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第205部分（第1页）

f　the　enemy；　fifty　thousand　under　General　Chang　Diao；　with　the　aid　of　Zhuge　Qian　and　Wang　Shuang；　had　made　a　dash　for　Ruxu；　so　he　hastened　back　and　found　the　officers　were　in　great　fear。

Drawing　his　sword；　he　made　a　speech；　〃Success　depends　upon　the　leader　rather　than　on　the　number　of　soldiers。　The　Art　of　War　says　that　the　value　of　one　soldier　who　inhabits　the　place　equals　that　of　two　soldiers　who　e　from　afar；　and　those　who　are　hosts；　however　in　small　number；　can　overe　those　who　are　guests。　Now　the　enemy　is　weary　from　a　long　march；　and　I　and　you；　my　men；　can　hold　this　place　together。　We　have　the　Great　River　to　defend　us　on　the　south；　and　we　are　backed　by　the　mountains　on　the　north。　Success　should　be　ours　easily；　and　we　are　as　hosts　at　home　awaiting　the　arrival　of　our　weary　visitors。　This　will　give　us　victory　in　every　fight。　Even　if　Cao　Pi　es；　we　need　feel　no　anxiety。　How　much　less　care　we　for　Cao　Ren　and　his　troops？〃

Zhu　Huan　he　issued　orders　to　furl　all　the　banners　and　to　silence　all　the　drums　as　if　the　city　was　empty　of　defenders。

In　time；　Chang　Diao　and　his　veterans　of　the　van　came　to　the　city。　Not　a　person　was　visible；　and　he　hastened　forward　with　all　speed。　But　as　he　neared　the　city；　suddenly　a　bomb　went　off。　Immediately　up　rose　a　forest　of　flags；　and　out　dashed　Zhu　Huan　with　his　sword　drawn。　And　he　made　for　Chang　Diao。　In　the　third　encounter　Zhu　Huan　cut　down　Chang　Diao；　and　the　troops　of　Wu；　rushing　to　the　attack；　thoroughly　routed　the　invaders；　slaying　innumerable　soldiers。　Beside　scoring　a　plete　victory；　Zhu　Huan　took　much　spoil　of　flags　and　weapons　and　horses。

Cao　Ren　himself；　ing　up　later；　was　attacked　by　the　troops　from　Xianxi　and　was　also　routed。　He　fled　home　to　his　master　with　the　news　of　defeat　and　destruction。

And　before　the　Ruler　of　Wei　could　decide　what　course　to　take　in　regard　to　this　loss；　the　news　came　of　the　defeat　of　his　another　army：　〃Cao　Zhen　and　Xiahou　Shang　were　besieging　Nanjun　when　Zhuge　Jin　from　within　and　Lu　Xun　from　without　attacked　in　concert。　The　two　generals　suffered　a　great　loss。〃

Immediately；　another　report　came：　〃Cao　Xiu　has　been　defeated　by　Lu　Fan　at　Dongkou。〃

So　all　three　armies　had　failed　and　were　lost。

Cao　Pi　sighed　and　said　sadly；　〃This　has　e　from　my　willfulness　and　neglect　of　the　advice　of　Jia　Xu　and　Liu　Ye。〃

The　summer　of　that　year　was　very　unhealthy；　and　a　pestilence　swept　away　the　soldiers　more　than　half　the　number。　So　they　were　marched　home　to　Capital　Luoyang。　The　two　countries　were　at　enmity　though　they　were　not　fighting。

Meanwhile　the　First　Ruler　was　failing。　He　remained　in　his　Palace　of　Eternal　Peace　at　Baidicheng　and　presently　was　confined　to　his　couch。　Gradually　he　became　worse；　and　in　the　fourth　moon　of　the　third　year　of　Manifest　Might　（AD　222）　his　condition　became　serious。　He　himself　felt　the　end　was　near；　and　he　was　depressed　and　wept　for　his　two　lost　brothers　till　the　sight　of　his　eyes　suffered。　He　was　morose　and　ill…tempered：　He　could　not　bear　any　of　his　court　near　him；　drove　away　his　servants　and　lay　upon　his　couch　sad　and　solitary。

One　evening　as　thus　he　lay；　a　sudden　gust　of　wind　came　into　the　chamber；　almost　extinguishing　the　candles。　As　they　burned　bright　again；　he　saw　two　men　standing　in　the　shade　behind　them。

〃I　told　you　I　was　worried；〃　said　the　First　Ruler；　〃and　bade　you　leave　me。　Why　have　you　e　back？　Go！〃

But　they　remained　and　did　not　go。　Wherefore　the　First　Ruler　rose　and　went　over　to　look　at　them。　As　he　drew　near　he　saw　one　was　Guan　Yu　and　the　other　Zhang　Fei。

〃Are　you　still　alive；　then；　brothers？〃　said　he。

〃We　are　not　men；　we　are　shades；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃The　Supreme　One　has　conferred　spirithood　upon　us　in　consideration　of　our　faithfulness　throughout　life；　and　ere　long；　brother；　we　three　shall　be　together　again。〃

The　First　Ruler　clutched　at　the　figures　and　burst　into　tears；　then　he　awoke。　The　two　figures　were　no　longer　there。　He　called　in　his　people　and　asked　the　hour。　They　told　him　the　third　watch。

〃I　am　not　much　longer　for　this　world；〃　said　he　with　a　sigh。

Messengers　were　sent　to　Capital　Chengdu　to　summon　the　Prime　Minister　and　other　high　officers　of　state　to　receive　the　Emperors　last　instructions。　They　came；　Zhuge　Liang　bringing　the　two　younger　sons；　Prince　of　Lu　Liu　Yung　and　Prince　of　Liang　Liu　Li。　The　eldest；　the　heir…apparent；　was　left　in　charge　of　the　capital。

Zhuge　Liang　saw　at　once　that　his　master　was　very　ill。　He　bowed　to　the　ground　at　the　foot　of　the　Dragon　Couch。

The　dying　Emperor　bade　him　e　near　and　sit　beside　him；　and　he　patted　his　Minister　on　the　back；　saying；　〃The　attainment　of　emperorship　was　your　work。　Little　thought　you　that　I　should　prove　so　stupid　as　not　to　follow　your　advice　and　so　bring　about　the　late　disasters。　But　I　am　deeply　sorry；　and　now　I　shall　not　live　long。　My　heir　is　a　degenerate；　but　I　must　leave　him　to　do　the　best　he　can　with　the　great　inheritance。〃

And　the　tears　flowed　in　streams。

〃I　trust　Your　Majesty　will　fulfill　the　hopes　of　the　people　by　a　speedy　recovery；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　also　in　tears。

Turning　his　head；　the　First　Ruler　saw　Ma　Su；　Ma　Liangs　brother；　at　the　bedside。　He　bade　him　retire。

When　Ma　Su　had　left　the　chamber；　the　First　Ruler　said；　〃Do　you　think　Ma　Su　is　clever？〃

〃He　is　one　of　the　ablest　people　in　the　empire；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃I　do　not　think　so。　I　think　his　words　exceed　his　deeds。　Do　not　make　much　use　of　him。　Watch　him　carefully。〃

Having　said　this；　he　bade　them　summon　the　high　officers　of　state　to　the　chamber。　Taking　paper　and　pen；　the　First　Ruler　wrote　his　testament。

He　handed　it　to　the　Prime　Minister　with　a　sigh　and　said；　〃I　am　no　great　scholar；　and　I　only　know　the　rough　outlines　of　what　should　be　known。　But　the　Teacher　has　said：　A　birds　song　is　sad　when　death　is　near；　and　a　dying　persons　words　are　good。　I　was　waiting　that　we　might　aid　each　other　in　the　destruction　of　the　Caos　and　the　restoration　of　the　Hans；　but　ere　the　work　is　plete　I　am　called　away；　and　this　last　mand　of　mine　I　confide　to　you　as　Prime　Minister　to　be　handed　to　my　son　and　heir；　Liu　Shan。　My　words　are　to　be　taken　seriously。　I　trust　that　you　will　instruct　and　guide　my　son。〃

Zhuge　Liang　and　all　those　present　wept　and　prostrated　themselves；　saying；　〃We　pray　Your　Majesty　repose　yourself。　We　will　do　our　utmost　whereby　to　prove　our　gratitude　for　the　kindness　we　have　received。〃

At　the　First　Rulers　mand　the　attendants　raised　Zhuge　Liang　from　the　earth。　With　one　hand　the　dying　man　brushed　away　the　falling　tears；　while　with　the　other　he　grasped　Zhuge　Liangs　hand。

And　he　said；　〃The　end　is　near。　I　have　something　more　to　say　as　to　a　close　general。〃