Romance, Chapter 97

Chapter 97. To Attack the State of Wei, the Martial Marquis Submits a Second Memorial; To Break the Cao Army, Jiang Wei Presents a False Letter

Now in the autumn, in the ninth month of the sixth year of Jianxing of Shu-Han, the Wei Commander Cao Xiu was heavily defeated at Shiting by Lu Xun of Eastern Wu, losing all his carts and horses, military supplies and weapons. Cao Xiu was so terrified that anxiety made him ill, and when he reached Luoyang an ulcer broke out on his back and he died. The Ruler of Wei, Cao Rui, decreed that he be given a lavish burial. When Sima Yi led his troops back, his generals welcomed him in and asked, “Commander Cao’s defeat is a matter that concerns you as marshal too. Why have you come back in such haste?”

卻說蜀漢建興六年秋九月，魏都督曹休被東吳陸遜大破於石亭，車仗馬匹，軍資器械，並皆罄盡，休惶恐之甚，氣憂成病，到洛陽，疽發背而死。魏主曹睿敕令厚葬。司馬懿引兵還，衆將接入問曰：“曹都督兵敗，即元帥之干係，何故急回耶？”

Sima Yi said, “I reckon that when Zhuge Liang learns of our defeat he will surely take advantage of our weakness to come and seize Changan. If Longxi were in danger, who would go to its rescue? That is why I have come back.” They all thought he was afraid, and withdrew sneering.

懿曰：“吾料諸葛亮知吾兵敗，必乘虛來取長安。倘隴西緊急，何人救之？吾故回耳。”衆皆以爲懼怯，哂笑而退。

Meanwhile Eastern Wu sent an envoy with a letter to Shu, asking it to send troops against Wei and telling of the great victory over Cao Xiu—first to display its own might, and second to cement the friendly alliance. The Latter Ruler was delighted and had the letter carried to Hanzhong to inform Kongming. At that time Kongming’s troops were strong and his horses sturdy, his grain and fodder were plentiful, and everything he needed was fully prepared; he was just about to march out. On hearing this news he at once held a great banquet for his generals to discuss the campaign.

卻說東吳遣使致書蜀中，請兵伐魏，並言大破曹休之事：一者顯自己威風，二者通和會之好。後主大喜，令人持書至漢中，報知孔明。時孔明兵強馬壯，糧草豐足，所用之物，一切完備，正要出師。聽知此信，即設宴大會諸將，計議出師。

Suddenly a great gust of wind rose from the northeast corner and snapped a pine tree in front of the hall. Everyone was greatly alarmed. Kongming at once cast a divination and said, “This wind portends the loss of a great general!” The generals did not believe it. While they were drinking, it was suddenly announced that Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang, the eldest and second sons of Zhao Yun, General Who Guards the South, had come to see the Chancellor. Kongming, greatly shaken, flung his cup to the ground and cried, “Zilong is gone!” The two sons came in, bowed and said, weeping, “Our father’s illness grew grave last night, and he died at the third watch.”

忽一陣大風，自東北角上而起，把庭前松樹吹折。衆皆大驚。孔明就佔一課，曰：“此風主損一大將！”諸將未信。正飲酒間，忽報鎮南將軍趙雲長子趙統、次子趙廣，來見丞相。孔明大驚，擲杯於地曰：“子龍休矣！”二子入見，拜哭曰：“某父昨夜三更病重而死。”

Kongming stamped his foot and wept, saying, “With Zilong gone, the state has lost a pillar and I have lost an arm!” There was not one of the generals who did not wipe away tears. Kongming sent the two sons to Chengdu to see the sovereign and report the death. When the Latter Ruler heard that Zhao Yun had died, he wept aloud and said, “When I was a small child long ago, but for Zilong I would have perished amid the rout!” At once he issued an edict posthumously conferring on him the rank of Grand General and the posthumous title of Marquis Shunping, ordered him buried east of Mount Jinping at Chengdu, and had a temple built where offerings were to be made in all four seasons.

孔明跌足而哭曰：“子龍身故，國家損一棟樑，吾去一臂也！”衆將無不揮涕。孔明令二子入成都面君報喪。後主聞雲死，放聲大哭曰：“朕昔年幼，非子龍則死於亂軍之中矣！”即下詔追贈大將軍，諡封順平侯，敕葬於成都錦屏山之東；建立廟堂，四時享祭。

A later poet wrote:
In Changshan there was a tiger of a general,
In wisdom and valour a match for Guan and Zhang.
His merit at the Han River endures;
At Dangyang his name shone bright.
Twice he upheld the young lord,
With single heart repaying the late Emperor.
The annals record his loyalty and valour;
His fragrance shall flow for a hundred generations.

後人有詩曰：“常山有虎將，智勇匹關張。
漢水功勳在，當陽姓字彰。
兩番扶幼主，一念答先皇。
青史書忠烈，應流百世芳。
”

The Latter Ruler, remembering Zhao Yun’s past services, gave him a very lavish burial and sacrifices. He made Zhao Tong a Gentleman of the Tiger Guard and Zhao Guang a General of the Standard, and set them to guard the tomb. The two thanked him and withdrew. Suddenly a courtier reported, “Chancellor Zhuge has already assigned his troops and horses, and any day now he will march out against Wei.” The Latter Ruler asked the ministers at court, and most of them said that no rash move should be made. The Latter Ruler hesitated and could not decide.

卻說後主思念趙雲昔日之功，祭葬甚厚；封趙統爲虎賁中郎，趙廣爲牙門將，就令守墳。二人辭謝而去。忽近臣奏曰：“諸葛丞相將軍馬分撥已定，即日將出師伐魏。”後主問在朝諸臣，諸臣多言未可輕動。後主疑慮未決。

Suddenly it was reported that the Chancellor had sent Yang Yi bearing a Memorial on Dispatching the Troops. The Latter Ruler summoned him in, and Yang Yi presented the document. The Latter Ruler opened it on the imperial desk and read. The memorial said: “The late Emperor, mindful that Han and the traitors cannot both stand, and that the royal cause cannot rest content in a corner of the realm, therefore entrusted me with punishing the traitors. With his discernment the late Emperor measured my abilities, and so he knew that in attacking the traitors my talents were weak and the enemy strong. Yet if the traitors are not attacked, the royal cause will perish all the same. Is it better to sit and wait for destruction, or to attack them?

忽奏丞相令楊儀齎出師表至。後主宣入，儀呈上表章。後主就御案上拆視，其表曰：“先帝慮漢賊不兩立，王業不偏安，故託臣以討賊也。以先帝之明，量臣之才，故知臣伐賊，才弱敵強也。然不伐賊，王業亦亡。惟坐而待亡，孰與伐之？

That is why he entrusted this to me without misgiving. From the day I received his command I have not slept easy on my mat nor found savour in my food. Thinking of the northern campaign, I judged that I must first go into the south; so in the fifth month I crossed the Lu River and went deep into the barren lands, eating one meal in two days. It is not that I do not value my own life, but I considered that the royal cause cannot rest content in the Shu capital, and so I braved dangers and hardships to carry out the late Emperor’s last wishes. Yet those who debate the matter say this is not a sound plan. Now the traitors happen to be exhausted in the west and occupied in the east, and the art of war says, ‘Strike when the enemy is weary.’ This is the time to advance.

是故託臣而弗疑也。臣受命之日，寢不安席，食不甘味；思惟北征，宜先入南：故五月渡瀘，深入不毛，並日而食。——臣非不自惜也，顧王業不可偏安於蜀都，故冒危難以奉先帝之遺意。而議者謂爲非計。今賊適疲於西，又務於東，兵法“乘勞”：此進趨之時也。

I respectfully set out the matter as follows. Emperor Gao, whose brilliance matched the sun and moon, had counsellors of profound depth; yet he crossed perils and suffered wounds, and only after danger did he find security. Now Your Majesty does not equal Emperor Gao, nor do your counsellors equal Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, and yet you wish to win by long-range strategy and settle the realm while sitting still. This is the first thing I cannot understand. Liu Yao and Wang Lang each held provinces and commanderies; in discussing security and proposing plans they were forever quoting the sages, yet their bellies were full of doubts and their breasts crammed with difficulties. This year they would not fight, next year they would not march, and so they let Sun Quan grow great at his ease until he swallowed up all of Jiangdong. This is the second thing I cannot understand.

謹陳其事如左：高帝明並日月，謀臣淵深，然涉險被創，危然後安；今陛下未及高帝，謀臣不如良、平，而欲以長策取勝，坐定天下，此臣之未解一也。劉繇、王朗，各據州郡，論安言計，動引聖人，羣疑滿腹，衆難塞胸；今歲不戰，明年不徵，使孫權坐大，遂並江東，此臣之未解二也。

Cao Cao’s wisdom and cunning far surpassed other men’s, and in the use of troops he resembled Sun Wu and Wu Qi; yet he was hard pressed at Nanyang, in peril at Wuchao, in danger at Qilian and cornered at Liyang, nearly defeated at Beishan and all but killed at Tong Pass, and only after that did he achieve a false and temporary stability. How much less can I, with my feeble talents, hope to settle things without running any risk? This is the third thing I cannot understand. Cao Cao attacked Chang Ba five times without taking him and crossed Chao Lake four times without success; he employed Li Fu, and Li Fu plotted against him; he entrusted Xiahou, and Xiahou was defeated and killed. The late Emperor always praised Cao Cao as capable, and yet even he made such mistakes. How then can I, dull and inferior as I am, be sure of victory? This is the fourth thing I cannot understand.

曹操智計，殊絕於人，其用兵也，彷彿孫、吳，然困於南陽，險於烏巢，危於祁連，逼於黎陽，幾敗北山，殆死潼關，然後僞定一時耳；況臣才弱，而欲以不危而定之，此臣之未解三也。曹操五攻昌霸不下，四越巢湖不成，任用李服而李服圖之，委任夏侯而夏侯敗亡，先帝每稱操爲能，猶有此失；況臣駑下，何能必勝，此臣之未解四也。

Since I came to Hanzhong only a year has passed, and yet I have lost Zhao Yun, Yang Qun, Ma Yu, Yan Zhi, Ding Li, Bai Shou, Liu He, Deng Tong and others, together with more than seventy company and camp commanders, and more than a thousand of the Assault Generals and the Peerless, the Cong, the Sou and the Qing Qiang, and the unattached and martial cavalry. All of these were elite troops gathered from every quarter over several decades, not something a single province could supply. If several more years pass, two-thirds of them will be lost.

自臣到漢中，中間期年耳，然喪趙雲、陽羣、馬玉、閻芝、丁立、白壽、劉郃、鄧銅等，及曲長屯將七十餘人，突將無前，賨、叟、青羌，散騎武騎一千餘人，此皆數十年之內，所糾合四方之精銳，非一州之所有；若複數年，則損三分之二也。

With what, then, shall we deal with the enemy? This is the fifth thing I cannot understand. Now the people are impoverished and the troops weary, yet the task cannot be set aside; and since it cannot be set aside, the toil and expense are just the same whether we stay or go. Yet instead of acting now, you would hold out against the traitors for a long time with the land of a single province. This is the sixth thing I cannot understand. What is hard to judge is the course of events. Once the late Emperor was defeated in Chu, and at that time Cao Cao clapped his hands and said the realm was already settled.

——當何以圖敵，此臣之未解五也。今民窮兵疲，而事不可息；事不可息，則住與行，勞費正等；而不及今圖之，欲以一州之地，與賊持久，此臣之未解六也。夫難平者，事也。昔先帝敗軍於楚，當此之時，曹操拊手，謂天下已定。

But afterwards the late Emperor allied with Wu and Yue in the east, took Ba and Shu in the west, and raised troops for a northern campaign in which Xiahou lost his head. This was Cao Cao’s miscalculation, and the cause of Han was on the point of success. But afterwards Wu broke the alliance again, Guan Yu was defeated and destroyed, we stumbled at Zigui, and Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor. Such is the way of all affairs: they are hard to foresee. I shall bend my body to the task and give my utmost until death, and only then cease. As for success or failure, fortune or adversity, these are beyond my powers to foresee.”

——然後先帝東連吳、越，西取巴、蜀，舉兵北征，夏侯授首，此操之失計，而漢事將成也。——然後吳更違盟，關羽毀敗，秭歸蹉跌，曹丕稱帝，凡事如是，難可逆見。臣鞠躬盡瘁，死而後已；至於成敗利鈍，非臣之明所能逆睹也。”

The Latter Ruler read the memorial with great pleasure and at once ordered Kongming to march. Kongming received the command and raised three hundred thousand picked troops. He put Wei Yan in overall command of the vanguard of the front division and made straight for the mouth of the Chencang road. Spies had already carried the news to Luoyang. Sima Yi reported it to the Ruler of Wei, who assembled his civil and military officials to discuss it. The Grand General Cao Zhen stepped out from the ranks and said, “When I defended Longxi recently, my merit was slight and my fault great, and I am overwhelmed with shame and fear.

後主覽表甚喜，即敕令孔明出師。孔明受命，起三十萬精兵，令魏延總督前部先鋒，徑奔陳倉道口而來。早有細作報入洛陽。司馬懿奏知魏主，大會文武商議。大將軍曹真出班奏曰：“臣昨守隴西，功微罪大，不勝惶恐。

I now ask to lead a great army to go and capture Zhuge Liang. Recently I have gained a great general who wields a sixty-jin broadsword, rides a Ferghana warhorse that can cover a thousand li, draws an iron-cored bow of two dan, and carries three meteor hammers hidden about him that never miss their mark. He has the courage to stand against ten thousand men. He is a man of Didao in Longxi, surnamed Wang, named Shuang, styled Ziquan. I vouch for him as vanguard.” Cao Rui was delighted and at once summoned Wang Shuang into the hall.

今乞引大軍往擒諸葛亮。臣近得一員大將，使六十斤大刀，騎千里征馬宛馬，開兩石鐵胎弓，暗藏三個流星錘，百發百中，有萬夫不當之勇，乃隴西狄道人，姓王，名雙，字子全。臣保此人爲先鋒。”睿大喜，便召王雙上殿。

When they looked at him, he stood nine feet tall, with a dark face and yellow eyes, a bear’s waist and a tiger’s back. Cao Rui laughed and said, “With such a great general, what have I to worry about!” He bestowed on him an embroidered robe and golden armour and made him General of Tiger Might and Grand Vanguard of the Front Division. Cao Zhen was made Commander-in-Chief. Cao Zhen gave thanks and left the court, then led a hundred and fifty thousand picked troops to join Guo Huai and Zhang He, and they divided the roads between them to hold the passes. Meanwhile the leading Shu troops scouted as far as Chencang and came back to report to Kongming: “A city has already been built at the mouth of Chencang, held by the great general Hao Zhao. The moats are deep, the ramparts high, and abatis are laid all around; the defence is very strict. It would be much easier to leave this city alone and go out to Mount Qi by the bird-track over Taibai Ridge.”

視之，身長九尺，面黑睛黃，熊腰虎背。睿笑曰：“朕得此大將，有何慮哉！”遂賜錦袍金甲，封爲虎威將軍、前部大先鋒。曹真爲大都督。真謝恩出朝，遂引十五萬精兵，會合郭淮、張郃，分道守把隘口。卻說蜀兵前隊哨至陳倉，回報孔明，說：“陳倉口已築起一城，內有大將郝昭守把，深溝高壘，遍排鹿角，十分謹嚴；不如棄了此城，從太白嶺鳥道出祁山甚便。”

Kongming said, “Due north of Chencang lies Jieting. Only when we have taken this city can we advance.” He ordered Wei Yan to lead his troops to the foot of the walls and attack from all four sides. Day after day they could not break it. Wei Yan came again and told Kongming that the city was hard to take. Kongming, in a great rage, was about to have Wei Yan beheaded, when a man below the tent spoke up: “Though I have no talent, I have followed the Chancellor for many years without ever repaying your kindness. Let me go into the city of Chencang and persuade Hao Zhao to surrender, without bending a single bow or loosing a single arrow.”

孔明曰：“陳倉正北是街亭；必得此城，方可進兵。”命魏延引兵到城下，四面攻之。連日不能破。魏延復來告孔明，說城難打。孔明大怒，欲斬魏延。忽帳下一人告曰：“某雖無才，隨丞相多年，未嘗報效。願去陳倉城中，說郝昭來降，不用張弓只箭。”

Everyone looked: it was Jin Xiang, one of the retainers. Kongming said, “What will you say to persuade him?” Jin Xiang said, “Hao Zhao and I are both men of Longxi and have been close friends since childhood. If I go to him now and put the advantages and dangers before him, he will certainly come over.” Kongming at once sent him off.

衆視之，乃部曲靳祥也。孔明曰：“汝用何言以說之？”祥曰：“郝昭與某，同是隴西人氏，自幼交契。某今到彼，以利害說之，必來降矣。”孔明即令前去。

Jin Xiang galloped straight to the foot of the walls and called out, “Your old friend Jin Xiang has come to see Hao Bodao.” The men on the wall reported this to Hao Zhao, who ordered the gate opened to let him in, and they met on top of the wall. Hao Zhao asked, “What brings my old friend here?” Jin Xiang said, “I serve under Kongming of Western Shu, taking part in military planning, and he treats me with the courtesy due an honoured guest. He has sent me expressly to see you, for I have something to tell you.” Hao Zhao flushed with anger and said, “Zhuge Liang is the enemy of our state!

靳祥驟馬徑到城下，叫曰：“郝伯道故人靳祥來見。”城上人報知郝昭。昭令開門放入，登城相見。昭問曰：“故人因何到此？”祥曰：“吾在西蜀孔明帳下，參贊軍機，待以上賓之禮。特令某來見公，有言相告。”昭勃然變色曰：“諸葛亮乃我國仇敵也！

I serve Wei and you serve Shu; each of us serves his own lord. Once we were like brothers; now we are enemies! Say no more—please leave the city at once!” Jin Xiang wanted to speak again, but Hao Zhao had already gone up onto the watchtower. The Wei soldiers hurriedly made him mount and drove him out of the city. Looking back, Jin Xiang saw Hao Zhao leaning on the breast-high wooden railing. He reined in his horse, pointed at him with his whip and said, “Bodao, my good younger brother, why are you so heartless?”

吾事魏，汝事蜀，各事其主，昔時爲昆仲，今時爲仇敵！汝再不必多言，便請出城！”靳祥又欲開言，郝昭已出敵樓上了。魏軍急催上馬，趕出城外。祥回頭視之，見昭倚定護心木欄杆。祥勒馬以鞭指之曰：“伯道賢弟，何太情薄耶？”

Hao Zhao said, “You know the laws of Wei, brother. I have received the favour of the state, and there is nothing for me but death. There is no need for you to make speeches, brother. Go back quickly to Zhuge Liang and tell him to come and attack the city at once. I am not afraid!”

昭曰：“魏國法度，兄所知也。吾受國恩，但有死而已，兄不必下說詞。早回見諸葛亮，教快來攻城，吾不懼也！”

Jin Xiang went back and told Kongming, “Hao Zhao cut me off before I could even open my mouth.” Kongming said, “Go and see him again and put the advantages and dangers before him.” Jin Xiang went to the foot of the walls once more and asked to see Hao Zhao. Hao Zhao came out onto the watchtower. Jin Xiang reined in his horse and called up loudly, “Bodao, my good younger brother, listen to my honest advice. You are holding a single isolated city; how can you resist a host of several hundred thousand? If you do not surrender soon, it will be too late for regrets!

祥回告孔明曰：“郝昭未等某開言，便先阻卻。”孔明曰：“汝可再去見他，以利害說之。”祥又到城下，請郝昭相見。昭出到敵樓上。祥勒馬高叫曰：“伯道賢弟，聽吾忠言：汝據守一孤城，怎拒數十萬之衆？今不早降，後悔無及！

And besides, to reject the great Han and serve the treacherous Wei—how can you be so ignorant of the Mandate of Heaven and so unable to tell the pure from the foul? I beg you to think it over, Bodao.” Hao Zhao flew into a rage, took up his bow, fitted an arrow and, aiming at Jin Xiang, shouted, “My earlier words stand! You need say no more! Get back quickly! I will not shoot you!”

且不順大漢而事奸魏，抑何不知天命、不辨清濁乎？願伯道思之。”郝昭大怒，拈弓搭箭，指靳祥而喝曰：“吾前言已定，汝不必再言！可速退！吾不射汝！”

Jin Xiang returned to Kongming and told him everything about Hao Zhao’s attitude. Kongming said angrily, “The churl is insolent beyond measure! Does he take me for someone with no siege engines?” He then called in some local people and asked, “How many men and horses are there in the city of Chencang?” They told him, “We do not know the exact number, but there are about three thousand men.” Kongming laughed and said, “How can such a small city hold out against me? Do not wait for their relief force to arrive—attack at once!”

靳祥回見孔明，具言郝昭如此光景。孔明大怒曰：“匹夫無禮太甚！豈欺吾無攻城之具耶？”隨叫土人問曰：“陳倉城中，有多少人馬？”土人告曰：“雖不知的數，約有三千人。”孔明笑曰：“量此小城，安能御我！休等他救兵到，火速攻之！”

So a hundred scaling-ladder carts were built in the camp, each able to carry more than ten men standing on top, shielded all round with wooden boards. The soldiers each carried short ladders and soft ropes, ready to swarm up the wall together at the sound of the drums in the camp. From the watchtower Hao Zhao saw the Shu troops setting up their scaling ladders and advancing from all sides. At once he ordered his three thousand men each to take fire-arrows and posted them on all four sides, to wait until the ladders drew near the wall and then shoot all together.

於是軍中起百乘雲梯，一乘上可立十數人，周圍用木板遮護。軍士各把短梯軟索，聽軍中擂鼓，一齊上城。郝昭在敵樓上，望見蜀兵裝起雲梯，四面而來，即令三千軍各執火箭，分佈四面；待雲梯近城，一齊射之。

Kongming, supposing that the city was unprepared, had built scaling ladders in great numbers and ordered the whole army to advance with drums and shouting. To his surprise fire-arrows flew all at once from the wall, every ladder caught fire, and many of the men on them were burned to death, while arrows and stones rained down from the wall, and the Shu troops all fell back. Kongming said angrily, “You burn my ladders—then I shall use battering carts!” So overnight the battering carts were made ready. Next day the troops again advanced from all four sides, beating drums and shouting.

孔明只道城中無備，故大造雲梯，令三軍鼓譟吶喊而進；不期城上火箭齊發，雲梯盡着，梯上軍士多被燒死，城上矢石如雨，蜀兵皆退。孔明大怒曰：“汝燒吾雲梯，吾卻用衝車之法！”於是連夜安排下衝車。次日，又四面鼓譟吶喊而進。

Hao Zhao quickly ordered stones brought and holes bored through them, and had them strung on vine ropes and swung to strike; the battering carts were all smashed. Kongming then had earth carried to fill in the moat, and ordered Liao Hua to lead three thousand men with spades and mattocks to dig a tunnel by night and slip secretly into the city. Hao Zhao again had a second moat dug inside the city to cut across it. Thus they attacked each other day and night for more than twenty days, and Kongming could find no way to break in.

郝昭急命運石鑿眼，用葛繩穿定飛打，衝車皆被打折。孔明又令人運土填城壕，教廖化引三千鍬钁軍，從夜間掘地道，暗入城去。郝昭又於城中掘重壕橫截之。如此晝夜相攻，二十餘日，無計可破。

Kongming was in his camp, sunk in worry, when suddenly it was reported: “A relief force has arrived from the east. The banner reads, ‘Wang Shuang, Great General of the Wei Vanguard.’” Kongming asked, “Who will go to meet him?” Wei Yan stepped forward and said, “I will go.” Kongming said, “You are the great general of the vanguard; you must not go out lightly.” He asked again, “Who dares to meet him?” The subordinate general Xie Xiong answered at once and stepped forward. Kongming gave him three thousand men and sent him off. Then Kongming asked again, “Who dares to go as well?”

孔明正在營中憂悶，忽報：“東邊救兵到了，旗上書：‘魏先鋒大將王雙’。”孔明問曰：“誰可迎之？”魏延出曰：“某願往。”孔明曰：“汝乃先鋒大將，未可輕出。”又問：“誰敢迎之？”裨將謝雄應聲而出。孔明與三千軍去了。孔明又問曰：“誰敢再去？”

The subordinate general Gong Qi answered at once that he would go. Kongming gave him three thousand men as well and sent him off. Fearing that Hao Zhao would lead his troops out of the city in a sortie, Kongming then pulled his army back twenty li and pitched camp.

裨將龔起應聲要去。孔明亦與三千兵去了。孔明恐城內郝昭引兵衝出，乃把人馬退二十里下寨。

Meanwhile Xie Xiong led his troops forward and ran straight into Wang Shuang. Before they had fought three bouts, Wang Shuang cleft him down with a single stroke. The Shu troops fled and Wang Shuang pursued them. Gong Qi met him, and after crossing weapons for only three bouts he too was cut down by Wang Shuang. The defeated troops went back and reported to Kongming. Greatly alarmed, Kongming hastily sent the three generals Liao Hua, Wang Ping and Zhang Ni out to meet the enemy. When the two armies were drawn up facing each other, Zhang Ni rode out, while Wang Ping and Liao Hua held the corners of the formation.

卻說謝雄引軍前行，正遇王雙；戰不三合，被雙一刀劈死。蜀兵敗走，雙隨後趕來。龔起接着，交馬只三合，亦被雙所斬。敗兵回報孔明。孔明大驚，忙令廖化、王平、張嶷三人出迎。兩陣對圓，張嶷出馬，王平、廖化壓住陣角。

Wang Shuang galloped up and engaged Zhang Ni, and after several bouts neither had the upper hand. Then Wang Shuang feigned defeat and fled, and Zhang Ni went after him. Seeing that Zhang Ni had fallen for a trick, Wang Ping shouted urgently, “Don’t pursue!” But as Zhang Ni hastily turned his horse, Wang Shuang’s meteor hammer was already upon him and struck him full in the back. Zhang Ni fled bent over his saddle, and Wang Shuang turned and gave chase. Wang Ping and Liao Hua cut him off and rescued Zhang Ni back to their lines. Wang Shuang drove his troops into a great slaughter, and the Shu army suffered very heavy losses.

王雙縱馬來與張嶷交馬，數合不分勝負。雙詐敗便走，嶷隨後趕去。王平見張嶷中計，忙叫曰：“休趕！”嶷急回馬時，王雙流星錘早到，正中其背。嶷伏鞍而走，雙回馬趕來。王平、廖化截住，救得張嶷回陣。王雙驅兵大殺一陣，蜀兵折傷甚多。

Zhang Ni coughed up several mouthfuls of blood and went back to Kongming, saying, “Wang Shuang is a hero without equal. He has now brought twenty thousand troops and encamped outside the city of Chencang. He has put up palisades all around, built a second wall and dug deep moats, and he is keeping a very strict guard.” Seeing that he had lost two generals and that Zhang Ni had been wounded as well, Kongming at once summoned Jiang Wei and said, “The route through the mouth of the Chencang road will not do. What other plan can we find?” Jiang Wei said, “The walls and moat of Chencang are strong, Hao Zhao defends it very closely, and now he has Wang Shuang’s help as well. It truly cannot be taken.

嶷吐血數口，回見孔明，說：“王雙英雄無敵；如今將二萬兵就陳倉城外下寨，四圍立起排柵，築起重城，深挖壕塹，守禦甚嚴。”孔明見折二將，張嶷又被打傷，即喚姜維曰：“陳倉道口這條路不可行。別求何策？”維曰：“陳倉城池堅固，郝昭守禦甚密，又得王雙相助，實不可取。

It would be better to have one great general encamp against the hills and beside the water and hold fast, and to have another good general guard the key road to prevent an attack on Jieting, while you lead the main army to strike at Mount Qi. I will then use such-and-such a stratagem, and Cao Zhen can be captured.” Kongming followed his advice. He at once ordered Wang Ping and Li Hui to lead two detachments to guard the byway to Jieting, and Wei Yan to lead a force to hold the mouth of Chencang. With Ma Dai as vanguard and Guan Xing and Zhang Bao as relief commanders front and rear, the army set out by the byways, through the Xie Valley, toward Mount Qi.

不若令一大將，依山傍水，下寨固守；再令良將守把要道，以防街亭之攻；卻統大軍去襲祁山，某卻如此如此用計，可捉曹真也。”孔明從其言，即令王平、李恢，引二枝兵守街亭小路；魏延引一軍守陳倉口。馬岱爲先鋒，關興、張苞爲前後救應使，從小徑出斜谷望祁山進發。

Meanwhile Cao Zhen, remembering how Sima Yi had robbed him of the credit last time, had gone to Luoyang and sent Guo Huai and Sun Li to hold the east and the west; and on hearing that Chencang was in danger he had already sent Wang Shuang to its relief. When he learned that Wang Shuang had slain generals and won merit, he was delighted, and ordered Fei Yao, great general and Protector of the Central Army, to take temporary command of the front division, while the other generals each held a pass. Suddenly it was reported that a spy had been caught in the mountain valleys and brought in.

卻說曹真因思前番被司馬懿奪了功勞，因此到洛陽分調郭淮、孫禮東西守把；又聽的陳倉告急，已令王雙去救。聞知王雙斬將立功，大喜，乃令中護軍大將費耀，權攝前部總督，諸將各自守把隘口。忽報山谷中捉得細作來見。

Cao Zhen had him brought in, and he knelt before the tent and said, “I am no spy. I have come on a secret matter to see the Commander, but I was mistakenly caught by the troops lying in ambush along the road. I beg you to send away your attendants.” Cao Zhen had his bonds removed and dismissed his attendants for the moment. The man said, “I am a trusted follower of Jiang Boyue. My master has sent me to deliver a secret letter.” Cao Zhen said, “Where is the letter?” The man took it out from the clothes next to his skin and presented it.

曹真令押入，跪於帳前。其人告曰：“小人不是奸細，有機密來見都督，誤被伏路軍捉來，乞退左右。”真乃教去其縛，左右暫退。其人曰：“小人乃姜伯約心腹人也。蒙本官遣送密書。”真曰：“書安在？”其人於貼肉衣內取出呈上。

Cao Zhen opened it and read: “Jiang Wei, a general who stands guilty, bows a hundred times and presents this letter beneath the banner of Commander-in-Chief Cao. I, Wei, recall that my family has eaten the bread of Wei for generations and that I unworthily held a frontier city; I received great kindness and have had no way to repay it. Some time ago I fell by mistake into Zhuge Liang’s trap and plunged myself into a sheer abyss. Not a day goes by that I forget my old country! Now, fortunately, the Shu army has come out to the west, and Zhuge Liang has no suspicion of me at all. I rely on you, Commander, to come in person at the head of a great army. When you meet the enemy, feign defeat; I will be in the rear, and at the signal of a raised fire I will first burn the Shu army’s grain and fodder. Then turn your great army about and fall upon them, and Zhuge Liang can be captured.

真拆視曰：“罪將姜維百拜，書呈大都督曹麾下：維念世食魏祿，忝守邊城；叨竊厚恩，無門補報。昨日誤遭諸葛亮之計，陷身於巔崖之中。思念舊國，何日忘之！今幸蜀兵西出，諸葛亮甚不相疑。賴都督親提大兵而來：如遇敵人，可以詐敗；維當在後，以舉火爲號，先燒蜀人糧草，卻以大兵翻身掩之，則諸葛亮可擒也。

I do not presume to seek merit or to repay the state; I truly wish only to atone for my past offence. If you will deign to consider this, send me your instructions quickly.” When Cao Zhen had finished reading, he was delighted and said, “Heaven means me to succeed!” He richly rewarded the messenger and sent him back with the reply that they would join forces on the appointed date. Then he summoned Fei Yao and consulted him: “Jiang Wei has secretly sent me a letter telling me to do such-and-such.” Fei Yao said, “Zhuge Liang is full of stratagems and Jiang Wei is widely resourceful. Perhaps Zhuge Liang put him up to it; I fear there may be a trick in this.”

非敢立功報國，實欲自贖前罪。倘蒙照察，速賜來命。”曹真看畢，大喜曰：“天使吾成功也！”遂重賞來人，便令回報，依期會合。真喚費耀商議曰：“今姜維暗獻密書，令吾如此如此。”耀曰：“諸葛亮多謀，姜維智廣，或者是諸葛亮所使，恐其中有詐。”

Cao Zhen said, “He was a man of Wei to begin with, and went over to Shu only because he had no choice. Why should we doubt him?” Fei Yao said, “You must not go lightly, Commander; just hold fast to our main camp. Let me lead a force to meet Jiang Wei. If it succeeds, all the credit will be yours; if there is some treachery, I will bear the consequences myself.” Cao Zhen was delighted and ordered Fei Yao to take fifty thousand troops and advance toward the Xie Valley. After two or three stages’ march Fei Yao halted his army and sent men out to scout.

真曰：“他原是魏人，不得已而降蜀，又何疑乎？”耀曰：“都督不可輕去，只守定本寨。某願引一軍接應姜維。如成，功盡歸都督；倘有奸計，某自支當。”真大喜，遂令費耀引五萬兵，望斜谷而進。行了兩三程，屯下軍馬，令人哨探。

Toward the afternoon hour of shen that day the scouts reported: “Shu troops are coming along the road through the Xie Valley.” Fei Yao hastily pressed his troops forward. The Shu troops fell back before any fighting began. When Fei Yao led his men in pursuit, the Shu troops came on again; just as he was about to draw up his line, they retreated once more. This happened three times, and the time dragged on until the hour of shen the next day. For a whole day and night the Wei troops did not dare to rest, fearing only that the Shu army would attack. Just as they were about to halt and cook a meal, a great shout suddenly shook the air on every side, drums and horns sounded together, and Shu troops came pouring over the hills and plains.

當日申時分，回報：“斜谷道中，有蜀兵來也。”耀忙催兵進。蜀兵未及交戰先退。耀引兵追之，蜀兵又來。方欲對陣，蜀兵又退：如此者三次，俄延至次日申時分。魏軍一日一夜，不曾敢歇，只恐蜀兵攻擊。方欲屯軍造飯，忽然四面喊聲大震，鼓角齊鳴，蜀兵漫山遍野而來。

Where the standards at the gate of the formation parted, a four-wheeled carriage came into view, with Kongming sitting upright in it, and he sent someone to invite the Wei commander out for a parley. Fei Yao rode out and, seeing Kongming in the distance, was secretly pleased. He looked round at his officers and said, “If the Shu troops charge, fall back and run. If you see fire rise behind the hills, turn round and attack, and troops will come of themselves to support you.” Having given these instructions he spurred forward and called out, “You were beaten last time—how dare you come again!”

門旗開處，閃出一輛四輪車，孔明端坐其中，令人請魏軍主將答話。耀縱馬而出，遙見孔明，心中暗喜，回顧左右曰：“如蜀兵掩至，便退後走。若見山後火起，卻回身殺去，自有兵來相應。”分付畢，躍馬出呼曰：“前者敗將，今何敢又來！”

Kongming said, “Call your Cao Zhen out to talk!” Fei Yao cursed him: “Commander Cao is a golden branch and jade leaf of the imperial house—why would he deign to meet a rebel!” Kongming, in a great rage, gave one wave of his feather fan, and two columns charged out, Ma Dai on the left and Zhang Ni on the right. The Wei troops at once fell back. Before they had gone thirty li, they saw fire rising behind the Shu army and heard shouting that did not stop. Fei Yao, taking it for the signal fire, at once turned round and came charging back.

孔明曰：“喚汝曹真來答話！”耀罵曰：“曹都督乃金枝玉葉，安肯與反賊相見耶！”孔明大怒，把羽扇一招，左有馬岱，右有張嶷，兩路兵衝出。魏兵便退。行不到三十里，望見蜀兵背後火起，喊聲不絕。費耀只道號火，便回身殺來。

The Shu troops all fell back. Fei Yao, sword in hand, rode at the front, chasing only toward the place where the shouting came from. Just as he was nearing the fire, drums and horns rent the sky along the mountain road, shouts shook the earth, and two forces charged out: Guan Xing on the left and Zhang Bao on the right. From the hills above, arrows and stones rained down. The Wei army was utterly routed. Fei Yao, realizing he had fallen into a trap, hastily pulled back and fled into the mountain valleys, his men and horses exhausted. Guan Xing came after them from behind with fresh troops, and countless Wei soldiers died trampled by their own comrades or fallen into the ravines.

蜀兵齊退。耀提刀在前，只望喊處追趕。將次近火，山路中鼓角喧天、喊聲震地，兩軍殺出：左有關興，右有張苞。山上矢石如雨，往下射來。魏兵大敗。費耀知是中計，急退軍望山谷中而走，人馬睏乏。背後關興引生力軍趕來，魏兵自相踐踏及落澗身死者，不知其數。

Fleeing for his life, Fei Yao ran straight into a body of troops at the mouth of a hillside pass: it was Jiang Wei. Fei Yao cursed him loudly: “Faithless rebel! By ill luck I have blundered into your treacherous trap!” Jiang Wei laughed and said, “I meant to catch Cao Zhen, and I have hooked you by mistake! Get down from your horse and surrender at once!” Fei Yao spurred his horse, forced his way through and fled toward the mountain valley. Suddenly he saw flames leaping to the sky at the mouth of the valley, while the pursuers came up behind him again. Fei Yao cut his own throat and died, and the rest of his men all surrendered.

耀逃命而走，正遇山坡口一彪軍，乃是姜維。耀大罵曰：“反賊無信！吾不幸誤中汝奸計也！”維笑曰：“吾欲擒曹真，誤賺汝矣！速下馬受降！”耀驟馬奪路，望山谷中而走。忽見谷口火光沖天，背後追兵又至。耀自刎身死，餘衆盡降。

Kongming drove his army on through the night, marched straight out to the front of Mount Qi and pitched camp there. Having gathered in his forces, he rewarded Jiang Wei richly. Jiang Wei said, “My only regret is that I could not kill Cao Zhen!” Kongming said too, “It is a pity that so great a plan was put to so small a use.”

孔明連夜驅兵，直出祁山前下寨，收住軍馬，重賞姜維。維曰：“某恨不得殺曹真也！”孔明亦曰：“可惜大計小用矣。”

Meanwhile, when Cao Zhen learned that he had lost Fei Yao, his remorse came too late. He consulted Guo Huai on a plan to drive back the enemy. Then Sun Li and Xin Pi drew up a memorial and sent it with all speed through the night to the Ruler of Wei, reporting that the Shu army had come out to Mount Qi again, and that Cao Zhen had lost troops and generals and the situation was very dangerous. Cao Rui was greatly alarmed and at once summoned Sima Yi into the palace. “Cao Zhen has lost troops and generals,” he said, “and the Shu army has come out to Mount Qi again. What plan do you have to drive them back?”

卻說曹真聽知折了費耀，悔之不及，遂與郭淮商議退兵之策。於是孫禮、辛毗星夜具表申奏魏主，言蜀兵又出祁山，曹真損兵折將，勢甚危急。睿大驚，即召司馬懿入內曰：“曹真損兵折將，蜀兵又出祁山。卿有何策，可以退之？”

Sima Yi said, “I already have a plan to drive off Zhuge Liang. Without the Wei army having to make any show of arms or might, the Shu troops will go away of their own accord.”

懿曰：“臣已有退諸葛亮之計。不用魏軍揚武耀威，蜀兵自然走矣。”

Indeed:
Already it was plain that Zidan had no way to win;
All now rested on the sound plans of Zhongda.
What that plan was will be told in the next chapter.

正是：已見子丹無勝術，全憑仲達有良謀。
未知其計如何，且看下文分解。