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第280部分（第2页）

Liao　Hua　said；　〃We　are　attacked　all　round；　and　the　grain　transportation　is　blocked。　It　seems　to　me　wisest　to　retire　on　the　Saber　Pass　and　plan　other　designs。〃

But　Jiang　Wei　was　doubtful。　Then　they　heard　that　Deng　Ai　and　Zhong　Hui　were　approaching　in　ten　divisions。

Jiang　Wei　was　disposed　to　stand；　but　Liao　Hua　said；　〃This　country　of　White　Water　is　laced　with　by…roads　and　is　too　narrow　and　difficult　to　fight　in　with　any　hope　of　success。　It　would　be　better　to　retreat　to　the　Saber　Pass。　If　we　loss　that　pass；　all　paths　will　be　closed　to　us。〃

At　last　Jiang　Wei　consented；　and　the　march　began。　But　as　they　neared　the　pass；　they　heard　drums　rolling　and　saw　flags　fluttering；　which　told　them　that　the　pass　was　held。

Hanzhong；　that　strong　defense；　is　lost；

And　storm　clouds　gather　round　Saber　Pass。

What　force　was　at　the　pass　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　117　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　117

Chapter　117

Deng　Ai　Gets　Through　The　Yinping　Mountains；

Zhuge　Zhan　Falls　In　The　Battlefield　Of　Mianzhu。

When　Dong　Jue；　General　Who　Upholds　the　State；　heard　of　the　invasion　of　Wei　in　ten　divisions；　he　brought　to　the　frontier　twenty　thousand　troops　to　Saber　Pass。　And　when　the　dust　showed　an　approaching　army；　Dong　Jue　thought　it　wise　to　go　to　the　Pass　lest　the　ing　armies　should　be　enemies　to　be　stopped。

But　Dong　Jue　found　that　the　newers　were　Jiang　Wei；　Liao　Hua；　and　Zhang　Yi。　He　let　them　pass　through。　Then　he　gave　them　the　news　from　the　capital；　bad　news　of　the　deeds　of　both　the　Latter　Ruler　and　Huang　Hao。　His　tears　fell　as　he　told　the　tales。

〃But　do　not　grieve；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。　〃So　long　as　I　live；　I　will　not　allow　Wei　to　e　and　conquer　Shu。　Now　we　must　defend　this　pass；　and　then　evolve　a　strategy。〃

They　kept　good　guard　at　Saber　Pass；　while　they　discussed　future　plans。

〃Though　we　are　holding　this　pass；　yet　Chengdu　is　well…nigh　empty　of　soldiers；〃　said　Dong　Jue。　〃If　it　was　attacked；　it　would　go　crack！〃

Jiang　Wei　replied；　〃The　natural　defenses　of　Chengdu　are　excellent：　It　is　hard　to　cross　over　the　mountains　and　climb　the　steep　roads。　No　one　needs　fear。〃

Soon　after　this；　Zhuge　Xu　appeared　at　the　pass　challenging　the　defenders。　Jiang　Wei　forthwith　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　five　thousand　troops　and　went　down　to　meet　the　Wei　army。　He　gained　an　easy　victory；　slaying　many　of　the　enemy　and　taking　much　spoil　in　horses　and　weapons。

While　Jiang　Wei　went　back　to　the　pass；　the　defeated　Zhuge　Xu　made　his　way　to　Zhong　Huis　camp；　seven　miles　away；　to　confess　his　failure。　His　general　was　very　angry。

〃My　orders　to　you　were　to　hold　Yinping　Bridge　so　as　to　stop　Jiang　Wei；　and　you　lost　it。　Now　without　any　orders　you　attack　and　are　defeated。〃

〃Jiang　Wei　played　so　many　deceitful　tricks。　He　pretended　to　be　going　to　take　Yongzhou；　and　I　thought　that　was　very　important；　so　I　sent　troops　to　rescue　it。　Then　he　meanly　got　away。　I　followed　to　the　pass；　but　never　thought　he　would　e　out　and　defeat　my　troops。〃

Zhuge　Xu　pleaded　thus；　but　he　was　sentenced　to　die。

Now　Wei　Guan；　Army　Inspector；　said；　〃Zhuge　Xu　is　really　a　subordinate　of　Deng　Ai　and；　admitting　that　he　is　in　fault；　his　punishment　should　not　have　been　pronounced　by　you；　O　mander。〃

But　Zhong　Hui　swaggeringly　replied；　〃I　have　a　mand　from　the　Emperor　and　orders　from　the　Prime　Minister　to　attack　Shu。　If　Deng　Ai　himself　offended；　I　would　behead　him。〃

However；　other　leaders　interceded　for　Zhuge　Xu；　and　Zhong　Hui　did　not　put　him　to　death；　but　sent　him　a　caged　prisoner　to　the　capital　to　be　judged。　The　surviving　soldiers　were　added　to　Zhong　Huis　army。

This　insolent　speech　of　Zhong　Hui　was　duly　repeated　to　Deng　Ai；　who　was　angry　in　his　turn　and　said；　〃His　rank　and　mine　are　the　same。　I　have　held　a　frontier　post　for　years　and　sustained　many　fatigues　in　the　countrys　service。　Who　is　he　that　he　gives　himself　such　airs？〃

His　son　Deng　Zhong　endeavored　to　appease　his　wrath。

〃Father；　if　you　cannot　suffer　small　things；　you　may　upset　the　grand　policy　of　the　state。　Unfriendliness　with　him　may　do　great　harm；　so　I　hope　you　will　bear　with　him。〃

Deng　Ai　saw　his　son　was　right；　and　said　no　more；　but　he　nourished　anger　in　his　heart。　With　a　small　escort　he　went　to　call　upon　his　colleague。

When　his　ing　was　announced；　Zhong　Hui　asked　his　staff；　〃How　many　soldiers　are　following　Deng　Ai？〃

〃He　has　only　some　twenty　horsemen；〃　they　replied。

Zhong　Hui　had　a　large　body　of　guards　drawn　up　about　his　tent；　and　then　gave　orders　that　his　visitor　should　be　led　in。　Deng　Ai　dismounted；　and　the　two　men　saluted　each　other。　But　the　visitor　did　not　like　the　look　on　the　faces　of　his　hosts　guards。　He　decided　to