小说园

第279部分（第1页）

Deng　Ai　listened；　growing　more　and　more　sad　as　the　interpretation　of　his　dream　was　unfolded。

Just　then　came　dispatches　from　Zhong　Hui　asking　him　to　advance　into　Hanzhong　together。　Deng　Ai　at　once　sent　Zhuge　Xu　with　fifteen　thousand　troops　to　cut　off　Jiang　Weis　retreat；　and　Wang　Qi　was　to　lead　fifteen　thousand　troops　to　attack　Tazhong　from　the　left；　Qian　Hong　was　to　march　fifteen　thousand　troops　to　attack　Tazhong　from　the　right；　and　Yang　Xin　with　fifteen　thousand　troops　was　to　block　Jiang　Wei　at　Gansong。　Deng　Ai　took　mand　of　a　force　to　go　to　and　fro　and　reinforce　whatever　body　needed　help。

Meanwhile　in　the　camp　of　Zhong　Hui；　all　the　officials　came　out　to　see　him　depart。　It　was　a　grand　sight；　the　gay　banners　shutting　out　the　sun；　breastplates　and　helmets　glittering。　The　soldiers　were　fit　and　the　horses　in　good　condition。　They　all　felicitated　the　leader。

All　save　one；　for　Adviser　Liu　Shi　was　silent。　He　smiled　grimly。

Then　Grand　mander　Wang　Xiang　made　his　way　through　the　crowd　and　said；　〃Do　you　think　these　two………Zhong　Hui　and　Deng　Ai………will　overe　Shu？〃

Said　Liu　Shi；　sighing；　〃With　such　brave　soldiers　and　bold　leaders　and　their　talents；　they　will　overe　Shu　certainly。　Only　I　think　neither　will　ever　e　back。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃

But　Liu　Shi　did　not　reply；　he　only　smiled。　And　the　question　was　not　repeated。

The　armies　of　Wei　were　on　the　march　when　Jiang　Wei　heard　of　the　intended　attack。　He　at　once　sent　up　a　memorial：

Your　Majesty　need　to　make　defensive　arrangements　by　manding　Zhang　Yi；　Left　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　to　guard　the　Yangping　Pass；　and　Liao　Hua；　Right　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　to　guard　the　Yinping　Bridge　in　Yinping。　These　two　places　are　the　most　important　points　upon　which　depend　the　security　of　Hanzhong。　Send　also　to　engage　the　help　of　Wu。　I；　thy　humble　servant；　shall　gather　soldiers　in　Tazhong　ready　for　the　march。〃

That　year　in　Shu　the　reign…style　had　been　changed　from　Wonderful　Sight；　the　fifth　year；　to　Joyful　Prosperity；　the　first　year　（AD　263）。　When　the　memorial　of　Jiang　Wei　came　to　the　Latter　Ruler；　it　found　him　as　usual　amusing　himself　with　his　favorite　Huang　Hao。

He　read　the　document　and　said　to　the　eunuch；　〃Here　Jiang　Wei　says　that　the　Wei　armies　under　Deng　Ai　and　Zhong　Hui　are　on　the　way　against　us。　What　shall　we　do？〃

〃There　is　nothing　of　the　sort。　Jiang　Wei　only　wants　to　get　a　name　for　himself；　and　so　he　says　this。　Your　Majesty　need　feel　no　alarm；　for　we　can　find　out　the　truth　from　a　certain　wise　woman　I　know。　She　is　a　real　prophetess。　May　I　call　her？〃

The　Latter　Ruler　consented；　and　a　room　was　fitted　up　for　the　seance。　They　prepared　therein　incense；　flowers；　paper；　candles；　sacrificial　articles　and　so　on；　and　then　Huang　Hao　went　with　a　chariot　to　beg　the　wise　woman　to　attend　upon　the　Latter　Ruler。

She　came　and　was　seated　on　the　Dragon　Couch。　After　the　Latter　Ruler　had　kindled　the　incense　and　repeated　the　prayer；　the　wise　woman　suddenly　let　down　her　hair；　dropped　her　slippers；　and　capered　about　barefoot。　After　several　rounds　of　this；　she　coiled　herself　up　on　a　table。

Huang　Hao　then　said；　〃The　spirit　has　now　descended。　Send　everyone　away　and　pray　to　her。〃

So　the　attendants　were　dismissed；　and　the　Latter　Ruler　entreated　the　wise　woman。

Suddenly　she　cried　out；　〃I　am　the　guardian　spirit　of　the　West　River　Land。　Your　Majesty；　rejoices　in　tranquillity；　why　do　you　inquire　about　other　matters？　Within　a　few　years　the　land　of　Wei　shall　e　under　you；　wherefore　you　need　not　be　sorrowful。〃

She　then　fell　to　the　ground　as　in　a　swoon；　and　it　was　some　time　before　she　revived。　The　Latter　Ruler　was　well　satisfied　with　her　prophesy　and　gave　her　large　presents。　Further；　he　thereafter　believed　all　she　told　him。　The　immediate　result　was　that　Jiang　Weis　memorial　remained　unanswered；　and　as　the　Latter　Ruler　was　wholly　given　to　pleasure；　it　was　easy　for　Huang　Hao　to　intercept　all　urgent　memorials　from　the　mander。

Meanwhile　Zhong　Hui　was　hastening　toward　Hanzhong。　The　Van　Leader　Xu　Yi　was　anxious　to　perform　some　startling　exploit；　and　so　he　led　his　force　to　Nanzheng。

He　said　to　his　officers；　〃If　we　can　take　this　pass；　then　we　can　march　directly　into　Hanzhong。　The　defense　is　weak。〃

A　dash　was　made　for　the　fort；　each　one　vying　with　the　rest　to　be　first。　But　the　mander　of　Nanzheng　was　Lu　Xu；　and　he　had　had　early　information　of　the　ing　of　his　enemies。　So　on　both　sides　of　the　bridge　he　posted　soldiers　armed　with　multiple　bows　and　crossbows。　As　soon　as　the　attacking　force　appeared；　the　signal　was　given　by　a　clapper　and　a　terrific　discharge　of　arrows　and　bolts　opened。　Many　troops　of　Wei　fell；　and　the　army　of　Xu　Yi　was　defeated。

Xu　Yi　returned　and　reported　his　misfortune。　Zhong　Hui　himself　went　with　a　hundred　armored　horsemen　to　see　the　conditions。　Again　the　machine　bows　let　fly　clouds　of　missiles；　and　Zhong　Hui　turned　to　flee。

Lu　Xu　led　out　five　hundred　troops　to　pursue。　As　Zhong　Hui　crossed　the　bridge　at　a　gallop；　the　roadway　gave；　and　his　horses　hoof　went　through　so　that　he　was　nearly　thrown。　The　horse　could　not　free　its　hoof；　and　Zhong　Hui　slipped　from　his　back　and　fled　on　foot。　As　he　ran　down　the　slope　of　the　bridge；　Lu　Xu　came　at　him　with　a　spear；　but　one　of　Zhong　Huis　followers；　Xun　Kai　by　name；　shot　an　arrow　at　Lu　Xu　and　brought　him　to　the　earth。

Seeing　this　lucky　hit；　Zhong　Hui　turned　back　and　signaled　to　his　force　to　make　an　attack。　They　came　on　with　a　dash；　the　defenders　were　afraid　to　shoot；　as　their　own　troops　were　mingled　with　the　enemy；　and　soon　Zhong　Hui　crushed　the　defense　and　possessed　the　pass。　The　defenders　scattered。

The　pass　being　captured；　Xun　Kai　was　well　rewarded　for　the　shot　that　had　saved　his　generals　life。　He　was　promoted　to　Assistant　General　and　received　presents　of　a　horse　and　a　suit　of　armor。

Xu　Yi　was　called　to　the　tent；　and　Zhong　Hui　blamed　him　for　the　lack　of　care　in　his　task；　saying；　〃You　were　appointed　Leader　of　the　Van　to　see　that　the　roads　were　put　in　repair；　and　your　special　duty　was　to　see　that　the　bridges　were　in　good　condition。　Yet　on　the　bridge　just　now　my　horses　hoof　was　caught；　and　I　nearly　fell。　Happily　Xun　Kai　was　by；　or　I　had　been　slain。　You　have　been　disobedient　and　must　bear　the　penalty。〃

The　delinquent　was　sentenced　to　death。

The　other　generals　tried　to　beg　him　off；　pleading；　〃His　father　is　Xu　Chu　who　had　rendered　good　services　to　the　state！〃

〃How　can　discipline　be　maintained　if　the　laws　are　not　enforced？〃　said　Zhong　Hui。