第一小说网

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第279部分（第2页）

The　sentence　was　carried　out；　and　the　unhappy　Xu　Yis　head　was　exposed　as　a　warning。　This　severity　put　fear　into　the　hearts　of　the　officers。

On　the　side　of　Shu；　Wang　Han　manded　at　Yuecheng；　and　Jiang　Bin　was　in　Hancheng。　As　the　enemy　came　in　great　force；　they　dared　not　go　out　to　meet　them；　but　stood　on　the　defensive　with　the　gates　of　the　cities　closed。

Zhong　Hui　issued　an　order；　〃Speed　is　the　soul　of　war：　No　halts。〃

Li　Du　was　ordered　to　lay　siege　to　Yuecheng；　and　Xun　Kai　was　to　surround　Hancheng。　The　main　army　under　Zhong　Hui　would　capture　the　Yangping　Pass。

The　Shu　General　Fu　Qian　manded　at　the　pass。　He　discussed　plans　with　Jiang　Shu；　his　second　in　mand；　and　Jiang　Shu　was　wholly　in　favor　of　defense；　saying；　〃The　enemy　is　too　strong　to　think　of　any　other　course。〃

〃I　do　not　agree；〃　replied　Fu　Qian。　〃They　are　now　fatigued　with　marching；　and　we　need　not　fear　them。　Unless　we　go　out　and　attack；　Yuecheng　and　Hancheng　will　fall。〃

Jiang　Shu　made　no　reply。　Soon　the　enemy　arrived；　and　both　officers　went　up　to　the　wall　and　looked　out。

As　soon　as　Zhong　Hui　saw　them；　he　shouted；　〃We　have　here　a　host　of　one　hundred　thousand。　If　you　yield；　you　shall　have　higher　rank　than　you　hold　now。　But　if　you　persist　in　holding　out　then；　when　we　take　the　pass；　you　shall　all　perish。　Jewels　and　pebbles　will　share　the　same　destruction！〃

This　threat　angered　Fu　Qian。　He　bade　Jiang　Shu　guard　the　walls；　and　he　went　down　to　give　battle；　taking　three　thousand　troops。　He　attacked；　and　Zhong　Hui　retreated。　Fu　Qian　pursued。　But　soon　the　army　of　Wei　closed　up　their　ranks　and　counterattacked。　Fu　Qian　turned　to　retire。　But　when　he　reached　his　own　defenses；　he　saw　they　flew　the　flags　of　Wei………the　banners　of　Shu　had　gone。

〃I　have　yielded！〃　cried　Jiang　Shu　from　the　ramparts。

Fu　Qian　shouted　angrily；　〃Ungrateful　and　treacherous　rogue！　How　can　you　ever　face　the　world　again？〃

But　that　did　no　good。　Fu　Qian　turned　to　go　once　more　into　the　battle。　He　was　soon　surrounded。　He　fought　desperately；　but　could　not　win　clear。　His　troops　fell　one　by　one；　and　when　they　were　reduced　to　one　out　of　ten；　he　cried；　〃Alive　I　have　been　a　servant　of　Shu；　dead　I　will　be　one　of　their　spirits！〃

Fu　Qian　forced　his　way　into　the　thickest　of　the　fight。　Then　his　steed　fell；　and　as　he　was　grievously　wounded；　he　put　an　end　to　his　own　life。

The　loyalty　Fu　Qian　showed　in　stressful　days

Won　him　a　thousand　autumns　noble　praise；

The　base　Jiang　Shu　lived　on；　a　life　disgraced；

One　would　prefer　the　death　that　Fu　Qian　faced。

With　the　Yangping　Pass　falling　into　the　hands　of　Zhong　Hui　were　great　booty　of　grain　and　weapons。　He　feasted　the　army；　and　that　night　they　rested　in　the　city　of　Yangan。　However；　the　night　was　disturbed　by　sounds　as　of　people　shouting；　so　that　Zhong　Hui　got　up　and　went　out　thinking　there　must　be　an　attack。　But　the　sounds　ceased；　and　he　returned　to　his　couch。　However；　he　and　his　army　could　not　sleep。

Next　night　the　same　thing　happened；　shoutings　in　the　southwest。　As　soon　as　day　dawned　scouts　went　out　to　search；　but　they　came　back　to　say　they　had　gone　three　miles　and　found　no　sign　of　any　Shu　soldier。　Zhong　Hui　did　not　feel　satisfied；　so　he　took　a　hundred　cavalrymen　and　rode　in　the　same　direction　to　explore。

Presently　they　happened　upon　a　hill　of　sinister　aspect　overhung　by　angry　clouds；　while　the　summit　was　wreathed　in　mist。

〃What　hill　is　that？〃　asked　Zhong　Hui；　pulling　up　to　question　the　guides。

〃It　is　known　as　the　Dingjun　Mountain；〃　was　the　reply。　〃It　is　where　Xiahou　Yuan　met　his　death。〃

This　did　not　sound　cheering　at　all；　and　Zhong　Hui　turned　back　to　camp　greatly　depressed。　Rounding　the　curve　of　a　hill；　he　came　full　into　a　violent　gust　of　wind　and　there　suddenly　appeared　a　large　body　of　horse　ing　down　the　wind　as　if　to　attack。

The　whole　party　galloped　off　panic…stricken；　Zhong　Hui　leading　the　way。　Many　generals　fell　from　their　steeds。　Yet　when　they　arrived　at　the　pass；　not　a　man　was　missing；　although　there　were　many　with　bruises　and　cuts　from　the　falls　and　many　had　lost　helmets。　Everyone　had　seen　phantom　horsemen；　who　did　no　harm　when　they　came　near；　but　melted　away　in　the　wind。

Zhong　Hui　called　the　surrendered　General　Jiang　Shu　and　asked；　〃Is　there　any　temple　to　any　supernatural　being　on　the　Dingjun　Mountain？〃

〃No；〃　replied　he；　〃there　is　nothing　but　the　tomb　of　Zhuge　Liang。〃

〃Then　this　must　have　been　a　manifestation　of　Zhuge　Liang；〃　said　Zhong　Hui。　〃I　ought　to　sacrifice　to　him。〃

So　he　prepared　presents　and　slew　an　ox　and　offered　sacrifice　at　the　tomb；　and　when　the　sacrifice　had　been　pleted；　the　wind　calmed；　and　the　dark　clouds　dispersed。　There　followed　a　cool　breeze　and　a　gentle　shower；　and　the　sky　cleared。　Pleased　with　the　evidence　of　the　acceptance　of　their　offerings；　the　sacrificial　party　returned　to　camp。

That　night　Zhong　Hui　fell　asleep　in　his　tent　with　his　head　resting　on　a　small　table。　Suddenly　a　cool　breeze　began　to　blow；　and　he　saw　a　figure　approaching　clad　in　Taoist　garb；　turban；