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第254部分（第1页）

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　empty；　and　he　hastened　back　with　this　news。

〃Then　Zhuge　Liang　is　really　dead！　Let　us　pursue；〃　said　Sima　Yi；　much　irritated　at　being　misled。

〃Be　cautious；〃　said　Xiahou　Ba。　〃Send　an　subordinate　leader　first。〃

〃No；　I　must　go　myself　this　time。〃

So　Sima　Yi　and　his　two　sons　hastened　to　the　Wuzhang　Hills。　With　shouts　and　waving　flags；　they　rushed　into　the　camps；　only　to　find　them　quite　deserted。

Sima　Yi　said　to　his　sons；　〃You　are　to　bring　up　the　remaining　force　with　all　speed；　whereas　I　will　lead　the　vanguard。〃

Sima　Yi　hastened　in　the　wake　of　the　retreating　army。　ing　to　some　hills；　he　saw　them　in　the　distance　and　pressed　on　still　harder。　Then　suddenly　a　bomb　exploded；　a　great　shout　broke　the　stillness；　and　the　retiring　army　turned　about　and　came　toward　him；　ready　for　battle。　In　their　midst　fluttered　a　great　banner　bearing　the　words；　Prime　Minister　of　Han；　Lord　of　Wuxiang；　Zhuge　Liang　。

Sima　Yi　stopped；　pale　with　fear。　Then　out　from　the　army　came　some　score　of　generals　of　rank；　and　they　were　escorting　a　small　carriage；　in　which　sat　Zhuge　Liang　as　he　had　always　appeared；　in　his　hand　the　feather　fan。

〃Then　Zhuge　Liang　is　still　alive！〃　gasped　Sima　Yi。　〃And　I　have　rashly　placed　myself　in　his　power。〃

As　he　pulled　round　his　horse　to　flee；　Jiang　Wei　shouted；　〃Do　not　try　to　run　away；　O　rebel！　You　have　fallen　into　one　of　the　Prime　Ministers　traps　and　had　better　stay！〃

The　soldiers；　seized　with　panic；　fled；　throwing　off　all　their　gear。　They　trampled　each　other　down；　and　many　perished。　Their　leader　galloped　fifteen　miles　without　pulling　rein。　When　at　last　two　of　his　generals　came　up　with　him；　and　had　stopped　his　flying　steed　by　catching　at　the　bridle；　Sima　Yi　clapped　his　hand　to　his　head；　crying；　〃Have　I　still　a　head？〃

〃Do　not　fear；　mander；　the　soldiers　of　Shu　are　now　far　away；〃　they　replied。

But　he　still　panted　with　fear；　and　only　after　some　time　did　he　recognize　that　his　two　panions　were　Xiahou　Ba　and　Xiahou　Hui。　The　three　found　their　way　by　by…roads　to　their　own　camp；　whence　scouts　were　sent　out　in　all　directions。

In　a　few　days　the　natives　brought　news：　〃The　Shu　army　had　really　gone；　and　as　soon　as　the　retiring　army　entered　the　valley；　they　raised　a　wailing　for　the　dead　and　hoisted　white　flags。　Zhuge　Liang　was　really　dead；　and　Jiang　Weis　rearguard　consisted　of　only　one　thousand　troops。　The　figure　in　the　carriage　was　only　a　wooden　image　of　the　Prime　Minister。〃

〃While　he　lived；　I　could　guess　what　he　would　do；　dead；　I　was　helpless！〃　said　Sima　Yi。

The　people　had　a　saying　that　〃A　dead　Zhuge　Liang　can　scare　off　a　live　Sima　Yi。〃

In　the　depth　of　night　a　brilliant　star

Fell　from　the　northern　sky；

Doubts　stayed　Sima　Yi

When　he　would　pursue

His　dead；　but　fearsome　enemy。

And　even　now　the　western　people；

With　scornful　smile；　will　say

〃Oh；　is　my　head　on　my　shoulder　still？

It　was　nearly　lost　today。〃

Now　indeed　Sima　Yi　knew　that　his　rival　was　no　more；　so　he　retook　the　pursuit。　But　when　he　reached　the　Red　Hills；　the　Shu　army　had　marched　too　far　away。

As　he　took　the　homeward　road；　he　said　to　his　officers；　〃We　can　now　sleep　in　fort。〃

As　they　marched　back；　they　saw　the　camps　of　their　enemies；　and　were　amazed　at　their　skillful　arrangement。

〃Truly　a　wonderful　genius！〃　sighed　Sima　Yi。

The　armies　of　Wei　returned　to　Changan。　Leaving　officers　to　guard　the　various　strategic　points；　Sima　Yi　himself　went　on　to　Luoyang　to　see　the　audience。

Yang　Yi　and　Jiang　Wei　retired　slowly　and　in　good　order　till　they　neared　the　Plank　Trail；　when　they　donned　mourning　garb　and　began　to　wail　for　their　dead。　The　soldiers　threw　themselves　on　the　ground　and　wailed　in　sorrow。　Some　even　wailed　themselves　to　death。

But　as　the　leading　panies　entered　upon　the　Plank　Trail；　they　saw　a　great　blaze　in　front；　and；　with　a　great　shout；　a　cohort　came　out　barring　the　way。　The　leaders　of　the　retreating　army　were　taken　aback　and　sent　to　inform　Yang　Yi。

The　regiments　of　Wei　are　nowhere　near；

Then　who　are　these　soldiers　that　now　appear？