第274部分(第2/7 頁)

Deng　Ai　called　his　son　Deng　Zhong　and　Shi　Zuan　and　sent　them　with　ten　thousand　troops　each　to　attack　the　left　camp；　one　on　each　flank。　Then　he　sent　Zheng　Lun　and　five　hundred　troops　into　the　underground　road；　which　opened　in　rear　of　the　camp　of　Wang　Han　and　Jiang　Bin。

As　the　newly　made　camp　was　not　yet　well　fortified；　Wang　Han　and　Jiang　Bin　exercised　great　care　and　kept　their　troops　under　arms　all　night；　watching　with　vigilance。　So　when　the　alarm　was　given；　they　had　but　to　seize　their　weapons　and　go　out。　But　as　the　two　leaders　were　mounting　their　steeds；　Deng　Zhong　and　Shi　Zuan　had　attacked　from　without；　and　Zheng　Lun　from　within。　Thus　attacked　from　three　sides；　soon　Wang　Han　and　Jiang　Bin　found　the　position　untenable　and　fled。

When　Jiang　Wei　saw　that　his　left　camp　had　been　attacked　on　three　sides；　he　mounted　and　took　his　position　in　front　of　the　center　camp。

〃Let　no　one　move　on　pain　of　death！〃　he　shouted。　〃Stand　still。　When　the　enemy　approaches；　shoot！〃

The　right　camp　was　ordered　to　stand　fast。　His　defense　was　effective。　A　dozen　of　times　the　troops　of　Wei　came　forward；　only　to　be　driven　back　before　the　arrows　and　bolts　of　the　defenders。　Daylight　found　the　Shu　camps　still　firm；　and　the　Wei　troops　drew　off。

〃Jiang　Wei　has　indeed　learned　of　Zhuge　Liang；〃　said　Deng　Ai。　〃His　soldiers　stood　the　night　attack　without　flinching；　and　the　leaders　took　the　chances　of　battle　quite　calmly。　He　is　able。〃

Next　day；　when　Wang　Han　and　Jiang　Bin　went　to　confess　their　fault；　Jiang　Wei　said；　〃It　was　less　your　fault　than　mine；　for　I　did　not　clearly　recognize　the　nature　of　the　terrain。〃

So　no　penalty　was　inflicted。　The　camp　was　made　stronger；　and　the　subterranean　passage　was　filled　with　the　bodies　of　the　slain。

A　challenge　to　battle　for