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第264部分（第2页）

Xu　Zi　volunteered；　and　as　Sima　Shi　had　a　high　opinion　of　his　capacity；　he　appointed　Xu　Zi　as　Leader　of　the　Van。　The　brother　of　the　Prime　Minister；　Sima　Zhao；　went　as　mander…in…Chief。

The　Wei　army　set　out　for　West　Valley　Land；　reached　Dongting；　and　there　fell　in　with　Jiang　Wei。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed　Xu　Zi；　who　wielded　a　mighty　splitter…of…mountains　ax　as　his　weapon；　rode　out　and　challenged。　Liao　Hua　went　forth　to　accept；　but　after　a　few　bouts　he　took　advantage　of　a　feint　and　fled。

Then　Zhang　Yi　set　his　spear　and　rode　forth　to　continue　the　fight。　He　also　soon　fled　and　returned　within　his　own　ranks。　Thereupon　Xu　Zi　gave　the　signal　to　fall　on　in　force；　and　the　army　of　Shu　lost　the　day。　They　retired　ten　miles；　Sima　Zhao　also　drew　off　his　troops；　and　both　sides　encamped。

〃Xu　Zi　is　very　formidable。　How　can　we　overe　him？〃　asked　Jiang　Wei。

〃Tomorrow　make　pretense　of　defeat　and　so　draw　them　into　an　ambush；〃　replied　Xiahou　Ba。

〃But　remember　whose　son　this　Sima　Zhao　is；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。　〃Sima　Zhao　cannot　be　a　novice　in　war。　If　he　sees　a　likely　spot　for　an　ambush；　he　will　halt。　Now　the　troops　of　Wei　have　cut　our　transportation　many　times。　Let　us　do　the　same　to　them；　and　we　may　slay　this　Xu　Zi。〃

He　called　in　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　and　gave　them　secret　orders；　sending　them　in　different　directions。　Then　he　laid　iron　thorns　along　all　the　approaches　and　planted　thorny　barriers　as　if　making　a　permanent　defense。　When　the　troops　of　Wei　came　up　and　challenged；　the　troops　of　Shu　refused　battle。

The　scouts　reported　to　Sima　Zhao：　〃The　Shu　supplies　are　ing　up　along　the　rear　of　Iron　Cage　Mountain；　and　they　are　using　the　wooden　oxen　and　running　horses　as　transport。　The　Shu　army　are　building　permanent　defenses　and　are　awaiting　the　arrival　of　their　allies　the　Qiang　tribes。〃

Then　said　Sima　Zhao　to　Xu　Zi；　〃We　formerly　defeated　the　army　of　Shu　by　cutting　off　supplies；　and　we　can　do　that　again。　Let　five　thousand　troops　go　out　tonight　and　occupy　the　road。〃

About　the　middle　of　the　first　watch　Xu　Zi　marched　across　the　hills。　When　he　came　to　the　other　side；　he　saw　a　couple　of　hundred　soldiers　driving　a　hundred　or　so　heads　of　mechanical　animals　laden　with　grain　and　forage。　His　army　rushed　down　upon　them　with　shouts；　and　the　troops　of　Shu；　seeing　that　their　road　was　impassable；　abandoned　their　supplies　and　ran　away。　Xu　Zi　took　possession　of　the　supply　train；　which　he　sent　back　to　his　own　camp　under　the　escort　of　half　his　troops。　With　the　other　half　he　set　out　in　pursuit。

About　three　miles　away；　the　road　was　found　blocked　with　carts　set　across　the　track。　Some　of　his　soldiers　dismounted　to　clear　the　way。　But　as　they　did　so；　the　brushwood　on　both　sides　burst　into　a　blaze。　Xu　Zi　at　once　drew　off　his　force　and　turned　to　retire；　but　ing　to　a　defile　he　found　the　road　again　blocked　with　wagons；　and　again　the　brushwood　began　to　burn。　He　made　a　dash　to　escape；　but　before　he　could　get　clear　a　bomb　roared；　and　he　saw　the　troops　of　Shu　ing　down　on　him　from　two　directions。　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　from　left　and　right　fell　on　Xu　Zi　with　great　fury；　and　the　troops　of　Wei　were　wholly　defeated。　Xu　Zi　himself　got　clear；　but　without　any　following。

He　struggled　on　till　he　and　his　steed　were　almost　spent　with　fatigue。　Presently　he　saw　another　pany　of　the　enemy　in　his　way；　and　the　leader　was　Jiang　Wei。　Before　he　could　make　any　resistance；　Jiang　Weis　spear　thrust　him　down；　and　as　Xu　Zi　lay　on　the　ground　he　was　cut　to　pieces。

Meanwhile　those　troops　of　Wei　who　had　been　sent　to　escort　to　camp　the　convoy　of　supplies　which　they　had　seized　were　captured　by　Xiahou　Ba。　They　surrendered。　Xiahou　Ba　then　stripped　them　of　their　weapons　and　clothing　and　therein　disguised　some　of　his　own　soldiers。　Holding　aloft　banners　of　Wei；　these　disguised　soldiers　made　for　the　Wei　camp。　When　they　arrived；　they　were　mistaken　by　those　in　the　camp　for　rades；　and　the　gates　were　thrown　open。　They　rushed　in　and　began　to　slay。　Taken　wholly　by　surprise；　Sima　Zhao　leaped　upon　his　steed　and　fled。　But　Liao　Hua　met　him　and　drove　him　back。　Then　appeared　Jiang　Wei　in　the　path　of　retreat；　so　that　no　road　lay　open。　Sima　Zhao　made　off　for　the　hills；　hoping　to　be　able　to　hold　out　on　the　Iron　Cage　Mountain。

Now　there　was　only　one　road　up　the　hill；　which　rose　steeply　on　all　sides。　And　the　hill　had　but　one　small　spring　of　water；　enough　to　serve　a　hundred　people　or　so；　while　Sima　Zhaos　force　numbered　six　thousand。　Their　enemies　had　blocked　the　only　road　of　escape。　This　one　fountain　was　unequal　to　supplying　the　needs　of　the　beleaguered　army；　and　soon　they　were　tormented　with　thirst。

In　despair；　Sima　Zhao　looked　up　to　heaven　and　sighed；　saying；　〃Death　will　surely　e　to　me　here！〃

The　host　of　Wei　on　Iron　Cage　Mountain

Were　once　fast　held　by　Jiang　Weis　skill；

When　Pang　Juan　first　crossed　the　Maling　Hills；

His　strategy　was　reckoned　fine

As　Xiang　Yu　at　the　Nine　Mountains；

Both　bent　opponents　to　their　will。

In　this　critical　situation　Secretary　Wang　Tao　reminded　his　leader　of　what　Geng　Gong　had　done　in　ancient　time；　saying；　〃O　General；　why　do　you　not　imitate　Geng　Gong；　who；　being　in　great　need；　prostrated　himself　and　prayed　at　a　well；　wherefrom　he　afterwards　was　supplied　with　sweet　water？〃

So　the　leader　went　to　the　summit　of　the　hill　and　knelt　beside　the　spring　and　grayed　thus：

〃The　humble　Sima　Zhao　received　a　mand　to　repulse　the　army　of　Shu。　If　he　is　to　die　here；　then　may　this　spring　cease　its　flow；　when　he　will　end　his　own　life　and　let　his　soldiers　yield　to　the　enemy。　But　if　his　allotted　span　of　life　be　not　reached；　then；　O　Blue　Vault；　increase　the　flow　of　water　and　save　the　lives　of　this　multitude。〃

Thus　he　prayed；　and　the　waters　gushed　forth　in　plenty；　so　that　they　all　quenched　their　thirst　and　lived。

Jiang　Wei　had　surrounded　the　hill；　holding　the　army　thereon　as　in　a　prison。

He　said　to　his　officers；　〃I　have　always　regretted　that　our　great　Prime　Minister　was　unable　to　capture　Sima　Yi　in　the　Gourd　Valley；　but　now　I　think　his　son　is　doomed　to　fall　into　our　hands！〃

However；　news　of　the　dangerous　position　of　Sima　Zhao　had　e　to　Guo　Huai；　who　set　about　a　rescue。

Chen　Tai　said　to　him；　〃Jiang　Wei　has　made　a　league　with　the　Qiangs；　and　they　have　arrived　to　help　him。　If　you　go　away　to　rescue　Sima　Zhao；　the　Qiangs　will　attack　from　the　rear。　Therefore　I　would　propose　to　send　someone　to　the　tribespeople　to　try　to　create　a　diversion　and　get　them　to　retire。　If　they　are　disposed　of；　you　may　go　to　the　rescue　of　Sima　Zhao。〃

Guo　Huai　saw　there　was　much　reason　in　this；　and　told　Chen　Tai　to　take　a　force　of　five　thousand　troops　and　go　to　the　camp　of　the　King　of　the　Qiangs。　When　Chen　Tai　reached　the　camp；　he　threw　off　his　armor　and　entered　weeping　and　crying　that　he　was　in　danger　of　death。

He　said；　〃Guo　Huai　sets　himself　up　as　superior　to　everyone　and　is　trying　to　slay　me。　Therefore　I　have　e　to　offer　my　services　to　you。　I　know　all　the　secrets　of　the　Wei　army；　and；　if　you　will；　this