The delinquent was sentenced to death。
The other generals tried to beg him off； pleading； 〃His father is Xu Chu who had rendered good services to the state！〃
〃How can discipline be maintained if the laws are not enforced？〃 said Zhong Hui。
The sentence was carried out； and the unhappy Xu Yi's 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； feather fan； white robe of Taoist cut bound with a black girdle。 The countenance of the figure was as refined as jade； the lips a deep red and the eyes clear。 The figure moved with the calm serenity of a god。
〃Who are you； Sir？〃 asked Zhong Hui； rising。
〃Out of gratitude for your kindly visit this morning； I would make a munication。 Though the Hans have declined and the mandate of the Eternal cannot be disobeyed； yet the people of the west； exposed to the inevitable miseries of war； are to be pitied。 After you have passed the frontier； do not slay ruthlessly。〃
Then the figure disappeared with a flick of the sleeves of its robe； nor would it stay to answer any questions。
Zhong Hui awoke and knew that he had been dreaming； but he felt that the spirit of Zhuge Liang the Martial Lord had visited him； and he was astonished。
He issued an order that the leading division of his army should bear a white flag with six words plainly written thereon； Secure the state； fort the people ； so that all might know that no violence was to be feared。 If anyone was slain wantonly； then the offender should pay with his own life。 This tender care was greatly appreciated； so that the invaders were weled in every step。 Zhong Hui soothed the people； and they suffered no injury。
Those phantom armies circling in the gleam
Moved Zhong Hui to sacrifice at Zhuge Liang's tomb；
For the Lius had Zhuge Liang wrought unto the end；
Though dead； he would the Han people still defend。
Jiang Wei at Tazhong heard of the invasion and wrote to his three generals………Zhang Yi； Liao Hua； and Dong Jue………to march against the enemy； while he prepared to repulse them if they came to his station。
Soon they came； and he went out to encounter them。 Their leader was Wang Qi； Governor of Tianshui。
When near enough； Wang Qi shouted； 〃Our forces are numbered by millions； our generals by thousands。 Two hundred thousand are marching against you； and Chengdu has already fallen。 In spite of this you do not yield； wherefore it is evident you do not recognize the divine mand！〃
Jiang Wei cut short this tirade by galloping out with his spear set。 Wang Qi stood three bouts and then fled。 Jiang Wei pursued； but seven miles away he met a cohort drawn up across the road。 On the banner he read Qian Hong； Governor of Longxi 。
〃Dead rat！ No match for me；〃 said Jiang Wei； smiling。
Despising this antagonist； he led his army straight on； and the enemy fell back。 He drove them before him for three more miles； and then came upon Deng Ai。 A battle at once began； and the lust of battle held out in the breast of Jiang Wei for a score of bouts。 But neither could overbear the other。 Then in the Shu rear arose the clang of gongs and other signs of ing foes。
Jiang Wei retired the way he had e； and presently one came to report： 〃The Governor of Jincheng； Yang Xin； has destroyed the camps at Gansong。〃
This was evil tidings。 He bade his generals keep his own standard flying and hold Deng Ai while he went to try to recover the camps。 On the way he met Yang Xin； but Yang Xin had no stomach for a fight with Jiang We