enerals of Shu only looked for him among the mounted leaders； never guessing that he had got away among the mon soldiers。 So he was not captured。
Jiang Wei gathered in his victorious army and went to meet Wang Guan and his convoy。
Having made all arrangements； as he thought； plete； Wang Guan was patiently awaiting the development of his scheme。
But suddenly a trusted subordinate came and told him； 〃The ruse has been discovered； and Deng Ai has already suffered defeat！〃
Wang Guan sent out some scouts； and the report was confirmed； with the addition that the Shu armies were ing against him。 Moreover； clouds of dust were rising。 There was no way of escape； so Wang Guan ordered his troops to set fire to the convoy； and soon huge flames were rising high into the air。
〃The case is desperate；〃 cried Wang Guan。 〃It is a fight to the death！〃
He led his force westward； but the army of Shu came in pursuit。 Jiang Wei thought Wang Guan would try at all costs to get back to his own side； but instead； Wang Guan went on toward Hanzhong。 As his troops were too few to risk a battle； Wang Guan ordered them to burn and destroy all military stations and even the Plank Trail as he went。 Fearing the loss of Hanzhong； Jiang Wei made all haste along the by…roads after Wang Guan。 Surrounded on all sides； Wang Guan jumped into the Black Dragon River and so died。 Those of his soldiers who survived were slain by Jiang Wei。
Though a victory had been won and Wang Guan killed； it was costly。 Many wagons and much grain had been lost； and the Plank Trail had been destroyed。 Jiang Wei led his army into Hanzhong。
Deng Ai made his way back to Qishan。 From there he reported his defeat to the Ruler of Wei and asked for degradation as a penalty。 However； Sima Zhao saw that Deng Ai had rendered good services； so he did not degrade the general； but； on the other hand； sent him magnificent gifts； which Deng Ai distributed to the families of the soldiers who had been killed。 Sima Zhao also sent him fifty thousand troops as reinforcement lest Shu should attack again。
Jiang Wei set about the restoration of the Plank Trail ready for the next expedition。
Repair the roads for marching feet to tread；
The strife will only cease when all are dead。
The next chapter will tell who won。
Main Next to Chapter 115 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 115
Chapter 115
Listening To Slander； The Latter Ruler Recalls His Army；
Living In Farms； Jiang Wei Avoids Disaster。
In the autumn of the fifth year of Wonderful Sight； in Shu…Han calendar （AD 262）； Jiang Wei was occupied with preparations for the renewal of an attack： Mending the hill roads； gathering stores； and mobilizing his boats on the waterways of Hanzhong。 These things done； he memorized the Throne； asking permission to go again to the attack：
〃Although I have not been wholly victorious nor acplished great things； yet I have put fear into the hearts of the Wei armies。 Our soldiers have been long under training； and they must now be used； or the army will go to pieces for lack of exercise。 The soldiers are ready to die； the officers prepared for all risks； and I am determined to conquer or perish。〃
The Latter Ruler did not consent at once。
As he was hesitating； Qiao Zhou stood forth and said； 〃I have observed the heavens。 I have seen the leadership stars in Shu dull and obscured。 This expedition will be disastrous； and I hope Your Majesty will not approve。〃
The Latter Ruler replied； 〃Let us see the results of this campaign。 If it fails； then the war shall cease。〃
Qiao Zhou tried to dissuade the Latter Ruler two or three more times； but he failed。 In despair he withdrew to his home； and retired on the pretext of illness。
As the final preparations were being made； Jiang Wei said to Liao Hua； 〃We are pledged to get through to the Middle Land this time。 What do you advise to start with？〃
〃I dare not presume to advise you； General。 For years we have been fighting and giving the people no rest。 In Deng Ai we find a most formidable and resourceful opponent and an extraordinarily 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 Ai's 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 b