第239部分(第3/7 页)

nt　of　death；　and　suddenly　they　told　him　that　the　army　of　Shu　had　reached　the　walls。　Hao　Zhao　roused　himself　and　bade　them　go　on　the　ramparts。　But　then　fire　broke　out　at　each　gate；　a　panic　spread　in　the　city；　and　the　noise　of　the　confusion　startled　the　dying　man　so　that　he　passed　away　just　as　the　troops　of　Shu　were　bursting　in。

When　Wei　Yan　and　Jiang　Wei　reached　the　walls；　they　were　perplexed　to　find　no　sign　of　life。　No　flags　were　flying　and　no　watchmen　struck　the　hours。　They　delayed　their　attack　for　a　time。　Then　they　heard　a　bomb；　and　suddenly　the　wall　was　thick　with　flags；　and　there　appeared　the　well…known　figure　of　the　minister。

〃You　have　e　too　late；〃　cried　Zhuge　Liang。

Both　dropped　out　of　the　saddle　and　prostrated　themselves。

〃Really；　you　are　supernatural；　O　Prime　Minister！〃　they　cried。

They　entered　the　city；　and　then　he　explained　to　them；　saying；　〃I　heard　the　news　that　Hao　Zhao　was　seriously　sick；　so　I　sent　you　with　the　deadline　of　three　days　as　a　decoy　to　calm　the　people　of　this　city。　Then　I　hid　myself　in　the　ranks　of　another　force　under　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao；　which　came　to　Chencang　by　double　marches。　Also；　I　had　sent　spies　into　the　city　to　start　the　fires　and　throw　the　defenders　into　confusion。　An　army　without　a　leader　could　never　fight；　and　I　could　take　the　city　easily。　This　is　an　instance　of　the　rule　of　war：　'Do　the　unexpected；　attack　the　unprepared。'〃

They　bowed。　In　miseration　Zhuge　Liang　sent　all　the　family　of　Hao　Zhao；　and　his　coffin；　over　to　Wei；　thus　showing　his　sense　of　the　dead　man's　loyalty。

Turning　once　more　to　Wei　Yan　and　Jiang　Wei；　he　said；　〃But　do　not　divest　yourself　of　your　armor。　Go　and　attack　San　Pass　and　drive　away　the　guards　while　they　are　in　a　state　of　surprise。　If　you　delay；　Wei　will　have　sent