多多读书

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第255部分（第1页）

At　this　time　Wei　Yan　was　camped　at　Nangu　Valley；　which　was　a　manding　position。　He　thought　his　plan　was　succeeding　well。　It　had　not　occurred　to　him　that　Yang　Yi　and　Jiang　Wei　could　get　past　him　by　any　by…way。

On　the　other　hand；　Yang　Yi；　thinking　that　Hanzhong　was　lost；　sent　He　Ping　with　three　thousand　troops　on　in　front　while　he　followed　with　the　coffin。

When　He　Ping　had　got　to　the　rear　of　Nangu　Valley；　they　announced　their　presence　with　rolling　drums。　The　scouts　quickly　told　Wei　Yan；　who　at　once　armed　himself；　took　his　sword；　and　rode　out　to　confront　He　Ping。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed；　He　Ping　rode　to　the　front　and　began　to　revile　his　opponent。

〃Where　is　that　rebel　Wei　Yan？〃　cried　He　Ping。

〃You　aided　that　traitor　Yang　Yi！〃　cried　Wei　Yan；　no　way　backward　with　his　tongue。　〃How　dare　you　abuse　me？〃

He　Ping　waxed　more　indignant。

〃You　rebelled　immediately　after　the　late　chiefs　death；　before　even　his　body　was　cold。　How　could　you？〃

Then　shaking　his　whip　at　the　followers　of　Wei　Yan；　He　Ping　cried；　〃And　you　soldiers　are　Shu　people。　Your　fathers　and　mothers；　wives　and　children；　and　your　friends　are　still　in　the　land。　Were　you　treated　unkindly　that　you　have　joined　a　traitor　and　aid　his　wicked　schemes？　You　ought　to　have　returned　home　and　waited　quietly　the　rewards　that　would　have　been　yours。〃

The　soldiers　were　touched　by　his　words。　They　cheered；　and　more　than　a　half　ran　away。

Wei　Yan　was　now　raging。　He　whirled　up　his　sword　and　galloped　forward　straight　for　He　Ping；　who　went　to　meet　him　with　his　spear　ready。　They　fought　several　bouts；　and　then　He　Ping　rode　away　as　if　defeated。　Wei　Yan　followed；　but　He　Pings　troops　began　to　shoot　and　Wei　Yan　was　driven　backward。　As　he　got　near　his　own　ranks；　Wei　Yan　saw　many　generals　leaving　their　panies　and　going　away。　He　rode　after　them　and　cut　some　of　them　down。　But　this　did　not　stay　the　movement；　they　continued　to　go。　The　only　steady　portion　of　his　own　army　was　that　manded　by　Ma　Dai。　They　stood　their　ground。

〃Will　you　really　help　me？〃　said　Wei　Yan。　〃I　will　surely　remember　you　in　the　day　of　success。〃

The　two　then　went　in　pursuit　of　He　Ping；　who　fled　before　them。　However；　it　was　soon　evident　that　He　Ping　was　not　to　be　overtaken；　and　the　pursuers　halted。　Wei　Yan　mustered　his　now　small　force。

〃What　if　we　go　over　to　Wei？〃　said　Wei　Yan。

〃I　think　your　words　unwise；〃　said　Ma　Dai。　〃Why　should　we　join　anyone？　A　really　strong　person　would　try　to　carve　out　his　own　fortune　and　not　be　ready　to　crook　the　knee　to　another。　You　are　far　more　able　and　brave　than　any　leader　in　the　River　Lands。　No　one　would　dare　to　stand　up　to　you。　I　pledge　myself　to　go　with　you　to　the　seizure　of　Hanzhong；　and　thence　we　will　attack　the　West　River　Land。〃

So　they　marched　together　toward　Nanzheng；　where　Jiang　Wei　stationed。　From　the　city　wall　Jiang　Wei　saw　their　approach　and　marked　their　proud；　martial　look。　He　ordered　the　drawbridge　to　be　raised　and　sent　to　tell　his　colleague；　Yang　Yi。

As　they　drew　near；　both　Wei　Yan　and　Ma　Dai　shouted　out；　〃Surrender！〃

In　spite　of　the　smallness　of　their　following；　Jiang　Wei　felt　that　Ma　Dai　acting　with　Wei　Yan　was　a　dangerous　bination；　and　he　wanted　the　advice　of　Yang　Yi。

〃Wei　Yan　is　valorous；　and　he　is　having　the　help　of　Ma　Dai。　How　shall　we　repel　them？〃　asked　Jiang　Wei。

Yang　Yi　replied；　〃Just　before　his　death；　the　Prime　Minister　gave　me　a　silken　bag；　which　he　said　I　was　to　open　when　Wei　Yans　mutiny　reached　a　critical　point。　It　contains　a　plan　to　rid　ourselves　of　this　traitor；　and　it　seems　that　now　is　the　moment　to　see　what　should　be　done。〃

So　Yang　Yi　opened　the　bag　and　drew　forth　the　letter　it　held。　On　the　cover　he　read；　〃To　be　opened　when　Wei　Yan　is　actually　arrayed　opposite　you。〃

Said　Jiang　Wei；　〃As　this　has　all　been　arranged　for；　I　had　better　go　out；　and　when　his　line　is　formed　then　you　can　e　forth。〃

Jiang　Wei　donned　his　armor；　took　his　spear；　and　rode　out；　with　three　thousand　troops。　They　marched　out　of　the　city　gates　with　the　drums　beating。　The　array　pleted；　Jiang　Wei　took　his　place　under　the　great　standard　and　opened　with　a　volley　of　abuse。

〃Rebel　Wei　Yan；　the　late　Prime　Minister　never　harmed　you。　Why　have　you　turned　traitor？〃

Wei　Yan　reined　up；　lowered　his　sword　and　replied；　〃Friend　Jiang　Wei；　this　is　no　concern　of　yours。　Tell　Yang　Yi　to　e。〃

Now　Yang　Yi　was　also　beneath　the　standard；　but　hidden。　He　opened　the　letter；　and　the　words　therein　seemed　to　please　him；　for　he　rode　forward　blithely。

Presently　he　reined　in；　pointed　to　Wei　Yan　and　said；　〃The　Prime　Minister　foresaw　your　mutiny　and　bade　me　be　on　my　guard。　Now　if　you　are　able　thrice　to　shout；　Who　dares　kill　me？；　then　you　will　be　a　real　hero；　and　I　will　yield　to　you　the　whole　of　Hanzhong。〃

Wei　Yan　laughed。

〃Listen；　you　old　fool！　While　Zhuge　Liang　lived　I　feared　him　somewhat。　But　he　is　dead　and　no　one　dares　stand　before　me。　I　will　not　only　shout　the　words　thrice；　but　a　myriad　times。　Why　not？〃