〃What ruse do you propose？〃 asked Xiahou Mao。
〃Let us pretend to offer the city； and let the army of Shu in。 Once they are in； we can massacre them。〃
Xiahou Mao agreed to plot the scheme。
Cui Liang went back to Zhuge Liang's camp； where he said； 〃Yang Ling wants to offer the Prime Minister the city。 He also wants to capture Xiahou Mao； but he is so afraid of having few soldiers that he has made no hasty move。〃
〃That is simple enough；〃 replied Zhuge Liang。 〃Your hundred troops are here。 We can mix with them some of my generals dressed as your officers and so let them get into the city。 They can hide in Xiahou Mao's dwelling and arrange with Yang Ling to open the gates in the night。 And my grand army will e in to make the capture for you。〃
Cui Liang thought within himself； 〃If I do not take the Shu generals； they will arouse suspicion。 I would rather take them and will kill them as soon as they get within the walls。 Then； I will give the signal and beguile Zhuge Liang to enter； and so dispose of him。〃
So Cui Liang consented to Zhuge Liang's proposal。
Zhuge Liang gave him instructions； saying； 〃I will send my trusty Guan Xing and Zhang Bao with you。 You will pass them off as the rescuers just to set Xiahou Mao's mind at rest。 But when you raise a fire； I shall take that as my signal and e in。〃
At dusk the two trusty generals； having received their secret orders； put on their armor； mounted； took their weapons； and got in among the Anding troops。 Cui Liang led the small force to the gate。 Yang Ling was on the wall。 The drawbridge was hoisted。 He leaned over the guard rail and scanned those below。
〃Who are you？〃 asked he。
〃We are rescuers from Anding。〃
Now Cui Liang shot an arrow over the wall； to which a secret letter was bound； saying：
〃Zhuge Liang is sending two generals into the city that they may help him to get in； but do nothing till we get inside lest the ruse gets known and the game be spoiled。〃
Yang Ling went to show this letter to Xiahou Mao； who said； 〃Then Zhuge Liang is going to be our victim。 Put a pany of ax and bill men in the palace； and as soon as these two generals get inside； shut the gates and fall on。 Then give the signal。 As soon as Zhuge Liang gets inside the gate； seize him。〃
All arrangements being made； Yang Ling went back to the wall and said； 〃Since you are Anding troops； you may be allowed in。〃
The gate was thrown open and； while Guan Xing followed close after Cui Liang； Zhang Bao was a little way behind。 Yang Ling came down to the gate to wele them。 As soon as Guan Xing got near； he lifted his sword and smote Yang Ling； who fell headless。 Cui Liang was startled and lashed his steed to flee。
But Zhang Bao rushed forth and cried； 〃Scoundrel！ Did you think your vile plot would be hidden from the eyes of our Prime Minister？〃
With that Cui Liang fell from a spear thrust of Zhang Bao。 Then Guan Xing went up on the wall and lit the fire。 Soon the army of Shu filled the city。 Xiahou Mao could make no defense； so he tried to fight his way through the south gate。 There he met Wang Ping and was captured。 Those with him were slain。
Zhuge Liang entered the city of Nanan and at once forbade all plunder。 The various generals reported the deeds of valor。 The captive mander…in…Chief was placed in a prisoner's cart。
Then Deng Zhi asked； 〃O Prime Minister； how did you know the treachery of Cui Liang？〃
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I knew the man was unwilling in his heart to yield； so I sent him into the city that he might have a chance to weave a counter plot with Xiahou Mao。 I saw by his manner he was treacherous； and so I sent my two trusty generals with him to give him a feeling of security。 Had he been true to me； he would have opposed this。 But he accepted it gaily and went with them lest I should suspect him。 He thought they could slay the two leaders and entice me in。 But Guan Xing and Zhang Bao already had orders of what to do。 Everything turned out as I thought； and as they did not expect。〃
The officers bowed their appreciation of his wonderful insight。
Then Zhuge Liang said； 〃I sent one of my trusty people to pretend he was a certain Pei Xu of Wei and so deceive this Cui Liang。 Then I sent another messenger to reinforce the ruse。 I also sent them to Tianshui to repeat the plan； but nothing has happened yet。 I do not know the reason。 We will take this opportunity to capture that place。〃
It was decided to take Tianshui next； and thither they moved。 Wu Yi and Liu Yang were to guard Nanan and Anding。 Wei Yan was ordered to move toward Tianshui。
When Ma Zun； Governor of Tianshui； heard of Xiahou Mao's being besieged in Nanan； he called a council at which one party………headed by Yin Shang and Liang Xu………were strongly of opinion that a rescue should be attempted。
〃If anything sinister happens to the Imperial Son…in…Law； 'golden branch and jade leaf' as he is； we shall be held guilty of having made no attempt to save him。 Wherefore； O Governor； you must march all the forces you have to his rescue；〃 said Yin Shang and Liang Xu。
Ma Zun found decision difficult； and while thinking over what was best to do； the arrival of Pei Xu； a messenger from Xiahou Mao； was announced。 Pei Xu was taken to the Governor's residence and there produced his dispatch and asked for aid。 Soon came another man saying that the Anding troops had set out and calling upon Ma Zun to hasten。 This decided him； and he prepared his army。
Then an outsider came in and said； 〃O Governor； you are the sport of one of Zhuge Liang's wiles。〃
All looked at him with surprise。 He was one Jiang Wei。 His father was Jiang Jiong； a former local official who had died in the court's service while quelling one of the Qiang rebellions。 Jiang Wei was well up in books； seeming to have read everything； and was also skilled in all warlike exercises。 He had studied books on war。 He was a very filial son and much esteemed。 He held military rank of General。
Jiang Wei said to the Governor； 〃I hear Zhuge Liang is attacking Xiahou Mao； who is now in Nanan most closely besieged。 How then can this messenger have got out？ Pei Xu is an unknown officer whom no one has heard of； and the other messenger from Anding bears no dispatch。 The fact is the men are imposters sent to beguile you into leaving your city undefended so that it may be the more easily captured。〃
The Governor began to understand。 He said； 〃Were it not for you； I would fall into a ruse。〃
Then Jiang Wei said； 〃But do not be anxious。 I have a scheme by which we can capture Zhuge Liang and relieve Nanan。〃
The fates all changing bring the man that's needed；
And warlike skill es from a source unheeded。
The next chapter will unfold the ruse proposed by Jiang Wei。
Main Next to Chapter 93 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Jiang Wei Goes Over To Zhuge Liang；
Zhuge Liang's Reviles Kill Wang Lang。
Jiang Wei propounded his scheme of defense； saying； 〃Zhuge Liang will lay an ambush behind the city； induce our soldiers to go out and then take advantage of its undefended state to capture it。 Now give me three thousand good soldiers； and I will place them in ambush at a certain critical place。 Lead your troops out； but go slowly and not further than ten miles； and then turn to retire。 However； look out for a signal； and if you see one； attack； for the attack will be double。 If Zhuge Liang is there himself； we shall capture him。〃
The Governor adopted this plan； gave the needed troops to Jiang Wei； who marched at once； and then Ma Zun went forth himself with Liang Qian。 Only two civil officials………Liang Xu and Yin Shang………were left to guard the city。
Zhao Yun had been sent to lie in ambush in a secret place among the hills till the Tianshui army left the city； when he was to rush in and capture it。 His spies reported the departure of the Governor； and only civil officials remained within the city。 Zhao Yun sent on the news to those who were acting with him； Zhang Yi and Gao Xiang； that they might attack Ma Zun。
Zhao Yun and his five thousand troops then quickly marched to the city wall and called out； 〃I am Zhao Yun of Changshan。 You have fallen into our trap； but if you will surrender quickly； you will save many lives。〃
But instead of being alarmed； Liang Xu looked down from the wall and said； 〃On the contrary； you have fallen into our trap。 Only you do not know it yet！〃
Zhao Yun began his attack on the walls。 Soon there was heard a roar； and fire broke out all round； and forth came a youthful leader armed with a spear； riding a curvetting steed。
〃Look at me； Jiang Wei of Tianshui！〃 cried he。
Zhao Yun made at him； but after a few bouts he found Jiang Wei was getting very eager。
Zhao Yun was surprised； and wondered； 〃No one knows there is such an able man in Tianshui。〃
As the fight went on； along came the two other forces under Ma Zun and Liang Qian； now returning。 As Zhao Yun found he could not prevail； he set to cut an alley through and lead off his defeated troops。 He was pursued； but Zhang Yi and Gao Xiang poured forth to save him； and he got away safely。
Zhuge Liang was surprised when he heard what had happened。
〃Who is this？〃 said he。 〃Who has thus seen into the dark depths of my secret plan？〃
A man of Nanan； who happened to be there； told him； 〃He is Jiang Wei from Jicheng of Tianshui County。 He is very filial to his mother。 Civil skill and military prowess； wisdom and courage； he has all。 Truly； he is a hero of the age。〃
Zhao Yun also praised his skill with the spear； which was superior to any other's。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I want to take Tianshui now。 I did not expect to find such a man as this。〃
The Shu army then advanced in force。
Jiang Wei went back to Ma Zun and said； 〃Zhao Yun's defeat will bring up Zhuge Liang with the main body。 He will conclude that we shall be in the city； wherefore you had better divide your force into four。 I； with one party； will go into hiding on the east so that I may cut off our enemies if they e that way。 You； O Governor； and Liang Qian and Yin Shang will lie in ambush on the other sides of the city。 Let Liang Xu and the mon people go up on the wall to make the defense。〃
Ma Zun agreed to the plan and prepared everything。
Due to Jiang Wei； Zhuge Liang himself led the main army to Tianshui。
When they reached the city； Zhuge