Chapter 1: Star fall Wuzhang Plains
800 miles from Sichuan, Wei river bank, Wuzhang Plain!
The men shouting and horses neighing, smoke from kitchen chimneys curling, towering tents extending several miles away. The wind blows, black, red dragon flag set up in the camp makes a fluttering sound, making the whole barracks cast a layer of desolate murder gas!
When the nightfall, the round sun sank below the horizon, vague starlight can clearly be seen in the sky!
At this time outside the main military camp, 49 armed soldiers wearing black clothes, the hand grasps the black flag, seven men as a team, circles the camp forming the Big Dipper line!
Within the main camp, brightly lit, seven large lamps in the ground occupy a Big Dipper formation, the periphery is 49 small lamps, a.s.suming various star heavenly bodies. Moreover, at the North Star position(Polaris), there is an altar surrounded by flowers.
Above the altar, a blue lotus-shaped lamp spits out a weak flame. Fire is small, such as beans, like a candle in the wind, looking like it can go out at any moment.
Old man with a beard and gray hair, wearing a Taoist robe, holding a double-edged sword, stands near the altar with eyes closed.
Although old man looks like ill, whenever he opens both eyes, the eyes flash with a strange brilliance, almost look like brightly lit lights in the camp.
This Taoist robe old man is a well-known figure in history!
He is the genius devil, his fame spreads over the ages and is eternal, regarded as the incarnation of sages, ever honored by the world.
He is dedicated, loyal to Shu Han - Prime Minister Zhuge Kong Ming! (TL: search for Three Kingdoms)
Zhuge Kong Ming helped Shu Han, for the restoration of the Han dynasty, battled with powerful Cao Wei, altogether six times before and after the invasion of Mount Qi, trying to overcome the Central Plains. Pity is that Zhuge Kong Ming met his lifelong rival, sly as fox Sima Yi of Wei!
Zhuge Kong Ming led six expeditions to Mount Qi. During the last war he tempted Sima Yi, prepared a fire to burn down the Gourd Valley, but the rain storm finally lets Sima Yi escape with his life.
Because of acc.u.mulating a disease, grief-stricken, Zhuge Kong Ming eventually fell ill on the military camp.
That night, Zhuge Kong Ming look up to the sky, saw his stars constellation, its light dim, he knows his life came to an end.
Zhuge Kong Ming is skilled in ancient Chinese divination, for the great cause of Shu Han he decided to prolong his life performing star sacrifice, defying natural order, playing G.o.d, to alter his guards life for him.
Tonight is the seventh night so long as the main lamp in the camp does not extinguish, it can be said that he is successful.
However, it’s hard to predict, even a genius like Zhuge Kong Ming, can’t guarantee that going against the will of heaven be able to succeed.
Night gradually is getting more and thicker, because tonight is in August Mid-Autumn Festival, we can see bright stars in Milky way! All around wind stopped, in the camp all is silent, it can be said a total silence!
A young man wearing a silver armor gently opened the curtain, then slowly moved into the camp. This young military officer named Jiang Wei is Zhuge Kong Ming successor, only military who can pa.s.s directly into the camp.
Jiang Wei seeing the main lamp is bright his heart filled with great joy! As long as two hours the main light didn"t extinguish; the star sacrifice is successful, the teacher can also continue to live.
At this time, outside the camp can hear the intense fighting sound, and then there was a hurried footstep.
Zhuge Kong Ming look is invariable, remains around the altar, but Jiang Wei look is full of worry, wants to go forward to keep off in the entrance. However, Jiang Wei walks slowly step by step to the entry without creating a disturbance in the air; suddenly curtain opened, a man wearing iron armor comes hurriedly with respect saying: "Prime Minister, Cao Wei is attacking the camp!"
Jiang Wei eye split open, sees the curtain bringing a light breeze from the wind as all the main lamps extinguished, his face looks ashen, hands raised, with a fury drew his sword, to cut to kill the man in the iron armor!
In this time, Zhuge Kong Ming gently sighed, waved him to stop: "Life and death are fated, the law of star sacrifice is an act against heaven, really is the divine intervention, no wonder Wenchang."
The intruder in iron armor is Sichuan armed forces senior general Wei Yan Wenchang. He knew he made a big mistake, kneels down apologizes. Nearby Jiang Wei, abandons the sword, crying and kneeling on the ground.
Zhuge Kong Ming with an invariable face, looks back at Wei Yan: "Wenchang don"t need to be worried, Wei army wants to search our actual military situation. You just lead the troops Wei army will retreat."
Wei Yan cup one’s hands in obeisance to Zhuge Kong Ming, lead the troops to kill, a moment later fighting sound goes far away.
Zhuge Kong Ming looks at the kneeling Jiang Wei, reached out and helped him up, sighed: "Boyue, my whole body is exhausted, tried hard to recapture the Central Plains, but yet fate played me, what can we do? In the army, only you alone can accept my mantle! The Art of War 24 volumes, having eight services, seven ring, six fear, fear of the Law 5, you must study thoroughly. Also, the teacher will give you a gift, crossbow manufacturing methods. This crossbow named supreme commander, a crossbow that shoots ten arrows in 15 seconds, so long as utilizes appropriately in the army, it can restrain Wei troops mounted soldiers. The grand unification of China can only entrust to you."
(TL: Boyue is the courtesy name of Jiang Wei.)
Jiang is sorrowful, although received the book of the art of war and crossbow methods, still crying unable to say a few words.
Zhuge Kong Ming puts the hand, touches the Jiang Wei shoulder, saying: "Boyue, Sichuan natural stronghold can hold against one million Cao Wei army forces. Only the summit we have to be careful, although that place possibly has an ambush, take one battalion and defend the mountain! Moreover, take this three brocade sack, after the teacher died, disa.s.semble one by one according to the method described."
Jiang Wei with tears nods gravely towards Zhuge Kong Ming. Kong Ming waved the hand, and Jiang Wei left the tent with a sad face.
Just as Jiang Wei left the tent, Kong Ming facial expression changed, spew out a lot of blood, body tired, unconscious lay on the ground.
Originally, the law of star sacrifice is defying the Will of Heavens. Once defeated, there will be a backlash in vitality.
Kong Ming formerly suppressed the injury, to not affect the morale of troops, so as to avoid Jiang Wei lose heart. At this time his mood is little loose, no longer could hold on.
On the ground, Zhuge Kong Ming smiles mournfully, mutters: "Your Majesty, General Zhuge Kong Ming comes to the Yellow Spring to meet you! It"s a pity that is unable to achieve our dreams, the Han"s Dragon Flag, I am afraid that it can"t return to the Central Plains of the……"
After ten days, on August 28 234 AD, Prime Minister Zhuge Kong Ming died of illness in Wuzhang Plain armed quarters.
Hundred thousand Sichuan soldiers roared in pain, curls the flag, repulses the enemy and calmly retreats.
Jiang Wei suppresses his grief, opens the three brocade sack given by Kong Ming, according to the method, and prepares to act.
Sima Yi saw that Sichuan army retreated, could not help but overjoyed because this action shows that Kong Ming died. Therefore, Sima Yi chases down the retreating Shu army.
Just as Wei armed forces were closing in on the Shu army, Sima Yi saw that the Shu army suddenly divided to both sides, a dozen generals supporting the four-wheeled vehicle, rushes to Wei army. On the four-wheeled vehicle, a person sits calm and composed, Zhuge Kong Ming!.
Sima Yi has a big shock, calls out in surprise: "Zhuge Kong Ming is alive, this is that old man’s idea."
With a panic, Sima Yi pulled back the horse to escape. Wei army morale collapsed, defeated, fled, dejected returned to the camp.
In fact, Zhuge Kong Ming indeed died, but leaves behind an excellent plan already arranged the idea of deploying troops to decoy the enemy. Jiang Wei according to the scheme, finds the human to disguise as Kong Ming, raises the banner, frightens the hundreds of thousands of Wei army. Enabling 100,000 Sichuan Armed forces safe retreat!
After this war, the folk had a proverb: "A dead Zhuge scares away a living Zhongda!"
TL: Courtesy name of Sima Yi!
Thus it can be seen, the wisdom of Zhuge Kong Ming, can discern Yin and Yang, breaks the life and death, worthy of the name multi intellectual demon!!
Several days later Sichuan army drew back into the plank road built along the side of a cliff; ran into Wei Yan who led the rebel army to kill, and burnt down the plank road, breaking the escape route of Sichuan army. After Zhuge Kong Ming died, in the military no one can suppress Wei Yan again, this person is wildly arrogant taking the opportunity, wants to seize the military authority of Sichuan Army.
But Zhuge Kong Ming method is exceedingly high, leaves behind the excellent plan already arranged the strategy of showing discord, a strategy of feigning retreat and suddenly turning on the enemy, a knife has cut Wei Yan, quelled the civil strife of Sichuan armed forces smoothly.
After Zhuge Kong Ming had pa.s.sed away, Shu Han political power moved in a steady transition, welcomed the latter Three Kingdom era. But Jiang Wei this time, disa.s.sembling the three brocade sack, in heart regarding the respect to his teacher, raised to a unique situation!
Unfortunately, due to Shu Han incompetence, in 263 AD Han surrendered to Cao Wei, making Han perish in two years. Even after Shu Han surrendered, Jiang Wei was still loyal to Han, instigating Cao Wei superior general to rebel against the country. Eventually, the matter is defeated, and he died. He same as his teacher left behind a legend even after dying.
History as rolling river surges back and forth, the bl.u.s.tery Three Kingdom era finally gradually become history.
But no one knows, Zhuge Kong Ming, after died, his strand of soul didn"t extinguish, flutters in nine heavens finally vanishes in the s.p.a.ce tunnel.
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