第174部分(第2/7 页)

Huang　Zhong　at　once　asked　advice　from　Fa　Zheng；　who　said；　〃This　Xiahou　Yuan　is　easily　provoked　to　anger；　and　being　angry　he　is　bold　without　discretion。　Your　way　now　is　to　work　up　the　enthusiasm　of　your　soldiers；　then　break　camp　and　advance。　Do　this　in　a　series　of　marches；　and　you　will　excite　him　up　to　the　point　of　giving　battle；　when　you　can　capture　him。　They　call　this　the　'Ruse　of　the　Interchange　of　Host　and　Guest'。〃

So　Huang　Zhong　collected　all　the　things　his　soldiers　liked；　and　made　them　presents；　till　the　sound　of　rejoicing　filled　the　whole　valley　and　the　men　were　hot　to　fight。　Then　camp　was　broken；　and　the　army　marched　forward　a　certain　distance。　Then　they　encamped。　After　some　days'　rest　the　march　was　repeated；　and　then　again。

When　tidings　of　the　advance　reached　Xiahou　Yuan；　he　proposed　to　go　out　and　fight。

〃No；　no；〃　said　the　prudent　Zhang　He。　〃This　is　a　well　known　ruse；　and　you　should　remain　on　the　defensive。　You　will　lose　if　you　fight。〃

Xiahou　Yuan　was　not　the　man　to　stomach　this　moderate　advice；　so　he　sent　out　Xiahou　Shang　to　give　battle。　As　soon　as　this　force　reached　the　camp　of　Huang　Zhong；　the　Veteran　General　mounted　and　rode　out　to　fight。　In　the　very　first　bout　he　captured　Xiahou　Shang。　Those　who　escaped　told　how　their　leader　had　been　captured；　and　Xiahou　Yuan　at　once　sent　to　offer　an　exchange　of　prisoners。　This　was　agreed　to；　to　be　effected　the　following　day　in　front　of　both　armies。

So　next　day　both　sides　were　arrayed　in　a　spot　where　the　valley　widened；　the　two　leaders　on　horseback　beneath　their　respective　standards。　Beside　each　stood　his　prisoner。　Neither　was　encumbered　with　robe　or　helmet；　but　each　wore　thin；　simple　dress。　At　the　first　beat　of　the　drum　each　started　to　race　over　to　his　own　side。　Just　as　Xiahou　Shan