第269部分 (第1/7页)

out　by　way　of　Longxi　and　Nanan；　they　have　the　grain　of　the　Qiangs　to　depend　upon；　and　if　they　choose　Qishan；　they　have　the　wheat　there。　These　are　the　five　reasons　why　they　should　make　another　expedition。〃

Chen　Tai　was　overe　with　the　clear　vision　of　his　new　colleague。

〃Sir；　your　foresight　is　godlike。　I　think　we　need　feel　no　anxiety　about　what　the　enemy　can　achieve。〃

The　two　leaders　became　the　best　of　friends　in　spite　of　the　difference　of　age。　Deng　Ai　spent　his　time　in　training　the　army；　and　garrisons　were　placed　at　all　points　where　surprise　attacks　seemed　possible。

There　was　feasting　also　at　Zhongti；　and　the　occasion　was　taken　to　discuss　a　new　attack　on　Wei。

But　Assistant　Fan　Jian　opposed。　〃General；　your　expeditions　have　partly　failed　many　times；　you　have　never　scored　a　plete　victory。　But　now　on　River　Yao　the　army　of　Wei　recognize　your　superiority；　and　why　should　you　try　again？　There　is　small　chance　of　success；　and　you　risk　all　you　have　gained。〃

Jiang　Wei　replied；　〃You　all　regard　only　the　largeness　and　population　of　Wei　and　the　time　necessary　for　conquest；　but　you　do　not　see　five　reasons　for　victory。〃

The　assembly　asked　what　these　were。

〃First；　the　fighting　spirit　of　the　soldiers　of　Wei　has　been　badly　broken　on　River　Yao；　while　that　of　our　soldiers；　although　we　retired；　is　unimpaired。　If　we　attack；　we　shall　certainly　succeed。　Second；　our　soldiers　can　travel　in　boats　and　so　will　not　be　wearied　with　marching；　their　soldiers　have　to　march　to　meet　us。　Third；　our　soldiers　are　thoroughly　trained；　theirs　are　recruits；　a　mere　flock　of　crows；　quite　undisciplined。　Fourth；　when　we　go　out　by　Qishan；　we　can　seize　upon　the　autumn　wheat　for　food。　Finally；　they　are　scattered；　having　to　defend　various　points；　while　we　can　concen