ia 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 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