Romance, Chapter 93

Chapter 93. Jiang Boyue Goes Over to Kongming; The Marquis of Wuxiang Berates Wang Lang to Death

Now Jiang Wei offered Ma Zun a plan: “Zhuge Liang is sure to have laid an ambush behind the commandery, meaning to lure our troops out of the city and then fall on us while it is empty. I ask for three thousand picked troops to lie in ambush on the key road. Let the Prefect follow after me and lead troops out of the city, but do not go far: march only thirty li and then turn back. Watch for fire as the signal and attack front and rear together, and we can win a great victory. If Zhuge Liang comes himself, he will surely be captured by me.”

卻說姜維獻計於馬遵曰：“諸葛亮必伏兵於郡後，賺我兵出城，乘虛襲我。某願請精兵三千，伏於要路。太守隨後發兵出城，不可遠去，止行三十里便回；但看火起爲號，前後來攻，可獲大勝。如諸葛亮自來，必爲某所擒矣。”

Ma Zun adopted his plan and gave Jiang Wei the picked troops. When Jiang Wei had gone, Ma Zun himself led troops out of the city with Liang Qian and waited, leaving only Liang Xu and Yin Shang to hold the city. Kongming had in fact sent Zhao Yun with a force to lie in ambush in a remote fold of the hills, waiting only for the men and horses of Tianshui to leave the city so that he could fall on it while it was empty. That day a spy came back to tell Zhao Yun that Ma Zun, the Prefect of Tianshui, had marched out of the city with his troops, leaving only civil officials to hold it.

遵用其計，付精兵與姜維去訖，然後自與梁虔引兵出城等候；只留梁緒、尹賞守城。原來孔明果遣趙雲引一軍埋伏于山僻之中，只待天水人馬離城，便乘虛襲之。當日細作回報趙雲，說天水太守馬遵，起兵出城，只留文官守城。

Zhao Yun was delighted, and sent word to Zhang Yi and Gao Xiang to intercept and kill Ma Zun on the key road. The troops at these two places had also been placed in ambush beforehand by Kongming. Zhao Yun, meanwhile, led five thousand troops straight to the walls of Tianshui and shouted up, “I am Zhao Zilong of Changshan! Know that you have fallen into a trap, and surrender the city quickly to escape slaughter!” On the wall Liang Xu laughed aloud and said, “You have fallen into the trap of our Jiang Boyue, and you still do not know it?”

趙雲大喜，又令人報與張翼、高翔，教於要路截殺馬遵。此二處兵亦是孔明預先埋伏。卻說趙雲引五千兵，徑投天水郡城下，高叫曰：“吾乃常山趙子龍也！汝知中計，早獻城池，免遭誅戮！”城上梁緒大笑曰：“汝中吾姜伯約之計，尚然不知耶？”

Zhao Yun was just about to attack the city when suddenly a great shout shook the air and flames leapt to the sky on every side. At the head came a young general who levelled his spear, spurred his horse forward and cried, “Behold Jiang Boyue of Tianshui!” Zhao Yun levelled his spear and went straight for Jiang Wei. Before they had fought many bouts, Jiang Wei’s spirit had doubled. Zhao Yun was astonished and thought to himself, “Who would have thought there was such a man in a place like this!” In the midst of the fight two forces closed in on him from both sides: it was Ma Zun and Liang Qian leading their troops back to the attack.

雲恰待攻城，忽然喊聲大震，四面火光沖天。當先一員少年將軍，挺槍躍馬而言曰：“汝見天水姜伯約乎！”雲挺槍直取姜維。戰不數合，維精神倍長。雲大驚，暗忖曰：“誰想此處有這般人物！”正戰時，兩路軍夾攻來，乃是馬遵、梁虔引軍殺回。

Unable to look after both his front and his rear, Zhao Yun cut a way out and fled with his beaten troops, with Jiang Wei in pursuit. Luckily the two forces of Zhang Yi and Gao Xiang came charging out and brought him back to safety.

趙雲首尾不能相顧，衝開條路，引敗兵奔走，姜維趕來。虧得張翼、高翔兩路軍殺出，接應回去。

Zhao Yun went back to Kongming and told him he had fallen into the enemy’s trap. Kongming asked in surprise, “Who is this man who can see through my hidden design?” A man of Nanan told him, “His surname is Jiang, his given name Wei, and his courtesy name Boyue; he is a man of Ji in Tianshui. He serves his mother with the utmost filial devotion, is accomplished in both letters and arms, and has wisdom and courage in full. He is truly the outstanding hero of the age.” Zhao Yun also praised Jiang Wei’s spearmanship, saying it was quite unlike anyone else’s.

趙雲歸見孔明，說中了敵人之計。孔明驚問曰：“此是何人，識吾玄機？”有南安人告曰：“此人姓姜名維，字伯約，天水冀人也；事母至孝，文武雙全，智勇足備，真當世之英傑也。”趙雲又誇獎姜維槍法，與他人大不同。

Kongming said, “I mean to take Tianshui now, and I never expected to find such a man there.” He then raised his main army and advanced.

孔明曰：“吾今欲取天水，不想有此人。”遂起大軍前來。

Meanwhile Jiang Wei went back to Ma Zun and said, “Now that Zhao Yun has been beaten off, Kongming is sure to come himself. He will expect our army to be inside the city. We should divide our own troops and horses into four columns. I will lie in ambush east of the city with one force and cut the enemy off when they arrive. You, Prefect, together with Liang Qian and Yin Shang, will each lie in ambush outside the city with a force. Liang Xu will lead the common people in defending the walls.” The dispositions were settled.

卻說姜維回見馬遵曰：“趙雲敗去，孔明必然自來。彼料我軍必在城中。今可將本部軍馬，分爲四枝：某引一軍伏於城東，如彼兵到則截之。太守與梁虔、尹賞各引一軍城外埋伏。梁緒率百姓在城上守禦。”分撥已定。

Meanwhile Kongming, anxious about Jiang Wei, took the van himself and advanced on Tianshui. As he neared the city he issued an order: “Whenever we attack a city, it must be on the day we first arrive: rouse the whole army and go straight up the walls with drums beating and shouting. If we delay for many days, our keen edge will be dulled and the place will be hard to take quickly.” So the main army went straight to the walls. But seeing the banners on the wall in good order, they did not dare attack rashly. They waited until midnight, when suddenly fire leapt to the sky on every side and shouting shook the earth, and no one could tell where the troops were coming from.

卻說孔明因慮姜維，自爲前部，望天水郡進發。將到城邊，孔明傳令曰：“凡攻城池，以初到之日，激勵三軍，鼓譟直上。若遲延日久，銳氣盡隳，急難破矣。”於是大軍徑到城下。因見城上旗幟整齊，未敢輕攻。候至半夜，忽然四下火光沖天，喊聲震地，正不知何處兵來。

Then the men on the wall also took up the drumming and shouting in answer, and the Shu troops scattered in confusion. Kongming hastily mounted his horse, and with the two generals Guan Xing and Zhang Bao guarding him he fought his way out of the encirclement. Looking back, he saw troops due east, a band of fire stretching out like a long serpent. Kongming sent Guan Xing to scout it, and he came back to report, “Those are Jiang Wei’s troops.” Kongming sighed and said, “It is not numbers that matter in an army, but how a man commands them. This man is a true general!”

只見城上亦鼓譟吶喊相應，蜀兵亂竄。孔明急上馬，有關興、張苞二將保護，殺出重圍。回頭看時，正東上軍馬，一帶火光，勢若長蛇。孔明令關興探視，回報曰：“此姜維兵也。”孔明嘆曰：“兵不在多，在人之調遣耳。此人真將才也！”

Kongming gathered his troops and returned to camp. After thinking it over for a long while, he summoned a man of Anding and asked, “Where is Jiang Wei’s mother now?” The man answered, “His mother now lives in Ji County.” Kongming called Wei Yan and instructed him, “Take a force and make a great show of strength, pretending to attack Ji County. If Jiang Wei comes, let him into the city.” Then he asked, “What is the most vital point in this region?” The man of Anding said, “All the money and grain of Tianshui are at Shanggui. If you break Shanggui, their supply line will be cut off of itself.”

收兵歸寨，思之良久，乃喚安定人問曰：“姜維之母，現在何處？”答曰：“維母今居冀縣。”孔明喚魏延分付曰：“汝可引一軍，虛張聲勢，詐取冀縣。若姜維到，可放入城。”又問：“此地何處緊要？”安定人曰：“天水錢糧，皆在上邽；若打破上邽，則糧道自絕矣。”

Kongming was delighted and sent Zhao Yun with a force to attack Shanggui. He himself pitched camp thirty li from the city. Soon someone brought word into Tianshui that the Shu army had split into three: one force to hold down this commandery, one to take Shanggui, and one to take Jicheng. When Jiang Wei heard this, he pleaded with Ma Zun, “My mother is in Jicheng now, and I fear some harm may come to her. I beg for a force to go and relieve that city and protect my old mother as well.”

孔明大喜，教趙雲引一軍去攻上邽。孔明離城三十里下寨。早有人報入天水郡，說蜀兵分爲三路：一軍守此郡，一軍取上邽，一軍取冀城。姜維聞之，哀告馬遵曰：“維母現在冀城，恐母有失。維乞一軍往救此城，兼保老母。”

Ma Zun agreed, and ordered Jiang Wei to take three thousand troops to defend Jicheng, and Liang Qian to take three thousand to defend Shanggui.

馬遵從之，遂令姜維引三千軍去保冀城；梁虔引三千軍去保上邽。

Meanwhile Jiang Wei led his troops to Jicheng, where a body of troops was drawn up before him; the Shu general at their head was Wei Yan. The two generals fought a few bouts, and Wei Yan feigned defeat and fled. Jiang Wei entered the city, shut the gates and led his troops in its defence; he paid his respects to his old mother and did not go out to fight at all. Zhao Yun, too, let Liang Qian pass and enter the city of Shanggui. Kongming then sent men to Nanan to bring Xiahou Mao to his tent.

卻說姜維引兵至冀城，前面一彪軍擺開，爲首蜀將，乃是魏延。二將交鋒數合，延詐敗奔走。維入城閉門，率兵守護，拜見老母，並不出戰。趙雲亦放過梁虔入上邽城去了。孔明乃令人去南安郡，取夏侯楙至帳下。

Kongming said, “Are you afraid to die?” Xiahou Mao hastily prostrated himself and begged for his life. Kongming said, “Jiang Wei of Tianshui is now holding Jicheng, and he has sent a man with a letter saying, ‘If only the Imperial Son-in-Law were here, I would gladly submit.’ I will spare your life now; will you win Jiang Wei over to surrender?” Xiahou Mao said, “I will gladly win him over.” Kongming then gave him clothes and a saddled horse and, letting no one follow him, set him free to go on his own. Once out of the camp, Xiahou Mao wanted to find a road and get away, but he did not know the way.

孔明曰：“汝懼死乎？”楙慌拜伏乞命。孔明曰：“目今天水姜維現守冀城，使人持書來說：但得駙馬在，我願歸降。吾今饒汝性命，汝肯招安姜維否？”楙曰：“情願招安。”孔明乃與衣服鞍馬，不令人跟隨，放之自去。楙得脫出寨，欲尋路而走，奈不知路徑。

As he went along he met several people fleeing. When Xiahou Mao questioned them, they answered, “We are people of Ji County. Jiang Wei has just surrendered the city and gone over to Zhuge Liang, and the Shu general Wei Yan is setting fires and plundering. So we have abandoned our homes and are fleeing to Shanggui.” Xiahou Mao asked again, “Who is holding the city of Tianshui now?” The local people said, “Prefect Ma is in the city of Tianshui.” On hearing this, Xiahou Mao galloped off toward Tianshui. Along the way he saw more common people coming from afar, leading their sons and carrying their daughters, and they all told the same story.

正行之間，逢數人奔走。楙問之，答曰：“我等是冀縣百姓；今被姜維獻了城池，歸降諸葛亮，蜀將魏延縱火劫財，我等因此棄家奔走，投上邽去也。”楙又問曰：“今守天水城是誰？”土人曰：“天水城中乃馬太守也。”楙聞之，縱馬望天水而行。又見百姓攜男抱女遠來，所說皆同。

Xiahou Mao reached the walls of Tianshui and called for the gate to be opened. The men on the wall recognized him and hastily opened the gate to receive him. Ma Zun bowed in surprise and asked what had happened. Xiahou Mao told him in detail about Jiang Wei and repeated what the common people had said as well. Ma Zun sighed, “Who would have thought Jiang Wei would turn and go over to Shu!” Liang Xu said, “He meant to rescue you, Commander, and so made a false surrender with those words.” Xiahou Mao said, “Jiang Wei has already surrendered. How can it be false?”

楙至天水城下叫門，城上人認得是夏侯楙，慌忙開門迎接。馬遵驚拜問之。楙細言姜維之事；又將百姓所言說了。遵嘆曰：“不想姜維反投蜀矣！”梁緒曰：“彼意欲救都督，故以此言虛降。”楙曰：“今維已降，何爲虛也？”

While they were still hesitating, the first watch came, and the Shu troops came again to attack the city. In the firelight Jiang Wei could be seen at the foot of the wall, spear levelled and horse reined in, shouting, “I ask Commander Xiahou to come and answer me!” Xiahou Mao, Ma Zun and the others all went up on the wall and saw Jiang Wei, making a great display of his martial might, shout, “I surrendered for your sake, Commander. Why do you now go back on your word?” Xiahou Mao said, “You received the favour of Wei. Why did you surrender to Shu?

正躊躇間，時已初更，蜀兵又來攻城。火光中見姜維在城下挺槍勒馬，大叫曰：“請夏侯都督答話！”夏侯楙與馬遵等皆到城上，見姜維耀武揚威大叫曰：“我爲都督而降，都督何背前言？”楙曰：“汝受魏恩，何故降蜀？

What word of mine are you talking about?” Jiang Wei answered, “You wrote a letter telling me to surrender to Shu—how can you say such a thing? To save your own skin, you have trapped me instead? Now that I have surrendered to Shu and been made a senior general, how could I ever go back to Wei?” With that he drove his troops against the city and did not withdraw until dawn. In fact the man dressed as Jiang Wei in the night was part of Kongming’s plan: he had a soldier who resembled Jiang Wei disguise himself as him and attack the city. In the firelight no one could tell the true from the false.

有何前言耶？”維應曰：“汝寫書教我降蜀，何出此言？汝要脫身，卻將我陷了？我今降蜀，加爲上將，安有還魏之理？”言訖，驅兵打城，至曉方退。原來夜間妝姜維者，乃孔明之計，令部卒形貌相似者，假扮姜維攻城，因火光之中，不辨真僞。

Kongming now led his troops to attack Jicheng. Grain was short in the city, and there was not enough to feed the soldiers. From the wall Jiang Wei saw the Shu army carrying grain and fodder in carts large and small into Wei Yan’s camp. He led three thousand troops out of the city and went straight to seize the grain. The Shu troops abandoned all their grain carts and fled wherever they could. Jiang Wei had taken the carts and was about to go back into the city when suddenly a body of troops barred his way; the Shu general at their head was Zhang Yi.

孔明卻引兵來攻冀城。城中糧少，軍食不敷。姜維在城上，見蜀軍大車小輛，搬運糧草，入魏延寨中去了。維引三千兵出城，徑來劫糧。蜀兵盡棄了糧車，尋路而走。姜維奪得糧車，欲要入城，忽然一彪軍攔住，爲首蜀將張翼也。

The two generals engaged, and before they had fought many bouts Wang Ping arrived with another force, and they attacked him from both sides. His strength spent, Jiang Wei could not hold them off; he forced his way through and returned to the city, but Shu banners were already planted on the walls: Wei Yan had taken it by surprise. Jiang Wei cut his way out and made for Tianshui with a dozen or so horsemen still with him. Then he ran into Zhang Bao and fought another battle, and was left with only his own horse and his single spear. So he came to the walls of Tianshui and called for the gate to be opened.

二將交鋒，戰不數合，王平引一軍又到，兩下夾攻。維力窮抵敵不住，奪路歸城；城上早插蜀兵旗號：原來已被魏延襲了。維殺條路奔天水城，手下尚有十餘騎；又遇張苞殺了一陣，維止剩得匹馬單槍，來到天水城下叫門。

When the soldiers on the wall saw that it was Jiang Wei, they hurried to tell Ma Zun. Ma Zun said, “Jiang Wei has come to trick us into opening our gates.” He ordered the men on the wall to shoot volleys of arrows down at him. Jiang Wei looked back and saw the Shu troops drawing close, so he raced off to Shanggui. On the wall Liang Qian saw him and cursed him: “Traitor to your country! How dare you come to trick your way into my city! I already know that you have surrendered to Shu!” And volleys of arrows were loosed at him. Jiang Wei had no way to explain himself. He looked up to heaven and heaved a long sigh, tears streaming from his eyes, and turned his horse toward Changan.

城上軍見是姜維，慌報馬遵。遵曰：“此是姜維來賺我城門也。”令城上亂箭射下。姜維回顧蜀兵至近，遂飛奔上邽城來。城上梁虔見了姜維，大罵曰：“反國之賊，安敢來賺我城池！吾已知汝降蜀矣！”遂亂箭射下。姜維不能分說，仰天長嘆，兩眼淚流，撥馬望長安而走。

He had gone only a few li when he came to a stretch of tall trees and dense forest. A shout went up and several thousand troops poured out; at their head the Shu general Guan Xing blocked his way.

行不數里，前至一派大樹茂林之處，一聲喊起，數千兵擁出：爲首蜀將關興，截住去路。

Jiang Wei and his horse were both exhausted; he could not resist, and turned his horse to flee. Suddenly a small carriage came round from the hillside. The man in it wore a silk turban and a crane-feather cloak and waved a feather fan: it was Kongming. Kongming called out to Jiang Wei, “Boyue, why do you still not surrender, even now?” Jiang Wei thought it over for a long time. Kongming was in front of him, Guan Xing behind, and there was no other way out. He had no choice but to dismount and surrender.

維人困馬乏，不能抵當，勒回馬便走。忽然一輛小車從山坡中轉出。其人頭戴綸巾，身披鶴氅，手搖羽扇，乃孔明也。孔明喚姜維曰：“伯約此時何尚不降？”維尋思良久，前有孔明，後有關興，又無去路，只得下馬投降。

Kongming hurriedly got down from his carriage to greet him and, taking his hand, said, “Ever since I left my thatched cottage I have sought far and wide for a worthy man to whom I could hand down all that I have learned in my life, and I regretted that I had not found him. Now that I have met you, Boyue, my wish is fulfilled.” Jiang Wei was overjoyed and bowed his thanks.

孔明慌忙下車而迎，執維手曰：“吾自出茅廬以來，遍求賢者，欲傳授平生之學，恨未得其人。今遇伯約，吾願足矣。”維大喜拜謝。

Kongming then returned to camp with Jiang Wei and, taking his seat in the tent, discussed plans for taking Tianshui and Shanggui. Jiang Wei said, “Yin Shang and Liang Xu in Tianshui are very close friends of mine. I will write two secret letters and shoot them into the city to throw it into internal turmoil, and then the city can be taken.” Kongming agreed. Jiang Wei wrote the two secret letters, tied them to arrows, rode right up to the walls and shot them into the city. A junior officer picked them up and presented them to Ma Zun.

孔明遂同姜維回寨，升帳商議取天水、上邽之計。維曰：“天水城中尹賞、梁緒，與某至厚；當寫密書二封，射入城中，使其內亂，城可得矣。”孔明從之。姜維寫了二封密書，拴在箭上，縱馬直至城下，射入城中。小校拾得，呈與馬遵。

Ma Zun grew deeply suspicious and consulted with Xiahou Mao: “Liang Xu and Yin Shang are in league with Jiang Wei and mean to act as his agents inside. You should decide on it quickly, Commander.” Xiahou Mao said, “Kill the two of them.” Yin Shang learned of this and said to Liang Xu, “We had better hand over the city and surrender to Shu, and seek advancement there.” That night Xiahou Mao sent men several times to summon Liang and Yin for a talk. The two men realized that the situation was urgent. They put on their armour, mounted their horses, took up their weapons and, leading their own troops, threw open the city gates and let the Shu army in.

遵大疑，與夏侯楙商議曰：“梁緒、尹賞與姜維結連，欲爲內應，都督宜早決之。”楙曰：“可殺二人。”尹賞知此消息，乃謂梁緒曰：“不如納城降蜀，以圖進用。”是夜，夏侯楙數次使人請梁、尹二人說話。二人料知事急，遂披掛上馬，各執兵器，引本部軍大開城門，放蜀兵入。

Xiahou Mao and Ma Zun, in a panic, led a few hundred men out of the west gate, abandoned the city and fled toward the Qiang and Hu city. Liang Xu and Yin Shang welcomed Kongming into the city. When he had finished settling the people, Kongming asked how Shanggui might be taken. Liang Xu said, “That city is held by my own younger brother, Liang Qian. I will call on him to come and surrender.” Kongming was delighted. That same day Liang Xu went to Shanggui and called Liang Qian to come out of the city and surrender to Kongming.

夏侯楙、馬遵驚慌，引數百人出西門，棄城投羌胡城而去。梁緒、尹賞迎接孔明入城。安民已畢，孔明問取上邽之計。梁緒曰：“此城乃某親弟梁虔守之，願招來降。”孔明大喜。緒當日到上邽喚梁虔出城來降孔明。

Kongming rewarded them richly and appointed Liang Xu Prefect of Tianshui, Yin Shang Magistrate of Jicheng and Liang Qian Magistrate of Shanggui. When the dispositions were complete, Kongming put his army in order and set out. His generals asked, “Why does the Chancellor not go and capture Xiahou Mao?” Kongming said, “Letting Xiahou Mao go is like letting a duck go. But in gaining Boyue I have gained a phoenix!” After Kongming had taken the three cities his fame and might resounded far and wide, and the provinces and commanderies near and far submitted at the first news of his approach.

孔明重加賞勞，就令梁緒爲天水太守，尹賞爲冀城令，梁虔爲上邽令。孔明分撥已畢，整兵進發。諸將問曰：“丞相何不去擒夏侯楙？”孔明曰：“吾放夏侯楙，如放一鴨耳。今得伯約，得一鳳也！”孔明自得三城之後，威聲大震，遠近州郡，望風歸降。

Kongming put his army in order and, bringing up all the troops of Hanzhong, advanced out to Mount Qi until his army stood west of the Wei River. Spies carried the news to Luoyang. It was the first year of Taihe of Cao Rui, the Ruler of Wei, and he had ascended the hall to hold court. A courtier reported, “Xiahou, the Imperial Son-in-Law, has already lost three commanderies and fled among the Qiang. The Shu army has now reached Mount Qi, and its vanguard stands west of the Wei River. We beg you to send troops at once to defeat the enemy.” Cao Rui was greatly alarmed and asked his ministers, “Who can drive back the Shu army for me?”

孔明整頓軍馬，盡提漢中之兵，前出祁山，兵臨渭水之西。細作報入洛陽。時魏主曹睿太和元年，升殿設朝。近臣奏曰：“夏侯駙馬已失三郡，逃竄羌中去了。今蜀兵已到祁山，前軍臨渭水之西，乞早發兵破敵。”睿大驚，乃問羣臣曰：“誰可爲朕退蜀兵耶？”

The Minister over the Masses, Wang Lang, stepped out from the ranks and said, “As I have observed, whenever the late Emperor employed the Grand General Cao Zhen, he conquered wherever he went. Why does Your Majesty not appoint him Commander-in-Chief to drive back the Shu army?” Cao Rui approved the proposal and summoned Cao Zhen. He said, “The late Emperor entrusted his orphan to you. Now the Shu army has invaded the Central Plains. How can you bear to sit and watch?” Cao Zhen replied, “My talents are meagre and my wisdom shallow; I am not fit for the post.” Wang Lang said, “General, you are a minister on whom the state depends. You must not persist in declining.

司徒王朗出班奏曰：“臣觀先帝每用大將軍曹真，所到必克；今陛下何不拜爲大都督，以退蜀兵？”睿准奏，乃宣曹真曰：“先帝託孤與卿，今蜀兵入寇中原，卿安忍坐視乎？”真奏曰：“臣才疏智淺，不稱其職。”王朗曰：“將軍乃社稷之臣，不可固辭。

Old and slow-witted as I am, I will gladly go with you, General.” Cao Zhen spoke again: “Having received such great favour, how could I dare decline? I ask only for a man to serve as my second.” Cao Rui said, “Recommend one yourself.” Cao Zhen then put forward a man of Yangqu in Taiyuan, surnamed Guo, named Huai, courtesy name Boji, who held the title of Marquis of Sheyangting and served as Imperial Protector of Yongzhou. Cao Rui agreed. He appointed Cao Zhen Commander-in-Chief and conferred on him the tally and battle-axe of authority, and he made Guo Huai Vice Commander and Wang Lang Director of Strategy.

老臣雖駑鈍，願隨將軍一往。”真又奏曰：“臣受大恩，安敢推辭？但乞一人爲副將。”睿曰：“卿自舉之。”真乃保太原陽曲人，姓郭，名淮，字伯濟，官封射陽亭侯，領雍州刺史。睿從之，遂拜曹真爲大都督，賜節鉞；命郭淮爲副都督，王朗爲軍師。

Wang Lang was by then already seventy-six years old. Two hundred thousand troops and horses were selected from the eastern and western capitals and given to Cao Zhen. Cao Zhen made his kinsman Cao Zun his Vanguard, and the General Who Sweeps Away Bandits, Zhu Zan, his Deputy Vanguard. They set out in the eleventh month of that year, and Cao Rui, the Ruler of Wei, saw them off in person beyond the west gate before returning. Cao Zhen led the main army to Changan, crossed the Wei River and pitched camp on its west side.

朗時年已七十六歲矣。選撥東西二京軍馬二十萬與曹真。真命宗弟曹遵爲先鋒，又命蕩寇將軍朱贊爲副先鋒。當年十一月出師，魏主曹睿親自送出西門之外方回。曹真領大軍來到長安，過渭河之西下寨。

Cao Zhen consulted with Wang Lang and Guo Huai on how to repel the enemy. Wang Lang said, “Tomorrow draw up the ranks in strict order and spread the banners wide. I will go out myself, and with a single speech I guarantee that Zhuge Liang will fold his hands and surrender, and the Shu army will withdraw without a fight.” Cao Zhen was delighted, and that night he issued orders: tomorrow the morning meal was to be cooked at the fourth watch; at dawn the ranks must be in perfect order, men and horses in awe-inspiring array, and banners, drums and horns each in its proper place.

真與王朗、郭淮共議退兵之策。朗曰：“來日可嚴整隊伍，大展旌旗。老夫自出，只用一席話，管教諸葛亮拱手而降，蜀兵不戰自退。”真大喜，是夜傳令：來日四更造飯，平明務要隊伍整齊，人馬威儀，旌旗鼓角，各按次序。

At the same time a messenger was sent ahead with a challenge to battle. Next day the two armies faced each other and drew up in battle array before Mount Qi. The Shu soldiers saw that the Wei troops were most imposing, very different from those of Xiahou Mao. When the drums and horns of the whole army had fallen silent, the Minister over the Masses, Wang Lang, rode out. In the place of honour beside him was the Commander Cao Zhen, and in the lower place the Vice Commander Guo Huai, while the two vanguard leaders held the corners of the formation. A scout rode out in front of the army and shouted, “Let the commander of the opposing army come out and answer!”

當時使人先下戰書。次日，兩軍相迎，列成陣勢於祁山之前。蜀軍見魏兵甚是雄壯，與夏侯楙大不相同。三軍鼓角已罷，司徒王朗乘馬而出。上首乃都督曹真，下首乃副都督郭淮；兩個先鋒壓住陣角。探子馬出軍前，大叫曰：“請對陣主將答話！”

Then the Shu gate banners opened, and Guan Xing and Zhang Bao came out to left and right and sat their horses on either side. Behind them squadron after squadron of brave generals ranged themselves in lines. In the shadow of the gate banners, in the centre, was a four-wheeled carriage in which Kongming sat upright, in silk turban with feather fan, in plain white robe with black sash, and he came gliding out. Raising his eyes, Kongming saw three standards with canopies before the Wei lines, with names written large on the banners. The white-bearded old man in the centre was the Director of Strategy and Minister over the Masses, Wang Lang.

只見蜀兵門旗開處，關興、張苞分左右而出，立馬於兩邊；次後一隊隊驍將分列；門旗影下，中央一輛四輪車，孔明端坐車中，綸巾羽扇，素衣皁絛，飄然而出。孔明舉目見魏陣前三個麾蓋，旗上大書姓名：中央白髯老者，乃軍師、司徒王朗。

Kongming thought to himself, “Wang Lang is sure to make a persuasive speech. I will answer him as the moment requires.” He had his carriage pushed out beyond the lines and ordered a junior officer of his guard to announce, “The Chancellor of Han will speak with the Minister over the Masses.” Wang Lang rode forward. Kongming saluted with joined hands from his carriage, and Wang Lang bowed slightly in the saddle in return. Wang Lang said, “Long have I heard your great name, sir, and today I am fortunate to meet you. Since you know the will of Heaven and understand the needs of the times, why have you raised an army without just cause?”

孔明暗忖曰：“王朗必下說詞，吾當隨機應之。”遂教推車出陣外，令護軍小校傳曰：“漢丞相與司徒會話。”王朗縱馬而出。孔明於車上拱手，朗在馬上欠身答禮。朗曰：“久聞公之大名，今幸一會。公既知天命、識時務，何故興無名之兵？”

Kongming said, “I have received an imperial decree to punish the rebels. How can you say I have no just cause?” Wang Lang said, “The reckonings of Heaven change, and the sacred vessels of rule pass from hand to hand, returning to the man of virtue: this is the natural order of things. Long ago, from the time of Emperors Huan and Ling, the Yellow Scarves raised rebellion and all under heaven strove in lawless violence. Then, in the years of Chuping and Jian’an, Dong Zhuo committed treason and Li Jue and Guo Si carried on his tyranny; Yuan Shu usurped the imperial title at Shouchun and Yuan Shao set himself up as a hero in the land of Ye; Liu Biao seized Jingzhou and Lü Bu swallowed Xuzhou like a tiger. Brigands swarmed up like bees and ambitious villains soared like hawks; the dynasty was as precarious as a stack of eggs, and the people were in desperate straits, as though hung upside down.

孔明曰：“吾奉詔討賊，何謂無名？”朗曰：“天數有變，神器更易，而歸有德之人，此自然之理也。曩自桓、靈以來，黃巾倡亂，天下爭橫。降至初平、建安之歲，董卓造逆，傕、汜繼虐；袁術僭號於壽春，袁紹稱雄於鄴土；劉表佔據荊州，呂布虎吞徐郡：盜賊蜂起，奸雄鷹揚，社稷有累卵之危，生靈有倒懸之急。

Our Grand Ancestor, Emperor Wu, swept clean the six directions and rolled up the eight wildernesses like a mat; all the people gave him their hearts, and the four quarters looked up to his virtue. He did not take the realm by force and power: in truth the mandate of Heaven came to rest in him. The Ancestor Shizu, Emperor Wen, divine in letters and sage in arms, received the great succession in accord with Heaven and in harmony with men; following the example of Yao, who yielded the throne to Shun, he took his place in the Middle Kingdom to rule over all nations. Is this not the heart of Heaven and the will of men? Now you, sir, possessing great talent and great capacity, compare yourself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi. Why then are you so bent on defying the order of Heaven and going against the feelings of men?

我太祖武皇帝，掃清六合席捲八荒；萬姓傾心，四方仰德。非以權勢取之，實天命所歸也。世祖文帝，神文聖武，以膺大統，應天合人，法堯禪舜，處中國以臨萬邦，豈非天心人意乎？今公蘊大才、抱大器，自欲比於管、樂，何乃強欲逆天理、揹人情而行事耶？

Have you not heard the saying of the ancients: ‘Those who follow Heaven prosper; those who defy Heaven perish’? Today our great Wei has a million armoured men and a thousand fine generals. How can the glimmer of a firefly in rotten grass compare with the bright moon in the heart of the sky? You should reverse your spears, put off your armour and come over to us with proper courtesy; then you will not lose the rank of a marquis. The state will be at peace and the people content—would that not be a fine thing?”

豈不聞古人曰：‘順天者昌，逆天者亡。’今我大魏帶甲百萬，良將千員。諒腐草之螢光，怎及天心之皓月？公可倒戈卸甲，以禮來降，不失封侯之位。國安民樂，豈不美哉！”

Kongming laughed aloud in his carriage and said, “I thought that you, a senior elder minister of the Han court, would surely have some lofty discourse. Who would have expected such base words! I have something to say; let all the armies listen quietly. In days of old, in the age of Emperors Huan and Ling, the Han line declined and the eunuchs brewed calamity; the state fell into disorder, the harvests failed, and the four quarters were in turmoil. After the Yellow Scarves, Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, Guo Si and their like rose one on the heels of another, carried off the Han emperor by force and cruelly abused the people. Because in the halls of government rotten wood held office, and between the palace steps beasts ate the official stipends, men with the hearts of wolves and the conduct of dogs came rolling in to fill the high posts, and creatures with the faces of slaves and the knees of servant girls seized the reins of power in swarms.

孔明在車上大笑曰：“吾以爲漢朝大老元臣，必有高論，豈期出此鄙言！吾有一言，諸軍靜聽：昔日桓、靈之世，漢統陵替，宦官釀禍；國亂歲凶，四方擾攘。黃巾之後，董卓、傕、汜等接踵而起，遷劫漢帝，殘暴生靈。因廟堂之上，朽木爲官，殿陛之間，禽獸食祿；狼心狗行之輩，滾滾當道，奴顏婢膝之徒，紛紛秉政。

So it came about that the dynasty lay in ruins and the common people were plunged into mire and ashes. I have long known your record. Your family lived for generations on the shore of the Eastern Sea, and you first entered office when you were recommended as filial and incorrupt. By rights you should have set your sovereign straight and aided the state, bringing peace to the Han and raising up the House of Liu. Who would have thought that instead you would help the rebels and join their plot to usurp the throne? Your crimes are so deep and grave that Heaven and Earth cannot tolerate them! The people of all under heaven long to eat your flesh! Now, happily, Heaven has not willed an end to the Fire-Virtue Han, and Emperor Zhaolie has carried on the succession in Xichuan.

以致社稷丘墟，蒼生塗炭。吾素知汝所行：世居東海之濱，初舉孝廉入仕；理合匡君輔國，安漢興劉；何期反助逆賊，同謀篡位！罪惡深重，天地不容！天下之人，願食汝肉！今幸天意不絕炎漢，昭烈皇帝繼統西川。

I have now received the command of the Emperor who succeeded him to raise an army and punish the rebels. Since you are nothing but a fawning flatterer, you ought to be hiding yourself away with your head pulled in, scraping together food and clothing as best you can. How dare you come before the ranks of war and babble about the reckonings of Heaven! White-haired nobody! Grey-bearded old traitor! Any day now you will go down to the Nine Springs—with what face will you meet the twenty-four emperors there? Get back, old traitor! Send out the rebel minister to settle the issue with me!”

吾今奉嗣君之旨，興師討賊。汝既爲諂諛之臣，只可潛身縮首，苟圖衣食；安敢在行伍之前，妄稱天數耶！皓首匹夫！蒼髯老賊！汝即日將歸於九泉之下，何面目見二十四帝乎！老賊速退！可教反臣與吾共決勝負！”

When Wang Lang had heard this, his breast swelled with rage; he gave one great cry and fell dead from his horse.

王朗聽罷，氣滿胸膛，大叫一聲，撞死於馬下。

A later poet wrote in praise of Kongming:
His army marched forth from the western land of Qin;
His heroic genius was a match for ten thousand men.
With a light flick of his three-inch tongue
He cursed the old traitor minister to death.

後人有詩讚孔明曰：“兵馬出西秦，雄才敵萬人。
輕搖三寸舌，罵死老奸臣。
”

Kongming pointed his fan at Cao Zhen and said, “I will not press you now. Put your army in order, and tomorrow we will fight it out.” With that he turned his carriage around, and both armies withdrew. Cao Zhen had Wang Lang’s body placed in a coffin and sent back to Changan. The Vice Commander Guo Huai said, “Zhuge Liang will reckon that we are busy with mourning rites in our camp, and he is sure to come and raid it tonight. We should divide our troops four ways: two columns to go by remote hill paths and raid the Shu camp while it is empty, and two to lie in ambush outside our own camp and strike from left and right.”

孔明以扇指曹真曰：“吾不逼汝。汝可整頓軍馬，來日決戰。”言訖回車。於是兩軍皆退。曹真將王朗屍首，用棺木盛貯，送回長安去了。副都督郭淮曰：“諸葛亮料吾軍中治喪，今夜必來劫寨。可分兵四路：兩路兵從山僻小路，乘虛去劫蜀寨；兩路兵伏於本寨外，左右擊之。”

Cao Zhen was delighted and said, “This plan agrees exactly with my own.” He sent orders summoning the two vanguard leaders, Cao Zun and Zhu Zan, and instructed them: “Each of you take ten thousand troops and go round behind Mount Qi. As soon as you see the Shu troops heading for our camp, advance and raid the Shu camp. If the Shu troops do not move, withdraw at once and come back; do not advance rashly.” The two received their orders and led their troops away. Cao Zhen said to Guo Huai, “You and I will each lead a force and lie in ambush outside the camp. Inside the camp we will pile up firewood and straw as a sham and leave only a few men.

曹真大喜曰：“此計與吾相合。”遂傳令喚曹遵、朱贊兩個先鋒分付曰：“汝二人各引一萬軍，抄出祁山之後。但見蜀兵望吾寨而來，汝可進兵去劫蜀寨。如蜀兵不動，便撤兵回，不可輕進。”二人受計，引兵而去。真謂淮曰：“我兩個各引一枝軍，伏於寨外，寨中虛堆柴草，只留數人。

When the Shu troops come, the fire will be the signal.” The generals all divided to left and right and went off to make their preparations. Meanwhile Kongming returned to his tent and first called Zhao Yun and Wei Yan to receive orders. Kongming said, “Each of you take your own troops and raid the Wei camp.” Wei Yan came forward and said, “Cao Zhen has a deep knowledge of warfare. He is sure to expect us to raid his camp while they are in mourning. How could he not be on guard?” Kongming laughed and said, “That is exactly what I want—for Cao Zhen to know that we are going to raid his camp.

如蜀兵到，放火爲號。”諸將皆分左右，各自準備去了。卻說孔明歸帳，先喚趙雲、魏延聽令。孔明曰：“汝二人各引本部軍去劫魏寨。”魏延進曰：“曹真深明兵法，必料我乘喪劫寨。他豈不提防？”孔明笑曰：“吾正欲曹真知吾去劫寨也。

He is sure to lay an ambush behind Mount Qi and wait for our troops to go past, then come and raid our camp. That is why I am sending the two of you forward with your troops, past the back road at the foot of the hills, to pitch camp far off and leave the Wei troops free to raid our camp. When you see the fire, take it as your signal and split your troops into two: Wenchang, hold the mouth of the pass; Zilong, lead your troops back to the attack. You are sure to meet the Wei troops; let them run back, and then attack while you have the advantage. They are bound to fall upon one another.

彼必伏兵在祁山之後，待我兵過去，卻來襲我寨；吾故令汝二人，引兵前去，過山腳後路，遠下營寨，任魏兵來劫吾寨。汝看火起爲號，分兵兩路：文長拒住山口；子龍引兵殺回，必遇魏兵，卻放彼走回，汝乘勢攻之，彼必自相掩殺。

Then we can win a complete victory.” The two generals received their orders and led their troops away. Next he called Guan Xing and Zhang Bao and instructed them: “Each of you take a force and lie in ambush on the key road at Mount Qi. Let the Wei troops pass, then go back along the road they came by and charge into the Wei camp.” The two received their orders and led their troops away. He also ordered four generals—Ma Dai, Wang Ping, Zhang Yi and Zhang Ni—to lie in ambush outside the camp and meet the Wei troops from all four sides.

可獲全勝。”二將引兵受計而去。又喚關興、張苞分付曰：“汝二人各引一軍，伏於祁山要路；放過魏兵，卻從魏兵來路，殺奔魏寨而去。”二人引兵受計去了。又令馬岱、王平、張翼、張嶷四將，伏於寨外，四面迎擊魏兵。

Kongming then set up the palisade of an empty camp, with firewood and straw piled up in the middle ready for the fire signal, and withdrew with his generals to the rear of the camp to watch what would happen.

孔明乃虛立寨柵，居中堆起柴草，以備火號；自引諸將退於寨後，以觀動靜。

Meanwhile the Wei vanguard leaders Cao Zun and Zhu Zan left their camp at dusk and advanced along winding roads. Around the second watch they saw in the distance, before the hills, the faint movement of troops. Cao Zun thought to himself, “Commander Guo’s calculations are truly inspired!” and urged his troops on at speed. By the time they reached the Shu camp it was nearly the third watch. Cao Zun was the first to charge into the camp, but it was empty; there was not a single man in it. Realizing he had fallen into a trap, he hastily pulled his troops back. Fire sprang up in the camp.

卻說魏先鋒曹遵、朱贊黃昏離寨，迤邐前進。二更左側，遙望山前隱隱有軍行動。曹遵自思曰：“郭都督真神機妙算！”遂催兵急進。到蜀寨時，將及三更。曹遵先殺入寨，卻是空寨，並無一人。料知中計，急撤軍回。寨中火起。

Zhu Zan’s troops arrived, and the two forces fell upon each other; men and horses were thrown into utter confusion. Only when Cao Zun and Zhu Zan came face to face did they realize they had been trampling their own men. As they hurried to join their forces, suddenly a great shout went up on all four sides, and Wang Ping, Ma Dai, Zhang Ni and Zhang Yi came charging in. Cao and Zhu fled along the main road with a hundred or so horsemen of their own trusted troops. Suddenly drums and horns sounded together and a body of troops barred their way. The great general at its head was Zhao Zilong of Changshan, who shouted, “Where are you going, rebel generals?

朱贊兵到，自相掩殺，人馬大亂。曹遵與朱贊交馬，方知自相踐踏。急合兵時，忽四面喊聲大震，王平、馬岱、張嶷、張翼殺到。曹、朱二人引心腹軍百餘騎，望大路奔走。忽然鼓角齊鳴，一彪軍截住去路，爲首大將乃常山趙子龍也，大叫曰：“賊將那裏去？

Accept your death, and be quick about it!” Cao and Zhu forced their way through and fled. Then another shout went up, and Wei Yan came charging in with another body of troops. Cao and Zhu were utterly routed and forced their way back to their own camp. The soldiers guarding the camp, taking them for Shu troops come to raid it, hastily lit the signal fire. Cao Zhen charged in from the left and Guo Huai from the right, and the Wei troops fell upon one another. Then three columns of Shu troops came charging in from behind—Wei Yan in the centre, Guan Xing on the left and Zhang Bao on the right—and made a great slaughter.

早早受死！”曹、朱二人奪路而走。忽喊聲又起，魏延又引一彪軍殺到。曹、朱二人大敗，奪路奔回本寨。守寨軍士，只道蜀兵來劫寨，慌忙放起號火。左邊曹真殺至，右邊郭淮殺至，自相掩殺。背後三路蜀兵殺到：中央魏延，左邊關興，右邊張苞，大殺一陣。

The Wei troops were routed and fled for more than ten li, and a great many Wei officers were killed. Only when Kongming had won a complete and great victory did he call in his troops. Cao Zhen and Guo Huai gathered their beaten army, returned to camp and conferred: “Now the Wei army stands weak and alone while the Shu army is strong. What plan can we use to drive it back?” Guo Huai said, “Victory and defeat are the common lot of soldiers; there is no cause for worry. I have a plan that will leave the Shu army unable to protect its front and rear, and it will surely retreat of its own accord.”

魏兵敗走十餘里，魏將死者極多。孔明全獲大勝，方始收兵。曹真、郭淮收拾敗軍回寨，商議曰：“今魏兵勢孤，蜀兵勢大，將何策以退之？”淮曰：“勝負乃兵家常事，不足爲憂。某有一計，使蜀兵首尾不能相顧，定然自走矣。”

Indeed:
Pitiful were the Wei generals, unable to prevail;
They meant to seek relief from the west.
What the plan was will be told in the next chapter.

正是：可憐魏將難成事，欲向西方索救兵。
未知其計如何，且看下文分解。