第243部分 (第1/7页)

But　almost　immediately　he　heard　a　shout；　and　ambushing　troops　appeared　in　front　of　him。　He　jumped　on　his　horse　to　look　about　him；　and　saw　a　great　cloud　of　dust　rising　among　the　hills。　He　disposed　his　troops　for　defense；　but　the　shouting　quickly　came　nearer；　and　then　Hu　Ban　and　Wu　Yi　appeared　advancing　towards　him。　Retreat　was　impossible　for　Guan　Xing　and　Liao　Hua　had　blocked　the　road。

The　hills　were　on　both　sides；　and　from　the　hill…tops　came　shouts　of　〃Dismount　and　yield！〃

More　than　half　did　surrender。　Qin　Liang　rode　out　to　fight；　but　he　was　slain　by　Liao　Hua。

Zhuge　Liang　put　the　Wei　soldiers　who　had　e　over　to　his　side　in　one　of　the　rear　divisions。　With　their　dress　and　arms；　he　disguised　five　thousand　of　his　own　troops　so　that　they　looked　like　his　enemies；　and　then　he　sent　this　division………under　Guan　Xing；　Liao　Hua；　Wu　Yi；　and　Hu　Ban………to　raid　Cao　Zhen's　camp。　Before　they　reached　the　camp；　they　sent　one　of　their　number　ahead　as　a　galloper　to　tell　Cao　Zhen　that　there　had　been　only　a　few　men　of　Shu　and　they　had　all　been　chased　out　of　sight；　and　so　lull　him　into　security。

This　news　satisfied　Cao　Zhen。

But　just　then　a　trusty　messenger　from　Sima　Yi　came　with　a　message：　〃Our　troops　have　fallen　into　an　ambush；　and　many　have　been　killed。　Do　not　think　any　more　about　the　wager：　That　is　canceled。　But　take　most　careful　precautions。〃

〃But　there　is　not　a　single　soldier　of　Shu　near；〃　said　Cao　Zhen。

He　told　the　messenger　to　go　back。　Just　then　they　told　him　Qin　Liang's　army　had　returned；　and　he　went　out　to　meet　them。　Just　as　he　got　near；　someone　remarked　that　some　torches　had　flared　up　in　the　rear　of　his　camp。　He　hastened　thither　to　see。　As　soon　as　he　was　out　of　sight；　the　four　leaders　waved　on　their　troops　and　dashed　up　to　the　camp。　A