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第277部分（第1页）

ly　capable　man；　so　that　you　must　exert　yourself　to　the　very　utmost。〃

Jiang　Wei　was　annoyed。　Said　he；　〃The　late　Prime　Minister　made　six　attempts；　all　for　the　state。　I　have　attacked　eight　times。　Was　anyone　of　those　attacks　to　serve　my　private　ends？　This　time　I　go　to　attack　Taoyang；　and　no　one　shall　say　me　nay。　I　will　punish　opposition　with　death。〃

Jiang　Wei　left　Liao　Hua　in　charge　of　the　base　in　Hanzhong　and　marched　with　three　hundred　thousand　troops　to　Taoyang。　His　movements　were　reported　in　the　Qishan　camps；　and　Deng　Ais　spies　confirmed　the　news。

It　happened　that　Sima　Wang　was　with　Deng　Ai　discussing　military　matters；　and　the　former；　when　he　heard　it；　said；　〃That　move　is　a　decoy：　He　does　not　mean　it。　What　he　really　intends　is　an　attack　on　Qishan。〃

〃However；　he　has　really　gone　to　Taoyang；〃　said　Deng　Ai。

〃How　can　you　know？〃

〃Formerly　Jiang　Wei　has　always　opened　with　a　march　to　those　parts　of　the　country　where　we　have　stored　supplies。　Taoyang　has　no　stores；　so　he　thinks　we　shall　not　have　taken　care　for　its　defense　as　we　shall　concentrate　our　efforts　on　Qishan。　But；　if　he　can　take　that　place；　he　can　collect　stores　there；　and　get　into　touch　with　the　Qiang　tribespeople　and　finally　work　out　some　grand　plan。〃

〃Supposing　this　true；　what　should　we　do？〃

〃I　advise　the　abandonment　of　this　place　and　a　march　in　two　bodies　toward　Taoyang。　I　know　a　small　town　called　Houxia；　eight　miles　from　Taoyang；　which　is　the　throat　of　the　place。　You　go　to　Taoyang；　hide　your　force；　and　open　the　gates。　Then　act　as　I　shall　tell　you　presently。　I　will　lie　in　wait　at　Houxia。　We　shall　score　a　victory。〃

Deng　Ai　gave　Shi　Zuan　the　mand　of　the　camps　in　Qishan　when　the　main　body　left。

Meanwhile　Xiahou　Ba　led　the　van　of　the　Shu　army　toward　Taoyang。　As　he　drew　near；　he　noticed　the　place　seemed　to　have　no　defenses；　not　a　flag　staff　reared　its　head。　The　gates　stood　wide　open。

He　was　too　wary　to　go　straight　in　however；　and　said；　〃Is　there　any　ruse　in　there？〃

His　generals　said；　〃We　think　the　city　was　deserted　when　they　heard　your　army　ing。　A　few　people　were　running　away　along　the　southern　road。〃

Xiahou　Ba　rode　south　and　saw　there　that　the　northwest　road；　at　a　little　distance　from　the　city；　was　crowded　with　fugitives。

〃The　city　is　really　empty；〃　said　Xiahou　Ba。

He　led　the　way　in　all　ready　to　fight；　and　the　troops　followed。　As　they　came　near　to　the　curtain　wall；　however；　a　bomb　exploded。　At　this　sound　the　drums　beat；　trumpets　blared；　and　flags　suddenly　appeared。　At　the　same　moment　the　drawbridge　rose。

〃Caught！〃　said　Xiahou　Ba。

As　he　turned　to　retire；　the　arrows　and　stones　flew　down　in　clouds；　and　under　these　Xiahou　Ba　and　many　of　his　soldiers　lost　their　lives。

Most　able　strategist　and　brave；

Xiahou　Ba；　outwitted　here

By　Deng　Ai；　more　prudent　still；　and　slain；

Deserves　a　pitying　tear。

The　flights　of　arrows　from　the　ramparts　was　followed　by　a　sortie；　which　broke　up　the　force　of　Shu　entirely；　and　the　troops　fled。　However；　Jiang　Wei　came　up　and　drove　Sima　Wang　back　into　the　city。　The　army　of　Shu　camped　beside　the　walls。　Jiang　Wei　was　very　grieved　at　the　loss　of　Xiahou　Ba。

That　night　Deng　Ai　came　up　secretly　and　attacked　the　Shu　camp。　At　the　same　time　the　defenders　within　the　city　made　a　sortie。　Jiang　Wei　could　not　resist　the　double　attack；　and　left　the　field。　He　marched　some　seven　miles　and　camped。

Twice　beaten；　the　soldiers　of　Shu　were　very　downcast。

Jiang　Wei　tried　to　console　them；　saying；　〃Loss　or　gain　is　the　platitude　of　war。　But　I　am　not　worried　yet　about　our　recent　defeats；　for　a　total　victory　will　surely　e　in　this　expedition　if　all　of　you　strive　your　best。　But　remember；　no　mutiny！　He　who　talks　of　retreat　will　suffer　death。〃

Then　Zhang　Yi　said；　〃With　so　many　troops　of　Wei　here；　their　camp　at　Qishan　must　be　undefended。　I　propose；　General；　that　while　you　continue　the　contest　here　with　Deng　Ai；　I　go　to　try　to　capture　the　nine　camps。　If　I　succeed；　Changan　will　be　at　our　mercy。〃

The　second　division　of　the　army　was　detached　to　march　on　Qishan；　and　Jiang　Wei　went　down　to　Houxia　to　provoke　Deng　Ai　into　fighting。　The　challenge　this　time　was　accepted　forthwith。　Deng　Ai　led　his　troops　out　and　engaged　with　Jiang　Wei　in　a　fight；　but　after　thirty　bouts　without　a　decision；　both　retired　to　their　camps。

For　days　after　this；　Jiang　Wei　challenged　again　and　again；　but　Deng　Ai　declined　and　would　not　fight。　The　Shu　soldiers　howled　abuse　and　hurled　insults　at　their　opponents；　but　all　without　effect。

Then　Deng　Ai　thought　within　him；　〃There　must　be　some　reason　for　this　persistence。　I　think　they　have　sent　an　army　to　try　to　seize　Qishan　while　they　hold　me　here。　Shi　Zuan　and　the　force　there　are　insufficient；　and　I　shall　have　to　go　to　the　rescue。〃

Deng　Ai　called　his　son　Deng　Zhong；　and　said；　〃Hold　this　place　most　carefully。　Let　them　challenge　as　they　may；　do　not　go　out。　Tonight　I　go　to　the　help　of　Qishan。〃

It　was　night；　and　Jiang　Wei　was　in　his　tent；　intent　upon　his　plans；　when　he　was　disturbed　by　a　great　shouting　and　drumming。　They　told　him　Deng　Ai　had　suddenly　appeared。　The　generals　asked　leave　to　go　out　to　fight。

〃Let　no　one　move！〃　said　Jiang　Wei。

The　fact　was　Deng　Ai　had　only　made　a　demonstration　at　the　camp　of　Shu　on　his　way　to　reinforce　Qishan。