第246部分(第1/7 页)

〃There　is　the　order；　carry　it　out；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。

So　the　forty　thousand　home…going　soldiers　prepared　to　withdraw。

Just　then　came　the　news：　〃Sun　Li　has　arrived　with　reinforcements　of　two　hundred　thousand　troops　from　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou。　Guo　Huai　and　Sun　Li　have　gone　to　attack　Saber　Pass；　and　Sima　Yi　is　leading　an　army　against　Lucheng。〃

In　the　face　of　such　important　news；　Yang　Yi　went　to　discuss　with　Zhuge　Liang。

Said　Yang　Yi；　〃The　Wei　army　are　advancing　against　our　critical　points。　Should　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　postpone　for　a　time　the　withdrawal　of　the　field　troops　in　order　to　strengthen　our　defense？　You　can　wait　for　the　new　troops　to　arrive　first。〃

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃I　must　keep　faith　with　the　soldiers。　Since　the　order　for　the　periodical　exchange　of　troops　has　been　issued；　it　must　be　carried　out。　Beside；　the　soldiers　due　for　relief　are　all　prepared　to　start；　their　expectations　have　been　roused　and　their　relatives　await　them。　In　the　face　of　yet　greater　difficulties　I　would　still　let　them　go。〃

So　orders　were　given　for　the　time…expired　soldiers　to　march　that　day。　But　when　the　legionaries　heard　it；　a　sudden　movement　of　generosity　spread　among　them。

And　they　said；　〃Since　the　Prime　Minister　cares　for　us　so　much；　we　do　not　wish　to　go；　but　will　prefer　to　remain　to　fight　the　Wei　army　to　death。〃

〃But　you　are　due　for　home。　You　cannot　stay　here；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

They　reiterated　that　they　all　wished　to　stay　instead　of　going　home。

Zhuge　Liang　was　glad　and　said；　〃Since　you　wish　to　stay　and　fight　with　me；　you　can　go　out　of　the　city　and　camp　ready　to　encounter　the　army　of　Wei　as　soon　as　they　arrive。　Do　not　give　them　time　to　rest　or　recover　breath；　but　attack　vigorously　at　once。　You　will　be　fresh　and