he was in an ambush. He tried to withdraw, but the valley was full of the enemy and he was surrounded as in an iron cask. All his efforts to get out failed. Then there was a shout, and Wei Yan came to the rescue. Wei Yan saved his comrade, but Chen Shi's five thousand troops was reduced to about five hundred, and these wounded. The Wei soldiers pursued, but two other divisions of Zhang Ni and Du Qiong prevented the pursuit, and finally the army of Wei retired.

Chen Shi and Wei Yan who had criticized Zhuge Liang's powers of prevision no longer doubted that he saw very clearly. They regretted their own shortsightedness.

When Deng Zhi told his chief of the bad behavior of Chen Shi and Wei Yan, Zhuge Liang only laughed.

Said he, “That fellow Wei Yan has never been quite true; he has always been disposed to disobey and is unsteady. However, he is valiant, and so I have saved him for our use, but he will do real harm some day.”

Then came a messenger with news of Chen Shi's defeat and loss of troops. Zhuge Liang sent Deng Zhi back again to Chi Valley to console with Chen Shi and so keep him from actual mutiny.

Then Zhuge Liang called to his tent Ma Dai and Wang Ping, and said, “If there are any troops of Wei in the Xie Valley, you are to go across the mountains, marching by night and concealing yourselves by day, and make for the east of Qishan. When you arrive, make a fire as a signal.”

Ma Zhong and Zhang Ni were told to go in similar fashion to the west of Qishan and join up with the other two. Then they were to make a joint attack on Cao Zhen's camp. Zhuge Liang would also attack in the center. Guan Xing and Liao Hua also received secret orders.

The armies marched rapidly. Not long after starting, two other detachments led by Wu Ban and Wu Yi received secret orders and left the main body.

The doubts about the coming of the Shu army made Cao Zhen careless, and he allowed his soldiers to become slack and rest. He only thought of getting through the allotted ten days, when he would have the laugh against his colleague.

Seven of the days had passed, when a scout reported a few odd men of Shu in the valley. Cao Zhen sent Qin Liang with five thousand troops to reconnoiter and keep them at a distance. Qin Liang he led his troops to the entrance of the valley. As soon as he arrived, the enemy retired. Qin Liang went after them, but they had disappeared. He was perplexed and puzzled, and while trying to decide, he told the troops to dismount and rest.

But almost immediately he heard a shout, and ambushing troops appeared in front of him. He jumped on his horse to look about him, and saw a great cloud of dust rising among the hills. He disposed his troops for defense, but the shouting quickly came nearer, and then Wu Ban and Wu Yi appeared advancing towards him. Retreat was impossible for Guan Xing and Liao Hua had blocked the road. The hills were on both sides, and from the hill-tops came shouts of “Dismount and yield!”

More than half did surrender. Qin Liang rode out to fight, but he was slain by Liao Hua.

Zhuge Liang put the Wei soldiers who had come over to his side in one of the rear divisions. With their dress and arms, he disguised five thousand of his own troops so that they looked like his enemies, and then he sent this division—under Guan Xing, Liao Hua, Wu Yi, and Wu Ban—to raid Cao Zhen's camp. Before they reached the camp, they sent one of their number ahead as a galloper to tell Cao Zhen that there had been only a few men of Shu and they had all been chased out of sight, and so lull him into security.

This news satisfied Cao Zhen. But just then a trusty messenger from Sima Yi came with a message: “Our troops have fallen into an ambush, and many have been killed. Do not think any more about the wager: that is canceled. But take most careful precautions.”

“But there is not a single soldier of Shu near,” said Cao Zhen.

He told the messenger to go back. Just then they told him Qin Liang's army had returned, and he went out to meet them. Just as he got near, someone remarked that some torches had flared up in the rear of his camp. He hastened thither to see. As soon as he was out of sight, the four leaders waved on their troops and dashed up to the camp. At the same time Ma Dai and Wang Ping came up behind, and Ma Zhong and Zhang Yi came out.

The soldiers of Wei were trapped and helpless; they scattered and fled for life. Cao Zhen, protected by his generals, fled away to the eastward. The enemy chased them closely. As Cao Zhen fled there arose a great shouting, and up came an army at full speed. Cao Zhen thought all was lost, and his heart sank, but it was Sima Yi, who drove off the pursuers.

Though Cao Zhen was saved, he was almost too ashamed to show his face.

Then said Sima Yi, “Zhuge Liang has seized Qishan, and we cannot remain here; let us go to River Wei, whence we may try to recover our lost ground.”

“How did you know I was in danger of defeat?” asked Cao Zhen.

“My messenger told me that you said there was not a single soldier of Shu near, and I knew Zhuge Liang would try to seize your camp. So I came to your help. The enemy's plan succeeded, but we will say no more about that wager. We must both do our best for the country.”

But the fright and excitement made Cao Zhen ill, and he took to his bed. And while the army were in such a state of disorder, Sima Yi was afraid to advise a return. They camped at River Wei.

After this adventure Zhuge Liang hastened back to Qishan. After the soldiers had been feasted and services recognized, the four discontented leaders—Wei Yan, Chen Shi, Du Qiong, and Zhang Ni—came to the tent to apologize.

“Who caused the loss?” said Zhuge Liang.

Wei Yan said, “Chen Shi disobeyed orders and rushed into the valley.”

“Wei Yan told me to,” said Chen Shi.

“Would you still try to drag him down after he rescued you?” said Zhuge Liang. “However, when orders have been disobeyed, it is useless to try and gloze it over.”

Zhuge Liang sentenced Chen Shi to death, and he was led away. Soon they brought his head into the presence of the assembled generals. Wei Yan was spared as there was yet work for him to accomplish.

After this, Zhuge Liang prepared to advance. The scouts reported that Cao Zhen was ill, but was being treated by doctors in his tent.

The news pleased Zhuge Liang, and he said to his officers, “If Cao Zhen's illness is slight, they will surely return to Changan. They must be delayed by his serious sickness. He stays on so that his soldiers may not lose heart. Now I will write him such a letter that he will die.”

Then he called up the soldiers of Wei who had yielded, and said to them, “You are Wei troops, and your families are all over there: it is wrong for you to serve me. Suppose I let you go home?”

They thanked him, falling prostrate and weeping.

Then Zhuge Liang continued, “Friend Cao Zhen and I have a compact, and I have a letter for him which you shall take. The bearer will be well rewarded.”

They received the letter and ran home to their own tents, where they gave their Commander-in-Chief the letter. Cao Zhen was too ill to rise, but he opened the cover and read:

“The Prime Minister of Han, Zhuge Liang, to the Minister of War, Cao Zhen:

“You will permit me to say that a leader of an army should be able to go and come, to be facile and obdurate, to advance and retire, to show himself weak or strong, to be immovable as mountains, to be inscrutable as the operations of nature, to be infinite as the universe, to be everlasting as the blue void, to be vast as the ocean, to be dazzling as the lights of heaven, to foresee droughts and floods, to know the nature of the ground, to understand the possibilities of battle arrays, to conjecture the excellencies and defects of the enemy.

“Alas! One of your sort, ignorant and inferior, rising impudently in heaven's vault, has had the presumption to assist a rebel to assume the imperial style and state at Luoyang, to send some miserable soldiers into Beach Valley. There they happened upon drenching rain. The difficult roads wearied both soldiers and horses, driving them frantic. Weapons and armors littered the countryside, swords and spears covered the ground. You, the Commander-in-Chief, were heart-broken and cowed, your generals fled like rats. You dare not show your faces at home, nor can you enter the halls of state. The historians' pens will record your defeats; the people will recount your infamies. 'Sima Yi is frightened when he hears of battle fronts, Cao Zhen is alarmed at mere rumors.' My soldiers are fierce and their steeds strong; my great generals are eager as tigers and majestic as dragons. I shall sweep the Middle Land bare and make Wei desolate.”

Cao Zhen's wrath rose as he read; at the end it filled his breast. He died that evening. Sima Yi sent his coffin to Luoyang on a wagon.

When the Ruler of Wei heard of the death of Cao Zhen, he issued an edict urging Sima Yi to prosecute the war, to raise a great army and fight with Zhuge Liang.

A declaration of war was sent one day in advance, and Zhuge Liang replied that he would fight on the morrow. After the envoy had left, Zhuge Liang called Jiang Wei by night to receive secret orders. He also summoned Guan Xing and told him what to do.

Next morning the whole force marched to the bank of River Wei and took up a position in a wide plain with the river on one flank and hills on the other. The two armies saluted each other's appearance with heavy flights of arrows. After the drums had rolled thrice the Wei center opened at the great standard and Sima Yi appeared, followed by his officers. Opposite was Zhuge Liang, in a four-horse chariot, waving his feather fan.

Sima Yi addressed Zhuge Liang, “Our master's ascension of the throne was after the manner of King Yao, who abdicated in favor of King Shun. Two emperors have succeeded and have their seat in the Middle Land. Because of his liberality and graciousness, my lord has suffered the rule of Shu and Wu lest the people should suffer in a struggle. You, who are but a plowman from Nanyang, ignorant of the ways of Heaven, wish to invade us, and you should be destroyed; but if you will examine your heart and repent of your fault and retire, then each may maintain his own borders, and a settled state of three kingdoms will be attained. Thus the people may be spared distress, and you will save your life.”

Zhuge Liang smiled and replied, “Our First Ruler entrusted to me the custody of his orphan son: think you that I shall fail to exert myself to the uttermost to destroy rebels against his authority? Your soldiers of the Cao family will soon be exterminated by Han. Your ancestors were servants of Han and for generations ate of their bounty. Yet, instead of giving grateful service, you assist usurpers. Are you not ashamed?”

The flush of shame spread over Sima Yi's face, but he replied, “We will try the test of battle. If you can conquer, I pledge myself to be no longer a leader of armies; but if you are defeated, then you will retire at once to your own village and I will not harm you.”

“Do you desire a contest of generals, or of weapons, or of battle array?” asked Zhuge Liang.

“Let us try a contest of battle array,” replied Sima Yi.

“Then draw up your array that I may see,” said Zhuge Liang.

Sima Yi withdrew within the line and signaled to his officers with a yellow flag to draw up their troops. When he had finished, he rode again to the front, saying, “Do you recognize my formation?”

“The least of my generals can do as well,” said Zhuge Liang, smiling. “This is called the 'Disorder-in-Order' formation.”

“Now you try while I look on,” said Sima Yi.

Zhuge Liang entered the lines and waved his fan. Then he came out and said, “Do you recognize that?”

“Of course; this is the 'Eight Arrays.'“

“Yes; you seem to know it. But dare you attack?”

“Why not, since I know it?” replied Sima Yi.

“Then you need only try.”

Sima Yi entered the ranks and called to him three generals—Dai Ling, Zhang Hu, and Yue Chen—to whom he said, “That formation consists of eight gates—Birth, Exit, Expanse, Wound, Fear, Annihilation, Obstacle, and Death. You will go in from the east at the Gate of Birth, turn to the southwest and make your way out by the Gate of Annihilation. Then enter at the north, at the Exit Gate, and the formation will be broken up. But be cautious.” They started with Zhang Hu leading, Dai Ling next, and Yue Chen in rear, each with thirty horsemen. They made their way in at the Gate of Birth amid the applause of both sides. But when they had got within they found themselves facing a wall of troops and could not find a way out. They hastily led their men round by the base of the line toward the southwest to rush out there. But they were stopped by a flight of arrows. They became confused and saw many gates, but they had lost their bearings. Nor could they aid each other. They dashed hither and thither in disorder, lose as in gathering clouds and rolling mists. Then a shout arose, and each one was seized and bound.

They were taken to the center, where Zhuge Liang sat in his tent, and the three leaders with their ninety men were ranged in front.

“Indeed you are prisoners; are you surprised” said Zhuge Liang, smiling. “But I will set you free to return to your leader, and tell him to read his books again, and study his tactics, before he comes to try conclusions with me. You are pardoned, but leave your weapons and horses here.”

So they were stripped of their arms and armors and their faces inked. Thus were they led on foot out of the array. Sima Yi lost his temper at sight of his people thus put to shame.

Said he, “After this disgrace, how can I face the other officers in the Middle Land?”

He gave the signal for the army to fall on and attack the enemy, and, grasping his sword, led his brave generals into the fray and commanded the attack. But just as the two armies came to blows, Guan Xing came up, his drums rolling and troops shouting, and attacked. Sima Yi told off a division from the rear to oppose Guan Xing, and again turned to urge on his main body.

Then the army of Wei was thrown into confusion by another attack from Jiang Wei, who came up silently and joined in the battle. Thus three sides of the Wei army were attacked by three different divisions of the enemy, and Sima Yi decided to retire. However, this was difficult. The soldiers of Shu hemmed him in and came closer every moment. At last, by a desperate push, he cut an arterial alley toward the south and freed his army. But he had lost six or seven out of every ten of his soldiers.

The Wei army withdrew to the south bank of River Wei and camped. They strengthened their position and remained entirely on the defensive.

Zhuge Liang mustered his victorious army and returned to Qishan.

Now Li Yan sent an officer, General Gou An, from Baidicheng with a convoy of grain. Gou An was a drunkard and loitered on the road so that he arrived ten days late. Zhuge Liang, angry at the delay, upbraided him, saying, “This grain is of the utmost importance to the army and you delay it. Three days' delay ought to mean the death penalty; what can you say to this delay of ten?”

Gou An was sentenced to death and hustled out.

But Yang Yi ventured to intervene, saying, “Gou An is a servant of Li Yan, and Li Yan has sent large supplies of all sorts from the Western Land of Rivers. If you put this man to death, perhaps others will not undertake escort duty.”

Zhuge Liang then bade the executioners loose the offender, give him eighty blows, and let him go.

This punishment filled Gou An's heart with bitter resentment, and, in the night, he deserted to the enemy, he and his half dozen personal staff. He was taken before Sima Yi and told the tale of his wrongs. “Your tale may be true, but it is hard to trust it,” said Sima Yi. “Zhuge Liang is full of guile. However, you may render me a service, and if you do, I will ask the Ruler of Wei that you may be allowed to serve him and obtain a post for you.”

“Whatever you ask, I will do the best I can,” replied the deserter.

“Then go to Chengdu and spread a lying report that Zhuge Liang is angry with the powers there and means to make himself emperor. This will get him recalled, and that will be a merit to you.”

Gou An accepted the treacherous mission. In Chengdu he got hold of the eunuchs and told them his lying tale. The eunuchs became alarmed for their own safety and told the Emperor all these things.

“In such a case what am I to do?” asked the Latter Ruler.

“Recall him to the capital,” said the eunuchs, “and take away his military powers so that he cannot rebel.”

The Latter Ruler issued an edict recalling the army.

Jiang Wan said, “The Prime Minister has rendered many and great services since he led out the army; wherefore is he recalled?”

“I have a private matter to consult him about,” said the Latter Ruler. “I must see him personally.”

So the edict was issued and sent to Zhuge Liang. The messenger was at once received as soon as he reached Qishan.

“The Emperor is young, and there is some jealous persons by his side,” said Zhuge Liang sadly. “I was just going to achieve some solid success; why am I recalled? If I go not, I shall insult my Prince; if I retire, I shall never get such a chance again.”

“If the army retire, Sima Yi will attack,” said Jiang Wei.

“I will retire in five divisions. Thus today this camp goes. Supposing that there are a thousand soldiers in the camp, then I shall have two thousand cooking places prepared, or if there are three thousand soldiers, then four thousand cooking plates shall be got ready; and so on, increasing the cooking arrangements as the troops are sent away.”

Yang Yi said, “In the days of old, when Sun Bin was attacking Pang Juan, Sun Bin decreased the cooking arrangements as the soldiers were increased. Why do you reverse this, O Minister?”

“Because Sima Yi is an able leader and would pursue if he knew we were retreating. But he would recognize the probability of an ambush; and if he sees an increase in the cooking arrangements in a camp, he will be unable to conclude whether the troops have gone or not, and he will not pursue. Thus I shall gradually withdraw without loss.”

The order for retreat was given.

Confident of the effect that Gou An's lying report would produce, Sima Yi waited for the retreat of the Shu army to begin. He was still waiting when the scouts told him the enemy's camps were empty. Wishing to make sure, he rode out himself with a small reconnoitering party and inspected the empty camps. Then he bade them count the stoves. Next day he paid a second visit to another empty camp, and again the cooking stoves were counted. The count showed an increase of a half.

“I felt sure that Zhuge Liang would have more troops ready. He has increased the cooking arrangements, and so, if we pursue, he will be ready for us. No; we also will retire and await another opportunity.”

So there was no pursuit, and Zhuge Liang did not lose a soldier on his retreat to Hanzhong.

By and by, people came in from the Lands of Rivers to say that the retreat was a fact, and that only the cooking arrangements had been increased, not the soldiers.

Sima Yi knew that he had been tricked, and looking up the sky, he sighed, “Zhuge Liang imitated the ruse of Sun Bin to rouse my suspicion. His thinking is superior to mine.”

And Sima Yi set out for Luoyang.

When players of equal skill are matched,

Then victory hovers between;

Perhaps your opponent's a genius,

So put on your lowliest mien.

What happened when Zhuge Liang returned to Chengdu will be told next.