Romance, Chapter 103

Chapter 103. Sima Yi Is Trapped in Shangfang Valley; Zhuge Liang Prays to the Stars at the Wuzhang Plains

Now Sima Yi, routed by Zhang Yi and Liao Hua, fled alone with a single horse and a single spear toward the dense woods. Zhang Yi halted the rear troops, while Liao Hua took the lead in pursuit. He was just about to catch up when Sima Yi, in a panic, dodged round a tree. Liao Hua slashed at him with his blade, but the blow struck the tree, and by the time he had pulled it free, Sima Yi had already escaped out of the woods. Liao Hua rushed out after him but could not tell which way he had gone; all he saw was a golden helmet lying on the ground to the east of the woods.

卻說司馬懿被張翼、廖化一陣殺敗，匹馬單槍，望密林間而走。張翼收住後軍，廖化當先追趕。看看趕上，懿着慌，繞樹而轉。化一刀砍去，正砍在樹上；及拔出刀時，懿已走出林外。廖化隨後趕出，卻不知去向，但見樹林之東，落下金盔一個。

Liao Hua picked up the helmet, slung it on his saddle and kept pursuing eastward. In fact Sima Yi had thrown the golden helmet down east of the woods and then gone off in the opposite direction, to the west. Liao Hua chased on for some way without finding any trace of him, and as he dashed out of the valley mouth he met Jiang Wei. The two returned together to the camp to see Kongming. Zhang Ni had already driven the wooden oxen and gliding horses into camp and handed them over; they had taken more than ten thousand dan of grain. Liao Hua presented the golden helmet and was credited with the chief merit. Wei Yan was displeased and grumbled aloud. Kongming simply pretended not to notice.

廖化取盔捎在馬上，一直望東追趕。原來司馬懿把金盔棄於林東，卻反向西走去了。廖化追了一程，不見蹤跡，奔出谷口，遇見姜維，同回寨見孔明。張嶷早驅木牛流馬到寨，交割已畢，獲糧萬餘石。廖化獻上金盔，錄爲頭功。魏延心中不悅，口出怨言。孔明只做不知。

Meanwhile Sima Yi, having fled back to his camp, was deeply vexed and depressed. Suddenly an envoy arrived with an edict saying that Eastern Wu had invaded by three routes, that the court was now discussing which generals to send against them, and that Sima Yi and the others were to hold fast and not give battle. When Sima Yi had received the command, he dug his moats deep and built his ramparts high, and held fast without coming out.

且說司馬懿逃回寨中，心甚惱悶。忽使命齎詔至，言東吳三路入寇，朝廷正議命將抵敵，令懿等堅守勿戰。懿受命已畢，深溝高壘，堅守不出。

Meanwhile Cao Rui, hearing that Sun Quan was coming with his forces divided along three routes, also raised troops along three routes to meet him. He ordered Liu Shao to lead troops to relieve Jiangxia and Tian Yu to lead troops to relieve Xiangyang, while Cao Rui himself, with Man Chong, led the main army to relieve Hefei. Man Chong went ahead with a force to the mouth of Chao Lake, where he saw countless warships along the eastern shore, their flags and banners in perfect order. He went into the camp and said to the Ruler of Wei, “The men of Wu will surely think little of us for having come so far, and they will not have made any preparations. Tonight we can take advantage of their unreadiness and raid their naval camp. We are sure to win a complete victory.”

卻說曹睿聞孫權分兵三路而來，亦起兵三路迎之：令劉劭引兵救江夏，田豫引兵救襄陽，睿自與滿寵率大軍救合淝。滿寵先引一軍至巢湖口，望見東岸戰船無數，旌旗整肅。寵入軍中奏魏主曰：“吳人必輕我遠來，未曾提備；今夜可乘虛劫其水寨，必得全勝。”

The Ruler of Wei said, “Your words are exactly what I had in mind.” He at once ordered the valiant general Zhang Qiu to take five thousand troops, each man carrying incendiaries, and attack from the mouth of the lake, while Man Chong led five thousand troops to attack from the eastern shore. That night, at about the second watch, Zhang Qiu and Man Chong each led their troops quietly toward the mouth of the lake. As they drew near the naval camp, they raised a great shout together and charged in. The Wu troops panicked and fled without fighting. The Wei troops set fires on every side, and countless warships, stores of grain and fodder, and equipment were burned. Zhuge Jin fled to Miankou with his defeated troops. The Wei army returned in triumph.

魏主曰：“汝言正合朕意。”即令驍將張球領五千兵，各帶火具，從湖口攻之；滿寵引兵五千，從東岸攻之。是夜二更時分，張球、滿寵各引軍悄悄望湖口進發；將近水寨，一齊吶喊殺入。吳兵慌亂，不戰而走；被魏軍四下舉火，燒燬戰船、糧草、器具不計其數。諸葛瑾率敗兵逃走沔口。魏兵大勝而回。

The next day scouts reported this to Lu Xun. Lu Xun assembled his generals to discuss it and said, “I will write a memorial to our sovereign asking him to lift the siege of Xincheng and use those troops to cut off the Wei army’s line of retreat, while I lead our men to attack them in front. They will not be able to defend both head and tail, and one roll of the drums will break them.” They were all convinced. Lu Xun at once drew up the memorial and sent a junior officer to carry it secretly to Xincheng. The officer took his orders and set off with the memorial, but when he reached a ferry he was unexpectedly seized by Wei troops lying in wait along the road, and he was taken to their camp and brought before Cao Rui, the Ruler of Wei.

次日，哨軍報知陸遜。遜集諸將議曰：“吾當作表申奏主上，請撤新城之圍，以兵斷魏軍歸路，吾率衆攻其前：彼首尾不敵，一鼓可破也。”衆服其言。陸遜即具表，遣一小校密地齎往新城。小校領命，齎着表文，行至渡口，不期被魏軍伏路的捉住，解赴軍中見魏主曹睿。

Cao Rui had Lu Xun’s memorial searched out, and when he had read it he sighed, “Lu Xun of Eastern Wu is a truly brilliant strategist!” He ordered the Wu soldier to be held under guard and told Liu Shao to keep a careful watch against Sun Quan’s troops coming up behind. Meanwhile Zhuge Jin, after his great defeat, also ran into the hot season, and many of his men and horses fell ill. So he wrote a letter and had it delivered to Lu Xun, proposing to withdraw the army and return home. When Lu Xun had read the letter, he said to the messenger, “Give my respects to the general, and tell him I have plans of my own.”

睿搜出陸遜表文，覽畢，嘆曰：“東吳陸遜真妙算也！”遂命將吳卒監下，令劉劭謹防孫權後兵。卻說諸葛瑾大敗一陣，又值暑天，人馬多生疾病；乃修書一封，令人轉達陸遜，議欲撤兵還國。遜看書畢，謂來人曰：“拜上將軍：吾自有主意。”

The messenger went back and reported to Zhuge Jin. “What is General Lu doing?” asked Zhuge Jin. The messenger said, “All I saw was General Lu urging his men to plant beans outside the camp, while he himself was holding an archery contest with his generals at the camp gate.” Zhuge Jin was astonished. He went in person to Lu Xun’s camp, met him and asked, “Now Cao Rui has come in person, and his forces are very strong. How will you hold him off, Commander?” Lu Xun said, “I sent a man earlier to take a memorial to our sovereign, but unexpectedly he was captured by the enemy.

使者回報諸葛瑾。瑾問：“陸將軍作何舉動？”使者曰：“但見陸將軍催督衆人於營外種豆菽，自與諸將在轅門射戲。”瑾大驚，親自往陸遜營中，與遜相見，問曰：“今曹睿親來，兵勢甚盛，都督何以御之？”遜曰：“吾前遣人奉表於主上，不料爲敵人所獲。

Now that our plan has leaked out, they are sure to be on their guard. There is nothing to be gained by fighting; better to withdraw for now. I have already sent a man with a memorial arranging with our sovereign to withdraw the troops slowly.” Zhuge Jin said, “If that is your intention, Commander, you ought to withdraw quickly. Why do you delay?” Lu Xun said, “If our army is to withdraw, it must move slowly. If we were to withdraw at once, the men of Wei would be sure to take advantage and pursue us: that is the road to defeat. You should first take charge of the ships and make a show of resisting the enemy, while I lead all my men and horses toward Xiangyang as a ruse to confuse them. Then we can slowly withdraw to Jiangdong, and the Wei troops will naturally not dare to come near.”

機謀既泄，彼必知備；與戰無益，不如且退。已差人奉表約主上緩緩退兵矣。”瑾曰：“都督既有此意，即宜速退，何又遲延？”遜曰：“吾軍欲退，當徐徐而動。今若便退，魏人必乘勢追趕：此取敗之道也。足下宜先督船隻詐爲拒敵之意，吾悉以人馬向襄陽而進，爲疑敵之計，然後徐徐退歸江東，魏兵自不敢近耳。”

Zhuge Jin followed his plan. He took leave of Lu Xun, returned to his own camp, put the ships in order and prepared to set out. Lu Xun marshalled his ranks, made a great show of strength and marched toward Xiangyang.

瑾依其計，辭遜歸本營，整頓船隻，預備起行。陸遜整肅部伍，張揚聲勢，望襄陽進發。

Spies had already reported to the Ruler of Wei that the Wu troops were on the move and that precautions must be taken. When the Wei generals heard this, they all wanted to go out and fight. But the Ruler of Wei, who had long known Lu Xun’s talent, told the generals, “Lu Xun is a schemer. Could this be a ruse to lure us out? We must not advance rashly.” So the generals held back. A few days later scouts came to report, “The forces of Eastern Wu on all three routes have withdrawn.” The Ruler of Wei did not believe it and sent men to look again, and they came back to report that the enemy had indeed all withdrawn.

早有細作報知魏主，說吳兵已動，須用提防。魏將聞之，皆要出戰。魏主素知陸遜之才，諭衆將曰：“陸遜有謀，莫非用誘敵之計？不可輕進。”衆將乃止。數日後，哨卒報來：“東吳三路兵馬皆退矣。”魏主未信，再令人探之，回報果然盡退。

The Ruler of Wei said, “In the use of troops, Lu Xun is not inferior to Sun Wu or Wu Qi. The southeast cannot yet be conquered.” He therefore commanded his generals each to hold the strategic passes, while he himself took the main army to camp at Hefei and watch for any change.

魏主曰：“陸遜用兵，不亞孫、吳。東南未可平也。”因敕諸將，各守險要，自引大軍屯合淝，以伺其變。

Meanwhile Kongming, at Mount Qi, wanted to prepare for a long stay, so he had the Shu troops farm the land side by side with the people of Wei, the army taking one share and the people two. There was no encroachment at all, and the people of Wei all lived contentedly and went about their work. Sima Shi went in and said to his father, “The Shu troops have carried off a great deal of our grain, and now they have their troops farming military colonies alongside our people on the banks of the Wei, planning for a long stay. This is truly a great danger to the state.

卻說孔明在祁山，欲爲久駐之計，乃令蜀兵與魏民相雜種田：軍一分，民二分，並不侵犯，魏民皆安心樂業。司馬師入告其父曰：“蜀兵劫去我許多糧米，今又令蜀兵與我民相雜屯田於渭濱，以爲久計：似此真爲國家大患。

Father, why not set a date with Kongming for one great battle to decide who is the stronger?” Sima Yi said, “I have received the imperial command to hold fast. I cannot act rashly.” As they were talking, it was suddenly reported that Wei Yan had come with the golden helmet the Marshal had lost the other day, hurling insults and challenging them to battle. The generals were furious and all wanted to go out and fight. Sima Yi laughed and said, “The Sage said: ‘Impatience in small matters upsets great plans.’ Holding fast is the best course.” The generals obeyed and did not go out.

父親何不與孔明約期大戰一場，以決雌雄？”懿曰：“吾奉旨堅守，不可輕動。”正議間，忽報魏延將着元帥前日所失金盔，前來罵戰。衆將忿怒，俱欲出戰。懿笑曰：“聖人云：小不忍則亂大謀。但堅守爲上。”諸將依令不出。

Wei Yan hurled abuse for a long time before he went back. Seeing that Sima Yi would not come out to fight, Kongming secretly ordered Ma Dai to build wooden stockades, dig deep trenches inside the camp and pile up large amounts of dry firewood and kindling. On the hills all around he had many sham huts put up with firewood and grass, and land mines buried inside and out. When all was ready, Kongming whispered his instructions into Ma Dai’s ear: “Block off the rear road of Hulu Valley and set troops in hidden ambush inside the valley.

魏延辱罵良久方回。孔明見司馬懿不肯出戰，乃密令馬岱造成木柵，營中掘下深塹，多積乾柴引火之物；周圍山上，多用柴草虛搭窩鋪，內外皆伏地雷。置備停當，孔明附耳囑之曰：“可將葫蘆谷後路塞斷，暗伏兵於谷中。

If Sima Yi comes in pursuit, let him enter the valley, and then set off the land mines and the dry firewood all at once.” He also ordered the soldiers to hoist a seven-star signal banner at the valley mouth by day and set seven bright lamps on the hilltop by night, as secret signals. Ma Dai received the plan and left with his troops. Kongming then summoned Wei Yan and instructed him, “Take five hundred men to the Wei camp and challenge them to battle. You must lure Sima Yi out to fight.

若司馬懿追到，任他入谷，便將地雷乾柴一齊放起火來。”又令軍士晝舉七星號帶於谷口，夜設七盞明燈于山上，以爲暗號。馬岱受計引兵而去。孔明又喚魏延分付曰：“汝可引五百兵去魏寨討戰，務要誘司馬懿出戰。

You are not to win; you must only feign defeat. Sima Yi is sure to pursue you. Then make for the place where the seven-star banner is and go in; if it is night, run toward the place where the seven lamps are. Once you have drawn Sima Yi into Hulu Valley, I have my own plan for capturing him.” Wei Yan received the plan and left with his troops. Kongming then summoned Gao Xiang and instructed him, “Take the wooden oxen and gliding horses in groups of twenty or thirty, or of forty or fifty, load each with grain, and have them go back and forth along the mountain roads.

不可取勝，只可詐敗。懿必追趕，汝卻望七星旗處而入；若是夜間，則望七盞燈處而走。只要引得司馬懿入葫蘆谷內，吾自有擒之之計。”魏延受計，引兵而去。孔明又喚高翔分付曰：“汝將木牛流馬或二三十爲一羣，或四五十爲一羣，各裝米糧，于山路往來行走。

If the Wei troops seize them, that will be your merit.” Gao Xiang received the plan and drove off the wooden oxen and gliding horses. Kongming moved the troops away from Mount Qi one unit after another, giving out only that they were going to farm the military colonies. He instructed them, “If other troops come to fight, you may only feign defeat. But if Sima Yi comes in person, then join forces and attack only south of the Wei, to cut off his line of retreat.” When Kongming had made all his dispositions, he led a force himself and camped near Shangfang Valley.

如魏兵搶去，便是汝之功。”高翔領計，驅駕木牛流馬去了。孔明將祁山兵一一調去，只推屯田；分付：“如別兵來戰，只許詐敗；若司馬懿自來，方併力只攻渭南，斷其歸路。”孔明分撥已畢，自引一軍近上方谷下營。

Meanwhile Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He came into the camp and said to Sima Yi, “The Shu troops are now scattered in camps on every side, farming military colonies everywhere as a long-term plan. If we do not seize this moment to get rid of them, but let them settle in comfortably for a long time, they will put down deep roots and grow firm, and it will be hard to shake them.” Sima Yi said, “This must be another of Kongming’s schemes.” The two said, “If you are so full of doubts and misgivings, Commander, when will the enemy ever be destroyed? We two brothers will exert ourselves and fight to the death to repay the favour of the state.”

且說夏侯惠、夏侯和二人入寨告司馬懿曰：“今蜀兵四散結營，各處屯田，以爲久計；若不趁此時除之，縱令安居日久，深根固蒂，難以搖動。”懿曰：“此必又是孔明之計。”二人曰：“都督若如此疑慮，寇敵何時得滅？我兄弟二人，當奮力決一死戰，以報國恩。”

Sima Yi said, “In that case, you two may go out and fight by separate routes.” So he sent Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He off, each with five thousand troops, and sat waiting for news.

懿曰：“既如此，汝二人可分頭出戰。”遂令夏侯惠、夏侯和各引五千兵去訖。懿坐待迴音。

Meanwhile Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He had divided their troops along two routes. As they were marching, they suddenly saw Shu troops driving wooden oxen and gliding horses toward them. The two charged together; the Shu troops were routed and fled, and all the wooden oxen and gliding horses were captured by the Wei troops and sent to Sima Yi’s camp. The next day they also captured more than a hundred men and horses, and these too were sent to the main camp. Sima Yi questioned the captured Shu soldiers to learn the true state of affairs.

卻說夏侯惠、夏侯和二人分兵兩路，正行之間，忽見蜀兵驅木牛流馬而來。二人一齊殺將過去，蜀兵大敗奔走，木牛流馬盡被魏兵搶獲，解送司馬懿營中。次日又劫擄得人馬百餘，亦解赴大寨。懿將解到蜀兵，詰審虛實。

The Shu soldiers said, “Kongming reckoned that you, Commander, would only hold fast and not come out, so he sent all of us to scatter and farm the military colonies as a long-term plan. We never expected to be captured.” Sima Yi at once released all the Shu soldiers and sent them back. Xiahou He said, “Why not kill them?” Sima Yi said, “Killing petty soldiers like these would gain us nothing. Send them back to their own camp to tell how generous and kind the Wei generals are, and it will soften their will to fight. This is the plan Lü Meng used to take Jingzhou.”

蜀兵告曰：“孔明只料都督堅守不出，盡命我等四散屯田，以爲久計。不想卻被擒獲。”懿即將蜀兵盡皆放回。夏侯和曰：“何不殺之？”懿曰：“量此小卒，殺之無益。放歸本寨，令說魏將寬厚仁慈，釋彼戰心：此呂蒙取荊州之計也。”

He then issued orders that from now on any Shu soldiers who were captured should be treated well and sent back. He also richly rewarded the officers who had distinguished themselves. The generals all took their orders and left.

遂傳令今後凡有擒到蜀兵，俱當善遣之。仍重賞有功將吏。諸將皆聽令而去。

Meanwhile Kongming had Gao Xiang pretend to be transporting grain, driving the wooden oxen and gliding horses back and forth inside Shangfang Valley. Xiahou Hui and the others kept intercepting and attacking them, and in the space of half a month they won several battles in a row. Seeing the Shu troops defeated again and again, Sima Yi was delighted. One day several dozen more Shu soldiers were captured. Sima Yi had them brought before his tent and asked, “Where is Kongming now?” They told him, “Chancellor Zhuge is not at Mount Qi. He has pitched camp and is staying ten li west of Shangfang Valley.

卻說孔明令高翔佯作運糧，驅駕木牛流馬，往來於上方谷內；夏侯惠等，不時截殺，半月之間，連勝數陣。司馬懿見蜀兵屢敗，心中歡喜。一日，又擒到蜀兵數十人。懿喚至帳下問曰：“孔明今在何處？”衆告曰：“諸葛丞相不在祁山，在上方谷西十里下營安住。

Now they carry grain every day and store it in Shangfang Valley.” When Sima Yi had questioned them in detail, he released them all. Then he summoned his generals and instructed them, “Kongming is not at Mount Qi now; he has camped at Shangfang Valley. Tomorrow you are all to join forces and attack and take the main camp at Mount Qi. I will lead troops myself to support you.” The generals took their orders and each prepared for battle. Sima Shi said, “Father, why do you want to attack his rear instead?”

今每日運糧屯於上方谷。”懿備細問了，即將衆人放去；乃喚諸將分付曰：“孔明今不在祁山，在上方谷安營。汝等於明日，可一齊併力攻取祁山大寨。吾自引兵來接應。”衆將領命，各各準備出戰。司馬師曰：“父親何故反欲攻其後？”

Sima Yi said, “Mount Qi is the root of the Shu forces. When they see our troops attacking it, all their camps are sure to rush to its rescue. Then I will take Shangfang Valley and burn their grain and fodder, so that their head and tail cannot link up. They are bound to suffer a great defeat.” Sima Shi bowed in admiration. Sima Yi at once set out with his troops, ordering Zhang Hu and Yue Chen each to lead five thousand troops behind in support. Meanwhile Kongming was on the hilltop watching the Wei troops come on, in columns of three to five thousand or of one to two thousand, their ranks in confusion, looking about them before and behind. Reckoning that they must be coming to take the main camp at Mount Qi, he secretly sent orders to his generals: “If Sima Yi comes in person, you are to go at once and raid the Wei camp and take the ground south of the Wei.”

懿曰：“祁山乃蜀人之根本，若見我兵攻之，各營必盡來救；我卻取上方谷燒其糧草，使彼首尾不接：必大敗也。”司馬師拜服。懿即發兵起行，令張虎、樂綝各引五千兵，在後救應。且說孔明正在山上，望見魏兵或三五千一行，或一二千一行，隊伍紛紛，前後顧盼，料必來取祁山大寨，乃密傳令衆將：“若司馬懿自來，汝等便往劫魏寨，奪了渭南。”

The generals all took their orders. Meanwhile, as the Wei troops all rushed toward the camp at Mount Qi, the Shu troops on every side raised a great shout together and ran about, making a show of coming to its rescue. When Sima Yi saw the Shu troops all going to rescue the camp at Mount Qi, he took his two sons and the guards of the central army and charged toward Shangfang Valley. Wei Yan was at the valley mouth, waiting only for Sima Yi to come. Suddenly he saw a band of Wei troops charging up. He spurred his horse forward to look: it was Sima Yi himself.

衆將各各聽令。卻說魏兵皆奔祁山寨來，蜀兵四下一齊吶喊奔走，虛作救應之勢。司馬懿見蜀兵都去救祁山寨，便引二子並中軍護衛人馬，殺奔上方谷來。魏延在谷口，只盼司馬懿到來；忽見一枝魏兵殺到，延縱馬向前視之，正是司馬懿。

Wei Yan roared, “Sima Yi, don’t run!” and met him, whirling his blade. Sima Yi levelled his spear and joined battle. Before three bouts were fought, Wei Yan wheeled his horse round and fled, and Sima Yi came after him. Wei Yan headed only for the place where the seven-star banner was. Seeing that Wei Yan was alone with only a few troops, Sima Yi pursued him without misgiving. He put Sima Shi on the left and Sima Zhao on the right, took the centre himself, and they all pressed the attack together. Wei Yan and his five hundred troops all fell back into the valley.

延大喝曰：“司馬懿休走！”舞刀相迎。懿挺槍接戰。不上三合，延撥回馬便走，懿隨後趕來。延只望七星旗處而走。懿見魏延只一人，軍馬又少，放心追之；令司馬師在左，司馬昭在右，懿自居中，一齊攻殺將來。魏延引五百兵皆退入谷中去。

Sima Yi pursued him as far as the valley mouth and first sent men into the valley to scout. They came back to report that there were no troops in ambush in the valley and nothing but thatched huts on the hillsides. Sima Yi said, “This must be where they store their grain.” So he drove all his men and horses into the valley. Suddenly Sima Yi noticed that the thatched huts were piled high with dry firewood, and that Wei Yan, ahead of him, had vanished. Growing suspicious, Sima Yi said to his two sons, “If troops were to cut off the valley mouth, what would we do?”

懿追到谷口，先令人入谷中哨探。回報谷內並無伏兵，山上皆是草房。懿曰：“此必是積糧之所也。”遂大驅士馬，盡入谷中。懿忽見草房上盡是乾柴，前面魏延已不見了。懿心疑，謂二子曰：“倘有兵截斷谷口，如之奈何？”

Before he had finished speaking, a great shout shook the air, and torches were hurled down from the hills all at once, setting the valley mouth ablaze and cutting it off. The Wei troops had no way of escape. Fire arrows rained down from the hills, the land mines burst out all together, and the dry firewood in the thatched huts caught fire. The flames crackled and roared up to the sky. Sima Yi was so terrified he did not know what to do. He dismounted, threw his arms round his two sons and wept aloud: “We three, father and sons, are all going to die here!”

言未已，只聽得喊聲大震，山上一齊丟下火把來，燒斷谷口。魏兵奔逃無路。山上火箭射下，地雷一齊突出，草房內乾柴都着，刮刮雜雜，火勢沖天。司馬懿驚得手足無措，乃下馬抱二子大哭曰：“我父子三人皆死於此處矣！”

As they were weeping, a furious wind suddenly sprang up, black vapours filled the sky, and with a clap of thunder the rain came pouring down in torrents. All the fire that filled the valley was put out; the land mines did not explode and the fire weapons were useless. Sima Yi was overjoyed. “If we do not fight our way out now, what are we waiting for?” he cried. At once he led his troops in a desperate charge. Zhang Hu and Yue Chen also came charging up with their troops to support him. Ma Dai had too few troops and did not dare pursue.

正哭之間，忽然狂風大作，黑氣漫空，一聲霹靂響處，驟雨傾盆。滿谷之火，盡皆澆滅：地雷不震，火器無功。司馬懿大喜曰：“不就此時殺出，更待何時！”即引兵奮力衝殺。張虎、樂綝亦各引兵殺來接應。馬岱軍少，不敢追趕。

Sima Yi and his sons joined forces with Zhang Hu and Yue Chen and went back together to their main camp south of the Wei, only to find that the stockade had already been taken by the Shu troops. Guo Huai and Sun Li were fighting the Shu troops on the pontoon bridge. When Sima Yi and the others charged up with their troops, the Shu troops withdrew. Sima Yi burned the pontoon bridge and held the north bank.

司馬懿父子與張虎、樂綝合兵一處，同歸渭南大寨，不想寨柵已被蜀兵奪了。郭淮、孫禮正在浮橋上與蜀兵接戰。司馬懿等引兵殺到，蜀兵退去。懿燒斷浮橋，據住北岸。

Meanwhile the Wei troops attacking the Shu camp at Mount Qi heard that Sima Yi had been badly defeated and had lost his camp south of the Wei, and their spirits were thrown into confusion. As they hurriedly withdrew, the Shu troops came charging at them from all sides. The Wei troops suffered a crushing defeat: eight or nine in ten were wounded, countless men were killed, and the rest fled across to the north of the Wei to save their lives. From the hilltop Kongming had watched Wei Yan lure Sima Yi into the valley and seen the flames flare up in an instant. He was overjoyed, thinking that this time Sima Yi was sure to die.

且說魏兵在祁山攻打蜀寨，聽知司馬懿大敗，失了渭南營寨，軍心慌亂；急退時，四面蜀兵衝殺將來，魏兵大敗，十傷八九，死者無數，餘衆奔過渭北逃生。孔明在山上見魏延誘司馬懿入谷，一霎時火光大起，心中甚喜，以爲司馬懿此番必死。

But unexpectedly heaven sent down a great rain, the fire would not burn, and scouts reported that Sima Yi and his sons had all escaped. Kongming sighed, “Planning lies with man, but success lies with heaven. It cannot be forced!”

不期天降大雨，火不能着，哨馬報說司馬懿父子俱逃去了。孔明嘆曰：“謀事在人，成事在天。不可強也！”

A later poet lamented:
At the valley mouth the wind raged and the fierce flames flew;
Who could have foreseen the sudden rain from the blue sky?
Had the Martial Marquis’s brilliant plan succeeded,
How could the land have passed to the Jin dynasty?

後人有詩嘆曰：“谷口風狂烈焰飄，何期驟雨降青霄。
武侯妙計如能就，安得山河屬晉朝！
”

Meanwhile Sima Yi, in his camp north of the Wei, issued an order: “The camp south of the Wei is now lost. Any general who speaks again of going out to fight will be beheaded.” The generals obeyed and held fast without coming out. Guo Huai came in and said, “Lately Kongming has been leading troops out on patrol. He must be choosing a site to camp.” Sima Yi said, “If Kongming comes out at Wugong and pushes east along the hills, we shall all be in danger. If he comes out south of the Wei and stops at the Wuzhang Plains in the west, then all will be well.”

卻說司馬懿在渭北寨內傳令曰：“渭南寨柵，今已失了。諸將如再言出戰者斬。”衆將聽令，據守不出。郭淮入告曰：“近日孔明引兵巡哨，必將擇地安營。”懿曰：“孔明若出武功，依山而東，我等皆危矣；若出渭南，西止五丈原，方無事也。”

He sent men to find out, and they came back to report that Kongming had indeed camped at the Wuzhang Plains. Sima Yi put his hand to his forehead and said, “This is the great good fortune of the Emperor of Great Wei!” Then he ordered his generals, “Hold fast and do not go out. In time they are bound to change of their own accord.”

令人探之，回報果屯五丈原。司馬懿以手加額曰：“大魏皇帝之洪福也！”遂令諸將：“堅守勿出，彼久必自變。”

Meanwhile Kongming camped at the Wuzhang Plains with a force under his own command and repeatedly sent men to challenge the enemy to battle, but the Wei troops simply would not come out. So Kongming took a woman’s headdress and a woman’s plain white silk garments, packed them in a large box, wrote a letter, and sent a man to deliver them to the Wei camp. The generals dared not keep it from Sima Yi, and brought the envoy in to see him. Before them all, Sima Yi opened the box and looked: inside were a woman’s headdress and clothes, and a letter.

且說孔明自引一軍屯於五丈原，累令人搦戰，魏兵只不出。孔明乃取巾幗並婦人縞素之服，盛於大盒之內，修書一封，遣人送至魏寨。諸將不敢隱蔽，引來使入見司馬懿。懿對衆啓盒視之，內有巾幗婦人之衣，並書一封。

Sima Yi opened the letter and read. It said in brief: “Zhongda, you are a great general in command of the forces of the Central Plain, yet you do not think of donning armour and taking up weapons to decide who is the stronger. Instead you are content to hole up in your earthen burrow and carefully avoid swords and arrows. How are you any different from a woman? I now send you a headdress and white garments. If you will not come out and fight, you may bow twice and accept them. But if your sense of shame is not yet dead and you still have a man’s heart in your breast, send back your reply quickly and meet me in battle on the appointed day.”

懿拆視其書，略曰：“仲達既爲大將，統領中原之衆，不思披堅執銳，以決雌雄，乃甘窟守土巢，謹避刀箭，與婦人又何異哉！今遣人送巾幗素衣至，如不出戰，可再拜而受之。倘恥心未泯，猶有男子胸襟，早與批迴，依期赴敵。”

When Sima Yi had finished reading, he was furious inside, but he pretended to laugh and said, “So Kongming takes me for a woman!” He accepted the gifts and ordered that the envoy be treated generously. Sima Yi asked, “How does Kongming sleep and eat, and how heavy is his work?” The envoy said, “The Chancellor rises early and goes to bed late, and he reviews in person every punishment of twenty strokes or more. The food he eats is no more than a few sheng a day.” Sima Yi turned to his generals and said, “Kongming eats little and works much. How can he last long?”

司馬懿看畢，心中大怒，乃佯笑曰：“孔明視我爲婦人耶！”即受之，令重待來使。懿問曰：“孔明寢食及事之煩簡若何？”使者曰：“丞相夙興夜寐，罰二十以上皆親覽焉。所啖之食，日不過數升。”懿顧謂諸將曰：“孔明食少事煩，其能久乎？”

The envoy took his leave and returned to the Wuzhang Plains, where he saw Kongming and told him everything: “Sima Yi accepted the headdress and the woman’s clothes and read the letter without the slightest sign of anger. He only asked how the Chancellor sleeps and eats and how heavy his work is, and never mentioned military matters at all. When I answered him thus, he said, ‘He eats little and works much. How can he last long?’” Kongming sighed, “He knows me well!” The Registrar Yang Yong remonstrated: “I see that the Chancellor always checks the accounts and documents himself. In my humble opinion, this is unnecessary.

使者辭去，回到五丈原，見了孔明，具說：“司馬懿受了巾幗女衣，看了書札，並不嗔怒，只問丞相寢食及事之煩簡，絕不提起軍旅之事。某如此應對，彼言：食少事煩，豈能長久？”孔明嘆曰：“彼深知我也！”主簿楊顒諫曰：“某見丞相常自校簿書，竊以爲不必。

Governing has its proper order, and superiors and inferiors must not intrude on each other’s roles. Take the way of running a household: the manservant must be set to ploughing and the maidservant put in charge of the kitchen, so that no family business is neglected and all needs are met. Then the master of the house can be at ease and do as he pleases, simply resting on a high pillow and eating and drinking. If he does every task himself, his body will be worn out and his spirit exhausted, and in the end nothing will be accomplished. Is it that his wisdom is not equal to that of his servants? No, it is that he has lost the way of being master of the house. That is why the ancients said: ‘Those who sit and discuss the Way are called the Three Dukes; those who rise and carry it out are called officials.’

夫爲治有體，上下不可相侵。譬之治家之道，必使僕執耕，婢典爨，私業無曠，所求皆足，其家主從容自在，高枕飲食而已。若皆身親其事，將形疲神困，終無一成。豈其智之不如婢僕哉？失爲家主之道也。是故古人稱：坐而論道，謂之三公；作而行之，謂之士大夫。

Long ago Bing Ji worried about an ox panting but did not ask about a dead man lying across the road; Chen Ping did not know the amounts of money and grain, and said, ‘There are officials in charge of that.’ Now the Chancellor handles petty matters in person and sweats all day long. How can this not wear you out? What Sima Yi said is truly wise.” Kongming wept and said, “It is not that I do not know. But I received from the late Emperor the heavy charge of his orphan son, and my only fear is that others will not give it their whole heart as I do!” Everyone shed tears.

昔丙吉憂牛喘，而不問橫道死人；陳平不知錢穀之數，曰：自有主者。今丞相親理細事，汗流終日豈不勞乎？司馬懿之言，真至言也。”孔明泣曰：“吾非不知。但受先帝託孤之重，惟恐他人不似我盡心也！”衆皆垂淚。

From then on Kongming felt his mind troubled and uneasy, and for this reason the generals did not dare advance. Meanwhile the Wei generals all learned that Kongming had insulted Sima Yi with a woman’s headdress and clothes, and that Sima Yi had accepted them and still would not fight. Unable to bear their indignation, the generals came into his tent and said, “We are all famous generals of a great state. How can we endure such an insult from the men of Shu? We ask to go out at once and fight, to decide who is the stronger.” Sima Yi said, “It is not that I dare not go out and fight and am content to swallow the insult.

自此孔明自覺神思不寧。諸將因此未敢進兵。卻說魏將皆知孔明以巾幗女衣辱司馬懿，懿受之不戰。衆將不忿，入帳告曰：“我等皆大國名將，安忍受蜀人如此之辱！即請出戰，以決雌雄。”懿曰：“吾非不敢出戰而甘心受辱也。

But the Son of Heaven has issued a clear edict ordering me to hold fast and not move. If I were to go out rashly now, I would be disobeying my sovereign’s command.” The generals were all angry and resentful. Sima Yi said, “Since you are so determined to fight, suppose I memorialize the Son of Heaven for permission, and then we all go against the enemy together. What do you say?” They all agreed. So Sima Yi wrote a memorial and sent an envoy straight to the army at Hefei to present it to Cao Rui, the Ruler of Wei. Cao Rui opened the memorial and read it. It said in brief: “Your servant has meagre talents and a heavy charge. I humbly received your enlightened decree ordering me to hold fast and not give battle, and to wait for the men of Shu to wear themselves out. But now Zhuge Liang has sent me a woman’s headdress and treated me as a woman. The disgrace could not be greater!

奈天子明詔，令堅守勿動。今若輕出，有違君命矣。”衆將俱忿怒不平。懿曰：“汝等既要出戰，待我奏準天子，同力赴敵，何如？”衆皆允諾。懿乃寫表遣使，直至合淝軍前，奏聞魏主曹睿。睿拆表覽之。表略曰：“臣才薄任重，伏蒙明旨，令臣堅守不戰，以待蜀人之自敝；奈今諸葛亮遺臣以巾幗，待臣如婦人，恥辱至甚！

Your servant respectfully informs Your Majesty in advance that any day now I shall fight to the death in one battle, to repay the favour of the court and wipe out the disgrace of the Three Armies. Your servant cannot contain his fervour!” When Cao Rui had read it, he said to his officials, “Sima Yi has been holding fast and not coming out. Why does he now send a memorial asking to fight?” The Commandant of the Guards Xin Pi said, “Sima Yi has no wish to fight at all. It must be because Zhuge Liang has insulted him and the generals are angry that he has sent this memorial, hoping to obtain a further clear decree to restrain the generals.”

臣謹先達聖聰：旦夕將效死一戰，以報朝廷之恩，以雪三軍之恥。臣不勝激切之至！”睿覽訖，乃謂多官曰：“司馬懿堅守不出，今何故又上表求戰？”衛尉辛毗曰：“司馬懿本無戰心，必因諸葛亮恥辱，衆將忿怒之故，特上此表，欲更乞明旨，以遏諸將之心耳。”

Cao Rui agreed with him and at once sent Xin Pi, bearing the staff of authority, to the camp north of the Wei to deliver the command that there was to be no fighting. Sima Yi received the edict and went into his tent, and Xin Pi proclaimed the command: “If anyone dares to speak of going out to fight again, he will be dealt with for disobeying the imperial will.” The generals had no choice but to obey the edict. Sima Yi said privately to Xin Pi, “You truly understand my heart!” Then he had it spread through the army that the Ruler of Wei had sent Xin Pi with the staff of authority to order Sima Yi not to go out and fight.

睿然其言，即令辛毗持節至渭北寨傳諭，令勿出戰。司馬懿接詔入帳，辛毗宣諭曰：“如再有敢言出戰者，即以違旨論。”衆將只得奉詔。懿暗謂辛毗曰：“公真知我心也！”於是令軍中傳說：魏主命辛毗持節，傳諭司馬懿勿得出戰。

A Shu general heard of this and reported it to Kongming. Kongming laughed and said, “This is Sima Yi’s way of settling the Three Armies.” Jiang Wei said, “How does the Chancellor know that?” Kongming said, “He has no wish to fight at all. He asked for battle only to show his men how brave he is. Have you not heard: ‘When a general is in the field, there are orders from his sovereign he need not accept’? Who ever asked permission to fight from a thousand li away? Because his officers and men were angry, Sima Yi borrowed Cao Rui’s authority to restrain them. And now he spreads this story in order to slacken our army’s vigilance.”

蜀將聞知此事，報與孔明。孔明笑曰：“此乃司馬懿安三軍之法也。”姜維曰：“丞相何以知之？”孔明曰：“彼本無戰心；所以請戰者，以示武於衆耳。豈不聞：將在外，君命有所不受。安有千里而請戰者乎？此乃司馬懿因將士忿怒，故借曹睿之意，以制衆人。今又播傳此言，欲懈我軍心也。”

As they were talking, it was suddenly reported that Fei Yi had arrived. Kongming invited him in and questioned him. Fei Yi said, “When Cao Rui, the Ruler of Wei, heard that Eastern Wu was advancing on three routes, he led the main army himself to Hefei and had Man Chong, Tian Yu and Liu Shao divide their forces along three routes to meet the enemy. Man Chong laid a plan and burned all of Eastern Wu’s grain, fodder and war equipment, and many of the Wu troops fell ill. Lu Xun sent a memorial to the King of Wu proposing a joint attack from front and rear, but unexpectedly the man carrying the memorial was captured by Wei troops on the way. So the plan leaked out, and the Wu troops withdrew having achieved nothing.”

正論間，忽報費禕到。孔明請入問之，禕曰：“魏主曹睿聞東吳三路進兵，乃自引大軍至合淝，令滿寵、田豫、劉劭分兵三路迎敵。滿寵設計盡燒東吳糧草戰具，吳兵多病。陸遜上表於吳王，約會前後夾攻，不意齎表人中途被魏兵所獲，因此機關泄漏，吳兵無功而退。”

When Kongming heard this news, he heaved a long sigh and, before he knew it, fell to the ground in a faint. The generals hurried to revive him, and it was a long while before he came to. Kongming sighed, “My mind is confused and my old illness has returned. I fear I shall not live!”

孔明聽知此信，長嘆一聲，不覺昏倒於地；衆將急救，半晌方蘇。孔明嘆曰：“吾心昏亂，舊病復發，恐不能生矣！”

That night Kongming, ill as he was, went out of his tent and looked up at the heavens, and was greatly alarmed. Coming back in, he said to Jiang Wei, “My life may end any day now!” Jiang Wei said, “Why does the Chancellor say such a thing?” Kongming said, “I see that among the Three Terraces the guest star shines twice as bright, while the host star is dim and hidden, and the stars that attend it are faint and dark. With such signs in the heavens, I know what my fate must be!” Jiang Wei said, “Even though the signs are so, why does the Chancellor not use the rites of prayer and exorcism to turn them back?”

是夜，孔明扶病出帳，仰觀天文，十分驚慌；入帳謂姜維曰：“吾命在旦夕矣！”維曰：“丞相何出此言？”孔明曰：“吾見三臺星中，客星倍明，主星幽隱，相輔列曜，其光昏暗：天象如此，吾命可知！”維曰：“天象雖則如此，丞相何不用祈禳之法挽回之？”

Kongming said, “I have long been versed in the rites of prayer and exorcism, but I do not know what heaven intends. Take forty-nine armoured soldiers, each carrying a black banner and dressed in black, and have them surround the outside of my tent. I myself will pray to the Northern Dipper inside the tent. If the master lamp does not go out within seven days, my life will be lengthened by twelve years; if the lamp goes out, I shall certainly die. Let no one who has no business here be allowed in. Everything that is needed is to be carried in by two young boys only.” Jiang Wei took his orders and went off to make the preparations.

孔明曰：“吾素諳祈禳之法，但未知天意若何。汝可引甲士四十九人，各執皁旗，穿皁衣，環繞帳外；我自於帳中祈禳北斗。若七日內主燈不滅，吾壽可增一紀；如燈滅，吾必死矣。閒雜人等，休教放入。凡一應需用之物，只令二小童搬運。”姜維領命，自去準備。

It was the middle of autumn, in the eighth month. That night the Milky Way shone bright, the jade dew fell drop by drop, the banners hung motionless and the watchmen’s gongs were silent. Jiang Wei stood guard outside the tent with his forty-nine men. Inside the tent Kongming set out incense, flowers and offerings. On the ground he arranged seven large lamps, with forty-nine small lamps around them, and in the middle he placed the lamp of his own life. Kongming bowed and prayed: “I, Liang, was born into a troubled age and would gladly have grown old among the woods and streams. But having received Emperor Zhaolie’s kindness in visiting me three times, and the heavy charge of his orphan son, I could not but exert myself like a dog or horse, and I swore to destroy the traitors to the state.

時值八月中秋，是夜銀河耿耿，玉露零零，旌旗不動，刁斗無聲。姜維在帳外引四十九人守護。孔明自於帳中設香花祭物，地上分佈七盞大燈，外布四十九盞小燈，內安本命燈一盞。孔明拜祝曰：“亮生於亂世，甘老林泉；承昭烈皇帝三顧之恩，託孤之重，不敢不竭犬馬之勞，誓討國賊。

But unexpectedly my general’s star is about to fall and my span of life is nearly at its end. I have respectfully written on a foot of silk to report to the azure heavens above. I humbly beg that Heaven in its mercy will look down and hear me, and graciously extend your servant’s years, so that I may repay my sovereign’s kindness above and save the lives of the people below, recover our old domain and prolong the sacrifices of Han for ever. I do not dare to pray wantonly; it comes truly from the urgency of my heart.” When he had finished his prayer, he lay prostrate in the tent until dawn. The next day, ill as he was, he attended to business, but he could not stop coughing up blood. By day he planned military affairs; by night he paced the steps of the Dipper.

不意將星欲墜，陽壽將終。謹書尺素，上告穹蒼：伏望天慈，俯垂鑑聽，曲延臣算，使得上報君恩，下救民命，克復舊物，永延漢祀。非敢妄祈，實由情切。”拜祝畢，就帳中俯伏待旦。次日，扶病理事，吐血不止。日則計議軍機，夜則步罡踏斗。

Meanwhile Sima Yi was holding fast in his camp. Suddenly one night he looked up at the heavens and was overjoyed. He said to Xiahou Ba, “I see that the general’s star has left its place. Kongming must be ill, and he will soon die. Take a thousand troops to the Wuzhang Plains to scout. If the men of Shu are in confusion and do not come out to fight, Kongming must be ill. Then I will take advantage and strike.” Xiahou Ba left with his troops. Kongming had now been praying in his tent for six nights. Seeing the master lamp burning bright, he was greatly heartened.

卻說司馬懿在營中堅守，忽一夜仰觀天文，大喜，謂夏侯霸曰：“吾見將星失位，孔明必然有病，不久便死。你可引一千軍去五丈原哨探。若蜀人攘亂，不出接戰，孔明必然患病矣。吾當乘勢擊之。”霸引兵而去。孔明在帳中祈禳已及六夜，見主燈明亮，心中甚喜。

When Jiang Wei came into the tent, Kongming, his hair unbound and his sword in hand, was pacing the steps of the Dipper to hold down his general’s star. Suddenly shouting was heard outside the camp. Just as someone was about to be sent out to ask what it was, Wei Yan came rushing in and reported, “The Wei army is here!” Wei Yan was moving so hastily that he knocked over the master lamp and put it out. Kongming threw down his sword and sighed, “Life and death are decreed by fate. They cannot be averted by prayer!” Wei Yan, terrified, threw himself to the ground and begged forgiveness. Jiang Wei, in a fury, drew his sword to kill Wei Yan.

姜維入帳，正見孔明披髮仗劍，踏罡步鬥，壓鎮將星。忽聽得寨外吶喊，方欲令人出問，魏延飛步入告曰：“魏兵至矣！”延腳步急，竟將主燈撲滅。孔明棄劍而嘆曰：“死生有命，不可得而禳也！”魏延惶恐，伏地請罪；姜維忿怒，拔劍欲殺魏延。

Indeed:
All things lie beyond man’s power to command;
One heart alone can hardly contend with fate.
Whether Wei Yan lived or died will be told in the next chapter.

正是：萬事不由人做主，一心難與命爭衡。
未知魏延性命如何，且看下文分解。