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第253部分（第3页）

〃Zhuge　Liang　is　a　master　of　mysteries：　He　can　get　aids　from　the　Deities　of　the　Six　Layers。　It　may　be　that　this　is　but　a　ruse　to　get　us　to　take　the　field。　We　may　fall　victims　to　his　guile。〃

So　he　halted。　But　he　sent　Xiahou　Ba　with　a　few　dozen　scouts　to　reconnoiter　the　enemys　camps。

One　night　as　Wei　Yan　lay　asleep　in　his　tent；　he　dreamed　a　dream。　In　his　vision　two　horns　grew　out　of　his　head。　When　he　awoke　he　was　much　perplexed　to　explain　his　dream。

Marching　General　Zhao　Zhi　came　to　see　him；　and　Wei　Yan　said；　〃You　are　versed　in　the　Book　of　Changes。　I　have　dreamed　that　two　horns　grew　upon　my　head；　and　would　trouble　you　to　expound　the　dream　and　tell　me　its　portent。〃

Zhao　Zhi　thought　a　moment　and　replied；　〃It　is　an　auspicious　dream。　Dragon　and　Jilin　both　have　horns　on　the　head。　It　augurs　transformation　into　an　ascending　creature。〃

Wei　Yan；　much　pleased；　said；　〃If　the　dream　proves　true　as　you　said；　I　will　thank　you　with　very　generous　gifts。〃

Zhao　Zhi　left　and　presently　met　Fei　Yi；　who　asked　whence　he　came。

〃From　the　camp　of　our　friend　Wei　Yan。　He　dreamed　that　he　grew　horns　upon　his　head；　and　I　have　given　him　an　auspicious　interpretation。　But　really　it　is　inauspicious。　However；　I　did　not　wish　to　annoy　him。〃

〃How　do　you　know　it　is　inauspicious？〃

〃The　word　for　horn　is　posed　of　two　parts；　knife　above　and　use　below；　and　so　means　that　there　is　a　knife　upon　his　head。　It　is　a　terrible　omen。〃

〃Keep　it　secret；〃　said　Fei　Yi。

Then　Fei　Yi　went　to　the　camp　of　Wei　Yan；　and　when　they　were　alone；　he　said；　〃The　Prime　Minister　died　last　night　in　the　third　watch。　He　left　certain　final　orders；　and　among　them；　that　you　are　to　mand　the　rearguard　to　keep　Sima　Yi　at　bay　while　the　army　retreats。　No　mourning　is　to　be　worn。　Here　is　your　authority；　so　you　can　march　forthwith。〃

〃Who　is　acting　in　place　of　the　late　minister？〃　asked　Wei。

〃The　chief　mand　has　been　delegated　to　Yang　Yi；　but　the　secret　plans　of　campaign　have　been　entrusted　to　Jiang　Wei。　This　authority　was　issued　from　Yang　Yi。〃

Wei　Yan　replied；　〃Though　the　Prime　Minister　is　dead；　I　am　yet　alive。　Counselor　Yang　Yi　is　only　a　civil　officer　and　unequal　to　this　post。　He　ought　to　conduct　the　coffin　home　while　I　lead　the　army　against　Sima　Yi。　I　shall　achieve　success；　and　it　is　wrong　to　abandon　a　whole　plan　of　campaign　because　of　the　death　of　one　man；　even　if　that　be　the　Prime　Minister。〃

〃The　Prime　Ministers　orders　were　to　retire；　and　these　orders　are　to　be　obeyed。〃

〃If　the　Prime　Minister　had　listened　to　me；　we　should　now　have　been　at　Changan。　I　am　the　Van　Leader；　General　Who　Conquers　the　West；　and　Lord　of　Nanzheng。　I　am　not　going　to　act　as　rearguard　for　any　civil　official；〃　said　Wei　Yan；　angry。

〃It　may　be　as　you　say；　General；　but　you　must　not　do　anything　to　make　us　ridiculous。　Let　me　go　back　to　Yang　Yi　and　explain；　and　I　may　be　able　to　persuade　him　to　pass　on　to　you　the　supreme　military　authority　he　holds。〃

Wei　Yan　agreed；　and　Fei　Yi　went　back　to　the　main　camp　and　told　Yang　Yi　what　had　passed。

Yang　Yi　replied；　〃When　near　death　the　Prime　Minister　confided　to　me　that　Wei　Yan　would　turn　traitor。　I　sent　him　the　authority　to　test　him；　and　now　he　has　discovered　himself　as　the　Prime　Minister　foretold。　So　I　will　direct　Jiang　Wei　to　mand　the　rearguard。〃

The　coffer　containing　the　remains　of　Zhuge　Liang　was　sent　on　in　advance；　and　Jiang　Wei　took　up　his　post　to　cover　the　retreat。

Meanwhile　Wei　Yan　sat　in　his　tent　waiting　for　the　return　of　Fei　Yi　and　was　perplexed　at　the　delay。　When　the　suspense　became　unbearable；　he　sent　Ma　Dai　to　find　out　the　reason。

Ma　Dai　returned　and　told　him：　〃Jiang　Wei　is　covering　the　retreat；　and　that　most　of　the　army　has　already　gone。〃

Wei　Yan　was　furious。

〃How　dare　he　play　with　me；　the　pedantic　blockhead？〃　cried　he。　〃But　he　shall　die　for　this！〃

Turning　to　Ma　Dai；　Wei　Yan　said；　〃Will　you　help　me？〃

Ma　Dai　replied；　〃I　have　long　hated　Yang　Yi；　certainly　I　am　ready　to　attack　him。〃

So　Wei　Yan　broke　camp　and　marched　southward。

By　the　time　Xiahou　Ba　had　reached　the　Shu　camps；　they　were　all　empt