ng Xin had no stomach for a fight with Jiang Wei and made for the hills。 Jiang Wei followed till he came to a precipice down which the enemy were hurling boulders and logs of wood so that he could not pass。
Jiang Wei turned to go back to the battlefield he had just left； but on the way he met the defeated Shu army； for Deng Ai had crushed his generals。 Jiang Wei joined them but was surrounded by the Wei forces。 Presently he got clear with a sudden rush and hastened to the great camp。
Next came the news： 〃Zhong Hui has defeated the Yangping Pass； Jiang Shu has surrendered； while Fu Qian has fallen in the field。 Hanzhong is now in the possession of Wei。 Wang Han of Yuecheng and Jiang Bin of Hancheng has also opened their gates and yielded to the invaders at the loss of Hanzhong。 Hu Ji has gone to Chengdu for help。〃
This greatly troubled Jiang Wei； so he broke camp and set out for Hanzhong。 That night the Shu army reached the Frontier River Pass。 An army under Yang Xin barred his way； and again Jiang Wei was forced to fight。 He rode out in a great rage； and as Yang Xin fled； he shot at him thrice； but his arrows missed。
Throwing aside his bow； he gripped his spear and set off in pursuit； but his horse tripped and fell； and Jiang Wei lay on the ground。 Yang Xin turned to slay his enemy now that he was on foot； but Jiang Wei thrust Yang Xin's horse in the head。 Other Wei troops came up rescued Yang Xin。
Mounting another steed of his follower； Jiang Wei was just setting out again in pursuit when they reported that Deng Ai was ing against his rear。 Realizing that he could not cope with this new force； Jiang Wei collected his troops in order to retreat into Hanzhong。
However； the scouts reported： 〃Zhuge Xu； Imperial Protector of Yongzhou； is holding Yinping Bridge； our retreat path。〃
So Jiang Wei halted and made a camp in the mountains。 Advance and retreat seemed equally impossible。
He cried in anguish； 〃Heaven is destroying me！〃
Then said Ning Sui； one of his generals； 〃If our enemies are blocking Yinping Bridge； they can only have left a weak force in Yongzhou。 We can make believe to be going thither through the Konghan Valley and so force them to abandon the bridge in order to protect the city。 When the bridge is clear； you can make a dash for Saber Pass and plan for a recapture of Hanzhong。〃
This plan seemed to promise success； so Jiang Wei ordered them to march into the Konghan Valley； making as though they would go to Yongzhou。
When Zhuge Xu； who was at the Yinping Bridge； heard this； he said in great shock； 〃Yongzhou is my own city； and headquarters of the expedition。 If it would be lost； I would be punished！〃
So Zhuge Xu set off to its relief by the south road。 He left only a small force at the bridge。
Jiang Wei marched along the north road for ten miles till he guessed that Zhuge Xu had abandoned the bridge； when he reversed his course； making the rearguard the van。 He dispersed the small force left at the bridge head and burned their camp。 Zhuge Xu； as he marched； saw the flames； and he turned back to the bridge； but he arrived too late。 The army of Shu had already crossed； and he dared not pursue。
Soon after Jiang Wei crossed the bridge； he saw another force； but this was led by his own generals； Liao Hua and Zhang Yi。
They told him； 〃The Latter Ruler； firm in his faith in a wise woman； would not send help to defend the frontiers。 We heard Hanzhong was threatened； and thus marched there to its rescue； but then Zhong Hui had taken the Yangping Pass。 We also heard you were surrounded here； so we came to your help。〃
The two armies amalgamated and marched together。
Liao Hua said； 〃We are attacked all round； and the grain transportation is blocked。 It seems to me wisest to retire on the Saber Pass and plan other designs。〃
But Jiang Wei was doubtful。 Then they heard that Deng Ai and Zhong Hui were approaching in ten divisions。
Jiang Wei was disposed to stand； but Liao Hua said； 〃This country of White Water is laced with by…roads and is too narrow and difficult to fight in with any hope of success。 It would be better to retreat to the Saber Pass。 If we loss that pass； all paths will be closed to us。〃
At last Jiang Wei consented； and the march began。 But as they neared the pass； they heard drums rolling and saw flags fluttering； which told them that the pass was held。
Hanzhong； that strong defense； is lost；
And storm clouds gather round Saber Pass。
What force was at the pass will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 117 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 117
Chapter 117
Deng Ai Gets Through The Yinping Mountains；
Zhuge Zhan Falls In The Battlefield Of Mianzhu。
When Dong Jue； General Who Upholds the State； heard of the invasion of Wei in ten divisions； he brought to the frontier twenty thousand troops to Saber Pass。 And when the dust showed an approaching army； Dong Jue thought it wise to go to the Pass lest the ing armies should be enemies to be stopped。
But Dong Jue found that the newers were Jiang Wei； Liao Hua； and Zhang Yi。 He let them pass through。 Then he gave them the news from the capital； bad news of the deeds of both the Latter Ruler and Huang Hao。 His tears fell as he told the tales。
〃But do not grieve；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃So long as I live； I will not allow Wei to e and conquer Shu。 Now we must defend this pass； and then evolve a strategy。〃
They kept good guard at Saber Pass； while they discussed future plans。
〃Though we are holding this pass； yet Chengdu is well…nigh empty of soldiers；〃 said Dong Jue。 〃If it was attacked； it would go crack！〃
Jiang Wei replied； 〃The natural defenses of Chengdu are excellent： It is hard to cross over the mountains and climb the steep roads。 No one needs fear。〃
Soon after this； Zhuge Xu appeared at the pass challenging the defenders。 Jiang Wei forthwith placed himself at the head of five thousand troops and went down to meet the Wei army。 He gained an easy victory； slaying many of the enemy and taking much spoil in horses and weapons。
While Jiang Wei went back to the pass； the defeated Zhuge Xu made his way to Zhong Hui's camp； seven miles away； to confess his failure。 His general was very angry。
〃My orders to you were to hold Yinping Bridge so as to stop Jiang Wei； and you lost it。 Now without any orders you attack and are defeated。〃
〃Jiang Wei played so many deceitful tricks。 He pretended to be going to take Yongzhou； and I thought that was very important； so I sent troops to rescue it。 Then he meanly got away。 I followed to the pass； but never thought he would e out and defeat my troops。〃
Zhuge Xu pleaded thus； but he was sentenced to die。
Now Wei Guan； Army Inspector； said； 〃Zhuge Xu is really a subordinate of Deng Ai and； admitting that he is in fault； his punishment should not have been pronounced by you； O mander。〃
But Zhong Hui swaggeringly replied； 〃I have a mand from the Emperor and orders from the Prime Minister to attack Shu。 If Deng Ai himself offended； I would behead him。〃
However； other leaders interceded for Zhuge Xu； and Zhong Hui did not put him to death； but sent him a caged prisoner to the capital to be judged。 The surviving soldiers were added to Zhong Hui's army。
This insolent speech of Zhong Hui was duly repeated to Deng Ai； who was angry in his turn and said； 〃His rank and mine are the same。 I have held a frontier post for years and sustained many fatigues in the country's service。 Who is he that he gives himself such airs？〃
His son Deng Zhong endeavored to appease his wrath。
〃Father； if you cannot suffer small things； you may upset the grand policy of the state。 Unfriendliness with him may do great harm； so I hope you will bear with him。〃
Deng Ai saw his son was right； and said no more； but he nourished anger in his heart。 With a small escort he went to call upon his colleague。
When his ing was announced； Zhong Hui asked his staff； 〃How many soldiers are following Deng Ai？〃
〃He has only some twenty horsemen；〃 they replied。
Zhong Hui had a large body of guards drawn up about his tent； and then gave orders that his visitor should be led in。 Deng Ai dismounted； and the two men saluted each other。 But the visitor did not like the look on the faces of his host's guards。 He decided to