第250部分(第1/7 页)

Liao　Hua　presented　the　enemy's　helmet　as　proof　of　his　prowess　in　the　field；　and　received　a　reward　of　the　first　grade　of　merit。　Wei　Yan　went　away　angry　and　discontented；　Zhuge　Liang　noticed　this；　but　he　said　nothing。

Very　sadly　Sima　Yi　returned　to　his　own　camp。　Bad　news　followed；　for　a　messenger　brought　letters　telling　of　an　invasion　by　three　armies　of　Wu。　The　letters　said　that　forces　had　been　sent　against　them；　and　the　Ruler　of　Wei　again　enjoined　upon　his　mander…in…Chief　a　waiting　and　defensive　policy。　So　Sima　Yi　deepened　his　moats　and　raised　his　ramparts。

Meanwhile；　when　the　South　Land　marched　against　the　Middle　Land；　Cao　Rui　sent　three　armies　against　the　invaders：　Liu　Shao　led　that　to　save　Jiangxia；　Tian　Du　led　the　Xiangyang　force；　Cao　Rui　himself；　with　Man　Chong；　went　into　Hefei。　This　last　was　the　main　army。

Man　Chong　led　the　leading　division　toward　Lake　Chaohu。　Thence；　looking　across　to　the　eastern　shore；　he　saw　a　forest　of　battleships；　and　flags　and　banners　crowded　the　sky。　So　he　returned　to　the　main　army　and　proposed　an　attack　without　loss　of　time。

〃The　enemy　think　we　shall　be　fatigued　after　a　long　march；　and　so　they　have　not　troubled　to　prepare　any　defense。　We　should　attack　this　night；　and　we　shall　overe　them。〃

〃What　you　say　accords　with　my　own　ideas；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

Then　the　Ruler　of　Wei　told　off　the　cavalry　leader；　Zhang　Qiu；　to　take　five　thousand　troops　and　try　to　burn　out　the　enemy　with　bustibles。　Man　Chong　was　also　to　attack　from　the　eastern　bank。

In　the　second　watch　of　that　night；　the　two　forces　set　out　and　gradually　approached　the　entrance　to　the　lake。　They　reached　the　marine　camp　unobserved；　burst　upon　it　with　a　yell；　and　the　soldiers　of　Wu　fled　without　striking　a　blow。　The　troops　of　Wei　set　fir