北斗星小说网

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第243部分（第2页）

Cao　Zhens　wrath　rose　as　he　read。　At　the　end　it　filled　his　breast。　And　he　died　that　evening。　Sima　Yi　sent　his　coffin　to　Luoyang　on　a　wagon。

When　the　Ruler　of　Wei　heard　of　the　death　of　Cao　Zhen；　he　issued　an　edict　urging　Sima　Yi　to　prosecute　the　war；　to　raise　a　great　army；　and　to　fight　with　Zhuge　Liang。

Sima　Yi　sent　a　declaration　of　war　one　day　in　advance；　and　Zhuge　Liang　replied　that　he　would　fight　on　the　morrow。

After　the　envoy　had　left；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Cao　Zhen　must　have　died！〃

He　called　Jiang　Wei　by　night　to　receive　secret　orders。　He　also　summoned　Guan　Xing　and　told　him　what　to　do。

Next　morning　the　whole　force　marched　to　the　bank　of　River　Wei　and　took　up　a　position　in　a　wide　plain　with　the　river　on　one　flank　and　hills　on　the　other。　The　two　armies　saluted　each　others　appearance　with　heavy　flights　of　arrows。　After　the　drums　had　rolled　thrice　the　Wei　center　opened　at　the　great　standard　and　Sima　Yi　appeared；　followed　by　his　officers。　Opposite　was　Zhuge　Liang；　in　a　four…horse　chariot；　waving　his　feather　fan。

Sima　Yi　addressed　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Our　masters　ascension　of　the　Throne　was　after　the　manner　of　King　Yao；　who　abdicated　in　favor　of　King　Shun。　Two　emperors　have　succeeded　and　have　their　seat　in　the　Middle　Land。　Because　of　his　liberality　and　graciousness；　my　lord　has　suffered　the　rule　of　Shu　and　Wu　lest　the　people　should　suffer　in　a　struggle。　You；　who　are　but　a　plowman　from　Nanyang；　ignorant　of　the　ways　of　Heaven；　wish　to　invade　us；　and　you　should　be　destroyed。　But　if　you　will　examine　your　heart　and　repent　of　your　fault　and　retire；　then　each　may　maintain　his　own　borders；　and　a　settled　state　of　three　kingdoms　will　be　attained。　Thus　the　people　may　be　spared　distress；　and　you　will　save　your　life。〃

Zhuge　Liang　smiled　and　replied；　〃Our　First　Ruler　entrusted　to　me　the　custody　of　his　orphan　son：　Think　you　that　I　shall　fail　to　exert　myself　to　the　uttermost　to　destroy　rebels　against　his　authority？　Your　soldiers　of　the　Cao　family　will　soon　be　exterminated　by　Han。　Your　ancestors　were　servants　of　Han　and　for　generations　ate　of　their　bounty。　Yet；　instead　of　giving　grateful　service；　you　assist　usurpers。　Are　you　not　ashamed？〃

The　flush　of　shame　spread　over　Sima　Yis　face；　but　he　replied；　〃We　will　try　the　test　of　battle。　If　you　can　conquer；　I　pledge　myself　to　be　no　longer　a　leader　of　armies。　But　if　you　are　defeated；　then　you　will　retire　at　once　to　your　own　village　and　I　will　not　harm　you。〃

〃Do　you　desire　a　contest　of　generals；　or　of　weapons；　or　of　battle　array？〃　asked　Zhuge　Liang。

〃Let　us　try　a　contest　of　battle　array；〃　replied　Sima　Yi。

〃Then　draw　up　your　array　that　I　may　see；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

Sima　Yi　withdrew　within　the　line　and　signaled　to　his　officers　with　a　yellow　flag　to　draw　up　their　troops。

When　he　had　finished；　he　rode　again　to　the　front；　saying；　〃Do　you　recognize　my　formation？〃

〃The　least　of　my　generals　can　do　as　well；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　smiling。　〃This　is　called　the　Disorder…in…Order　formation。〃

〃Now　you　try　while　I　look　on；〃　said　Sima　Yi。

Zhuge　Liang　entered　the　lines　and　waved　his　fan。　Then　he　came　out　and　said；　〃Do　you　recognize　that？〃

〃Of　course。　This　is　the　Eight　Arrays。〃

〃Yes；　you　seem　to　know　it。　But　dare　you　attack？〃

〃Why　not；　since　I　know　it？〃　replied　Sima　Yi。

〃Then　you　need　only　try。〃

Sima　Yi　entered　the　ranks　and　called　to　him　three　generals………Dai　Ling；　Zhang　Hu；　and　Yue　Chen………to　whom　he　said；　〃That　formation　consists　of　eight　gates………Birth；　Exit；　Expanse；　Wound；　Fear；　Annihilation；　Obstacle；　and　Death。　You　will　go　in　from　the　east　at　the　Gate　of　Birth；　turn　to　the　southwest　and　make　your　way　out　by　the　Gate　of　Annihilation。　Then　enter　at　the　north；　at　the　Exit　Gate；　and　the　formation　will　be　broken　up。　But　be　cautious。〃

They　started　with　Zhang　Hu　leading；　Dai　Ling　next；　and　Yue　Chen　in　rear；　each　with　thirty　horsemen。　They　made　their　way　in　at　the　Gate　of　Birth　amid　the　applause　of　both　sides。　But　when　they　had　got　within　they　found　themselves　facing　a　wall　of　troops　and　could　not　find　a　way　out。　They　hastily　led　their　men　round　by　the　base　of　the　line　toward　the　southwest　to　rush　out　there。　But　they　were　stopped　by　a　flight　of　arrows。　They　became　confused　and　saw　many　gates；　but　they　had　lost　their　bearings。　Nor　could　they　aid　each　other。　They　dashed　hither　and　thither　in　disorder；　but　the　formation　was　as　if　gathering　clouds　and　rolling　mists。　Then　a　shout　arose；　and　each　one　was　seized　and　bound。

They　were　taken　to　the　center；　where　Zhuge　Liang　sat　in　his　tent；　and　the　three　leaders　with　their　ninety　men　were　ranged　in　front。

〃Indeed　you　are　prisoners。　Are　you　surprised？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　smiling。　〃But　I　will　set　you　free　to　return　to　your　leader；　and　tell　him　to　read　his　books　again；　and　study　his　tactics；　before　he　es　to　try　conclusions　with　me。　You　are　pardoned；　but　leave　your　weapons　and　horses　here。〃

So　they　were　stripped　of　their　arms　and　armors　and　their　faces　inked。　Thus　were　they　led　on　foot　out　of　the　array。　Sima　Yi　lost　his　temper　at　sight　of　his　people　thus　put　to　shame。

Said　he；　〃After　this　disgrace；　how　can　I　face　the　other　officers　in　the　Middle　Land？〃

He　gave　the　signal　for　t