第239部分(第2/7 页)

rn。

When　this　was　all　over；　Sun　Quan　called　in　Lu　Xun　and　asked　his　opinion　about　the　concerted　attack　on　Wei。　Lu　Xun　saw　through　the　scheme　at　once。

〃We　owe　this　to　Zhuge　Liang's　fear　of　Sima　Yi；〃　said　he。　〃However；　we　must　consent　since　Shu　asks　it。　We　will　make　a　show　of　raising　an　army　and　in　a　measure　support　them。　When　Zhuge　Liang　has　actually　attacked　Wei；　we　will　make　for　the　Middle　Land　ourselves。〃

Orders　went　forth　for　enlisting　and　training　Jingzhou　soldiers　ready　for　an　expedition　to　start　presently。

When　Chen　Zhen　returned　to　Hanzhong　and　reported　to　the　Prime　Minister；　Zhuge　Liang　was　still　worried　that　he　could　not　advanced　hastily　by　the　road　through　Chencang。　So　he　sent　scouts　out　first。

Soon　the　scouts　brought　the　news　back：　〃The　defender　of　the　city；　Hao　Zhao；　is　being　very　ill。〃

〃That　means　success　for　me；〃　cried　he；　cheering。

He　called　in　Wei　Yan　and　Jiang　Wei；　and　said；　〃Take　five　thousand　troops　and　hasten　to　Chencang。　If　you　see　a　blaze；　then　attack。〃

They　could　hardly　believe　what　the　order　was　meant；　and　came　again　to　see　their　chief　and　asked　the　exact　date　of　departure。

Replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃In　three　days　you　should　be　ready　to　march。　Do　not　e　to　take　leave　of　me；　but　set　out　as　soon　as　possible。〃

After　they　had　left　his　tent；　he　summoned　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　and　gave　them　secret　instructions。

Now　when　Guo　Huai　heard　that　mander　Hao　Zhao　of　Chencang　was　ill；　he　and　Zhang　He　talked　over　the　matter。

Guo　Huai　said；　〃Hao　Zhao　is　very　ill。　You　had　better　go　and　relieve　him。　I　will　report　to　the　capital　what　we　have　done　that　they　may　arrange。〃

So　Zhang　He　started　with　his　three　thousand　troops　to　relieve　the　sick　man。

Hao　Zhao　was　indeed　at　the　poi