Romance, Chapter 100

Chapter 100. Han Troops Raid the Camp and Defeat Cao Zhen; The Martial Marquis Contests Formations and Shames Zhongda

Now when the generals heard that Kongming would not pursue the Wei army, they all came into his tent and said, “The Wei troops are suffering from the rain and cannot hold their camps, so they are going back. This is just the moment to follow up our advantage and pursue them. Why does the Chancellor not pursue?” Kongming said, “Sima Yi is skilled in the use of troops. Now that his army is withdrawing, there are sure to be ambushes. If I pursue him, I fall straight into his trap. Better to let him go far away, while I divide my forces, go straight out through the Xie Valley and take Mount Qi, so that the men of Wei will not be on their guard.”

卻說衆將聞孔明不追魏兵，俱入帳告曰：“魏兵苦雨，不能屯紮，因此回去，正好乘勢追之。丞相如何不追？”孔明曰：“司馬懿善能用兵，今軍退必有埋伏。吾若追之，正中其計。不如縱他遠去，吾卻分兵徑出斜谷而取祁山，使魏人不提防也。”

The generals said, “There are other routes for taking the region of Changan. Why does the Chancellor go only for Mount Qi?” Kongming said, “Mount Qi is the head of Changan. Any troops coming from the commanderies of Longxi must pass through this place. Moreover, in front it overlooks the banks of the Wei and behind it rests on the Xie Valley, so that one can go out on the left and come in on the right. Troops can be placed in ambush there; it is ground made for war. That is why I want to take it first, to gain the advantage of the terrain.” The generals all bowed in admiration.

衆將曰：“取長安之地，別有路途；丞相只取祁山，何也？”孔明曰：“祁山乃長安之首也：隴西諸郡，倘有兵來，必經由此地；更兼前臨渭濱，後靠斜谷，左出右入。可以伏兵，乃用武之地。吾故欲先取此，得地利也。”衆將皆拜服。

Kongming ordered Wei Yan, Zhang Ni, Du Qiong and Chen Shi to go out through the Ji Valley, and Ma Dai, Wang Ping, Zhang Yi and Ma Zhong to go out through the Xie Valley, all to meet at Mount Qi. When these dispositions had been made, Kongming led the main army in person, with Guan Xing and Liao Hua as the vanguard, and set out after them. Meanwhile Cao Zhen and Sima Yi were supervising their men from the rear. They sent a company along the old Chencang road to scout, and it came back to report that the Shu troops were not coming.

孔明令魏延、張嶷、杜瓊、陳式出箕谷；馬岱、王平、張翼、馬忠出斜谷：俱會於祁山。調撥已定，孔明自提大軍，令關興、廖化爲先鋒，隨後進發。卻說曹真、司馬懿二人，在後監督人馬，令一軍入陳倉古道探視，回報說蜀兵不來。

They marched on for another ten days, and the generals who had been left in ambush in the rear all returned, saying there was no sign whatever of the Shu army. Cao Zhen said, “With the autumn rains going on and on and the plank roads cut, how could the men of Shu know that we have withdrawn?” Sima Yi said, “The Shu army will come out after us.” “How do you know?” asked Cao Zhen. Sima Yi said, “The weather has been clear for days, yet the Shu troops have not pursued. They reckon we have troops in ambush, so they have let our army go far away. When our troops have all passed, they will seize Mount Qi.”

又行旬日，後面埋伏衆將皆回，說蜀兵全無音耗。真曰：“連綿秋雨，棧道斷絕，蜀人豈知吾等退軍耶？”懿曰：“蜀兵隨後出矣。”真曰：“何以知之？”懿曰：“連日晴明，蜀兵不趕，料吾有伏兵也，故縱我兵遠去；待我兵過盡，他卻奪祁山矣。”

Cao Zhen did not believe it. Sima Yi said, “Why do you not believe me, Zidan? I reckon Kongming will certainly come by the two valleys. Let you and me each guard the mouth of one valley, and set ten days as the limit. If no Shu troops come, I will paint my face with rouge and powder, dress myself in women’s clothes and come to your camp to confess my fault.” Cao Zhen said, “And if Shu troops do come, I will give you the jade belt and the imperial horse that the Son of Heaven bestowed on me.” They at once divided their forces along two roads. Cao Zhen camped with his troops at the mouth of the Xie Valley west of Mount Qi; Sima Yi camped with his army at the mouth of the Ji Valley east of Mount Qi.

曹真不信。懿曰：“子丹如何不信？吾料孔明必從兩谷而來。吾與子丹各守一谷口，十日爲期。若無蜀兵來，我面塗紅粉，身穿女衣，來營中伏罪。”真曰：“若有蜀兵來，我願將天子所賜玉帶一條、御馬一匹與你。”即分兵兩路：真引兵屯於祁山之西斜谷口；懿引軍屯於祁山之東箕谷口。

When each had finished pitching camp, Sima Yi first led a detachment to lie in ambush in a mountain valley, while the rest of his men and horses camped at the key points on the roads. Sima Yi changed his clothes, mingled with the troops, and went round all the camps. Suddenly, coming to one camp, he heard a junior officer look up to heaven and complain, “We were drenched by the heavy rain for so long, and still he would not go back. Now he has halted here again, bent on making a wager. It is the government troops who suffer for it!”

各下寨已畢。懿先引一枝兵伏于山谷中；其餘軍馬，各於要路安營。懿更換衣裝，雜在全軍之內，遍觀各營。忽到一營，有一偏將仰天而怨曰：“大雨淋了許多時，不肯回去；今又在這裏頓住，強要賭賽，卻不苦了官軍！”

When Sima Yi heard this, he returned to his camp, took his seat in his tent, assembled all the generals before it, and singled out that officer. Sima Yi rebuked him: “The court feeds its soldiers for a thousand days to use them for a single hour. How dare you utter complaints and slacken the army’s spirit!” The man would not confess. Sima Yi called out his comrades to bear witness against him, and the officer could no longer deny it. Sima Yi said, “I am not making a wager. I want to beat the Shu army so that each of you can return to court with merit to his name, and you recklessly utter complaints. You have brought this guilt upon yourself!”

懿聞言，歸寨升帳，聚衆將皆到帳下，挨出那將來。懿叱之曰：“朝廷養軍千日，用在一時。汝安敢出怨言，以慢軍心！”其人不招。懿叫出同伴之人對證，那將不能抵賴。懿曰：“吾非賭賽；欲勝蜀兵，令汝各人有功回朝，汝乃妄出怨言，自取罪戾！”

He shouted to the guards to take the man out and behead him, and in a moment the head was presented before the tent. The generals were struck with fear. Sima Yi said, “All you generals must do your utmost to guard against the Shu army. When you hear the signal gun from my central army, advance from all four sides.” The generals received their orders and withdrew.

喝令武士推出斬之。須臾，獻首帳下。衆將悚然。懿曰：“汝等諸將皆要盡心以防蜀兵。聽吾中軍炮響，四面皆進。”衆將受令而退。

Meanwhile the four generals Wei Yan, Zhang Ni, Chen Shi and Du Qiong were advancing through the Ji Valley with twenty thousand troops. On the march it was suddenly reported that the Adviser Deng Zhi had arrived. When the four generals asked the reason, Deng Zhi said, “The Chancellor orders that when you come out of the Ji Valley you are to beware of Wei troops in ambush and not advance rashly.” Chen Shi said, “Why is the Chancellor so full of doubts in his generalship? I reckon the Wei troops, caught in heavy rain again and again, with their clothes and armour all ruined, must have hurried home. How could there be an ambush now?

卻說魏延、張嶷、陳式、杜瓊四將，引二萬兵，取箕谷而進。正行之間，忽報參謀鄧芝到來。四將問其故，芝曰：“丞相有令：如出箕谷，提防魏兵埋伏，不可輕進。”陳式曰：“丞相用兵何多疑耶？吾料魏兵連遭大雨，衣甲皆毀，必然急歸；安得又有埋伏？

If our troops now press forward by forced marches, we can win a great victory. Why tell us not to advance?” Deng Zhi said, “The Chancellor’s plans never miss and his schemes never fail. How dare you disobey his orders?” Chen Shi laughed and said, “If the Chancellor were really so resourceful, we would not have lost Jieting!” Wei Yan, remembering how Kongming had once refused to adopt his plan, also laughed and said, “If the Chancellor had listened to me and gone straight out through the Ziwu Valley, by now we would have taken not only Changan but Luoyang as well!

今吾兵倍道而進，可獲大勝，如何又教休進？”芝曰：“丞相計無不中，謀無不成，汝安敢違令？”式笑曰：“丞相若果多謀，不致街亭之失！”魏延想起孔明向日不聽其計，亦笑曰：“丞相若聽吾言，徑出子午谷，此時休說長安，連洛陽皆得矣！

Now he insists on going out by Mount Qi. What good will that do? He ordered us to advance, and now he tells us not to. How muddled his orders are!” Chen Shi said, “I have five thousand troops of my own. I will go straight out of the Ji Valley, get to Mount Qi first and pitch camp there, and we shall see whether the Chancellor is ashamed or not!” Deng Zhi tried again and again to stop him, but Chen Shi would not listen and marched off out of the Ji Valley on his own with his five thousand men. Deng Zhi could only send a fast report to Kongming.

今執定要出祁山。有何益耶？既令進兵，今又教休進。何其號令不明！”式曰：“吾自有五千兵，徑出箕谷，先到祁山下寨，看丞相羞也不羞！”芝再三阻當，式只不聽，徑自引五千兵出箕谷去了。鄧芝只得飛報孔明。

Chen Shi had gone only a few li with his troops when suddenly a signal gun roared and troops in ambush poured out on every side. Chen Shi tried to fall back in haste, but the Wei troops had blocked the valley mouth and surrounded him as tightly as an iron barrel. He charged left and dashed right but could not break out. Suddenly there was a great shout, and a band of troops fought its way in: it was Wei Yan. He rescued Chen Shi and brought him back into the valley, but of the five thousand troops only four or five hundred wounded men and horses were left.

卻說陳式引兵行不數里，忽聽的一聲炮響，四面伏兵皆出。式急退時，魏兵塞滿谷口，圍得鐵桶相似。式左衝右突，不能得脫。忽聞喊聲大震，一彪軍殺入，乃是魏延。救了陳式，回到谷中，五千兵只剩得四五百帶傷人馬。

The Wei troops came after them from behind, but fortunately Du Qiong and Zhang Ni came up with their troops in support, and only then did the Wei troops fall back. Now at last Chen Shi and Wei Yan believed that Kongming’s foresight was godlike, but it was too late for regrets.

背後魏兵趕來，卻得杜瓊、張嶷引兵接應，魏兵方退。陳、魏二人方信孔明先見如神，懊悔不及。

Deng Zhi returned to Kongming and told him how insolent Wei Yan and Chen Shi had been. Kongming laughed and said, “Wei Yan has always had the look of a rebel. I know he constantly harbours discontent, but I use him because I value his courage. In the long run he is bound to cause trouble.” As he was speaking, a swift courier suddenly arrived to report that Chen Shi had lost more than four thousand men and was camped in the valley with only four or five hundred wounded men and horses left.

且說鄧芝回見孔明，言魏延、陳式如此無禮。孔明笑曰：“魏延素有反相，吾知彼常有不平之意；因憐其勇而用之。久後必生患害。”正言間，忽流星馬報到，說陳式折了四千餘人，止有四五百帶傷人馬，屯在谷中。

Kongming sent Deng Zhi back to the Ji Valley to soothe Chen Shi and keep him from causing trouble. At the same time he summoned Ma Dai and Wang Ping and instructed them, “If the Xie Valley is held by Wei troops, you two are to lead your own men over the mountain ridges, marching by night and hiding by day, come out quickly on the left of Mount Qi, and raise fires as a signal.” He also summoned Ma Zhong and Zhang Yi and instructed them, “You too are to take the remote mountain paths, hiding by day and marching by night, come straight out on the right of Mount Qi, raise fires as a signal, join Ma Dai and Wang Ping, and together raid Cao Zhen’s camp.

孔明令鄧芝再來箕谷撫慰陳式，防其生變；一面喚馬岱、王平分付曰：“斜谷若有魏兵守把，汝二人引本部軍越山嶺，夜行晝伏，速出祁山之左，舉火爲號。”又喚馬忠、張翼分付曰：“汝等亦從山僻小路，晝伏夜行，徑出祁山之右，舉火爲號，與馬岱、王平會合，共劫曹真營寨。

I myself will attack from three sides out of the valley, and the Wei army can be broken.” The four took their orders and set off with their troops by separate routes. Kongming then summoned Guan Xing and Liao Hua and gave them such-and-such instructions. The two received the secret plan and left with their troops. Kongming himself led his picked troops by forced marches. On the way he also summoned Wu Ban and Wu Yi and gave them a secret plan, and they too went on ahead with their troops.

吾自從谷中三面攻之，魏兵可破也。”四人領命分頭引兵去了。孔明又喚關興、廖化分付曰：如此如此。二人受了密計，引兵而去。孔明自領精兵倍道而行。正行間，又喚吳班、吳懿授與密計，亦引兵先行。

Now Cao Zhen did not believe in his heart that the Shu troops would come, and so he grew careless and let his soldiers rest, waiting only for the ten days to pass without incident so that he could shame Sima Yi. Before he knew it he had kept watch for seven days, when suddenly someone reported that a small number of Shu troops had come out of the valley. Cao Zhen ordered his lieutenant Qin Liang to take five thousand troops to scout, and not to let the Shu troops come near the lines. Qin Liang took his orders and led his troops out. He had just reached the valley mouth when his scouts saw the Shu troops withdrawing.

卻說曹真心中不信蜀兵來，以此怠慢，縱令軍士歇息；只等十日無事，要羞司馬懿，不覺守了七日，忽有人報谷中有些小蜀兵出來。真令副將秦良引五千兵哨探，不許縱令蜀兵近界。秦良領命，引兵剛到谷口，哨見蜀兵退去。

Qin Liang hurried after them with his troops, but after fifty or sixty li he still had not seen the Shu troops. Puzzled, he had his soldiers dismount and rest. Suddenly a mounted scout reported, “There are Shu troops in ambush ahead.” Qin Liang mounted to look and saw great clouds of dust rising in the hills, and hastily ordered his men to be on guard. Before long a great shout rose on all four sides: in front Wu Ban and Wu Yi came charging out with their troops, and behind them Guan Xing and Liao Hua came charging in with theirs.

良急引兵趕來，行到五六十里，不見蜀兵，心下疑惑，教軍士下馬歇息。忽哨馬報說：“前面有蜀兵埋伏。”良上馬看時，只見山中塵土大起，急令軍士提防。不一時，四壁廂喊聲大震：前面吳班、吳懿引兵殺出，背後關興、廖化引兵殺來。

There were mountains on both sides and no way of escape. The Shu troops on the hills shouted, “Dismount and surrender, and your lives will be spared!” Most of the Wei troops surrendered. Qin Liang fought to the death, but Liao Hua cut him down from his horse with a single stroke of his blade.

左右是山，皆無走路。山上蜀兵大叫：“下馬投降者免死！”魏兵大半多降。秦良死戰，被廖化一刀斬於馬下。

Kongming held the surrendered troops in his rear army and had five thousand Shu soldiers put on the Wei troops’ clothes and armour and disguise themselves as Wei soldiers. He had the four generals Guan Xing, Liao Hua, Wu Ban and Wu Yi lead them straight toward Cao Zhen’s camp, sending a messenger ahead into the camp to say, “There were only a few Shu troops, and we have driven them all off.” Cao Zhen was delighted. Suddenly it was reported that Commander Sima had sent a trusted man. Cao Zhen had him brought in and questioned him.

孔明把降兵拘於後軍，卻將魏兵衣甲與蜀兵五千人穿了，扮作魏兵，令關興、廖化、吳班、吳懿四將引着，徑奔曹真寨來；先令報馬入寨說：“只有些小蜀兵，盡趕去了。”真大喜。忽報司馬都督差心腹人至。真喚入問之。

The man reported, “The Commander has just used an ambush to kill more than four thousand Shu troops. Commander Sima sends his regards to you, General, and says you should put the wager out of your mind and take every care to be on your guard.” Cao Zhen said, “There is not a single Shu soldier here.” And he sent the messenger back. Suddenly it was reported again that Qin Liang had returned with his troops. Cao Zhen went out of his tent in person to meet him. Just as they reached the camp, it was reported that two fires had broken out, one in front and one behind.

其人告曰：“今都督用埋伏計，殺蜀兵四千餘人。司馬都督致意將軍，教休將賭賽爲念，務要用心提備。”真曰：“吾這裏並無一個蜀兵。”遂打發來人回去。忽又報秦良引兵回來了。真自出帳迎之。比及到寨，人報前後兩把火起。

Cao Zhen hurried back to look behind the camp and saw the four generals Guan Xing, Liao Hua, Wu Ban and Wu Yi directing the Shu troops and fighting their way in at the front of the camp, while Ma Dai and Wang Ping attacked from the rear and Ma Zhong and Zhang Yi also came up with their troops. The Wei army was caught unprepared, and every man fled for his life. The generals protected Cao Zhen as he fled eastward, with the Shu troops in pursuit.

真急回寨後看時，關興、廖化、吳班、吳懿四將，指麾蜀軍，就營前殺將進來；馬岱、王平從後面殺來；馬忠、張翼亦引兵殺到。魏軍措手不及，各自逃生。衆將保曹真望東而走，背後蜀兵趕來。

Cao Zhen was still fleeing when suddenly there was a great shout and a band of troops came charging up. His heart quaked with terror, but when he looked, it was Sima Yi. Sima Yi fought a great battle, and only then did the Shu troops withdraw. Cao Zhen got away, but he was so ashamed he did not know where to hide himself. Sima Yi said, “Zhuge Liang has seized the strong ground at Mount Qi. We cannot stay here long. We had better go and camp on the banks of the Wei and make better plans.” Cao Zhen said, “Zhongda, how did you know I had met with this great defeat?”

曹真正奔走，忽然喊聲大震，一彪軍殺到。真膽戰心驚，視之，乃司馬懿也。懿大戰一場，蜀兵方退。真得脫，羞慚無地。懿曰：“諸葛亮奪了祁山地勢，吾等不可久居此處；宜去渭濱安營，再作良圖。”真曰：“仲達何以知吾遭此大敗也？”

Sima Yi said, “When my man came back and reported that you had said there was not a single Shu soldier here, Zidan, I reckoned Kongming would come secretly to raid your camp. That is how I knew, and so I came to support you. And now you have indeed fallen into his trap. Let us say nothing more of the wager, but serve our country with one heart.” Cao Zhen was deeply mortified; his vexation turned into illness, and he took to his bed and could not rise. The army camped on the banks of the Wei, and Sima Yi, fearing that the troops’ morale would be shaken, did not dare let Cao Zhen command.

懿曰：“見來人報稱子丹說並無一個蜀兵，吾料孔明暗來劫寨，因此知之，故相接應。今果中計。切莫言賭賽之事，只同心報國。”曹真甚是惶恐，氣成疾病，臥牀不起。兵屯渭濱，懿恐軍心有亂，不敢教真引兵。

Now Kongming drove his forces on in strength and came out again at Mount Qi. When he had finished rewarding the army, Wei Yan, Chen Shi, Du Qiong and Zhang Ni came into his tent, prostrated themselves and asked to be punished. Kongming said, “Who was it that lost the troops?” Wei Yan said, “Chen Shi disobeyed orders and slipped into the valley mouth, and so suffered a great defeat.” Chen Shi said, “Wei Yan told me to do it.” Kongming said, “He actually rescued you, and you drag him in! You have disobeyed a general’s orders; there is no need for clever excuses!”

卻說孔明大驅士馬，復出祁山。勞軍已畢，魏延、陳式、杜瓊、張嶷入帳拜伏請罪。孔明曰：“是誰失陷了軍來？”延曰：“陳式不聽號令，潛入谷口，以此大敗。”式曰：“此事魏延教我行來。”孔明曰：“他倒救你，你反攀他！將令已違，不必巧說！”

He at once shouted to the guards to take Chen Shi out and behead him. In a moment the head was hung before the tent as a warning to the generals. Kongming did not kill Wei Yan at this time because he wished to keep him for later use.

即叱武士推出陳式斬之。須臾，懸首於帳前，以示諸將。此時孔明不殺魏延，欲留之以爲後用也。

Having beheaded Chen Shi, Kongming was discussing an advance when spies suddenly reported that Cao Zhen was bedridden with illness and was now being treated in his camp. Kongming was delighted and said to the generals, “If Cao Zhen’s illness were slight, he would certainly have gone back to Changan at once. That the Wei army does not withdraw means his illness must be serious, so he stays with the army to set the men’s minds at rest. I will write a letter and have Qin Liang’s surrendered troops take it to Cao Zhen. If Cao Zhen reads it, he is sure to die!”

孔明既斬了陳式，正議進兵，忽有細作報說曹真臥病不起，現在營中治療。孔明大喜，謂諸將曰：“若曹真病輕，必便回長安。今魏兵不退，必爲病重，故留于軍中，以安衆人之心。吾寫下一書，教秦良的降兵持與曹真，真若見之，必然死矣！”

So he summoned the surrendered troops before his tent and asked them, “You are all soldiers of Wei, and most of your parents, wives and children are in the Central Plain. It is not right for you to stay long in Shu. I am now going to let you go home. What do you say?” The soldiers wept and bowed their thanks. Kongming said, “Cao Zidan and I have an agreement. I have a letter; take it back with you and deliver it to Zidan, and you will surely be richly rewarded.” The Wei soldiers took the letter, hurried back to their own camp and presented Kongming’s letter to Cao Zhen.

遂喚降兵至帳下，問曰：“汝等皆是魏軍，父母妻子多在中原，不宜久居蜀中。今放汝等回家，若何？”衆軍泣淚拜謝。孔明曰：“曹子丹與吾有約；吾有一書，汝等帶回，送與子丹，必有重賞。”魏軍領了書，奔回本寨，將孔明書呈與曹真。

Cao Zhen raised himself from his sickbed, broke the seal and read. The letter said: “Zhuge Liang, Chancellor of Han and Marquis of Wuxiang, addresses this letter to the Grand Marshal Cao Zidan. It is my humble view that a true general can withdraw and can close in, can be pliant and can be firm, can advance and can retreat, can be weak and can be strong. Unmoving he is like the mountains; unfathomable he is like the Yin and Yang; boundless he is like heaven and earth; full he is like the Great Granary; vast he is like the Four Seas; dazzling he is like the Three Lights.

真扶病而起，拆封視之。其書曰：“漢丞相、武鄉侯諸葛亮，致書於大司馬曹子丹之前：竊謂夫爲將者，能去能就，能柔能剛；能進能退，能弱能強。不動如山嶽，難測如陰陽；無窮如天地，充實如太倉；浩渺如四海，眩曜如三光。

He foresees drought and flood from the signs of heaven, and knows beforehand from the lie of the land where the ground is level and safe; he discerns when the battle lines will meet, and weighs the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses. Alas, you unlearned junior, who defy the blue heavens above and help the rebel usurper of the state to proclaim himself emperor in Luoyang! You fled with your broken troops through the Xie Valley and were caught by the long rains at Chencang. Worn out on water and on land, your men and horses ran wild; you threw away the halberds and armour that filled the fields and cast aside the swords and spears that covered the ground. The Commander’s heart broke and his gall burst; the generals scurried like rats and fled like frightened wolves!

預知天文之旱澇，先識地理之平康；察陣勢之期會，揣敵人之短長。嗟爾無學後輩，上逆穹蒼；助篡國之反賊，稱帝號於洛陽；走殘兵於斜谷，遭霖雨於陳倉；水陸睏乏，人馬猖狂；拋盈郊之戈甲，棄滿地之刀槍；都督心崩而膽裂，將軍鼠竄而狼忙！

With what face can you meet the elders of Guanzhong? How dare you show yourself in the halls of the Chancellor’s office! The court historians will take up their brushes to record it, and the common people will spread it from mouth to mouth: Zhongda trembles at the mere word of battle, and Zidan panics at the first breath of wind! My army is strong in men and sturdy in horses; my great generals rise like tigers and soar like dragons. We will sweep Qinchuan into a level plain and turn the state of Wei into a wasteland!” When Cao Zhen had finished reading, his breast filled with rage, and that night he died in camp. Sima Yi had his body loaded onto a war chariot and sent men to escort it to Luoyang for burial.

無面見關中之父老，何顏入相府之廳堂！史官秉筆而記錄，百姓衆口而傳揚：仲達聞陣而惕惕，子丹望風而遑遑！吾軍兵強而馬壯，大將虎奮以龍驤；掃秦川爲平壤，蕩魏國作丘荒！”曹真看畢，恨氣填胸；至夜，死於軍中。司馬懿用兵車裝載，差人送赴洛陽安葬。

When the Ruler of Wei learned that Cao Zhen was dead, he at once issued an edict urging Sima Yi to give battle. Sima Yi led the main army forward to engage Kongming, and first sent a challenge a day in advance. Kongming said to the generals, “Cao Zhen must be dead.” He wrote back, “Battle tomorrow,” and the envoy left. That night Kongming gave Jiang Wei a secret plan, telling him to act in such-and-such a way, and he also summoned Guan Xing and gave him such-and-such instructions.

魏主聞知曹真已死，即下詔催司馬懿出戰。懿提大軍來與孔明交鋒，隔日先下戰書。孔明謂諸將曰：“曹真必死矣。”遂批迴“來日交鋒”，使者去了。孔明當夜教姜維受了密計：如此而行；又喚關興分付：如此如此。

The next day Kongming raised all his troops at Mount Qi and advanced to the banks of the Wei. On one side was the river, on the other the mountains, and in between a broad, open plain: a fine field of battle! The two armies faced each other, securing the corners of their lines with archery. When the drums had rolled three times, the banners at the gate of the Wei array parted and Sima Yi rode out, with his generals following behind him. There sat Kongming, upright in his four-wheeled carriage, waving his feather fan.

次日，孔明盡起祁山之兵前到渭濱：一邊是河，一邊是山，中央平川曠野，好片戰場！兩軍相迎，以弓箭射住陣角。三通鼓罷，魏陣中門旗開處，司馬懿出馬，衆將隨後而出。只見孔明端坐於四輪車上，手搖羽扇。

Sima Yi said, “My sovereign, following the example of Yao yielding the throne to Shun, has received it through two emperors and sits in command of the Central Plain. That he tolerates your two states of Shu and Wu is because my sovereign is generous, compassionate, humane and kind, and fears to harm the common people. You are a mere ploughman from Nanyang who does not understand the decree of Heaven and insists on invading us; by rights you ought to be destroyed! If you will examine your heart and mend your ways, go back at once, and let each of us keep to his own borders so as to form the balance of a three-legged cauldron. Spare the people from misery, and all of you will keep your lives!”

懿曰：“吾主上法堯禪舜，相傳二帝，坐鎮中原，容汝蜀、吳二國者，乃吾主寬慈仁厚，恐傷百姓也。汝乃南陽一耕夫，不識天數，強要相侵，理宜殄滅！如省心改過，宜即早回，各守疆界，以成鼎足之勢，免致生靈塗炭，汝等皆得全生！”

Kongming laughed and said, “I received from the late Emperor the heavy charge of his orphan son. How could I not pour out my heart and exert all my strength to destroy the rebels? Your house of Cao will soon be destroyed by the Han. Your grandfather and father were both servants of the Han and ate the Han’s bread for generations. Yet instead of thinking to repay that debt, you help the usurpers. Are you not ashamed of yourself?” His face flushed with shame, Sima Yi said, “You and I shall settle which of us is the better! If you win, I swear never again to serve as a general. If you lose, go back to your home at once, and I will do you no harm.”

孔明笑曰：“吾受先帝託孤之重，安肯不傾心竭力以討賊乎！汝曹氏不久爲漢所滅。汝祖父皆爲漢臣，世食漢祿，不思報效，反助篡逆，豈不自恥？”懿羞慚滿面曰：“吾與汝決一雌雄！汝若能勝，吾誓不爲大將！汝若敗時，早歸故里，吾並不加害。”

Kongming said, “Would you have our generals fight? Our troops? Or shall we contend in the art of formations?” Sima Yi said, “Let us first contend in formations.” Kongming said, “Then first draw up a formation and let me see it.” Sima Yi went into his central army tent and waved a yellow flag, and the troops on left and right moved and arranged themselves into a formation. Then he mounted again, came out of his lines and asked, “Do you recognise my formation?” Kongming laughed and said, “The humblest officer in my army could draw it up. This is the Formation of Primal Unity.” Sima Yi said, “Now you draw up a formation and let me see it.”

孔明曰：“汝欲鬥將？鬥兵？鬥陣法？”懿曰：“先鬥陣法？”孔明曰：“先佈陣我看。”懿入中軍帳下，手執黃旗招颭，左右軍動，排成一陣。覆上馬出陣，問曰：“汝識吾陣否？”孔明笑曰：“吾軍中末將，亦能布之。此乃混元一氣陣也。”懿曰：“汝佈陣我看。”

Kongming went into his lines, waved his feather fan once, came out again before them and asked, “Do you recognise my formation?” Sima Yi said, “A mere Eight Trigrams Formation like this — how could I not recognise it!” Kongming said, “Recognising it is one thing. Do you dare attack it?” Sima Yi said, “Since I recognise it, why should I not dare attack it!” Kongming said, “Then come on and attack.” Sima Yi returned to his own lines, summoned the three generals Dai Ling, Zhang Hu and Yue Chen, and instructed them, “The formation Kongming has drawn up follows the eight gates of Rest, Life, Harm, Obstruction, View, Death, Fright and Opening.

孔明入陣，把羽扇一搖，復出陣前，問曰：“汝識我陣否？”懿曰：“量此八卦陣，如何不識！”孔明曰：“識便識了，敢打我陣否？”懿曰：“既識之，如何不敢打！”孔明曰：“汝只管打來。”司馬懿回到本陣中，喚戴陵、張虎、樂綝三將，分付曰：“今孔明所佈之陣，按休、生、傷、杜、景、死、驚、開八門。

You three are to break in through the Gate of Life due east, fight your way out through the Gate of Rest to the southwest, and then fight your way in again through the Gate of Opening due north. Then the formation can be broken. Take great care!”

汝三人可從正東生門打入，往西南休門殺出，復從正北開門殺入：此陣可破。汝等小心在意！”

So Dai Ling in the centre, Zhang Hu in front and Yue Chen behind, each leading thirty horsemen, broke in through the Gate of Life, while both armies shouted to cheer them on. The three fought their way into the Shu formation, only to find it like a chain of walled cities; charge as they might, they could not get through. In alarm the three led their horsemen round the foot of the formation and charged toward the southwest, but the Shu troops held them off with arrows and they could not break through. Inside the formation lay layer upon layer, with gates and doors everywhere. How could they tell east from west or north from south?

於是戴陵在中，張虎在前，樂綝在後，各引三十騎，從生門打入。兩軍吶喊相助。三人殺入蜀陣，只見陣如連城，衝突不出。三人慌引騎轉過陣腳，往西南衝去，卻被蜀兵射住，衝突不出。陣中重重疊疊，都有門戶，那裏分東西南北？

The three generals lost touch with one another and could only blunder about blindly, seeing nothing but gloomy clouds spread thick and dismal mists hanging heavy. Where the shouting rose, the Wei soldiers were bound one by one and sent to the central army.

三將不能相顧，只管亂撞，但見愁雲漠漠，慘霧濛濛。喊聲起處，魏軍一個個皆被縛了，送到中軍。

Kongming sat in his tent, and his attendants brought Zhang Hu, Dai Ling and Yue Chen, together with ninety soldiers, all bound, before it. Kongming laughed and said, “Even though I have captured you, what is so remarkable in that? I will let you go back to Sima Yi. Tell him to read his books on war again and study his military strategy once more; it will not be too late to come then and settle which of us is the better. Since your lives are spared, you must leave your weapons and war horses behind.”

孔明坐於帳中，左右將張虎、戴陵、樂綝並九十個軍，皆縛在帳下。孔明笑曰：“吾縱然捉得汝等，何足爲奇！吾放汝等回見司馬懿，教他再讀兵書，重觀戰策，那時來決雌雄，未爲遲也。汝等性命既饒，當留下軍器戰馬。”

So the men were stripped of their clothes, their faces were smeared with ink, and they were sent out of the formation on foot. When Sima Yi saw them he was furious. Turning to his generals, he said, “With our spirit crushed like this, how can I face the ministers of the Central Plain again!” He at once directed his three armies to hurl themselves at the enemy lines regardless of death, while he himself drew his sword and, leading more than a hundred valiant officers, urged them on into the charge.

遂將衆人衣服脫了，以墨塗面，步行出陣。司馬懿見之大怒，回顧諸將曰：“如此挫敗銳氣，有何面目回見中原大臣耶！”即指揮三軍，奮死掠陣，懿自拔劍在手，引百餘驍將，催督衝殺。

The two armies had only just met when suddenly drums and horns sounded together behind the formation, a great shout went up, and a band of troops came charging in from the southwest: it was Guan Xing. Sima Yi detached his rear army to meet them and again urged his troops forward into the fight. Suddenly the Wei army was thrown into great confusion: Jiang Wei had led a band of troops up stealthily to attack, and the Shu troops were closing in from three directions. Sima Yi was greatly alarmed and hastily pulled back. As the Shu troops closed in from all around, he led his three armies in a desperate charge toward the south.

兩軍恰纔相會，忽然陣後鼓角齊鳴，喊聲大震，一彪軍從西南上殺來，乃關興也。懿分後軍當之，復催軍向前廝殺。忽然魏兵大亂：原來姜維引一彪軍悄地殺來，蜀兵三路夾攻。懿大驚，急忙退軍。蜀兵周圍殺到，懿引三軍望南死命衝擊。

Six or seven out of every ten Wei soldiers were wounded. Sima Yi fell back and camped on the south bank of the Wei, holding fast and refusing to come out.

魏兵十傷六七。司馬懿退在渭濱南岸下寨，堅守不出。

When Kongming had gathered his victorious troops and returned to Mount Qi, Li Yan in Yongan City sent the Commandant Gou An to escort a convoy of grain and deliver it to the army. Gou An was fond of wine and dawdled on the road, arriving ten days past the deadline. Kongming was furious and said, “In my army grain is the most important thing of all. Three days’ delay is enough to deserve beheading! You are ten days late. What have you to say for yourself?” He shouted for the man to be taken out and beheaded.

孔明收得勝之兵，回到祁山時，永安城李嚴遣都尉苟安解送糧米，至軍中交割。苟安好酒，於路怠慢，違限十日。孔明大怒曰：“吾軍中專以糧爲大事，誤了三日，便該處斬！汝今誤了十日，有何理說？”喝令推出斬之。

The Chief Clerk Yang Yi said, “Gou An is one of Li Yan’s men, and besides, most of our money and grain comes from Xichuan. If you kill this man, no one will dare deliver grain after this.” Kongming then shouted to the guards to untie him, had him given eighty strokes of the rod and let him go. Gou An, resentful at his punishment, that very night took five or six of his personal horsemen and rode straight to the Wei camp to surrender. Sima Yi had him brought in, and Gou An bowed and told him what had happened. Sima Yi said, “Even so, Kongming is full of tricks, and your word is hard to trust.

長史楊儀曰：“苟安乃李嚴用人，又兼錢糧多出於西川，若殺此人，後無人敢送糧也。”孔明乃叱武士去其縛，杖八十放之。苟安被責，心中懷恨，連夜引親隨五六騎，徑奔魏寨投降。懿喚入，苟安拜告前事。懿曰：“雖然如此，孔明多謀，汝言難信。

If you can do me one great service, I will then petition the Son of Heaven and recommend you as a senior general.” Gou An said, “Whatever it may be, I will do my utmost at once.” Sima Yi said, “Go back to Chengdu and spread rumours that Kongming resents his sovereign and means to proclaim himself emperor before long, so that your master recalls him. That will be your service.” Gou An agreed and went straight back to Chengdu, where he met with the eunuchs and spread rumours that Kongming, relying on his great achievements, would sooner or later usurp the throne.

汝能爲我幹一件大功，吾那時奏準天子，保汝爲上將。”安曰：“但有甚事，即當效力。”懿曰：“汝可回成都佈散流言，說孔明有怨上之意，早晚欲稱爲帝，使汝主召回孔明：即是汝之功矣。”苟安允諾，徑回成都，見了宦官，佈散流言，說孔明自倚大功，早晚必將篡國。

The eunuchs were greatly alarmed when they heard this. They at once went into the palace and reported to the Emperor, telling him everything in detail. The Latter Ruler said in astonishment, “If this is so, what is to be done?” The eunuchs said, “Summon him back to Chengdu by edict and strip him of his command, to prevent a rebellion.” The Latter Ruler issued an edict ordering Kongming to withdraw his army and return to court. Jiang Wan stepped out from the ranks and said, “Since the Chancellor set out on campaign he has won great victories one after another. Why recall him?” The Latter Ruler said, “We have a secret matter that must be discussed with the Chancellor face to face.” He at once sent an envoy with the edict, travelling day and night, to summon Kongming home.

宦官聞知大驚，即入內奏帝，細言前事。後主驚訝曰：“似此如之奈何？”宦官曰：“可詔還成都，削其兵權，免生叛逆。”後主下詔，宣孔明班師回朝。蔣琬出班奏曰：“丞相自出師以來，累建大功，何故宣回？”後主曰：“朕有機密事，必須與丞相面議。”即遣使齎詔星夜宣孔明回。

When the envoy arrived at the main camp at Mount Qi, Kongming received him. After accepting the edict, he looked up to heaven and sighed, “Our sovereign is young, and there must be flatterers at his side! Just as I am about to achieve something, why am I recalled? If I do not return, I shall be defying my sovereign. But if I obey and withdraw, it will be hard to find such an opportunity again.” Jiang Wei asked, “If the main army withdraws and Sima Yi takes the chance to fall upon us, what then?”

使命徑到祁山大寨，孔明接入，受詔已畢，仰天嘆曰：“主上年幼，必有佞臣在側！吾正欲建功，何故取回？我如不回，是欺主矣。若奉命而退，日後再難得此機會也。”姜維問曰：“若大軍退，司馬懿乘勢掩殺，當復如何？”

Kongming said, “In withdrawing now, we will divide into five columns. Today this camp withdraws first. Suppose there are a thousand troops in the camp: dig two thousand cooking hearths. Tomorrow dig three thousand hearths, and the day after four thousand. Every day, as we withdraw, we add to the hearths.” Yang Yi said, “Long ago, when Sun Bin captured Pang Juan, he won by adding troops and reducing hearths. Now that the Chancellor is withdrawing, why does he increase the hearths?” Kongming said, “Sima Yi is skilled in the use of troops. When he learns that our army is withdrawing, he is sure to pursue. But he will suspect in his heart that we have troops in ambush and will certainly count the hearths in our old camps. When he sees the hearths increasing day by day, he will not know whether our troops are withdrawing or not, and in his doubt he will not dare pursue. If I withdraw slowly, there will naturally be no fear of losing men.” He then issued the order to withdraw.

孔明曰：“吾今退軍，可分五路而退。今日先退此營，假如營內一千兵，卻掘二千竈，明日掘三千竈，後日掘四千竈：每日退軍，添竈而行。”楊儀曰：“昔孫臏擒龐涓，用添兵減竈之法而取勝；今丞相退兵，何故增竈？”孔明曰：“司馬懿善能用兵，知吾兵退，必然追趕；心中疑吾有伏兵，定於舊營內數竈；見每日增竈，兵又不知退與不退，則疑而不敢追。吾徐徐而退，自無損兵之患。”遂傳令退軍。

Meanwhile Sima Yi, reckoning that Gou An’s scheme had worked, was simply waiting for the Shu army to withdraw so that he could fall on it with all his forces. While he was still hesitating, it was suddenly reported that the Shu camp was empty and all the men and horses were gone. Because Kongming was so full of tricks, Sima Yi did not dare pursue rashly. He led a hundred or more horsemen himself to inspect the Shu camp, had his soldiers count the hearths, and then returned to his own camp. The next day he again sent soldiers hurrying to that camp to check the number of hearths.

卻說司馬懿料苟安行計停當，只待蜀兵退時，一齊掩殺。正躊躇間，忽報蜀寨空虛，人馬皆去。懿因孔明多謀，不敢輕追，自引百餘騎前來蜀營內踏看，教軍士數竈，仍回本寨；次日，又教軍士趕到那個營內，查點竈數。

They came back and reported, “The hearths in this camp have increased by yet another measure.” Sima Yi said to the generals, “I reckoned that Kongming was full of tricks, and now indeed he has added troops and increased his hearths. If I pursue him, I am sure to fall into his trap. Better to withdraw for the present and make better plans.” So he turned back and did not pursue. Kongming, without losing a single man, set off for Chengdu. Later, local people from Chuankou came to tell Sima Yi that when Kongming withdrew, no additional troops had been seen, only more hearths.

回報說：“這營內之竈，比前又增一分。”司馬懿謂諸將曰：“吾料孔明多謀，今果添兵增竈，吾若追之，必中其計；不如且退，再作良圖。”於是回軍不追。孔明不折一人，望成都而去。次後，川口土人來報司馬懿，說孔明退兵之時，未見添兵，只見增竈。

Sima Yi looked up to heaven and heaved a long sigh. “Kongming copied the method of Yu Xu and deceived me! In strategy I am no match for him!” He then led the main army back to Luoyang.

懿仰天長嘆曰：“孔明效虞詡之法，瞞過吾也！其謀略吾不如之！”遂引大軍還洛陽。

Indeed:
When a player meets his match at chess, victory is hard to win;
When a general meets a man of real talent, he dare not be proud.
What happened after Kongming returned to Chengdu will be told in the next chapter.

正是：棋逢敵手難相勝，將遇良才不敢驕。
未知孔明退回成都，竟是如何，且看下文分解。