Romance, Chapter 101

Chapter 101. Going Out to Longshang, Zhuge Liang Disguises Himself as a God; Racing to Jiange, Zhang He Falls into a Trap

Now Kongming, using the method of reducing his troops while adding hearths, withdrew his army to Hanzhong. Sima Yi, fearing an ambush, did not dare pursue; he too gathered his forces and went back to Changan. Thus the Shu army did not lose a single man. When Kongming had finished richly rewarding the three armies, he returned to Chengdu, went in to see the Latter Ruler and addressed him: “Your old servant had gone out to Mount Qi and was about to take Changan when suddenly I received Your Majesty’s edict recalling me. I do not know what great matter has arisen.”

卻說孔明用減兵添竈之法，退兵到漢中；司馬懿恐有埋伏，不敢追趕，亦收兵回長安去了，因此蜀兵不曾折了一人。孔明大賞三軍已畢，回到成都，入見後主，奏曰：“老臣出了祁山，欲取長安，忽承陛下降詔召回，不知有何大事？”

The Latter Ruler had no answer. After a long while he said, “We had not seen the Chancellor’s face for a long time and missed you greatly. That is why We specially recalled you; there is no other matter at all.” Kongming said, “This is not Your Majesty’s true heart. Some treacherous minister must have slandered me, saying that I harbor disloyal designs.” Hearing this, the Latter Ruler fell silent and said nothing. Kongming said, “Your old servant received the deep kindness of the late Emperor and swore to repay it with my life. If there are now treacherous men within, how can I go out and punish the rebels?”

後主無言可對；良久，乃曰：“朕久不見丞相之面，心甚思慕，故特詔回，一無他事。”孔明曰：“此非陛下本心，必有奸臣讒譖，言臣有異志也。”後主聞言，默然無語。孔明曰：“老臣受先帝厚恩，誓以死報。今若內有奸邪，臣安能討賊乎？”

The Latter Ruler said, “We listened wrongly to the words of the eunuchs and recalled the Chancellor for a time. Only today has Our mind been cleared, and regret comes too late!” Kongming then summoned the eunuchs and questioned them closely, and only then learned that it was Gou An who had spread the rumor. He hastily sent men to arrest him, but Gou An had already fled to the state of Wei. Kongming put to death the eunuch who had made the false report and expelled all the rest from the palace. He also sternly rebuked Jiang Wan, Fei Yi and the others for failing to detect the treachery and admonish the Son of Heaven.

後主曰：“朕因過聽宦官之言，一時召回丞相。今日茅塞方開，悔之不及矣！”孔明遂喚衆宦官究問，方知是苟安流言；急令人捕之，已投魏國去了。孔明將妄奏的宦官誅戮，餘皆廢出宮外；又深責蔣琬、費禕等不能覺察奸邪，規諫天子。

The two men humbly acknowledged their fault. Kongming took leave of the Latter Ruler and went back to Hanzhong. On the one hand he sent a dispatch ordering Li Yan to supply grain and fodder and to keep transporting it to the front; on the other he again discussed taking the field. Yang Yi said, “In our earlier campaigns the strength of the army was worn out, and the grain could not keep up. Now it would be better to divide the troops into two shifts, with a term of three months. Say we have two hundred thousand troops: lead only a hundred thousand out to Mount Qi, and after they have stayed three months, have the other hundred thousand relieve them and send them back, rotating in turn.

二人唯唯服罪。孔明拜辭後主，復到漢中，一面發檄令李嚴應付糧草，仍運赴軍前；一面再議出師。楊儀曰：“前數興兵，軍力罷敝，糧又不繼；今不如分兵兩班，以三個月爲期：且如二十萬之兵，只領十萬出祁山，住了三個月，卻教這十萬替回，循環相轉。

In this way the army’s strength will not be exhausted, and if we then advance steadily, the Central Plains can be won.” Kongming said, “That is exactly my own idea. My campaign against the Central Plains is not a matter of a single morning or evening; this is just the kind of long-term plan we need.” He therefore issued orders dividing the troops into two shifts, with a term of one hundred days, rotating in turn; anyone who failed to keep to the term would be dealt with by military law. In the spring, in the second month of the ninth year of Jianxing, Kongming again took the field against Wei.

若此則兵力不乏，然後徐徐而進，中原可圖矣。”孔明曰：“此言正合我意。吾伐中原，非一朝一夕之事，正當爲此長久之計。”遂下令，分兵兩班，限一百日爲期，循環相轉，違限者按軍法處治。建興九年春二月，孔明覆出師伐魏。

This was the fifth year of Taihe of Wei. When Cao Rui, the Ruler of Wei, learned that Kongming was again attacking the Central Plains, he hastily summoned Sima Yi to confer. Sima Yi said, “Now that Zidan is dead, I wish to exert all my strength alone to wipe out the invaders and so repay Your Majesty.” Cao Rui was delighted and gave a banquet in his honor. The next day it was reported that the Shu invasion was pressing. Cao Rui at once ordered Sima Yi to take the field and resist the enemy, and he himself set out the imperial carriage to see him off outside the city.

時魏太和五年也。魏主曹睿知孔明又伐中原，急召司馬懿商議。懿曰：“今子丹已亡，臣願竭一人之力，剿除寇賊，以報陛下。”睿大喜，設宴待之。次日，人報蜀兵寇急。睿即命司馬懿出師禦敵，親排鑾駕送出城外。

Sima Yi took leave of the Ruler of Wei and went straight to Changan, where he assembled the forces of all the routes and discussed plans for defeating the Shu army. Zhang He said, “I should like to lead a force to hold Yong and Mei and so resist the Shu troops.” Sima Yi said, “Our front army cannot stand alone against Kongming’s host, and to divide our troops further into front and rear is no way to win. It would be better to leave troops to hold Shanggui and send all the rest to Mount Qi. Will you serve as vanguard?”

懿辭了魏主，徑到長安，大會諸路人馬，計議破蜀兵之策。張郃曰：“吾願引一軍去守雍、郿，以拒蜀兵。”懿曰：“吾前軍不能獨當孔明之衆，而又分兵爲前後，非勝算也。不如留兵守上邽，餘衆悉往祁山。公肯爲先鋒否？”

Zhang He was delighted and said, “I have always cherished loyalty and righteousness and wished to serve the state with all my heart, but to my regret I never met one who truly knew me. Now that the Commander is willing to entrust me with so weighty a charge, I will not shrink from it though I die ten thousand deaths!” So Sima Yi made Zhang He vanguard and took overall command of the main army. He also ordered Guo Huai to guard the commanderies of Longxi, while the other generals advanced by separate routes.

郃大喜曰：“吾素懷忠義，欲盡心報國，惜未遇知己；今都督肯委重任，雖萬死不辭！”於是司馬懿令張郃爲先鋒，總督大軍。又令郭淮守隴西諸郡，其餘衆將各分道而進。

The scouts of the front army reported that Kongming was leading his main army toward Mount Qi, and that the vanguard of his front division, Wang Ping and Zhang Ni, had gone straight out by Chencang, passed Jiange, and were coming by way of San Pass toward the Xie Valley. Sima Yi said to Zhang He, “Kongming is now driving far forward in a great advance. He is sure to cut the wheat of Longxi to supply his army with grain. You should build a camp and hold Mount Qi, while Guo Huai and I patrol the commanderies of Tianshui to stop the Shu troops from cutting the wheat.”

前軍哨馬報說：孔明率大軍望祁山進發，前部先鋒王平、張嶷，徑出陳倉，過劍閣，由散關望斜谷而來。司馬懿謂張郃曰：“今孔明長驅大進，必將割隴西小麥，以資軍糧。汝可結營守祁山，吾與郭淮巡略天水諸郡，以防蜀兵割麥。”

Zhang He accepted the order and led forty thousand troops to hold Mount Qi. Sima Yi led the main army off toward Longxi.

郃領諾，遂引四萬兵守祁山。懿引大軍望隴西而去。

Now when Kongming’s army reached Mount Qi and had finished making camp, he saw that the Wei army was on guard along the banks of the Wei. He said to his generals, “This must be Sima Yi. At present our camp is short of grain. I have repeatedly sent men to press Li Yan to transport rice and supply us, yet it simply has not arrived. I reckon the wheat of Longshang is ripe; we can secretly lead troops to cut it.” So he left the four generals Wang Ping, Zhang Ni, Wu Ban and Wu Yi to hold the camp at Mount Qi, while he himself led Jiang Wei, Wei Yan and the other generals forward to Lucheng.

卻說孔明兵至祁山，安營已畢，見渭濱有魏軍提備，乃謂諸將曰：“此必是司馬懿也。即今營中乏糧，屢遣人催併李嚴運米應付，卻只是不到。吾料隴上麥熟，可密引兵割之。”於是留王平、張嶷、吳班、吳懿四將守祁山營，孔明自引姜維、魏延等諸將，前到鹵城。

The Prefect of Lucheng had long known of Kongming, and hurriedly opened the gates and came out to surrender. When Kongming had finished reassuring him, he asked, “Where is the wheat ripe at this time?” The Prefect told him, “The wheat of Longshang is already ripe.” Kongming then left Zhang Yi and Ma Zhong to hold Lucheng, and himself led the generals and the three armies toward Longshang. The front army came back to report, “Sima Yi is here with his troops.” Kongming said in surprise, “This man knew beforehand that I would come to cut the wheat!”

鹵城太守素知孔明，慌忙開城出降。孔明撫慰畢，問曰：“此時何處麥熟？”太守告曰：“隴上麥已熟。”孔明乃留張翼、馬忠守鹵城，自引諸將並三軍望隴上而來。前軍回報說：“司馬懿引兵在此。”孔明驚曰：“此人預知吾來割麥也！”

At once he bathed and changed his clothes, and had three identical four-wheeled carriages pushed out, each to be decorated in exactly the same way. These carriages were ones Kongming had had built beforehand in Shu.

即沐浴更衣，推過一般三輛四輪車來，車上皆要一樣妝飾。此車乃孔明在蜀中預先造下的。

He then ordered Jiang Wei to take a thousand men to guard a carriage and five hundred to beat drums, and to lie in ambush behind Shanggui; Ma Dai on the left and Wei Yan on the right were likewise each to take a thousand men to guard a carriage and five hundred to beat drums. Each carriage was to have twenty-four men, dressed in black and barefoot, their hair loose and swords in hand, holding black banners painted with the Seven Stars, pushing the carriage on either side. The three men each received their instructions and set off with their troops, pushing the carriages.

當下令姜維引一千軍護車，五百軍擂鼓，伏在上邽之後；馬岱在左，魏延在右，亦各引一千軍護車，五百軍擂鼓。每一輛車，用二十四人，皁衣跣足，披髮仗劍，手執七星皁旙，在左右推車。三人各受計，引兵推車而去。

Kongming also ordered thirty thousand troops all to carry sickles and carrying ropes and wait to cut the wheat. Then he chose twenty-four strong, sturdy soldiers, each dressed in black, hair loose and feet bare, swords in hand, to crowd around the four-wheeled carriage as its pushers. He had Guan Xing dress up in the guise of the god Tianpeng and walk in front of the carriage holding a black banner painted with the Seven Stars. Kongming sat upright on the carriage and came toward the Wei camp. The Wei scouts who saw this were terrified; not knowing whether it was man or ghost, they hurried to report to Sima Yi.

孔明又令三萬軍皆執鐮刀、馱繩，伺候割麥。卻選二十四個精壯之士，各穿皁衣，披髮跣足，仗劍簇擁四輪車，爲推車使者。令關興結束做天蓬模樣，手執七星皁幡，步行於車前。孔明端坐於上，望魏營而來。哨探軍見之大驚，不知是人是鬼，火速報知司馬懿。

Sima Yi went out of the camp himself to look. There was Kongming, his cap pinned in place, in a crane-feather cloak, waving a feather fan, sitting upright on a four-wheeled carriage. Twenty-four men flanked him, hair loose and swords in hand; in front a single figure held a black banner, dimly like some god from heaven. Sima Yi said, “This is Kongming up to his strange tricks again!” He detailed two thousand men and horses and instructed them, “Go quickly and capture the lot, carriage and men together!”

懿自出營視之，只見孔明簪冠鶴氅，手搖羽扇，端坐於四輪車上；左右二十四人，披髮仗劍；前面一人，手執皁幡，隱隱似天神一般。懿曰：“這個又是孔明作怪也！”遂撥二千人馬分付曰：“汝等疾去，連車帶人，盡情都捉來！”

The Wei troops accepted the order and gave chase all together. Seeing the Wei troops coming after him, Kongming had the carriage turned round and moved slowly off in the direction of the Shu camp. The Wei troops all galloped in pursuit, but they saw only an eerie wind blowing and a cold mist spreading everywhere. They chased with all their might for a stretch but could not catch up. Greatly alarmed, they all reined in their horses and said, “How strange! We have chased hard for thirty li; we see him right in front of us, yet we cannot catch him. What are we to do?”

魏兵領命，一齊追趕。孔明見魏兵趕來，便教回車，遙望蜀營緩緩而行。魏兵皆驟馬追趕，但見陰風習習，冷霧漫漫。盡力趕了一程，追之不上。各人大驚，都勒住馬言曰：“奇怪！我等急急趕了三十里，只見在前，追之不上，如之奈何？”

When Kongming saw that the troops were not coming, he had the carriage pushed forward again and halted to rest facing the Wei troops. The Wei troops hesitated for a long while, then gave their horses rein and came on again. Kongming again turned his carriage and moved slowly off. The Wei troops chased another twenty li; they saw him right in front of them but never caught up, and they were all utterly dumbfounded. Kongming had the carriage turned round to face the Wei army and pushed backward. The Wei troops were about to give chase again when Sima Yi arrived from the rear with a force of his own and sent out an order: “Kongming is a master of the Eight Gates and the art of Dunjia, and he can command the spirits of the Six Ding and Six Jia.

孔明見兵不來，又令推車過來，朝着魏兵歇下。魏兵猶豫良久，又放馬趕來。孔明覆回車慢慢而行。魏兵又趕了二十里，只見在前，不曾趕上，盡皆癡呆。孔明教回過車，朝着魏軍，推車倒行。魏兵又欲追趕。後面司馬懿自引一軍到，傳令曰：“孔明善會八門遁甲，能驅六丁六甲之神。

This is the art of shrinking the earth from the Heavenly Book of the Six Jia. None of you is to pursue.” Just as the troops were reining in to turn back, war drums thundered on the left and a company came charging out. Sima Yi hastily ordered his men to resist, and then he saw, from the ranks of the Shu troops, twenty-four men with loose hair and swords in hand, dressed in black and barefoot, pushing out a four-wheeled carriage. On it sat Kongming, upright, his cap pinned in place, in a crane-feather cloak, waving a feather fan.

此乃六甲天書內縮地之法也。衆軍不可追之。”衆軍方勒馬回時，左勢下戰鼓大震，一彪軍殺來。懿急令兵拒之，只見蜀兵隊裏二十四人，披髮仗劍，皁衣跣足，擁出一輛四輪車；車上端坐孔明，簪冠鶴氅，手搖羽扇。

Sima Yi said in great alarm, “Just now Kongming was sitting on that carriage, and we chased him fifty li without catching him. How can there be another Kongming here? Strange! Strange!” Before he had finished speaking, war drums sounded again on the right and another company came charging out. On its four-wheeled carriage, too, sat a Kongming, and on either side were again twenty-four men, dressed in black and barefoot, hair loose and swords in hand, pushing the carriage toward them.

懿大驚曰：“方纔那個車上坐着孔明，趕了五十里，追之不上；如何這裏又有孔明？怪哉！怪哉！”言未畢，右勢下戰鼓又鳴，一彪軍殺來，四輪車上亦坐着一個孔明，左右亦有二十四人，皁衣跣足，披髮仗劍，擁車而來。

Sima Yi was filled with doubt. He looked round at his generals and said, “These must be spirit soldiers!” The troops were thrown into utter confusion and, not daring to fight, each ran off on his own. As they were fleeing, drums suddenly thundered and yet another company came charging out. At its head was a four-wheeled carriage with Kongming sitting upright on it, and the pushers before, behind and on either side were just as before. Every one of the Wei troops was aghast.

懿心中大疑，回顧諸將曰：“此必神兵也！”衆軍心下大亂，不敢交戰，各自奔走。正行之際，忽然鼓聲大震，又一彪軍殺來：當先一輛四輪車，孔明端坐於上，左右前後推車使者，同前一般。魏兵無不駭然。

Not knowing whether they were men or ghosts, nor how many Shu troops there were, Sima Yi was thoroughly frightened. He hurriedly led his troops in flight into Shanggui, shut the gates and would not come out. By this time Kongming had long since had thirty thousand picked troops cut all the wheat of Longshang and carry it off to Lucheng to be threshed and dried. Sima Yi stayed inside the city of Shanggui for three days without daring to come out. Only after he saw that the Shu troops had withdrawn did he venture to send men out to scout. On the road they caught a Shu soldier and brought him before Sima Yi.

司馬懿不知是人是鬼，又不知多少蜀兵，十分驚懼，急急引兵奔入上邽，閉門不出。此時孔明早令三萬精兵將隴上小麥割盡，運赴鹵城打曬去了。司馬懿在上邽城中，三日不敢出城。後見蜀兵退去，方敢令軍出哨；於路捉得一蜀兵，來見司馬懿。

When Sima Yi questioned him, the man said, “I am one of the wheat cutters. I lost my horse and so was captured and brought here.” Sima Yi said, “What were those spirit soldiers earlier?” The man answered, “None of the three ambushing forces was Kongming; they were Jiang Wei, Ma Dai and Wei Yan. Each force had only a thousand men guarding the carriage and five hundred beating drums. Only the carriage that came first to lure you out had Kongming on it.” Sima Yi looked up to heaven and heaved a long sigh. “Kongming has the craft to appear like a god and vanish like a ghost!”

懿問之，其人告曰：“某乃割麥之人，因走失馬匹，被捉前來。”懿曰：“前者是何神兵？”答曰：“三路伏兵，皆不是孔明，乃姜維、馬岱、魏延也。每一路只有一千軍護車，五百軍擂鼓。只是先來誘陣的車上乃孔明也。”懿仰天長嘆曰：“孔明有神出鬼沒之機！”

Suddenly it was announced that Deputy Commander Guo Huai had come to see him. Sima Yi received him, and when the courtesies were over Guo Huai said, “I hear the Shu troops are not numerous and are now threshing wheat at Lucheng. We can strike them.” Sima Yi told him in detail what had happened. Guo Huai laughed. “It fooled us only for a moment. Now that we have seen through it, it is not worth talking about! If I lead one force against their rear and you lead one against their front, Lucheng can be taken and Kongming captured.” Sima Yi agreed, and they divided their troops and came on by two routes.

忽報副都督郭淮入見。懿接入，禮畢，淮曰：“吾聞蜀兵不多，現在鹵城打麥，可以擊之。”懿細言前事。淮笑曰：“只瞞過一時，今已識破，何足道哉！吾引一軍攻其後，公引一軍攻其前，鹵城可破，孔明可擒矣。”懿從之，遂分兵兩路而來。

Meanwhile Kongming was at Lucheng with his army threshing and drying the wheat. Suddenly he summoned his generals to receive orders and said, “Tonight the enemy is sure to come and attack the city. I reckon there is room enough in the wheat fields east and west of Lucheng to hide troops in ambush. Who will go for me?” The four generals Jiang Wei, Wei Yan, Ma Zhong and Ma Dai stepped forward and said, “We will go.” Kongming was delighted. He ordered Jiang Wei and Wei Yan each to take two thousand troops and lie in ambush at two points, southeast and northwest, and Ma Dai and Ma Zhong each to take two thousand troops and lie in ambush at two points, southwest and northeast. “As soon as you hear the bombard, charge in from all four corners at once.”

卻說孔明引軍在鹵城打曬小麥，忽喚諸將聽令曰：“今夜敵人必來攻城。吾料鹵城東西麥田之內，足可伏兵；誰敢爲我一往？”姜維、魏延、馬忠、馬岱四將出曰：“某等願往。”孔明大喜，乃命姜維、魏延各引二千兵，伏在東南、西北兩處；馬岱、馬忠各引二千兵，伏在西南、東北兩處：“只聽炮響，四角一齊殺來。”

The four generals received their orders and left with their troops. Kongming himself took a hundred or more men, each carrying fire bombards, out of the city, and they lay hidden in the wheat fields to wait.

四將受計，引兵去了。孔明自引百餘人，各帶火炮出城，伏在麥田之內等候。

Now Sima Yi led his troops straight to the foot of Lucheng. It was already dark, so he said to his generals, “If we advance by day, the city is sure to be prepared. Now we can attack under cover of night. Here the walls are low and the moat shallow; we can break in easily.” He then encamped his troops outside the city. At the first watch Guo Huai also arrived with his troops. The two forces joined, and at a single roll of the drums they surrounded Lucheng as tightly as an iron bucket.

卻說司馬懿引兵徑到鹵城下，日已昏黑，乃謂諸將曰：“若白日進兵，城中必有準備；今可乘夜晚攻之。此處城低壕淺，可便打破。”遂屯兵城外。一更時分，郭淮亦引兵到。兩下合兵，一聲鼓響，把鹵城圍得鐵桶相似。

From the walls ten thousand crossbows shot at once, and arrows and stones fell like rain, so that the Wei troops dared not advance. Suddenly signal bombards went off one after another in the midst of the Wei army. The three armies were greatly alarmed, and did not know where the enemy troops were coming from. When Guo Huai sent men to search the wheat fields, flames shot to the sky at the four corners, war cries rose like thunder, and Shu troops charged in from all four directions at once. The four gates of Lucheng were flung open and the troops inside the city came charging out. Attacked from within and without, the Wei troops suffered a great slaughter, and their dead were beyond counting.

城上萬弩齊發，矢石如雨，魏兵不敢前進。忽然魏軍中信炮連聲，三軍大驚，又不知何處兵來。淮令人去麥田搜時，四角上火光沖天，喊聲大震，四路蜀兵，一齊殺至；鹵城四門大開，城內兵殺出：裏應外合，大殺了一陣，魏兵死者無數。

Sima Yi led his defeated troops, fighting desperately, out through the ring of encirclement and occupied a hilltop. Guo Huai also fled with his defeated troops and halted behind the hill. Kongming entered the city and had the four generals make camp at the four corners.

司馬懿引敗兵奮死突出重圍，佔住了山頭；郭淮亦引敗兵奔到山後扎住。孔明入城，令四將於四角下安營。

Guo Huai said to Sima Yi, “We have been holding out against the Shu army for a long time now, with no plan to drive them back. Now we have been beaten again and have lost more than three thousand men killed and wounded. If we do not make plans early, it will be hard to drive them back later.” Sima Yi said, “Then what shall we do?” Guo Huai said, “We should send out dispatches calling up the forces of Yong and Liang to join in wiping them out. I will lead troops to raid Jiange and cut their road home, so that their grain and fodder cannot get through and their three armies are thrown into panic. Then, if we strike while we have the advantage, the enemy can be destroyed.”

郭淮告司馬懿曰：“今與蜀兵相持許久，無策可退；目下又被殺了一陣，折傷三千餘人；若不早圖，日後難退矣。”懿曰：“當復如何？”淮曰：“可發檄文調雍、涼人馬併力剿殺。吾願引軍襲劍閣，截其歸路，使彼糧草不通，三軍慌亂：那時乘勢擊之，敵可滅矣。”

Sima Yi agreed and at once sent dispatches through the night to Yong and Liang to call up troops. Before long the senior general Sun Li arrived with the forces of the commanderies of Yong and Liang. Sima Yi at once ordered Sun Li to join forces with Guo Huai and raid Jiange. Meanwhile Kongming had been holding out at Lucheng for many days, and since the Wei troops did not come out to fight, he called Jiang Wei and Ma Dai into the city and gave them their orders: “The Wei troops are now holding the mountain strongholds and will not fight us. For one thing, they reckon that when our wheat runs out we will have no grain; for another, they have sent troops to raid Jiange and cut our supply road.

懿從之，即發檄文星夜往雍、涼調撥人馬，不一日，大將孫禮引雍、涼諸郡人馬到。懿即令孫禮約會郭淮去襲劍閣。卻說孔明在鹵城相拒日久，不見魏兵出戰，乃喚姜維、馬岱入城聽令曰：“今魏兵守住山險，不與我戰：一者料吾麥盡無糧；二者令兵去襲劍閣，斷吾糧道也。

You two each take ten thousand troops and go ahead to hold the passes. When the Wei troops see that we are prepared, they will withdraw of their own accord.” The two men left with their troops.

汝二人各引一萬軍先去守住險要，魏兵見有準備，自然退去。”二人引兵去了。

The Chief Clerk Yang Yi came into the tent and reported, “Earlier the Chancellor ordered that the main army be relieved once every hundred days. The term is now up. The troops from Hanzhong have already come out of Chuankou, and dispatches have arrived from the road ahead; we are only waiting for the troops to meet and change over. Of the eighty thousand troops now here, forty thousand are due to be relieved.” Kongming said, “Since the order stands, have them set off quickly.” When the troops heard this, they all began packing up to set out. Suddenly it was reported that Sun Li was coming with two hundred thousand men and horses from Yong and Liang to join the fight and was on his way to raid Jiange, while Sima Yi himself was leading troops to attack Lucheng. There was not a man in the Shu army who was not alarmed.

長史楊儀入帳告曰：“曏者丞相令大兵一百日一換，今已限足，漢中兵已出川口，前路公文已到，只待會兵交換：現存八萬軍，內四萬該與換班。”孔明曰：“既有令，便教速行。”衆軍聞知，各各收拾起程。忽報孫禮引雍、涼人馬二十萬來助戰，去襲劍閣，司馬懿自引兵來攻鹵城了。蜀兵無不驚駭。

Yang Yi went in and said to Kongming, “The Wei troops are coming very fast. The Chancellor could keep back the troops due for relief for the time being to drive off the enemy, and relieve them after the new troops arrive.” Kongming said, “No. In commanding troops and giving orders to generals, I take good faith as the foundation. Since the order has already been given, how can I break faith? Besides, the Shu troops who are due to leave have all made ready to go home, and their fathers and mothers, wives and children are leaning on their gates watching for them. Even if I now face great danger, I will never keep them back.”

楊儀入告孔明曰：“魏兵來得甚急，丞相可將換班軍且留下退敵，待新來兵到，然後換之。”孔明曰：“不可。吾用兵命將，以信爲本；既有令在先，豈可失信？且蜀兵應去者，皆準備歸計，其父母妻子倚扉而望；吾今便有大難，決不留他。”

He at once sent out orders that the troops due to leave should go that very day. When the troops heard this, they all shouted, “Since the Chancellor shows such kindness to us all, we would rather not go home just yet. Each of us will stake his life to slaughter the Wei troops and so repay the Chancellor!” Kongming said, “You ought to go home. How can you stay on here?” But the troops all wanted to fight and would not go home. Kongming said, “Since you are set on going out to fight with me, go out of the city and make camp. When the Wei troops arrive, do not give them time to catch their breath, but attack them at once. This is the method of waiting in ease for an exhausted enemy.”

即傳令教應去之兵，當日便行。衆軍聞之，皆大呼曰：“丞相如此施恩於衆，我等願且不回，各舍一命，大殺魏兵，以報丞相！”孔明曰：“爾等該還家，豈可復留於此？”衆軍皆要出戰，不願回家。孔明曰：“汝等既要與我出戰，可出城安營，待魏兵到，莫待他息喘，便急攻之：此以逸待勞之法也。”

The troops accepted the order, took up their weapons and joyfully marched out of the city, where they drew up in formation and waited. Now the men and horses of Xiliang had come by forced marches at double speed and were worn out. Just as they were about to make camp and rest, the Shu troops surged in on them all together, every man fighting with fury, the generals keen and the soldiers fierce. The troops of Yong and Liang could not hold them off and fell back. The Shu troops pursued and cut them down with all their might, until the corpses of the Yong and Liang troops lay strewn across the plain and their blood ran in channels.

衆兵領命，各執兵器，歡喜出城，列陣而待。卻說西涼人馬倍道而來，走的人馬睏乏；方欲下營歇息，被蜀兵一擁而進，人人奮勇，將銳兵驍，雍、涼兵抵敵不住，望後便退。蜀兵奮力追殺，殺得那雍、涼兵屍橫遍野，血流成渠。

Kongming went out of the city, gathered his victorious troops, and brought them back into the city to reward them for their labors. Suddenly it was reported that Li Yan in Yongan had sent a letter reporting an emergency. Kongming was greatly alarmed; he broke the seal and read it. The letter said: “I have lately heard that Eastern Wu has sent men into Luoyang and made peace with Wei, and that Wei has told Wu to take Shu. Fortunately Wu has not yet raised troops. I, Yan, have now learned of this, and I humbly beg the Chancellor to make good plans early.” When he had read it, Kongming was much alarmed and perplexed. He gathered his generals and said, “If Eastern Wu raises troops to invade Shu, I must go back quickly.”

孔明出城，收聚得勝之兵，入城賞勞。忽報永安李嚴有書告急。孔明大驚，拆封視之。書雲：“近聞東吳令人入洛陽，與魏連和；魏令吳取蜀，幸吳尚未起兵。今嚴探知消息，伏望丞相，早作良圖。”孔明覽畢，甚是驚疑，乃聚諸將曰：“若東吳興兵寇蜀，吾須索速回也。”

He at once sent orders for the men and horses of the main camp at Mount Qi to withdraw for the time being to Xichuan: “Sima Yi knows that my troops are stationed here, so he will certainly not dare to pursue.” So Wang Ping, Zhang Ni, Wu Ban and Wu Yi divided their troops into two columns and slowly withdrew into Xichuan. When Zhang He saw the Shu troops withdrawing, he feared a trick and did not dare pursue. Instead he led his troops to see Sima Yi and said, “The Shu troops are now withdrawing. I do not know what they intend.”

即傳令，教祁山大寨人馬，且退回西川：“司馬懿知吾屯軍在此，必不敢追趕。”於是王平、張嶷、吳班、吳懿，分兵兩路，徐徐退入西川去了。張郃見蜀兵退去，恐有計策，不敢來追，乃引兵往見司馬懿曰：“今蜀兵退去，不知何意？”

Sima Yi said, “Kongming has a great many tricks; we must not move lightly. Better to hold firm and wait until his grain runs out; then he will withdraw of his own accord.” The senior general Wei Ping stepped forward and said, “The Shu troops have struck their camp at Mount Qi and withdrawn. This is just the moment to follow up our advantage and pursue them. If the Commander holds his troops back and does not move, fearing Shu as if it were a tiger, what of the laughter of the whole world?” Sima Yi stubbornly refused to agree.

懿曰：“孔明詭計極多，不可輕動。不如堅守，待他糧盡，自然退去。”大將魏平出曰：“蜀兵拔祁山之營而退，正可乘勢追之，都督按兵不動，畏蜀如虎，奈天下笑何？”懿堅執不從。

Meanwhile Kongming, learning that the troops from Mount Qi had already gone back, called Yang Yi and Ma Zhong into his tent and gave them a secret plan: they were first to take ten thousand archers and crossbowmen to the Mumen Trail at Jiange and lie in ambush on both sides; if the Wei troops came in pursuit, then on hearing his bombard they were quickly to roll down logs and stones, first cutting off the road ahead, and then shoot from both ends at once. The two men left with their troops. He also summoned Wei Yan and Guan Xing to lead troops as the rearguard, had banners planted all round the four sides of the city walls, and had firewood and grass heaped up at random inside the city and set burning to make false smoke and fire. The main army all set off toward the Mumen Trail.

卻說孔明知祁山兵已回，遂令楊儀、馬忠入帳，授以密計，令先引一萬弓弩手，去劍閣木門道，兩下埋伏；若魏兵追到，聽吾炮響，急滾下木石，先截其去路，兩頭一齊射之。二人引兵去了。又喚魏延、關興引兵斷後，城上四面遍插旌旗，城內亂堆柴草，虛放煙火。大兵盡望木門道而去。

The Wei camp patrols came to report to Sima Yi, “The main body of the Shu army has already withdrawn, but we do not know how many troops are still in the city.” Sima Yi went to look for himself. Seeing banners planted on the walls and smoke rising in the city, he laughed and said, “This is an empty city.” He sent men to investigate, and it was indeed empty. Sima Yi was delighted and said, “Kongming has withdrawn. Who will pursue him?” The vanguard Zhang He said, “I will go.” Sima Yi stopped him, saying, “You are hot-tempered and impatient. You must not go.”

魏營巡哨軍來報司馬懿曰：“蜀兵大隊已退，但不知城中還有多少兵。”懿自往視之，見城上插旗，城中煙起，笑曰：“此乃空城也。”令人探之，果是空城，懿大喜曰：“孔明已退，誰敢追之？”先鋒張郃曰：“吾願往。”懿阻曰：“公性急躁，不可去。”

Zhang He said, “When the Commander came out through the pass, you appointed me vanguard. Today is just the time to win merit, yet you will not use me. Why?” Sima Yi said, “With the Shu troops withdrawing, there are sure to be ambushes at the difficult places. We must be extremely careful before we can pursue them.” Zhang He said, “I know that already; you need not worry.” Sima Yi said, “Since you insist on going, do not come to regret it.” Zhang He said, “A true man gives his life to repay his country. Though I die ten thousand deaths, I will have no regrets.”

郃曰：“都督出關之時，命吾爲先鋒；今日正是立功之際，卻不用吾，何也？”懿曰：“蜀兵退去，險阻處必有埋伏，須十分仔細，方可追之。”郃曰：“吾已知得，不必掛慮。”懿曰：“公自欲去，莫要追悔。”郃曰：“大丈夫捨身報國，雖萬死無恨。”

Sima Yi said, “Since you insist on going, take five thousand troops and go ahead. I will have Wei Ping follow with twenty thousand horse and foot to guard against ambush, and I will follow behind with three thousand troops in support.”

懿曰：“公既堅執要去，可引五千兵先行；卻教魏平引二萬馬步兵後行，以防埋伏。吾卻引三千兵隨後策應。”

Zhang He accepted the order and led his troops forward in hot pursuit. When they had gone some thirty li, a shout suddenly went up behind them and a company flashed out of a wood. The general at its head, holding his blade crosswise and reining in his horse, shouted, “Rebel general, where are you taking your troops?” Zhang He turned his head to look; it was Wei Yan. In a great rage Zhang He wheeled his horse and engaged him. Before ten bouts were fought, Wei Yan pretended to be beaten and fled. Zhang He chased him another thirty li or more, then reined in and looked around. There was no ambush at all, so he whipped up his horse and pursued again.

張郃領命，引兵火速望前追趕。行到三十餘里，忽然背後一聲喊起，樹林內閃出一彪軍，爲首大將，橫刀勒馬大叫曰：“賊將引兵那裏去！”郃回頭視之，乃魏延也。郃大怒，回馬交鋒。不十合，延詐敗而走。郃又追趕三十餘里，勒馬回顧，全無伏兵，又策馬前追。

He had just rounded a hillside when a great shout suddenly went up and a company flashed out. The general at its head was Guan Xing, who held his blade crosswise, reined in his horse and shouted, “Zhang He, stop your chase! I am here!” Zhang He at once spurred his horse and engaged him. Before ten bouts were fought, Guan Xing wheeled his horse and fled. Zhang He followed after him. When he had chased him into a dense wood, Zhang He grew suspicious and had men scout on all sides, but there was no ambush at all. So, reassured, he went on with the chase.

方轉過山坡，忽喊聲大起，一彪軍閃出，爲首大將，乃關興也，橫刀勒馬大叫曰：“張郃休趕！有吾在此！”郃就拍馬交鋒。不十合，興撥馬便走。郃隨後追之。趕到一密林內，郃心疑，令人四下哨探，並無伏兵；於是放心又趕。

Unexpectedly, Wei Yan had cut round and was ahead of him. Zhang He fought him again for more than ten bouts, and again Wei Yan fled in defeat. As Zhang He came after him in fury, Guan Xing once more cut round in front of him and blocked the road. In a great rage Zhang He spurred his horse and engaged him. They had fought about ten bouts when the Shu troops threw away all their clothing, armor and other gear, filling the road with it, and the Wei troops all dismounted to scramble for it. The two generals Wei Yan and Guan Xing took turns fighting him, and Zhang He pressed the pursuit with all his courage.

不想魏延卻抄在前面；郃又與戰十餘合，延又敗走。郃奮怒追來，又被關興抄在前面，截住去路。郃大怒，拍馬交鋒，戰有十合，蜀兵盡棄衣甲什物等件，塞滿道路，魏軍皆下馬爭取。延、興二將，輪流交戰，張郃奮勇追趕。

As dusk was drawing on, they reached the mouth of the Mumen Trail. There Wei Yan wheeled his horse and hurled loud abuse: “Zhang He, you traitor! I have not wanted to fight you, but you just keep chasing. Now I will fight it out with you to the death!” Zhang He, in a towering rage, leveled his spear and galloped straight at Wei Yan. Wei Yan swung his blade to meet him. Before ten bouts were fought, Wei Yan was badly beaten. Throwing away all his clothing, armor and helmet, he fled alone on his horse, leading his defeated troops, into the Mumen Trail.

看看天晚，趕到木門道口，魏延撥回馬，高聲大罵曰：“張郃逆賊！吾不與汝相拒，汝只顧趕來，吾今與汝決一死戰！”郃十分忿怒，挺槍驟馬，直取魏延。延揮刀來迎。戰不十合，延大敗，盡棄衣甲、頭盔，匹馬引敗兵望木門道中而走。

Zhang He, his blood up from the fighting and seeing Wei Yan flee in utter defeat, galloped after him. By now it was dark. A bombard went off, flames shot to the sky on the hills above, and great rocks and tangled firewood came rolling down to block the road ahead. Zhang He cried out in alarm, “I have fallen into a trap!” He hastily turned his horse, but behind him the road back was already choked with logs and stones. In the middle there was only a stretch of open ground, with sheer cliffs on both sides. Zhang He had no way forward or back.

張郃殺得性起，又見魏延大敗而逃，乃驟馬趕來。此時天色昏黑，一聲炮響，山上火光沖天，大石亂柴滾將下來，阻截去路。郃大驚曰：“我中計矣！”急回馬時，背後已被木石塞滿了歸路，中間只有一段空地，兩邊皆是峭壁，郃進退無路。

Suddenly a wooden clapper sounded, and from both sides ten thousand crossbows shot at once. Zhang He and more than a hundred of his officers were all shot dead in the Mumen Trail.

忽一聲梆子響，兩下萬弩齊發，將張郃並百餘個部將，皆射死於木門道中。

A later poet wrote:
The hidden crossbows flew as one, ten thousand points of stars,
And on the Mumen Trail they shot the valiant troops down.
Even now the travelers who pass by Jiange
Still speak of the Director of Strategy’s name of old.

後人有詩曰：“伏弩齊飛萬點星，木門道上射雄兵。
至今劍閣行人過，猶說軍師舊日名。
”

Now after Zhang He was dead, the Wei troops following behind arrived and, seeing the road blocked, knew that Zhang He had fallen into a trap. The troops reined round their horses and hurried back. Suddenly they heard a great shout from the hilltop: “Chancellor Zhuge is here!” Looking up, the troops saw Kongming standing amid the firelight. He pointed at them and said, “Today I went hunting. I meant to shoot a horse, but by mistake I hit a river deer. You may all go in peace. Tell Zhongda from me that sooner or later he will surely be taken by me.”

卻說張郃已死，隨後魏兵追到，見塞了道路，已知張郃中計。衆軍勒回馬急退。忽聽得山頭上大叫曰：“諸葛丞相在此！”衆軍仰視，只見孔明立於火光之中，指衆軍而言曰：“吾今日圍獵，欲射一馬，誤中一獐。汝各人安心而去；上覆仲達：早晚必爲吾所擒矣。”

The Wei troops went back to Sima Yi and told him in detail what had happened. Sima Yi was overcome with grief. He looked up to heaven and sighed, “That Zhang Junyi has lost his life is my fault!” He then withdrew his troops and returned to Luoyang. When the Ruler of Wei heard that Zhang He was dead, he wept and sighed, and had men recover his body and give him a generous burial.

魏兵回見司馬懿，細告前事。懿悲傷不已，仰天嘆曰：“張雋乂身死，吾之過也！”乃收兵回洛陽。魏主聞張郃死，揮淚嘆息，令人收其屍，厚葬之。

Now Kongming entered Hanzhong, intending to return to Chengdu to see the Latter Ruler. The Protector-General Li Yan falsely memorialized the Latter Ruler: “I had already prepared the army’s grain and was about to send it to the Chancellor at the front. I do not know why the Chancellor has suddenly brought his army back.” On hearing this, the Latter Ruler at once ordered the Master of Writing Fei Yi to go to Hanzhong to see Kongming and ask why he had withdrawn. When Fei Yi reached Hanzhong, he conveyed the Latter Ruler’s wishes. Kongming said in great alarm, “Li Yan sent me a letter reporting an emergency, saying that Eastern Wu was about to raise troops and invade Shu. That is why I brought the army back.”

卻說孔明入漢中，欲歸成都見後主。都護李嚴妄奏後主曰：“臣已辦備軍糧，行將運赴丞相軍前，不知丞相何故忽然班師。”後主聞奏，即命尚書費禕入漢中見孔明，問班師之故。禕至漢中，宣後主之意。孔明大驚曰：“李嚴發書告急，說東吳將興兵寇川，因此回師。”

Fei Yi said, “Li Yan reported that the army’s grain was ready and that the Chancellor had brought the army back for no reason. That is why the Son of Heaven sent me to ask.” Kongming was furious and had the matter investigated. It turned out that Li Yan, having failed to supply the grain and fearing the Chancellor would hold him to blame, had sent the letter to bring him back, and had then made a false report to the Son of Heaven to cover up his own fault. Kongming said in great anger, “For his own sake, this wretch has wrecked a great enterprise of the state!”

費禕曰：“李嚴奏稱軍糧已辦，丞相無故回師，天子因此命某來問耳。”孔明大怒，令人訪察：乃是李嚴因軍糧不濟，怕丞相見罪，故發書取回，卻又妄奏天子，遮飾己過。孔明大怒曰：“匹夫爲一己之故，廢國家大事！”

He had Li Yan summoned, intending to have him beheaded. Fei Yi urged him, “Let the Chancellor bear in mind the late Emperor’s intent when he entrusted his orphaned son, and pardon him for now.” Kongming agreed. Fei Yi at once drew up a memorial and presented it to the Latter Ruler. When the Latter Ruler read the memorial, he flew into a rage and shouted to the guards to take Li Yan out and behead him. The Army Adviser Jiang Wan stepped out from the ranks and memorialized, “Li Yan was one of the ministers to whom the late Emperor entrusted his orphaned son. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and pardon him.” The Latter Ruler agreed. He at once reduced Li Yan to a commoner and moved him to Zitong Commandery to live in retirement.

令人召至，欲斬之。費禕勸曰：“丞相念先帝託孤之意，姑且寬恕。”孔明從之。費禕即具表啓奏後主。後主覽表，勃然大怒，叱武士推李嚴出斬之。參軍蔣琬出班奏曰：“李嚴乃先帝託孤之臣，乞望恩寬恕。”後主從之，即謫爲庶人，徙於梓潼郡閒住。

When Kongming returned to Chengdu, he appointed Li Yan’s son Li Feng as Chief Clerk. He stored up fodder and grain, drilled formations and discussed the arts of war, put weapons and equipment in order and cared for his officers and men, so as to take the field again after three years. The people and soldiers of the Two Chuan all looked up to him for his kindness and virtue. Time slipped by, and before anyone knew it three years had passed: it was the second month of spring in the twelfth year of Jianxing. Kongming went to court and memorialized, “I have now been caring for the troops for three years.

孔明回到成都，用李嚴子李豐爲長史；積草屯糧，講陣論武，整治軍器，存恤將士：三年然後出征。兩川人民軍士，皆仰其恩德。光陰荏苒，不覺三年：時建興十二年春二月。孔明入朝奏曰：“臣今存恤軍士，已經三年。

Grain and fodder are abundant, weapons and equipment are complete, and our men and horses are strong and vigorous. We can attack Wei. If this time I do not sweep away the traitorous faction and recover the Central Plains, I swear I will not see Your Majesty again!” The Latter Ruler said, “The realm is now divided like the three legs of a tripod, and neither Wu nor Wei has invaded us. Why does Father Chancellor not rest and enjoy the peace?” Kongming said, “I received the late Emperor’s kindness in recognizing me, and whether dreaming or waking I have never ceased to lay plans for attacking Wei.

糧草豐足，軍器完備，人馬雄壯，可以伐魏。今番若不掃清奸黨，恢復中原，誓不見陛下也！”後主曰：“方今已成鼎足之勢，吳、魏不曾入寇，相父何不安享太平？”孔明曰：“臣受先帝知遇之恩，夢寐之間，未嘗不設伐魏之策。

To exert all my strength and loyalty, to recover the Central Plains for Your Majesty and revive the House of Han—that is my wish.” Before he had finished speaking, a man stepped out from the ranks and said, “The Chancellor must not raise troops.” Everyone looked; it was Qiao Zhou.

竭力盡忠，爲陛下克復中原，重興漢室：臣之願也。”言未畢，班部中一人出曰：“丞相不可興兵。”衆視之，乃譙周也。

Indeed:
The Martial Marquis spends himself to the last, anxious only for the state;
The Grand Astrologer, reading the signs, again discourses on Heaven.
What Qiao Zhou had to say will be told in the next chapter.

正是：武侯盡瘁惟憂國，太史知機又論天。
未知譙周有何議論，且看下文分解。