按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Deng Ai was very angry at this insult and wished to go forth at once to battle。 But Qiu Ben dissuaded him。
〃Do not go out to battle；〃 said he。 〃Rather overe him by some unexpected stroke。〃
So Deng Ai laid his plans。 He sent Wang Qi； Governor of Tianshui； and Qian Hong； Governor of Longxi； to lie in wait in the rear while he led the main body。
Zhuge Zhan happened to be close at hand seeking battle。 When he heard the enemy was near； he led out his army eagerly and rushed into the midst of the invaders。 Then Deng Ai fled as though worsted； so luring on Zhuge Zhan。 But when the pursuit had lasted some time； the pursuers were attacked by those who lay in wait； and the Shu troops were defeated。 They ran away into Mianzhu。
Therefore Deng Ai besieged Mianzhu； and the troops of Wei shouted about the city and watched the ramparts； thus keeping the defenders close shut in as if held in an iron barrel。
Zhuge Zhan was desperate； seeing no way of escape without help from outside。 Wherefore he wrote a letter to East Wu begging for assistance； and he gave this letter to Peng He to bear through the besiegers。
Peng He fought his way through and reached Wu； where he saw the Ruler of Wu； Sun Xiu。 And he presented the letter showing the wretched plight of Zhuge Zhan and his urgent need。
Then the Ruler of Wu assembled his officers and said to them； 〃The land of Shu being in danger； I cannot sit and look on unconcerned。〃
He therefore decided to send fifty thousand troops； over whom he set the Veteran General Ding Feng； with two able assistants………Sun Yin and Ding Fung。 Having received his edict； Ding Feng sent away his manders with twenty thousand troops to Mianzhu； and he himself went with thirty thousand troops toward Shouchun。 The army marched in three divisions。
In the city of Mianzhu； Zhuge Zhan waited for the rescue which never came。
Weary of the hopeless delay； he said to his generals； 〃This long defense is useless。 I will fight！〃
Leaving his son Zhuge Shang and Chair of the Secretariat Zhang Zun………Zhang Fei's grandson………in the city； Zhuge Zhan put on his armor and led out three thousand troops through three gates to fight in the open。 Seeing the defenders making a sortie； Deng Ai drew off and Zhuge Zhan pursued him vigorously； thinking Deng Ai really fled before his force。 But there was an ambush； and falling therein he was quickly surrounded as is the kernel of a nut by the shell。 In vain he thrust right and shoved left； he only lost his troops in the raining arrows and bolts。 The troops of Wei poured in more flights of arrows； so that his army were all shattered。 Before long； Zhuge Zhan was wounded and fell。
〃I am done；〃 cried he。 〃But in my death I will do my duty！〃 He drew his sword and slew himself。
From the city walls his son Zhuge Shang saw the death of his father。 Girding on his armor he made to go out to fight。
But Zhang Zun told him； 〃Young general； do not go out immediately！〃
Cried Zhuge Shang； 〃My father and I and all our family have received favors from the state。 My father has died in battle against our enemies； and can I live？〃
He whipped his horse and dashed out into the thick of the fight； where he died。 A poem has been written extolling the conduct of both father and son。
In skill he was found wanting； not in loyalty；
But the Lord's word had gone forth；
That the Ruler of Shu was to be cut off；
Noble were Zhuge Liang's descendants。
In miseration of their loyalty； Deng Ai had both father and son buried fittingly。 Then he began attacking the city vigorously。 Zhang Zun； Huang Chong； and Li Qiu； the defenders； however； held the city desperately； but to no avail for their numbers being small； and the three leaders were slain。 This was the end of the defense； and Deng Ai then entered as conqueror。 Having rewarded his army； he set out for Chengdu。
The closing days of the Latter Ruler were
As had been those of Liu Zhang。
The next chapter will tell of the defense of Chengdu。
Main Next to Chapter 118 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 118
Chapter 118
Weeping At The Ancestral Temple； A Filial Prince Dies；
Marching To The West River Land； Two Leaders petes。
The news of the fall of Mianzhu and the deaths in battle of Zhuge Zhan and Zhuge Shang； father and son； brought home to the Latter Ruler that danger was very near； and he summoned a council。
Then the officials said； 〃Panic has seized upon the people； and they are leaving the city in crowds。 Their cries shake the very sky！〃
Sorely he felt his helplessness。 Soon they reported the enemy were actually near the city； and many courtiers advised flight。
〃We do not have enough troops to protect the capital。 Leave the city and flee south to the seven counties of Nanzhong；〃 said they。 〃The country is difficult and easily defended。 We can get the Mangs to e and help us。〃
But Minister Qiao Zhou opposed； saying； 〃No； no； that will not do。 The Mangs are old rebels。 To go to them would be a calamity。〃
Then some proposed seeking refuge in Wu： 〃The people of Wu are our sworn allies； and this is a moment of extreme danger。 Let us go thither。〃
But Qiao Zhou also opposed this； saying； 〃In the whole course of past ages no emperor has ever gone to another state。 So far as I can see； Wei will presently absorb Wu； and certainly Wu will never overe Wei。 Imagine the disgrace of being a minister of Wu and then having to style yourself minister of Wei。 It would double the mortification。 Do neither。 Surrender to Wei； and Wei will give Your Majesty a strip of land where the ancestral temple can be preserved； and the people will be saved from suffering。 I desire Your Majesty to reflect well upon this。〃
The distracted Latter Ruler retired from the council without having e to any decision。 Next day confusion had bee still worse。 Qiao Zhou saw that matters were very urgent and presented a written memorial。 The Latter Ruler accepted it and decided to yield。
But from behind a screen stepped out the fifth of the Emperor's sons； Liu Chan； Prince of Beidi。
Liu Chan shouted at Qiao Zhou； 〃You corrupt pedant； unfit to live among people！ How dare you offer such mad advice in a matter concerning the existence of a dynasty？ Has any emperor ever yielded to the enemy？〃
The Latter Ruler had seven sons in all………Liu Rui； Liu Dao； Liu Zhong； Liu Zan； Liu Chan； Liu Xue； and Liu Ju。 But the ablest； and the only one above the mon level of people； was this Liu Chan。
The Latter Ruler turned feebly to his son and said； 〃The ministers have decided otherwise： They advise surrender。 You are the only one who thinks that boldness may avail； and would you drench the city in blood？〃
The Prince said； 〃While the First Ruler lived； this Qiao Zhou had no voice in state affairs。 Now he gives this wild advice and talks the most subversive language。 There is no reason at all in what he says； for we have in the city many legions of soldiers； and Jiang Wei is undefeated in Saber Pass。 He will e to our rescue as soon as he knows our straits； and we can help him to fight。 We shall surely succeed。 Why listen to the words of this dryasdust？ Why abandon thus lightly the work of our great forerunner？〃
The Latter Ruler became angry at this harangue and turned to his son； saying； 〃Be silent！ You are too young to understand Heaven's will！〃
Liu Chan beat his head upon the ground and implored his father to make an effort。
〃If we have done our best and defeat yet es； if parents and children； lords and ministers have set their backs to the wall and died in one final effort to preserve the dynasty； then in the shades of the Nine Golden Springs we shall be able to look the First Ruler in the face； unashamed。 But what if we surrender？〃
The appeal left the Latter Ruler unmoved。
The Prince cried； 〃Is it not shameful in one day to throw down all that our ancestors built up with so great labor？ I would rather die。〃
The Latter Ruler； now very angry； bade the courtiers thrust the young man out of the Palace。 Then he ordered Qiao Zhou to prepare the formal Act of Surrender。 After it had been written； three officers………Adviser Zhang Shao； Imperial Son…in…Law mander Deng Liang； and Minister Qiao Zhou………were sent with it and the Hereditary Seal to the camp of Deng Ai to offer submission。
Every day Deng Ai's horsemen rode to the city to see what was afoot。 It was a glad day when they returned reporting the hoisting of the flag of surrender。 The general had not long to wait。 The three messengers soon arrived and presented the letter announcing surrender and the seal therewith。 Deng Ai read the letter with great exultation； and took possession of the seal。 He treated the envoys courteously； and by their hands sent back a letter to allay any anxiety among the people。 In due time they reentered the city and bore this missive to the Latter Ruler； and they told him they had been treated well。 The Latter Ruler read the letter with much satisfaction。 Then he sent Minister Jiang Xian to order Jiang Wei to surrender。
Then Li Hu； Chair of the Secretariat； carried to the victorious Deng Ai the statistical documents of the resources of the kingdom：
2；800；000 households； 9；140；000 souls； 102；000 active armed soldiers of all ranks； and 40；000 civil employees。 Besides； there were granaries with 4；000；000 carts of grain； tr