〃Here is the sword and here the seal！〃 replied the strategist； displaying the emblems of authority。 〃Disobedience of orders will be death。〃
Liu Bei said； 〃Do you not understand that the plans elaborated in a little chamber decide success over thousands of miles？ Do not disobey the mand； my brothers。〃
Zhang Fei went out smiling cynically。
Guan Yu remarked； 〃Let us await the result。 If he fails； then we can look to it。〃
The brothers left。 None of the officers understood anything of the general line of strategy and； though they obeyed orders； they were not without doubts and misgivings。
Zhuge Liang said to Liu Bei； 〃You may now lead your soldiers to the hills and camp till the enemy shall arrive tomorrow evening。 Then you are to abandon the camp and move away retreating till the signal is seen。 Then you will advance and attack with all force。 Mi Zhu； Mi Fang； and I will guard the city。〃
In the city Zhuge Liang prepared banquets to celebrate the victory and also prepared the books to record exceptional services。
Liu Bei noted all these things； but his heart was also troubled not a little。
Cao Cao's army of one hundred thousand troops in due course reached Bowang。 Then half of them； the veterans； were told off for the first attack； and the remainder were to guard the baggage train and supplies。 Thus they marched in two divisions。 The season was autumn and a chilly wind began to blow。
They pressed forward。 Presently they saw a cloud of dust ahead of them； and Xiahou Dun ordered the ranks to be reformed。 He questioned the guides as to the name of the place。
〃The place in front is Bowang Slope； and behind us is the River Luo；〃 was the reply。
Then Xiahou Dun rode to the front to reconnoiter； leaving Yu Jin and Li Dian to finish setting out the battle array。
Presently Xiahou Dun began to laugh and； when they asked the cause of this merriment； he replied； 〃Xu Shu praised Zhuge Liang to the very skies as something more than human。 But now that I see how he has placed his soldiers and the stuff he has put into his vanguard； it seems to me that he is sending dogs or sheep against tigers and leopards。 I bragged a little when I said I would take him prisoner； but I am going to make good my boast。〃
Then he rode forward at full speed。
Zhao Yun rode to meet him； and Xiahou Dun opened a volley of abuse； 〃You lot； followers of Liu Bei； are only like wraiths following devils！〃
This angered Zhao Yun and a bat began。 In a little time Zhao Yun turned and retreated as if he was worsted。 Xiahou Dun pressed after him and kept up the chase for some three miles。 Then Zhao Yun suddenly turned again and offered fight； but only to retreat after a few passes。
Seeing these tactics Han Hao； one of Xiahou Dun's generals； rode up to his chief and urged him to use caution； saying； 〃I fear he is trying to lead us into an ambush。〃
〃With such antagonists as these； I should not fear even Ten Ambushes；〃 replied Xiahou Dun； pressing forward eagerly。
Just as he reached the slope； he heard the roar of a bomb and out came Liu Bei to attack。
〃Here is your ambush！〃 said Xiahou Dun； laughing。 〃I will get to Xinye this evening before I have done。〃
Xiahou Dun urged his soldiers forward； and his opponents retired in measure as he advanced。 As evening came on； thick clouds overcast the whole sky。 The wind increased but the leader still urged his troops after the retreating foe。
The two generals in the rear came to a narrow part of the road with reeds and rushes thick all round them。
〃Those who despise the enemy are beaten；〃 said Li Dian to Yu Jin。 〃Away south there the roads are narrow； and streams and mountains make the country difficult。 The forests are dense； and if the enemy used fire we should be lost。〃
〃You are right；〃 replied Yu Jin。 〃I will get on and warn the manding General。 Perhaps he will stop。 You can halt those who e up。〃
Yu Jin rode forward shouting at the top of his voice； 〃Halt the train！〃
Xiahou Dun saw him ing up and asked what was the matter。
Yu Jin said； 〃The roads here are narrow and difficult。 Around us are thick forests。 What if they use fire？〃
Xiahou Dun's ferocity had then somewhat abated and he turned his steed toward his main body。
Then there arose a shout behind him。 A rushing noise came from in the reeds and great tongues of flame shot up here and there。 These spread and soon the fire was in 〃the four quarters and the eight sides；〃 and fanned by a strong wind。
Xiahou Dun's troops were thrown into confusion and trampled each other down。 Many perished。 Zhao Yun turned on them again to make a slaughter。 Xiahou Dun dashed through the fire and smoke to escape。
Now Li Dian saw that things were going very badly； so he turned to get back to Bowang but fell upon a body of troops in the way； led by Guan Yu。 He desperately dashed into their midst and managed to get clear。 Yu Jin saw the supplies were being destroyed and there was nothing left to guard； so he escaped along a bye…path。 Two other generals； who came to try to save the baggage train； met Zhang Fei； and Xiahou Lan was slain forthwith； but Han Hao managed to flee。 Next morning the countryside was strewn with corpses and drenched with blood。
The armies met on Bowang Slope
And Zhuge Liang fought with fire；
A perfect strategist； he bent
All humans to his desire。
But poor Cao Cao； his enemy；
He trembled in his shoes
Before the man； who'd never fought
But yet could armies use。
Xiahou Dun drew up the battered remains of his army and led them back to Xuchang。
Zhuge Liang ordered his armies to collect。
As Guan Yu and Zhang Fei rode homeward； they confessed； saying； 〃Zhuge Liang is really a fine strategist！〃
Before long they saw Mi Zhu and Mi Fang leading out a small body of soldiers。 Among them was a light carriage in which the Directing Instructor Zhuge Liang was seating。 Guan Yu and Zhang Fei dismounted and bowed before him。 The remaining bodies came in。 The spoil was distributed among the soldiers and all returned to Xinye； where the populace lined the roads to bid them wele。
〃We owe our lives to the Prince！〃 they cried to Liu Bei。
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃Xiahou Dun has been driven off； but Cao Cao will e with a stronger force。〃
〃And what shall we do？〃 replied Liu Bei。
〃My plan is quite ready；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
Always battles； nowhere rest for horse or human；
Must rely on ruses； dodging where one can。
The plan prepared against Cao Cao will be unfolded in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 40 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Lady Cai Renounces Jingzhou；
Zhuge Liang Burns Xinye。
When Liu Bei asked how his adviser hoped to repel Cao Cao； Zhuge Liang replied； 〃Xinye is a small city and unfitted for our lengthy occupation。 Liu Biao is ill and failing fast； so this is the time to take his region as a base where we may be safe against Cao Cao。〃
〃You speak well； but Liu Biao has shown me great kindness； and I could not bear to serve him an ill turn。〃
〃If you do not take this opportunity； you will regret it ever after；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃I would rather perish than do what is wrong。〃
〃We will discuss it again；〃 replied Zhuge Liang。
When Xiahou Dun reached the capital； he presented himself to his master in bonds and craved death。 But his master loosed him and let him tell his tale。
And Xiahou Dun said； 〃I was the victim of Zhuge Liang's evil machinations： He attacked with fire。〃
〃As a soldier from your youth； you should have remembered that fire was a likely weapon in narrow roads。〃
〃Li Dian and Yu Jin reminded me。 I am sorry enough now。〃
Cao Cao rewarded Li Dian and Yu Jin who had warned their leader。
〃Liu Bei as strong as he is now certainly is a menace to our existence； and he must be quickly destroyed；〃 said Xiahou Dun。
〃He is one of my anxieties；〃 replied Cao Cao。 〃Sun Quan is the other。 The rest do not count。 We must take this chance to sweep the south clean。〃
Then orders were issued to prepare an army of five hundred thousand troops； in five divisions of ten legions each。 Each division had two leaders： Cao Ren and Cao Hong were in mand of the first division； Zhang Liao and Zhang He； the second； Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan； the third； Yu Jin and Li Dian； the fourth。 The fifth body was led by Cao Cao himself。 The van was manded by Xu Chu。 The 〃horse〃 day of the seventh moon of the thirteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity was fixed for the march （AD 208）。
The High Minister； Kong Rong； offered a remonstrance。
He said； 〃Liu Bei and Liu Biao are both of the Imperial House and should not be attacked without grave reasons。 Sun Quan in the six territories of the South Land is terrible as a crouching tiger and； with the Great River as his defense； he is very secure。 If； Sir Prime Minister； you undertake this unjustifiable expedition； you will forfeit the respect of the world； I fear。〃
〃All three of them are disobedient ministers and rebels； and how can I fail to punish them？〃 replied Cao Cao。
Cao Cao was angry； and bade the adviser go from his presence。 Presently Cao Cao gave formal orders that he would put to death anyone who remonstrated on the subject of his expedition。
Kong Rong went forth from the Palace sadly。
Casting his eyes up to heaven； he cried； 〃Where is the chance of success when the perfectly inhumane attacks the perfectly humane？ He must be defeated！〃
One of the clients of the Imperial Inspector Chi Lu； whom Kong Rong had always treated contemptuously and disdainfully； happened to hear this apostrophe and told his patron who carried the tale to Cao Cao。
Chi Lu also added to it； saying； 〃Kong Rong habitually speaks disrespectfully of the Chief Minister and has been very friendly with Mi Heng。 In fact the insults that Mi Heng had hurled at you had been deliberately arranged and intrigued by Kong Rong。 Kong Rong and Mi Heng seemed to admire each other hugely； and Mi Heng used to say； 'Confucius is not dead； because Kong Rong is he；' and the other used to reply； 'And his treasured disciple； Yan Hui； has risen again； because Mi Heng is he。'〃
Chi Lu's tale angered Cao Cao； who ordered the arrest execution of the high minister。
Now Kong Rong had two sons； both young； who were sitting at home playing chess； when one of their servants ran in and said； 〃Your father has just been carried off for execution。 Why do you not run away？〃
The youths replied； 〃When the nest is pulled down； are the eggs left unbroken？〃
Even at that moment the same executors came and carried off the whole household。 The two youths were beheaded。 The father's corpse was exposed in the streets。
Minister Zhi Xi wept over the corpse。 This public exhibition of sympathy rekindled Cao Cao's anger； and he was going to punish it with death。
However； this additional punishment was prevented by Adviser Xun Yu； who said； 〃You should not slay a righteous man who came to mourn over his friend's corpse。 Zhi Xi had often warned Kong Rong against the danger his severe rectitude might lead him into。〃
Zhi Xi took up the remains of father and sons and buried them。
Kong Rong； who dwelt on the north sea shore；
A noble reputation bore；
With him all guests warm wele found；
And ceaselessly the wine went round。
For skill in letters he was famed；
In speech； he dukes and princes shamed；
Historians his merits tell；
Recorders say that he did well。