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第228部分（第1页）

The　letter　was　acpanied　by　presents　of　gold　and　pearls；　and　when　the　messenger　arrived；　he　first　sought　Prime　Minister　Ya　Dan；　to　whom　he　gave　gifts　and　whose　help　he　begged。　Thus　he　gained　an　interview　with　the　King；　to　whom　he　presented　the　letter　and　the　gifts。　The　King　accepted　both　and　called　his　counselors　to　consider　the　letter。

Ya　Dan　said；　〃We　have　had　regular　intercourse　with　the　Wei　kingdom。　Now　that　Cao　Zhen　asks　our　aid　and　promises　an　alliance；　we　ought　to　accede　to　his　request。〃

Cheli　Ji　agreed　that　it　was　so；　and　he　ordered　his　two　chief　ministers　to　raise　an　army　of　two　hundred　fifty　thousand　of　trained　soldiers；　archers　and　crossbowmen；　spearmen　and　swordsmen；　warriors　who　flung　maces　and　hurled　hammers。　Beside　these　various　weapons；　the　tribesmen　used　chariots　covered　with　iron　plates　nailed　on。　They　prepared　much　grain　and　fodder　and　many　spare　weapons；　all　of　which　they　loaded　upon　these　iron…clad　chariots。　The　chariots　were　drawn　by　camels　or　teams　of　horses。　The　carts　or　chariots　were　known　as　〃iron　chariots〃。

The　two　leaders　took　leave　of　their　King　and　went　straightway　to　Xiping　Pass。

The　mander　in　charge　of　the　Pass；　Han　Zhen；　at　once　sent　intelligence　to　Zhuge　Liang；　who　asked；　〃Who　will　go　to　attack　the　Qiangs？〃

Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　said　they　would　go。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃You　shall　be　sent。　But　as　you　are　ignorant　of　the　road　and　the　people；　Ma　Dai　shall　acpany　you。〃

To　Ma　Dai　he　said；　〃You　know　the　disposition　of　the　Qiangs　from　your　long　residence　there。　You　shall　go　as　guide。〃

They　chose　out　fifty　thousand　of　veterans　for　the　expedition。　When　they　had　marched　a　few　days　and　drew　near　their　enemy；　Guan　Xing　went　in　advance　with　a　hundred　horsemen　and　got　first　sight　of　them　from　a　hill。　The　Qiangs　were　marching；　the　long　line　of　iron　chariots　one　behind　another　in　close　order。　Then　they　halted　and　camped；　their　weapons　piled　all　along　the　line　of　chariots　like　the　ramparts　of　a　moated　city。　Guan　Xing　studied　them　for　a　long　time　quite　at　a　loss　to　think　how　to　overe　them。　He　came　back　to　camp　and　consulted　with　his　two　colleagues。

Ma　Dai　said；　〃We　will　see　tomorrow　what　they　will　do　when　we　make　our　array；　and　discuss　our　plans　when　we　know　more。〃

So　the　next　day　they　drew　up　their　army　in　three　divisions；　Guan　Xings　division　being　in　the　center；　Zhang　Baos　in　the　left；　and　Ma　Dais　in　the　right。　Thus　they　advanced。

The　enemy　also　drew　up　in　battle　order。　Their　Chief　Leader；　Yue　Ji；　had　an　iron　mace　in　his　hand　and　a　graven　bow　hung　at　his　waist。　He　rode　forward　on　a　curvetting　steed　boldly　enough。　Guan　Xing　gave　the　order　for　all　three　divisions　to　go　forward。　Then　the　enemys　ranks　opened　in　the　center　and　out　rolled　the　iron　chariots　like　a　great　wave。　At　the　same　time　the　Qiangs　shot　arrows　and　bolts；　and　the　men　of　Shu　could　not　stand　against　them。

The　wing　divisions　under　Ma　Dai　and　Zhang　Bao　retired；　and　the　Qiangs　were　thus　enabled　to　surround　the　center。　In　spite　of　every　effort；　Guan　Xing　could　not　get　free；　for　the　iron　chariots　were　like　a　city　wall　and　no　opening　could　be　found。　The　troops　of　Shu　were　absolutely　helpless；　and　Guan　Xing　made　for　the　mountains　in　hope　of　finding　a　road　through。

As　it　grew　dark　a　Qiang　leader　with　a　black　flag　approached；　his　warriors　like　a　swarm　of　wasps　about　him。

Presently　the　leader　cried　out　to　him；　〃Youthful　general；　flee　not。　I　am　Yue　Ji！〃

But　Guan　Xing　only　hastened　forward；　plying　his　whip　to　urge　his　steed。　Then　he　suddenly　came　on　a　deep　gully；　and　there　seemed　nothing　but　to　turn　and　fight。　Yue　Ji　e　close　and　struck　at　him　with　the　mace。　Guan　Xing　evaded　the　blow；　but　it　fell　upon　his　steed　and　knocked　it　over　into　water。　Guan　Xing　went　into　the　water　too。

Presently　he　heard　a　great　noise　again　behind　him。　Yue　Ji　and　his　troops　had　found　a　way　down　into　the　gully　and　were　ing　at　him　down　the　stream。　Guan　Xing　braced　himself　for　a　struggle　in　the　water。

Then　he　saw　Zhang　Bao　and　Ma　Dai　ing　up　on　the　bank　fighting　with；　and　driving　off；　the　Qiangs。　Yue　Ji　was　struck　by　Zhang　Bao；　and　he　too　fell　into　the　gully。　Guan　Xing　gripped　his　sword　and　was　about　to　launch　a　stroke　at　Yue　Ji　as　he　came　up；　when　Yue　Ji　jumped　out　of　the　water　and　ran　away。

At　once　Guan　Xing　caught　the　steed　Yue　Ji　had　left；　led　it　up　the　bank　and　soon　had　it　ready　to　mount。　Then　he　girded　on　his　sword；　got　on　the　horse；　and　joined　the　battle　with　his　colleagues。

After　driving　off　the　Qiangs；　Guan　Xing；　Zhang　Bao；　and　Ma　Dai　gathered　together　and　rode　back。　They　quickly　gained　the　camp。

〃I　do　not　know　how　to　overe　these　men；〃　said　Ma　Dai。　〃Let　me　protect　the　camp　while　you　go　back　and　ask　the　Prime　Minister　what　we　should　do。〃

Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　started　at　once　and　made　the　best　of　their　way　back。　They　told　Zhuge　Liang　what　had　happened。　He　at　once　sent　off　Zhao　Yun　and　Wei　Yan　to　go　into　ambush。　After　this　he　went　himself　with　thirty　thousand　troops　and　Jiang　Wei；　Zhang　Yi；　Guan　Xing；　and　Zhang　Bao　and　soon　came　to　Ma　Dais　camp。　The　day　after；　from　the　summit　of　a　hill；　Zhuge　Liang　surveyed　the　country　and　the　enemy；　who　were　ing　on　in　a　ceaseless　stream。

〃It　is　not　difficult；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

He　called　up　Ma　Dai　and　Zhang　Yi　and　gave　them　certain　orders。

They　having　gone；　he　turned　to　Jiang　Wei；　saying；　〃My　friend；　do　you　know　how　to　overe　them？〃

〃The　enemy　only　depend　upon　force　and　courage。　They　shall　not　expect　this　fine　strategy；〃　was　the　reply。