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第204部分(第1页)

of the Bold Beauty〃; and one who described it wrote a poem:

The Ruler; defeated; fled to Baidicheng;

Through thunderous tiding; Lady Sun mitted suicide。

Today the water still flows by the carved stone

To show where and why this heroine died。

There could be no question that this exploit brought tremendous glory to Lu Xun。 Anxious to push his advantage as far as possible; Lu Xun led his exultant army westward。 But as he drew near to Kui Pass; he suddenly pulled up his horse; remarking that he saw an aura of death about the mountain side in front。

〃We may not yet advance farther。 I suspect an ambush。〃

So they retreated three miles and camped in a wide open space。 And the army was arrayed ready against any sudden attack。 Meanwhile; scouts were sent out。 They returned reporting no soldiers。 Lu Xun doubted and went up to the summit of a hill whence he could see over the country。 The aura was still visible to him; and so he dispatched other people to spy。 But he received the same report: Not a soldier; not a horse。

Still; as the sun got lower and lower in the west; he saw the same appearance accentuated; and he began to feel grave doubts。 He sent a confidant to look once more。

This man came back; saying; 〃There is not a single soldier; but I have noticed on the river bank nearly a hundred heaps of boulders。〃

The mander…in…Chief; still doubting; called in several of the natives and questioned them about the stones。

〃Who put them there? Why did they look so ghastly?〃 asked Lu Xun。

〃We do not know。 This place is called Fishbelly Creek。 When Zhuge Liang was going west into the River Lands; he came along here with a lot of soldiers and heaped up the boulders like that on the sandy beach。 We have seen vapors rising from the boulders; they seemed to e from inside them。〃

Lu Xun decided to go and look at these boulders himself。 So he rode off; with a small escort。 Looked down from a declivity; the stones were evidently arranged with a design related to the eight points of the pass。 There were doors and door…sills and lintels。

〃This looks likely to drive a person out of his senses;〃 he said。 〃I wonder whether it is any good。〃

They rode down with intent to examine the mysterious arrangement more closely and went in among the stones。

Presently one of the escort called attention to the increasing darkness and said; 〃The sun is setting。 We ought to be returning to camp。〃

But as Lu Xun glanced round to look for an exit; a sudden squall came on and the dust whirled up; obscuring both sky and earth。 And in the swirl the stones reared themselves up like steep mountains; pointed like swords; and the dust and sand shaped themselves into waves and hillocks one behind the other。 The roar of the boiling river was as the drums before a battle。

〃This is some trick of Zhuge Liang;〃 said Lu Xun in a scared voice; 〃and I have been caught。〃

He would go out; but he had quite lost his way and could find no exit。 As he stopped to consider what he should do; an old man suddenly appeared。

The old man said; 〃Does the General wish to go out?〃

〃I greatly desire that you would pilot me out; O Elder!〃 replied he。

Leaning on his staff; the old man led the way and with quiet dignity conducted Lu Xun outside。 He had no difficulty in finding his way and paused not a single instant。 When they were once again on the slope; Lu Xun asked his aged guide who he was。

〃I am Zhuge Liangs father…in…law。 My name is Huang Chenyan。 My son…in…law placed these boulders here as you see them; and he said they represented the Eight…Array Maze。 They are like eight doors; and according to the scheme are named: Gate of Rest; Gate of Life; Gate of Injury; Gate of Obstruction; Gate of Prospect; Gate of Death; Gate of Surprise; and Gate of Openings。

〃They are capable of infinite mutations and would be equal to a hundred thousand soldiers。 As he was leaving; he told me that if any leader of Wu became mazed in them; I was not to conduct him outside。 From a precipice near by I saw you; General; enter in at the Gate of Death。 As I guessed you were ignorant of the scheme; I knew you would be entangled。 But I am of a good disposition and could not bear that you should be entrapped without possibility of escape; so I came to guide you to the Gate of Life。〃

〃Have you studied this matter; Sir?〃 asked Lu Xun。

〃The variations are inexhaustible; and I could not learn them all。〃

Lu Xun dismounted; bowed low before the old man and then rode away。

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