北斗星小说网

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第265部分（第1页）

ll；　this　very　night　I　can　lead　you　to　their　camp。　I　have　friends　in　the　camp　to　help；　and　you　can　destroy　it。〃

King　Mi　Dang　was　taken　with　the　scheme；　and　sent　his　General　Ehe　Shaoge　to　go　with　Chen　Tai。　The　deserters　from　Wei　were　placed　in　the　rear；　but　Chen　Tai　himself　rode　with　the　leading　body　of　the　Qiangs。　They　set　out　at　the　second　watch　and　soon　arrived。　They　found　the　gates　open；　and　Chen　Tai　rode　in　boldly。　But　when　Ehe　Shaoge　and　his　troops　galloped　in；　there　suddenly　arose　a　great　cry　as　soldiers　and　horses　went　tumbling　into　great　pits。　At　the　same　time　Chen　Tai　came　round　in　the　rear　and　attacked；　while　Guo　Huai　appeared　on　the　flank。　The　Qiangs　trampled　each　other　down；　and　many　were　killed。　Those　who　escaped　death　surrendered；　and　the　leader；　Ehe　Shaoge；　mitted　suicide　in　a　pit。

Guo　Huai　and　Chen　Tai　then　hastened　back　into　the　camp　of　the　Qiangs。　Mi　Dang；　taken　unprepared；　rushed　out　of　his　tent　to　get　to　horse；　but　was　made　prisoner。　He　was　taken　before　Guo　Huai；　who　hastily　dismounted；　loosed　the　prisoners　bonds；　and　soothed　him　with　kindly　words。

〃Our　government　has　always　regarded　you　as　a　loyal　and　true　friend；〃　said　Guo　Huai。　〃Why　then　are　you　helping　our　enemies？〃

Mi　Dang　sank　to　the　ground　in　confusion；　while　Guo　Huai　continued；　〃If　you　will　now　raise　the　siege　of　Iron　Cage　Mountain　and　drive　off　the　troops　of　Shu；　I　will　memorialize　the　Throne　and　obtain　a　substantial　reward　for　you。〃

Mi　Dang　agreed。　He　set　out　forthwith；　his　own　army　leading　and　the　army　of　Wei　in　the　rear。　At　the　third　watch　he　sent　on　a　messenger　to　tell　Jiang　Wei　of　his　ing。　And　the　Shu　leader　was　glad。　Mi　Dang　was　invited　to　e。　On　the　march　the　soldiers　of　Wei　had　mingled　with　the　Qiangs；　and　many　of　them　were　in　the　forefront　of　the　army。

As　they　drew　near　the　camp；　Jiang　Wei　gave　order：　〃The　army　are　to　camp　outside。　Only　the　King　can　enter　the　gate。〃

Mi　Dang　went　up　toward　the　gate　with　a　hundred　or　more　followers；　and　Jiang　Wei　with　Xiahou　Ba　went　to　wele　him。　Just　as　they　met；　before　Mi　Dang　could　say　a　word；　the　Wei　generals　dashed　on　past　him　and　set　on　to　slay。　Jiang　Wei　was　taken　aback；　leaped　on　his　steed　and　fled；　while　the　mixed　force　of　troops　of　Wei　and　Qiangs　drove　the　camp　defenders　before　them　and　sent　them　flying。

When　Jiang　Wei　leaped　upon　his　steed　at　the　gate；　he　had　no　weapon　in　his　hand；　only　his　bow　and　quiver　hung　at　his　shoulder。　In　his　hasty　flight　the　arrows　fell　out　and　the　quiver　was　empty；　so　when　he　set　off　for　the　hills　with　Guo　Huai　in　pursuit；　Jiang　Wei　had　nothing　to　oppose　to　the　spears　of　his　pursuers。　As　they　came　near　he　laid　hands　upon　his　bow　and　made　as　if　to　shoot。　The　string　twanged　and　Guo　Huai　blenched。　But　as　no　arrow　went　flying　by；　Guo　Huai　knew　Jiang　Wei　had　none　to　shoot。　Guo　Huai　therefore　hung　his　spear；　took　his　bow　and　shot。　Jiang　Wei　caught　the　arrow　as　it　flew　by　and　fitted　it　to　his　bowstring。　He　waited　till　Guo　Huai　came　quite　near；　when　he　pulled　the　string　with　all　his　force　and　sent　the　arrow　flying　straight　at　Guo　Huais　face。　Guo　Huai　fell　even　as　the　bowstring　sang。

Jiang　Wei　pulled　up　and　turned　to　finish　his　fallen　enemy；　but　the　soldiers　of　Wei　were　nearly　upon　him；　and　he　had　only　time　to　snatch　up　Guo　Huais　spear　and　ride　off。　Now　that　Jiang　Wei　was　armed　and　their　own　leader　wounded；　the　soldiers　of　Wei　had　no　more　desire　to　fight。　They　picked　up　their　general　and　carried　him　to　camp。　There　the　arrow…head　was　pulled　out；　but　the　flow　of　blood　could　not　be　stanched；　and　Guo　Huai　died。

Sima　Zhao　descended　from　the　hill　as　soon　as　Jiang　Wei　moved　away；　and　pursued　some　distance　before　returning。

Xiahou　Ba　forced　his　way　out　and　rejoined　Jiang　Wei　as　soon　as　he　could；　and　they　marched　away　together。　The　losses　of　Shu　in　this　defeat　were　very　heavy。　On　the　road　they　dared　not　halt　to　muster　or　reform；　but　went　helter…skelter　into　Hanzhong。　In　that　campaign；　though　the　Shu　army　were　defeated；　they　had　killed　Xu　Zi　and　Guo　Huai　on　the　other　side　and　had　damaged　the　prestige　of　Wei。　Thus　Jiang　Weis　achievement　made　up　for　his　offense。

After　rewarding　the　Qiangs　for　their　help；　Sima　Zhao　led　his　army　back　to　Capital　Luoyang；　where　he　joined　his　brother　Sima　Shi　in　administering　the　government。　They　were　too　strong　for　any　of　the　officers　to　dare　opposition；　and　they　terrorized　Cao　Fang；　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　so　that　he　shook　with　fright　whenever　he　saw　Sima　Shi　at　court；　and　felt　as　if　needles　were　being　stuck　into　his　back。

One　day；　when　the　Ruler　of　Wei　was　holding　a　court；　Sima　Shi　came　into　the　hall　wearing　his　sword。　Cao　Fang　hastily　left　his　Dragon　Throne　to　receive　him。

〃What　does　this　mean？　Is　this　the　correct　etiquette　for　a　prince　when　his　minister　approaches？〃　said　Sima　Shi；　smiling。　〃I　pray　Your　Majesty　remember　your　dignity　and　listen　while　the　ministers　address　the　Throne。〃

Court　business　then　proceeded。　Sima　Shi　decided　every　question　without　reference　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　and　when　Sima　Shi　retired；　he　stalked　haughtily　down　the　hall　and　went　home；　followed　by　his　escort；　which　numbered　thousands　of　horse　and　foot。

When　the　Ruler　of　Wei　left　the　court；　only　three　followed　him　to　the　private　apartments。　They　were　Minister　Xiahou　Xuan；　Secretary　Li　Feng；　and　High　Minister　Zhang　Qi。　Zhang　Qi　was　the　father　of　his　consort；　Empress　Zhang。　Sending　away　the　servants；　Cao　Fang　and　these　three　went　into　a　private　chamber。

Seizing　his　father…in…laws　hand；　Cao　Fang　began　to　weep；　saying；　〃That　man　Sima　Shi　treats　me　as　a　child　and　regards　the　officers　of　state　as　if　they　were　so　many　straws。　I　am　sure　the　throne　will　be　his　one　day。〃

And　he　wept　bitterly。

Said　Li　Feng；　〃Do　not　be　so　sad；　Sire。　I　am　but　a　poor　sort　of　person。　But　if　Your　Majesty　will　give　me　authority；　I　will　call　together　all　the　bold　people　in　the　country　and　slay　this　man。〃

〃It　was　from　fear　of　this　man　that　my　brother　Xiahou　Ba　was　forced　to　go　over　to　Shu；〃　said　Xiahou　Xuan。　〃If　Sima　Shi　were　destroyed；　my　brother　could　return。　I　belong　to　a　family　related　to　the　rulers　of　the　state　for　many　generations；　and　I　cannot　sit　still　while　a　wretch　ruins　the　government。　Put　my　name　in　the　mand　as　well；　and　we　will　work　together　to　remove　him。〃

〃But　I　am　afraid　we　can　not　overe　him；〃　said　Cao　Fang。

They　wept　and　said；　〃We　pledge　ourselves　to　work　together　for　the　destruction　of　the　tyrant；　and　to　show　our　gratitude　to　Your　Majesty！〃

Cao　Fang　them　stripped　himself　of　his　innermost　garment；　gnawed　his　finger　till　the　blood　flowed；　and　with　his　finger…tip　traced　a　mand　in　blood。

He　gave　it　to　his　father…in…law；　Zhang　Qi；　saying；　〃My　ancestor；　Emperor　Cao；　put　to　death　Dong　Cheng　for　just　such　a　matter　as　this；　so　you　must　be　exceedingly　careful　and　maintain　the　greatest　secrecy。〃

〃Oh；　why　use　such　ill…omened　words？〃　cried　Li　Feng。　〃We　are　not　like　Dong　Cheng；　and　Sima　Shi　cannot　pare　to　the　Founder。　Have　no　doubts。〃

The　three　conspirators　took　leave　and　went　out　carrying　the　edict　with　them。　Beside　the　Donghua　Gate　of　the　Palace；　they　saw　Sima　Shi　ing　to　meet　them　wearing　a　sword。　Following　him　were　many　armed　guards。　The　three　ministers　took　the　side　of　the　road　to　let　the　party　go　by。

〃Why　are　you　three　so　late　in　leaving　the　Palace？〃　asked　Sima　Shi。