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lace want to attempt a rescue； but before they had prepared； they saw dust arose outside； and Zhong Hui with an army was close at hand； thus they scattered。
Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei dismounted at the Palace gates and entered。
Zhong Hui； seeing both the Dengs prisoners； struck the elder about the head and face with his whip and insulted him； saying； 〃Vile cattle breeder！ How dare you have your own scheme？〃
Nor was Jiang Wei backward。 〃You fool！ See what your good luck has brought you today！〃 cried he。
And Deng Ai replied in kind。 Zhong Hui at once sent off both the prisoners to Luoyang； and then entered Chengdu in state。 He added all Deng Ai's army to his own forces； so that he became very formidable。
〃Today I have attained the one desire of my life！〃 cried Zhong Hui。
＇e＇ Han Xin was suspected of rebellion and was arrested by Liu Bang。 However； Han Xin said； 〃When the birds have vanished； the good bows are stored。〃 Liu Bang absolved him due to his merits。 But Xiao He and Empress Lu executed him when Liu Bang was absent。 。。。。。
＇e＇ After Yue conquered Wu； Fan Li gave up politics and traveled。 But his collegue Wen Zhong stayed to continue serving King Gou Jian loyally。 Wen Zhong later was put to death due to slanders。 Meanwhile； it is said that Fan Li； together with the beauty Xi Shi； had bee a wealthy merchant and was doing charity works。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Emei Mountain one of the most renowned Buddhist and Daoist （Taoist） sanctuaries in China。 The mountain is located in the basin of Sichuan Province。 The beautiful majesty of this mountain has caused it to be named Emei； 〃the most beautiful mountain under heaven〃。 Visitors of this mountain are treated to several peaks； bubbling springs； cascading waterfalls； tall ancient trees and abundant flowers along the many mountain paths leading to the many scenic spots and temples that dot the mountain side from the base to the summit。 。。。。。
Jiang Wei replied； 〃At the beginning of Han； Han Xin hearkened not to Kuai Tong to establish his own kingdom； and so blundered into trouble at the Weiyang Palace； where he met his fate*。 In Yue； High Minister Wen Zhong would not follow Fan Li into retirement on the lakes； and so fell victim to a sword*。 No one would say these two………Han Xin and Wen Zhong………were not brilliant； but they did not scent danger early enough。 Now； Sir； your merit is great and your prestige overwhelming that of your prince； but why do you risk future dangers？ Why not sail off in a boat leaving no trace of your going？ Why not go to Emei Mountain* and wander free with Master Red Pine？〃
Zhong Hui smiled。
〃I do not think your advice much to the point。 I am a young man； not forty yet； and think rather of going on than halting。 I could not take up a do…nothing hermit's life。〃
〃If you do not； then take heed and prepare for dangers。 Think out a careful course； as you are well able to do。 You need not trouble any old fool for advice。〃
Zhong Hui laughed loud and rubbed his hands together with glee。
〃How well you know my thoughts； my friend！〃 said Zhong Hui。
They two became absorbed in the plans for their grand scheme。
But Jiang Wei wrote a secret letter to the Latter Ruler； saying：
〃I pray Your Majesty be patient and put up with humiliations for a season； for Jiang Wei； your humble servant； will have the country restored in good time。 The sun and moon are all the more glorious when they burst through the dark clouds。 The House of Han is not yet done。〃
While Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei were planning how best to outwit each other； but both being against Wei； there suddenly arrived a letter from Sima Zhao：
〃I am at Changan with an army lest there should be any difficulty in disposing of Deng Ai。 I need you to e to discuss state affairs。〃
Zhong Hui divined the real purport at once。
〃He suspects；〃 said Zhong Hui。 〃He knows quite well that my army outnumbers that of Deng Ai many times and I could do what he wishes easily。 There is more than that in his ing。〃
He consulted Jiang Wei； who said； 〃When the prince suspects a minister； that minister dies。 Have we not seen Deng Ai？〃
〃This decides me；〃 replied Zhong Hui。 〃Success； and the empire is mine； failure； and I go west into Shu to be another Liu Bei； but without his mistakes。〃
Jiang Wei said； 〃Empress Guo of Wei has just died。 You can pretend she left you a mand to destroy Sima Zhao； the real murderer of the Emperor。 Your talents are quite sufficient to conquer the empire。〃
〃Will you lead the van？〃 said Zhong Hui。 〃When success is ours； we will share the spoil。〃
〃The little I can do； I will do most willingly；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃But I am not sure of the support of all our subordinates。〃
〃Tomorrow is the fifteenth day of the month； a Feast of Lanterns will be held。 We can gather in the Palace for the congratulations。 There will be grand illuminations； and we will prepare a banquet for the officers； whereat we can kill all those who will not follow us。〃
At this； the heart of Jiang Wei leapt with joy。 Invitations were sent out in the joint names of the two conspirators； and the feast began。 After several courses； suddenly Zhong Hui lifted his cup and broke into wailing。
Everyone asked what was the cause of this grief； and Zhong Hui replied。 〃The Empress has just died； but before her death she gave me an edict； which is here； recounting the crimes of Sima Zhao and charging him with aiming at the Throne。 I am missioned to destroy him； and you all must join me in the task。〃
The guests stared at each other in amazement； but no one uttered a word。
Then the host suddenly drew his sword； crying； 〃Here is death for those who oppose！〃
Not one was bold enough to refuse； and； one by one； they all signed a promise to help。 As further security； they were all kept prisoners in the Palace under careful guard。
〃They are not really with us；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃I venture to request you to bury them all。〃
〃A great pit has been already dug；〃 replied his brother host。 〃And I have a lot of clubs ready。 We can easily club those who disagree and bury them in the pit。〃
As Jiang Wei and Zhong Hui discussed the matter； General Qiu Jian； a man in the confidence of Zhong Hui； was present。 He had once served under Assistant General Hu Lie； who was one of the imprisoned guests； and thus he found means to warn his former chief。
Hu Lie wept and said； 〃My son； Hu Yuan； is in mand of a force outside the city。 He will never suspect Zhong Hui capable of such a crime； and I pray you tell him。 If I am to die； it will be with less regret if my son can be told。〃
〃Kind master； have no anxiety； only leave it to me；〃 replied Qiu Jian。
He went to Zhong Hui； and said； 〃Sir； you are holding in captivity a large number of officers； and they are suffering from lack of food and water。 Will you not appoint an officer to supply their needs？〃
Zhong Hui was accustomed to yield to the wishes of Qiu Jian； and he made no difficulty about this。 He told Qiu Jian to see to it himself； only saying； 〃I am placing great trust in you； and you must be loyal。 Our secret must be kept。〃
〃My lord； you may be quite content。 I know how to keep a strict watch when necessary。〃
And Qiu Jian allowed to enter into the place of confinement a trusty confidant of Hu Lie； who gave him a letter to his son Hu Yuan。
When Hu Yuan knew the whole story； he was astonished and told his subordinates； and they were greatly enraged。
They came to their mander's tent to say： 〃We would rather die than follow a rebel！〃
So Hu Yuan fixed upon the eighteenth day of the month to attempt the rescue。 He enlisted the sympathy of Wei Guan and got his army ready。 He bade Qiu Jian tell his father what was afoot。 Hu Lie then told his fellow…captives。
One day Zhong Hui said to Jiang Wei； 〃Last night I dreamed a dream； that I was bitten by many serpents。 Can you expound the vision？〃
Jiang Wei replied； 〃Dreams of dragons and snakes and scaly creatures are exceedingly auspicious。〃
Zhong Hui was only too ready to accept this interpretation。 Then he told Jiang Wei that all was ready and they would put the crucial question to each captive。
〃I know they are opposed to us； and you would do well to slay them all； and that right quickly；〃 replied Jiang Wei。
〃Good；〃 replied Zhong Hui。
He bade Jiang Wei with several ruffians kill the Wei leaders among the captives。 But just as Jiang Wei was starting to carry out these instructions； he was seized with a sudden spasm of the heart； so severe that he fainted。 He was raised from the earth and in time revived。 Just as he came to； a tremendous hubbub arose outside the Palace。 Zhong Hui at once sent to inquire what was afoot； but the noise waxed louder and louder； sounding like the rush of a multitude。
〃The officers must be raging；〃 said Zhong Hui。 〃We would best slay them at once！〃
But they told him： 〃The outside soldiers are in the Palace！〃
Zhong Hui bade them close the doors of the Hall of Audience； and he sent his own troops upon the roof to pelt the ining soldiers with tiles。 Many were slain on either side in the melee。 Then a fire broke out。 The assailants broke open the doors。 Zhong Hui faced them and slew a few； but others shot at him with flights of arrows； and he fell and died。 They hacked off his head。
Jiang Wei ran to and fro slaying all he met till another heart spasm seized him。
〃