第176部分(第1/7 页)

w　in　the　upper　course　of　the　stream　a　hill　which　might　well　screen　a　thousand　soldiers。

So　Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　camp；　called　in　Zhao　Yun　and　said；　〃General；　you　lead　five　hundred　troops；　with　drums　and　horns；　and　place　them　in　ambush　behind　the　hill；　to　await　certain　orders　which　will　e　some　time　during　the　night　or　at　dawn。　When　you　hear　a　detonation；　you　are　not　to　appear；　only　give　a　long　roll　of　the　drums　at　every　report。〃

Zhao　Yun　departed　to　play　his　part　in　the　drama；　while　Zhuge　Liang　went　to　a　hill　whence　he　could　overlook　the　scene。

When　next　the　army　of　Cao　Cao　approached　the　camp　of　Shu　and　offered　battle；　not　a　man　came　out；　nor　was　an　arrow　or　a　bolt　shot。　They　retired　without　any　result。　But　in　the　depths　of　the　night；　when　all　the　lights　in　the　camp　were　extinguished　and　all　appeared　tranquil　and　restful；　Zhuge　Liang　exploded　a　bomb；　and　at　once　Zhao　Yun　beat　his　drums　and　blared　his　trumpets。　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　awoke　in　alarm；　thinking　it　was　a　night　raid。　They　rushed　out；　but　there　was　no　enemy；　and　as　the　hubbub　ceased　they　went　back　to　sleep。　Soon　after　there　was　another　bomb；　and　again　the　drums　and　the　trumpets　seeming　to　shake　the　earth　itself；　and　the　fearsome　roar　echoing　along　the　valleys　and　from　the　hills　again　scared　Cao　Cao's　soldiers。　Thus　the　night　passed　in　constant　alarms。　The　next　night　was　the　same；　and　the　next。　On　the　fourth　day　Cao　Cao　broke　up　his　camp；　marched　his　troops　ten　miles　to　the　rear　and　pitched　his　camp　in　a　clear；　wide　space　among　the　hills。

Zhuge　Liang　was　pleased　at　the　result　of　his　ruse。　Said　he；　smiling；　〃Cao　Cao　is　skilled　in　war；　but　still　he　is　not　proof　against　all　deceitful　tricks。〃

The　troops　of　Shu　then　crossed　the　river　and　camped　with　the　stream　behind　them。　When