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！
should receive ducal rank。 In this way would be demonstrated that favorable treatment follows upon submission。 Such a course would inspire fear of the might of Wei and respect for its virtue； and the result will be all that could be desired。〃
Reading this memorial； the thought entered the mind of Sima Zhao that Deng Ai was exaggerating his own importance； wherefore he first wrote a private letter and sent it by the hand of Wei Guan to Deng Ai and then caused the Ruler of Wei to issue an edict promoting Deng Ai。 The edict ran thus：
〃General Deng Ai has performed a glorious exploit； penetrating deeply into a hostile country and reducing to submission a usurping potentate。 This task has been quickly performed： The clouds of war have already rolled away； and peace reigns throughout Ba and Shu。
＇e＇ Bai Qi a general of Qin。 In BC 278； the armies of Qin； led by Bai Qi； conquered Chu and entered her capital Ying； destroying the Palace to the ground。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Han Xin （BC ？…197） was a great general of Liu Bang。 。。。。。
〃The merits of Deng Ai surpass those of Bai Qi*； who subdued the mighty state of Chu； and Han Xin*； who conquered the state of Zhao。 Deng Ai is created Grand mander； and we confer upon him a fief of twenty thousand homesteads； and his two sons are ennobled； each with a fief of one thousand homesteads。〃
After the edict had been received with full ceremonies； Wei Guan produced the private letter； which said that Deng Ai's proposals would have suitable consideration in due time。
Then said Deng Ai； 〃A general in the field may decline to obey even the orders of his prince。 My mission was to conquer the west。 Why are my plans hindered？〃
So he wrote a reply and sent it to the capital by the hand of the envoy。 At that time it was mon talk at court that Deng Ai intended to rebel； and when Sima Zhao read the letter； his suspicions turned to certainty； and he feared。 This was the letter：
〃Deng Ai； General Who Conquers the West； has reduced the chief of the revolt to submission； and must have authority to act according as he sees best in order to settle the early stages of administration of the new territory。 To await government orders for every step means long delays。 According to the Spring and Autumn Annals a high officer； when abroad； has authority to follow his own judgment for the safety of the Throne and the advantage of the state。
〃Now seeing that Wu is still unsubdued； all interest centers upon this country； and schemes of settlement should not be nullified by strict adherence to rules and formalities。 In war advances are made without thought of reputation； retreats without consideration of avoiding punishment。 Though I do not possess the fortitude of the ancients； I shall not be deterred from acting for the benefit of the state by craven and selfish fears for my own reputation。〃
In his perplexity Sima Zhao turned to Jia Chong for advice。
Said he； 〃Deng Ai presumes upon his services to be haughty and imperious。 His recalcitrance is very evident。 What shall I do？〃
〃Why not order Zhong Hui to reduce him to obedience？〃 replied Jia Chong。
Sima Zhao accepted the suggestion and issued an edict raising Zhong Hui to Minister of the Interior。 After this he made Wei Guan the Inspector of the Forces and set Wei Guan over both armies； with special orders to keep a watch upon Deng Ai and guard against any attempt at insubordination。
The edict sent to Zhong Hui ran as follows：
〃Zhong Hui； General Who Conquers the West； against whose might none can stand； before whom no one is strong； whose virtue conquers every city； whose wide net no one escapes； to whom the valiant army of Shu humbly submitted； whose plans never fail； whose every undertaking succeeds； is hereby made Minister of the Interior and raised to the rank of lordship of a fief of ten thousand families。 His two sons also have similar rank with a fief of one thousand families。〃
When this edict reached Zhong Hui； he called in Jiang Wei and said to him； 〃Deng Ai has been rewarded more richly than I and is a Grand mander。 But Sima Zhao suspects him of rebellion and has ordered Wei Guan and myself to keep him in order。 What does my friend Jiang Wei think ought to be done？〃
Jiang Wei replied； 〃They say Deng Ai's origin was ignoble and in his youth he was a farmer and breeder of cattle。 However； he had good luck and has won a great reputation in this expedition。 But this is due not to his able plans； but to the good fortune of the state。 If you had not been pelled to hold me in check at Saber Pass； he could not have succeeded。 Now he wishes the late Ruler of Shu to be created Prince of Fufeng； whereby he hopes to win the goodwill of the people of Shu。 But to me it seems that perfidy lies therein。 The Duke of Jin suspects him； it is evident。〃
Zhong Hui plimented him。 Jiang Wei continued； 〃If you will send away your people； I have something to say to you in private。〃
When this had been done and they two were alone； Jiang Wei drew a map from his sleeve and spread it before Zhong Hui； saying； 〃Long ago； before he had left his humble cot。 Zhuge Liang gave this to the First Ruler and told him of the riches of Yizhou and how well it was fitted for an independent state。 Whereupon Chengdu was seized as a first step towards attaining it。 Now that Deng Ai has got to the same point； it is small wonder that he has lost his balance。〃
Zhong Hui asked many questions about the details of the features of the map； and Jiang Wei explained in full。 Toward the end； he asked how Deng Ai could be got rid of。
〃By making use of the Duke of Jin's suspicions；〃 replied Jiang Wei。 〃Send up a memorial to say that it looks as if Deng Ai really contemplated rebellion。 You will receive direct orders to check the revolt。〃
So a memorial was sent to Luoyang。 It said that Deng Ai aimed at independence； nourished base designs； was making friends with the vanquished； and was about to revolt。
At this news the court was much disturbed。 Then to support his charges； Zhong Hui's soldiers intercepted Deng Ai's letters and rewrote them in arrogant and rebellious terms。 Sima Zhao was greatly angered and sent Jia Chong to lead an expedition into the Xie Valley； he ordered Zhong Hui to arrest Deng Ai； and he himself directing a great march under the leadership of the Ruler of Wei； Cao Huang； whom he pelled to go with him。
Then said Shao Ti； 〃Zhong Hui's army outnumbers that of Deng Ai by six to one。 You need not go。 You need only order Zhong Hui to arrest Deng Ai。〃
〃Have you forgotten？〃 said Sima Zhao； smiling。 〃You said Zhong Hui was a danger。 I am not really going against Deng Ai； but against the other。〃
〃I feared lest you had forgotten；〃 said Shao Ti。 〃I ventured to remind you； but the matter must be kept secret。〃
The expedition set out。
By this time Zhong Hui's attitude had aroused Jia Chong's suspicions； and he spoke of it to Sima Zhao； who replied； 〃I have sent you： Should I have doubts about you； too？ However； e to Changan and things will clear up。〃
The dispatch of the army under Sima Zhao was reported to Zhong Hui； who wondered what it might mean。 He at once called in Jiang Wei to consult about the seizure of Deng Ai。
Lo！ He is victor here； a king must yield；
And there a threatening army takes the field。
The next chapter will relate the plan to arrest Deng Ai。
Main Next to Chapter 119 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 119
Chapter 119
The False Surrender： A Wit Scheme Bees A Vain Plan；
The Abdication： Later Seeds Learns From The Ancient。
Asked to say what was the best plan to secure the arrest of Deng Ai； Jiang Wei said； 〃Send Wei Guan。 If Deng Ai tries to kill Wei Guan； he will manifest the desire of his heart。 Then you can destroy him as a traitor。〃
Hence Wei Guan was sent； with some thirty men； to effect the arrest。
Wei Guan's own people saw the danger of the enterprise and urged him not to go； saying； 〃Zhong Hui clearly wants Deng Ai to kill you to prove his point！〃
But Wei Guan said； 〃Do not worry。 I have a scheme prepared。〃
Wei Guan first wrote a score or two of letters； all in the same terms； saying：
〃Wei Guan has orders to arrest Deng Ai； but no other persons will be dealt with providing they submit quickly。 Rewards await those who obey the Imperial mand。 However； the punishment for laggards and those who are contumacious will be death to the whole family。〃
Wei Guan sent these letters to various officers who were serving under Deng Ai。 He also prepared two cage carts。
Wei Guan and his small party reached Chengdu about cockcrow and found waiting for him most of the officers to whom he had written。 They at once yielded。 Deng Ai was still asleep when the party reached his palace； but Wei Guan entered and forced his way into Deng Ai's chamber。
He roared out： 〃I serve the Son of Heaven's mand to arrest Deng Ai and his son！〃
The noise awakened the sleeper； who tumbled off his couch in alarm。 But before Deng Ai could do anything to defend himself； he was seized； securely bound； and huddled into one of the carts。 Deng Ai's son； Deng Zhong； rushed in at the noise； but was also made prisoner and thrust into the other cart。 Many generals and attendants in the Palace want to attempt a rescue； but before they had prepared； they saw dust arose outside； and Zhong